DISCLAIMER: I do not, in any way shape or form, own the characters from Law & Order: SVU. They are created by Dick Wolf and I will forever love him for it. I am using these characters and the basis of this television show purely for entertainment and am not making any form of profit off of the writing of this piece. (AKA: It's not mine. Don't sue. Thanks.)

Fix You

A/N: Thanks for all of your kind reviews…this is something I was thinking about doing last week and I was like, "No, it's not realistic." So, what I have to say is that while this wouldn't happen in real life (at least, I'm pretty sure it wouldn't), this is a fanfiction, so I have the liberty to do what I please. Therefore, I hope no one hates me. But I had no other choice…Olivia needs to heal. She has to heal. She needs a friend who can push that along, someone stubborn and hard headed, but still uses logic to make it work. She needs someone she cares for deeply. So I found that person. And it's so happening!

Without further ado…

Chapter 8: My Old Friend

Walking into the precinct, Olivia and Elliot were greeted by their coworkers. Before either one had a chance to be seated, Cragen beckoned Elliot into his office? Offering a shrug of uncertainty as his partner silently asked what the summon was about, Stabler made his way into his superior's office. Once he was out of earshot, Olivia picked up her phone, sat behind her desk, and began making a phone call.

She spoke in hushed tones. Munch took notice, but played it off as a private call. He heard her thank whoever was on the other line and placed the handset back on its cradle. John looked at her, "What was that about?"

"Personal," the brown haired woman responded shortly.

"Oh," was all the older man replied.

Olivia returned to work until Elliot left the captain's office. She glanced at him, wordlessly inquiring about what had been said. Stabler responded coolly, "He just wanted to make sure that everything was fine since we slept in this morning."

The female nodded in understanding, fully believing the other's words. She stood from her desk and approached the office door without saying a word. She knocked three times; Cragen looked up from his desk and waved her in. Olivia entered, shut the door, and stood in front of her captain's desk.

"Olivia," he impelled, "what can I do for you?"

The brown haired woman took a deep breath, "Look, I know I haven't been back on the job for very long, but it's obvious to me that I'm not done healing. Hell, it's obvious to everyone. My time off before was an extended medical leave, and, Captain, I know I have some vacation time left."

Cragen nodded and pursed his lips before speaking, "Take all of the time you need."

"Thank you, Sir," the detective answered quietly.

"And know that you can always call me if you need anything."

Olivia smiled slightly as Cragen offered his support. She nodded to the bald man before walking from his small office. Before she shut the door, however, Benson turned one final time, "I'll be back in about two weeks."

"Have fun," he answered.

She nodded and shut the door. Elliot watched as the brown haired woman walked to her desk with her eyes staring at the floor. She picked up her phone and made another call in hushed tones. When she hung up, she looked at her partner caringly, "We need to talk, in the cribs."

Stabler rose quickly and followed his partner into the room with numerous cots. As soon as the door was shut, she looked at him and began speaking, "Look, I am not ready to be back here. I'm not ready to do much. I said you had to give me more time, and you promised to do so. Does your word still stand?"

Elliot nodded, slightly perplexed by her behavior, "I said you could have all of the time in the world – I meant that."

"Good," she sighed. Running a hand through her brown hair, the woman spoke again, "I'm taking a vacation."

"To where?"

"I can't tell you, but know that I'll be gone for two weeks or so, and I'll be safe," she assured the man standing before her.

While Elliot didn't say a word, his eyes spoke volumes. Everything in his body radiated fear, and Olivia didn't like it. Stabler sighed, thinking about what he had been told, and wondered mutely what this meant. Part of him was convinced that Olivia was running away from him again and that he may never see her. Another side of him, however, was simply scared that she would do something with another man. None of this could be shown, though, as it would break her heart and push them back.

"I promise that I'll come home," she answered – reading his mind. "I also promise you that I'll be faithful, just like I said I would last night. I am visiting an old friend and getting away. I need a change of pace for a while, just something to help me move on – the right way this time."

"You're sure about this," Elliot pushed.

Olivia nodded confidently, "Positive."

He pulled her into a hug, "Then I'll be here when you return. Have a good time."

Benson clung back, feeling the security only his arms could bring. She knew she would miss that feeling for the next couple of weeks, but the vacation she was about to take was a much needed one. She felt his lips brush her forehead and a hand run through her hair. Olivia smiled softly, wishing she could stay caught in the moment forever. Yet, she had a flight to catch, so she pulled back and tenderly kissed his cheek.

"I'll see you soon," she whispered.

Elliot nodded, "I'm counting on it."

He watched her leave the cribs and sat on a cot. While he'd miss her, he was going to keep his promise. Elliot vowed to trust Olivia despite his doubts and knew that getting away could be exactly what the doctor had ordered.

The brown eyed woman rehearsed her story one final time as the plane was beginning to land, Name: Michelle Hilde; Age: 35; Profession: Ancient History professor at Northwest Missouri State University; Relationship to the person being visited: friend from college; Purpose for Visit: To catch up on old times. Olivia vowed not to mess up the story as her flight came to an end and the fasten seatbelt light turned off. She quickly unbuckled and picked up her carry on bag. She meandered into the crowded aisle and smiled politely at the blonde flight attendant as she left the aircraft.

Making her way through the tunnel that lead to the airport terminal in Omaha, Nebraska felt the like the longest walk she had taken in some time. When she left the waiting area and approached the main part of the airport, her eyes searched for the person she was meeting. After scanning the crowd once, she looked back over the people and found a slender, blonde woman wearing glasses. A smile graced her face as she quickly walked toward the woman she saw. Dropping the carry on bag, a mutual embrace was quickly enacted upon.

"I've missed you, Michelle," the blonde whispered to Olivia.

"You too, Hayley," Olivia answered back, almost slipping up and referring to the woman by her real name, "I have missed you too."

The two moved quickly to baggage claim and Hayley guided the way to the vehicle that was taking them the short forty-five minute drive to Lincoln, Nebraska. As soon as the brown haired detective's luggage was secured in the trunk of the blue Nissan Altima, the two were on their way.

Once they had reached the interstate, the blonde took the initiative to make conversation. She slipped out of the persona she portrayed as Hayley and fell into her old ways, "Olivia, why are you here?"

"A lot has changed," the brown eyed woman responded, staring at the road ahead of them, and taking in the boring Nebraska view.

"Like what," Alex Cabot, former assistant district attorney for the Manhattan Special Victims Unit questioned. "All I know is that I received a visit from my case worker stating that Detective Benson was making a trip to see me under the alias of one Michelle Hilde. They gave me the background story and warned that if anything goes wrong, I would have to be relocated. Of course I consented, but they never allow this. What changed?"

"This isn't the time or place," Olivia finalized the questioning. "How about you? How is life in good ol' Nebraska?"

"It's not as bad as people would think," the ADA muttered. "Sure, it's boring. It's nothing like New York, but it's not all cornfields and cows."

"You could have fooled me," the detective answered as she stared at the blank fields covering the ground. "This looks like the most boring place ever."

Alex chuckled softly. She was glad to have her friend near by once more. However, that didn't stop her from noticing the more reserved nature and obvious loss of weight that riddled Benson's character. Deciding to save the grilling for later, Cabot continued making small talk, "Lincoln doesn't have much to offer, but it's a nice place. It's safe, and Tommy Lee attended the University of Nebraska at Lincoln for a semester last year."

Olivia rolled her eyes, "That's not something that would usually interest you."

"Times change," she whispered, wishing that her life could return to what it was in New York.

The remainder of the ride was spent mostly in silence, making small talk when the quiet became too much. Olivia spoke very little of New York, not wanting to cause her friend to miss what she had once had for a life. Benson tried to imagine what Alex had gone through as she was placed in the Witness Protection Program, but couldn't seem to figure it out. The last thing she wanted, however, was to aggravate the wounds that came with being uprooted from your life and forced to start a new one.

Olivia watched out of the window as they drove through Lincoln. She was amazed at how few people walked and how easily Alex was able to maneuver through the streets. Cabot pointed out a few sites as they past them by and eventually parked in front of a small townhouse. She led the way inside of the quaint home and Olivia followed close behind, dragging her bags with her. Alex settled her into the guest bedroom and then they sat on her wine colored couch in the small living room.

"Now," Alex prompted, "Would you care to explain this visit."

Olivia took a deep breath as she leaned into the back of the plush furniture she was resting on. She was tired, that much was certain, but knew that Alex wouldn't want to wait much longer. Not to mention that Benson wanted to get it over with.

"Four months ago we had a really rough case," the detective started calmly. Alex offered her complete and total attention as Olivia studied the couch intently. Still, the brown eyed woman continued telling her story, "and I wanted nothing more than to forget about it. I'm sure you remember those days. I went to a new club and had a drink or two with a guy I met that night – Kevin – and he invited me to his place to watch a movie and get to know one another. I know I shouldn't have gone alone, but I did anyway. I didn't even know his last name."

Olivia glanced at Alex to gage her response. The woman simply watched with curiosity as Benson found the strength to continue, "I didn't want to sleep with him, but he had other plans. And that night he…well, he, uhm," she stopped. Alex sat and waited quietly, not pushing for more information than her friend was ready to provide. Within due time, Olivia spoke again, "He raped me."

Alex nodded as she bit her bottom lip. Never, in all of the years she had known Olivia, had she expected something like this to happen. For some reason, when you fought the people who committed heinous sexual crimes every day, a person would tend to feel invincible. Yet, Benson was living proof that it wasn't true. As the detective's voice rang through the small home again, Cabot gave her full attention to it, "I went straight to the precinct, told Elliot and Casey, went through the whole procedure, but I couldn't remember his name or where he lived. When a woman in Brooklyn was raped by the same man, she could provide that information."

Olivia's voice shook as she tried to maintain her composure. Fear entered her voice as she wondered if she had let Alex down, "He was convicted on both counts, but I never took the time to get better. I needed to get away, but I had no one to turn to. So I pulled some strings, called some people, and made it possible for me to come here."

The brown eyed woman purposely left out all of the other details of the past few months in the hope that she could tell the ex-ADA when she was more comfortable. Alex's eyes filled with tears as she tried to maintain the strength to help her friend in whatever way she could, "Why me?"

"Because I missed you," Olivia whispered. "I needed to get away from the people who had seen me at my worst because I knew I had let them down. I knew you wouldn't hold me to a standard. You're always a logical person, Alex. I figured you could help me figure all of this out."

The blonde nodded. "We'll figure it all out," she agreed softly. "How about some dinner, though?"

Olivia grinned, "I wouldn't mind that."

"I know a great little place," Alex said as she pulled from the couch, swallowing the tears that had been threatening to fall. "It's the best Chinese food in Lincoln."

"You know I have a thing for Chinese," the detective whispered.

"God," Alex sighed, "how could I forget that?"

The brown eyed woman laughed one of the first true laughs she had been able to offer in months. Even though she hadn't been around, Cabot knew this was the first time Olivia had let her hair down – it was just the way Benson worked. Shaking her head, she locked the door and led the way to her sedan once more, "Some things will never change.

Elliot shut down his computer and stared at the empty desk in front of him. He knew that wherever Olivia was, she would be healing. Even though it was something she desperately needed to do, it didn't change the fact that he missed her.

Munch stood to leave the squad room, but stopped when he saw his coworker hadn't moved in several minutes. He leaned against Stabler's desk, "She's not running away, you know?"

"I know," Elliot answered.

"Then why so glum," the gray haired man questioned.

Stabler shrugged, "I miss her."

"We all miss her, we've missed her for months," John answered knowingly. "This could be just what she needs though."

"I'm sure that it is," Elliot answered sincerely. "I just wish I could have fixed it."

"You can't fix everything, Stabler. You can only fix your little corner of the world. Sometimes, we can't even mend that."

"I think, in a round about way, you meant for that to be comforting," the brown haired detective scoffed.

John rolled his eyes, "I do believe I did."

"Well, thanks."

"Come on," the older man prompted. "I'll buy you a drink."

"That," Elliot answered, "sound perfect."

The two walked out of the precinct together, each missing their friend for different reasons. However, both of them were positive that, in the end, all would be fine.

Olivia looked around the small Chinese restaurant. The Pepto-Bismol pink table covers weren't necessarily appealing, but that didn't change the exquisite quality of service and food. She had eaten nearly a third of her decent sized portion of the chicken dish she'd ordered. Alex had cleared her plate. Throughout the meal, the two had caught up on old times. Olivia began to explain her relationship with Elliot, but left out the rocky situations that had arisen.

It surprised the detective that Alex hadn't had any relationships since leaving New York. As the blonde explained, "It's harder to have a relationship with someone when you aren't being yourself. For some reason, I haven't managed to master that art."

Smiling sadly, the brown haired woman pulled out her wallet to pay for the meal. Alex held out her hand, "My treat."

"Thanks," Olivia whispered. She hadn't used her friend's name since leaving the house – the last thing she wanted was to dig up the life Alex had become accustomed to in Nebraska.

The blonde paid and Olivia took the doggy bag of her food as they left the restaurant. Once back in Alex's townhouse, Olivia grabbed a bottle of water, sat on the couch, and flipped on the television. The other woman shook her head, knowing that her friend had already managed to make herself at home. Plopping next to the detective, Cabot just relished in the comfort of having her friend close by. Just the presence of a person who had been a big part of her past seemed to make life more bearable.

As the news wrapped up, Benson let a small yawn escape her lips. She stood from the couch and glanced at her companion, "I'm going to hit the sack."

Alex nodded, "I'll go for a run around 6:30. Do you want me to wake you before I go?"

"I'll go with you," Olivia offered.

"Sounds good to me."

The brown eyed woman nodded, yawning once more. She meandered up the stairs after throwing her water bottle in a recycling bin. Showing herself into the bathroom, she ran the shower and stepped under the hot vapors. Scrubbing until her skin was raw, she washed her hair and took her time drying off. Benson put on a pair of Elliot's red basketball shorts and a white camisole. She cleaned her mess and left the restroom, slipping into her bedroom door that was directly to the right of where she had been standing.

Curling into bed and wrapping the covers around her small body, Olivia silently pleaded with herself to sleep through the night. The last thing she wanted was to wake up screaming and worry Alex.

A/N: So I don't think it would ever REALLY happen. But this is a fanfiction, so I can do whatever I want. Thanks for reading. Please, PLEASE review. I like reviews.