Chapter 4

Breakable

A/N: Hey y'all. Sorry bout the cliffhanger. Hope you like this chapter lots of fighting. Anyways review when you got the chance to let me know what you think. Thankz.

-kermit

"Look Liv, he's going to see Kathy." Munch repeated.

"Ok then…let's get back to work! He's got his own life." she replied seeming a little distraught to say the least fixing papers on her desk frantically.

"Ok, you three, get to work!" Cragen instructed. Munch nodded and sat down at his desk.

………………………………

Meanwhile, Elliot arrived at the Queens restaurant. At a distance he saw Kathy sitting in a corner outside drinking a glass of wine, wearing dark sun glasses and a lime green tank top.

"Little early, huh?" Elliot asked referring to the wine as he sat down across the table from her.

"Speak for yourself…" she answered sarcastically.

"I'm talking about the wine." he replied closing his eyes annoyed.

"Well, it's a free country isn't it? Plus, it's a very distressful time for me if you know what I mean and hey! I'm not pregnant!" she exclaimed sarcastically.

"Thank God for that." he replied looking away.

"Anyways…" she began eyeing him down like he was worthless. However, before she could continue the waiter was there ready to take Elliot's order.

"Would you like anything sir?" he asked.

"Yes a glass of water, and uh…..an aspirin, please." he joked.

"How about I just get you the water…" the waiter replied walking away. Elliot readjusted himself in the seat.

"Sow you were saying…" Elliot continued.

"The kids…" she replied stopping in mid sentence.

"Ah yes, look Kathy, I don't want us to fight over them in court. I think we should let them decide what they want to do." he replied.

"Well Maureen is nineteen and can care for herself, Kathleen is sixteen and says she can alternate, and the twins, well they just want us to be together." she added. Elliot felt like saying 'Well it would still be like that if you weren't fucking me around.' Instead, however, he just nodded along. "What about holidays" she asked.

"Who cares? It's not like they're going to be the same after today anyways." he sighed avoiding her eyes.

"Ok…look Elliot…I'm staying at my mom's as you know, until I can move in w….never mind."

"With who?" he inquired.

"No one…" she lied. Elliot was becoming increasingly angry as he watched Kathy nervously put on her sun glasses.

"Damn it, Kathy! I need to know where my kids are sleeping at night, and who the bastard is they're staying with! What's the prick's name?" he yelled slamming his fist on the table.

"Anthony Coccid, he lives in south Queens. Elliot, I don't expect you to welcome him with open arms." she told him.

"You're damn right." he fired back. The waiter came back with Elliot's water, a little alarmed by the arguing and placed it on the table.

"Would you like anything else?" he offered.

"Maybe a little privacy." Kathy snapped. He rolled his eyes as he walked away as Kathy turned to Elliot. "…so you can keep the house but if you sell, I get thirty percent the profit." she announced. Elliot who was ignoring her now, turned to her looking into her eyes laughing.

"You can't be serious…" he told her. She nodded and cringed hoping Elliot wouldn't lash out again. However, he did. "Ha, funny! 'cause last time I checked, I bought the house, I paid the mortgage and I worked my ass off to put food in the fucking fridge!" he yelled. Everyone around them was tuning in and looking at them fight.

"Elliot, I need money to take care of the kids…" she whispered noticing that people were watching. Elliot rose from the table in a fury and pointed at her.

"You go tell that fucker Adam to give you money because there is no way in hell you're getting it from me!" he walked away. Kathy rose from the table but didn't move.

"It's Anthony!" she yelled.

"Whatever the asshole's name is!" he yelled about twenty feet away from her. He walked back over to her in a fury. "You think I'm responsible for this mess!" he yelled in a whispered. "Next time you want to blame someone, blame your vagina." Kathy sat down feeling completely appalled and buried her head in her arms. Elliot feeling no remorse marched out of the restaurant.

"Sir you have to keep your voice down!" the waiter warned him.

"Just leaving." he replied keep going.

"But you have to pay!" the waiter pleaded.

"For what?" Elliot stopped, put his hands on his hips and looked at the patronized waiter.

"For the wine sir."

"I didn't have the wine you twit. Bill it to 'I don't give a shit' down there in the corner." Elliot instructed him pointing to Kathy who still had her head in her arms. Elliot felt exasperated but penitential for all the people he insulted. He was more of a humble, yet proud being. He approached the squad car and got in feeling a bit guilty. However, he didn't pass a bit of heat as he drove back to the precinct.

He drove back to the precinct pissed off in every sense. He never thought he would fight with her the way he did. When he got back, Olivia, Munch, and Fin were there, all surprised to see him.

"You're back?" Munch asked surprised.

"Thank God." Elliot replied.

"Elliot…." Cragen called from his office. He motioned Elliot to come, and Elliot walked toward his office with the hands in his pockets.

"What's up?" Elliot asked closing the door.

"How'd it go?" he asked.

"It was ridiculous." Elliot replied planned himself in the chair.

"What went wrong?" he asked.

"Everything Cragen! I can't look at her without arguing or feeling like I want to vomit." Elliot replied. Cragen remained silent for a time until he responded with something Elliot didn't want to hear.

"Elliot, I want you to take time off."

"No, captain I'm fine really."

"No, Elliot. I don't think you are. I'm serious, come back when you have everything sorted out." Cragen replied showing Elliot the door. As Elliot walked out of Cragen's office the three other heads popped out from their desks. Olivia got up and walked over to Elliot who apparently seemed upset by his sentence.

"We'll talk later?" she asked in a whisper as Elliot stuffed his belongings into his bag. "Maybe meet for a drink?" Elliot shook his head.

"Probably not. I need some time to think." he replied as he headed for the door. Olivia feeling a bit turned down by his reply walked back to her desk. "Later everybody…" Elliot said walking out of the precinct.

"See ya lucky ass." Munch replied pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. Olivia watched from the corner of her eye like a hawk as Elliot got into his car and drove away. She felt as if her day couldn't get any worse.

"Well, it's funny how I get a divorce and my house, money, and the rest of my shit is taken away from me. He gets divorced and gets a vacation above all else." Munch complained sarcastically. Fin laughed while in contrary Olivia rolled her eyes.

"Get over yourself John." she warned.

"But it's true!" he argued.

"So what? You were married for a dismal 4 years all your marriages combined. That's one fifth of the time Elliot and Kathy were married." Olivia answered back.

"A divorce is a divorce." Munch replied. "You're still breaking up with the one you love."

"John, you got married for the sex, and for the pretty girl everyone looked at on your arm. Don't even try to fool me with the "I'm in love" speech."

"Oh yea, Olivia, you should know. You're a man…"

"Hey!" Cragen called from his office. "Shut your traps and get back to work."

"Sorry" Olivia and Munch replied at the same time.

"All I'm tryin…" Olivia whispered but was interrupted by Munch.

"Shhh!"

"….all I'm trying to say is…"

"Shhh!"

"Is that you…"

"Shhh!" Munch said even louder. "I'm trying to do my work!"

"Let me finish!" she pleaded.

"Shhh!"

"Both of you shut you before I whack you both with a stick." Fin warned but he was too late.

"Olivia, John; my office now!" Cragen instructed. Olivia rose from her chair looking at Munch and he did the same.

"What the hell is going on with you two? I'm trying to get this report in while you two are out there debating love and marriage!" Cragen yelled. "I'm advising you to get going with the work or get going out of here!" he warned.

"Sorry captain." Olivia apologized. Munch dittoed the gesture and they got back to their work. As they walked out everyone in the precinct was looking at them.

"How'd it go?" Fin asked.

"Well, lets just say we're lucky we didn't get our asses fired. He's pissed." Munch replied.

"Unfortunately." Olivia added. "Gosh, I have so much shit to finish."

"Join the club, sweetie." Munch replied sarcastically.

"Well, at least I have a little more to do." she said looking at the stack of papers on her desk. "I'll be here for another three days…" she sighed.

…………………………

Meanwhile Elliot arrived to an empty household. He walked up the steps and sat on the porch readjusting his tie. He stared at the mothers playing soccer with their sons and the fathers playing softball with their daughters.

"What the hell happened to us?" he asked himself. "We were so happy…well, we were able to be in the same room with out hating each other at least." He got up from the steps and walked inside. The house was cold and dark like no one was alive. The vibrant feeling he got when he usually got home had vanished, like the laughter of his children had dispersed also. He turned on the lights and walked over to the answer machine that had "3" displayed, He pressed the button and the messages commenced.

"Hi Kathy, Elliot, this is Rhonda from down the street. Just wanted to let you guys know we're having a party on the twenty first four our 25th wedding anniversary. We would love it if you guys could come. R.S.V.P by the eighth!" the voice said. "Twenty five years, huh?" he said out loud. Elliot pressed next on the machine.

"Hi Mr. And Mrs. Stabler. This is Darcy Goodman, Elizabeth's dance teacher. I just wanted to let you guys know that our first recital is coming up in a few weeks, on the twenty ninth, and we are having our dress rehearsal on the twenty second. Can't wait to see you there! Any questions just call 212.….." Elliot pressed next before he heard anymore. The terms 'Elliot and Kathy' and 'Mr. And Mrs. Stabler' brought angry tears to his eyes. The next message however, would be different.

"Hi Dad. It's Maureen. Can we talk? Um, I guess I'll call back later…..bye." and she was gone. Elliot's little attention he paid was no fully aware from her distressed voice. He hadn't seen his daughter in over three weeks, since her nineteenth birthday. He wondered why she was calling. After all the messages had finished, he made his way upstairs to the bedroom. The first items he noticed was the wedding picture and the wedding band next to his bed. "What are you doing to me Kathy?" he asked closing his eyes and lying down. He was falling asleep when the phone suddenly rang.

"Maureen?" he answered it. He adjusted himself on the bed as he heard a familiar voice from the other end; but it wasn't her. "Oh, hi."

"Elliot, hi." Kathy said.

"Kathy, why are you calling?" he asked uncomfortably.

"We need to talk to the kids about our situation."

"Kathy, we don't have a situation, we're getting separated!" he reminded her.

"Why can't you forgive me?" she asked him. "I bet if you had an affair with Olivia, you wouldn't feel half as bad as I am. I bet you wouldn't give two shits."

"Excuse me? If I had an extra marital affair, and you didn't kick me out; I would have done it myself. And why are you bringing Olivia into this?"

"Because Elliot, you know you love her."
"As a friend…" he replied. "So have a nice life!" he said feeling completely disgusted, hanging up the phone.

"Wait! Wait! Elliot, please. We need to do this for the kids. Don't run from me again…" she pleaded. Elliot remained silent for a while before giving in.

"Alright, but only for the kids." he said.

"When can we come over?" she asked.

"Whenever." he replied. The loneliness began to feel unbearable but Elliot remained pacified. "Tonight at eight." he replied.

"That's fine with me, I have to get my stuff anyways." she replied. Then it really hit him; Elliot and Kathy were only something of the past. She was really gone now.

"Ok then….bye." he said as he hung up the phone. He put it back on the charger and put his head in his palms. He thought about the last time he and Kathy had a regular conversation, and how bittersweet their last kiss was. He seemed to be all false and not real. The fairytale life he had laid out for Kathy and himself had been dilapidated, completely opposite of what it was a month ago.

"What the hell am I doing!?" he exclaimed smacking the wedding picture from it's base to the floor. The shattering of the glass was a metaphor to what his life was like now; breakable.

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