Chapter 6- Over and Out

Olivia walked into Don's office early the next morning. She looked out the window and saw that Elliot was already there too. She turned back quickly and shook off all of her impulses.

"Olivia?" Don said surprised.

"Hi Don," she said sitting down. "Don…I…"

"Please Olivia. Don't do what I think you are about to do. Elliot has had enough to deal with this year. He explained everything that happened. I really don't want to pin one of my best detectives and someone who once was your closest friend, a sex offender," Don pleaded with Olivia.

Olivia shook her head. She didn't want that either. "I just want to get away from him for a while, cool things off. Get a new partner, maybe John."

Don nodded and sighed in relief. "Ok. I am just really sorry this happened."

"Me too," she said getting up to leave. She walked out and sat down at her desk, across from Elliot.

Elliot looked up at her.

She avoided returning the stare.

"Elliot! My office now!" Don barked.

Elliot got up from his desk and glanced at Olivia one last time.

"Sit," Don ordered.

"Don…I…" Elliot pleaded.

"You are damn lucky she is not pressing charges, Elliot!" Don snapped at him.

Elliot sighed with relief.

"She doesn't want your badge taken either," Don continued. "As much as you or any other man in Manhattan may hate it, Olivia and Casey are together now. There isn't anything we can do to change that."

The Bullpen

"Hey Case," Olivia said in the phone. "Can we meet for lunch? We need to talk. Yeah. Ok. Bye. Love you too."

At about noon Olivia got up from her desk. "I'm going to meet Casey for lunch. Page me if you get anything," she directed to John.

John gave her the OK as she walked out.

Benson-Novak Residence

120th and Broadway

Wednesday, June 13

Casey looked up at Olivia as she walked in. "Hey Olivia," she said cheerfully. "What's up? You said we needed to talk. Is everything ok?" Casey said beginning to sound worried.

"Its so hard Casey," Olivia said plopping down at the kitchen table. "I don't want El to get in trouble but then again I want to scream, rape. Him and I used to be best friends and now this," Olivia went on. "I used to be jealous that he had someone and now that the roles are reversed neither of us know how to deal with it. El and I, we had something. I don't know if it was really love or just lust but it was something. I just know I haven't felt strongly for anyone in a long time."

Casey lowered her head.

"You changed my world Casey," Olivia said taking Casey's hand. "I never thought I would love anyone as much as I love you. I just don't want to lose you. I don't want to lose what we have together."

Casey looked up in surprise. "You won't lose me Olivia. I'm in it for the long hall," she smiled.

"I think we should slow things down a bit," Olivia finally blurted out.

Casey looked like she was about to collapse. "What? Like, do you mean at work or…do you want me to move out or…"

"I'm not dumping you or asking you to leave," Olivia said wiping a tear from Casey's cheek.

"Then what are you saying, Olivia?" Casey snapped out. "What do you want from me then?"

"Every time I get too close to someone I end up either screwing it up or getting screwed and I don't want that to happen to us. We used to be just great friends and us being together has changed that," Olivia tried to explain without crying herself. "It has also changed both of our relationships with everyone else around us." She sighed softly. "I don't want to lose you as my girl-friend but even though El did what he did I don't want to lose him as a friend either."

"I understand," Casey said getting up. She walked towards the door.

"Casey?" Olivia said worriedly.

"Casey paused in the doorway. "I have to think about some things. Go back to work and we can maybe talk later." She walked out, slamming the door behind her without another word.

Olivia just sat there and began to cry.