a/n: anyone else notice how El didn't deny it when the mother in RESPONSIBLE asked him if he and Liv were an item?????

Elliot watched intently as Olivia took out her compact and fixed her lipstick. She closed the lid and put it back into her purse. She stood up and fixed her outfit, which she had changed into just moments ago.

She was wearing a black dress that was low cut and had spaghetti straps. The dress just touched the tip of her knees. She had a gorgeous pair of black heels on that made Elliot go crazy, he remembered those heels…those were the ones she wore on their first date.

"What do you have a hot date?" He asked looking up at her. He was half serious, half kidding.

She looked at him and opened her mouth as she tried to think of the best answer in this situation, "Uh…yeah actually." She said putting her diamond earrings in.

"Are you kidding?" He asked with a little bit of and attitude.

"Uh, no actually, I'm not." She said giving his attitude right back.

"Oh that's great Liv." He said throwing his pen on his desk.

"What do you want from me Elliot? You are the one that just moved back in with Kathy." She said, now completely pissed off that he was giving her a hard time.

"You know why I got back with her Liv."

"Uh, actually no I don't El."

"Come on Liv. You know I miss my kids."

"Well most people file for custody El. They don't get back together with their ex wives."

"Lizzie and Dickie would be in college before we even got to trial Liv! You know how those things work."

"Well what do you want me to El? Sit at home and knit while I wait for you to make up your mind!" She hollered. She definitely did not want to get into this now. Especially not in the bullpen when the Captain was still in his office.

"No---I..Jesus Liv, I don't know." He said throwing his hands up in the air.

"Well I think you said it all when you said, and I quote, I can't do this Liv. There is too much at risk."

"You know what? I can't have this fight again. Fine, go have fun Liv; I hope he's a great lay!" He shouted at her.

The blood in her body scorched, her face became beat red as well as Elliot's cheek after she slapped him hard across the face.

"Fuck you El." She said and stormed out.

EOEOEOEO

"You're home late." Kathy said as Elliot climbed into bed.

"Ah, yeah case." He lied. The truth was that after Olivia left he didn't want to go home, so he stayed at the precinct until almost 2 in the morning.

As soon as his head hit the pillow his cell phone rang.

"Typical." Kathy muttered and rolled over to look at Elliot.

He knew it was going to be Liv. It was her prime calling hour. She was probably going to ream him out. He didn't care though; he just wanted to hear her voice.

"Stabler."

"Elliot, it's Munch," He couldn't help but feel disappointed, "We got a case; Cragen wants you to go Belleview and see if the Vic is awake."

Looking at Kathy's pissed off expression, "Can't Benson go?" He asked.

"She's not picking up." Munch answered.

"Ok fine." He said and hung up with John. Olivia was probably still out with douche bag, or doing whatever with him. He shrugged at the mere thought.

EOEOEOEOEOEO

"Detective Stabler, I'm here about the woman who was brought in earlier." Elliot said as he leaned over the nurses' station and showed his badge.

"Late 30's, Caucasian, no ID, beaten beyond recognition." The nurse said as she led Elliot to the room.

"Signs of Rape?" He asked.

"Well her clothes were ripped, along with her panties, but no fluids were found, and no bruising around inner thigh. She's sleeping now; we gave her a small sedative to calm her down. She should wake up in a few hours."

"Ok, thank you." He said and jotted a few things down on his notepad as he walked into the room.

Elliot nearly gasped, the women bore a resemblance to Olivia, but surely it couldn't be….right? He looked over the body, her face was completely swollen, both eyes were black and blue.

"We found this around her neck; so far it's the only thing we got to identifying her." The nurse said and held up an evidence bag.

Elliot felt the wind get knocked out of him when he saw the bag.

A gold rectangular shaped necklace, with the word, 'fearlessness' engraved on it.

Elliot became white as a ghost as he stared at it.

"Are you ok Detective?" The nurse asked.

He looked up to her in complete shock, "It's my partner." He said and then turned back to the bed. He walked up to her and took her hand, "Oh my God Olivia." He said and felt the flow of tears come rushing to his eyes.

The nurse stepped out of the room to give him some privacy. She headed back to the nurses station to call the SVU Captain.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEO

"I'm so so so sorry Olivia." Elliot cried as he held tightly onto Olivia's hand.

He felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned to look, it was Don.

"Come on Elliot lets go get something to eat."

Elliot looked back at Olivia, "I didn't even ask." He said quietly.

"What are you talking about Elliot?"

"She had a date tonight, and I didn't even ask her the guy's name. We could have had him in custody already."

"She's not one of your daughters. There was nothing you could have done. You're not her protector Elliot."

"Yes, yes I am." He said softly.

Don sighed and took a seat next to Elliot, "Listen Elliot, this is not your fault."

"You know what the last thing she said to me?" Elliot asked looking over at Don, ""Fuck you, El." Elliot said and gave himself a pity laugh.

"Sounds typical." Don said with a smile. The past few weeks all they had been doing was fighting.

"No fuck you Liv!!"

"You stupid son of a bitch!"

"I swear to God if you didn't have children I would---ARRRR!!"

Although they had been fighting a lot, no ever knew what they were actually were fighting about. Once in awhile it would be about a case, but most of the time it would break out when we didn't even have any cases.

"When we find this guy Cap, I want 10 minutes with him alone."

"I'll put you at the top of the list." Don said trying to make light of the situation.

"I just want to wake her up and tell her I'm sorry, but I know she needs her rest." Elliot said rubbing his thumb along her hand.

"She'll wake up soon El, and you can tell her," Cragen stood up, "I'm going to go back to the house and see what we got. If you need anything, call. Oh, and when she wakes up tell her were all here for her."

"I will. Thanks Cap."

EOEOEOEOEOEO

When Olivia woke up she could barely make out the figure slumped over in the chair next to her. Not that she even need to see, she knew who it was.

She stared at him for awhile. Pondering over the past few weeks. She was in love with him, absolutely, head over heels in love with him. But neither one of them had allowed themselves to fall.

It was the first person she fell in love with that she hadn't slept with. And for some reason it scared the shit out of her.

"El…" She said softly, for the first time noticing how hard it was to talk when your face was used as a punching bag.

"Liv?" Elliot shot right up as soon as he heard her voice, "You're awake."

"What are you doing here El?"

"You're kidding right? Not only my partner, but my best friend was attacked last night, where else would I be but right beside her?" Although her face was swollen and bruised Elliot could swear he saw her smile.

"I'm sorry if I worried you."

"Scared the shit out of, is more like it."

"What happened Liv? Did your date do this to you?"

Olivia nodded, yes, "It was going great, we had drinks, ate dinner, danced," She was trying to hold off the tears, "And then he walked me home and something in his eyes changed, I don't know if it is what I said, or what I did, but the next thing I know he pounding my face with his fist," She looked over at him, "Don't worry I got few blows in myself. And then that's all I remember."

"I should have never let you go."

"Elliot, I would have gone with him no matter what you said."

"That's not what I meant." He said taking her hand in his, "When I got here, and you were still out of it, it hit me---BAM! I'm in love with you. Completely head over heels in love with you Liv. And I think it's time we stop being afraid and quit all this bull shit, and just let it happen."

Fall.

"What if it doesn't work out El?"

"No, stop right there. We will not give into fear Liv."

"Ok, but what about Kathy?"

"I tried Liv, but last night when I was lying next to her all I could think about was you. You were right Liv, me moving back home was a bad idea, and I should have seen it, but…I just wanted to be with my kids no matter what."

"I understood, you know. It just hurt like a bitch."

He smiled at her and placed a small kiss on her forehead, "Liv?"

"Yeah?"

"Can I hold you?" He asked with sad little puppy dog eyes.

She moved slowly to the left and patted her hand on the mattress. He lay down very carefully next to her and wrapped his arms warmly and protectively around her.

"Never let me go." She whispered and she felt him squeeze her extra tight.

"Never, ever."