Trust

The following morning, at the hospital, Olivia awoke and found herself wrapped securely in the arms of her partner. Remembering the conversation the previous day, she snuggled in closer and let herself drift off once more.

At around eleven the following day, Elliot woke, being asked the move by the nurse.

"Sorry, sir, but I need to check a few things."

Elliot nodded and moved to stand, but Olivia, who was still asleep, attempted to pull him closer, saying, "No, El, don't go. Come back," when Elliot continued to move away, she said, "Please come back."

Elliot's heart tugged at the sadness in her voice. Though Olivia was still asleep, it was clear that she was terrified that Elliot was leaving her.

"Shhh, 'Livia," he said wrapping his arms around her, "Shhh. I'm right here. I won't leave you."

Olivia opened her eyes, and realizing that Elliot was present, she flung herself further into his arms and snuggled in closer.

"I thought you were gone. I thought you left again," Olivia mumbled into his chest as she hugged him tighter.

"Hey," he whispered, ignoring the nurse, "I won't leave you. I promise."

For the next few days, Elliot and Olivia were almost inseparable, staying together at the hospital and also at her apartment. They began to regain their friendship, and trust that had been there previously. It also deepened, as there was an underlying reason to build their relationship further.

Ten days after Olivia's accident, she was ready to go back to work. Though she would be on desk duty for a couple more days, maybe a week, she was relieved to be working once more. When she got to the Squad room, she was bombarded with questions.

"How are you?"

"Are you ready to come back?"

"Are you leaving?"

"Is that - " Olivia cut him off.

"I am fine, and I am here to work. I won't be on active duty for another week or so. And I have no intention of leaving at the moment."

Noting with some concern, that Olivia said she wasn't leaving at the moment, Munch asked, "Are you planning to?"

"Leave?" Olivia questioned, and Munch nodded, "Not currently."

Although, this did not answer Munch's concerns, he let the matter slide until he could talk to her in private. For the remainder of the day, it seemed almost as if everything was back to normal. The teasing and laughter was present, and no one seemed to be edgy, which was a relief for the squad.

Later that evening, when Olivia and Elliot returned to her apartment, he confronted her about the statements she had made at the station.

"What did you mean that you weren't planning to leave at the moment?" he asked, and the betrayal in his voice was evident.

"What?" Olivia asked, she had forgotten about the questions in the morning, as she had just solved a four year old rape case.

"When you arrived at the station, you said that you weren't planning on leaving at the moment. When Munch asked you about it, you were still ambiguous. Are you planning on leaving?"

While Olivia understood what Elliot was talking about, she had no desire to answer his questions, and every desire to avoid another argument. Especially since they seemed to be finally getting their friendship and trust back.

"I'm not planning on leaving," Olivia said, though she silently added 'at the moment.'

"You mean, you're staying here for good? You have no intention of ever leaving New York City?"

"Well, at some point I would leave. I mean, if I want to have a vacation, I'm not going to do it in New York, am I?" she asked, still avoiding the issue.

"Don't avoid the subject, Olivia. Are you or are you not planning on leaving this city?"

"At the moment, NO!" she said loudly, still trying to avoid the subject. The truth was that if her relationship attempt with Elliot didn't work, she had every reason to leave immediately and never look back. If it did, then she could safely say that she was not going to leave New York, unless they both wished it.

"Can't you drop the subject?" she asked, as Elliot looked at her in betrayal, "I said, I'm not planning to leave now."

He didn't answer her, just asked another question. One which would ensure a fight, he thought, "Why can't you answer the question?"

"What do you want me to say?" she asked, annoyed, angry and hurt at him not being able to drop the subject, "What do you want me to say?" she yelled.

"Very simple," he answered with an annoyingly calm voice, "Are you leaving?"

"I don't know," she shouted, pushed to the edge, " I don't know, alright?"

"Why not? You're either leaving or you're staying. It's very simple," he said, though it was clear his words did not have the desired effect.

"Look," she said calmly, though there was barely controlled anger in her voice, "I don't know if I am leaving, because circumstances surrounding that are still in negotiation."

"What the hell are you talking about? What circumstances? What negotiation?" Elliot questioned, confused.

"I'm going to say this once, and I'm not repeating it. It is never to be mentioned again. Understand?" she asked, and Elliot nodded, thoroughly confused, "If this works, I stay. If it doesn't, I go."

"Oh," he stated softly.

Olivia left Elliot in his confused daze, while she made dinner. Throughout the meal there was an uncomfortable silence, both minds still dwelling on the previous discussion. When Olivia could bear it no more, she said quietly, "I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I just can't deal with another couple of months like that."

"I understand that, I do. I just never realized that you're happiness kind of depends on me."

Olivia looked at him incredulously, "What?"

"Well, the way you were talking it was like I had two choices. I make you happy in a relationship and you stay or I don't start a relationship and you go. What if I want you to stay, but not in a relationship?"

"But," she said, her voice trembling, "But you said that you wanted to be friends first, and then move onto something more. Was that a lie? Has everything you told me been a lie?" When Elliot didn't say anything, she screamed, "HAS IT? ANSWER ME! IS IT A LIE?"

"No," he said very quietly, "It wasn't a lie. It still isn't."

"But you said that you wanted me to stay, but not be in a relationship with you. I don't understand," she said, her lips trembling, and her voice sounding almost broken.

"No, Liv. I mean, if we don't work out, then I want you to stay. I want to try, I do, but if it doesn't work, then please stay." He looked horrified as Olivia's eyes filled with tears and they cascaded down her cheeks.

She leapt from her standing position, and flung herself into his arms, snuggling tightly into his chest and taking comfort from his arms.

"I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I'm so sorry. I thought you wanted to go back to being friends, and nothing else," her voice broke as she sobbed in earnest, "I'm so sorry."

"Shhh. Hey, don't worry," Elliot said as they moved toward the couch. For a while, they remained as they were, tightly hugging each other, and taking comfort from one another.

"What'd you say we finish dinner?" He asked once Olivia had calmed down. Olivia nodded but didn't release her hold.

"Well," he said, laughing, "If you don't let go, I can't get you dinner."

Olivia shrugged and cuddled him closer. When she spoke her voice was muffled due to the sweater Elliot was wearing.

"Do you," she paused, uncertain, "Do you want to move on to the next part?"

"Next part?" he asked, once again confused. It seemed to him, wherever Olivia was concerned, or women in general, he was always confused.

Olivia hugged him tighter and her voice became even more muffled, but her reply was distinct, "Move from friends to lovers."

"Oh," he said, a little taken aback at Olivia's change of mind. It had only been a few days ago when she had said that she didn't know if she could trust him enough to be her friend, let alone her lover.

Olivia, getting no reply from Elliot, disengaged herself. "I'm sorry. I just thought that maybe it would be better, and I really do want to. But I'm scared and I just realized that the longer I take over this the harder it's going to be and I really do love you, but I -" Elliot cut her off.

"Yes," he said simply.

(I'm a little unsure if I should continue this story or not. I would appreciate it, if in your reviews, you would let me know what you think. Thanks.)