Wow. The response has been just wow. Thanks so much!!

Disclaimer: I cleaned my room!! I actually cleaned it...okay, so Sarah cleaned it but if I owned SVU I could get someone else - other than my friend - to clean my room...but I don't so I won't.

For Laura, Aussie Buddy!!

- - - - -

Elliot walked past the desks and headed for the bathroom first, he hadn't heard the heavy roof door slam shut so he knew she hadn't gone up there. He knocked on the 'Women's' door and called her name softly. He didn't get a response so he ducked his head in. All the stalls were empty as was the main area.

Elliot left the bathroom and headed up the stairs towards the cribs and lockers. He pushed the door to the cribs open and quickly looked around. He doubted he'd find Olivia in there – especially if she was fuming but it was best to check.

He scanned the room. It was dimly lit but even in the subtle lighting he could see enough to tell she wasn't in there. He let the door fall closed and headed for the lockers.

He entered without knocking and strolled down the rows of lockers until he reached his and Olivia's. He found her sitting on the bench that stretched the full line of lockers. She was facing her opened locker in just her pants and bra. She was clutching her shirt in her hands, close to her chest and had that far off look in her eyes again. Elliot called her name but she didn't flinch. After the reaction she gave down in the squadroom he decided just to let her ride this out while he went and told Cragen they'd take the rest of the afternoon but it was indefinite if they would take the long weekend.

She could smell the blood on her shirt and she wanted to be sick.

She screamed.

She could feel her hands shaking but refused to acknowledge it. Olivia watched the young girl on the ground, lying in a pool of her own blood. It was sticky, like molasses and the red matched a lipstick she had in her top draw in her bathroom, a rich berry colour. The scent was filling her senses, her head spinning slightly. She stumbled back, clutching her chest as she tried to fight for a breath that didn't strangle her. Elliot grabbed hold of her from behind, gripping her elbows tightly but not leaving any marks. Olivia shook her head and quickly left the room. She couldn't be in there with Melanie like that. She was just a child.

She made her way out of the apartment, running down the stairs, almost crashing down them twice before regaining her footing and flying down the rest and out into the fresh air out on the street.

It was too bright outside, too busy, too normal. The world didn't even seem to pause at the tragic event that had just occurred in apartment 4B.

Olivia began pacing the path outside, sucking the fresh air into her lungs only to feel the sickly stench of blood trickling down her throat, she gagged slightly, looking down and noting the blood spattered across her shirt.

She leant into the nearest trashcan and threw up all her toast as well as whatever it was she had eaten last night.

She felt Elliot come up behind her and quickly stood, wiping her mouth on her sleeve. She turned to face him and noted his sombre appearance.

"CSU is on their way." Elliot murmured quietly.

Olivia nodded, not really able to speak.

"You okay?" Elliot asked caringly.

NO!!

"Yeah, I'm fine. Let's just get this over with." Olivia mumbled.

"Liv?" Elliot said softly.

He watched her come out of her little day dream, slightly confused at how Elliot had gotten there.

Olivia just looked up at him, still clutching her shirt, not having moved from her original position. Her mind was sluggish and her brain seemed to have stopped thinking all together.

Elliot squatted down in front of her and took hold of her hands, gently pulling them away from her chest and began prying her fingers away from the light fabric of her shirt.

He could feel her hands trembling slightly as she looked at him with wide eyes, never breaking their locked gaze. He took the shirt from her before handing her the spare one she kept in her locker. He quickly got up and faced away from her, allowing her to get some privacy as she dressed.

Olivia stood gingerly, the world finally coming back into focus after the small exchange she had just experienced with Elliot. She pulled the blouse on before beginning to try and do up the buttons. Her fingers fumbled with a few before she was finally done. She closed her locker door before turning back to Elliot.

Elliot felt Olivia's presence and turned around to face her.

"Umm…can I have my shirt please?" She asked quietly.

"Oh, yeah sure." Elliot gave her a quick smile as he handed back her shirt.

Olivia went to take it, pausing momentarily, deciding whether it was a good or bad idea. Feeling the need to not give Elliot anymore reasons to fear that she was completely broken she quickly snatched the shirt up. It was still warm from being hugged against her body and it made her visibly shudder, ignoring this, she turned and headed for the trashcan at the end of the row of lockers and threw it in there.

"What did Cragen say?" Olivia asked, trying to get back a feeling of normalcy.

"He said to take the rest of the day to decide on what we're doing this weekend." Elliot shrugged, leaning up against a locker.

"I don't need time off-" Olivia began to protest.

"Olivia?" Elliot raised an eyebrow, only brining up the mention of her now two episodes with a glance

"Fine. We'll take the rest of the day." Olivia huffed, "Do you want to go and get a late lunch?"

"Yeah, sure." Elliot smiled softly.

They both left the locker room and headed for their regular lunch diner.

- - - - - -

The waitress placed a hamburger and fries in front of Elliot and a salad in front of Olivia after bringing out their coffees. Olivia picked at a few of the lettuce leaves but didn't really eat anything. She sat mainly stirring her coffee. She had already added four sugars and normally she'd refrain from having one. She hadn't even taken a sip yet and Elliot was beginning to worry.

"Eat something, Liv. You'll feel better." Elliot smiled sadly.

He knew he'd be acting the same if he had been in that room at the same time as she had.

Olivia didn't glance up. She just shook her head from her slumped position in the seat opposite him in their slightly confined booth. She had her elbow planted on the table, her head resting against her flat palm. She was staring at her coffee mug, watching the liquid spin. It was making her queasy but at this point she really didn't care.

"You haven't eaten all day, At least drink something." Olivia felt a tear slip and roll down her cheek before dropping onto the table in front of her.

She looked up, not even bothering to conceal the source of the salty moisture, "Just drop it, El." She warned in a low voice that wasn't even threatening in the least.

She dropped her head back to her hand and resumed stirring her coffee. Elliot could see her eyes glazing over again and knew she was slipping into one of her 'daydreams' again. He couldn't even imagine what must be troubling that beautiful mind of hers but he was determined not to let it happen again.

"Hey Liv?" Elliot asked quietly.

When she didn't respond he reached out and stopped her hand from stirring, now she looked up at him.

"Talk to me." Elliot's eyes were pleading with her.

"I-" She was going to say 'I can't' but that was what Melanie had said, "Don't Elliot. Not now."

Elliot nodded in understanding, "We don't have to talk about that let's just talk about something."

Olivia shook her head again, unsure of what they'd talk about and whether she'd prefer the silence.

"Do you want to come back to my apartment after this or would you like to just head back to yours?" Elliot asked.

"I think I'll just head back to my place." Olivia replied, her voice void of any emotion.

Elliot nodded, "Okay."

After another five minutes of watching Olivia closely Elliot got up and paid for the check before he and Olivia left the diner and slipped into Elliot's car. As soon as Olivia slid into the warmth of Elliot's sedan her exhaustion hit her like a ton of bricks.

She took a deep breath and yawned before resting back in the seat.

Elliot didn't comment, instead her put the key in the ignition and pulled out of their parking space.

Elliot drove through the streets of Manhattan, occasionally glancing at Olivia to see her head rested against the cold window, staring lifelessly at the paths and buildings running along side the streets. After another couple of minutes he looked over to see her sound asleep. He smiled softly to himself before looking back to the road and continuing to weave through the New York traffic.

When Elliot pulled up at Olivia's apartment building he turned to face Olivia. Her hand was rested between the glass of the window and her cheek now and she was definitely asleep.

"Liv, you're home." Elliot murmured.

Olivia shifted a bit but other than that she didn't make a sound.

"Olivia, wake up." Elliot said a bit louder.

He touched her shoulder gently but even that didn't wake her.

Elliot decided against carrying her up to her apartment because she'd kick his arse for it, instead opting to drive to his place and hoping she'd be awake once they arrived and she could just crash there for the night.

He put the car back into gear before pulling away from the curb and heading for his apartment.

- - - - -

Well, I don't think anyone needs any encouragement to review!!

You're all totally fabulous!!

Love,

Curses...