Prompt #100: Shelter from the Storm by Bob Dylan
Her Safe Place
~oOo~
SVU Captain Olivia Benson was physically and emotionally drained after the uniformed officers had driven away with Vanessa Blake. The woman had held Olivia hostage in her restaurant when Olivia had accidentally walked in on a business negotiation gone wrong. Vanessa had been involved in a heated discussion with the man who was about to shut down her restaurant because she couldn't pay the rent.
Because Vanessa was an old friend, Olivia had done her best to talk the woman down before somebody got seriously hurt. During the hours that Olivia sat with the woman trying to de-escalate the situation, she had discovered that this breakdown had been building up for a long time. First, her husband had lost his theater job due to Covid shut-downs and her son couldn't go to college for the same reason.
Her son began partying to pass the time and refused to wear a mask. Her mother was living with the family and came down with the virus which eventually killed her. Vanessa blamed her son. Her husband left to take care of his sick father and ended up having to stay with them for an extended amount of time, causing strain on his and Vanessa's marriage. The pandemic had affected business in the restaurant and Vanessa had to let go most of her employees. Now, to top it all off, she could no longer pay the rent and was going to lose the lease to the restaurant.
It was no wonder the woman had snapped. Olivia was eventually able to calm the woman down by connecting her with her son. The neighborhood even banded together to pay off the lease and save the restaurant. Vanessa would still have to pay for her bad choices, but at least now she knew she wasn't alone.
Chief Christian Garland wasn't too sure Olivia knew that applied to her as well.
After the squad car had driven away with Vanessa, he approached the SVU Captain.
"Are you ok?"
"I'm exhausted," Olivia admitted.
Garland squeezed her shoulder.
"Go home. Let someone take care of you for a change."
Olivia gave the man a small smile but said nothing. She took care of everyone each and every day. Her son, her squad, her former partner, and his family. Lately, though, she had been wondering the same thing that Vanessa Blake had asked earlier in the day. She took care of everyone. Who took care of her?
Olivia always felt like she had to be the strong one, as a captain and as a mother. Over the past decade, after her former partner had left, she had discovered that she was a survivor. She had been through tough times but had come through stronger than ever. She had climbed up the NYPD ladder and become a single mom in the past several years. Sure she had been in a couple of relationships and she had friends who were more like family to her, but she hadn't really allowed herself to fully open up to anyone since the single most important person in her life had walked out of it. The few times she had tried, something had always happened to shut her down again.
~oOo~
Now she wandered aimlessly through the streets of New York. She couldn't go home to her son in the emotional condition she was in. She eventually hailed a cab and found herself giving the driver an address she hadn't planning on heading to.
Half an hour later, she was in front of the apartment of the one person who had been by her side for thirteen years. The one person she had thought would never let her down. She wasn't sure she was ready to trust him yet, but the bond they had still had a pull on her. Even after all the years, he was gone, Elliot Stabler still had a vice grip on Olivia Benson's heart.
After paying the cab driver and watching him drive off, Olivia stood outside the gate of the apartment building for several minutes debating whether or not to enter the courtyard. Finally, the question was answered for her when Elliot saw her through the window. He quickly opened the door and called out, "Liv?"
"Elliot. Hi," Olivia said nervously.
"What are you doing here?" Elliot asked with a smile.
Olivia shifted on her feet. "Well, I was in the neighborhood…"
Elliot gave a small smirk. "C'mon, Liv, be serious."
Olivia sighed. "Did you mean it when you said I mean the world to you? Because, honestly, a decade of abandonment showed me otherwise."
Elliot looked confused. "Of course, I meant it, Liv. What's this all about?"
Olivia hesitated. "Can we go inside?"
"Sure," Elliot replied, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and guiding her inside.
"Would you like something to drink? Tea? Water?"
"Water sounds great," Olivia said gratefully.
Elliot opened the fridge and got out two bottles of water, handing one to his former partner.
"What's going on, Liv?"
Olivia leaned against the counter with her arms crossed. "El, where were you in 2013?"
Elliot thought back. "I was doing walkabouts all over Europe. "
Olivia nodded. "And your family? Were they still in New York?"
"My older kids were. Kathy and Eli spent the summer and Holidays with me but lived mostly in New York until we moved to Italy. We sold the house and they lived with Kathy's parents in Buffalo while I was gone. Why?" was Elliot's confused response.
"Did your kids ever mention a case that happened back then? A man by the name of William Lewis?" Olivia asked.
Elliot shook his head slowly. "No. Should they have?"
"So nobody ever told you what happened?" Olivia pressed.
"Liv, what are you talking about?" Elliot asked warily
Olivia sighed. "You really don't know? Didn't know?"
"Olivia you're scaring me. What happened? Who the hell is William Lewis?" Elliot demanded.
Olivia then realized that she would have to tell him.
"Come sit down."
The two of them sat on the sofa and Olivia began. "A couple of years after you left, I was abducted by the worst psychopath we had ever encountered or have since."
Elliot all but freaked out. "What?! What happened!? You're obviously still here, so they found you. Or did you escape?"
Olivia couldn't meet his eyes as she told him the entire story.
When she was finished, Elliot felt a mixture of guilt and relief.
"He's dead?"
"Yes," Olivia confirmed.
Elliot closed his eyes and took a shaky breath.
"I am so sorry, Liv. I didn't know. If I had known…"
Olivia put a hand on his shoulder. "It's in the past. But I couldn't help wishing that you were there. I literally prayed while he was…torturing me. Prayed that you would burst through those doors. That you would rescue me. I told him that you would know what to do with him. That you would rip him to shreds. You'd have killed him and make sure it was an excruciatingly painful death."
Elliot nodded, tears of regret filling his eyes, but he didn't reach for Olivia. He wasn't sure he had the right. He wasn't sure how receptive she'd be.
"I would have. I can't believe I didn't know. That no one ever told me! How could none of my kids let me know?"
Tears stood in Olivia's eyes as well as she continued in a raspy voice, "That was the worst time, but it wasn't the last time I wished you were there. I needed you during the trial. I needed you when Lewis escaped and I willingly went with him the second time to keep him from raping and torturing a young girl. I wanted you there when I found Noah and later was given custody of him."
"Found him? Noah's isn't your biological child?" Elliot interrupted.
Olivia shook her head.
"Noah is adopted, El. And I wish you had been there for that, too. I wish you had been there later when he was kidnapped by his biological grandmother. And to vouch for me when I was investigated for child abuse."
Elliot's eyes widened. "What idiot would actually believe you could abuse a child, much less your own!"
Olivia shrugged. "Some teacher found a bruise on his arm and reported it. I did give him the bruise but it was an accident. He had run into the street and I yanked him back. Then the DA's office found out about my stressful job and my past trauma and used it against me. Eventually, I was exonerated but I couldn't help but think that if you had been around it wouldn't have gone that far. You always believed in me, that I was good parent material."
"Glad they eventually saw the light. You are an amazing mom, Liv. I can already tell."
"I was held hostage in a townhouse and was actually rescued by Ed Tucker. We eventually became really close. I never saw that coming but he changed later. He left IAB."
"Ed Tucker? That's the last person I would have pictured you with. But, I am glad you had someone that cared for you and made you happy. Where is he now? What does he think about you being around me again?"
Olivia looked down. "Ed's dead, El. He got brain cancer and killed himself rather than letting his family watch him die. He and I had broken up by then. We wanted different things in life. But, I was still devastated. I did love him."
"I'm so sorry, Liv," was all Elliot could say.
Olivia's eyes filled again as she nodded. Elliot took her hand and stroked it gently.
"That brings us to today."
"What happened today?" Elliot asked anxiously.
"What have you been doing today? Did you see the news? Hear anything on the radio?"
Elliot shook his head. "I interrogated Wheatley and his ex-wife today. I didn't listen to the scanner."
"Vanessa Blake. She owns a restaurant in my neighborhood. I went in to get food today and she had a knife on a man. He was there to help her shut down the restaurant. She couldn't pay the rent any longer. Anyway, after all that's happened to her this past year, she was pushed over the edge and she just snapped. I stayed and talked to her for hours. I offered to stay if she let the man go. She did and I was eventually able to connect her with her son. Together we were able to reason with her and we walked out of there together. She's in custody now. The restaurant is going to be saved thanks to people in the neighborhood starting a gofundme page," Olivia explained.
"Did she hurt you?" Elliot asked gently, rubbing her shoulder.
"No. She screamed at me and was waving her gun around, but she mainly pointed it at him. I don't think I was ever in any danger," Olivia assured her former partner even as tears began to run down her face.
This time, Elliot did reach for her. He couldn't help himself.
"I've got you, Liv. You don't always have to be so strong. I know I wasn't here before when you needed me, but that changes right now."
"I'm just so tired, El," Olivia confessed, her face muffled by his chest.
Elliot continued to stroke her hair and rock her back and forth. He knew words weren't what she needed right now. She needed actions. He needed to show her she was no longer alone.
Eventually, he pulled back so he could look at her.
"Liv, why don't you stay here tonight?"
"I don't know, El. I should get back to Noah," Olivia said hesitantly.
"You shouldn't drive home in the condition you're in," Elliot argued.
"I didn't drive. I walked. Then I took a cab," Olivia retorted.
"Still, why don't you see if your babysitter will stay overnight or see if Fin can take him for the night. You need to let someone take care of you for a change," Elliot insisted.
Olivia still hesitated. "What about Eli?"
"He's staying with Richard tonight. Brotherly bonding or something. Please, Liv. You need the rest. You'll run yourself into the ground if you keep going like you are," Elliot replied.
Olivia sighed. Was she ready to trust Elliot yet? She knew without a doubt he had her back. He would always protect her at all costs. But was sleeping at his place maybe just a bit too intimate?
In the end, she agreed. She had already opened up to him a lot tonight, and she really could use a peaceful stress-free night of sleep.
She texted Fin, who said he didn't mind at all if Noah stayed with him and Phoebe. He would go over and pick him up right away. Olivia thanked him and then face-timed Noah. The boy missed his mom but was excited to be having a sleepover with Uncle Fin and Aunt Phoebe.
After she finished the call, Elliot brought her a towel, washcloth, and some sweats to sleep in and she headed to his bathroom to take a shower. When she had finished washing the day off her body, she dried off, put on the sweats, and returned to the living room where Elliot had a cup of hot tea waiting for her.
"Thanks," she told him with a small smile.
"Anytime, Partner, " Elliot said.
The two of them watched a little TV while Olivia finished her hot beverage. They didn't talk. Words weren't needed. They had reached an understanding. They were on the road to healing and their friendship was not lost.
After finishing her tea, Olivia got up to put her cup in the dishwasher. Elliot quickly jumped up.
"I'll get that, Liv."
"It's fine, El. I can put my cup in the dishwasher," she replied quickly, walking to the kitchen and rinsing the cup out before placing it in the dishwasher.
Elliot stood watching her.
"I put extra blankets in the guest room in case you get cold. There's also an extra toothbrush in the bathroom."
Olivia came over and placed a hand on Elliot's cheek.
"Thanks, El. For everything."
Elliot placed a hand over hers.
"I know it may take a while for you to completely trust me again, but I'm going to do everything I can to show you I'm here and I'm not leaving again."
"It's hard for me to believe that right now, Elliot, but I am giving you the chance. Don't make me regret that," Olivia said, leaning up to kiss his cheek.
Elliot pulled Olivia into a tight hug which she returned just as tightly.
Even after all these years, after everything that happened between them, after a decade of radio silence, Elliot was still Olivia's anchor and she was his.
After a few moments, Elliot released Olivia, and she headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth before heading to the guest room. Olivia fell asleep that night feeling safer than she had in a long time.
In his own room, Elliot thought about how blessed he was to have Olivia back in his life. He was so grateful to be given the chance to make things right with her, and tonight was the first step.
Tonight he would provide her shelter from the storms of her life, and tomorrow and the next day and the next for as long as he took, he would show her that he was back to stay. He meant what he had told her years ago. For better or for worse, they were and always would be partners for life.
The author of this SVU Love in the Air story will be revealed in March