What About Me?

Chapter 2- I Should Tell You

An hour later, the clock read 11:00 and feeling that Olivia might want to be getting to bed, Elliot said, "Hey, it's late. Maybe I should get going."

Olivia, who had been thoroughly enjoying his company, was saddened by the sudden announcement, and said with a little melancholy in her voice, "Oh, ok then." They both got up and she walked him to the door. Elliot lingered at the doorway, leaning against the threshold. Olivia rested against the door, standing at a close, but not uncomfortable, proximity to him.

"Thanks, Liv," he said with a smile, "it was nice catching up."

"Yeah, we should do it again, soon," she added, placing emphasis on the last word. She didn't want months to pass before she got this chance to spend time with him again.

Elliot hesitated, his smile faded from his lips. He realized he should turn and go, but he couldn't. Not before he told her what he had wanted to say all night.

Olivia noticed his change in demeanor. He looked nervous all of a sudden. She became worried. "El? Are you ok? What's wrong?" He didn't say anything, only dropped his gaze to stare at the floor. "Is it Kathy?" she pressed, "Is she going to be mad that you stayed so long? I'm so sorry El, I should have let you go sooner, I…"

"No," he interrupted her, "It's nothing like that."

"Oh," she said, still worried, but also confused. "Then what's the matter?" He shifted his gaze to stare at the door she was leaning on, refusing to look at her face. Still, he said nothing. "Talk to me El," she implored, "Let me help you." He looked up at her, pain in his eyes.

"I'm leaving SVU," he said finally, looking at her desperately, waiting for her reaction.

Olivia felt her heart skip a beat and felt the color draining from her face. No, she thought, this isn't happening. He wouldn't leave me like that… She now clung to the door for support. Despite the initial shock, she managed to weakly choke out "W-What?"

"I'm…I'm sorry, Liv. I'm handing in my request for a transfer to Cragen tomorrow morning." Elliot was still desperately searching her face, trying to figure out what she was thinking.

"But why?" she asked, tears starting to form in her eyes.

Elliot swallowed hard. "Kathy and I are getting divorced. If I want partial custody of the kids, then I have to transfer out of SVU. The lawyer said that the long hours and dangerous work environment make me a poor candidate for custody otherwise." Now it was Olivia's turn to drop her eyes, trying to hide to tears that were starting to trail down her face.

"Please, Liv. Please understand that I don't have a choice," Elliot begged, the desperation now clear in his voice.

"Yeah, El. I understand. You have to do this for your kids." She raised her eyes again, tears now shining clearly in them. She said that she understood, but her face was clearly echoing the question she had asked him years ago, after the Gitano case. What about me? She didn't dare ask him. She couldn't ask him to leave his kids for her. No matter how badly she wanted to, she wouldn't ask him to make that choice.

All she wanted was to close the door so she could run to her bedroom and cry her heart out. He was leaving SVU. He was leaving her. The fact that he said he was getting a divorce barely registered in her conscience. She loved him. She had loved him all those years he had watched her back and she had watched his. But now he was leaving, and she could never tell him how much she meant to her.

"Goodnight, El," she whispered, closing the door.

"Wait." Elliot held the door open. "There's something else I should tell you."

No, please Elliot. She begged silently. I can't handle any more bad news tonight.. She looked deeply into his stunning clear blue eyes, trying to prepare herself for yet another unsustainable blow. The hurt was etched clearly on her face. But she waited for him continue.

Elliot was nervous again. But his resolve was clear. "Just do me a favor and hold still for a second."

Olivia barely had time to register what he had said before he kissed her. His lips were on hers and his arms were wrapped tightly around her waist. The kiss was fierce and insistent, pouring years of tension and desire into that one passionate moment. Olivia was shocked, and her eyes only had time to flutter closed before it ended. As quickly as it had begun, it was over. He left one last gentle, lingering kiss on her lips before he pulled back slowly.

"Goodnight, Liv. I'm sorry." Elliot turned to leave.

"Elliot…" Olivia put a hand on his should and turned him to face her again. They eyes met for an instant and she pulled him close. She crashed her lips to his in a breathtaking kiss. Her arms snaked around his neck as he brought his to wrap around her waist. His tongue traced her bottom lip, begging for admittance, which she readily granted. Her fingers toyed with his hair as he pulled her flush against him, intensifying the kiss. When breathing became a necessity, she pulled back, but only far enough to lean her forehead against his. Their noses were touching.

"You said there's something else you wanted tell me?" Olivia asked, smiling.

"Yeah," he breathed back, "I love you." With that, he kissed her again, only this time gently, savoring the feel of her soft lips moving with his. He released her again, still holding her close.

"That's another reason why I'm leaving. So I can finally have you," he said, "That is, it you'll have me." His signature Stabler grin was stretched across his face.

"Hmm….let me think," Olivia replied, punctuating the thought with a gentle kiss.

"I guess a better question would be," he ventured again, "…do you love me?"

Olivia laughed quietly and brought her lips within millimeters of his. "Stabler," she whispered, "You have no idea." With that, she closed the gap between them and kissed him into oblivion.

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