Chapter 2
A.N.: The value of Elliot and Olivia's car is only an estimate courtesy of Yahoo Autos based on the mileage in the story and the equipment I assume the car would have.
Olivia signs her name one last time then closes the manila file folder and adds it to the large stack on the right side of her desk. She reaches to the left of her for the next one when she realizes there are no more there.
"Wow, I am actually caught up on ALL of my paperwork. I think this' the first time that's ever happened" Olivia says, astonished.
"Me too Olivia. We have to celebrate since you know this won't happen again until like 2014" Elliot replies.
"I am in the mood for some seafood and a piece of cherry cheesecake but yeah, we don't have a car right now." Liv continues.
"Let me call the garage and see if they have it ready yet." Elliot replies taking his phone out.
It has been just over four and a half hours since the detectives had to be towed back to the 1-6. Everyone else is out, so the bull pen is quiet, except for Elliot and Olivia who are stuck there for the time being. Olivia gets up and stretches while Elliot talks to the service writer at the NYPD garage. After a few moments he ends the call and looks up at Liv with a less than happy look on his face.
"Well, what'd they say? Did they fix it?" Liv asks beginning to grow impatient.
"Mark said they did what they could but it doesn't look good. He said to come down there and he'll fill us in completely." El replies now standing.
"Great. Let's go see what's up I guess" Liv says turning for the door.
The NYPD Garage is a few blocks down the road from the 1-6. It is a large brick building surrounded by a paved lot that is fenced in. Police vehicles of all sorts sit out front as well as in the lot; some of the vehicles are drivable while others are not and others still are not whole. There are a row of garage doors along the front of the building while an office sits off to one side. The sound of power tools can be heard as soon as Elliot and Olivia walk up to the first garage door which is open.
A blonde man in his early forties wearing blue coveralls splattered with grease and oil sees the detectives approach. He sets his wrench down and goes to greet them.
"Hello, Adam, we're Det. Benson and Stabler. Our burgundy Crown Vic was towed here earlier today" Olivia says, reading the man's name tag.
"Hi. Yes, I know that car. I fixed the brakes last month. Let me take you to Mark at the desk. He can tell you what's going on with it today." Adam replies.
Adam leads Elliot and Olivia into the office where a red-haired man is behind a desk, talking on the phone and writing down information regarding a transmission order. He sees the three enter and holds up and finger to say that he'll be with them in a minute. Adam says goodbye to the detectives then heads back out to the garage. After taking down the necessary information, Mark ends the call and turns his attention to the detectives.
"Hello. You are here about the burgundy Crown Vic that was towed here earlier, right?" Mark asks.
"Yeah, how'd you know?" Elliot asks.
"We've gotten to know that car very well around here. It's one of the last ones in the NYPD fleet actually." Mark states.
"Really? That can't be a good thing" Olivia replies.
"In your case it is not."
Mark picks up a file from the side of his desk.
"That car has 254, 451 miles on it and it is twelve years old-way past the normal life span for a police car. Plus, let's see, this year alone you have had new brakes, a timing belt, a power steering pump, an O2 sensor, spark plugs and cables, a starter, and now you need a new radiator, thermostat, head gasket, and hoses" Mark reads from his file.
"Damn. That sounds like a lot more work. Were your mechanics able to fix it yet?" El asks.
"No. I am sorry detectives but that's not all. While we had it on the rack we ran several tests on it and it looks like the transmission is about to go and the engine is getting weak. Also there is getting to be a good accumulation of undercarriage rust that is worrisome. I talked to my boss and he said not to fix it, that the NYPD isn't going to put any more money into it since it's too costly and the car's not worth it" Mark explained.
Elliot and Olivia look at each other questioningly then back at Mark.
"So what do we do now? We have to have a car" Olivia asks.
"I was told to send you back to your C.O. - a Capt. Cragen for further information" Mark tells them.
"Where is our car now?" Olivia continues
"It is in the lot out back. If you need anything from it, let me know. I will be here until 6" Mark replies.
"Yeah, we will be back for sure. Liv, let's go see Cragen. Thanks Mark."
"No problem detectives. Sorry about your car. Maybe you'll get a new one."
"I hope so" Elliot says as he and Liv turn to leave the garage.
The detectives walk the two blocks back to the one-six in silence. The heat is still baking the city while the sun continues to beat down upon Elliot and Olivia who are continuously wiping sweat out of their eyes and cursing the unseasonably warm weather. Once at their precinct they head straight for Capt. Cragen's office.
Cragen sees his detectives approach and waves them in.
"I assume you are here about your car?" Cragen asks.
"Yeah. We just talked to Mark at the garage-it looks like our Vic is done with." El states sadly.
"Sorry guys, but your car is only worth a little over $1800 at best while the cost of repairs for what broke today plus and engine and transmission in the near future is over $5000. So, the car is in fact done with, headed for the scrap yard." Cragen explains.
"What now? Does the NYPD have any other cars we can use Capt.?" Liv asks
"Actually we do detectives. The NYPD was able to purchase a few new cars to replace the aging ones that are still on the street. The brass was worried about lawsuits from old, unsafe cars." Cragen explains.
"So we're getting a NEW car?" Elliot asks, his eyes beginning to light up.
"Yes you two are" Cragen answers, pulling two sets of keys from his desk.
Elliot and Olivia eye the silver keys dangling from the basic key rings like they were a 45 karat diamond worth millions of dollars.
"Now, while you two are getting a NEW car, I expect you two to treat it as if it were each other-protect it and care for it like you do one another. And Elliot, no more accidents-the brass was on me for a month after that last one that resulted in $5000 in damage. I assume you remember that one Det. Stabler? The one where you zigged instead of zagged?" Cragen states firmly, still grasping the keys in his hand.
"I do recall it sir. I will not have any more accidents-you have my word. And I will care for and love this new car as much as I do Liv" Elliot states.
Cragen and Olivia just look at Elliot for a moment; he is still fixated on the shiny sets of keys in Cragen's left hand. Olivia begins to turn a slight crimson shade as Elliot's words, his little slip, in front of their boss, sinks in. She looks at Elliot now, silently cursing him for his timing and choice of setting to reveal his feelings and also praying Cragen doesn't call him on his use of the l-word in regards to her.
"Olivia?"
"Uh…yes Capt. Cragen?" Liv stammers.
"You're quiet over there. What do you think- you won't wreck the car will you? You will take as good of care of it as Elliot says he will won't you?" Cragen asks folding his arms across his chest as a crooked smile appears on his face.
"No! I won't even as much as get a door ding, and yes, I feel exactly as Elliot does"
Silently Olivia curses herself repeatedly as she realizes how far she has put her foot in her own mouth. She looks over at her partner again; he is now a crimson shade at her little slip. Olivia gives him a weak smile. He gives her one in return.
"You guys want to go see your NEW car or not?" Cragen asks, breaking the silence.
Both detectives turn to their boss.
"Yes Sir. They reply in unison.
"Here go you."
Cragen hands his two best detectives each a set of keys which they more than happily accept.
"Thank you so much sir."
Again the detectives speak in unison.
"You two do deserve it, as hard as you work. But remember, care for it as you do each other"
"We will sir, and thanks again" Elliot alone replies.
Elliot and Olivia then turn and race out of their boss' office in search of their new set of wheels. Cragen meanwhile just shakes his head at the retreating detectives. Dr. Wong is still right-they are way too close. But there's no way I can split them up, they are my best detectives Cragen thinks to himself while going back to his mountain of paperwork.
A.N.: Elliot really did have an accident where he "zigged instead of zagged" that caused $5000 in damage. It was a few seasons ago, and at the present I can't recall the name of the episode. And I wonder what kind of car they get? Do they talk about Elliot's little slip? You shall see. Thanks for reading; hope you enjoyed it so far!