From Hell To Heaven
A/N Thank you to DeLene, spacekitten2700, SteffieDawn, courtneylovejason, maerae93 and Jennifer Catlin DiNozzo for your reviews, you always make me smile :) Thanks to jmarrero16 for adding a story alert, and to Totally awesome & justliziam for adding to favourite story.
This chapter is a bit shorter than usual, I intended to post it ages ago but I've been rushed off my feet. It's a bit more domesticated, I wanted to get EO sorted before the next chapter, you'll see why.
Chapter 26-Moving Day
Olivia snuggled in bed. She yawned and slowly sat up when she felt the mattress move. She saw Elliot pulling on clothes.
"Wake up sleepy head." he smiled.
"What time is it?" she mumbled in her drowsyness.
"Just after 9."
"On a sunday?" He nodded in response. "Elliot, what is wrong with you? You woke me before 12 on a Sunday?" she asked incredulously, before dropping back on to the pillow and snuggling in. "We didn't even get to sleep 'til 4."
"Which explains my good mood, don't you think?" he passed her a wolfish grin as he laced his shoes. "Ok, you sleep, I'll go get us breakfast." He gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and left.
He returned back nearly an hour later in time to see her coming from the bathroom, her hair was wet and slightly curled; she'd taken a shower.
"You ok?" he warily asked, setting down what he was holding.
She looked a little wide eyes, but otherwise ok. "Yeah." she said, still a little shook up.
He kissed her head. "Proud of you." he mumbled, handing her a cup of coffee and a wink.
She took a backwards glance at the bathroom door and smiled to herself.
xXx
After breakfast, and Olivia got dressed and did her hair (Elliot rolled his eyes), they were soon deciding what to do with their day off. After bickering that the library was boring and watching football was a waste of time, they settled for a walk and see where they went from there. So pretty soon they were strolling towards the park in a comfortable silence, until Elliot spoke at last. He held her hand as he halted them.
"Hey Liv, I was thinking, I know you don't want to rush this relationship thing and I know accepting the key was a big sep for you-"
"Spit it out, El." she smiled.
"I think we should move your stuff in to my apartment. Our apartment."
Her joking dmile faultered. "You mean from my old apartment?"
He knew she was stalling; she didn't want to go back there. "Yeah. It seems pointless to be paying rent on it if you're not living there; I mean you're practically living with me anyway."
She started to dawdle away, he followed after her. seeing her consider it.
"You're right; it's a waste of money and my tenancy agreements up by the end of the month anyway."
"So, we're doing this? You're actually moving in with me?" he asked, taking her hand again.
"Wasn't last night enough of a 'yes'?" she teased.
xXx
They were stood outside her door. She was just taking a few breaths to steady herself.
"Olivia!" A small, old lady with frizzy blonde hair was rushing towards her and Elliot.
"Mrs Harper," Olivia smiled.
The woman finally reached her with a wheeze. "You're alive! We heard such terrible things." she muttered, nodding at the cut police tape lying at the foot of Olivia's door.
"Oh." Olivia said. It was all she could say. 'Great, people think I'm dead.' "I'm quite all right, Genie, just a break in."
"You should move somewhere safe, you never know, they might come-"
"She is moving actually." Elliot cut in.
"Oh, I'm sorry, this is Elliot, my partner." she said instinctively. "El, this is Genie Harper, my neighbour."
"Genie?" Elliot asked, briefly shaking her hand.
"Short for Eugenie." Olivia muttered.
"Unless you want a wish," Genie winked at him.
Olivia stifled a laugh as Elliot smirked uncomfortably. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Genie. I'll wait inside." Elliot added mutteringly to Olivia.
He turned the keys Olivia had left in the door. Genie fluttered her lashes before he disappeared inside.
"Partner, eh?" she immediately asked; Olivia was used to Genie's love of gossip. "Unusual for collegues to move in together."
Olivia resisted rolling her eyes. "Yeah, er- we've been dating, plus we've been best friends for years now."
"I thought I recognised the name." Genie smiled; once Olivia had mentioned Elliot a while ago, Genie took it upon herself to keep up to date with the news.
"Yeah." Olivia mentally kicked herself.
"So a break in? We had cops crawling the place asking questions, but we didn't see you so we just assumed the worst." Genie looked concerned. "Everything's all right isn't it? You're ok?"
"Er- yeah, I am."
Genie stepped closer. "Does he treat you good? Because you can tell me if he doesn't." She leaned in suspiciously.
"He treats me good, he really does. He's been helping me a lot recently."
"I bet he has." Genie muttered with a smirk, causing Olivia to blush. "Well, I suppose it's better for you to move somewhere you're safe and happy." Genie placed an aged hand on Olivia's face. "You look happy."
Olivia smiled back at her neighbour, before the little old woman hobbled away.
xXx
She stepped inside her old apartment to see Elliot stood looking out the window. He looked up as she closed the door.
"I found these boxes in your closet." She looked down at them leaning against her sofa.
"Yeah, er- refuse bags-" She headed over and pulled some out of the cupboard under the sink.
"You ok with this?"
"Of course I am," she smiled.
First they boxed up the few books, DVDs and magazine she had on her shelf. They took down her photos, packed up her TV (that she rarely used), and took down her curtains (well Elliot did, he was taller than her). When the living room was done, they moved to the kitchen; boxed up her plates, cups and cutlery. There wasn't a lot, her cupboards were mostly bare. She emptied the refridgerator; cartons of juice, a bit of fruit, but the rest was trashed.
She knew he was avoiding moving to the bathroom or bedroom; she was too, but now they were nearly done she knew she would have to. She was heading down the darkened corridor to the bathroom with a box in her hands. Her bedroom door seemed so threatening, 'It's just a door, it's just a room.' she reminded herself. She turned the bathroom door handle and jumped as the lights flicked on. Elliot was suddenly beside her, his hand still on the switch.
"Would help if the lights were on." he smiled, but his eyes was watchful.
They boxed up her shampoo, conditioner, razors, face towels, bath towel, bath robe, toothpaste and toothbrush (she'd been using a crappy manual one she had grabbed at the store, and it was next to useless).
Her heart pounded as she bravely pushed open the bedroom door. It seemed so different; that night had been terrifying, invasive and threatening, but now- all she saw now was a trashed bedroom, not the person potentially hiding it in.
She rescued the photos she treasured from the smashed frames, put the drawers back in her chester drawers and cleaned away the broken glass. Her bed frame was gone, no doubt to evidence for the words scrawled on the panels. She stood up all her upturned furniture while Elliot cleared up the scattered feathers. It took them nearly an hour and a half to dismantle her destroyed blinds, fold up the slashed curtains, pick up the smashed lamp and bag up the open pillows. Her previously scattered clothes were in a messy pile, expect what ahd been taken for evidence. One the room it self was straightened, and surprisingly bare, she headed in to her closet. Her whole underwear draw went in the trash; she was making do with washing the few sets she did have, which she prefered to wearing something he had potentially touched. They bagged up her clothes in the refuse bags as well as her large range of shoes and handbags. She found herself welling up when she came across the large shoe box hidden on the top shelf. She lifted it down; her mother's possessions she had kept, letters, postcards and photos from when she was younger. At least this had escaped Max's anger. Elliot didn't ask and simply went on bagging up.
When they were finally done she realised how bare her 'home' was. They had loaded the 4 refuse bags, 3 boxes and small TV in to Elliot's car.
"If you wanted to keep your furniture, I'm sure we could arrange for a storage lock up or, maybe try to fit some of the smaller thigns in to my-"
"No." she cut him off. "I don't want any of it." All the furniture in her apartment had been bought for when she needed it; practical, cheap items. She grabbed her suitcase they had found in her closet, packed with a rug, a throw blanket, her favourite cushion form the couch and two stuffed bears; one from Elliot, and a smaller one from Fin from ages ago.
With one final glance, they stepped out and she closed the door on the past the apartment represented.
A/N I wanted Olivia to have a new resolve to move past what Max did, even if she's working through what Harris did. So EO is looking set for a happy ending, but bad guys always have a talent for interrupting that. lol See you next chapter, which I'm trying to post a lot sooner than I am at the minute. x