December 24th:
When Olivia arrives at work Elliot is already there. He doesn't look up from his desk when she walks in.
"You feeling better?"
"Much," she lies.
"I still can't believe your luck. First you get bronchitis, and then as soon as you recover you get food poisoning. I'm so glad your back. I like Munch, and Fin, but I wouldn't want either of them as my partner all the time."
"Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"Yeah," he nods.
She bolts out of the room without a peep.
"Liv," Elliot comments as she sits down at her desk, "You look bad, maybe you should go home."
"I'll be fine," she argues.
Elliot calls out, "Captain."
Cragen comes out of his office, "Yeah?"
"Can you send Liv home? She's still sick."
"You should go to the doctor Olivia," Cragen scolds.
"I did," she tells them.
"Olivia if you don't feel good go home."
"But Captain I don't want to."
"Go home and rest."
"I want to stay," she argues.
"Why?"
She looks Cragen in the eyes. "You decided?" he asks. She responds with a solemn nod.
"Decided what?" Elliot asks curiously.
"Olivia was offered a temporary position with the FBI."
"Oh. For how long?"
Cragen steps back, and begins to walk away.
"Six months to a year," she answers him.
"Oh," he nods.
"El..."
"So you're going to do it?"
"Yeah," she answers, "I'm sorry, but I think that it's an opportunity that I'd be stupid not to take."
"Go. I'll be fine."
"I know you will be."
"When do you go?"
"I'm leaving on New Years."
"Oh," his heart sinks with realization.
"I know that you might not understand, but it's something that I have to do for myself. I have some things that I need to work out, on my own."
"Ok," he agrees, "But don't leave without telling me."
"Of course not," she agrees.
December 31st: 8 P.M. Everyone had already said all of their goodbyes to Olivia. She's nearly asleep when there's a knock on her door. She gets out of her bed and scurries into the living room. She looks through the peephole, and finds Elliot on the other side of the door. She unchains, and unbolts it. She opens it, and he comes in. As she closes the door behind her, he embraces her. He hold her so tightly that it nearly keeps her from breathing. Finally she gets enough air to speak, "El, your crushing me."
"Sorry," he lets go.
"Are you ok with me leaving?" she asks him.
"No," he shakes his head, "I know that you're coming back, but I'm really going to miss you."
"I'm going to miss you too, but I'll be back in no time."
He stares into her eyes, and takes a deep breath, trying to push the thought from his mind. She stands their looking at him hoping he won't figure her out. He kisses her on the forehead.
"Bye Liv."
She says nothing. He leaves, and she heads back to bed. She begins to cry, and starts thinking to herself. Do I have to push everyone away? Damnit, don't do this to yourself. You can never be with him. It's wrong, he's your partner. It's better to be in denial, and be miserable than not be and be a home wrecker.
Eventually she cries herself to sleep. In the morning she goes to the airport. She arrives in D.C. just before noon. She stops by at her new apartment and then heads to meet her new boss.
"Mr. Wright will see you now," a secretary tells her after she's waited for ten minutes.
She nods and goes into his office.
"Nice to meet you Olivia," he extends his hand.
"Nice to meet you too," she shakes his hand.
"Please have a seat."
She takes a seat and waits for him to do the same.
"I'm so glad that you've decided to join us. I think that you're going to fit in really well here."
She says nothing.
"You're nervous?"
"No, just a little tired," she admits.
"If you like it here this position has the potential to become a permanent one."
"I don't know if I'm going to want to stay permanently," she admits.
"What made you decide to leave the one six?"
"I needed a change."
"You've been with your partner for a really long time."
"Yeah, to be honest I'm a little bit sick of him. He's a great guy, but I need a break."
"That's understandable. So I was informed of your situation."
She begins to respond but he stops her before any sound can escape from her lips. "It won't be a problem."
"You're sure?" she questions him.
"Absolutely not," he answers her.
"Good," she sighs in relief.
"I picked you for a reason this program wouldn't be possible without you."