A/N: Hey everyone. I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving :)

I wanted to publish this Wednesday but there were delays. Anyway, this is the moment you've been waiting for.

Disclaimer: If this isn't the show, then I do not own it.

Enjoy and review :)

Chapter 5: Reconnection

Sweat drenched his forehead in a salty sheen, the stickiness giving Elliot a feeling of filthiness. Having spent nearly two years without anything more than a bucket of stagnant water once a month however, he wasn't complaining about that.

The fire searing his muscles on the other hand… "Son of a bitch," he ground out between gritted teeth. Arms straightened as he brought his flat back up. "Not sure. I can. Keep. Doing it." His words were paused by panting breaths.

"Elliot Stabler wussing out?" quipped Olivia with a smirk gracing her face – inside though she felt a knife plunging into her heart. Her Elliot had always been the epitome of strength, able to take down perps double his size and protect her from harm. The last two weeks since his return had been spent getting him back into shape. It was arduous, but he was getting there. Her feet rested on his back from her perch on the couch. "Twenty-two out of twenty-five."

A strangled whimper leaving his throat, Elliot endured yet another machine gun smacking of stabbing pain. Up. Down. "Motherfucker."

"Just two more El," she said lovingly. "For me El."

How could he say no to that? Snarling, somehow Elliot found the remaining strength within him – the two were completed in lightning speed. Elliot collapsed on the carpet of Olivia's apartment, rolling over onto his back as he heaved in and out violently. "Mother. Of. God."

"Hard to believe this was my tough partner." Olivia couldn't resist needling him – the banter allowed her to escape into the happier times of their relationship. With the day she had at the precinct, the fleeting moments of joy were a welcome relief.

Fatigue only clouding part of his brain, Elliot furrowed his brows. "You are going to pay for this Liv." Hands reached up to grab the bare feet resting on his chest.

Olivia was momentarily confused before her eyes widened. "El no!" Too late; his fingers were already ghosting down the soles of her feet. "El, stop, no, hehe." She burst into a gale of giggles, Elliot's tickles not letting up even as she squirmed and thrashed on the couch.

"Why?" he asked innocently. Fingers shifted to the space between her toes, wiggling the little digits and brushing against the skin.

"Ahhhhhhh!" Olivia's cackles increased in ardor, thrashing violently against the plush upholstery of the couch as Elliot found and assaulted one of her sensitive spots. Unwittingly, in her rushed attempt to stop the fusillade she rolled off the couch and onto him. Face to face.

Labored breaths drawing air into their lungs, decreasing in intensity as the two began to regain their composure, eyes locked on the other and never wavered in their gaze. Circuits clicked in Olivia's mind. Not knowing why – and at the same time knowing as well – she lowered her head and took his lips in hers. The pleasurable warmth that passed through her system passed through his lips into hers. Both let out a happy, content sigh.

Much as both had wondered over the years however, since their first kiss on the couch weeks before this was all they had really engaged in. Elliot's condition and their general – fear always stopped them. But the fire, this one a heated soothing rather than the biting flame, that coursed through Elliot always made his touch linger, kisses increase in ardor. He finally returned to Olivia Benson, and maybe, just maybe…

The warbling chime of the doorbell broke them apart suddenly, Olivia's head jerking back.

"Um, Liv," Elliot winced, now aware of a slight problem manifesting itself underneath his sweatpants – one of the side effects of always being close to Olivia. "I think you should get that."

Face burning from the rush of blood to her cheek, Olivia nodded. "I think so too." What was it about Elliot that turned her into a shy teenager when she was near him? Olivia figured that was one of life's questions she would never truly answer.

Having returned from work only an hour before – contentment filled her at being able to come home to an occupied apartment rather than an empty one thanks to Elliot staying there – Olivia still wore her grey-button down blouse and dark blue jeans being a sergeant entailed her to. Smoothening her front, Olivia kept an errant hand on the gun resting on her endtable as she opened the door.

In the hallway stood a clean cut man in the classic black suit of a federal official – almost cliché from the movies. "Good afternoon Sergeant Benson. I was told by a Miss Kathleen Stabler that Elliot Stabler was living here."

Olivia nodded. "And who may you be?" Decades of cop instincts left her inherently paranoid.

Such feelings were not unnoticed by the man. "Don't worry ma'am, I'm Marcus Harlan, Central Intelligence Agency. I'm Stabler's boss."

"Mark?" The tone from behind her indicated recognition. Olivia allowed herself to relax.

"Hey Elliot," he answered with a sad smile. Olivia letting him in, Harlan immediately took Elliot's hand in a firm shake. "You're looking better. Much better in fact."

Elliot smiled. "Yeah. I've had the best physical trainer in New York." His glinting blue eyes caused another blush to spread on Olivia's face. 'Damn him and his eyes,' she thought with a smirk. His face grew serious though. "I thought I had two months leave?"

"You do Elliot. Jesus, you've earned every bit of those and the promotion at Langley. That's not why I'm here though." A hand rose to clasp Elliot on the shoulder. "I'm just letting you know that you have been put up for the Distinguished Intelligence Cross."

Brow rising in puzzlement, Olivia spoke up. "Is that big?"

"Big?" Harlan chuckled. "It's the Medal of Honor of intelligence work. Elliot earned it for his strength, not breaking, the escape attempt…"

"Escape attempt?" Olivia felt her heart thumping out of her chest as those two words.

Suddenly, Elliot shook his head. "I… I can't…" He broke for the bedroom, a panicked frown gracing his face.

EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO

Having bade goodbye to Harlan, Olivia stood silently in front of the bedroom door. Since the first night both her and El had just abandoned the pretense of personal space – he slept in her bed with her, both of them falling into a nightmareless sleep for the first time in years. Life was too short.

Her mind drifted to what Harlan said over the escape, the reason Elliot won his medal.

"He needs to tell you himself, but make no mistake Miss Benson. Elliot… any lesser man would have broken in that hellhole. Any lesser connection to the world would have led to a certain suicide. For him… the depth of care he has for you is the strongest I've ever seen.

Olivia sucked her bottom lip between her teeth. He cared about her so much and she hated him during that time. While she knew that she didn't deserve him, Olivia vowed that as long as he needed her she would be there.

Raising her knuckles, she rapped softly on the white-painted wood of the bedroom door. "El, may I come in?"

The response was faint, but she could hear it all the same. "Come in Liv." Twisting the knob, Olivia eased the door open to find him perched on the edge of her bed. His arms hung limply in his lap – a haunted look rimmed his bloodshot eyes. 'He cried?' The ice pick dug its way back into her heart. "I'm sure you want answers Olivia."

Sitting close to him, setting a comforting hand on the small of his back, Olivia blinked at the bloodless tone of his voice. She knew what that was, having heard it from him after countless cases – always the most brutal ones, children, sadists, gruesome murders. "You don't have to if you don't want to." After all that happened Olivia wouldn't stand for hurting him any further.

Elliot shook his head. "No, you have to know." Sucking a deep breath into his lungs, he clasped her hand within his trembling one, drawing inner strength from her. "It was the summer of 2013," he began.

Olivia tensed immediately – the summer Lewis abducted her.

"My captor, is name was Muhammad. Now, Johnny Jihad as a whole is a pretty sadistic bunch, but this guy…" He shook his head, chuckling grimly. "This guy was sick. He loved playing mind games with everyone – his men, his enemies, no distinction mattered to him." Olivia nodded. Lewis had been the same way. "His torture… it was always one of two things. If he approached with a second man, it would be physical. If alone, it would be mental."

Wordlessly, Olivia hugged him to her. Going through all of this… without her to be there for him. 'Oh El.'

"One day that summer he came alone, a smug smirk on his face. He was almost giddy, plastering a printed online article of the New York Post in my face." He grimaced, remembering the headline. "It was of your… your… your kidnapping, ten days after the fact – though the article was from the day after you were abducted. Muhammad knew of my dedication to you, because the only thing me let me keep was your photograph. I had it to give me strength."

Gasping, Olivia held him tighter, feeling her eyes water. She hated herself even more.

The bloodless tone still present, Elliot continued. "Anyways, he cheerily remarked you were in a rape induced coma, enjoying the pain he was inflicting."

"He lied," Olivia interrupted, as much a question as a statement. "Lewis didn't rape me El, you have to know that." She knew he needed to hear the truth.

"I know Olivia, but how was I supposed to know. All I knew was you needed me – and that was that. Come nightfall…" He gritted his teeth at the memory. I escaped, killing five guards in the process. They found me the next day. The pain… it was excruciating."

Clutching his shirt, fingers digging as tightly as they could, Olivia couldn't hold the sobs flowing out of her lids. All of what Elliot went through, all of his suffering he endured for her – all for her.

"Shhhh Liv, shhhh," Elliot whispered hoarsely, hand stroking the back of her neck. Even in his heartbreak her soft skin sent electric tingles through his system. "It's ok, it's ok." Tearstains marred his cheeks as well.

Olivia shook her head against his chest. "No El." She had to tell him, confess the truth as he did. "When I was with Lewis…" A hiccup paused her confession, painful memories dredging themselves from the recesses of her mind. Such had happened before, usually leading to anxiety or flashbacks. None happened while she was in Elliot's arms. They brought Olivia a level of comfort banishing the pain away – and heaping more guilt and sadness onto her in a brutal catch 22. "All that kept me going was you, El. Your smile, your eyes, your touch…" she choked out between sobs. "That was everything that kept me going, kept me fighting."

"As you were for me," Elliot breathed, pulling back to gaze into her eyes. He wanted to tell her, let her know how sorry he was from the bottom of his heart. But, but, all he could think about at that moment was – despite her despondency – her radiant beauty. She was so beautiful.

One look at his handsome face, pained yet still as striking as ever, killed the confession waiting on Olivia's tongue. He took her breath away.

Moving simultaneously, lips met in a passionate kiss. Their tears mixed together at their conjoined mouths, no barriers being left as they explored each other. Expressed their long hidden love.

Olivia let out a throaty moan as Elliot's tongue stroked over hers. In the haze of love and lust, a moment of clarity dawned on her mind. This was far different, a shift from their earlier kisses. The others contained a promise. These were the real deal.

"I love you Olivia Benson," she heard him whisper into her mouth. From their joined hands Olivia felt his trembles.

Soon they were joined by hers. "I love you too Elliot Stabler."

Clutching tighter to the other – as if that were possible – Elliot thanked the Lord above that they were sitting at the edge of the bed. Not breaking the kiss, he nudged her gently onto her back, shrouding her body with his. Puffs of air inhaled and exhaled through their nostrils at a frenzied pace. None were willing to break their connection, their very lives depending on it.

Eventually however they had no choice. Olivia whimpered at the loss of connection – replaced with a purr once Elliot latched onto the graceful arch of her neck. She had never once engaged in this act since Lewis, the feel of anyone's fingers on hers releasing the memories of that monster from the confines of her mind she had shoved them into. Elliot's touch… Elliot's lips… they didn't draw forth the thoughts. The fire and lightning left in their wake banished them, as the sun would darkness. Olivia felt healed, as if his passions slowly healed her.

She wanted him, all of him. "El. Please."

Nibbling a bright red mark on the tanned skin, Elliot drew back at the soft words leaving Olivia's mouth. His breath hitched at the sight. Brown hair splayed on the cream bedding around her head like a halo, Olivia's skin was flushed a pale red, chest heaving slightly at the pace of their activities. "An angel."

From the almost inaudible tone Olivia figured he thought he was only thinking it. The modest blush colored her cheeks even still. "I want you El."

The words passed through him like a livewire, but Elliot would be remiss to let Olivia do something she might later regret. Such was the depths of his love for her. "Liv," he cupped her cheek. A warm feeling pooled in his heart as she nuzzled her cheek into his palm. "Are you…"

Knowing exactly what he was doing, Olivia silenced him with an abrupt shake of her head. "I've loved you for so long Elliot. Don't make me wait any longer." Arms snaked together to loop around his neck. Olivia pulled him so that their lips were nearly touching. "Make love to me Elliot. Prove to me that this isn't some dream."

Almost from the moment her words had left her lips Elliot had slanted them with his own. Tendrils of the most wonderful nature shot through her, Olivia's hands feverishly working their way down to grip the hem of his shirt. "Off," she mumbled. "Off." He enthusiastically complied, the cotton fabric soon making their way to the carpet – Olivia couldn't be bothered to care where.

Ghosting along the planes of his chest, Olivia felt an inner sadness. The hard planes of muscle no longer existed. The atrophied state of her love only served as a reminder of the hell he had been through, the mere thought setting her blood to boil. However, he was here – with her. That was all that mattered as their kisses grew needier, increasing in their ardor.

Fingers slid over cloth and buttons as Elliot removed her shirt, the honey-colored skin of her stomach and chest appearing in view. He gulped. She was so beautiful – her black lace bra contrasted well with her skin, but it had to come off.

Lost in the bliss of his touch and his lips, Olivia didn't realize what Elliot was doing until her bra was well over her shoulders. She tensed as the painful secrets of her ordeal left their shroud and exposed themselves to her love.

Sensing her gasp, Elliot soon caught sight of what she so desperately tried to hide. Rounded burn scars dotted her breasts, marks of the sadistic evil that was William Lewis. 'Oh Liv.' Pulling back to rest on his knees, a comforting hand rubbed her stomach, taking in the smooth skin. His heart clenched at the look of horror on her face.

However, Elliot didn't know what caused the horror to cross her features. 'El, my El.' Having pulled away, Olivia could now see what marred the once majestic muscles and skin. Scars, dozens of them. Burns, cuts, whippings, the remnants of bruises both fist and rod-made – two years of torture. A majority having been acquired from trying to escape.

Trying to get back to her.

Needing him, needing to show him all the love he deserved, Olivia pulled him violently to her. Their clothes practically melted underneath their touches, positions changed more than once as they battled in the needy dance.

"Beautiful," Elliot whispered, his mouth suctioned to a chocolate nipple. "Beautiful in every way."

Olivia gasped, lighting coursing through her as he feasted upon her. "Please baby, don't make me wait." She felt her entire life was waiting for this moment – the moment her soul finally completed itself. Finding its twin, its missing half.

Unable to wait any longer, Elliot reached to grasp his hardened length. "I love you Olivia," he cooed, lining up at her entrance.

A gasp left her as he pushed all the way in. "I, gah, I love you too Elliot." All her pain then disappeared in a wave of utter bliss.

EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO EO

Feeling her exhilaration fade as the minutes ticked by, Olivia buried her face in the warm planes of Elliot's chest. The familiar and beloved scent called to her – and broke her composure. "I'm so sorry El."

Elliot's skin burned with the heated liquid falling from Olivia's lids. A hand drifted to stroke her bare back. Her skin shot bolts of electricity into his fingers. "Shhhh, baby, shhhh." Any hint of sadness from her broke his heart.

"I hated you El," she choked out between violent sobs, shuddering through her trembling body. "I hated you for leaving, and I hate myself for feeling that way." Olivia wanted to die, wanted to die for ever believing such evil of the man she adored.

"No." His grip on her tightened, skin pressing against skin as Elliot squeezed her as close to him as he could. The mere thought of her leaving his embrace was the most deadly poison. "I was a coward Liv. I should have gone to you, confided in you after the shooting. Instead…" He himself choked back a tear. "Instead I ran away like a coward and put you through hell. I am sorry. I'm the one who should hate himself."

His words only increased her tears. She melded to his form, soft kisses pressed against his skin.

There they laid, the pain and bile so long festering inside Olivia and Elliot finally flowing out – passing from their system in liquid rivulets. While far from their conceivable thoughts, nestled in each other's arms, both soulmates had begun the process of healing.

A/N: And so there we have it, El and Liv together for the first time.

Only two chapters left in the story. What will the kids think? What of Noah? All will be answered.

Be sure to review.

God Bless

Alex