Picking up where the last chapter left off.

Chapter 5

After Stuckey had been arrested, Elliot checked by the medics, and the scene processed by CSU, Olivia and Elliot headed out for their favorite Italian restaurant. By Cragen's order, they were not to come back to work until Monday or they'd be fired. With the events of the day, neither one was ready to face what happened but neither one was ready to leave the other so they decided on a quick lunch before they parted ways.

"Hell of day, huh?" said Elliot, looking at his menu.

"Saving your ass is hard work Stabler," Olivia said sarcastically as she turned to the young waiter and asked for a beer and a large glass of water.

"Little early to be hitting the bottle don't you think Benson?" Elliot said with a smile.

"After what I had to do today? I have to clean my mouth at somehow, be happy I'm not drinking vodka right now."

"I'll have the same," Elliot said to the waiter watching Olivia raise her eyebrows at him in question. "What? I can't let you drink alone."

"You know, I...I don't know what I would have done if something bad would have happened to you today. You are the only person in this world who knows me at all, the only one who understands me. I'd be lost without you..."

Olivia immediately regretted those words. She knew better than to put her feelings on the line like that. It was too heartfelt for Elliot, too...true for him. She couldn't let him know that he was the one man she was head over heels for; the reason why she hadn't settled down yet. The reason why she was pushing 45 with out a ring on her finger and a child in her arms. She couldn't let herself be happy with anyone else because she felt like she was betraying Elliot. And it was stupid, God it was stupid. She knew that it was but she just couldn't help herself. But instead of dwelling on the thought anymore, she did what she always did when she slipped up: follow with a sarcastic comment.

"As much as it kills me to say it, because it hurts admitting that you know. Don't let that go to your head you cocky son of a bitch because that could change at any minute." she finished, satisfied that she was saved from the tsunami of feelings that threatened to drown her.

Elliot, however, was ready to drown.

He was ready now, now more than ever. After the events of the day, almost losing her. The last picture in his head could have been her kissing that...thing.

But it wasn't. He was sitting across from this beautiful creature and everything in the world was right.

Except for the fact that in reality she wasn't his yet, and there was only one thing in his way...

He took one last swig of his beer before he set it down and started to grab his things.

"You're gonna take all of that to the bathroom with you? Are you PMS-ing Elliot?" Olivia said with a laugh.

"No, I'm going home. I just remembered there's something I have to do. I'll uh..I'll call you later, make it up to you. Bye Liv." Elliot replied as he rushed out of the door, got in his car as fast as he could and sped away.

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