Chapter 7: The Truth of the Matter
The minute Elliot walked into the office on Friday morning he was pulled into Captian Cragen's office.
"Where have you been all week?" he demanded when they were alone. "You've been leaving early since Monday, leaving us to pick up the slack! We need you here to work! And keep an eye on that one!" He nodded to Dani Beck in the viewing room, who was staring at the suspects on the screen hungrilly as if she wanted to lock them all up at once. "She's been driving me crazy! And this morning she showed up with a broken wrist-"
"Broken wrist?" Elliot inquired.
"Yeah!" Cragen snapped. "And a twisted ankle of all things!"
"Where's she been?" Elliot asked suspiciously.
"From what I hear, she's been trying to find you," Cragen replied. "But that's not the point! Elliot, where have you been?"
"Captain," Elliot said slowly, keeping his eyes on Dani, "remember Alex? How we kept her a secret because she was in danger?"
"Yeah," the captain replied shortly. "Why?... Oh my God, Elliot, you didn't! She's not!"
"She is," Elliot sighed. "I was hoping I could find the perp and she could come back before anyone would have to know."
Elliot watched as the look of shock on the captain's face quickly turned to anger.
"You've been keeping this secret for a week, Elliot!" he nearly shouted, his face turning red with anger. "This is Olivia we're talking about! What possessed you not to tell me, escpecially after Alex?"
"It seemed so easy," Elliot confessed. "I thought I could find the perp, bring her back, and we could all celebrate, not having to bother anyone."
"And you didn't think I would like to know that one of my best detectives was ALIVE?" Cragen demanded. "Is that where you've been? Seeing her behind our backs while we've been mournung our 'loss'?"
"I'm so sorry," Elliot sighed. "The FBI needed help watching her, and she had asked to see me anyway. It just seemed like the perfect opportunity to also help catch the bastard who's after her."
Cragen let out a deep breath, much to Elliot's surprise.
"Well, I'm helping," the captain snapped. "I wanna nail the sonofabitch just as much as you do. Who are your suspects?"
"We think it's a woman," Elliot found himself saying. "Someone we questioned said 'she paid me to do it' and ran out. I think it's someone close."
Cragen followed Elliot's gaze over at Dani, who waved at them from the viewing room. The two officers smiled awkwardly and Cragen closed the blinds.
"You think it was Dani?" he inquired.
"She must have hurt herself running down the fire escape," Elliot sighed. "Someone's been watching Olivia from the fire escape by her room, and every time someone gets to them their gone. Has Dani been leaving work often?"
"Now that you mention it," Cragen mused, scratching his chin, thinking on it, "yeah. Every time you leave, she leaves an hour later. She says she has a sick aunt that she has to take care of, but her alibi's a bit shady don't you think?"
"Absolutely," Elliot agreed. "But how are we going to find out if it's her?"
The two detectives thought in it a minute.
"I've got it!" Cragen announced. "I'll follow her after work; see where she goes. If it's not out to you, we can cross her off as a suspect."
"Sounds good," Elliot replied. "By the way, Liv's case agent, Agent Richards, needs me at 2pm today. The first guy was gonna do it, but he's kinda... outta commision if you know what I mean."
"Sure," Cragen replied with a sigh. "Just tell her I said hi. And you better work your ass off until 2, or we're gonna have a problem!"
"Gotcha," Elliot smiled. "Thanks Cap."
Captain Cragen nodded, and Elliot stepped out of the office and over to Dani in the viewing room. He had to find out once and for all.
"Hey," Dani smiled when Elliot approached. "What's up?"
"Not much," Elliot lied. "What'd you do to your hand?"
"Oh," she scoffed, looking at her cast, "this? Nah, I was just being an idiot. I slipped down some stairs. No biggie."
Complete bullshit, Elliot thought to himself. Dani was a terrible liar.
"Glad you weren't hurt," he smiled half-heartedly.
He checked his watch, and Dani smirked.
"You've been doing that a lot," she announced with a crooked smile. "Got a hot date?"
"You could say that," Elliot laughed. He knew if Dani really was the perp that would make her mad. "She's definately something."
"Who is she?" Dani asked, trying visibly to keep her expression neutral. "Where'd you meet?"
"She's a real old friend," he told Dani, watching her expression carefully. "I just never realized the feelings I had for her. I've never felt like this for anyone before- you know what I mean? I'm meeting her at 2. You should come!"
That was a risky move. He almost regretted saying it.
"Nah," Dani replied, much to Elliot's internal relief. "I actually just remembered some stuff I had to take care of at home. Did you know my aunt was sick?"
Jealousy was plastered all over the yound Detective's face as she grabbed her coat and work bag. Elliot realized she was heading out... and nearly panicked. He still head an hour until he had to go! She wasn't supposed to leave yet!
"Where you going?" Elliot asked, following her out.
"To visit my aunt," Dani replied shortly. "Have fun on your date."
"It's not for another hour," Elliot informed her, shooting an alarmed look at Captain Cragen behind her back. Cragen nodded and jiggled his keys from his office, mouthing "Follow her! I'll be right there!" Elliot turned his attention back to Dani as she stepped out of the office. "I can come with you if you like."
"No thanks, Elliot," she smiled, though her eyes read a different emotion. "I'll be okay."
"You sure?" Elliot asked, stepping into the elevator with her. "We haven't really spent any quality time with each other since you came back- you wanna get a coffee before you go?"
"Elliot!" Dani snapped. She turned to face him. "Please! Where I'm going, I think it would be best if you didn't follow. It might be... painful, if you know what I mean. She might be in a lot of pain."
"I'll be your emotional support," Elliot offered. "I can help you."
The elevator doors opened, and as Elliot stepped out with Dani she pushed him back.
"No you can't!" she snapped, her eyes glimmering dangerously. "I have to do this on my own! The doctors say she's going to die today and I want to... be there for her. Please Elliot, you shouldn't see what is about to happen."
And with that, Dani turned on her heels and headed out the door to her car. Elliot texted Cragen to put a trace on Dani's phone and to head out soon- he had to get to Olivia before Dani did. Soon Elliot was taking the shortcut to the Marriot hotel, thanking God he had gotten there first.
"You're early," the watchman outside Olivia door mused. "Couldn't wait to be with you GF huh?"
"Shut up," Elliot snapped. "It's an emergency. Call for back-up. I've figured out who's behind the shooting, but she's on her way here now, most likely to kill Oliv- Detective Benson. Please, just call for back-up!"
The watchman nodded abruptly and headed down the elevator, and Elliot knocked on the door.
"Olivia!" he called. "Olivia open up! It's Elliot!"
"Go away, Elliot!" Elliot heard Olivia sobbing. "I... I don't need you anymore! Just leave me alone!"
"I know you don't mean that, Liv!" Elliot called. He jiggled the door handle. It was locked. He banged on the door with his large fist. "Olivia open the door!"
"Go away Elliot! This isn't your fight!"
Elliot's heart sank. The voice wasn't Olivia's.
Notes: Ahhh! Another cliffhanger! Sorry you guys, but portioning is everything. I'm actually kinda sad that it's almost over... oh well! I still have "Olivia's Shadow" to write too. Thanks to all my supermegafoxyawesomehawt readers/reviewers for boosting my confidence. This E/O story would not be here without you! ;)