Further Down The Road

(Chapter Four: Time Apart)

Time was passing so quickly and in six days was Abigail's first birthday. Olivia was putting the finishing touches on the guest list for the party. All of the little kids from her nursery school class, a few of Hannah's friends from her kindergarten class and of course all of the family and people from work.

Olivia took a deep breath and picked up her cell phone. She scrolled down to Jack's number and hit send.

"Hey you," he said as he answered his cell.

"Hi, where are you?"

Jack laughed. "As a matter of fact, I'm in Denver right now. I'm on a lay over and I'll be taking off in about two hours."

"Ahh. Old times, huh?"

"Yeah. You meet some pretty great people in the Denver airport."

"Actually, we met on the plane."

"True. So what's up? How are the girls?"

"Good. That is really why I am calling. Abby's first birthday is in six days and her party is next Saturday at two o'clock. I know you probably can't make it, but I wanted to invite you anyway. I sent you an invitation, but I know you are hardly ever home."

"Well, give me a few days to see what I can do. I might be able to switch off a couple of flights and at least stop by for a few hours."

"Jack, if it's too much trouble I understand. She's one year old, she'll understand."

"Olivia, she's my Goddaughter. And there is no where else I would rather be. I just have to see what I can do with work. I'm crazy about the girls. I carry pictures of them with me in my wallet."

Olivia smiled. "You do?"

"Yes. Liv, I know that everything between you and I, our past, seems like it could complicate things. But we're friends. I consider you and Elliot….my family. And the girls are the closest things I have to my own children. I like Elliot, he is a good man and takes care of his family. And if things were not going to work out between you and I, I am glad that you found someone like him."

"Thanks. Elliot really likes you, Jack. And the girls adore you."

"Liv, I have to go for now. I will see what I can do and I'll give you a call in a day or two."

"Okay."

Six days later Abigail's party went off without a hitch. Everyone was there, including Jack and they had a great time.

EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEO

Olivia sat at her desk with her pen in hand working on some notes for a case. They had been extremely busy with work lately and she had barely even seen Elliot. He and Munch had taken the brunt of the caseload, which required him to come in early and stay late a lot lately.

Cragen had tried to make sure to get Olivia home early to be with the girls during the evenings. This usually meant her taking a stack of files home to work on there after she had put the kids in bed.

For the last few weeks the kids hadn't even seen Elliot. He was up and gone before they were even awake. And didn't get home until well after the children were tucked into their beds for the night, only to repeat the cycle the next morning. He would come home and take a shower, then slip into their bedroom tucking them in tight and kissing their little foreheads each night before he headed off to bed himself.

Every morning at the table while eating her cereal Hannah would ask Olivia if daddy would be home before dinner. Or if she could stay up to wait for him to come home that night. Olivia wasn't sure what to tell her anymore. The truth was she didn't know when daddy would be home.

She sighed. It was just after noon and four and a half more hours until she could go pick her girls up. She hated being away from them, especially since they were also away from Elliot so much lately. She pulled a notepad from her desk and began to make a grocery list. She would go get the kids then take them with her to run a few errands before heading home to cook dinner.

"Olivia, I need you in interrogation room four please. Now," Cragen said as he walked toward his office.

She tossed her pen down on her desk and walked down the hall. She thought Munch and Elliot had this one handled. She stepped through the first door hoping to catch a glimpse of what was going on through the double sided window before entering the room, but the blinds were closed from the inside.

Just then Elliot stepped in behind her.

"Looks like it's you and me on this one," he said as he raised an eyebrow and reached to open the door for her. "Just like old times."

"Yeah. Why are the blinds closed? Do you even know what this is about?"

"Nope. Must be hush, hush and they don't want anyone listening in."

"Where is Munch?"

"Cragen sent him out with Fin to bring the other guy in. What, you nervous?"

"No."

"Liv, we have done this a thousand times. It's like a game. And we play off each other very well in here. Just let it flow, we'll be okay."

"I know. I just wish I knew a little more about who it even is that we are questioning. Not to mention, what exactly it is that we are supposed to find out from him….or her. I hate walking into this blind."

"Yeah well, I don't know much more than you do." And with that Elliot pushed the door open and guided her into the room with his hand on the small of her back.

Olivia stood for a moment looking around the empty room. Next to the table they used for their interrogations were two metal folding chairs. In the center of the table a lit candle and carry out from one of her favorite restaurants. Elliot had gone through all of this trouble to set up a surprise lunch for her.

"Oh El," she said softly as she turned to kiss him. "Thank you."

"You are very welcome honey," he said tracing the side of her face with his fingertip. "It has just been so long since we have had five minutes alone together. I have been so ties up with this case. And I worked through Valentine's Day."

"Valentine's Day?"

"It was two days ago. I guess you missed it, too. We always do something special for Valentine's Day. And this year, I didn't even realize until this morning that I had missed it. I hate being like this," he said as he pulled out her chair for her and she sat down in it. "I have not seen the girls awake in three weeks. I miss them like crazy. I miss you."

"We miss you too, El. Hannah asks me every morning if daddy will be here for dinner. And she wants to stay up and wait for you at night. And Abby has started calling me dada. But this will be over soon. Cragen said you guys are getting close."

"I hope so. I miss my wife and kids. Oh, that reminds me…. I have something for you. I was going to wait until later, but since we finally got a moment alone now…. I'd probably take advantage of it."

Olivia smiled as he placed a single white rose and a card onto the table in front of her.

"It is kind of a late Valentine's Day gift."

"Thank you," she said smelling the rose. She sat it on the table and opened the card. Inside were two theatre tickets for that Friday night."

"Elliot, these are great. And they are really good seats. But honey, what if you have to work? And this is tomorrow night. We don't have a sitter."

He leaned forward and slipped his hand into hers. "I have already taken care of all of the details. Maureen is coming by to stay with the girls. A limo will pick us up at seven o'clock for dinner and the show starts at nine. Afterwards we have a few hours out in the city in a limousine. I already worked it out with Cragen, after five o'clock tomorrow I am off all weekend. I want to do something with the kids, too. Maybe take them to a movie or something."

"You're amazing, you know that?" She smiled at him across the table.

"You are pretty amazing yourself," he said kissing her hand. "You should eat before it gets cold."

That evening after Olivia picked the girls up they went across town and did her shopping. Before heading home she stopped by a little sandwich shop across town.

"What are we doing here mommy?" Hannah asked from the back seat.

Olivia turned around to look at her and smiled. "How would you like to take daddy some dinner at work?"

"Yeah!" She squealed in excitement.

Olivia parked the car and took Abby from her seat. She held Hannah's hand as they walked inside and made their order. Hannah stood with her little fingers on the edge of the counter staring into the glass display case of fresh baked cookies as the man behind the counter wrapped up the food to go.

"Mommy?" She said softly looking up at Olivia as she pulled her wallet from her purse to pay the man.

"Yes, honey?"

"Can we get daddy a cookie?"

Olivia looked down at Hannah and smiled. "You think daddy needs a cookie?"

"For desert. If he eats all of his supper."

Olivia knelt to look into her eyes. "I think that is a really good idea. Why don't you pick one out."

Hannah smiled and stood on her tip toes to peer through the glass. "That kind," she said pointing at a fudge cookie with chocolate chips.

"Okay." Olivia looked back at the man behind the counter. "We'll also take three of those."

"Yes, ma'am."

Hannah carried a bag of food in one hand and held tight to Olivia's hand with her other. Olivia held Abby on her hip and another bag of food. She buckled the baby into the car and watched as Hannah buckled her booster seat. She drove across town and back to the precinct.

"Mommy, can I carry daddy's food?"

"Sure honey," Olivia said handing her the bag just before they stepped off the elevator.

"Daddy!" Hannah ran to Elliot as soon as she saw him. She sat the bag on his desk and climbed into his lap throwing her little arms around his neck. "I missed you daddy. When are you coming home?"

"Tonight," he answered looking into her big brown eyes, "but you an sissy will already be asleep. I will be home all weekend though and I think we should all do something special. What do you think?"

"Yeah!"

"What do you think we should do?"

"I don't know."

"You be thinking about it," he said smiling up at Olivia. "Maybe Saturday daddy can cook you pancakes for breakfast while we watch cartoons. Would you like that?"

"Yes. With peanut butter?"

"If you want peanut butter, yes."

Hannah smiled. "We brought you supper dad," she said pointing at the bag. "And a cookie for desert, but you have to eat all your supper first," she whispered.

Olivia leaned down and kissed Elliot handing him Abby, then took a seat at her desk. "Hannah."

"Yeah, mommy?"

She walked over to her mother as Olivia handed her the other paper bag. Olivia pointed over to Munch's desk. Hannah smiled and ran over to climb up into his lap.

"We brought you supper too uncle Munch!"

"Well thank you Hannah," he said as she finally settled on his knee and began to pull the contents from the bag setting them on his desk.

"Mom gots cookies too, but you have to eat all of your supper first."

"Thanks Liv," he called looking across his desk at Olivia.

"No problem. I didn't figure you guys would be breaking for dinner any time soon. And if you did it would probably be pizza for the fourth time this week. But Hannah picked out the cookies."

Munch looked over at Elliot. "You know if you carry that kid around all of the time she will never learn to walk."

"She walks," Elliot replied returning from the soda machine with his daughter in his arms as he tossed a coke can to Munch.

He walked over to his chair and stood Abby up beside it. She held on to the chair and watched her father as he turned and walked a few feet away from her.

"Dada," she cooed in protest as she pointed at him.

"I'm right here Abby. Come to daddy," Elliot said kneeling in the floor and reaching out for her.

Abby smiled then turned to look at Olivia as if asking permission.

"Go get daddy Abby," Olivia said with a smile as Abigail laughed. She cooed and pointed at Elliot once more. "Da!"

"Come on Abby," Elliot called reaching out to her again.

She smiled and let go of the chair and walked with ease to her father.

"Good girl," Elliot said scooping her up and peppering kisses all over her cheeks as she laughed.

"Well," Munch said with a dumfounded look on his face.

"I told you she walks."

"When did that happen?"

"A couple of weeks ago. She was standing at the coffee table one day and she just took off."

"They are both getting so big."

"Tell me about it. I have only seen them sleeping for the last three weeks."

"Here Hannah," Olivia said breaking the third cookie in half. She handed half to Hannah and the other half to Abby. "That is it for now. We have to go soon and we'll have supper when we get home."

"Thank you, mommy." Hannah gave her mother a chocolate kiss.

"You're welcome, sweetheart."

They sat and visited with Elliot and Munch while the girls finished their cookie and the guys their Philly steak sandwiches. Munch kept slipping Hannah fries and bought her an orange soda from the machine.

"Well, we should get going."

Elliot stood and kissed his wife then kissed Abby and handed her to Olivia.

"Hannah, tell daddy and uncle munch good night."

"Do we have to go mommy?"

"Yes, honey we do. It is seven o'clock and I still have to fix supper and you both need a bath. Bedtime is at eight thirty. And daddy and uncle Munch have a lot of work to do."

Hannah started to tear up.

"Hannah," Elliot said softly as he picked her up and hugged her, "I know you miss daddy. Daddy misses you, too. But I will be home tomorrow night for a little while so we can play before bedtime."

"Can we read a bedtime story?" She asked wiping little tears from her eyes.

"Whatever story you want. Then mommy and daddy have to leave for a little while and Maureen is going to baby sit. And Saturday morning you and I have a date to eat peanut butter pancakes and watch cartoons."

"Daddy?"

"What baby?"

"Will you wake me up so I can help make the pancakes?"

"Okay. You can help make pancakes."

She smiled as Elliot kissed her forehead.

"Now give daddy and uncle Munch hugs. You go with mommy and be a god girl. I love you Hannah Grace." Elliot wiped the tears from her cheeks and put her down as she hugged him tight and kissed him good night.

"Good night daddy, I love you."

"I love you, too baby girl."

Hannah turned and ran to hug and kiss Munch.

"Good night uncle Munch. I love you."

"Good night Hannah. Thank you for the cookie," Munch said kissing her forehead.

"You're welcome."

Olivia headed home to feed the kids and get them into bed. It was just after midnight when Elliot got home. He walked down the hall and into the girls' room to tuck them into their beds and give them kisses. He then headed down the hall to find Olivia asleep on his pillow with the television on. He smiled in the dark and stepped into their bathroom to shower.

He crawled into bed beside his wife as she opened her eyes.

"I must have fallen asleep. I was trying to wait for you. What time is it?"

"About twelve thirty. I'm sorry, I'm so late." Elliot cupped his hand and placed it against her cheek. He kissed her forehead and lowered her head to his chest.

"It's okay. I'm just glad that you are home."

Elliot kissed her softly trying to be romantic, but Olivia was already half asleep once more.

"Liv, thank you for bringing the kids by to see me."

"No problem," she mumbled softly with her eyes closed. "They just really missed you. I thought it would be nice."

"It was very nice. I hate being away from you guys like this."

"I know," she said as her tired eyes fluttered open. "But hopefully this will all be over soon and you won't have to stay late."

"I love you, Liv."

"I love you, too. Good night, Elliot."

"Good night, sweetheart."