Pretty Poison

(Chapter Fifteen: Apprehension)

It had been four days since her high speed car chase with a stranger through the streets of Manhattan and today was the first day since that Olivia had gone back to work. She sat at her desk staring down at her phone as if anticipating it's ring, but it never came. She picked up her pen and put it to the blank page in front of her, but somehow her thoughts had escaped her.

"What's wrong?" Elliot asked sitting a fresh cup of coffee down in front of her.

"Nothing," she said forcing a smile.

Elliot picked up the phone and placed it in her hand. "Call her."

"What?"

"Kathy. You are worried about Noah. Call Kathy."

"No, no. I don't want her to feel like I don't trust her. Like I'm checking up on her."

"Olivia, you are not gonna be able to focus on your work until you know."

"She said she would call me if anything was out of the ordinary."

"Call Kathy."

Olivia looked up at him as he towered above her using his most fatherly voice. He knew her better than she even knew herself and in times like this, that was a good thing.

"I'll call her," she said with a smile as Elliot tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and gently kissed her lips.

Olivia picked up her phone and dialed Kathy's house number. Once Kathy had assured her everything was fine and Noah was napping peacefully, Olivia felt confident she could return to work.

She laid her cell phone down beside the computer monitor and began to fill out her paperwork. But a few minutes later as she sat typing up a report, she got that feeling again.

"Elliot," she whispered across the desk careful not to let anyone else hear her.

"Yeah?" He answered without looking away from his computer screen.

"El?"

"Yeah?" He said a little louder.

Olivia pressed her lips together and stared at him but he refused to look at her. She looked around the room at the people buzzing around her. If she said something and anyone overheard her they would all think she was crazy.

She opened the screen for the instant messenger on her computer, Elliot was signed in. She tapped her fingertip against the mouse for a second debating her best approach to the situation. Then she opened the message window.

Benson4105: Elliot. Something is wrong.

Stabler6313: What's wrong?

Elliot looked up at her across the desk as he heard the chime of her reply on the screen.

Benson4105: I don't want anyone to overhear us.

Stabler6313: Are you sick?

Benson4105: No.

He looked at her across the desk again and whispered to her. "Is it your period?"

"God, no!" Olivia turned and looked as people began to stare at her wondering exactly what it was she was yelling about. "Forget it."

She stood up and walked toward the ladies room not completely sure she wasn't going to be sick. A few minutes later there was a gently tap on the door and she heard Elliot's voice.

"Liv?"

He walked in locking the door behind him and made his way to the farthest stall where he found her slumped on the floor holding her stomach.

"You okay?"

"I'll be fine," she mumbled trying to hide the tears in her eyes.

Elliot sat down in the floor beside her. "Olivia, what is wrong?"

"I don't know. I just have this horrible feeling. I have all morning. Kathy said the baby is fine and now I feel almost sick. Something is wrong, Elliot."

He stared at her as tears began to fall from her eyes.

"Why don't you go home?"

"No, it will pass."

"Liv, it is probably just stress. Kathy has Noah. I will pick him up before I come home. Go home. Take a hot bath. Relax and get some rest. Have some you time. Without me and the baby to look after."

Olivia stared straight ahead and didn't even blink.

"You really think I am over reacting?"

"No. I think you are stressed out. You are worried about this case. And ten other cases. And the baby. You are wearing yourself thin, Olivia. Look at you, you are shaking. I think you just need some time alone to focus on you."

"I just feel like something awful is about to happen, Elliot. I don't know how to explain it. You should call and check on the kids."

"I will. And I will check on Noah again. I want you to go home and get some rest."

Elliot moved over beside her and held her for a few minutes until she had calmed down. He kissed her tenderly and stared into her eyes. "I love you so much."

"I love you too," she whispered. "Do you think I am crazy?"

"What?"

"I have these feelings and they seem so real. Do you think that makes me crazy?"

Elliot smiled and massaged her shoulders. "No. I think those feelings are what makes you such a good cop and mother. Olivia, our little boy is safe. I am sure all of the kids are. I will call and check on them. Please go home and relax."

"Okay," she said softly.

Elliot stood up and helped her to her feet. He wrapped her tight in his arms and kissed her again.

"Maybe I should drive you."

"No, El. I am fine now. I think maybe it was just nerves. Like you said, stress. I am fine. I'll drive home and call you when I get there. Besides we brought both cars this morning."

"I don't care about the loaner car, Liv. We could leave it parked here and pick it up tomorrow."

"Elliot, I said I am fine."

"Okay." He lead her back to her locker where she gathered her things and got ready to leave. "Call me when you get home," Elliot reminded her with a smile.

"I will. Promise."

He looked down at his watch. It was just after twelve thirty. "Noah and I will be home around five thirty. I will bring dinner with us."

"I love you," she said twisting his tie in her fingers.

"I love you, too."

"Be careful, El."

"I will baby."

Elliot hugged her tight and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. Then he watched as she climbed onto the elevator.