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Chapter: 3

Title: Falling In and Out Again

A/N: Any ideas anyone would like to contribute, please do! I am always open to suggestion and plot twists and whatnot. And, of course, you will be credited :) I ain't anyone to take someone else's stuff without giving them some sort of benefit. Anywho, I hope this chapter is thoroughly pleasant for you all. Wouldn't want to disappoint! Please read, and as always, Review! Reviews not only make my day brighter, but they encourage me to finish the fic, and update faster. So, review and you will get the next chapter! :)

Summary: Detectives Olivia and Elliot are known for their compatability and performance as partners in the SVU. While a partnership like theirs would usually result in one bad mishap, the two seem to have their feelings undercontrol. While everyone can clearly see they have deep feelings of unconfessed love for each other, clichely they themselves have not noticed. How hard is it to supress such emotions when they are together? Just how trying are their lives as partners? What happens when the two are put through severe trials in order to test their loyalty, trust, devotion, honor, and their love? Just how far will the other go in order to protect their secretly beloved? Read to see how the Gravity of their love is defined.

The last couple of days had been rather rough, at least, Elliot seemed to be baring a burden he hadn't wanted to bare, ever. Olivia had barely spoken to him since their under cover bust, she'd barely even laid an eye on him. It pained him that his own partner was avoiding him. Though it pained him even more to know he'd caused this little debarkle between them. Lately, it seemed as if he were the cause to it all. Ever since she'd returned from her leave, things have been sour. The birth of his baby boy, Eli had placed things back together only slightly until that too became old news.

"Yeah well, if I weren't married I'd have been reaching for alot more."

The remark he'd made rang in his head as he constantly, mentally beat himself up over it. Why would he say that to her, to Liv? Especially when he and his wife had been basically over for nearly two months now. He knew the divorce papers were never finalized, he knew he and Olivia had been getting closer and closer. They'd finally began to mend their relationship. And now it was all going to hell once again.

"Elliot." Cragen nudged him, interrupting Elliots thoughts as he quickly turned in his chair to gaze up at his commanding officer.

"Yes Captain?"

Wanting to forget about his crisis with Olivia for the time being, he decided to focus his attention on the current case they'd been bombed with. It wasn't so much their usual, but sex crimes weren't the only thing they were known for dealing with.

"Did the test results come back on that abnormal brain tumor in our victims cerebrum?"

"Blunt force trauma to the head, slight concussion. Other than that he miraculously has developed amnesia so he won't be able to remember a damn thing about his attack."

Cragens' eyes narrowed for a moment until he glanced to Olivia's empty seat. He nodded towards her chair, throwing a questioning glance down at Elliot.

"Wheres Liv?"

Elliot shrugged his shoulders, sighing as he turned towards his desk. It was then Cragen noticed something. It wasn't like Elliot to not know where Olivia was. If anything, if anyone rather, Elliot were the only person Olivia ever disclosed personal information to. If not him, then it were either Alex or Casey.

"I don't know whats going on between the two of you, but your little fling needs to end soon so we can close this case. Get your ass out there and find Liv."

And that was all it took for Elliot to suck up his inner qualms. No sooner than he had moved to stand, and Cragen went to turn away, Munch and Fin began clapping their hands.

"I see our baby girl has nailed our perp." Fin grinned, coming to stand beside Elliots desk. Elliot turned towards the door, spotting her as she strode towards them; one hand gripping the upper arm of a white male, while her other held an ice pack on her lip.

"Man, this bull! I didn't mean ta knock da bitch up." The man argued while an obvious annoyed Olivia only nodded her head. She put the man in lock up, turning away when the stubborn bastard called out to her. "It ain't right! I gotta pay childs support out the ass for ten other kids from different whores!"

"Then maybe you should try keeping it in your pants!" Clearly pissed, Olivia glared over her shoulder at the man. Elliot didn't dare say a word; he knew not to when she were like this. Though, he was concerned she hadn't called him when she'd gotten a lead.

Cragen didn't wait for Elliot to speak up as he began questioning Olivia for the facts.

"Guys name is Ostavio Marquie. He's here illegally. He was smuggled in by our very own victim whose wife decided she wanted more than what she was getting."

"So she asked him to knock off her husband?"

"I wouldn't put it past her. She is one conniving bitch with a great right hook." Sarcasm heavily laced her voice as she glanced down towards her partner. She'd been wanting to speak to him, clear things up but had been at a loss onto. She didn't exactly know where he stood with Kathy, nor where they even stood. Things just kept getting more complicated for her, and they were about to become very hectic.

"Okay. Well we'll get a court order to warrant an arrest for her and we'll see if we can get her a nice cell with hers truly."

Things had begun to die down during the late hours, like they always did. It seemed as if perps loved to destroy good days within the daylight hour rather than at night anymore. Elliot didn't exactly know why that had been, and he decided the thought wasn't worth the effort. Grabbing his cell, he stood, ready to go home for the night when a curvaciosu silhouette much like his partners began heading upstairs towards the crib.

If things were going to be fixed, they were going to be fixed now.

Taking the initiative, Elliot started upstairs, opening the door slowly as he glanced in. Sure enough, his beautiful partner stood near one of the beds. She had just removed her over shirt, ready to lay down when she'd heard the door creek open and turned to see her partner closing it.

"Hey, hows your lip?" He asked, not sure how to go about the whole make-up thing. It was silly really.

"Yeah well, if I weren't married I'd have been reaching for alot more."

Again those words rang through his mind as he approached her. Time seemed to suspend itself whenever he were around, Olivia knew that for sure. She could count the seconds as they go by and swear they felt like hours. Without giving him a second look, she sat down with a contorted sigh, unconsciously shrugging her shoulders.

"I've been decked alot harder." Came her reply. She wasn't in any mood to talk, that vibe could be sensed a mile away.

"Look, Liv, about the other night, I-"

"Save it." Sighing once more, Olivia looked over to him, her eyes meeting his for the first time in years it seemed.

Elliot always thought that way. Whenever he didn't hear her voice or see her, it felt like an eternity.

"It was just a joke right? We should both just put it behind us." She continued, brushing her hand through her hair. Elliot sat down beside her, knees cracking at the joints.

"It didn't need to be said." He offered a small smile, and courtest of that came her own small smile. "The divorce just isn't final yet, and it sort of slipped out in the way that I wanted my marriage to survive."

This tid bit of insight instantly intrigued her as she turned to him slightly.

"What do you mean?"

"Kathy and I haven't been staying at the same house for months Liv. You know that."

That were true. Elliot had been living a few blocks away from her own apartment complex. He'd gotten one of the more sophisticated apartments, though the point still remained that he and his wife had been separated.

"I know that Elliot. But it is true. You know our partnership only allows so much and with us having a close friendship, we are jeopardizing it as it is. We don't need Kathy going to our superiors and claiming we're doing something we're not. You know her allegation would be justified. The FDA already want us separated. We don't need to give them a reason to transfer one of us."

If he didn't know any better, he'd say she were right on the ball with that one. He definitely wouldn't put it past Kathy as to go so low and break up the best thing thats ever happened to him. And God only knew how badly Elliot Stabler wanted to be with Olivia Benson. Everyone in the precinct that knew them, knew this. It was more than obvious. He'd shown his desire and love for her in many ways. She was just oblivious to it. And whether or not he agreed with the fact that is was for the best, the truth was damned because he were still married.

And Olivia seemed to be unattainable. He'd worked with her for so long, yet she'd been single for nearly the entire time he'd known her. He couldn't phantom why guys weren't tripping over themselves to get to her. Hell, if he weren't stuck with his bagage, he would've done made that move.

But it was a loss cause.

"Lets just call a truce, okay?" The offer donned on him the moment her hand came into contact with his. And he smiled. She gave a brief smile before taking off her shoes, preparing to lay back with him there or without. Her long time partner just grinned cheesily.

"Not going home?" She'd have thought he were nosey, but the fact that they were close provided she tell him more than required.

"Why? I have to be back here bright and early to finish up that report." Without so much as a glance, she laid back on the hard bed, staring at the ceiling. "Cragen wants us to do another under cover op."

"You'd think he'd give us a break once in a while."

With a sigh, Elliot proceeded in taking off his shoes as he removed his jacket and took to the bed beside hers. Olivia raised a brow as she glanced over to him, curious as to why he wanted to stay over all of a sudden. As if sensing her unasked question, he shrugged his shoulders, laying down to what had to have been the most hardest place to sleep.

"I ain't about to waste gas and drive home. Do you know how much they want for a gallon anymore?"

"Do I? My car gets bad gas milage as it is. Where do you think most of my pay goes? Hm?"

And just like that things seemed to be normal, at least, for them. There were still so many unspoken things between them, but neither wanted to be the one to cross that shaky bridge just yet. There couldn't be any confirmations of what was between them, sicne neither had been willing to take any step towards there being one. And so, they left it at that. They did have to get up early the next morning.

Fate proved unwilling to lend them a hand as Elliots cell phone rang. Somehow, Olivia just knew who that person was. And somehow, she just knew things were going to take a turn for the worst yet again.I

A/N: Who do you think is on the phone? Well, I think you'll need to review to find out!

So, if you want more, REVIEW :)

Last Chapter Review Replies-

Kasey J.- Haha, I know x3 I wanted Elliot to be the one in the car in that ep, so I thought'd I'd bring it back my way :) Thanks for the review!

Sasina- Yay! Thank you! D I hope you continue to read, review and enjoy this fic!!:)

Review and I will get started on the next chapter!! Reviews mean a happy writer which means a great chappy!!