"This isn't exactly the most comfortable place to sit" she said. They had been sitting on the floor, just looking at each other for the last 20 minutes. She didn't want to push him any further. She respected him for being so open even though they hadn't seen each other in years. He certainly had no plans on making her relive the hell she survived.

"Sorry" he mumbled as he helped her up. She just shook her head. "Don't be".

He led her to the couch, watching as she got comfortable. He knew that she hadn't eaten and it wasn't very likely that she would, but he had to try. "Are you hungry? I can make something light" he offered, hoping that she would at least humor him.

"No" she sighed. He ran a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated with her lack of caring.

"You're going to get sick if you don't eat".

"I'm not a child, I know when to eat, Elliot" she retorted, her patience wearing thin. His bottom had just hit the couch when he heard a knock on the door. He groaned out of annoyance and quickly opened the door, causing Olivia to jump.

"Brian, come on in". Olivia was not happy but she knew that it would happen eventually. She watched as her boyfriend slowly made his way in to the apartment, dropping a trash bag on the floor as he went. She felt her breath catch in her chest when he dropped to his knees in front of her.

"I've missed you so much" he whispered, grabbing her face in his hands and bringing his lips to her. She kept her eyes open, letting Elliot know that something was wrong. He decided to give them some space and went into his bedroom.

"Bri, we have to talk" she said as calmly as she could. She watched as his smile faded and was replaced by a frown.

"I knew this would happen" he said, shaking his head.

"You knew what would happen?" she questioned, feeling angry with his attitude.

"Don't act like you don't know. I knew that you would go and stay with Elliot and you'd fall for him all over again. Do you really think he's going to stick around this time? He's just going to hurt you!"

"At least he's here now that I need him! We had plans and you cancelled them!" she yelled, pushing his chest.

He was ready to put his two cents in, but Elliot came back into the room. He didn't say a word as he picked Olivia up in his arms, carrying her back into the bedroom. "I need to talk to her for a minute" he said before shutting the door.

"What the hell was the, El?"

"You need to calm down a bit; you just indirectly blamed him for your kidnapping. Don't you think he feels bad enough?"

Olivia immediately felt guilty, and he could see that she was about to break down again. Her shoulders started to shake as her head bowed. The tears were back. "I'm such an awful person".

Elliot wrapped his arms around her and held her close. "No you're not, you have been through a lot and you don't know how to handle the anger. It's okay, I'm sure Cassidy will forgive you". She nodded and took a step back, giving herself some space.

"I was trying to tell him that I need some time…a break".

Elliot didn't know what to say. Should he support this? Would she be happier?

Is this real?

Olivia walked back to the couch where Brian was now sitting. "I'm sorry" she said sincerely. "You are not to blame for this…I need some time Brian".

His eyes were brimmed with unshed tears. "I want you to be happy, even if you're not with me… I'm so sorry that I haven't been there for you lately". He carefully grabbed her hand and kissed her knuckles.

"You are going to make someone really happy one day Bri, I promise". She kissed him on the cheek and before she could say anything else, he was out the door.

She sighed and saw Elliot standing off to the side out of the corner of her eye. "I'm guessing you heard all of that".

"Yea" he said as he grabbed the bag off of the floor.

"Even the part before I started crying?"

"The part about me? Yea".

A few more tears made their way down her cheeks as she hugged her knees to her chest.

"I have something that might cheer you up" he said, holding something behind his back.

"I highly doubt it" she quipped.

He watched a huge smile take over her face.

"You remembered?"

"I remember everything when it comes to you" he said as he sat down next to her. He was surprised when she lay down on the couch, resting her head in his lap. He carefully covered her with her favorite blanket, keeping the ear to ear smile in place.

"I needed this after a day like today; I found out that my best friend is a suicidal mess and I broke up with my boyfriend. Man, isn't my life great?"

He chuckled and let his hand rub her back, soothing her. "Just get some rest".

"El?"

"Yea, Liv"

"I missed you"

"I missed you too"

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The next few days were even worse than he expected. Olivia couldn't sleep for more than an hour at a time without being awoken by a nightmare of William Lewis.

She would scream and cry, calling out for Elliot to help her. There were even a few times where she threw up because of how worked up she had become. Elliot slept in the bed with her because she was afraid to be alone. That and he could easily wake her when her nightmares were too intense.

Cragen and Fin had come over and taken her complete statement, but she had insisted that Elliot leave the room. She couldn't bring herself to tell him the details of her attack. He was sick enough as it was. He was hurt that she wouldn't say anything when he was in the room, but he understood.

That night after her coworkers left, Elliot held her as she sobbed. Having to go back to the days with her captor was not something she ever wanted to do again, but they both knew that she would have to for the trial. The Captain had given him the card for a great therapist that Olivia should go to.

(At the therapist's office, waiting room)

"I don't want to do this" Olivia said, her voice shaking.

"It'll help you".

"Hypocrite" she whispered, but he still heard. "I don't want to tell a complete stranger what Lewis did to me".

"What if I went in with you, that way you could just look at me the whole time? I know you don't want to tell me either, but it might help". She looked at him for a long moment, contemplating her choices.

"I think that could work".

"Olivia Benson, Dr. Lindstrom is ready for you".

Elliot could see that Olivia was nervous. Her hands were shaking and her breath was uneven, forcing air in and out of her lungs. He gently grabbed her elbow, guiding her into the office. "It'll be okay, Liv".

Will it really be okay? I shouldn't say things that I can't promise are true.

"I'm Dr. Lindstrom, you must be Olivia Benson. Come on, sit down and get comfortable. We have a whole hour and a half today so start wherever you see fit".