When they made it back inside, the space at OCCB was quiet, illuminated only by the small lamps on the desks. When they reached Elliot's, Olivia shrugged off the damp hoodie and moved to give it back.

"Keep it." Elliot motioned gently. She looked unsure. "I'll take it back when we see each other again." He proposed, a way of promising to get together again soon.

"Alright." Olivia folded the jacket over her arm and reached for her blazer on the desk.

"Not that I expect you to give it back at all, just like the hoodie we had back in the days." Stabler teased. He wasn't ready to let her leave just yet.

She caught the twinkle in his eyes and replied with a smile.

"That hoodie was as much mine as it was yours, Stabler."

"Sure, Benson." He said, not convinced.

They both knew she was lying but that he was letting it slide. It felt great to be able to find their footing in humour for a moment.

But then Olivia got nostalgic thinking about how she had worn that hoodie to shred when he left. Elliot noticed the change in her mood.

"You still have it, don't you?" he meant it as a gentle bicker, but it sounded more emotional than he intended.

Olivia hesitated before answering. She sat on the edge of his desk, taking her time before answering, deciding they were in a safe place for her to open up.

"I had it for a long time." She said, wistful. "But had to give it up when it was soaked in blood after a case…"

"I'm sorry." He sensed her sadness, and knew it was about more than the case.

She offered a sad smile in return.

"I felt lke I was losing you all over again afterwards…Fin didn't know how to handle me, I was awful to everybody for at least a month." She decided to share.

He was grateful she was letting herself open up to him. He decided it was his turn. He leaned a bit on the desk, lowering his eyes before talking.

"Right after Jenna…" he swallowed with difficulty. Olivia braced herself, looking up at him and waiting patiently for him to continue. "I went to get my things in my locker. I was going directly to IAB to debrief. I was in total shock." He kept his eyes to the desk beside him, remembering. "I didn't know what I was about to do back then…but when I saw the hoodie in my locker…I went to grab it but I changed my mind at the last minute. I told myself…that at least you would have it if things…if things went south at IAB." He finished looking at her.

They stared at each other, both of them raw from emotion and nostalgy.

"Well, I got it." She said in sadness, not really knowing what to add to that.

Elliot nodded and let the silence hang between them.

"I'm so sorry, Liv-"

"El…you've apologized already. Quiet eloquently too." She made him smiled a little with that. "I don't want us to get stuck on this. I want us to move on. Forward."

Elliot couldn't believe how generous she was with him, how forgiving. He didn't deserve it, but he was so grateful for it. He acquiesced again. He pointed at the hoodie still folded on her arm.

"Maybe we can share this one, this time."

Olivia looked at it for a moment and then back up at him, smiling.

"Yeah, I'd like that."

They smiled fondly at each other. A new chapter begun for their grey hoodie, and for them.

"Well," Olivia stood up, "I'm going home to a long shower, a glass of wine and a book or something."

"Have fun." Elliot answered. "Say hi to Noah, if you get the chance." He offered, which warmed Olivia's heart.

"I will." She moved toward the exit but noticed Stabler stayed at his desk. "You're not going home?"

"Oh, I'll…I'll hit the gym here." He pointed behind him. "Get the day out of my system."

Olivia hummed.

"Good idea. I'm choosing wine for that, but hey, to each their own." She joked.

Elliot laughed.

"Raincheck?" he asked and realized maybe he read her wrong thinking she had made an invitation to follow her.

Olivia didn't comment on it.

"Sure." She smiled.

"Good night, Liv." He said from the middle of the room, absorbing the sight of her, finally accepting to let her leave.

"Good night, El. See you tomorrow." She stepped onto the metal ramp of OCCB towards the exit.

"You will." He promised, and she believed him.

The end! Please review!

musical-Aven

May 2023