God Bless The Broken Road
(Chapter Four: Decisions)
Olivia opened her eyes at the sound of the alarm clock buzzing. She groaned a little and looked over at the incredibly attractive man laying asleep beside her.
"Jack," she said softly. "Your alarm is going off."
He stretched and kissed her softly. "I'm gonna use your shower really quick." He kissed Olivia and headed for the shower.
Olivia rolled over and closed her eyes dozing off again. She awoke fifteen minutes later to Jack's gentle kiss against her lips.
"Umm," Olivia moaned.
She climbed out of the bed and followed him to the hotel room door.
Jack stopped and wrapped his arms tight around her holding her and kissing her passionately.
Olivia looked deep into his eyes and smiled as he held her hand tight.
"Do you regret it?" She asked softly.
Jack looked at her and smiled as he leaned in to kiss her gently. "Not making love to you? Maybe a little." Olivia grinned and laughed as he moved his nose against hers. "No, I don't. Because someday when we are ready for it, it will happen and it will be amazing. When the timing is right."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah." Jack looked across the room at the clock. "I have to go, Olivia. But I want you to call me tonight and tell me all about this interview."
"Me call you?"
"Yes. I saved my number in your phone this morning before I woke you up."
Olivia laughed. "Okay. You be careful."
"Always. And I will be thinking about you every second until I can see you again."
Olivia gulped. She didn't like the thought of not knowing when that may be. Jack watched her as a worried look crossed her face.
"Hey, look at me." He raised her chin as tears filled her eyes. "You know as soon as I can get a day off I will be in New York to see you, right?"
"Really?"
"Well, yeah. I mean it is going to be kind of hard to have a relationship strictly by phone."
"I guess so. When do you think I will see you again?"
"I'm not sure yet. But trust me, it will be as soon, as much and as often as I can."
Olivia smiled. "I'm going to miss you. This is strange, I feel like I have known you forever. Not like I just met you yesterday."
"I know. Think of how awkward it would be if we had actually had sex last night."
She smiled and hugged him tight one last time as he kissed her then headed off down the hallway. Olivia's interview wasn't until two o'clock that afternoon so she laid back down to sleep for another hour before she got up and got ready.
Olivia got up and got ready for her interview. She left the hotel a little early so she was sure not to be late. She was seated in the back seat of the cab when she realized she had two new text messages. She opened her phone to read them. The first was a short little message from Jack just moments after he had left her hotel room telling her that he missed her already.
She smiled and sighed. She wasn't quite sure what this feeling was that he gave her, but she liked it. She hadn't stopped thinking about him since they had met and she was really hoping this would turn out to be something good.
She pushed the button to open the second message. It was also from Jack, this time letting her know that he had landed safely in Los Angeles and to wish her luck on her interview. He was so sweet.
Olivia looked out the window at the miniature city as it passed by. It was nothing at all like back in New York, but maybe that was the appeal. Maybe it would be nice to escape the hustle and bustle of the big city for a while. Cragen had already told her that she could come back at any time. That made this big chance not seem as scary.
The cab pulled up in front of her destination and Olivia just sat and stared. Here goes nothing, she thought as she pressed her lips together and stepped onto the sidewalk. She straightened her clothing and tucked her hair behind her ear as she paid the cab driver and he drove away.
She turned and stood on the steps in front of the Denver County Police Station, a not so big one story building placed strategically between a bank and a post office. She took a deep breath and walked up the six steps to the front lobby. This place was tiny compared to Manhattan.
"Olivia Benson to see Captain David Brooks, please."
"Yes, ma'am. He has been expecting you." The woman sitting behind the counter smiled as she walked out and lead Olivia down the hallway to a small office in the back. "If you'll have a seat he should be with you in just a moment. Can I get you anything? A cup of coffee or danish?"
"No, thank you." Olivia smiled at the sweet woman.
She sat in the office for just a few minutes before Captain Brooks entered the room and shut the door behind him to begin her interview.
An hour later Olivia walked down the steps of the police station as she opened her phone and found Jack's number calling it.
"Hey beautiful," he said after three rings.
"Hey."
"I cannot stop thinking about you."
"Really?"
"How did it go?"
"It went great! Jack, he offered me the job. He said it is mine if I want it. I told him I needed a little time to think about it and he gave me a couple of days. But he called a cab for me and it is supposed to pick me up here in a few minutes and take me to look at some apartments across town."
"So you are really considering it?"
"I don't know. I mean this has all happened so fast. I wasn't going to look for a place right now. But, he said if I put in the transfer the department would cover my deposit and first months rent at this complex and the cost of the move. They really want me here. They just started their Special Victims Unit and they do no have anyone who is experienced working with live victims. So far everyone working the cases is doubling from homicide."
"Wow. Special Victims?"
"Yeah. I work sex crimes."
"I guess we didn't cover that last night."
"Is that a problem?"
"Oh, no. I just realized that I never really asked you what department you worked in. You seem like someone who would do good working closely with people."
"Thanks."
"No, I mean you are really caring and compassionate. I bet you are good at your job."
"Apparently I am damn good, because I now have a job in New York and Denver begging me to come work here."
"That's my girl."
"You are so sweet. I wish I could see you."
"I know darlin'. But I will see you as soon as I can."
"Listen can I call you back later, my cab is here."
"Of course."
"I miss you."
"I miss you, too."
The apartment they showed her was wonderful. Much larger than most in Manhattan at about a third of the price. The complex had onsite laundry, an indoor pool, tennis courts and a gym. This place seemed perfect. And it was not too far from the precinct.
Olivia returned to her hotel room and took a long hot bath. She closed her eyes and slid into the bubbles she had improvised using two of those little hotel shampoos. She exhaled deeply and just tried to unwind and relax. Everything the last few days was happening so quickly. They were all good things, but happening fast and she wanted to make sure that she really considered everything before she made a decision.
She thought about things with jack. She really liked him. She was really attracted to him as well. But she knew that she wanted to try a relationship with him. He made her happy and even if he was gone a lot she loved their conversations on the phone. Jack she could have either way. It didn't matter to him if he had to visit her in Denver or Manhattan.
This job was perfect, a dream come true for her. A promotion and a great deal more money. The apartment was wonderful and with the cheaper cost of living here she could even start looking to buy a house in the near future and get out of apartments completely.
But in New York she had her friends. The apartment she was living in was amazing, for Manhattan. Of course she owned it now so she could always rent it out if she did come to Denver. This new job would give her the opportunity she needed to stand on her own two feet and climb out of Elliot's shadow. Here she would be an experienced Detective, back in New York she was just Elliot's partner.
Elliot…..Elliot….what was she going to do about Elliot? He was the dotted line of this deal. The one thing that could make this go either way. She didn't want to hurt him by leaving, but if she stayed she only continued to hurt herself. She was in love with a man that she may never have. She didn't want to be in love with him anymore. She wanted to be able to let it go, let him go and just be back to the way they were before, but that was never going to happen.
Olivia wanted a chance to be happy with someone. Maybe that someone was Jack. But she knew that if she stayed in New York her two wonderful months with Elliot would be the memory that she compared every relationship to for the rest of her life. She would never fully be able to let him go if she had to face him every single day. She didn't want to lose him, but she could not stay there and watch every day as the man she was in love with loved another woman.
Olivia felt a tear roll off her cheek and into the bath water as she laid the warm damp wash cloth over her face and closed her eyes. She was going to have to make a decision and soon. And this was probably going to be the hardest decision she would ever make.
