On Saturday afternoon, Elliot took Olivia to the animal shelter. She had decided to get a dog for some added security. Olivia picked out a 2 year old, yellow Labrador mix named Jake. After filling out all the adoption paperwork Elliot took Olivia back to her apartment. As they turned down her street Olivia's entire body started shaking. Elliot reached over and squeezed Olivia's arm with his hand.
"It's ok," he told her gently. "Everything is going to be ok... I promise."
Elliot parked the car, helped Olivia out, and got the dog out. Olivia was still shaking. She grabbed onto Elliot's arm for support. She tried to pay attention to his whispers of comfort but the terror of what had happened to her the last time she was there distracted her. Olivia's trembling hands prevented her from getting the key into the lock. Elliot took the key from her, unlocked and opened her front door. Olivia stood there, paralyzed with fear. Elliot sent the dog into Olivia's apartment. He put his arm around Olivia and pulled her tight to him.
"I got you Liv. It's ok. You can do this," he told her.
"El," she said, her voice shaky. "You were right." A single tear escaped, rolling down her cheek. "I haven't been back since..." she stopped. "El, I can't go in there," she pleaded with him as she tried to back away.
"Do you want me to check the apartment?" Elliot asked, trying to figure out a way to calm her.
"No!" Olivia screamed, "Don't leave me out here alone!" She reached out a grabbed Elliot's shirt with her shaking hand as tight as she could.
"Ok, ok," Elliot took her hand from his shirt. She squeezed his hand so tight he quickly lost feeling in it.
Elliot nudged Olivia far enough into her apartment he could shut the door behind them. He calmed her down enough to get her sit on the couch with him. She sat with her body plastered against his. Jake came over and nudged Olivia's hand. She pet the dog and let him lick her hand. It took her a little while but her body eventually stopped shaking.
The two ordered pizza for dinner and watched TV for the majority of the evening.
"I'll be ok if you want to go home El," Olivia said softly. She hoped he would stay with her but she felt guilty for needing him so much.
"I'm not going anywhere, Liv. Not till we catch this creep."
"What if we never catch him?" Olivia asked with fear in her voice.
Elliot put his hand on Olivia's shoulder and stared into her eyes. "We'll get him Liv," he replied confidently.
Olivia laid her head on Elliot's shoulder and turned her attention back to the TV. Before long Elliot heard her breathing deepen and felt her body relax completely as she drifted off to sleep. He laid his head on top of her head and it didn't take long before he was asleep as well.
Monday afternoon brought promises of justice for Olivia. Elliot and Fin brought in the perp who attacked her after the lab matched one of the DNA samples. They determined the attack on Olivia was just a random attack, not someone targeting her specifically.
After her attacker was put away Olivia could finally relax. She was able to return to her apartment without being overcome with fear. Elliot continued to check on her to make sure she was doing alright. Olivia knew with the love and support of her friends she would be able to put everything that had happened behind her. She wasn't going to let herself be a victim any longer.