A/N: A shout out to my anonymous reviewer! Glad you liked it.
A/N2: I hope you all are enjoying this story. The next chapter will speed up I promise but I had to get a little something in first. :) Thanks for reading!
Chapter 19
Nick exited the interrogation room and found himself suddenly being slammed against the wall. The air left his lungs and for a few seconds he struggled to comprehend what just happened until he saw Stabler holding his throat.
"What on Earth were you thinking?" Elliot demanded. Nick held his hands up in a defensive position and Elliot slowly released him.
"What are you talking about?" Nick asked.
"The cops were called to your wife's house in DC the last time you were there," Elliot was seething.
"We got into an argument and the neighbor called the cops. Nothing happened. How'd you find out?" Nick wanted to know.
"Tucker. That is the last time I want to learn something like that from him. You're my partner and if I can't trust you better belief I will ask for a new one," Elliot warned.
"Hey I didn't think my wife and I getting into an argument was any of your business," Nick raised an eyebrow.
"It is if you can't stay focused on your job," Stabler said. He turned and headed for the doorway they'd walked through to get to the interrogations rooms. Nick shook his head and followed after him.
"I need to get back to the hospital. My car is there and so are my wife and children," Stabler approached the desk sergeant.
"Tucker says you'll have to catch the bus," the sergeant said.
"What?" Elliot was already too hot under the collar to be dealing with Tucker's antics.
"Change in plans Stabler," Tucker said as he came up from behind him with Cassidy in tow. The detective whirled around and he did not bother to hide his contempt.
"What's going on?" Nick asked.
"Detective Rollins just woke up," the Lieutenant headed outside and both detectives followed him.
In the backseat of the car, Elliot pulled out his phone and sent a text to Olivia, to warn Fin and Rollins that IAB was on the way. Not that anyone had done anything wrong but Rollins had just woken up and if she needed to say something that she didn't want Tucker to find out she had better do it now.
"How is Olivia?" Cassidy asked, breaking Elliot from his train of thought.
"Doing better. She's looking forward to getting rid of those crutches," Stabler smiled slightly, his anger was not directed at Cassidy and there was no reason the former SVU detective didn't deserve some civility.
"I bet. Would you pass my best onto her?" Brian wondered.
"Of course," Elliot nodded. Brian nodded and turned back to the window he was sitting next to. Nick had been forced to sit next to Tucker as he drove because the lieutenant didn't want Elliot anywhere near him. That and IAB tended to want to keep suspects apart, even in the car.
They pulled up to the hospital and Nick, Elliot, and Brian hopped out. The three headed for the elevators and were soon on their way to Rollins' floor. Upon exiting the elevator, Elliot peeled off to head for the waiting room while Brian continued on toward Rollins' room. Nick lingered behind, not wanting to get near Elliot.
"El," Olivia smiled slightly.
"How is she?" Elliot asked.
"Well she's not entirely with it just yet. The doctors are testing her motor skills and her memory," Olivia explained.
"Well then at least IAB won't be able to talk to her. Has the Captain returned?" He wanted to know.
"No and I'm betting he won't be for a while. The Chief of D's was not happy," she frowned.
"We need to get everybody in the same room and clear the air," Elliot said.
"Why do I know that look?" Olivia asked.
"Because you were my partner for twelve years and now you're married to me," he smirked.
"Right, that has to be it," she shook her head and leaned in for a quick kiss. When they parted Elliot grabbed his cell phone and dialed an important number.
"Hey Munch, do you still have an in for the NYPD databases?" He asked.
To Be Continued…