Chapter 23
By the time Olivia exited the shower, Elliot had breakfast cooking. He and the guys didn't stop for breakfast, wanting to be at home when IAB possibly showed up. John had to be to work anyway despite Casey basically letting him help SVU as quietly as possible. Nick and John caught up on some sleep as they headed back to the city as they had let Elliot get up and shower last. The hotel had been able to let guests back in after the crime scene had been secured and the restaurant attached to it had been cordoned off. Needless to say it wasn't a very long time between when they had to leave and when they had to get back on the road.
"That smells wonderful," Olivia smiled as she made her way into the kitchen.
"Good because I made you some. Wasn't sure if you'd had enough time to eat while helping everybody get ready," he smiled back and set a plate of eggs and hash browns on the table.
"No I hadn't had the chance. You know Calvin helps as much as he can but Charlotte needs breakfast before I do," she said.
"How are our little troopers?" Elliot wanted to know.
"Charlotte is just as bubbly as before. Not sure where she got the permanent smile from but I'm glad for it. Calvin seems ok but I imagine I'll have to tackle him later and ask. He's glad to be home and glad that we're all together but it just brings up memories that I think he prefer were buried," Olivia admitted before tucking into her food.
"I can imagine but I know he'll open up about it when he's ready," Elliot nodded. Both knew that it wasn't worth pushing Calvin to open up about his biological mother and the trauma that ensued after her decision to leave him.
"So, switching gears, how are the other troopers?" Elliot smirked.
"Well I'm not exactly sure. Rollins' physical state is improving but everything is at a slow pace. The doctor's expect her to fully regain her fine motor skills but it is going to take a while and she won't be able to even test for desk duty for at least a couple of months. Needless to say, she's frustrated. Fin says he'll take Frannie while Amanda's in rehab. IAB has taken the opportunity to look into her jacket, given the questionable things that have been going on with this case and they mentioned that she was gambling again. Then there's the fact that she put Fin down as her emergency contact. So now even if she does come back to the squad after rehab, they won't be partners. You might be teaming up with Fin when this is all over," Olivia explained.
"Yeah well I guess it might be better than Nick," Elliot shook his head. Olivia gave him a look. Nick was a great partner; he certainly wasn't Elliot but who was other than the man himself.
"Turns out he and Maria haven't been getting along on these little side trips to DC. The cops down there got involved once," he clarified.
"Oh geez," Olivia sighed.
"What is it?" Elliot asked.
"Maria called me the other day looking for you and I explained you were out. Then she went on to ask me how Nick was doing. I was confused, considering she'd just seen him, but I said that things were fine as far as I knew," Olivia shook her head.
"Yeah so things are a real mess," Elliot said.
"Well hopefully it'll all work out. Once everyone is back to work and had a chance to get their lives in order, it'll be almost like it once was," she was trying to stay positive.
"I hope so because…" he didn't get a chance to finish as there was a knock on the door.
"It's probably Perkins again. Kid has the smallest bladder," Olivia chuckled about the surveillance team that was downstairs. As of yet, they had not moved until they knew for sure that Martin Price was their man.
"Detective Stabler. Mrs. Stabler," Perkins smiled slightly and gave nods.
"I'm going to get you a milk jug, ok Perkins?" Elliot gave him a look.
"Sorry. Coffee," the young officer said before ducking down the hall to the bathroom. Elliot shook his head and was about to close the door when Tucker called out to him in the hallway.
"We need to talk," the lieutenant said.
To Be Continued…