Author's Comments: Heck, no. I wouldn't just leave it like that. I am a pretty bad tease though, am I not?
Too Close
Chapter Twenty
Part 1.
The faint stench of faded cologne mixed with sweat from sleep woke her. He was still mostly in the same position as last night, taut arms clutching her like a favorite doll. He had moved in even closer though, his head burrowed into her shoulder now. She ran her fingers lightly over his hair, amazed as always at how much softer it was than it looked.
Her lips touched his forehead, planting a gentle kiss. He startled and began to stretch, hands running over her belly as he realized she was still lying next to him. Raising his head to bring his lips to hers, he kissed them softly and said, "I thought I was dreaming for a minute."
She grinned and said, "So you weren't tortured by being so close without—"
"Shhh," he said. "I'm glad you're here. Now, I wouldn't turn anything down . . ."
"Elliot—"
"But you don't have to—"
"Elliot, I want to, I do. I nearly gave into impulses last night, believe me. And I really appreciate everything you did for me." He got quiet, and she shifted nervously. "I think it's best that we wait, though, just to see how things go."
He looked up at her with calm eyes and said, "I understand. And you don't ever have to pay me back for pampering you. You deserve it."
She swept her hand down his cheek, trying to fight a tear threatening to break free. "What's wrong?" he said.
"I just . . ." She had to fight to get the next words out. "I think we shouldn't see each other for a while."
For a few seconds, he just stared at her, and she wished he would react, even if it was just to yell at her, so she would know what he was thinking. Finally, he said, "If that's what you want, that's fine with me."
Her shoulders tightened as if he had never relaxed them with his hands, but he didn't give her the silent treatment. Instead, he held her hand in his and said, "You let me know when you're ready to leave."
After she burrowed into him for a few more minutes, he helped her get dressed, and when Amanda knocked on the door, he helped her to it. Unable to leave without feeling those greedy lips against hers one last time, she leaned in and kissed him, driving her mouth against his like tomorrow would never come. He pushed himself into the kiss, grabbing her hair and sending chills all the way down to her feet, and she thought he might not let go.
Amanda knocked again, and they reluctantly pulled away from one another, pressing their foreheads together. "Coming," shouted Olivia at the door. She drove her gaze hard into him one more time and opened the door, never looking back.
Part 2.
Elliot threw himself into his work, trying not to think about the object of his obsession. It had been almost five weeks since he saw Olivia last, but he still thought about her every minute. Staying true to his word, he stayed in anger management, and saw a counselor once a week, and didn't touch a drop of alcohol. But none of it did any good if the person who triggered him was not in the picture.
He tried to remind himself that it wasn't pointless, that this was for his own good. Even if he never dated anyone again, all his efforts would at least help diffuse the tension between him and the other detectives, who glared at him in distrust when they saw him. Even Munch, who used to have no ill will against him, shook his head and grimaced when he saw Elliot's face.
He didn't know how much longer he could stay here, without her, and without the respect of his fellow co-workers. But he kept plugging along, because he had no place else to turn.
"Can I help you?" he said to a woman who walked off the elevator, eyes darting around as if she was looking for someone.
"I need to see Olivia Benson," she said.
"She's on leave right now, can I—" Elliot stopped when he recognized the woman who had called him when Olivia needed to be saved from the psych ward. "Rita?" he said.
"Yeah, you're Elliot, right?" she said. "I almost forgot what you looked like. I'll never forget your name though."
"Yeah . . . yeah, how are you?" he said, his voice softening as he held out a hand for her to shake.
"I'm doing great," she said, grabbing his hand in hers. Her eyes turned serious. "Much better now that I'm out of that shithole—oops, I'm sorry—"
"No, no. It's okay," said Elliot. "What brings you here?"
"I . . . I just wanted to see Olivia, to thank her. And you too," she added. "I heard that place nearly got shut down after you guys got an investigation going. And the guard—Moses—he's in jail, right?"
"Yeah, that's right." When she sighed in relief, he said, "Did something happen to you in there?"
"Not really," she said, glancing at the door as if still wary of guards venturing in on their conversation. "Moses did make some sexually suggestive comments, but he never touched me."
Elliot's gaze pierced her, and he said, "Rita, we may be able to use you as a witness—would you be willing to testify against Moses at trial?"
She hesitated, and then said, "Yeah. Sure, I will do that."
Elliot smiled and said, "Thank you. That may help put him away." Lowering his eyebrows, he said, "Would you be willing to wait here for a little while? I may be able to get Olivia down here so you can talk to her."
She nodded. "Yeah, I have no place to be."
Goosebumps formed on Elliot's arms as he scooted around to the phone on his desk and began to dial Olivia's number. "Hello?" she said, sounding puzzled at receiving a call from a precinct phone.
"Olivia?" he said.
Her voice lifted as she said, "Elliot?"
"Hey, Liv. I don't know if you can come down here or not, but I have someone here who wants to see you."
"Who is it?"
"It's a surprise. Can you make it?"
There was silence on the other end, and then she said, "I just got my cast off yesterday. So yeah, okay. I'll be down there in ten or so."
Elliot sat Rita down in a chair and paced, trying to keep busy while waiting for Olivia. Every time the elevator doors opened, he walked over to see who it was. Finally, they opened and deposited her, neatly dressed, hair perfect, and graceful as ever. Elliot could even swear that she glowed.
She beamed when she saw him, saying, "Who's here? And why all the secrecy?"
"This way," he said, touching her elbow to guide her.
When she saw Rita, her eyes lit up and her mouth fell open. "Wow," she said, walking right through Rita's outstretched hand to lean and give her a hug. "You look so much better now that you're out."
"Oh my God," said Rita. "You too!"
They smiled at each other as Elliot filled Olivia in on Rita's decision to testify. "Rita, thank you so much," said Olivia. "This is going to be so helpful. Has the state contacted you about the investigation?"
"No," said Rita. "I didn't even know it was going on until today. But I'd be happy to talk to them."
"Okay," said Olivia. "I'll have them get in touch with you. The more people who speak out about that awful place, the better."
"No problem. And thank you, Olivia. You had so much courage to go through what you did."
Elliot watched as tears formed in the corner of Olivia's eyes, her cheeks turning red. "Thank you, Rita," she said. "Without you, I may have never made it out of there."
When they were done talking, Olivia said, "Here, I'll walk you out."
Elliot stared gleefully at the ground as he waited for her to return, knowing that his actions had not been for her benefit alone, but not feeling a bit ashamed of luring her here for his own self-interest. He turned just in time to see her returning with Nick, Fin, and Amanda surrounding her, having just returned from an exhausting stake-out. "So glad you stopped in," said Nick, smiling shamelessly at her.
"Thanks, Nick," she said, turning to face him. She grabbed his hand in hers and said, "It's really good to see you."
Elliot's heart jumped into his throat, and he had a sudden urge to cut in and break up the love-fest. But he held back, reminding himself that this is what had gotten him into trouble to begin with. "Hey," said Nick. "We're all going out to the bar tonight, you want to come with? We can celebrate you getting your cast off."
She glanced at Elliot, and he made his face into a stone. "Sure," she said. "I'd love to."
He saw her chest rise and fall deeply, and she leaned in to whisper something in Nick's ear. Nick's face fell, and he was quiet for a few seconds before saying, "Sure. It's fine, Liv."
One by one, the detectives fell away from her side, and she returned to him. "Elliot," she said softly, resting her hand on his arm. "You can come with us."
He lowered his eyebrows at her, and suddenly he knew what she had whispered in Nick's ear. "No, that's okay, Liv. You go—have a good time."
She shook her head and said, "I don't want to go unless you come too."
He sighed and glanced away, and then peered into her eyes. "Well I guess in that case . . . I can't deny you your celebration."