Thanks so much for all the reviews. I am glad people enjoyed the fluff. Less fluff and more drama in this one...more to come soon.
"Why are you up so early?" Olivia asked, looking at the clock and noticing it wasn't even five o'clock. She squinted her eyes, looking at him as he straightened his tie, "Are you wearing your uniform?" Elliot sat on the bed, putting on his shoes and Olivia ran her fingers along his white dress shirt, "I will never get used to seeing you dressed like this," she laughed a little.
"So you're not a sucker for a man in uniform?" he asked, leaning over and kissing her. "I've already had three guards call in sick this morning," he sighed, checking his phone once more in case any other guards had texted saying they wouldn't make it in that day. "I'm gonna have to cover a shift." He rarely worked outside the office, but in a pinch it was part of his job to fill in. He hadn't worn a uniform regularly since his beat cop days, and the security guard uniform was hardly the same thing. He could always tell Olivia was laughing inside when he'd put it on, that she felt he was pretending to be a cop instead of really being one. But that wasn't true. He wasn't pretending to be a cop…he wasn't one, and he was content with that. He enjoyed running the security company a lot more than he ever thought he would, but days like this when he had to actually work as a guard were dreadful. If he could've avoided wearing the gun, he would have.
"I'm a sucker for you, no matter what you're wearing," she sat up, putting her arms around him, kissing his neck playfully. Ever since she'd hit the twenty week mark in her pregnancy her hormones were in overdrive and she couldn't seem to get enough of him. He figured he should enjoy it while he could, because it was only a matter of time before she'd feel too uncomfortable to want to do anything. It was a short window. "Why do you have to leave so early?" she asked, pulling him toward her. "I want you to stay…"
"I wish I could stay," he laughed. "Believe me…" he ran his fingers through her hair and then forced himself to pull away from her. "I need to get to the office, set some assignments, get my gun…" He always kept it locked up in the office, refusing to carry it on him otherwise. "And then I'm spending the morning as bank security, you know…protecting the millions…" he laughed.
"Will you be done in time for our appointment with Judge Linden?" she asked. They had scheduled a meeting with the judge to ask her advice on adding Elliot's name to the adoption petition. "She's expecting us at two."
"I'll be there," he promised, kissing her once more. "I've got to go," he smiled. "Are you going to be okay getting Noah ready by yourself this morning?"
"Sure," she smiled. She put her hand on her stomach, "Your daughter's restless this morning," she smiled, grabbing his hand and placing it where she had felt the baby move. "Do you feel that?"
He pushed his hand carefully on her stomach, but he couldn't feel anything. He knew Olivia really wanted him to be able to feel the little flutters she'd been feeling the past few weeks, but so far they just weren't strong enough. He shook his head, "Not yet," he admitted. "But it'll happen soon." He kissed her once more, "See you this afternoon," he grabbed his keys and walked out the door.
The sky was gray and overcast as Olivia walked toward the courthouse. It was only 1:30 and she knew she'd be a little early, but things had been slow at the precinct so she had decided to duck out and grab a steaming cup of tea on her way. She'd ordered a coffee for Elliot, knowing he'd need it after his morning of security duty. He was always less himself after a job like that, and while she wished he'd talk to her about it, he never did. At first she'd assumed it was because he thought the job was beneath him after all his years on the force, but now she was sure that wasn't it. He hated it because it reminded him of being a cop, and he didn't want to go back there for anything.
For February, the temperature wasn't uncommon, but the dark clouds made it seem colder and the moisture that hung thick in the air signaled an upcoming storm. If her hands weren't occupied by the cups, she would've tried to pull her coat around her. It didn't really button anymore and she was freezing. When she finally made it to the courthouse she had time to spare and sat on a bench in the lobby, sitting the cups beside her and pulling out her phone. I'm here…waiting. She texted Elliot and then sipped her tea, expecting him to walk through the door any minute.
She pulled a book out of her purse, and browsed through it. It was a book of baby names Elliot had bought a few weeks earlier and they had already worn down the pages by going through it so often. They'd highlighted a few names, but they couldn't seem to agree on one that seemed perfect for their daughter, and she really longed to call her by her name. So she went over the list again, mentally saying the names and trying to decide if any of them seemed right. Finally she closed the book and looked back at her phone, wondering why Elliot hadn't responded to her text. It was almost two, and he should've been there by now anyway. She called him, but it went to voicemail. "El…where are you?" she left a message. "I'm on my way up to see the judge. Just meet me there as soon as you get here. I have to turn my phone off…" she hung up the phone and turned off the ringer, tossing it in her purse. He was probably stuck at work, and even though she was irritated that he wasn't on time, she knew he wouldn't be late if it could be avoided.
She tossed his coffee in the trash on her way to the elevator, not wanting to carry it anymore. It was probably cold now anyway. When she exited the elevator she walked to the judge's office and sat, waiting for her appointment and wishing Elliot would show up before they called her in, but that didn't happen. "Sergeant Benson," the judge smiled and motioned for her to sit, "I was surprised when you called. How's our little Baby Boy Doe doing?"
Olivia smiled, "Noah is perfect," she said and she pulled out a picture to show her. "He's sixteen months old…walking…talking a lot…" she sighed. "He's just wonderful."
The judge took the picture and looked at it, "I knew I made the right choice," she smiled. "He seems very happy…and so do you…" she handed the picture back to Olivia. "So what did you need to talk to me about?"
"Well," Olivia didn't know why she was nervous all of the sudden. The judge liked her and had been supportive so far, but in the back of her mind she kept picturing the meeting with the social worker and the harsh judgment she'd felt that day and she was afraid the judge would react the same way. "I'm getting married," she said, holding her hand up and flashing the ring at the judge. "And my fiancé…he is really close to Noah…we were wondering about adding his name to the adoption petition?"
The judge looked surprised, "Congratulations," she said. "I wasn't aware you were seeing anyone when I placed Noah with you. When are you getting married?"
Olivia sighed, "We haven't set the date yet, but probably this summer…after everything is finalized with the adoption…and…" she paused, "and, after our baby is born."
The judge's eyes widened and she looked more closely at Olivia, realizing that she was pregnant. She hadn't noticed when she came in, probably because of her bulky coat and the purse she was carrying in front of her, but it was obvious now. "Congratulations again," the judge smiled. "Seems your life has taken a big turn over the last few months." She looked more seriously, "Where is your fiancé? If he wants to file an adoption petition, he should be here?"
Olivia shrugged, "He was supposed to be. I don't know where he is. This isn't like him…he must be caught in traffic or something."
The judge nodded, "Okay, well why don't you give me his name, birthdate, social security number…and I can at least start the background check," she grabbed a pen.
"Elliot Stabler," Olivia began.
"Detective Stabler?" the judge asked. "As in your former partner? I can't tell you how many times he's been in my courtroom over the years. I had no idea…"
"He's not a detective anymore," Olivia explained. "And we weren't involved back when we were partners. It's been a more recent development…"
The judge laughed a little, but took down the rest of the information. Then she looked at Olivia and smiled, "I don't think this will be a problem, but tell Mr. Stabler he has to come in and see me before we can file the petition."
"Thank you," Olivia was relieved. "After the social worker came for the six month visit, I was afraid this might not be approved."
"Why not?" the judge asked with worry. She hadn't seen the report, but she was going to request it now.
Olivia shrugged, "She said I broke the rules by not reporting my pregnancy. It was a mistake…I didn't mean to break the rules…"
The judge's face softened, "We can forgive a little mistake," she promised. "Believe me, I know that little boy is in the right place. I wouldn't have given him to you otherwise." She watched as Olivia stood, her pregnancy much more noticeable now that she'd been made aware of it, and the judge stood and shook her hand. "Tell Mr. Stabler to come in as soon as he can," she reminded her.
"I will," Olivia sighed. "I don't know where he is right now, but believe me, he'll never hear the end of this." The judge laughed and Olivia walked out of the office and toward the elevator. Before she could push the button, the doors slid open and she was face to face with Nick Amaro. She smiled, surprised to see him at family court that day because she couldn't remember any reason for him to be there. "Nick? What are you doing here?"
"Liv," his face was pale and his voice shook, and suddenly she realized something was wrong. "I came to find you…"
"Why?" she asked, her voice a nervous whisper.
"Your phone's off," he said. "And Maureen's been calling…she couldn't reach you on your cell…"
"Oh my God," Olivia felt like she couldn't breathe, "Noah…"
"It's not Noah, Liv," Nick grabbed her and tried to steady her. "He's fine…"
"Then what's wrong?" she asked, shaking her head in confusion.
"There was a bank robbery in Queens late this morning…" he tried to explain to her, but he wasn't sure she understood. "Liv…one of the guards was shot." He couldn't bear to say Elliot's name, but he could tell she knew. "He's critical…"
"No!" she screamed, and he tried to hold her but she pulled away. "He's stuck in traffic…"
"Liv…he's in surgery…" he reached out and held her close, not letting her pull away. She sobbed on his chest and he didn't know what to say. Nothing was going to make this better.
"I need to get to the hospital," she cried.
"I'll drive you," he offered and she didn't argue with him. They made their way downstairs and into the car, and the silence was painful. Nick couldn't think of the right words, so instead he said nothing, and Olivia looked out the window, watching as the gray drizzle began to change to tiny ice crystals. She ran her hand over her stomach, becoming increasingly more aware of the baby's anxious movements. She had wanted more than anything for Elliot to feel their daughter move than morning, but he couldn't…and now he might never have the chance. Nick watched her, his heart breaking for the partner he had grown to love like a sister, "Maureen said she was heading toward the hospital," he said. "If you need me to, I can take Noah and Kate…"
"Thanks," she said, her voice flat as she stared at the city outside the window. There was nothing else to say. Nothing else worth saying, and she focused on the gloomy February sky she wondered why she had let herself be happy, only to have it ripped out from under her.