I'm on a roll this week, writing not one but two new chapters for my other story Take Your Time (AU Bensler) and now here is another one for this story. Enjoy and thanks once again for your reviews!

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58. Needing Answers

Olivia was up early the next morning to get Noah ready. Lucy would be picking him up to take him to daycare, so Olivia would have time to help Elliot get ready for their appointment with Kathy. She had slept remarkably well, considering she wasn't used to sharing her bed with anyone. There had been no one after Brian. Not because she hadn't wanted a man in her life, but she just never dated anymore. It was different now, after what Lewis had done to her body. Her scars had faded partially over time but were still staring at her whenever she looked at herself in the mirror. She hadn't wanted to let a new person into her life, who would need to get to know her from scratch. She just didn't have the energy.

And now her old friend was back. He didn't need to get to know her, he knew her better than anyone had ever known her. Maybe even better than she knew herself. And she knew him. The familiarity of Elliot had overridden all the tension and complicated-ness that used to hang between them in the past. She felt as if, after a very long time of holding her breath, she was finally coming home. She had no doubt that they would argue again at some point, but it wouldn't be like they were before. In a way, their time apart had helped them both mature in a way they might not have been able to, if they had been in each others' lives the whole time. She wasn't sure of that, but for now, she chose to look at it that way. To see the upside of those lost years in stead of focusing on the pain of missing him and needing him when he wasn't there.

Elliot had woken up in considerable pain, and they realized that they'd forgotten his pain medication the night before. After Lucy had picked up Noah, Olivia checked in on him again, and she could tell that he was still in some pain. He was determined to get dressed and go to their appointment though, and asked her to help him up so he could wash up and put on clean clothes. It took them a while to get Elliot into clean socks, underwear and sweats but he made jokes about his own helplessness, keeping things light in stead of getting frustrated. By the time he'd managed to get into the living area on his crutches, he was dead tired and Olivia told him to just relax on the couch and she'd bring him his breakfast there.

They were both quiet, thinking about what was going to happen today. Olivia had to be at the courthouse at one for a brief chat with Barba before the trial would start at one thirty. She could only hope she wouldn't be too distracted after talking to Kathy. They hoped to be able to put the final pieces together at last, and maybe Elliot would even start to remember more. What would she do if he got another migraine attack? She couldn't leave him alone but she had to be in court. Elaine, the rape victim in this case, was counting on her. Maybe she could ask Munch to keep Elliot company.

"Nervous?" Elliot asked her after finishing his coffee.

"A little. You?"

"Hm," Elliot hummed, nodding and resting his elbows on his knees. "I just feel this ... I don't know, this anger deep inside me. Like something is gonna blow any minute. Does that sound like me to you?"

"Absolutely."

Olivia grinned despite the seriousness of the situation.

"I just hope I can keep it together," Elliot said, and she could tell he wasn't used to feeling like this. Not anymore.

Olivia put a hand on his arm and he leaned into her instantly.

"I'll be right there. You'll be fine."

She remembered how she had calmed him down in the past, whenever he lost control with a suspect or a perp. He'd push her away sometimes, but usually she could get through to him. She could only hope she wouldn't blow up at Kathy herself. She couldn't very well punch the woman every time she said something she didn't like. Although that one slap had felt very, very good.

They checked the time and decided to head out, because Elliot wasn't the fastest mover at the moment.

"They have great coffee there too, so let that be your motivation, okay?" Olivia grinned while she helped him into his coat.

"Oh, I'll get there. Don't you worry about that," Elliot assured her, and before she could turn away to open the door for them, he pulled her close to him with one arm and kissed her.

Olivia closed her eyes and just enjoyed the moment. His kisses were soft and strong, tender and purposeful. And she could even imagine them being forceful once their passion would take over. She'd imagined falling into bed with him, and she knew she'd be in for an intense ride. Right now, she couldn't wait to put all the drama behind them and just enjoy having him back in her life, and having him in her arms at last. And in her bed. She prolonged the kiss when Elliot seemed to want to pull back and she heard him moan softly, making her moan in response. Her back hit the door then, and Elliot supported himself by placing one hand against the door next to her head. His body was pressing into hers and she could feel his arousal through his thin sweat pants. He moaned again, deepening their kiss and Olivia pulled him close to her. He released her lips then, letting out a small groan and she realized that his ribs were sore. She was almost crushing him and she mumbled 'sorry' against his cheek.

"'s okay," he mumbled back in her ear. "It's worth it."

She smiled and straightened up, handing him the crutch he'd let go of, that was now leaning against the door.

"Let's go, and we can pick this up again later," she told Elliot, trying to sound determined but failing. She'd sounded breathy and aroused.

"I'm gonna hold you to that," Elliot said, and they both laughed.

This was good. It was right. It was their time now, and after this morning, Kathy would know it too.

...

Elliot wasn't going to admit how much pain he was in. Walking to the elevator and then down to Olivia's car was a lot more strenuous than his morning exercises at the hospital had been. He felt a throbbing pain in his hip and his leg, but the rest of his body also seemed to object to all the movement. Even the muscles in his back were protesting, but he just kept on going. From the car to the coffee house slash bar was another effort, and he let out a heavy sigh once he was seated at a table in the back, sitting down sideways and resting his back against the wall. Olivia pulled out the chair next to him so he could rest his broken leg on it, and sat down across from him. The only waitress in the establishment hurried over to them to take their orders, giving Olivia a warm smile of recognition.

"Just coffee for now, Maria," she told the young woman.

"Two coffee, coming right up," Maria said and then she dashed off again.

There were four other guests there, and Elliot hoped it would help them all to keep things civil and keep their voices down. He was still angry with Kathy though. He understood by now what her motives had been to keep Olivia away from him, but she couldn't forgive her for keeping quiet even after their marriage had collapsed under its own weight. Could she really be that mean, that she'd decided if she couldn't have him, that Olivia couldn't have him either? And that he couldn't have Olivia, knowing that he'd loved her before he lost his memory? Was she really that vindictive? He wanted answers and he wanted them today.

About fifteen minutes later, at 10.05, Kathy arrived. She looked even paler than usual and looked almost shocked when she saw the two of them sitting in the back. She straightened her shoulders then, and walked up to their table.

"Hey," Elliot said.

"Hello Elliot. Olivia."

Olivia just nodded at her, and Elliot could feel the tension between the two women. He remembered feeling that before and his eyes moved back to Kathy. To Kathy's eyes specifically and he watched her look at Olivia. He'd seen that look before, hadn't he? His hand went up to his forehead automatically, and Olivia was instantly concerned.

"Are you okay, El?" she asked him, and Kathy now looked at him attentively as well.

"Yeah, just ... another little memory I think."

"Of what?" she asked, glancing at Kathy who now seemed to be frozen in place, still in her coat and clutching her bag.

"Doesn't matter. Kathy, please sit down."

He gestured at the chair at the head of the table and Kathy sat down, dropping her bag on the floor and unzipping her coat, but keeping it on. She folded her slender hands in front of her on the table and looked at Elliot again.

"You wanted to talk to me to get some answers, so I'm here. I know you both probably hate me right now and ... I can't say that I blame you."

"Right. Well, I'm glad you can see that now," Elliot scoffed. Then he continued, diving straight in, "So tell me, Kathy, and be completely honest with me now. Did you remove a letter from me to Olivia from the envelope before I could send it to her, and what did it say?"

"I did," Kathy admitted immediately. "I saw you writing something one day, which you never did, and once you'd sealed the envelope, I took it from your desk drawer at night after you'd gone to bed. When I saw who you were writing to, I opened the envelope carefully and took out the letter. After reading it I just ... I couldn't let you do it."

Kathy choked up at the memory but she seemed determined to keep talking, so he and Olivia waited for her to explain what she meant.

"You were going to leave me for her."

Kathy gestured at Olivia vaguely.

"You were asking her to meet you. And I thought ... if Olivia didn't show up, you'd finally let it go. I just ... I just wanted us to be a family. For the kids. For Eli."

Just then, the waitress came over to ask Kathy if she wanted something to eat or drink. Kathy ordered tea and then looked at the two partners.

"I'm sorry but ... I just couldn't do it all on my own. Not with another baby in the house."

Elliot sat up a little straighter and glanced at Olivia, whose eyes seemed to warn him not to push the issue he was about to push anyway.

"Yeah. About that. We'll get back to that letter. But let's talk about Eli first."

...

Dun dun!

Alright, this will never fit into one chapter, but I've already started writing the next one. They are behaving so far, aren't they? More soon!