-000-
Last night…
He hovered over her, and her pleading voice echoed into the silence of the night, " Please, El."
Her dark eyes held his, leaving him breathless at the sheer vulnerability she allowed him to see. His heart pounded. He'd broken her so thoroughly and she needed this. Needed him. He owed her this. He owed her everything. Damn the consequences.
God forgive him.
His lips came back down on hers, hard. She responded with a deep moan, and he knew there was no stopping them now.
Her mouth frantically moved against his and then she pulled away in order to run her tongue down the length of his jaw. The fire became all consuming.
Her hands were at the waistband of his sweats and in seconds she had worked them to his ankles. His mouth nipped and kissed the expanse of her chest while he rolled her back on top of him. She pushed away long enough to toss her own shirt to the floor and his breath caught at the sight of her perfectly topless, hovering over him.
His rough hands slid up her soft body and he thought he might come apart right now. He pulled her into his chest "My God Liv," his voice shaking, "you are so perfect." More beautiful, more incredible than his every fantasy.
His hands slid beneath her leggings as he felt every curve of her body beneath, groaning at the perfection of it all. His eyes caught hers and he needed to say something. Admit something that had always simmered inside him. One hand slid out of her leggings and up her back. He pushed the back of her head down so he could capture her lips in his and kiss her deeply . "I love you." He breathed with quiet desperation.
No fear. No pain. Her response was deep and devoted. "I love you too." She whispered.
And that was enough. The reassurance that she loved him and he loved her pushed them further to that edge. Their hands moved with desperate passion as they worked each other towards a heart stopping oblivion. Right or wrong, they were diving into this free fall together, and he had no desire to ever turn back.
-000-
Elliot slipped through the door of the bunk room, shutting the door, and all the chaos behind him.
Olivia's head jerked up at the sound of the door shutting. She was immediately on her feet and he wrapped her up in his arms, promising himself he'd never let her go.
Amanda stood, "I'm going to get an update."
Elliot nodded in acknowledgement, but Olivia stayed plastered to his chest. Amanda's worried eyes fell on the two of them before she left them to themselves.
Inevitably his thoughts wandered to last night, and while he felt guilty he also justified. Clearly Olivia's thoughts has strayed there too.
"Are you okay El, I…" her voice held the same worry it did this morning when they woke up naked and tangled in each others arms. She felt responsible for his guilt, but he was an enthusiastic participant, and it was not her fault.
"Are you kidding me, Liv?" He pulled away from her to better see her face, "A f-ing sociopath, hellbent on destroying you, escaped prison and you are worried about my Catholic guilt?" His voice hit a high level of disbelief. He pulled her back into him and kissed her softly. "I'll be fine," he reassured softly, "I can work through all of that later." He cupped her face, "I don't regret any of it." He kissed her forehead, "Okay?"
She nodded. "Okay," she whispered, but her voice didn't sound convincing.
He wished he had time to reassure her. Hell, he wished he had time to make love to her all over again, to make her realize that he could never regret her, but now wasn't the time for that. Instead, he kissed her long and deep, hoping he could communicate every reassurance, every promise, she needed right now.
When he finally withdrew he dropped a kiss to her jaw. "I love you," his voice held strong with devotion.
She placed a hand on his cheek, and kissed him back. Through a flood of tears she again admitted what was probably obvious to everyone, "I love you too."
-000-
Olivia's head moved away from Elliot's chest when Amanda opened the door. "They need you out here Liv?" Her voice dropped, "They have a protective detail arranged for you."
"Damn it," Liv muttered. "I don't need a protective detail." She released Elliot and started for the door. "Do I have any choice in this?" Olivia asked Amanda.
"No," Amanda said firmly, "Both captains are adamant. You are not to be left alone. Ever. This detail is supposed to stay with you 24/7 until Lewis is recaptured."
Olivia groaned. She knew they were just being cautious, but she had no intention of leaving Elliot's side. Lewis would have to be suicidal to think he could get through Elliot to get to her. Elliot would most certainly kill him. She had no doubt about that.
She met her detail and grumbled about not requesting a detail. Captain Murphy laid out the instructions. She could only go to the hotel or stay at the precinct. The detail would stay with her at all times regardless of who else she kept close. She was not permitted to do any legwork on the investigation. She probably heard the phrase, 'conflict of interest' eight times during the lecture.
By the end of the briefing she felt exhausted, annoyed and frustrated. She wanted to go home and cuddle up in her own bed with Elliot sleeping next to her, but she knew that was impossible. Any modicum of privacy she once had was tossed out the window with the assignment of her 24 hour detail. She hated it.
-000-
Stabler kids group chat:
K: Not sure any of you care, but the psychopath who kidnapped Olivia just escaped custody.
L: Wait, are you serious?
K: Yeah.
M: Is she okay? Dad too?
K: Dad said they were fine. Olivia has to lay low, obviously. He said to let you all know that he might be out of reach until this is resolved.
D: Okay.
K: That's it Dickie? Okay? You could at least try to act like you care about this at all.
D: I care, but Dad's got it handled. You know Olivia is priority one.
K: You're such an ass. Are you going to seriously go there right now?
M: Both of you relax! I think we all want Olivia safe, no matter how we feel about everything else.
L: Someone should tell Mom.
K: Not it. I haven't seen her since she got back.
D: Can you blame her for avoiding you?
K: You can go to hell Dickie.
M: I'll talk to Mom, but you both need to chill out. This is enough of a mess without you two making it worse.
L: You'll keep us posted Katie? This is terrifying. I finally looked up the court transcripts. That man's a monster.
K: I will. Dad said he'd try to keep me in the loop, but it could be tricky to find time. But I'll for sure let you know any information I get.
M: Thanks.
L: Thanks Katie.
-000-
Maureen texting Kathy
M: Hey Mom. I just wanted to let you know the man who had kidnapped Olivia escaped custody. Thought you might want to know.
K: Oh my God. Is she okay? Where's your dad?
M: I don't know a lot. I know she's okay, and Dad is with her. I know talking about this is probably uncomfortable but I thought you should know.
K: Thanks baby. Things are complicated, but I don't want anything to happen to her. She doesn't deserve that.
M: Yeah I agree.
M: I'll try to keep you posted.
-000-
Olivia hated being followed by the protective detail. Hated it . She had fantasies of ditching them, but she knew that would be stupid. She wasn't an idiot, she knew they were there for her own good, but she hated it.
Elliot had already made friends with them since he wasn't going to leave her alone either. It was probably good that at least one of them was nice because they had to be with these people 24 hours a day, and she was sure she'd completely ice them out if it was up to her.
She basically lived at the precinct. Elliot had run back to the apartment and packed a bag for her so she at least had her own stuff. She knew she could stay at a hotel, but she wanted to be close to the case, and not left out of the loop. And if she was completely honest, she felt safest here, in a place where she had a lot more control.
Elliot laid on a bottom bunk in the bunk room while he was working on his laptop. She watched him for a moment. He got approval to stay here with her since he was still completing all the prerequisite training for his new counterterrorism position.
As she watched him work she thanked God he was here this time. She wasn't sure how she would handle this if he was still an absent ghost in her life.
He noticed her staring and smiled, "Any news?" He asked as he shut his laptop.
She dropped on the bed next to him, sitting with her legs dangling off the edge. "Amanda and Nick hit up Bellevue, and Fin headed down to Rikers. They figured that floor woman from the trial helped him out."
"What the f-ck? Who does that!? The man is a complete sociopath and she what? Felt sorry for him and his troubles. God! I can't even believe the stupidity." She reached for his hand to calm him down, but it was too late, he was in full Elliot rant mode. He jumped up from where he sat and started pacing. "This woman," he looked like he swallowed something gross, "let this psychopath free so he could continue his reign of terror on the city, and come after you again." He shook his head in disbelief, "I hope they charge her because this," his voice shook, "all of this is on her. Everything that happens from here on out, she is partially responsible for."
He sat back down on the bed, and the mattress springs bounced below him. He dropped his head in his hands. "I can't believe this is happening." He turned his head so he see her face, "I can't believe he gets another shot at getting to you."
She drew some circles on his back with her fingers. "But you're here. I'll be okay this time because I know you have my back." She leaned in and kissed his cheek. "We're gonna get him, and his miserable ass will rot in prison for the rest of his life." Olivia tried a smile but it didn't really compute. If she was honest, she could admit that she wanted him dead. The only way she could move on, the only way he could stop terrorizing her, was by his death. She shivered at the thought. She had to stay the hell away from this, but she hoped in all the madness, after this all came to a head, that someone would put a bullet in the head of William Lewis.
