These damn conversations left her emotionally exhausted. She almost wanted to take the week off, but she didn't want to go a week without talking to him. She felt like the last two conversations left them both hurting in different ways, and it left her questioning whether or not it was worth digging up all the pain.

She figured she was addicted to the pain, or maybe she was addicted to him because once Noah was asleep, she poured some wine and pulled out her phone.like always, he picked up on the first ring.

"Hey Liv," she instantly worried because of the deflated sound of his greeting.

She didn't bother repeating the greeting and simply asked, "What's going on? Are you okay?"

She could almost feel his exhaustion "Yeah. Shitty week, and today went even worse."

She wished she could ask him about it, but she knew better. He couldn't share even if he wanted to. Not sure what to say she simply asked, "Do you want to talk about it? Well what you can talk about?"

She was more than a little surprised when he asked, "Can I see you?"

The request was so soft, almost needy, and she couldn't help but accept the request. "Of course." To be honest, she wanted to see him too.

-000-

He couldn't believe she agreed to a video chat. It wasn't a big deal, but at the same time it was. There was something intensely intimate in the idea of sharing their lives, face to face, even if it was only over an internet connection

His stomach flipped when the video chat request lit up his screen. He pushed the green button, and her perfect face lit up his screen.

There was something about her bare faced visual that made his heart pound out of his chest. He spoke before he had a chance to consider his words. "God you're so beautiful."

The way she tried to hide her smile made her even more beautiful. There was some sort of vulnerability in her allowing him to see the face she never permitted the outside world to see. The real her, devoid of the mask of strength and stoicism the world knew her for. In this moment she was just Liv and he was Elliot without the complicated dimension of rank and propriety. They were just them.

As expected she brushed past the complement, turning the focus back on him. "Nice beard," she grinned.

He rubbed the scruff on his face. He'd honestly forgotten about his unkempt facial hair. The role he played required him to look a little more rough around the edges. "Like it," his smirk made her hold back a laugh.

"Fishing for compliments?" She asked coyly.

He chuckled, "Nah, just curious about what you like."

He held back a smile as he watched her cheeks flushed a little at his obvious flirting.

He watched her take a sip of her wine. "Kinda depends, I suppose… "

"On what exactly?" He pushed.

She smiled a little, but kept her voice nonchalant. "If he knows what to do with it." She sipped her wine as if she didn't fling an enticing sexual innuendo at him.

That effectively leveled him. Damn when she leaned into the flirting she really committed.

"What's the matter, Stabler?" She asked, still sipping on her wine casually.

Damn. His mouth was dry. It took him a second to find his voice. "I, honest to God, didn't expect that to come out of your mouth."

She shrugged and gave him a sly smile, "it's the truth."

"Might need to give me a minute to recover from that one," he let out a long breath.

She laughed out loud. "Sorry."

"No you're not!" He accused, his face red. Was it warm in here?

"Not at all," she smirked. She obviously relished his slightly overwhelmed reaction.

Just as he was going to push the conversation a little further she quickly switched gears on him. "Mind if we talk about nothing tonight, at least nothing important."

Thank God. After the week he had, he wasn't sure he could handle another emotionally dense conversation. "Please. I wanted to suggest the same thing. I need a break from all of the,"

"Heavy," she finished for him.

"Exactly," he confirmed. He was tempted to circle their conversation back to where had been, but he decided not to press his luck. He was already going to have that portion of the conversation on replay for the next week.

"Anything new at work? Or with Noah?" Two generally safe topics.

"Work is…what it usually is." Stressful, overwhelming, anger inducing…all the things you'd expect from the lowest of humanity. "I've been interviewing candidates to fill the position Muncy left, but I haven't found the right fit yet."

"No stray puppies wander into your lap?" He teased.

"I wish. It seems like I might have to actually actively look for someone." He understood the frustration. Not everyone was cut out for a career in SVU.

"Ayanna is kind of in the same position." He felt himself internally wince. He knew she was procrastinating filling Whelan's position and he couldn't blame her. They were all still hurting, and it made filling a position more difficult.

"God. I can't imagine. At least Muncy just moved on…"

They weren't doing a very good job at avoiding heavy topics. "How's Noah?"

She seemed to appreciate the change of direction in the conversation. "Getting ready for school to start. He gets to pick electives this year so that's all he's been talking about for the last two weeks."

"Oh yeah? What does he want to take?" He wished she'd let him know Noah better. Patience, he reminded himself.

"Drama for sure. He talked about dance, but I think he'd be bored. It's more beginner level…"

"And he's not a beginner," Elliot observed.

"Exactly. He talked about doing yearbook or art. He would have fun in either of those. He likes web design stuff so the coding class interested him too."

"I know an excellent coder to help him with his homework," he hinted, even if he wasn't sure if Jet liked kids. She'd probably act like she didn't even if she did.

"I might need her at some point. I would be useless with that homework."

"Me too," he admitted.

-000-

She decided to blame the wine…even if she hadn't had much, but damn, seeing him even on a screen made her realize how much she missed him. How much she wanted him.

"I wish there was more I could ask you about," she admitted. "Do you get to talk to the kids?"

"Here and there. They're busy and have their own lives, you know?" She understood the loneliness.

"I understand the feeling," she admitted. She understood more than she wanted to. "How's Bernie doing at the care home? You found one she liked right?"

"We did. Before I left I made sure she was taken care of. I try to call her when I can. She seems to be enjoying it."

"I should visit," she thought out loud.

"She'd really love that," his voice was warm with gratitude.

She set her now empty wine glass on her nightstand and flipped her comforter over her legs. "I'll visit. I'll have time later this week. Noah wants to see Connor for the weekend before school starts."

"That sounds fun for him." He shifted around and the phone dropped a little and revealed that he was sleeping shirtless. He'd slept that way as long as she knew him. The sight was a combination of comforting and arousing, both emotions leaving a warm feeling all over.

She realized she had been gaping a little and hurried to resume the conversation. "It will be. It gives me a chance to catch up on a few things before the first week of school."

She was beginning to feel sleepy, but she didn't want to hang up. She laid her head on her pillow and propped the phone up next to her. She watched him do the same, without the comforter. There was a reason he always slept shirtless. The man was a heater.

She wished he was home. "I want to ask how much longer," she admitted, "but I know you are just getting started." She hoped her voice came off sleepy rather than depressed.

"I wish I knew." His blue eyes held hers, and even with a mysterious amount of space between them, she felt her heart speed up. "Not really an answer," he admitted.

"I get it though."

She knew she could poke around a little, put some pressure on Bell or Jet, but she wouldn't. She wanted him safe. She wanted him to come home to her. She wouldn't do anything to jeopardize that.

"What are your days like," she wondered. She knew it was mundane, but maybe if she knew some unimportant details, she wouldn't feel like he was so far away.

He sighed and she watched him roll onto his back and rest his arm on the pillow behind his head. He kept the phone propped up in a way she could see a perfect profile of his face.

"I get up early. I can't sleep here. I run. There isn't a whole lot else to do so early."

"You'd run even if there were other things to do." It wasn't lost on her how fit he looked.

"You're right." He chuckled. "I get up early, go to work. Do some more work, and come back here to sleep. Every day is basically on repeat." He turned his face back towards the camera. "Except these days. The days I get to talk to you. It breaks up the monotony."

"I'm glad." She felt her eyes getting heavy, and she tried to hold back her yawn, but was unsuccessful. She didn't want to look tired because she didn't want him to hang up.

"You should go to bed Liv. We can talk again next week."

She shook her head and blinked a few times. "I'm fine," she insisted.

"You can barely keep your eyes open." He laughed lightly.

"They don't need to be open to talk," even her voice sounded drowsy. "How 'bout you just keep talking, and I'll just listen with my eyes closed."

"You'll be asleep in seconds," he teased.

Her exhaustion must have lowered her inhibitions because she couldn't believe the words that left her mouth. "At least I'll fall asleep to the sound of your voice…"

He chuckled at that, and she closed her eyes with a smile on her face.

He did as he was told, and talked about nothing of consequence. He talked about the weather, and the color of paint on the walls. He complained about not being able to find good coffee, but he admitted he did find a good pizza place.

She felt herself begin to drift off, but the sound of her name brought her back temporarily. "Hey Liv?" His voice was velvety and soothing.

"Hmm?"

"I miss you," his voice radiated gentleness and warmth.

She opened her eyes, only slightly, so she could see his face one more time before she fell asleep. When her eyes closed again she whispered. "I miss you too."