A/N: No actual mention of William Lewis, but it does touch upon her attack.

TRIGGER WARNING: MENTIONS OF WILLIAM LEWIS STORYLINE, RELIGION

-oo0O0oo-

Elliot doesn't know how to respond- to any of it. To the nap, to the attacks, to anything. Stunned, he tries his best to focus on the road, but it is seemingly difficult when the woman he loves lies beside him.

Thoughts swirl in his head, 'How could I leave her? Why did I leave her?'

Elliot sees an area to pull off onto. Parking the car under a street light in an empty parking lot of an abandoned rest area, he delicately shuts the door to the car and walks away from it. He walks far enough that he is still able to keep an eye on the car Olivia is sleeping in, but also far enough that he can be alone with his thoughts.

Finding himself lying down in the middle of the empty parking lot he closes his eyes and focuses on his breathing. Opening his eyes he looks deep into the night sky. Elliot has always believed in God. At this very moment, he begins to question his faith. Talking out loud to the night sky, "How am I supposed to believe you exist if you… If you let something like that happen?" Still lying on his back he throws his hands in the air, "I go to Church every Sunday, I pray before every meal, I pray before bed. How is that not enough?"

Elliot laughs to himself, "Olivia…" He licks his lips and deepens his conversation, "I begged for forgiveness for leaving. I prayed for her peace and this- This is what she got?!" Elliot sits up, "I got to travel Europe with my wife and kid, and she… She gets brutally attacked." Setting his head in his hands he pleads, "How am I supposed to believe that everything happens for a reason? That you only give out your toughest battles to the toughest soldiers?"

"Olivia is the most resilient, tenacious, and determined person I know," Elliot looks back at the sky, "Why?..." He stands up and dusts off the dirt from his pants and takes a deep breath in. He yells, "WHY?! WHY HER?!"

Olivia jumps out of her seat. Looking over to her right, "Elliot?" The driver's seat is empty. She peeks out the window to see an empty parking lot with Elliot kneeling and rocking in the middle of it. Olivia untangles herself from the seatbelt and rushes to get out of the car. She slams the door and bolts towards him, "Elliot!" Elliot still screaming and pleading, is unable to hear Olivia. She yells, "El!"

Getting his attention he looks up at her with tears pouring out, "Liv…" He brings himself to his feet as she comes towards him.

Before he can say anything, Olivia wraps her arms around Elliot and pulls him into her. She cradles his head with one hand and rubs his back with the other, "El…" Elliot breaks down, falling into her. He grasps her shoulders to steady himself. Olivia continues to console him, "El…"

He breaks away from her embrace and cups her face with both of his hands, "I left you." A tear rolls down his cheek landing on his shirt, "I left you with a monster."

Olivia shakes her head as they continue to stare into each other's eyes, "You didn't know."

"How could I do that?" Elliot moves his hands to her shoulders, "How could I just leave? How? How could I?" Olivia catches him as he drops to the ground. She holds him as he continues his mantra, "How? How could I?" He looks up at her, "You didn't deserve that. You didn't."

Olivia brings him in closer to her and squeezes more tightly. She nuzzles her head next to his ear, quietly and calmly stating, "I forgive you, El." Olivia continues to soothe him and calmly says, "I forgive you." A few minutes pass by where he lies in her arms and she continues to hold him. Olivia feels his pulse slow as he calms down. She asks, "How about you take a nap and I drive?"

"You didn't even get a whole hour in, Liv," Elliot slowly parts from her.

"El…" Olivia gazes into his blue eyes. Communicating with no words, Elliot agrees to let her take the wheel. Olivia makes sure Elliot is comfortable before pulling back onto the main road.

-oo0O0oo-

A/N: Sorry this was so short, the last one was a little long.