A/N: Sorry to leave you on a cliffhanger. I have been taking midterms, and it is beyond stressful. I will try to stick to a more consistent schedule for posting.

-oo0O0oo-

Pulling back onto the road, he angles his head ever so slightly to look at his partner and continue focusing on the road. He decides that now is the moment, "Liv… I need to tell you something." Olivia's body suddenly becomes heavy. She opens her mouth to talk, but nothing comes out. Elliot sees her struggling to process the comment he made, and goes ahead delicately, "Bell wants me to go UC for a little while."

Olivia tilts her head taking the information in, "And…"

"I haven't said anything yet," Elliot notices her hand on the center console. He reaches out and gently rests his hand on hers. He briefly turns to look at her before refocusing on the road, "I wanted to talk with you first."

"Elliot…" Olivia shakes her head trying to understand, "You don't-"

"Yes," he cut her off, "I needed to talk to you before agreeing to leave. I won't make the same mistake I did twelve years ago."

"That's very kind, El… But this is your job… If you have to go, you have to go."

"I just… I don't know…"

"If you're looking for me to beg you to stay, you're looking at the wrong woman."

"That's not it…"

"Then what is it?" Olivia rests her free hand on his and smoothly rubs her thumb on his soft skin.

"I just came back," Elliot's hand sends tingles up through his arm from her touch. Olivia waits for him to continue, "We just started to get better… I don't want to mess it up."

"You're not going to mess this up-"

"I messed it up the last time."

"Last time you didn't tell me you were leaving. You just… Left…"

Elliot's head sinks, but he keeps his eyes on the road, "I know…"

Olivia releases her hand from on top of his and places it on his shoulders, "Why?... Why didn't you tell me?..."

"I knew… I knew if I saw you, or even heard your voice I would have stayed… I couldn't… I was depressed and… I couldn't do that to myself… I couldn't do that to you… I knew you were strong and I knew that you would be able to pick yourself up…"

"El…"

"Liv…" Elliot can feel Olivia's eyes connect with his. He can feel her hand warming his shoulder. Abruptly Elliot throws his arm in the air and then rubs his forehead. Breaking down he admits, "I'm so sorry, Liv. I'm so sorry."

Shaking his head he repeats his mantra. Olivia sees his agitation and tries her best to calm him down, "Elliot, I forgive you." Her comment did not phase him. Olivia grasps onto his wrist that he is repeatedly hitting himself in the side of the head with. With force, she states, "I forgive you."

Elliot lets his hand fall to his lap, "I can't forgive myself…"

Olivia is rendered speechless. She didn't truly realize how his own absence had affected him. She saw a glimpse of his grief a few hours prior, but nothing like this. Olivia can see the unfiltered and unbearable pain in his blue eyes, "Pull over."

"We can't switch again. We are already behind schedule."

"Elliot, pull the damn car over."

"Fine," Elliot swerves to the right and sets the parking brake. He turns his head towards Olivia to find her welling up with tears. He opens his mouth to speak but is cut short by Olivia leaning forward onto the center console and wrapping her arms around him.

Resting her head on his shoulder, Olivia sniffles and mumbles quietly, "I forgive you…"

In shock, Elliot is slow to accept her embrace. Elliot slowly wraps his arms around her and rubs his hands up and down her spine, "How can I forgive myself?"

Olivia nestles her head deeper into where his neck met his shoulder, "Go undercover…"

Elliot pushes her back into her seat, "What?"

Somewhat startled by his response, she adjusts herself to level out his energy, "Go UC… Leave…" Olivia notices the range of emotions he is displaying on his face. She points out, "But come back…" Elliot goes to talk but Olivia talks over him, "Come back this time…"

Nodding his head as he starts to understand what she is saying, he leans in slowly and pulls her in close to him. The only thing separating their bodies from completely pressing against each other is the bulky center console. A tear escapes Elliot's eye and runs down his cheek. Ruffling his fingers through her hair, he calls out softly, "I'll come back."

"I know you will," Olivia squeezes him tighter. The pair release each other from the embrace at mutual speeds. Noticing his stray tear rolling down his cheek, she cradles his face with her hands, swiping the tear away with her thumb. Gently, she mutters, "I love you, too…" Shocked with herself she forgets to exhale waiting for his response. She can see Elliot freeze suddenly. Knowing she would have to further explain, she continues, "You said 'I love you,' when we had an intervention for you."

"That was- That was for all-"

"It wasn't, Elliot…" she interrupts. silence fills the car as Olivia still holds his face in her hands and Elliot still faces her. Olivia repeats, "I love you, too."

He sighs sharply and turns to face the steering wheel. Veering back onto the road Elliot quietly mentions, "Thank you, Olivia…"

Olivia watches him as focuses on the road, as he processes his emotions. The radio starts to go in and out with static, causing a quick shift in the ambiance. Changing from solemn and intense to on-edge and jittery. Olivia takes a deep breath and realigns herself. The calm silence is broken by the blaring notification tone coming from Olivia's phone. Quickly bringing her back to reality, she looks down and sees the name 'Noah Porter-Benson,' slide across her phone screen, "Hey, baby. How's everything going?"

'Baby?' Elliot thinks, 'I thought she wasn't seeing anyone…'

"Noah, I told you that I have to go to Ohio for a case. I will be back soon. I promise, sweetie," Olivia explains over the phone.

Elliot remembers, 'Noah…'

"I love you," Olivia smiles, "Have fun with Auntie Manda." Hanging up the phone with a grin, she sees Elliot take a breath about to say something.

-oo0O0oo-

A/N: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. I am trying to decide if I want to make a sequel to this story. Let me know if that is something you would want. Only 2 more chapters until the end! Love the support!