This. Twenty some odd years ago, this was what made her fall for him…hard. Watching him with victims. Elliot was a human wrecking ball, but with victims he was incredibly intuitive, and uncharacteristically soft.

Her heart filled with pride watching him with Colton. He had been so nervous, so sick over working with a kid again, but he fell back into it, just as she knew he would.

Her phone pinged, distracting from her heartfelt observations. Churlish.

C: Abigail Simons is here with her mother. Where do you want her?

Olivia let out a long breath. Now that they knew Abby had a large part in this assault, her statement was incredibly important.

O: Get Bruno to take them to interrogation 2. I'll fill him in once they're settled. Have Velasco contact CPS. Lucas isn't going home with his 'dad' tonight.

C: On it.

Olivia took a minute. She closed her eyes and tried breathing through the stress now consuming her body. She did this everyday. This was her job. She'd dealt with every type of child killer. This case though, it wore her down in a way none of the others had. She knew this case, and its proximity to Noah, was causing the tight anxiety in her chest.

-000-

Once he finished interviewing Colton, and the boy was safe with his mom, Elliot searched for Olivia. He wasn't sure how much she was able to hear from his interview with Colton because he knew she was bouncing between several interviews, and simultaneously gathering information on the important players in the case.

He wandered into the squad room, and noted how quiet it had become. Churlish clicked away on her computer, and the rest of Olivia's detectives must have been interviewing or interrogating. He glanced around and noticed the lights were on in Olivia's office, but the blinds were closed and the door was shut.

He approached Churlish at her desk, "Captain in her office?" He tilted his head in that direction.

Churlish turned from her computer screen, and eyed him skeptically. Elliot knew the new girl could be a little…intense, but he decided to wait patiently for her answer.

She must have figured he was okay because she finally answered, "Yeah. I finished arranging a DNA comparison for the local hit on NCMEC. She was going to start with the out of state hit, but she passed it over to me when she got a call." Churlish gave him one more appraising look before turning back to her computer screen, indicating the end of the conversation.

He shrugged it off and headed for the office. As he approached he realized the office was quiet, and he hoped that meant she'd finished the call. He rapped the door twice before entering. He knew she hated being startled.

When he entered her head whipped up, but he had a good idea of what had been going on in the office before he arrived. Her face was etched with stress, but she didn't look like she was crying. She didn't really do that in the office. He knew she usually saved tears for another time, and another place.

She might not have been crying, but he knew her and he knew that look. She was doing everything in her power not to cry, and her defensive snap proved it. "What Elliot?"

He tread carefully, fully knowing this was a defense mechanism and she must be feeling very very vulnerable. "Um, Colton's mom just picked him up." He carefully stepped up to her desk where she still sat. "I didn't know how much you were able to sit in for…" he knew she was spread thin right now, and he wanted to help her, not make things worse.

She rubbed her hand across her forehead and dropped her eyes to the miscellaneous paperwork strewn across her desk. "I uh," her voice was thick as she attempted to mask her emotion. He wished she wouldn't pretend. Not with him. He stepped around her desk, and she watched him warily.

He held out a hand for her, and she just stared at it, like she was trying to decide to give in to something. Her brown eyes lifted to his, and he tried to remain steady. She needed stability in the midst of whatever volition emotions thrashed around within her. He could be that. Maybe not for himself, but he could do it for her. He'd do anything for her.

She took his hand, and he pulled her up and into his embrace. He hoped she couldn't feel how hard his heart pounded with her pressed against him. "Are you okay?" Stupid question, and he knew the answer. But he also knew she would tell him that she was okay, and he wouldn't believe her, but he'd let it go because he didn't want to push her.

But then she surprised him. "No." Her voice was soft and emotion filled. He was at a loss at her unexpected answer.

The night before, she had provided simple support by one offer. "What can I do?" He asked softly. His breath next to her ear made her involuntary shudder.

"I don't know if there is anything you can do," she admitted. "I'm worried about Noah. I want him home. I should be there for him through this, but at the very least he should be home. I really can't leave yet. At least not until Abby's interview is done. He should be home with his mom right now, and I'm stuck here trying to solve a case involving some of his best friends." Her head dropped to his shoulder and she took a deep shaky breath. She was trying to keep it together.

"Hey hey. It's okay." He pulled back so he could see her face, "Hey. Look at me." He lifted his hand to her face and was surprised when she didn't back away. "This is why you have a team. This isn't a one woman job." He smiled wryly, "even if she's Olivia Benson."

She tried not to smile at that. "I just don't want any mistakes on this one. It's…."

"It's really important," he finished for her. "I understand that, but at some point you are going to have to trust your team to do their jobs." He rubbed his thumb affectionately across her cheek. "Would it help if I picked up Noah and brought him to your place? I can get him dinner, and keep him busy until you can get away for the night."

She hesitated. He could almost see the wheels turning in her brain. She trusted him with a lot of things now, and he knew she trusted him with Noah. It wasn't trust she was struggling to extend. It was allowing herself to admit she needed someone. He rubbed his hands up and down her upper arms. "Please Liv. Let me help you. Let me help Noah. I want to help."

She still hesitated, but she finally whispered, "Okay."

He couldn't help his smile, and his heart leapt at this step she allowed him to take. He pulled her back into a hug, "But you have to promise me to come home after Abby's interview wraps up." He could feel the tension and hesitation radiate from her body. He pulled back again, "Liv." he scolded. "You can't stay here all night. You need to sleep."

"I know." She conceded. The problem wasn't her knowing. It was her doing it.

"No seriously, Liv." He made sure her eyes were on him. "If you aren't home by 11 I'm coming to get you." She gritted her teeth. "I'm serious."

"Okay okay. I can do 11. Maybe before that if I'm lucky."

"I won't hold my breath," he teased with a smile.

He felt her body loosen and melt a little into his. "You were really great with Colton,"

"I just talked to him like I would if he were my kid," he shrugged off her praise.

"Well, you were always a pretty good dad," her voice held a hint of flirtation.

He worried he imagined it so he continued to cut himself down a little. "I wouldn't say that. I missed…God I missed so much."

She frowned, and this time she lifted a hand to his face. "But you were there when it mattered, and they knew you loved them and would be there for them." Her voice held all possible sincerity, and he knew she believed it even when he didn't.

"I guess," he said humbly.

She bent her legs slightly. They had been standing a while. "Wanna sit?" She asked as she slid her hand down his arm and grasped his hand. She led him to the couch, and when they were settled in, with his arm around her shoulders she asked, "Was it as bad as you thought it would be? Being back here? Working an SVU case?"

He thought for a moment. "No. I mean, I still feel that stupid anxiety in my gut, but once I got Colton talking it felt like second nature. Kinda like a default setting."

"Well, it was amazing." She praised kindly. Her eyes danced with her next comment. "You know you always have a job over here at SVU." A grin spread across her face.

He chuckled at the idea. There was no way he would ever be able to do SVU again, at least not full time. It was just…too much. "I think I'm where I should be now. Plus. I don't think I could work for you," he said cheekily.

"What why?" She said with mock offense. "I boss you around all the time anyway," she teased. She added with a little pride, "I'm a great boss."

"It's not that," he admitted with a grin. A little more soberly he added. "If you were my boss, this would be horribly inappropriate." He leaned into her so their lips were almost touching. He watched her nervously. Waiting for her to make the next move because he certainly wouldn't push her into this. Not even a moment later she closed the distance. The feeling was fire.

His hand drifted to her face as her lips moved against his. He thought his chest might explode. The feeling intensified when her tongue teased at the corner of his mouth and his tongue found hers. He couldn't stifle the moan that resonated from his chest, but he tempered it as much as he could, knowing there was only a door between them and the rest of the office.

Her tongue twisted into his, and he thought he might die right there. His fingers toyed with the edge of her blouse, but he wouldn't take it much further. He was well aware of their current settings, but he couldn't help it when his fingers drifted lightly across the skin just above her pants. He felt her breath quicken as the rhythm of her chest increased against his.

They needed to slow it down a bit. Anyone could walk through that door at any time. He started to pull back, but she surprised him when she pressed a delicate hand to the back of his head, urging him back into place. So he continued.

Her fingers pulled at his tucked in shirt, and dipped beneath it when she loosened it. Her soft fingers on his lower abdomen elicited another moan. They absolutely needed to stop before someone lost a piece of clothing.

He pulled back firmly, leaving them both heaving. "Liv," he whispered gently.

"I'm sorry, she whispered, pressing her forehead against his.

"Don't apologize," he chuckled, "I just don't want you…we're in your office at work." They both knew all the implications of that.

"I know," she allowed herself the same chuckle. "I just. I needed that." Her brown eyes held his firmly. "I needed you. This. But," she grinned wryly. "I think our timing is not ideal…again…"

He brushed her face with his hand. "Not so much." He couldn't stop himself from leaning in to press another kiss gently on her lips. "I should get Noah," his voiced reluctantly.

"Yeah," she said with the same reluctance. "See you at home," her eyes shined with hope.

"See you at home." He repeated.