Another chapter inspired by the BTS footage, this time from ep2 (i think) of S25! Written before any promo or episode aired.

Olivia closed the door to her apartment behind her, a heavy sigh escaping her lips. She mechanically dropped her keys into the bowl near the entrance, offering a brief greeting to the nanny before sending her on her way. It was already 10 pm, and if Fin hadn't insisted she head home, she might have spent another night at the station, engrossed in their current case.

Maddie, Noah's classmate, had been missing for a harrowing 30 hours. Olivia had become deeply entangled in the investigation. The girl's mother, Ilene, had pleaded the Captain to take on the case herself, which Olivia didn't have the strength to refuse. Despite the significant age difference, the two women had forged an unexpected bond. Ilene's plea had been made even more tangible when she offered Benson a bracelet bearing her daughter's name. Against her better judgment, Olivia had put the bracelet around her wrist as a constant reminder to not give up on Maddie.

As she checked on her sleeping son, Olivia heard her cellphone ring from the kitchen. She rushed to answer it, hoping for positive news on the case.

"Benson."

"Hey, Captain."

The softness of the voice on the other end felt out of sync with the adrenaline coursing through her veins. Olivia took a moment to recalibrate her tone before responding.

"Hey…hi."

"Not who you were expecting?" Stabler teased, but she knew he felt her disappointment.

"No…it's fine…I mean, it's good to talk to you."

"Sounds like it." He retorted sarcastically.

"Sorry, we're on a case right now…"

"Oh sorry if it's a bad time-"

"No, no, El. I just got home actually." She exhaled, sinking onto the couch and closing her eyes, trying to steady herself. "We caught a complicated case this week, so we're on the clock."

"Don't you have a team to manage cases?"

"Yeah I do…but it's one of those cases you know…they need me in the field and in interrogations and the mother is putting every bit of trust in me…"

"Missing child?"

"A twelve-year-old at Noah's school."

Elliot took a beat before responding.

"Hm…so you're more involved than you should..?" his tone not accusatory, but genuinely concerned.

"I'm not…it's just…" she sighed. "Her mom…we talked and I don't know, I feel a bond with her…"

Elliot hummed, allowing her to continue.

"I guess I relate to her as a mom, but it's more than that. I feel connected to the little girl…" Through her struggle to explain, Olivia heard her own words. She scoffed at herself. "So yeah, I guess I'm more involved than I should be…" She laughed self-disapprovingly.

Elliot's reassuring smile was felt even through the phone.

"Well you're Olivia Benson."

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked, a smile forming on her lips.

"You know…always on the victim's side, empathic to the core, wanting to solve every crime in the world."

Olivia rolled her eyes, a familiar response to Elliot's teasing.

"Not in the world…just New York City will do." She indulged him, the banter between them welcomed.

She heard Elliot laugh but he didn't reply. A small moment of comfortable silence passed between them.

"What about you? Anything new on your end?"

"Not much since last time…" he sighed. "At least we're moving in the right direction, it's just slow and we can't force the moves right now. But I think once everything gets moving, it'll go fast."

"It usually does. Only takes one domino."

"Yeah…for any case." His words held a reassuring tone, a subtle affirmation of her capabilities.

Stabler felt how much her case was impacting her, sending her into a dark hole of worry and powerlessness. He had lived through it before, with and without her, so he knew exactly what it felt like.

Yearning to steer away from the case, Olivia initiated a turn in the conversation, a hint of excitement fluttering in her stomach.

"So…tell me something you wouldn't if we were face to face?"

Elliot was surprised she was the one opening that door tonight. Sensing her need to shift focus, to feel connected to something beyond the case, to feel the presence of her partner after a horrible case, he took a moment to consider his response. Uncertain about how much to unveil, he finally opted for honesty, picturing her reaction in his mind.

"I want to take the weight of your day off your shoulder, and just hold you in my arms for the rest of the night."

Olivia's breath hitched at his words and at the soft, intimate tone he used. Emotions swirled within her. She felt his love and care tingling through her veins. She also felt the fear of the uncharted territory ahead, but a profound longing for the scenario he was offering in that moment. It was exactly what she needed tonight, and yet it was most likely impossible to get.

After a moment, Elliot spoke gently as the weight of his words lingered in the air.

"Liv?"

She forced herself to exhale, to breath in again.

"I'm here." She managed, the words barely escaping her.

Deciding not to inquire whether his comment was too much, Elliot stood by his words.

"Your turn." He pushed gently, the imminent end of the call looming.

Tell me something you wouldn't if we were face to face.
Olivia knew exactly what she wanted to say. Grasping her courage, she exhaled her answer at the last moment.

"I'd let you."

Click.