I DO NOT OWN OR MAKE ANY PROFIT OFF OF LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT AND ITS CHARACTERS.
A/N: I know it's past Christmas, but it's still winter. Sooooooooo… Here is a snowy little story.
*~*~*~*EO*~*~*~*
9:34p - WEST 48th & 10th
"How was your Christmas?" Olivia stuffs her hands in her pockets.
Letting out a big sigh, Elliot chuckles to himself, "Would've been better if we didn't catch a case.
"I tried to keep you out of it for as long as possible. I'm sorry Elliot. I know how much you were looking forward to spending Christmas with your kids-" she is cut off by Elliot
"Thank you, Liv," he says softly, bringing his hot coffee to his lips. Taking a slow sip his eyes widen as he looks out the window, "It's snowing!"
Sarcastically Olivia cheers, "Nothing better than a snowy stakeout."
Elliot laughs a little, "Not a fan of the snow?"
"Not when I'm stuck in a car," she harshens her tone as she explains.
"I've always loved the snow," he looks over at Olivia trying to find a reaction. Elliot explains further, "I loved watching the kids build snowmen or have a snowball fight."
"I'm guessing all of this was happening while you were shoveling?"
"How'd you figure that one out?"
"They do call me Detective…"
"Do they know?"
"Oh, shut up," she playfully slaps his arm accidentally spilling some coffee, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine," Elliot swipes the hot liquid off his shirt and points to the glove compartment "There are napkins in the glove compartment."
Opening the compartment, she grabs a handful of napkins. Instead of handing them off to Elliot, she takes the liberty of patting his chest dry. After a few nervous pats, Olivia realizes what she is doing. Slowly making eye contact with him she takes her hands away from his chest, "I'm sorry. You want to do that?"
Slightly uncomfortable and slightly attracted to her, Elliot chooses to stay silent. Olivia drops the napkins in the middle console. "It's okay," he says calmly trying to soothe her. With a heavy silence looming over the two of them, Elliot blurts, "You know it's been a year since Kathy and I got divorced?"
Swiveling her head to face him, Olivia's eyes widen, "It has?"
"A year and a week to be exact," he points out.
"I'm sorry. I know that it's been difficult for you… Living alone and not seeing your kids-"
"I'm getting through it."
"All I'm saying is you don't have to go through it alone."
Elliot sinks into his seat and sighs, "I appreciate it, Liv."
3:12 - WEST 48th & 10th
"How much longer do you think Cragen is gonna have us sitting out here?" Elliot cups his hand in front of his mouth and blows hot air into them.
Olivia chuckles lightly and shudders, "When there is some kind of movement or until our limbs begin to freeze and fall off."
Looking over at his shivering partner, he begins to slip his arms out of his jacket, "Liv, you're freezing. Put this on."
"I'm fine," she declines his offer.
"Come on-"
"Elliot."
"Just take the jacket, Liv," he tosses the jacket to Olivia. Begrudgingly, she slips into his jacket. Olivia opens her mouth to speak, but Elliot talks over her, "I don't know about you but I'm giving this asshole an hour to show signs of life in there."
"I'm giving it until my toes fall off," chiming in, she giggles to herself.
Elliot grins widely and looks over at his partner, "Did Detective Olivia Benson just giggle?"
She answers sternly, "Detective Olivia Benson does not giggle."
"Really? Cause it definitely sounded like a giggle."
"You're acting like this the first time you've heard me laugh."
Thinking back, Elliot slowly replies, "I don't think you've ever laughed so… so lightheartedly."
"That's not true," she scoffs.
"Think about it," he leans back in his seat and tries to conserve body heat by crossing his arms.
Olivia notices her partner beginning to shiver. Going to take his jacket off, Elliot waves his hands up in the air, "Olivia, keep it. You need it more than I do."
An inaudible grumble comes through the walkie-talkie. Olivia furrows her brow and asks Elliot, "Did you understand any of that?"
Elliot shakes his head and brings the walkie-talkie to his lips, "Go again." The walkie-talkie squeals with a high-pitched tone. Elliot repeats, "Go again."
Looking past Elliot, Olivia sees the suspect standing across the street from them. The suspect stares at Olivia with a devil grin displayed on his face. She sees the suspect reach inside his coat pocket slowly and begin to pull out a weapon. Hitting Elliot's arm to get his attention, she ducks her head low, "Stabler get down!"
*BANG*
"Elliot!" Olivia screams as she hears the glass shatter. She reaches for the walkie-talkie.
*BANG BANG*
With two more shots fired, Olivia anxiously speaks into the walkie-talkie, "10-13! Shots fired! West 48th and 10th. 10-13! Shots fired!"
"Liv…" Elliot mumbles.
Bringing her head up from her crouched position, she looks at her partner. Elliot places his right hand on his left shoulder. Her breathing hitches as she sees blood spurting out of his would. Olivia speaks louder into the walkie-talkie, "Officer down! West 48th and 10th! Officer down, send a bus!"
*BANG*
Olivia brings her head up from between her knees and points her weapon at the suspect.
*BANG BANG*
Shooting her weapon twice, she lowers her volume and gently asks, "Where are you hit?"
"Shoulder," Elliot bluntly states, "Just my shoulder."
With no return gunfire, Olivia exits the vehicle. Still pointing her weapon at the suspect, she assures Elliot, "I'll be right back. Keep pressure on it." Taking big strides over to the suspect, she sees the blood pooling around the body. Olivia kicks the suspect's weapon away from the body, kneels, and checks for a pulse. With a deep sigh, Olivia brings the walkie-talkie to her lips, "Suspect down. I repeat, suspect down."
A voice comes over the walkie-talkie, "Copy. A bus and additional offers are en route to the scene."
"Copy," Olivia rushes back to the car as she ends the conversation on the walkie-talkie. Swinging Elliot's door open, she pushes her hands on his wound, "Help is on the way."
"It's just my shoulder, Liv. I'm gonna be fine," he tries to reassure her.
Olivia rolls her eyes at his comment and thinks, 'What a stubborn asshole.'
4:08a - MOUNT SINAI WEST
"Thanks for staying with me," Elliot stands from the hospital bed with assistance from his friendly nurse.
Olivia holds the wheelchair steady, "No way in hell was I leaving my partner. I have your back." Before Elliot can get a word in, Olivia smirks and chuckles, "And I like seeing you squirm when they go digging for the bullet."
The nurse stifles a laugh as she assists Elliot into the wheelchair. Moving past her last comment, he complains, "I don't need a wheelchair. I got shot in the arm. I am perfectly capable of walking out of here."
"It's hospital policy, Detective," the nurse answers. She makes eye contact with Olivia, "Make sure he keeps that sling on."
"I will," Olivia pats Elliot on the non-injured shoulder.
Elliot exits the hospital and stands from the wheelchair, "I was wheeled through the hospital, just to get up and walk to the parking garage. That's messed up." Olivia smiles at his sarcasm and rolls her eyes.
4:35a - OLIVIA BENSON'S APARTMENT
"I told you already-" he tries to reason with her but is cut off.
Olivia talks over him, "You're staying here, end of discussion." She twists the doorknob and enters her apartment, "The guest room is the first door on the right. I can get you a towel from the closet."
"I owe you one, Liv," Elliot places his duffle bag next to the couch.
Olivia smirks and opens the refrigerator. Grabbing two beers, she lets a sigh, "Why don't you order a pizza and put on a movie- then we'll call it even."
"From where? It's 4:30 in the morning."
"You're telling me you can't think of a single twenty-four-hour pizza joint in New York?"
"I don't normally order pizza in the middle of the night."
"Early morning."
"Whatever," he shrugs his shoulders. It's too late for him to care about being corrected. Elliot suggests, "What about Justino's?"
"Sounds good to me," Olivia settles on the couch next to Elliot.
After Elliot places the order a lull of silence takes over the apartment. He sinks into the couch cushions, "Thank you."
Olivia snaps out of her trance, "What for?"
"For everything," he makes deep eye contact with Olivia.
"Elliot, you don't need to-"
"Not just for this. For everything. I mean it."
"What do you mean 'for everything?'"
"I know how much effort you put into trying to save my marriage. I know how much you sacrificed for my kids… and me. I know that you always have my back. Thank you."
Olivia sits in stunned silence. Taking a second to think before she speaks, Olivia takes a deep breath. Wanting to lighten the mood, she cracks a small smile, "All this because you were shot?"
"I've been meaning to thank you for a while now. I just haven't had the opportunity to sit down and do it," he admits.
Bringing her hand to his shoulder in a sign of support, Olivia lowers her voice, "I appreciate it, El."
A familiar silence laced with trepidation returns. Without noticing, both Olivia and Elliot leaned closer to one another. With a wavering breath, Elliot states, "I want to thank you, Olivia."
Olivia tilts her head slightly, "You already did."
He reaches his hand out to meet hers. Elliot looks down at their interlocked fingers and then back at Olivia. She can feel the burning pit in her stomach grow rapidly when he touches her. Olivia knows that she shouldn't, that this could ruin everything she has worked so hard to protect, but she doesn't care. In one rapid motion, Olivia places her hand on his neck and pulls him closer, bringing her lips to his. Starting gently Elliot cups her face with one hand and runs the other hand through her hair. Wanting to lengthen and deepen the kiss, Elliot moves his hand from her face to her hip and leans into her body, pressing his into hers. With the new movement, Olivia lets out a small whimper.
The buzzer violently rings acting as a bucket of ice water being poured over them. The pair scrambled to separate from each other immediately. Elliot dashes towards the door, "I got it!" After exchanging the cash for the pizza, Elliot tosses the box on the coffee table in front of him. He plants his knee next to Olivia's thigh and his arm stretches beside her, "Now where were we?"
*~*~*~*EO*~*~*~*
A/N: Not going to lie this kind of got away from me. It was supposed to start out all snowy and soft, but it took a life of its own.