Elliot's next call hadn't come yet, but Olivia sensed that the delay was due to the complex case he was working. The past week had been pretty hectic on her end anyway, a massive case that had her team collaborating with other units, including the OC and the FBI.

Exhaustion had taken its toll, evident in the shadows under her eyes as she arrived at the precinct early on that Wednesday morning. Her steps were heavy, her coffee a lifeline, and she was met with an unexpected sight as she stepped into her office. Sergeant Bell, Chief McGrath, and a couple of FBI agents were already present.

"Well, you're all up and early. Did anyone even shut their eyes?" She asked, placing her bag and coffee on her desk.

Bell offered a tired smile.

"Captain, good morning. I had an idea for the case. I couldn't tell you last night as I wasn't sure it could be doable, but…"

Olivia raised her head, silently waiting for her to continue. Bell's eyes drifted to the television in the office, and Benson's attention followed. It was already broadcasting a surprise she wasn't prepared for.

"Hey Liv." Elliot's voice, familiar and warm, resonated in her office.

Olivia's eyes widened in surprise. There he was, her partner, on the screen before her. She couldn't help the smile appearing on her lips, a mirror of the softness in Elliot's eyes.

"Elliot," she breathed.

Their eyes locked across the screen, and a silent conversation started. About six months had passed since they had been in the same room. And now, he was here, on her screen, and her heart felt whole again. But as much as she was elated to see him, Olivia's frown deepened as she turned her gaze back to Bell.

"Is this safe?" she inquired, her voice steady, though the concern was unmistakable. Elliot was in deep cover, after all.

"We took the necessary precautions," Bell assured her. "We thought Stabler could help get us out of that dead end, with his knowledge of the gang we're after. We made sure he had a couple of hours away safely."

A couple of hours – a luxury compared to their brief 5-minute calls. Olivia nodded, though her gaze remained on the screen, on the man who had been painfully absent from her life.

"It's good to see your face, partner." Elliot's words reached her through the screen, his eyes holding a warmth that spread to her chest.

"You too." She replied fondly.

Their interaction was then cut short by McGrath as he picked up the case and led the discussion. As she tried to focus on the room, Olivia's gaze kept returning to the television.

Even though there was a screen between them, Olivia just knew Elliot's eyes were on her only. She locked eyes with him again, seeking the connection she had missed for months. She saw his eyes flick down a moment at her chest, and that's when she knew he noticed the compass around her neck. He had grown a beard during his time away, resembling a little bit of Eddie Wagner's, Olivia noticed. His eyes were happy, but tired. And his face arbored a couple of cuts, but she didn't focus of them. She could see his small smile, the light in his eyes reminiscent of the day he had given her the necklace. There was an intimacy, an unspoken understanding that surpassed the chaos around them.

Everyone was pitching in the discussion about the case for about an hour when Elliot started to cough. It didn't pull the attention of anyone in the room except Olivia's. Her gaze instinctively shifted to the screen, her eyes narrowing in concern as she took another look at her partner. Her eyes retraced the various cuts on his skin, from his face to his knuckles. His coughing, suppressed into his left fist, drew her further into her worry and after a moment she couldn't hold her tongue any longer.

"You're okay there, Detective?"

Olivia's voice redirected the group's attention to the screen, at the dismay of Elliot.

"Yeah, wrong pipe," he offered, a weak excuse to deflect the attention away from himself.

He reached for a water bottle to his left, just off the screen, taking a sip to soothe his throat.

Despite the ongoing discussions, Olivia's attention remained partially fixed on him. She noticed the small shifts in his posture during the meeting, the barely audible grunts that escaped him when he moved in his chair, his uneven breaths and reduced contributions to the discussion.

Olivia was snapped back to the meeting when Chief McGrath addressed her directly. She refocused on the discussion, actively participating while intermittently glancing at Elliot, her concern lingering.

As the meeting neared its end and the plan was established, the Chief prepared to end the video call.

"I'd like the room with Detective Stabler." Olivia's firm tone stopped her boss.

McGrath sighed loudly.

"Captain, this isn't marital time."

It took everything in Olivia not to roll her eyes.

"Sergeant Bell can stay."

Olivia's determination was unwavering, and the uncomfortable shift in Ayanna's demeanor didn't escape her.

"Liv, it's fine." Stabler tried to dissuade her, and that was the finale the cue for her.

"Chief, the meeting is over, we'll disconnect him in a few minutes. But I need to speak with Detective Stabler right now." Her tone left no room for negotiation.

After a few rumbles, McGrath exited, followed by almost everyone else, leaving only Bell in the room with Benson. Elliot sighed, a mix of resignation and annoyance on his face. Ayanna, however, remained clueless about the situation. As the door closed, Olivia's attention shifted back to the screen.

"Where?" she asked, a bit of anger and concern in her voice.

Elliot's reply was reluctant, as he attempted to downplay the situation.

"I'm fine, Liv."

But Olivia wasn't having it. Her eyes bore into the screen. She pressed further, her voice demanding answers.

"Where? And when?"

Sergeant Bell, increasingly perplexed, couldn't help but interject.

"Am I supposed to be following this?"

Benson and Stabler locked eyes in a silent exchange. Olivia's anger was underscored by genuine worry, while Elliot's stubbornness was mirrored in the defiant set of his jaw. The tension was palpable, the air thick.

When Elliot still refused to answer her questions, Olivia let out an exasperated sigh.

"He's injured. I'm guessing it's on his right side, since he's not using that arm." She said confidently.

Bell's eyes widened in concern, Stabler's face confirming the Captain's assumptions.

"What? Where?"

Elliot attempted to downplay the severity once again.

"It's nothing I can't handle." he insisted, though a wince escaped him as he shifted too quickly.

"Where, Elliot?" Olivia started to get frustrated.

His stubbornness wavered, and he finally relented.

"Ribs."

"How many?" Olivia's tone was sharp.

"A couple," he admitted, his gaze breaking from hers.

"Cracks or bruised?" she continued, relentless.

Elliot sighed in annoyance that he got caught.

"Probably cracked," he conceded.

Bell couldn't help but swear under her breath, her frustration mirroring Olivia's.

"I'm going to be fine." Elliot stated, his stubbornness returning in full force.

"When did this happen?" Ayanna chipped in.

"The day before yesterday. There was a bar fight with the group I'm in, I had to participate."

"Had to?" Olivia's accusation didn't really need an answer.

Elliot shrugged, a bit embarrassed.

"What about the shoulder?" she continued, knowingly.

Elliot's chest deflated as he thought he had at least got away with this injury, but Olivia could still read him like a book. He just knew he couldn't keep things out any longer.

"It popped out but popped back in the same night." He admitted.

"Jesus…" Bell's irritation flared.

"I made a homemade sling that's I'm using most of the time."

"How am I supposed to keep you in the field like this?"

"Sarge, I'm fine!" Elliot said, but coughed again which did nothing to reassure the women.

"Did you go to a hospital?" the Sergeant asked.

"Of course not, I couldn't blow my cover." Elliot replied, frustration beginning to tint his tone.

While Ayanna was asking her questions, Olivia was pacing within her office, concerned. Bell ran a hand over her face, her worry for her Detective evident.

"I'll arrange for you to see someone." Ayanna insisted.

"No." Elliot's immediate refusal was just as strong.

"Stabler, you're my responsibility," Bell shot back, her tone getting angrier now.

"I'm fine, Ayanna. I don't want to risk my cover for this. The guys know I'm hurt, they let me off the hook for a couple of days."

Bell wanted to argue, but she knew it was futile.

"I want you to keep me apprised of your condition in the next 48 hours."

"Will do, Sergeant," Elliot replied, relieved to be ending the conversation.

Everybody took a breath and accepted the situation. Before the women could cut the video, Elliot had a request.

"Can you give us a moment?"

Ayanna knew his question was directed to her. She nodded and turned to exit the office.

"5 minutes." She said, and the irony of the situation wasn't lost on any of them.

Olivia waited for the Sergeant to close the door before speaking.

"I told you to be safe." Her voice was reprimanding but gentle.

Elliot shrugged.

"It was a bar fight, Liv. Can we talk about something else?"

Olivia relented, her worry and irritation fading into a more subdued concern.

"You look good." Elliot surprised her.

His attempt at diversion worked for a second, before Olivia recovered.

"I look tired," she deflected. "This case has been hard on all of us."

Elliot let her shy away from his compliment, knowing it still had the effect he wanted. His eyes fell on her necklace again, and Olivia expected him to say something about it, but he didn't. They fell into a comfortable silence, their eyes locked in a quiet conversation. Each took in the image of the other, imprinting it into their memories.

The words they wanted to say hung heavily in the air between them, both clearly wanting to say so much. I miss you almost fell out of Stabler's mouth multiple times but he refrained from speaking them, fearing it would be either too much or too little. Olivia's heart mirrored his, her eyes conveying feelings she wasn't quite ready to voice just yet.

Their moment was interrupted by the abrupt opening of the office door, pulling Olivia's attention away from the screen.

"Captain, we've got something," Fin announced and returned to the bullpen, leaving her door open. Benson sensed the urgency in his tone.

She turned to the screen again.

"I gotta go…"

Elliot nodded in understanding, even though he was sad their moment was cut short.

"Is McGrath going to make trouble for you for this?"

"I can handle the Chief." Olivia waved off his concern, a small smile on her lips.

Elliot couldn't resist teasing her, the Chief's comment about marital affairs in his mind.

"Just tell them I was the one to ask for the time alone because I had to declare my undying love for you." He said, mischief (and something else) in his eyes.

Olivia's breath caught at his words, but she managed to laugh it off.

"Right…"

She was at a loss for words, the confession hanging between them. Elliot knew he was pushing the boundaries with his words, but he couldn't resist. He was missing her so much.

"Be safe, partner." Elliot saved her from a response to his (pretended) confession by using her usual parting words.

"You too." She replied fondly. "Heal those ribs properly, El. We don't need you pulled out because of internal injuries."

"I will," he promised, his eyes softening as they held hers. "I'll call you soon."

"Looking forward to it." Olivia replied, her smile bittersweet.

With a final nod, she disconnected the call, her heart heavy and concerned for her partner.