Hey everyone! guess what!? Today you get a double update!
"Do any of you like gummy bears? I'm never going to eat these." Elliot held the bag up for the boys to inspect. Noah shook his head, and Jace did the same.
To his surprise a small voice to his right said, "I do."
Elliot turned, and sure enough Danny was dutifully sitting on his other side. "All yours bud." He handed over the snack.
"Thanks Elliot." This time his voice was louder. A little more confident. Maybe he was finally warming up.
"No problem. If you see anything else you like just say so. I'm not sure how much more sugar I should allow these two to have." He tilted his head towards Noah who literally had a piece of licorice hanging from his mouth, and Jace who just tossed a handful of skittles into his.
"El! Noah!" Elliot's head whipped towards the sound, knowing exactly whose voice it was.
Noah jumped up, spilling the candy on his lap all over the ground. "Mom!" He called.
Elliot stood but let Noah greet his mother first, hanging back with Jace and Danny. He watched Olivia gather her son into a huge hug. She left a soft kiss in his curls, and Elliot knew she was struggling to maintain her ever stoic appearance. Her eyes lifted while she still clung to Noah, and he swore he saw gratitude shining out from them. He had kept her boy safe, but now he needed to find the ones who weren't.
Fin patted Noah's shoulder, but passed the mother and son pair to speak to Elliot. Fin stuck out his hand, and Elliot took it then Fin leaned in for a sort of half hug. When he pulled back he dropped Elliot's hand and asked, "How's the search goin?"
Elliot buried his hands in his pockets and rocked back on his heels. "Not sure. I haven't heard much since they started. I needed to keep track of these guys," he tilted his head towards the boys. "But I promised Noah I would go back out once Liv got here."
"Yeah. Figured as much, but I know she's been wantin' to talk to you first."
Almost on cue, Liv approached the two men, letting Noah settle back into the bench next to his friends. Her hand drifted to Elliot's elbow and her dark brown eyes landed on his, "talk to you for a minute?" She asked, her eyes shifting away from the group.
"Yeah," his throat felt dry. She left her hand on his forearm as she guided him away from Fin and the boys. Once out of earshot she surprised him by snaking her arms up around his neck, giving him a hug. He looked around, sure someone would be watching them, and she would withdraw feeling self-conscious. But, everyone seemed lost in the buzz of activity, too busy to notice them off to the side of the chaos.
He let his arms drift to her lower back, returning her tight embrace. He felt her start to move away so he dropped one arm, but he kept one hand resting on her hip. Her hand cupped his cheek, only for a fleeting moment before she asked, "Are you okay?" Her brown eyes held his, and he knew she would call him out on a lie.
"Uh, not really. This, um." He couldn't hold her gaze anymore. "I should have made Colton sleep in our tent. It would have been more tight, but it would have been fine. And maybe…"
"Hey hey," she cut off with a soothing voice "none of this was your fault." Her hand laid on his forearm while he still held her hip.
"I know that. I get that," he shook his head, "I don't know. I'm nervous. I don't like any of this."
"I don't either, but," she bit her lip, and he felt her fingers squeeze his forearm tighter. "You kept Noah safe. That's," she sighed, "that's something."
"Yeah, but Colton and Clem…" his thoughts trailed off.
"They weren't your responsibility. You did what you should and cared for the kids you were in charge of. This isn't on you, Elliot."
He wanted to believe her and on a cognitive level he knew she was right, but emotionally… he cleared his throat. "Now that you're here I'm going to start helping out the search teams." He dropped his hand from her hip, and she let her hand slide down his arm, giving his fingers a squeeze before dropping his hand. "The locals said they would appreciate SVU's help if this ends up being more than a couple lost kids in the woods. I told them you would probably be happy to help."
"Of course," she breathed. "I'm sure this group needs to pack up for home soon. My team can start interviews there, so they don't have their precinct flooded with people."
She'd help. Just as he knew she would. "Noah wants to stay close. He's really…"
She cut him off before he could finish the thought. "Elliot, I'm not letting my son stay close and see one of his friends carted up the hill in a body bag."
He shook his head adamantly. "That's not what I meant. I know he wants to stay with Jace, and Jace doesn't want to go anywhere without his brother. There's probably somewhere to stay between here and the city right?" He felt like he was overstepping, but he promised Noah he'd try. "Why don't you stay there with the boys. At least until this is a little more resolved."
He mentally braced himself for her response. He was surprised by her soft, "Okay." His eyes flicked to hers. "But," there it was. "I'll send Fin with the boys. I want to help with this." She swallowed the lump forming in her throat. "These are my child's best friends. I know you feel responsible for them, but so do I."
"Liv," he wanted to talk her out of this. "Noah probably needs you with him, and this terrain isn't exactly…"
"Seriously?" Now she looked offended. Shit. "I can handle the terrain El, and Noah trusts and loves Fin. He'd be close and fine. Also last time I checked I outrank you." She folded her arms stubbornly, "I'm staying."
Surprisingly, she didn't pull rank on him very often. He suspected she kept it in her back pocket for times like this, when rank mattered, and it could effectively win an argument. It was a potent weapon. Still, they both knew she wasn't really the outdoorsy type. "Liv, I'm pretty sure your shoes cost more than my entire outfit, and you're telling me you're willing to stomp through six inches of mud and water wearing them?"
She didn't miss a beat, "Those kids are substantially more important than my designer shoes." She looked sad more than offended by his observation, and he felt a little guilty. He wanted her here. Hell, he wanted her with him all the time, but he worried about the terrain, and she already had pins set into one ankle because of him, and he didn't want to add more injuries to the one he already felt responsible for.
"I know that Liv, but I don't want you to get hurt. I.." his thought tapered off. He knew she would just get more angry with his typical overprotectiveness.
To his surprise she softened, "I could say the same for you," her eyes dropped to the ground as she bit her lip nervously. This was definitely outside her comfort zone. He had to tread carefully.
He reached out to lift her chin so he could see her face. "I want nothing more than to have my partner help me with this. But Liv…"
"I know you're worried about my ankle more than my shoes Elliot. I already talked to Officer Shaw over there," she leaned her head to the right towards a female officer standing near the pavilion. "She has an extra pair of tactical boots in her squad car." He almost smiled. She knew she was staying before he even brought any of it up. "I'll make sure they're tightly laced, and it should give my ankle enough support." Then that stubbornly authoritative look crossed her face. The one that was both beautiful and intimating. The one he loved. "I'm staying. Stop trying to talk me out of it."
He couldn't hold back his stupid smile. They both had changed so much over the years, but her forceful stubbornness remained exactly the same. "Yes captain."
-000-
"You've got everything, baby?" Liv knew she was being a little extra, but really the situation warranted it.
"Yeah Mom. I got everything." He was actually being a pretty good sport all things considered.
She crouched to his eye level, and was struck over how tall he was getting. "You sure you'll be okay with Fin?"
"Yes Mom." His voice was starting to get that exasperated tone. "Fin's more fun than you anyway." She appreciated his attempt to lighten the mood. This perfect boy took care of her, almost as much as she took care of him.
"Damn right!" Fin called from the driver seat.
Olivia rolled her eyes and gave Noah one more hug. "Be good." Her eyes watered a little, "take care of Jace okay?"
"I got him Mom." Something in the surety of his tone and the fervency behind the promise reminded her of Elliot, and that made her want to cry more.
She kissed his forehead quickly and stepped aside so Elliot could say a quick goodbye. He gave him a fist bump and a hug. "I left you two the candy stash. It's in the backseat. Try not to make Fin crazy." He teased.
"I won't." He gave Elliot a small smile. "Thanks for coming, Elliot." He paused and bit his lip, just like he saw Olivia do only minutes before. "You'll find them?"
"I'm not leaving this mountain until I do." Elliot promised. He tousled the boy's hair. "Now get outta here so your mom and I can get instructions okay?"
"Okay," he agreed before sliding into the seat and shutting the door. Noah gave them a quick wave before Fin pulled away.
She stood for a moment with her arms wrapped around herself, watching the car turn towards the many switchbacks down the mountain. She felt Elliot's eyes on her and she knew he would ask if she was sure, and she decided to beat him to it. "I'm fine El." She turned to face him. "It's not the first time I've sent him away for his safety." She tried a sad smile and he nodded, thankfully not pushing her any further.
They walked towards the sergeant in charge, lightly bumping shoulders along the way. Before they reached the sergeant, Officer Shaw bounded towards them, boots in hand. "I train with SWAT occasionally so I keep the extra pair in case I need them. I have some socks in there, clean I promise."
Olivia chuckled at that and took the boots. "Thanks Shaw."
The officer jogged back to the pavilion where she was helping her kids together to load the bus. Elliot and Olivia approached the sergeant. "Where do you want us?" Elliot asked.
The sergeant looked up at them and back down to his map. "We've covered the creek top to bottom pretty well. The creek flows to the river eventually, but it's not a straight shot, and there's some pretty steep terrain as it drops in elevation. We are operating under the assumption they would have moved downhill because it's less physically taxing." He pointed to their location on the map. "So, detective, when you searched originally you went up the creek slightly until the point it widened." He pointed further up the creek. "Where you found the blood and earring is where we decided to start and swept outward. I have most teams working the brush on the down hill, but I have a few continuing the search more up stream. I think I want you two to work the other side of the creek. The first team already checked the area, but this is a densely wooded mountain, and it's easy to miss something."
"Of course." Elliot accepted the assignment.
The sargeant pointed out another spot on the map. "Stay aware of your surroundings, there are a couple steep declines, here," he pointed to a spot east of the creek, and here." The second spot was further downstream but on the same east side. "They aren't sheer cliff edges, but they are extremely steep and tumbling down one could beat someone up pretty bad."
Olivia opened her mouth to say something, but the sergeant continued, "I know what you're going to say, and yes, search and rescue has already been dispatched to those areas, and other steep areas east of the creek." Olivia nodded. That was exactly what she was thinking. The sergeant put down the map and pointed to the pavilion where the kids were lined up. "Medics are setting up under the pavilion, and for the love of God, drink some water. It's hot, and I'm not taking anyone down that mountain in an ambulance."
"Got it," Elliot pointed to a set of radios on one of the picnic tables. "Can we take one?"
"Please. We have a limited amount so you might have to share."
Elliot looked at Olivia with his stupid teasing smile, "think you can share with me?"
She wanted to smack him, but instead she answered, "I can, but I'm taking it away if I hear any more snarky comments from you." She kept a straight face, but only barely.
The sergeant felt unsure about what was going on so he took a step back, "Welllll," another step back, "you two figure that out, and make sure you grab water before you go." He turned away from them and pulled out his phone.
Elliot started towards the pavilion and she followed. "Hand me one of those boots and I'll start unlacing it."
She handed it over, taking a seat under the shade of the pavilion. She unlaced the other boot, and slipped on the socks before pushing her foot into it. She lace the boot and tied it. She reached her hand out for the boot Elliot unlaced, but he shook his head.
"What?" She asked in exasperation. She just wanted to get going.
"Let me help with this one."
"Elliot I promise I'm capable of getting my own boot on."
He rolled his eyes and knelt down so he could slide the boot onto her foot. "This is your bad ankle, and I'm going to make sure it's done right so Sergeant Anderson over there doesn't yell at us for needing an ambulance."
"You're an overprotective ass…" she muttered, but allowed him to slide on the boot. His hand lingered on her upper calf and she felt her heart pounding. Get it together Olivia. She kept her breathing steady, desperately trying to mask the inexplicable arousal that came from him simply touching her leg.
She felt some sense of disappointment and relief when he removed his hand in order to tightly lace the boot. Once it was laced tightly, he wiggled the boot, checking to make sure her ankle was properly supported. His eyes lifted to hers and she swore he knew exactly what was going on in her head, but he only said, "If it starts to loosen at all we need to stop and tighten it." His eyes held hers with intensity. "I'm serious Liv, I don't want you hurt so when it starts to get loose tell me so I can tighten it back up."
She nodded, because she wasn't sure she could actually form words at the moment. She finally swallowed, "Thanks El."
He smiled, that perfect smile that made her heart pound. "I got ya Benson."
She returned the smile, loving that her son had said similar words to her earlier. She loved that for once in his life he had someone to look up to, and she loved that, that person was Elliot.