Chapter 28

"Hi Mom!" Noah greeted her at the front door of the apartment.

"Hi kiddo!" She bent down and gave him a hug, before closing the door and locking it. It had been an emotional day to be sure. The Captain had dropped Amanda and Betty off at her former partner's Mom's house. Carol seemed like a lovely woman and Olivia was grateful that the detective had someone looking out for her.

"We ordered some pizza and some garlic knots," Elliot told her.

"Sounds wonderful. Let me wash up? I've been petting Betty," Olivia told him, heading to the kitchen sink, after she dropped her keys and purse at the stand by the front door.

"Betty?" Elliot cocked an eyebrow as she headed to the sink and washed her hands.

"A wonderful German Shepard who is Detective Klass's service dog," she explained putting the towel back on the ring after she dried her hands.

"She has a service dog?" He was surprised.

"Long story. We did what we could to help the FBI but they really have their hands full. As does Melinda," Olivia admitted as they sat down at the kitchen table. He nodded and said,

"So, Noah was telling me all about what was going on at school today."

"Oh yeah? How'd that math quiz go?" His former partner wanted to know. Elliot started serving the pizza onto plates along with the garlic knots.

"Good, I guess. Auditions for the school play are coming up," Noah told her as he took his plate from the OCCB detective.

"You going to try out?" She asked, gratefully taking her plate.

"I was thinking about it. The teacher said that if I wanted to wait for the musical, I could. She said that I could show off my dance skills for the musical," he said.

"I want you to be happy sweetie. I'll support you, no matter what you choose to do," she promised.

"I know," he smiled.

"So how was your day, Elliot?" Olivia wondered.

"Well, I wish I could talk about it but then I'd have to explain to my Sergeant why you're sleeping with the fishes," he teased. Noah chuckled.

"One of those kinds of days huh?" She pressed.

"Yeah. Randall was able to find someone who could stay with Ma," he changed the subject and Olivia worried that he was going back undercover.

"What happened to Antonia?" She was surprised that they were changing nurses again.

"Ma just got into one of her moods. She seems better now that Randall is home but he can't stay forever. We're hoping that this new guy, Gabriel, will be better for her. He used to be an EMT," Elliot told her.

"That's good. I'm glad she's got someone she likes," Olivia smiled.

"Can I have another piece of pizza?" Noah asked.

"Of course, buddy. Do you have a lot of homework?" Elliot wanted to know as he opened the pizza box.

"More math, some science, and some history," Noah nodded.

"Another long night sounds like," the elder man said as he handed him another piece of pizza.

"Yeah, but I want to know about Aunt Amanda," Noah said before tucking into that new piece of pizza.

"I'm going to check on her tomorrow, but we talked on the phone on my way home. Little Dominick is feeling better but it's going to be a little while longer before he can come home," Olivia told him.

"Dominick is going to be ok right?" Noah asked.

"Well, he's in the care of some wonderful doctors and nurses and they are doing everything they can to help him grow up into a big strong boy like you," she gave him a wink. That seemed to satisfy her son. There were a few more minutes of chitchat before Noah asked to be excused to do his homework. Olivia excused him and the two adults were left alone in the kitchen.

"Why don't we pack up the food and move to the living room?" Olivia offered.

"Sounds good," he smiled. They worked quickly and found their way to the couch with their wine and beer.

"So, are you going undercover again?" She asked as she settled down next to him.

"Yes. Jet is working up my backstory right now. We don't know how deep these guys check out people so she's trying to make sure it's really good," he said.

"I'm losing you again," she heaved a sigh. Honestly, she wasn't sure how much more of this she could take. It was a little different when she was covering his backside. A dirty thought entered her head and she shook it off.

"Hey, aren't I always careful?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah, careful is your middle name," Olivia couldn't help but laugh sardonically.

"We have tonight. Let's not waste it. When this job is over, I'll take some time off. We need to have more us time and we can't do that if I'm away all the time," he said.

"Don't promise me that. You know this job will always get in the way. Just promise me that you'll come home. I don't want to end up like Detective Klass, wondering what could have been after something horrible happens," she told him.

"She lost someone?" Elliot asked.

"Her partner was serving overseas and Betty was his dog. Betty came home, he didn't," Olivia said before continuing, "I have no right to ask you to rearrange your life. You have enough going on with your mom and your job, but I guess I had this picture in my head that we'd be able to have some sort of a normal relationship, at this stage of our lives."

"We'll figure this out. We always do," he said before pulling her close and kissing the top of her head.

"I need you to show me," she wanted reassurance.

"I will, once Noah goes to bed," Elliot told her. She looked up at him and he had this look on his face that she'd seen before. It was that look that made her legs go all jelly like.

"You can be quiet enough?" She issued her challenge.

"Quiet is my middle name," he teased. She chuckled and moved so she was facing him properly. She leans in and he meets her. Their lips meet and immediately both regret starting something that they were going to have to wait to finish.

To Be Continued…