NOTE: TW- mentions of PTSD triggers; vague mentions of Lewis.

Elliot's walking out of OCCB when Fin pulls up alongside him.

"Get in, I'm driving."

"Fin? What's going on?"

"I'll tell you on the way."

Elliot practically jumps into the passenger seat. "Is Liv hurt? What happened?"

Fin's quiet for a second, and Elliot's mind races with every potential worst-case scenario he can imagine.

"Fin?"

"Stabler, how much has Liv told you about the time apart?"

Elliot sighs, relieved a bit that Fin is taking his time on the road and with his words. This feels like something else, not life or death, but he's still a bundle of nerves.

"Not much. We keep meaning to circle back, but we just haven't had a chance to really hash things out. Why?"

Fin's eyeing the road, navigating rush hour traffic. It's a slow push, and he's using every painstaking second to make Elliot squirm.

"Heard she had to drag you out of a bar last night. Bell called her to rescue your ass from a potential situation with Donnelly."

"It was nothing. Turned out to be nothing."

"The two of you fight?"

"Me and Liv? Yeah, to make it look good for the guys. Fin, what's going on?"

Fin's interrogating, already sure of the answers. "The bar- was it smoky in there?"

"What, cigarettes? Yeah, it's a cop bar and they break every law imaginable. Everyone smokes there."

"Hmph," Fin continues, a hint of contempt in his voice. "And what were you drinking? Beer?"

"Fin, what-."

"Answer the damn question, because I know it wasn't beer. Let me guess, it was vodka."

"How did you-"

"Liv didn't come in today."

"Why? Is she sick?"

"Something like that." At a red light he glances over at Elliot, seeing his genuine concern, and softens. Fin really wants to punch this man for continuing to hurt her, but he's realizing that this really wasn't his fault.

"Look, I know you two haven't talked, and it's not my story to tell, but there's some things you need to know. Liv has PTSD."

"PTSD," Elliot repeats, letting the weight of it sink in.

"Surprised?"

"Actually, no, that makes sense." He rubs a hand over his face. "She, uh, she called me out last year for having it."

"Yeah, she can read it pretty well."

"I laughed in her face."

"Damn. Well, you were in a bad place, so I'll give you that one."

"I have a lot to make up for."

"Yeah? Well you can add last night to the list. Liv can usually handle herself pretty well nowadays, but she has triggers."

"Triggers…" It takes him a second, but Fin sees when it clicks. "Cigarettes and vodka."

Fin nods. "Cigarettes and vodka. Very good, detective."

"Shit."

"How was she last night?"

"She seemed rattled, but I thought it was because we had to yell. She told me how uncomfortable it makes her."

Fin laughs. "You two? Must have been like old times."

"She dropped me off at home and couldn't get away from me fast enough."

"Because those smells remind her of..."

"Remind her of what, Fin? What?"

"Not my story to tell, man. Just… no one has said anything since you've been back?"

Elliot stares ahead. Finally, he confesses. "Donnelly mentioned a few things. Said she committed perjury. That the higher ups got her out of a murder charge. Mentioned she was kidnapped"

"Prick. Some of that's true, but he's a prick for bringing it up to you like that. Liv, dirty? Get the fuck outta here."

"It took everything in me not to punch him. I wanted to get the whole truth from Liv, but how do I bring something like that up casually?"

"She'll tell you when she's ready. I know she doesn't want you to hear it from Donnelly or from reading a file."

Elliot's been so caught up in the conversation, he doesn't realize that Fin is pulling over a block from Liv's building.

"Rollins picked up Noah from school. She's going to keep him overnight. I told Liv I was bringing her some dinner whether she liked it or not." He smirked. "You're dinner."

"I'm pretty sure I'm the last person she wants to see right now."

"No. You're the first. Always first. Even back then when it happened, you're the one she wanted."

Elliot furrows a brow and shakes his head. "Fin, I have so many regrets."

"I know. But save 'em for confession and get your ass up there. She needs you."

Elliot silently nods, takes a deep breath, and swings open the passenger door. "Thanks, man."

"Stabler, wait." He rolls down the window as Elliot leans in. "Look, when she does tell you, if you need someone to talk to about it after, give me a call. You're not the only one with regrets. And PTSD.."

"I appreciate that." Elliot looks toward Liv's building, knowing there's an arduous journey ahead. "Any last words of advice?"

"The old Liv is still in there. I've been trying to find her for ten years, and I finally saw her again when you came back. Just don't forget that, okay? She missed you. Lots of us tried to fill the void, but none of us are Elliot Stabler. Go be her best friend. Be Stabler to her Benson."

As Elliot walks away, Fin yells one final decree. "And do it sooner rather than later, okay? I've got some bets to collect on!"

With that, he's gone, leaving a stunned Elliot in the wake of the car exhaust.