Elliot entered the station a little after noon. He wanted to see if Olivia could sneak out for a quick lunch. He knew it was a long shot. She was always busy, but Elliot was committed to showing up for her, and while lunch was a small thing, it was something.
He came around the corner to the squad room, noting it was pretty dead. All the detectives except one were either working a case or finding lunch. He noticed Fin at his desk and thought he might chat with him, especially if Liv was on a phone call or something. He started heading in that direction when he notice Liv had someone in her office. Figuring it was a victims family or something he sat at the edge of Fin's desk.
"Hey man," he greeted.
Fin looked up at Elliot, but then he glanced over at Liv's office. He almost seemed nervous. He brushed the feeling away. Fin was nearly never nervous. Finally, Fin greeted Elliot, "Hey."
Elliot felt like something was off but he figured it had something to do with a case. "Dead day?" Elliot looked around at all the empty desks.
"Yeah," Fin admitted, "but don't jinx it."
Elliot knew exactly what he was talking about. In SVU saying 'it's slow' inevitably made the phones blow up. Elliot looked around again, and noticed the person with Olivia was a man. Must be the family. He thought. His stomach dropped and his anger rose when he finally recognized the man in the office with Liv. Rafael Barba.
Flashbacks from the trial of Richard Wheatley pulsated through him. This man helped Wheatley walk free after murdering his wife. Last he knew, Liv wasn't speaking to him. She'd cut him off after she asked him to leave the trial alone and walk away. Barba represented Wheatley anyway and told everyone he did so to protect Olivia.
That was another thing that rubbed him wrong. Olivia didn't need that lawyer's protection. He knew he was guilty of overprotecting Olivia, but it was different. He was her partner. Protecting her was his job. He wasn't at all bothered by Fin's protectiveness because that was also his job.
The voices in the office raised in volume which was enough of an excuse for him to intervene. He only took two steps towards Olivia's office before Fin stopped him.
"Leave it alone, Stabler."
Elliot turned back towards Fin, "Why she obviously doesn't want him there."
"Liv's a big girl. Let her fight her own battles."
Elliot felt his fist clenching and unclenching while he tried to reign himself in. "Why's he here anyway?"
"Had a case," Fin explained, "but I'd bet he's here to patch things up with Liv."
The frustration rose within Elliot's chest. Liv would forgive him, even if he didn't deserve it. Elliot was well aware of the hypocrisy of his thoughts. She'd forgiven him and he knew he didn't deserve it.
Elliot held himself back, and watched what looked like a heated argument. "The patching doesn't seem to be going well."
"Yeah no." Fin had dropped his work to watch the argument with Elliot.
"Why does he keep trying? She obviously doesn't want him around." He kept his eyes on Olivia.
"He was one of her closest friends. You know," Fins eyes nearly glowered at him, "while you were gone."
As always, Elliot felt a stabbing pain in his chest at the mention of his absence.
Fin continued, "He helped her through a lot." Fin was laying on the guilt pretty thick. "She gave him up for you."
"What do you mean?" Elliot didn't understand.
"Elliot, whether it makes sense or not, she will always have your back. Even if it means giving up other people for your sake."
The door to Olivia's office opened, and as if to accentuate Fin's point they overheard the last part of the conversation.
"I guess I know where I fall on your priority list and it's apparently far behind Stabler." Barba turned quickly and noticed his audience.
"Elliot don't be stupid. For Liv's sake." Fin kept his voice low so only Elliot could hear.
Barba huffed past the two of them, and Elliot expected a jab, but was surprised when he passed by them without a second look.
Barba almost made it out of the squad room before he turned, "Funny how she fights your battles for you."
Elliot didn't notice his trajectory forward until Fin caught his collar. It surprised him enough to stop an impulsive beat down.
After pulling Elliot back, Fin addressed Barba, "Do you want him to kill you? Cuz I'm pretty sure he'd bust yo ass."
Barba looked like he might say something else but thought the better of it, shut his mouth, and walked away.
Elliot turned back to Olivia who stood in the doorway to her office. She was clearly not okay with the exchange she witnessed, but she kept her face neutral. Elliot knew better though, he knew the small micro expressions on her face and he knew she was far from fine.
He approached her slowly, not wanting to make his presence forceful while she struggled to keep herself together. He softly grasped her shoulder and turned her back towards her office.
Once inside he shut the door behind him. She stood with her arms folded and back to him. He watched her take a few deep breaths before she turned towards him. "Hey," she said quietly.
"Hey," he returned. "I was going to see if you wanted to go to lunch, but I'm not sure you're up for it now." He stepped closer, entering her personal space. When she didn't withdraw, he rubbed his hands up and down her upper arms. He maintained their eye contact in an attempt to read her thoughts.
She surprised him by leaning completely into him and his arms instinctually came around her. She kept her arms folded, probably in an attempt to quell her obvious anxiety. She pressed her face into his shoulder and he felt her slow deep breaths against him. "I hate this," she whispered.
He wasn't exactly positive about what she was talking about. He needed some elaboration. "What exactly?"
"Having to choose," she admitted.
He didn't want her to have to choose. He realized he could play nice with Barba if that was what she wanted. He impulsively brushed his lips across the top of her head. "I don't want you to feel like you have to choose. I left, and you made a whole life for yourself in my absence. I will never ask you to choose between me and the people who kept you together after I exploded your life."
"Thanks," She whispered with her head still pressed into his shoulder. "But with Rafa," she sighed, "I asked him, I specifically told him to not represent Wheatley. He did anyway. It felt like a massive betrayal."
"A betrayal to you, or to me?"
She pulled her face away from his shoulder to study his face. "What do you mean? Me obviously."
"Let me ask you something. If I wasn't a part of that case. If some other person's wife got murdered, would you have told him to reject the case?"
"No, but it was your wife, and I told him to leave it alone." She shook her head in frustration.
Elliot appreciated her undying loyalty. He didn't deserve it. He didn't deserve her. "You may feel that loyalty to me," he cupped her face affectionately, "I want you to know that it goes both ways." He sighed, "But, Barba doesn't feel that loyalty. He doesn't understand why you would constantly defend me. When he took the case, he wasn't thinking about me, he was thinking about what was best for you. His loyalty was with you, even if it was at my expense."
She laid her head against his shoulder again. He held her quietly while she processed everything he said. "But you don't like him."
He nearly laughed, "When has that ever stopped you from being friends with someone, or dating someone for that matter?" He couldn't remember the amount of men she dated that he hated. Hell, half the time she hid it from him so she wouldn't have to deal with his disapproval.
"I know." She struggled to find the words. "You were hurting so bad after Kathy, and I knew his representation would make things worse for you. I couldn't allow that."
"You were protecting me, and he was protecting you. Now it's over, and maybe it's time to let it all go."
She eyed him skeptically, "When did you turn into this rational peacemaker?"
"Lots of therapy," he winked and she laughed. "But seriously Liv," He cupped her cheek again, "I don't want you to sacrifice anything on my behalf. If Barba is important to you then forgive him and move on. Don't take my feelings into account, because I am not a factor in this." He smiled ruefully, "Just don't expect us to ever hang out like buddies because I promise that will never happen."
She chuckled, "I can't even imagine you two in the same room, let alone hanging out."
"Just keeping your expectations manageable," he smirked.
A moment of silence passed between them before Olivia placed a hand on his cheek. Her brown eyes bore into his. To his complete surprise she leaned in and brushed her lips lightly against his.
He didn't move. He didn't breathe. He was terrified to shatter the moment, but her lips came against his again, this time with purpose, and he happily returned her kiss. He kept the pace slow and affectionate. She was the one who pushed a little harder, running her tongue across his bottom lip as an invitation to deepen the kiss.
After a few moments she pulled back. She kept her eyes closed and her forehead pressed into his. He wasn't sure what to say, fearing he would say something stupid, but she spoke first. "Thank you Elliot."
"For what?" He felt genuinely confused.
"For putting me first. For trying to mend my friendship with a man you don't even like."
"I just want you to be happy, Liv." He brushed his lips against hers again.
She pulled back a little, biting her lip as she held back her pending emotion. "That means everything to me."
He wiped her tears away with his thumb before pulling her towards him to kiss her again. She returned the kiss, and he felt absolutely certain he would do anything for her. Even sit in the same room as Rafael Barba.
