Chapter Text
Olivia was trying to be okay with Elliot retiring. She was trying to be okay with having to train Amanda and Nick. She was trying to be okay with her best friend leaving but how was she suppose to be okay with Elliot leaving? No word from him. He hasn't responded to any of her text messages or calls. It would go to voicemail but she would keep calling until she finally accepted it. Elliot Stabler wasn't coming back. But little did she know he wasn't gone just yet.
Fin had just left the bar, giving her some hope that everything would be okay. Checking her phone once again, she was going to go home instead of sitting a bar after the case they just had. But she didn't expect to run into him.
"Elliot." She was frozen.
She knew he was gone and was not coming back. So in that very moment, it felt like she was staring at a ghost.
"Olivia, let me explain." She slapped him. He deserved it he supposed.
"Elliot, whatever you were thinking when not answering my calls and messages, just save it. You left with telling Cragen you had retired. I was not okay. We were best friends. Best friends don't leave each other." Olivia walked passed him, walking in the rain.
"Liv, you should understand. I would have to go through IAB, answering their questions. Getting a psych eval and them going over my jacket."
"That's suppose to make me feel better?" She was now soaking wet as they arguing in the rain.
"Please, let me drive you home. I'll explain everything you want to know." She hopped in his SUV, wanting to get out of the rain. She had questions running in her head, he was going to answer all of them.
"After the shooting? Why didn't you come back?"
"If I came back, it was going to be mandatory for me to go to counseling if I came back. But I'm stubborn Liv, what am I suppose to do? Allow them to pick me apart."
"Didn't you think you were traumatized by the shooting?"
"I was but like I tired to explain earlier IAB would ask questions and pysch evals. I couldn't do it Liv. I shouldn't let my family suffer because of all the shootings I have done. So I told Cragen I retired."
"So why ignore me?" Olivia didn't know what she felt right now.
"Because if I talked you, you would've pulled me back into the job where I would've done all the stuff I needed to do to get my job back. But there's more."
"Elliot what more it there to say? There's nothing else." She tried to get out as they pulled up to her apartment.
"Liv-" He stopped himself from saying anything else and let his lips do the rest.
"I love Olivia Benson. I came back for you and would do anything to stay close to you." She in shocked. Elliot was married and had five beautiful children who needed their parents.
"El, your family?"
"Me and Kathy got divorced after the shooting. The older kids are supportive and know me and Kathy wasn't working out."
"Wait but how'd you know where I would be tonight?'
"Fin might've texted me after he texted you. I was already over to win the woman I love."
Oh Fin, why couldn't you keep quiet to yourself but I thank you, she thought and she smiled.
"I love you Elliot Stabler."