Work Text:
It’s been 3 hours since they saved Elliot in the abandoned warehouse, the man being tortured for days on a makeshift cross by a serial killer.
3 hours since Ayanna and Cragen snuck their way into the abandoned shipyard and managed to get him off the beams, only to be nearly face to face with their serial killer seconds after, and Ayanna shooting the man as he lunged toward Cragen – who was doing his best to keep the man away from Elliot and Ayanna, severely injuring the killer, but maybe not to the point of death.
They didn’t know and didn’t care. Elliot Stabler was safe, beaten, kind of dehydrated, but alive. And that’s all that mattered.
“Good work, men. And good work keeping him distracted, Cap-“
“It’s just Don, Ayanna. Anything to help out this troublemaker son of mine.” Cragen interrupts with a laugh. Elliot elbows Cragen teasingly “I don’t think I’m that bad.” Elliot says innocently, knowing damn well his former boss would call out his bullshit.
And he does
“You were absolutely a pain in my ass back in the day! It was even worse with the mutual stroke fest you and Liv had. Definitely had my fair share of wanting to jump off the wagon and drink again.” The older man says, now laughing harder as he sits at Elliot’s desk, watching Ayanna leave and quickly looking over his desk space, immediately noticing the ‘Liv Love Laugh’ ornament.
Cragen tries to stifle a laugh as he gently takes hold of the ornament and holds it up to show Elliot. “I take it that things between you two are going well?” He asks fondly, looking at Elliot with proud eyes and a hopeful smile.
Elliot was glad Ayanna left so she wouldn’t see his face flush red at the ornament or topic.
He’s sure everyone knew about the ornament. He never really kept it a secret, but he never really flaunted it around, either.
“We’re…getting somewhere.” Elliot starts, pulling a chair on the opposite side of the desk and looking at the older man, who was now leaning back and waiting for him to tell a story.
“She was attacked by a gang known as BX9 back in January of last year. Noah had to go to Woodstock for a while and she trusted me to bring him back.” He continues, huffing out a breath and shrugging slightly. “The night I brought him back, we almost kissed in her kitchen. She leaned in, but I drew her back to reality by saying her name and she realized she wasn’t ready for that step and I don’t blame her one bit. Being attacked was still fresh in her mind, she maybe wasn’t thinking straight.”
Cragen nods his head, letting Elliot continue.
“Then, 4 months later she came to OC about a case we had been working. Turns out we were working a case from opposite ends where we had rapes and murders for hire through a website called shadowërk. We ended up flying to Ohio and a lot went down. Olivia was shot-”
“Oh holy shit. She didn’t tell me about this when I saw her a couple weeks ago!” Cragen exclaims, his face turning white as a sheet. Elliot nods his head “We were at a diner having lunch with a couple of detectives that were helping with the case. The place was gassed up and I didn’t think to wet my napkin in water. Olivia did, but before she could fire, the guy got her in the hip. We shot the guy together with my gun and I carried her out.”
Then Elliot raises an eyebrow, “Wait, you saw Liv two weeks ago? Where?” He asks quizzically, trying to not sound too jealous of the older man.
Cragen smirks and chuckles, clearly reading Elliot like a book. “Funny enough, I saw her at a diner with Noah. I was there by myself, so I just casually went over and said hello. She offered me to sit with them, so I did. It felt nice seeing her again. She’s being bold these days.”
“Oh yeah? How so?”
“Well, she’s wearing a compass necklace that’s gotta be worth a fortune. Said it’s supposed to ‘lead her to happiness.’ So I presume you bought it for her?”
Elliot’s ears turned red as the older man caught him red handed. His mind begins reeling at the thought of Olivia Benson wearing the compass he got her, and his face engulfs into a smile.
“Course it was me. I gave it to her before going under after Jamie’s funeral. I’m serious about it, too. I want it to lead her to happiness.” He then takes a deep breath, then gently lets it out. “I love her, Don. I’ve loved her for longer than I should have and I don’t want to fuck up this time. Though she might kill me once she finds out what-”
He’s stopped by the sounds of the elevator ding. He stands up and turns his back to the older man sitting at his desk
That’s when they see her, and that’s when Elliot’s eyes go soft at the woman rushing toward them in a panic, but also feels his heart melt as the compass swings gently on her neck
When she gets up to Elliot, she throws her arms around him and hugs him tightly.
“Thank God you’re okay.” She sobs into his neck, afraid to let go in case he would disappear.
“Hey, Liv. It’s ok. I’m safe. Shh, it’s all right now. I’m here.” Elliot coo’s, wrapping his arms around her frame and hugging her, thanking whatever entity was out there for the blessing in his arms.
Don puts the ornament down and takes in the sight of his two former detectives embracing, not daring to make a sound to interrupt the sorrowfully beautiful moment.
After a few moments, Olivia pulls away and looks directly into Elliot’s eyes.
“Ayanna called me and told me what had happened. I can’t believe I wasn’t there to save you. I…I don’t know what I would do if I lost you forever, Elliot.” She says, voice wavering. She then notices Cragen watching the scene unfold and doesn’t care.
She almost lost the man she’s been in love with for 25 years.
“You almost died, and all I can think about is how I almost missed my chance to tell you I love you. I love you so much, Elliot.” She replies before pulling him in and finally pressing her lips to his.
“We have an audience.” Elliot mutters against her lips with a small laugh.
“I don’t fucking care.” She says blissfully before they finally sink completely into the kiss.
They hear the sound of their former captain laughing in the background saying a silent “Finally.” As the kiss unfolded before his eyes.
After a few seconds, they finally pull away, smiling brightly at each other as they finally take in what this means for them.
The pair knows they still have stuff to discuss, but that could wait until a little bit later.
They then hear Cragen get up from his seat and shuffling toward them.
“Two things: one, you hurt her? Fin and I will hunt you down and kick your ass.” Cragen starts, which makes Elliot blush. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Cap.” He promises sincerely. Tightening his grip on Olivia’s waist.
Cragen just nods, knowing if anything, that will be a promise Elliot would die keeping.
“Two, get married before I kick the bucket. Lord knows, we already lost Munch. That’s a bit of money Fin will NOT be able to collect on when he inevitably finds out about you two. I want to walk my daughter down the aisle, if she ever agrees to that.”
Olivia feels her face flush red at his request, smiling shyly at the thought of actually marrying her partner.
She realizes she doesn’t hate the idea of marrying Elliot Stabler.
“Well, when and if that ever happens, you will be the first to know.” Olivia confirms, looking down at the ground, too embarrassed to look at either man.
Elliot shoots her a surprised look. Olivia even considering that thought? He’d marry Olivia in a heartbeat if he could, but he knew it was way too soon to even think about that.
Cragen gently pulls Olivia into a hug, then does the same with Elliot. “Be good to each other.” He says before walking away to the elevator.
Before he can turn the corner, he turns around again. “Oh, by the way, Liv? I’m sorry.” Cragen says sympathetically.
Olivia nods in understanding, “Nothing to apologize for. You were just being realistic.” She replies as she thinks back to what Cragen had said 13 years earlier.
“Elliot’s not coming back, Liv. Let him go.”
And with that, Cragen takes the elevator down.
Once they’re alone, Olivia looks toward Elliot again.
“When and if? You tryna give me a heart attack, Liv?” Elliot asks, his voice flirty as he leans in and kisses her cheek sweetly.
Olivia sighs and shakes her head. “You almost died tonight. Pardon me for thinking about these so-called parallel universes that you spoke of. They don’t seem to be so parallel anymore.”
Elliot hums his approval, kissing her quickly on the lips.
“So, you wanna get out of here? You need some much needed sleep and I want you to sleep at my place so I can keep an eye on you. As someone who’s been abducted, I know it’s not wise to be alone.”
Elliot’s eyebrows shoot up at her subtle admission.
“Pardon me?” He asks, his anger flaring up, mentally preparing himself to fucking kill whoever hurt Olivia Benson.
She just gives him a sad smile.
“I unfortunately know what it’s like. I’m okay and the guys dead, so you can stop your plotting to flip the city and jails upside down. I’ll tell you when you’ve recovered some. It’s a lot, but I’ve been doing EMDR therapy, so it’s not as scary for me.” She explains before taking his hand in hers, entwining their fingers and walking toward the elevator.
“Hey Liv?” Elliot asks as she presses the button to go to the garage.
She turns and looks at him, the love beaming from their eyes.
“I love you, too.” He confesses softly before pulling her to him and kissing her passionately.