Recovery

Chapter 2

"Turn right here and it's the third house on the left," Liv directed to Nick.

Nick pulled up right in front of Elliot's house. Liv was aware that Elliot and Kathy had recently divorced, but she knew he had custody of the kids. She took a deep breath, and stared at the front door. She continued motionless in the car.

"Liv if you don't want to do this then-" Nick started.

"Nick," Liv interrupted, "Im fine. Let's go."

They walked up to the front door. Nick pounded on it. He had never met Elliot, but he had known a lot about him and the partnership between him and Liv. Slowly but surely, the door opened, and Elliot stood there. Elliot looked at Liv in shock, and his eyes didn't leave her.

Liv didn't move a muscle, she just stared at him. Something about him was different. He wasn't in his normal attire that he had worn everyday on the job. He stood there in jeans and a white t shirt. He had a coffee in his hand, which made Liv think about the everyday coffee he used to bring her when he picked her up for work.

Nick figured Liv wasn't going to introduce herself, so he did it instead.
Nick started, "Mr Stabler, Im Detective Nick Amaro and this is Sargent Oliv-"

"I know her name." Elliot interrupted, seemingly insulted that Nick introduced him to her.

"We have some questions for your son Dickie regarding his friend Jackson Brooks. Mind if we come in?" Nick asked.

Elliot didn't say anything, he just opened the door and lead them into the living room. Dickie sat on the couch, and his eyes seemed to be fixed on the tv.

The memories of the old partnership ran through Liv's body all too quickly. She remembered the two of them driving in that old Sudan all day everyday for 12 years. She remembered when they would argue like crazy over a case. She remembered when cragen would call them into his office every other day to yell at them. She remembered the smirks and little remarks they gave each other everyday as they would sit across from each other at their desks. She remembered everything, and she wondered if he did too.

When she saw Dickie, she couldn't help but smile. He had gotten so big since the last time she saw him. Dickie took a glance at Liv and stood up.

"Olivia, it's been a while. I never thought I'd see you and my father apart," Dickie chuckled, "How are you?"

"I'm better than ever," Liv lied.

At that point, Elliot didn't move. Those were the first words he had heard from Liv in 4 years. He stood there, remembering that that voice was the voice that kept him going everyday for 12 years.

Liv and Dickie hugged. "I'm doing great too. Next year Im going to NYU for college. I wanted to go to Hudson University, but he wouldn't let me." Dickie pointed at Elliot, referring to him.

Liv wasn't surprised. Hudson was simply a bad environment, and Elliot and Liv had worked many rape cases there. She remembered one day in the squad room Elliot strictly saying that he wouldn't let Dickie go there. He stuck by his word, for once.

Liv smiled, "That's great Dickie. I'm proud of you. You've gotten so big, last time I saw you was what, 4 years ago?" Liv said, trying to imply that that was how long it had been since Elliot left her.

"Yeah, I used to love when you would stop by. Where were you?" Dickie joked. He really was the only Stabler kid who liked Liv. Maureen and Kathleen always thought she was getting in the way of Elliot and Kathy. Eli on the other hand, Liv hadn't had the chance to full on meet him.

Nick chimed in to the conversation. "Dickie, we have a couple questions on your friend, Jackson Brooks. Could you help us out?"

"Of course, anything to help out an old family friend," Dickie responded, clearly referring to Liv. Liv just smiled.

Inside, Liv was confused. Had Dickie not known that his own father left her in the dust?

Liv and Nick began to question Dickie, and Elliot stood and listened. He missed that voice of hers, he missed seeing her everyday, he missed spending every second of every day together, he missed her.

They finished the questioning, and again, Elliot nor Liv said anything to each other. Nick thanked Dickie and Liv did too.

"No problem, Im glad to help. Oh and Liv, you should come by and visit. We miss you around here. It's been 4 years." Dickie said.

Liv's heart dropped, "Yeah I know. 4 years."

Nick shook Elliot's hand. "We will call you if we need anything else Mr Stabler."

Elliot nodded his head. As Liv was halfway through the door, something stopped her.

"Liv," Elliot said softly.

Both Nick and Liv turned around. Liv told Nick to go to the car.

"It's good to see you." Elliot said, breaking the silence.

Liv pursed her lips and nodded in return. She didn't know what to say.

"Is he your partner now? Seems like a good guy. I don't know if he can handle you like I did though," Elliot joked, but he seemed jealous of the fact that she had moved on to a new partner.

Liv didn't respond, she just fake laughed. He sensed it was a fake one too.

"Maybe we could grab a bite to eat tomorrow and talk?" Elliot asked.

Liv was astonished. She wanted to punch him, but at the same time she wanted to hug him and hold him tight.

"I don't know if that's a great idea. I've been really busy, and I don't want to involve my personal life with this case." Liv replied. That took a lot out of her.

"But I'm not apart of the case," Elliot remarked.

"Yes but Dickie is. He just gave us a whole new bundle of evidence," Liv said.

"Come on Liv." Elliot asked again.

"I'm really busy. I don't know if now is the time." Liv said.

She smiled, and walked out. She left Elliot standing in the middle of the doorway. She wanted to talk to him so bad. She wanted to lean on him and tell him how much she missed him. She wanted her brother back, her partner back, her bestfriend back. She got into the Sudan that Nick had been sitting in. She looked over at first, and instead of Nick in the drivers seat, she saw a flashback of Elliot sitting there, smirking at her like he used to. She snapped back into reality, and saw Nick there. She admitted to herself that she liked it better with Elliot.

Nick and Liv drove back to the precinct without saying a word.

Little did Liv know, Elliot wasn't going to take no for an answer. He missed her, and he knew she missed him.