Recovery

Chapter 3

It was a moist Sunday morning on the sidewalks of Manhattan. The sun had just risen, and adults were just starting to take the streets for their day of work. Elliot walked the streets with the pedestrians like usual. When he was working as a detective, he would always drive in his Sudan with crime blocking his mind. Now, his mind was free and he felt like he could do whatever he wanted.

Elliot turned into the precinct that, for twelve years, he had walked into everyday with Olivia. Now, it had been four years. His heart was trembling, but he showed no emotion. He missed the stress the job used to give him, he missed the cases that made for all nighters in the squad room. He missed the job, but most importantly, he missed Liv.

Elliot rode the same old elevator, and he then stood in the doorway of the squad room. He saw rookies sitting there, trying so hard to earn respect. Elliot had given Liv a hard time when she first came in, and he knew she had done the same with them. Elliot glanced over at the two old desks that sat in that same spot for forever. Both his and Liv's desk had been taken over by two new detective's, which bothered Elliot.

With no regrets, Elliot paced towards Liv's office. He knew he was early and that she wouldn't be there yet, but he wanted to get there first. With his eyes focused on her office, he was stopped dead in his tracks.

"Excuse me, can I help you?" Nick asked, seemingly confused.

"No, I know my way around here just fine. I don't need your help," Elliot remarked in a smart ass way.

"May I ask who you are?" Amanda questioned.

" Im Elliot Stabler. "

"Detective Amanda Rollins, I've heard a lot about you and your legacy here at SVU," Amanda proudly said as she stuck out her hand for a handshake.

Elliot didn't give a hand back. He just looked at her. "Well I'm glad we all got to know each other but that's not what I came here for."

Nick started, "If you're looking for Liv, she isn't here yet. She usually doesn't get here until about-"

"7:30 on Sunday's," Elliot interrupted, "you don't have to tell me that. I know a lot more about her than you ever will."

Both Amanda and Nick looked at each other,
seemingly insulted.

"I can't have you sit in her office when she isn't here," Nick calmly said.

Just as Elliot was about to go off, he heard a familiar voice.

"Well, well, well. It's the one and only Detective Elliot Stabler, well, minus the detective part."

Elliot smiled before he even turned around. He recognized that voice from anywhere. He hadn't seen Fin since the shooting.

"Fin," Elliot walked over to him and gave him a hug.

"Best detective anyone of SVU has ever known. How you been man?" Fin asked.

"Better," Elliot started, "I have to talk to Liv."

"She'll be here soon. Just go sit in her office," Fin kindly said.

"Thanks man, good to see you," Elliot said, and he continued to walk toward her office.

"Hey Elliot, by the way, it's been awfully calm in SVU ever since you left. You sure as hell caused us a lot of grief!" Fin said as a smartass.

Elliot turned around and couldn't help but laugh. He than went into Liv's office.

"What's that supposed to mean? Grief?" Amanda asked Fin.

"You rookies have it easy. When it was Liv, Elliot, Munch and I with Cragen, it was crazy. Liv and Elliot got busted for police brutality more times than I could count on my fingers. Munch and I got so used to watching them do it, we started hitting a few purps or two. IAB was practically in our squad room every week, and Tucker seemed to interview us everyday. Man, you don't know how many suspensions we have all gotten. Especially Elliot. Cragen had our asses in his office everyday. It was a hell of a ride back then, and I gotta thank Elliot for all the grief he caused us because it made us closer and better detectives. All y'all rookies, you haven't gotten anything bad," Fin said. He missed old times with the original squad.