Rebel (SVU Fanfic)

26

"I can't have them stay here! They're going back to Jersey!" Olivia yelled at Elliot.

"I thought you hated your ex-husband! You're just going to ship them back over to him?!"

"My ex-husband is in jail! They're going to stay with Rick!"

Two things took him by major surprise and he had to get to the bottom of it. Deal with the petty thing first. "Rick?"

"Yeah. I did have someone protecting me that wasn't you, before moving here, you know! They all love each other like family and Rick can and will protect them! He already had to!"

"They're protected here! You cannot take those kids away!"

"You can keep your kids here, I don't care! I'm taking my kids out to-"

"Liv, our kids are our kids! You can't take those three away from me anymore!"

Elliot's anger at the idea of her shipping her kids made Olivia stop. "Why? They aren't your kids."

"None of the five are my kids! Remember?"

Olivia knew he was right. Lizzie and Dickie were no more his than her own kids. But now they were a family. And Olivia couldn't split it up if she tried.

"Fine, you want them all down at Rick's?"

"No. They're staying here. With us. My brother is on his own. Trust me."

Their fumes had blown away, and both her now back to where they started: scared.

Olivia let herself lean into Elliot and he held her. She was shuttering, shaking and more than likely about to start hyperventilating.

"Talk to me," Elliot said.

"About what?"

"Anything. Tell me about Jersey. Your old life." He had to backtrack her to her ex-husband but couldn't come out and say it.

"It sucked! My husband banged a hooker and then cut me and threw my daughter against a wall! Rick saved me. Us. Nicole had brain bleeding and needed surgery. I needed stitches on my stomach. And then I requested us move here. But don't tell Nicole that! Please! I told her it wasn't my doing that we got moved here, but it was!"

Olivia went back to crying as Elliot took it all in. That's where that scar came from, he thought to himself. He had kissed that very scar the night he got her pregnant and had wondered about it ever since.

"I won't. I promise."

"I ruined my kids' lives, Elliot. And now they're under attack again!" Her voice cracked to a whisper. A hopeless, nearly lifeless whisper.

"You had to get out of there. It's okay. They will understand."

"No they won't!"

"Yes, Liv. They will. Trust me. For anything that is good in this world, trust me."

She looked up into his eyes and nodded. A kiss was planted on her head.

"They'll be safe. Don't worry. I'm going to protect all of our kids."

That made Olivia's heart melt. Her children finally had a caring father again.

"I love you," she whispered.

"I love you too. And those kids."

Olivia nodded, staying in Elliot's embrace.

"They can't stay here forever, Elliot," she told him. He knew so too. If Robert didn't commit any crime, he couldn't be charged with anything.