Wars Will Rage (SVU Fanfic)

21

"Where is my daughter?!" Olivia yelled as she entered the hospital.

"Ma'am, we need you to calm dow-"

"Where is my daughter? Nicole Rae Benson! Where is she?! Where's my baby?"

"She was taken by one of the police officers-"

"Liv, she's with-"

"Shut up, Elliot! What do you mean she was taken by a cop?"

"She wanted to go with him. Uhh...Rick Smith? Here, his name is right there."

Olivia looked at the sign out sheet and then stepped away. That's when Elliot spoke up. "Liv, he called your cell and left you a message. He took her home. The rape kit was done and she gave Jamie her statement." She'd have to give the SVU in Manhattan her statement again but knew giving it to Jamie was good for now.

"I-I...I'm sorry," Olivia said before rushing back out. She took Elliot's keys and, quite recklessly, drove to Rick's house. She saw the lights and the TV on, and knew they were home.

Olivia cursed herself out loud when she remembered she gave Rick his emergency key back all those months ago. She started banging on the door.

Rick and Nicole were sitting on the couch, trying to play a board game and watch TV. Nicole jumped in the air when Olivia started knocking and yelling. But then she remembered who it would be.

Rick let Nicole run to open the door. Olivia had her daughter caught in a hug within milliseconds. Olivia nearly closed the door on Elliot, but didn't care because she had her daughter back.

"Oh my god, my baby," Olivia said, setting her down to look at her. She ran her fingers through Nicole's hair and rested her palms on her cheeks. "I'm never gonna let you go again. It should've been me. I'm so sorry. You don't deserve this. Goddamnit, it should've been me!"

Olivia stepped back and kept her anger at bay just enough to not punch anything. Rick just watched, as did Elliot, trying to avoid the awkward tension in the room.

"Thank you so much, Rick," Olivia said, changing her attention. Rick got up and hugged his old partner. "I-I-"

"It's okay, Liv. But actually, I need to talk to you." He added the last part when he saw Nicole looking at him.

"About?"

Rick gave her a look and Olivia excused them to the upstairs portion of the house.

"What is this-"

"Nicole wants to stay here," Rick interrupted. "And I think you should let her."

Olivia was taken back, definitely. Her daughter wanted to stay here instead of with her? Should she be offended? She felt so.

"But she needs her mom. I-I can't just leave her," Olivia told him.

"She'll be here. She'll be safe. I know you can trust me when I say I promise."

She did. She trusted Rick with her life. With her child's lives. He had known all over them since practically birth. This man was a father to them.

"I know," she said quietly. "I don't know if I can handle her not being with me. And what about school?"

"She's not going to school for at least a week. You know that, just like you know everything that's going to happen. She'll have to testify. She'll have nightmares and flash-"

"She already has those! I don't want you having to deal with them. What if she wants me and can't get to me?"

"She'll have me and hell, if she wants to see Monica and all her friends, she can do that too."

It sounded so nice. Nice for Nicole to come home. She looked up to Rick and nodded. But then she said, "If anything happens you better fucking call me."

"I will, Livie. I promise."

They hugged and hugged tightly as they stood.

"What about clothes and shoes and-"

"She can borrow stuff from Heather for now. If she wants to see Monica, I'm sure she has clothes. And I'm not against going and buying her anything she needs."

"Rick, I-"

"Please. Let me do this."

Olivia looked at the expression in his eyes and realized something. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Rick and Olivia could still read minds like they could when they worked together. Olivia knew something was off. She just couldn't tell what.

"Heather's taking in her niece because her sister...well, never mind that. We're gonna be raising her, and Heather..."

Olivia knew the look on his face. She had seen in many times. She had the same expression once. "Is she...pregnant?" Olivia asked gently.

Rick nodded. "I'm just so overwhelmed right now."

"Then why do you want Nicole to stay here? You'll have another person to-"

"Because we're still waiting on the courts to confirm us as legal guardians. I need some experience somewhere. And Nicole's easy, right?"

"Nicole's a teenager. No teenagers are easy. She'll be easy for you. Babies aren't easy at all either. Take some time off if you have to."

"I don't want to. And I need to support-"

"It's paid leave, Rick. Do it. Even my stubborn ass did when I had Paige."

Rick nodded his head.

They both heard a knock at the door. "Liv, Nicole wants you."

They both stood and Elliot let the two former partners pass before he exited the room. He had a feeling of jealousy coursing through him. There was a deep seeded connection between the two and Elliot didn't like it. He knew they had history but the fact Olivia seemed to trust Rick more than him, and go ahead and send his soon-to-be daughter away without involving him in the decision, bothered him immensely.

After a little chat with Nicole, Olivia and Elliot left. He tried not to be angry, he tried not to show it when the first round of attempts failed. But it was pointless. Even when the love of his life was busy trying not to cry, he still felt he should be telling her what she did wrong.

They got home and told the rest of the family what was happening. The twins were told far more details of the situation, but all worried about their family member.

Olivia and Elliot had just sent their kids to bed when they finally had time to themselves. Olivia looked at Elliot, but he didn't look back.

"Go ahead to bed," he finally said, "I'll be up in a few."

"Wanna talk?" Olivia asked him, thinking he was off because of Nicole.

"No, I don't."

She winced at his blunt words, but nodded. Slowly and carefully, she got up and went to him, wrapping her arms around his middle. She whispered, "I love you," to him and then waited for a kiss she didn't get.

"You, too," Elliot said as she walked away.

When Olivia got to bed she was so utterly confused. She knew he was mad and upset but...what was his deal? Maybe crying will do the trick, she thought. She wanted him to comfort her, tell her all the reassuring things he would always say. So she cried, which wasn't too hard to do. Not tonight.

She cried herself dry.

It was a half hour later and he still wasn't to bed. She got up and put her robe on.

She went downstairs to find Elliot asleep on the couch.

•••

Just a little more trouble in paradise?