Alaskan Nights (A Law and Order: SVU fanfic)

Ch.26

Olivia's hands tremble as she tries to fit the key into the slot of the front door.

"Olivia." Elliot tries, reaching out to help her with the key.

"I've got it," she warns, swatting his hand away.

"I'm just trying to help." he grates lowly.

"I don't need it." she quips as she finally inserts the key and pushes through to the living room. She enters to find that save for the muted television, the space was totally devoid of life. Olivia calls out for Susie as she slips off her sandals and drops them at the foot of the staircase along with her bag.

"Oh, hi." The older brunette pops her head around the corner at the top of the stairs and backtracks to reveal an empty laundry basket in her hands.

"He asleep?" Olivia asks, climbing the first few steps.

"He is," Susie confirms as she begins her descent down the narrow stairway, causing Olivia to backtrack. "Poor thing tried to wait up for you but I found him asleep by the door about 20 minutes ago."

"I should have come back earlier." Olivia laments lowly.

"No, you shouldn't have," Susie reassures sternly, handing over the blue baby monitor. She takes Olivia's chin in her hand and fixes it her gaze. "He's fine. We had a great morning together and when he wakes up, he gets to spend the rest of the day with his mama. "Okay?"

"Okay." Olivia agrees.

"Okay." Susie turns to Elliot who is still standing in the doorway of the front door. "So, Elliot, are you still staying the day?"

"Uhhh." He finds Olivia's eyes just beyond Susie's shoulders and tilts his head in silent inquiry. Am I?

She openly rolls her eyes at his newfound coyness, turns to Susie and responds, "He can if he wants to."

"And?" Susie inquiries, shaking her head at the laughable spectacle before her.

Nice deflection, Liv, he thinks, "Of course."

"Music to my ears." Susie chimes, handing off the laundry basket to Olivia and gliding down the last two steps. Olivia watches with furrowed brows as she gathers her phone and her handbag. Susie turns back to Olivia. "I've got to go."

"To where?" Olivia asks as Susie fits her phone in her  shirt pocket.

"Rachelle called about twenty or so minutes ago asking if I could pick up a sickly Waylon from daycare. She's stuck on ferry halfway to Juneau and she's been trying Frida but she keeps getting her voicemail."

"Suz! Why didn't you call? We could have come back sooner."

"I just...I didn't want to interrupt and also I'd just put Quinn down...so I told her that I couldn't do it but now that Elliot is staying..." she prods, pointing her finger towards him in search of a response.

He nods and offers her a smile. "...then I can get her and put Rach's mind at ease." Olivia descends the stairs and sets the basket down. "Okay. We'll be fine until Rebecca gets here." This earns a chuckle from Susie.

"What's so funny?" questions Olivia.

"Your statement of assurance wasn't all that assuring is all." She laughs again, gripping Olivia's arm and turning her towards Elliot, who now stands just inside the doorway.

"Say, Elliot, you know the special number for the ambulance?" she teases.

"Hmm," he scratches his head in feigned confusion. "1-9-9?"

"Oh, my days! He's cute AND funny?" Susie fawns, fanning herself playfully as Olivia rolls her eyes. "Okay, but seriously..."

"We'll be fine, Suz," Olivia says solidly this time, nudging  her friend towards the exit.