Never Her

Nine

The next morning, Olivia did not move from her bed. The only time she got up was to use the bathroom and tend to her injury. She turned on the TV but wasn't even watching it. It only served the purpose of background noise. 

She glanced in the mirror when she was up and noticed a pretty good-sized bruise forming on her cheekbone. There was a small cut at the highest point of her cheekbone where his wedding ring connected with her face. Seeing that broke her heart even more. The biggest symbol of their love that he wore every single day was the cause of the mark on her face. She put a pain pill in her mouth and returned back to her bed.

Olivia was staring out the window still wrapped in her blanket when she heard voices in the apartment. Confused, she slowly sat up and listened to the voices. For a minute, she thought she was hearing things because of how groggy the pain medication was making her feel. 

But then, she heard footsteps down the hall and her name being yelled. A big smile graced her face as she scrambled, as quick as she could being hurt, to get up and unlock the door. As soon as she opened it, Eli darted towards her. She turned her body so his impact hit her other leg. She pulled the four-year-old up into her arms and held him tightly. She hadn't seen Eli in awhile and she missed him. 

"Hi, Livia!" He exclaimed with a big smile on his face. She couldn't help but pinch and kiss at his chubby baby cheeks. Slowly, she made her way to the living room. She knew she shouldn't be walking much but she was excited that the kids were here. She saw the twins coming out of their room and they reached out to hug her around Eli who was still clinging to her. 

As she reached the living room, Kathy was sitting in their armchair drinking a cup of coffee. She was able to pry Eli off and the little boy ran for his toys in the room he shared with the twins. 

Kathy turned to Olivia with a smile but it soon faded when she saw the bruise on Olivia's face and her limping towards the couch. "What the heck happened?" She asks reaching out to Olivia to assist her walk to the couch. Elliot sat across from them and said nothing. She hesitated at first wondering what she should say. 

"We had a bad take down yesterday and I ended up getting a flesh gun shot wound. No big deal. I'll be good as new soon." Olivia explained as she reached out and patted Kathy's hand to hopefully calm any thoughts she had running through her head. 

"Maureen and Kathleen told me to let you guys know they are sorry and would stop by sometime soon. They both have been busy lately and have barely been around." Kathy explains and Olivia just offers a soft smile. Both girls often sent her texts keeping her and Elliot updated on what was happening in their lives but she hadn't heard from them in awhile. She had just assumed they had gotten caught up in their lives. 

"Would you like to stay for lunch?" Olivia asks as she tries to stand up but Kathy quickly told her to sit down. 

The smaller woman stood up and clapped her hands, "How about I make lunch for everyone before I head out?" She asks looking back and forth between her ex-husband and his new wife. Olivia smiles gratefully and tells how much she would love that. 

Kathy leaves to go into the kitchen leaving the couple alone together on the couch. She noticed the slight tension between them but she figured it was because of what happened before and Olivia getting hurt at work. 

Olivia glanced at Elliot and she saw him staring at the ground. She had no idea what to say to him and he obviously didn't know what to say back to her. 

After a few minutes of sitting in silence, she couldn't take it anymore. She got up and hobbled her way into the kitchen to sit with Kathy as she made them all sandwiches for lunch. 

She sat down and watched the woman for a few minutes before Kathy spoke, "How has Elliot been?" She asks as she started cutting up some of the veggies they had in their refrigerator. 

"Uh, it's been difficult lately." She says quietly as to Elliot was sitting in the other room. She gave Olivia a concerned glance and raised her eyebrow. 

Before anything else could be said, Eli started yelling for Elliot to come to the bedroom. They saw him walk around the corner and to the bedroom where the kids were hanging out. 

Olivia reached for a bottle of water she had left on the counter the day before, "I wasn't expecting you guys today. It was a pleasant surprise."

"Elliot called me this morning," Kathy said with confusion filling her voice. She could just feel that something was extremely off in the home. She had witnessed the dynamic between Elliot and Olivia many times over the years. She had witnesses many arguments; marital and work related. She knew what that tension was like and it wasn't this. "What is going on?" She flat out asks her. 

Olivia glanced up at Kathy and just stared for a second as she debated her options. She could tell Kathy everything and she could find out if he had ever acted out this way before towards her. The second option was that she could lie. She quickly tried to weigh the pros and cons. 

"Nothing. Just the stress has been getting to us lately. We'll be okay," Olivia assures as Kathy finishes making sandwiches and chopping up all the veggies. 

Kathy yelled for the kids to come to the table and have lunch. They all come running out with Elliot following behind. Everyone gathers around the table and takes the food as it is handed out. Olivia thanks her profusely for making lunch for them.

As they eat, the three adults listen to the kids talk and banter. Olivia smiles as Eli pushes his chair with the booster as close as he could so they could sit next to each other after she told him that he couldn't sit on her lap because she had an owie. 

Soon, Kathy said bye to the kids and went home. Elliot decided he would take Eli to the park and the twins chose to tag along. 

Olivia decided this was a perfect time to lay down on the couch and rest from the days activities. 

She grabbed her phone and saw she had a text from the Captain. 

"Cragen: Olivia, you will be off work until until the 28th. Let me know if you need any more time. Get better." 

Olivia was confused as to why she was off so long but she didn't want to argue. It was only the  eighth so he was giving her a whole three weeks off of work. She never took that much time off and it slightly annoyed her but what Cragen says, goes. 

Placing the phone on the coffee table, she closed her eyes to rest before everyone came back. 

She must have fell asleep because she woke up to Eli patting her face. "Livia, let's watch a movie!" He exclaims trying to climb up onto the couch. She scooted back so he could sit next to her on the couch. She turned on Wreck-It Ralph for him to watch. She turned her head to see Elliot watching them. As soon as they made eye contact, he turned and walked into their home office. She sighed and hugged Eli close to her body.

Olivia had no idea what their next move was. The events that had taken place the last week were very detrimental to their marriage and she didn't know if they were going to survive it. She didn't even know if she wanted their marriage to survive. 

After the movie was over, she told Eli it was bedtime and to go find his father. She slowly moved about the living room and picked up things that were littered about.

She heard Elliot going through the bedtime routine with his youngest son and the twins leaving the room so their brother could go to sleep. 

She bid them a goodnight on her way into her room to get ready for bed herself. She walked past the office and noticed their special spiced bourbon bottle sitting out on the desk. She rolled here eyes and went to their bedroom. After she changed, she realized she wasn't even tired from the nap she had taken while they were at the park. She took a seat in the armchair they have in the corner and stared out the large window in their room. She just needed some time to think in her own head.