Never Her

Twelve

Olivia woke up the next morning and Elliot was still sleeping. She climbed out of bed and got ready in the bathroom. She debated on stopping into the squad today to see how things were going. She knew Cragen instructed her to take time off but she was missing work and just wanted to stop in. Before she went in, she would have to cover the obvious fingerprint bruises around her keeps and jaw but there was nothing she could do to hide the healing cut on her cheekbone.

When she finally wandered into the living room, all of the kids were sitting on the couch. The twins looked at her nervously and Eli was oblivious as he sat and watched his morning cartoons. He had an empty bowl of cereal sitting in his lap so she quickly took it as she knew he would soon spill milk all over his lap.

"Mornin' Livia!" He exclaimed with a big toothy smile. She gave him a smile back and kissed his head before taking the bowl to the kitchen. She was glad he seemed to have forgotten about hearing the yelling the night before. It was obvious though that the twins had not.

Olivia put all the dirty dishes into the dishwasher before going back into the living room. She grabbed the blanket from the back of the couch before settling into the oversized chair. She watched Eli with a smile for a bit because he looked so adorable as he intently watched Paw Patrol.

The twins both disappeared into their bedroom and Dickie shut the door. "We need to call mom, Lizzie. We have to." He states reaching to grab his phone. Lizzie nodded in agreement and sat down as he called their mother. She listened on as he explained the things they heard the night before. She could hear her mom questioning Dickie.

Soon, he hung up and threw the phone onto Lizzie's bed. "Well?" She asks him.

"Mom is on her way." He confirms. He knew they would be leaving that day so he started putting his stuff back in the bag he brought back and forth from his moms to his dads and Lizzie did the same as well as packing up Eli's stuff.

As they finished, Elliot opened their door to see if the kids wanted breakfast. He saw them packing their stuff and furrowed his brow, "Are you guys leaving?" he asks motioning at the bags set by Eli's bed.

"No, I was just picking up," Lizzie lied giving her dad a smile before walking out of the room. He looked back at his son and he just stared back at his dad before walking out of the room without saying anything.

Elliot watched his son walk down the hall and shook his head. Olivia had to have said something to him to make him act so cold towards him.

"I'm running to the store, we are out of coffee." Elliot stated as he grabbed his keys and left the apartment without much more being said.

Olivia stayed curled up in the chair and the kids chilled around the living room for awhile. She sat up quickly and turned towards the door when she heard somebody come through the door. She didn't think Elliot would have been back from the store so soon.

Kathy came through the door and dropped her purse. She quickly kicked off her shoes and dropped her jacket before coming into search for the kids and Olivia. The twins quickly jumped off the couch and took Eli into the bedroom.

"Olivia," She breathed as she walked towards the woman standing in the living room.

Olivia looked down and played with her fingers, "I'm really sorry your kids heard that. I always try not to fight in front of the kids. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have let it get so out of hand with the kids here in the apartment." She explained at a fast pace. She figured that Kathy had heard about the fight and was angry she let the kids hear that.

Kathy reached out and brushed her fingers across Olivia's cheek, "What happened, Liv?".

Olivia shook her head and stepped back. "Nothing, Kath. It's okay. I'm sorry about the kids."

"Olivia, the kids will be fine. Did Elliot do this to you?" She asks examining the bruises on her cheek and jaw and the cut on her cheekbone. She furrowed her brow and wondered how things between them transpired the way they did.

"We got into a heated argument and I said things I shouldn't have. It's nothing, don't worry about it." She said turning away from Kathy and walking out of the room. She busied herself with getting a glass of water.

"Olivia, if you need to talk, please call me. I will be here for you." Kathy pleaded with her as she followed Olivia into the kitchen.

Olivia fiddled with her glass before turning back around to Kathy before asking, "Was he ever aggressive with you when you were married?" She asks glancing up to the blonde woman.

Kathy sighed and sat down on the stool and Olivia took a seat next to her. "We fought pretty badly. But he had never put his hands on me. There were times he yelled and we got in each others face. But, never badly." She explained. She examined Olivia's face as she spoke to try and gague the womans reaction.

Olivia looked at the clock and knew that Elliot would be back soon. "It really was nothing, Kathy." She assured her reaching out to rest her hand on her arm. She mustered up the best smile she could to try and assure the woman.

Deep down, Olivia knew it wasn't okay. Nothing was okay. Things have gone farther than the point of that is fixible. She just felt like she was stuck in this crappy situation.

"I'm going to take the kids home. You have my number." Kathy says as she calls the kids out of the room and they all file out of the apartment.

She planned on not going into the station till later but she couldn't sit around in the quiet. She went into their room and put on heavy makeup and changed before leaving.

As she was putting on her shoes, Elliot walked into the apartment. She looked up at him as he brought in a small grocery bag.

Without saying anything, she grabbed all of her things to leave the house. She went to talk past him but he grabbed onto her arm with an iron grip.

"Let go of me. I am going into the office for a bit," She demanded pulling her arm from his grip.

"We will talk about this when you get home." He said moving out of her way to let her leave.

She walked out of the living room leaving Elliot home alone.

He paced back and forth for awhile before reaching for his phone and starting a text message to Cragen, "Elliot: Olivia is having a breakdown. She has left and I don't know where she is going. If she shows up, please send her home. I am worried for her wellbeing."

He placed the phone down, proud of himself for detering whatever Olivia's plan was. Grabbing a drink, he sat down with his feet up to wait until Olivia returns back home.