37

A little after midnight, four days after Olivia was found, she and Elliot were driven back to New York. Olivia was completely off oxygen, but was still struggling with her concussion. It would heal with time, and it would heal more easily in the safety of her home and loved ones.

"We have hours to talk, so what should we talk about?" Elliot asked as he reached over and squeezed his wife's knee. 

"How are the girls?" Olivia replied, turning to face her husband. She didn't want to talk about things super personal, especially since Agent Ford and Agent Greene were in the front seats.

"They are tired and have a hard time not having you around. Rory is trying to be strong for Macie, but it's not easy for a nine-year-old," Elliot frowned.

"Did you spend a lot of time with them while I was gone?" 

"No," Elliot frowned.

"No?" Olivia questioned.

"I was at the precinct most of the time. My parents had the girls, and I only saw Rory the day you called me because she needed to get some air and sleep."

Olivia frowned deeply as tears burned her eyes. She hated how much everyone got hurt after she was kidnapped. Even if she was certain she had suffered the most, she didn't even think about her loved ones wondering about if she was dead or alive.

"Can we talk about something lighter?" Olivia whispered, tears burning her eyes.

"Of course, baby. What would that be?" Elliot questioned.

"Our son is nameless and we have hours to come up with his name. I'm tired of calling him little guy or just our son. He needs a name," Olivia smiled weakly.

"Maybe he should be named after some hot special agent..." Agent Ford trailed off from the driver's seat. Olivia smiled as Elliot laughed loudly.

"Ford Stabler, huh?" Elliot asked.

"I think it sounds good, and I am more a hero than you," Ford grinned.

///

A list of names was written down as they drove back to New York. Halfway through the drive, they stopped at a gas station so everyone could walk around, use the bathroom, and get snacks. Ford stood outside the bathroom while Olivia and Elliot used it before taking them back to the SUV, while Agent Greene finished up inside the gas station.

"I like having a little privacy," Elliot breathed, as he slid to the middle seat and pulled his wife close. He pressed several kisses on her lips before caressing her bruised cheek.

"Do you think everyone will forgive me?" Olivia whispered, glancing to see how much longer Agent Greene would take.

"No one needs to forgive you, Liv. What happened isn't your fault," Elliot frowned.

"It is though. If I hadn't married a drug dealer who kills people for fun, none of this would have happened. I probably would've moved to New York after the academy, and we would've met eventually," Olivia sighed.

"Hugo wasn't always so abusive to you, right? You fell in love with him for a reason," Elliot replied.

"Yes... and I don't regret our daughters. El, I wish they were yours," Olivia whispered.

"They are mine, Liv. I'm the one raising them, and if they want to call me anything other than Elliot, I'd happily take a new title," Elliot smiled, as he caressed Olivia's cheek.

"What about Cragen and the crew? I hid Miami from them and then dragged them into this mess with Lewis," Olivia sighed, leaning into Elliot's hand. 

"I told them as much as I could, but Cragen expects all the details about what happened. He needs to be prepared for any bad things that may happen in the future," Elliot replied.

"Like what we are driving away from," Olivia grumbled, as Agent Greene opened up the passenger side door and climbed in. He turned towards the couple in the back and handed them each a bottle of water and Olivia's choice of plain chips.

///

The girls were allowed back to school after Olivia was found, so they weren't home when their parents finally got back. Elliot helped Olivia out of the SUV and into the house. Bernie stood from the couch and looked at her daughter-in-law with tear-filled eyes.

"Hi, Olivia," Bernie breathed, rubbing sweaty palms on her pants.

"Thanks for taking care of my girls while I was gone," Olivia replied, stepping forward and hugging Bernie tightly. Bernie rubbed Olivia's back as she fought off tears.

"They are my grandbabies, and they needed me," Bernie whispered.

"I wish they didn't need you for this reason, but I'm thankful they have you," Olivia breathed.

They stood in the embrace as Elliot went upstairs and started the shower for his wife and got her out clean pajamas. When he came back down, his wife and mother were sitting together on the sofa.

"Is everything okay?" Bernie asked, looking towards her son.

"What do you mean?" Elliot asked.

"Well, are Olivia and the baby okay? Should we all be safe now?"

"Bernie, the baby and I are good. I have a concussion that isn't great, but I'll get better. Being safe isn't completely certain," Olivia sighed, standing slowly and walking to the stairs.

"I didn't mean to hurt her," Bernie frowned as she watched Olivia walk up the stairs.

"You didn't, Ma. She's overwhelmed and needs to relax for a bit. Agent Greene is going to drive you home, and then he will take me to get the girls from school," Elliot spoke, pulling his mother into a tight hug.

"If you need anything, please call me. I will come over and help no matter what," Bernie mumbled into her son's shoulder.

"Thank you, Ma. It means a lot."

After seeing his mother out, Elliot went upstairs and joined his wife in the shower. She was crying when he joined her under the water.

"It's going to get better, Liv," Elliot spoke.

"I can't promise we will be safe! I want to be safe! I want to be happy and focus on our marriage, the kids, and my job! Elliot, I'm tired of looking over my shoulder and praying someone else isn't coming to get us!"