Protection {A Bensler Fanfiction}

5

Olivia couldn't sleep that night, so she went to work early to do anything to keep her mind occupied. As she sat scrolling through information about the area, her mind kept wandering to her girls. She wondered if she snuck out of Manhattan without the agents noticing if she could grab her daughters from Hugo and get them to safety.

"Do you have a house?" Cragen asked as he stopped beside Olivia's desk. Just like the night prior, Olivia got scared and jumped in her spot. 

"Captain... What are you doing here so early?"

"I'm trying to ask you that same question. Do you have a place to stay?"

"Yes, I have a house about twenty minutes from here."

"Then why aren't you there?" Cragen questioned, as he shifted in his spot. He always tried to stay out of his detectives' lives, but only as long as they weren't getting into trouble.

"It's hard to adjust to my new position, so I'd like to spend as much time here getting used to what my duties are. If this becomes an issue, please tell me. I'll stop," Olivia replied slowly. She wanted to tell Cragen about the actual reasons, yet knew it would put her in danger. He may not hurt her, but she'd have to be relocated.

"Do you have any vices, Olivia?"

"Vices?" Olivia questioned.

"Something that you are trying to run from now. Are you here to stay sober?" Cragen asked as the elevator dinged.

"I stay away from everything hard. I'll try to stay home more often. I'm sorry," Olivia breathed. She looked over her shoulder and frowned when she saw Elliot walk in. 

No matter how hard this was, Olivia knew she had to try. She needed to apologize for snapping at Elliot yesterday and try to become an actual member of this squad.

///

"Thanks for inviting me for dinner," Elliot smiled, as he followed Olivia to her house. She had gotten permission from Agent Danson but was informed that he'd be sitting nearby to keep an eye on the situation.

"It's an apology dinner, Elliot. I'm sorry for being short with you yesterday," Olivia breathed.

"Don't apologize, Liv," Elliot replied. Olivia stopped in her doorway and turned to face her partner.

"Liv?"

"I'm sorry. I probably should've asked if I can use nicknames," Elliot replied.

"No, it's okay. I've had that nickname before. It just sounds better when you say it," Olivia replied, before blushing a dark red. 

Elliot chuckled softly as he rubbed the back of his neck.

"You need to try to relax, Olivia. I understand it must be a little awkward right now, but everything will be okay," Elliot reassured his partner.

Olivia gave Elliot a beer as she made a quick dinner in her small kitchen. Eventually, she passed a plate of pan-fried chicken and salad to Elliot, before sitting beside him on the loveseat.

"Did you just move in here?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah, I did. How'd you know?" Olivia replied.

"I'm not trying to be offensive, but it's kinda plain. You don't have any pictures or much decoration at all."

Olivia looked around her plain living room and got flashes of her home in Miami. Everything was very well decorated, and she had dozens of pictures scattering the walls. The floor always had toys on it and as long as Hugo was away, the girls' giggling filled the air.

"I don't have a family, so I don't have pictures to put up. This house is used strictly for sleeping, showering, and occasionally eating," Olivia replied.

Elliot nodded as he leaned forward and sat his plate on the coffee table.

"So there aren't parents or siblings?"

"Nope," Olivia replied plainly.

"I am the youngest of five, and it isn't all that people make it seem. I cannot tell you how many times my brothers would put my head in the toilet or lock me out of the house in my underwear," Elliot grinned as he turned to face Olivia.

"Are you close with your family?"

"Yeah, I'd like to say I am. Do you have kids or a partner?" Elliot asked since he was desperate to get to know Olivia. Even if Olivia didn't want to talk about her life. She had to hide so much to keep herself safe.

"There hasn't been a boyfriend in a very long time, and I'm not mom material. There are no friends either, but clearly, you know why."

"No, I don't know why."

"Really?" Olivia mused, and Elliot smiled.

"You put your walls up and try to keep to yourself, but I believe you are a great person. You just need to let me in to see that," Elliot replied, as he gently patted Olivia's knee. 

She fought off tears as she stared down at her plate. After a few moments, Olivia lifted her eyes and looked at Elliot.

"I'm so lonely," she whispered.

"It's okay, Liv. You won't be lonely anymore," He replied, before taking her plate and sitting it beside his own. 

"I don't think you'll want to be my friend after you get to know me. I'm a mess and can kinda be a bitch," Olivia said with a weak laugh. 

"Let me decide that. C'mere," Elliot replied, before pulling Olivia into a tight hug. She clung to the man holding her, tears streaming down her cheeks and soaking into his dress shirt. Elliot didn't release his grip on Olivia until she leaned back and hastily wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"I'm so sorry for crying on you. Like I said-"

"I'm your friend now, Olivia. You'll never be able to get rid of me," Elliot laughed, as he wiped tears from Olivia's cheeks with the pads of his thumbs before drawing her close and pressing a soft kiss to her forehead.