Elliot's ribs were healing nicely. He was able to go back to work on desk duty after two weeks, another four of desk duty and he could be back to regular work. He hated watching Liv go out the door accompanied by anyone other than him. They'd watch her back, yes, but no one would protect her like he would. 

He sat back and tried to stretch without straining his ribs, wincing. "Elliot," Cragen called. "Kathy needs you to take Eli for the week. She, Lizzie, and Dickie are quarantined with swine flu. The hospital just called." He went to get up, worried, but Cragen held his hand out for her. "They're fine, Kathleen is bringing Eli here, so take off when she gets here."

Elliot nodded, sighing. He was happy that he was going to get more time with Eli, but not at the expense of his soon to be ex wife and other kids health. Around noon, Kathleen came up with Eli bounding around him excitedly. There was a small backpack that he had on, a larger duffel in Kathleen's hand. "Hey, dad," she greeted with a smile, handing him the duffel. He opened his arms for Eli to run into. 

Elliot grinned at her, rubbing his side. 

"Daddy!" Eli jumped into Elliot's chest, making him grunt in pain. 

"Hey, buddy, ready for a fun week?"

The toddler nodded, grinning wide. Elliot kissed his son's temple and took the duffel off the desk. "Thanks Kathleen," Elliot said, walking to the elevator with her. He didn't have anything to grab from his locker. 

Elliot had no idea how Kathy was able to raise four kids so close in age while he was out arresting scumbags. One afternoon with Eli was enough for Elliot to want to pull his very short hair out. He was very different in the daytime than at night. Night he was starting to wind down and resist sleep. He was running around the apartment, playing with cars. Flying cars. Elliot wished he had that much energy at his age.

He had just finished giving Eli his bath when the front door closed. "Elliot?" 

"Bathroom!" he called, grabbing a spare toothbrush and wrestling Eli's mouth open. Eli giggled as he watched in the mirror Elliot brush his teeth. Liv groaned as she leaned against the door frame. "Hey, Liv," Elliot greeted lightly, "Spit." Eli spit towards the mirror and Elliot ran a hand over his face. "Not on the mirror."

Liv giggled, making Eli giggle. "I'll clean the mirror real quick, get that little guy in some pjs."

Eli was just in his night diapers. He sometimes still had accidents in bed, so Kathy thought it was a good idea at night for him to continue to use them. He went to the duffel and got out mickey mouse footie pajamas. The backpack Eli had on had his blanket and Mr. Kitty, a stuffed tiger that he had to have with him as he slept. They didn't have a bed for him yet, barely started getting the stuff out of the room, so Elliot forced Eli and Liv to sleep in bed, Elliot would sleep on the couch. 

The couch was a pull out, not as comfy for his ribs, but for his son, he'd suffer through it. He'd see if there was a toddler bed that could get delivered tomorrow. Liv tried to get him to take the bed, but Elliot refused. He actually pushed her on the bed, gently, before kissing her good night. 

"Okay, Eli, you're gonna have a sleep over with Liv tonight. Tomorrow, you and I are going to go looking for an awesome bed for your room in there." Elliot kissed Eli on the forehead and handed him Mr. Kitty and his blanket. "Night night," he whispered as Eli shut his eyes. 

Liv smiled at Eli, rubbing her stomach absentmindedly. Elliot glanced at her hand on her stomach and she followed his gaze. They smiled at each other before Elliot closed the door to the room and went to the couch. Liv had helped pull the couch out, so he wouldn't have to struggle. He sighed with comfort as he pulled the covers up. 

Elliot smelled coffee the next morning. He rubbed his eyes as Eli jumped on the bed. "Daddy, you awake!" 

"Yeah, you make coffee for me?" He asked with a groggy smile. Eli shook his head, eyes bright. 

"No, I did," Liv stated, bringing a cup over to him. "Daddy," she mouthed, smirking at him. 

He halted the cup midway to his mouth. That brought something out in him. He shook his head slightly and took a deep, steady breath. "I've got to get to the precinct early, Cragen has some interviews set up for Chris and the teacher. We're gonna try to break them."

"The thing is, we can prove that they're having sex, so it doesn't matter," Elliot objected, taking another sip of coffee. 

"Casey said we need more proof. They are either blaming each other, or saying they love each other. He said she said," Liv shrugged. 

Elliot grumbled under his breath, standing up to go give her a kiss. They didn't get to do anything last night, so he thought a kiss good bye would be a nice surprise for her. She raised an eyebrow as he pulled back from the five second long kiss. "I'll call you at lunch," Liv stated with a smirk, brushing her hand over his crotch. He hitched his breath and glared after her, lust hinting in his eyes. 

Elliot was going to make eggs for Eli, but he and Liv had been living off of delivery, courtesy of Liv's way of living. So, he'd stop by and get some groceries for he and Eli this week along with breakfast. "Eli, let's get you into your clothes. We'll go get some breakfast then find a good bed for you." 

It took an hour for Elliot to get Eli into his clothes. He was wired, even without having any breakfast. Another 30 minutes at a coffee shop, Elliot eating a bagel, Eli eating a breakfast sandwich cut into bites with some fruit, they were nearly ready for bed shopping. They went to a secondhand store nearby that Elliot was told about from an old friend. There were a lot of nice furniture there. 

Three different kids beds, one was a race car, one was a normal type, the other was a pencil frame bed. Eli's eyes were glued to the race car. Even a matching side table came with it. Elliot also picked out a lamp and a bassinet. The bassinet was for the baby that he and Liv hadn't talked about yet. They hadn't even booked an appointment for the OBGYN. He just liked the look of the dark woven wood basket. The cushion was flowery and green, a perfect mix for both genders. 

They said they'd deliver it by four this evening, which was great news. One night on the couch pull out really seemed to put a strain on Elliot's ribs. Elliot looked at his watch as they walked out of the second hand store. Eli was carrying a large truck that he begged for, smiling wide. It was just nearly noon, Liv would be calling, unless he beat her to the punch and simply showed up at the squad room. 

He brought her favorite lunch, having Eli actually carry it to her like a delivery person. "Dewivery for Benson," he said, giggling furiously, the bag of food set on the floor beside him. 

Munch and Fin chuckled heartily as Liv turned to look at Eli. "Oh, well look at what we have here. The cutest delivery guy I've ever seen," she bent down and picked up the food, Eli along with it. Elliot came around the corner, smiling. "Sorry, Elliot, I've got a man now," she teased, kissing Eli on the cheek. 

Elliot chuckled, "Yeah right." 

He sat at his desk and pulled the food out. "Got some furniture that would be getting delivered this evening, after lunch Eli and I are going show you what a fridge is actually for." He paused and stared at her, "Food."

"I stand by my delivery," she whispered with a smirk to him. 

"Uh huh," he smiled and handed her food to her. 

0o0o0o0

Getting tired. Ending this here, so enjoy.