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Stirring awake to the phone is second nature after over 30 years on the job. But running on so little sleep has him reaching for it and answering without seeing who it is.
"Stabler," he gruffs out, voice filled with gravel.
The silence on the other end is unsettling, causing Elliot to pull the phone away from his ear to check the caller ID.
"Fin? Is everything ok?"
"Uh, yeah," Fin replies, a slight chuckle to his voice. "I'm just wondering why you are answering Liv's phone at 2 am."
The colour drains from Elliot's face as he stares back down at the phone. "Oh. Oh. Shit." He hears a different laugh from the other end and realizes he must be on speakerphone. "Fin, who else is there?"
"Rollins."
"I'm a dead man," Elliot declares, letting out a small groan.
"I almost feel sorry for you," Amanda deadpans, adding, "we caught a case."
"One sec," Elliot replies, stretching his arm to try to distance his voice from the phone in a vain effort of privacy.
His free hand wraps gently around the bicep of the woman lying next to him, her back still flush against his side. He stares at her a moment longer, wondering how the hell she slept through the phone when she's got just as many years in as he does.
"Liv. Hey, Liv, baby, you gotta wake up."
She stirs, turning to face him and burrowing her face into his chest.
"What time is it?" she rasps.
"2 am."
"Jesus, El. We just went to sleep. Can I remind you that you are nearly 60?" she adds dryly. "There is no way you are ready again. Go to sleep."
On the other end of the line, Fin barks out a laugh as Amanda throws a hand over her mouth to stifle her own. Elliot looks over at the phone and grimaces.
"Liv, your squad is on the phone and have you on speaker."
At this, her eyes snap open, all thoughts of sleep instantly gone. "What?"
"Yeah, I uh... I answered your phone by accident."
"You did what?"
"Well, dammit, Liv. They look identical, and we have the same fucking ring tone. We need to change that."
"Oh my god," she starts, reaching for the phone still outstretched in his hand.
"Benson." she snaps into the phone.
Fin is the first to respond. "Sorry, Liv. We caught a case, and McGrath is insisting you be called in."
"17-year-old girl was raped," adds Amanda. "Best friends with the daughter of a city counsellor."
"Listen, Liv, if you need us to cover you for a few hours, just say the word," Fin offers.
"Yeah, you know, if you're too worn out..." Amanda starts with a smirking tone.
"Amanda, so help me god."
"Sorry, Cap."
"I'll be there in an hour. Rollins, call Velasco in and go interview the vic. Fin, start looking into socials, see if we can get any hints on where she was or who she was with tonight. Stabler," she adds, turning slightly away from the phone, "brew up a large pot of that fancy-ass Italian coffee you have to take with me."
"Yes, Captain."
"Listen, Fin, 'Manda..."
"No need, Liv," Amanda starts. "No one will hear it from us."
"Thank you."
Liv hangs up the phone and throws herself back down on the pillows with an exasperated sigh.
"I'm so sorry, baby." Elliot starts, smoothing his right hand across her bare belly and leaning down to brush his lips against hers.
"S'ok," she says into his mouth. "We do need different ring tones."
She feels his hand slide around to her left hip, tugging her more possessively against him, as his tongue runs along her bottom lip before sliding heavily into her mouth. She lets out a breathy moan but pushes lightly on his chest in protest.
"El, I really do have to go."
"I know. But just for the record, Liv, I am absolutely ready again."
She lets out a small laugh to combat the rush of heat she feels in her core, shaking her head at his smug grin. "Save it for later, Stabler."
"Oh, I will."