The Rabbit Hole

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FYC: Keeley Hawes as Julia Montague in Bodyguard

Chapters: 3/11 Fandom: Bodyguard (TV 2018) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: David Budd/Julia Montague Characters: Julia Montague, David Budd, Vicky Budd, Ella Budd, Charlie Budd, Roger Penhaligon, Various originals Additional Tags: Post-series fix-all, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Skeleton plot (but don’t look too hard), Missing Scenes, Flashbacks, No story of mine will ever be tagged David/Vicky (but I deal with that relationship), The wee Budds are in it (but I don’t care that much about them - just so you know), The main point is - Julia lives

1. That Time Olivia Showed Up In The Locker Room Just When Elliot Was Thinking About Her (“Fat”):

It’s such a small, quiet scene but this has to be my favourite EO scene of all time. It’s the music cue, the overhead lighting on Liv, it’s, yes, the incidental nudity and the fact that El is separated. It’s the broiling subtext and everything that is happening in and around this season 7 trilogy that makes this scene the perfect, can’t-just-watch-it once scene. For me, it typifies everything I love about this amazing ship.

2. Those Two Rare Times They Hugged (“Paternity”/“Pursuit”):

I cant separate these two, I really can’t. Do I choose their first ever hug? Or their last ever hug? Do I choose El only just holding it together because he needs Liv so much? Or do I choose Liv only just holding it together because she needs El so much? Do I choose the double-back-and-collide hug or the can’t-help-but-rush-towards-each-other hug? Can’t do it. It can’t be done… The first is so much about Kathy and Eli and El’s family, which, for me, is a major strike against it. But it also charges the moment with extra unspoken angst. Both also have amazing looks before and after these rare instances of physical contact so I have tied them at number 2.

3. That Time They Talked On The Steps At 5am (“Burned”):

This is the moment that Olivia really returns. This scene, this scene….!! Beginning to end, it’s perfection. Any quiet, extended scene when it’s just Chris and Mariska…they just excel in those scene together. The writing is perfect, a lovely combination of banter and confession, of the said and the unsaid. Added to this, it’s the casual clothes and personal time. It’s the fact that it’s five in the morning, their guards are down, they are just themselves with no case to pursue. It’s the fact that they are outside Elliot’s bachelor pad, that he is separated, that he just signed divorce papers, that all that potential is just opening up for him, for them. It’s Elliot’s naked chest and sleepless eyes when she texts. It’s Olivia’s messy bun and bangs. It’s the grey hoodie of love that they share throughout several seasons. It’s the flowery tea and bitter coffee that represents so much. It’s the fact that they are sitting facing us, letting us into their intimate dynamic, letting us see all those lowered or side-long looks (nice choice, director). It’s the fact that after the fade-out, we know this scene continues with them talking and eating and getting back on the same page.

4. That Time They Chose Each Other Over The Job Then Freaked Out About It (“Fault”):

I think we can all agree this entire episode is perfection. For everything it says about them without saying much at all. This scene in particular is so packed full of subtext yet so subtly and deliciously acted. I love how carefully he chooses his words, how he can’t even look at her as he speaks some watered down version of the truth. I love how scratchy her voice is and that, for once in their relationship, Olivia actually thinks about herself, about how “them” might affect her. The reasons she then asks for new partner are both complex and simple, obvious and mysterious.      

5. That Time Elliot Told Olivia They Were Wrong (“Inconceivable”):

One of my favourite scenes from one of my favourite ever episodes. The look on Elliot’s face, the way his heart goes out to her, the way he can’t help just saying straight up that the adoption agencies got it wrong. The way she spells out to him why she is not a desirable adoptive mother and the way he so badly wants to be able to fix that. It’s especially poignant because of all that has happened so far in this episode, particularly the scene outside/inside the car where Elliot tries to talk to her, tries to tell her what a great mother she’d be but Olivia can’t hear it, not from him. To see Elliot realise in that and this scene why what’s come so easily for him is so difficult for this incredible woman he loves so much is just…heartrending.  

6. That Time Olivia Told Elliot Where She Worked (“Web”):

I love this trilogy at the end of season seven. I love all the sightings of Mariska’s belly. And I think we all love a little El-torture since he is essentially the one providing the reason they aren’t together. There is such a compelling richness to this time when he is separated, when he’s growing into a new, different man and yet they do not simply fall into bed together (that we see). The reasons behind that are so open to speculation, but for me, this is an unusual time in which Olivia becomes the one providing impediments to a deeper relationship. This is where it really starts to show how comfortable she was with him being unavailable, unable to love her, unable to give her more than simple partnership and friendship.

7.   That Time They Were Partners For Better or Worse (“Closure”):

The line that launched a thousand shippers. I remember first watching this scene and thinking Whoa…! That is not how you look at someone who’s a co-worker. That is not how you talk to someone who is “just your partner”. The chemistry is off the charts here. It’s before these two have erected walls around themselves, come up with implicit rules for how they will conduct themselves around this person they are obviously head over heels for. It’s before everything they feel has gone underground, before it’s all become slightly screwy due to denial and repression. Elliot’s friendly advice is tinged with jealousy and the whole scene is so intimate that your heart goes out to poor Cassidy who is clearly way out of his depth.

8. That Time They Got Naked Together (“Wildlife”):

Yeah, I’m a cliche. I don’t think this one needs much explaining. Except that it’s not just about the nakedness, though it’s clearly an important aspect of my favouritism. It’s about Liv doing whatever she’s gotta to save El’s ass, robust though that tight ass is. It’s about El wanting like hell for her to be outta there, away from those bad dudes. It’s Kathy walking out because she’s over his commitment to the job while Olivia totally shares that commitment. It’s Elliot not taking his wife’s calls and Olivia saving their marriage, even though a big part of me wishes she wouldn’t. It’s the fact that they go so quickly from arguing this point to being in collusion, reading each other’s intent and working together to preserve their case. It’s Liv’s cute outfit and messy hair and the way he pulls her inside the house. It’s her concern for him and instant offer of help and how his nakedness in this lead-in scene underscores how intimate their interaction has become.

9. That Time Elliot Cradled His Livy-Love. And She Let Him. (“Spooked”):

They so don’t care about anyone or anything around them in this moment. They turn from stoic, seasoned police officers into big puddles of can’t-live-without-you goo. I’m sure that most of the officers there would care if their partners were taken hostage and nearly shot, but I’m not sure many would react like this. El’s rush to her, him calling her name and turning her over and checking inside her jacket to see if she’s hit. And the way she just curls up into a little ball and lets him, melts into him, holds onto him. Unlike in “Fault”, where she was hurt but waved him off, here Olivia surrenders to him, accepts the comfort and protection and love he wants to offer. In these later seasons, much like when she just falls into that hug in “Pursuit”, you occasionally get to glimpse in her this rarely revealed but unfathomably profound need for him. You can see how vulnerable she will let herself be with this man and this man only. It’s a very slight progression in a relationship that seems not to progress, to remain constant. But for a woman as guarded as Olivia, this kind of progression into vulnerability, into needing, speaks volumes.  

10. That Time Olivia Wanted Elliot To Watch (“Zebras”):

I’m gonna chuck this one in here even though there are other EO moments that could very rightfully take a place on this list. Anyone who knows me (or my fic) knows that I really appreciate a little El-torture. I’ve seen people comment that they hate this scene or they hate Stucky, but I love Stucky because he gave us this melodramatic little gem with all the intense looks pinging back and forth and all the pretending that’s got more than a hint of truth to it. That’s classic EO – no, no, we’re just pretending to be married/in love/soulmates for life, it’s all for the good of society, see. Also, it’s Liv once again saving El’s cute lil ass and El getting a small taste of what he’s been missing out on all these years by staying married to that blonde random. I love it and I’m not ashamed to admit it.

11. That First Time They Didn’t Look At Each Other Like Partners (“Payback”):

Seriously, guys. What the hell is this? One episode in? No. I’m sorry. You’re both ridiculous. You’re both too goddamn pretty to be pulling this shit. How can you expect me not to ship it forever? I did. I do. I’m putting this on the list because it’s the moment that hooked me on them. Gazing at each other across their desks after a tough case while the squad room hums about them. That’s EO in a nutshell.

12. That Time Elliot & Olivia FINALLY Admitted They Loved Each Other More Than Life Itself Then Made Out Together Then Had Hot, Intense Sex For Hours On End Then Told Each Other They’d Never, Ever Part Then Trotted Off Into The Sunset to Make Lil Crime-fighting EO Babies (“…”):

Oh, wait. Never happened, did it? That was just in my imagination. Dammit all to hell and back. You bastards….twelve fucking years…

Feel free to tell me in what order you would place these or any essential moments I have overlooked. I know there are lots… :) :) :)