A/N: I just watched the ep "Pursuit" and I couldn't pass up the opportunity of writing a spin-off to it. I was SO excited when E/O hugged. We haven't got a hug since season 9, when Kathy had Eli. I was wrapped. This is one of the best ep's ever. Definitely top ten! Besides, I like Debra Messing! I saw the reviews were low rating and NO ONE mentioned the hug… WTF? Is all I can say…

I hope you enjoy my little fluffy one!

"Hey," he greeted, his voice soothing through the phone as it reached Olivia's ear. He sounded bored.

"Hi," she smiled, despite he couldn't see her. "How's the training in Quantico going?" You get your ass kicked yet?"

"Are you kidding? They love me here, I'm their new toy!"

Olivia laughed. It seemed ridiculous that his two-day absence left her missing him. It was like withdrawal symptoms. They were used to spending every waking moment together, working on a case, driving in the car, to get from point A to point B, and when they weren't together they were home checking their cell phones and waiting to be called in.

"It's how it feels anyway," he insisted. "Endless questions…"

Elliot's marriage suffered because of his job, and his wife suspected that he wanted to be with Olivia more than he wanted to be with her, or his children. But it hadn't always been like that, there had been a time when coming home to Kathy was the highlight of his day, before every conversation was an argument. He could talk to Olivia about anything and she called him on his crap. She had an opinion and he respected that, he even found it to be endearing at times, because even when they disagreed they seemed to come out stronger on the other side.

Elliot even checked her out when she walked out of a room. She was a good-looking woman, no one could deny that, and Elliot didn't bother trying. He knew his place, and he never dared to cross the line with her. She was his partner, his best friend, and sometimes, though he kept the thought to himself, he believed they were soulmates, but he was married and he had never cheated on his wife, and he wasn't about to start now.

"So, how are you?" Elliot asked changing the subject to put her in the limelight. "Fin watching your back?"

"Yeah," she smiled. "Not my backside, like you do. Don't think I don't notice."

Elliot chuckled. "Yeah, well, I know you check out my ass when I walk away too," he insisted.

Olivia said nothing as she paced the floor of the Crib, back at the station.

"Besides, Fin was never one to be accused of good taste. He and Munch have that monkey lovin' thing going on in the background," he teased.

"Don't let him hear you say that," she warned. Fin was currently on the warpath.

"I can take care of myself," he assured her.

"Sure you can," she teased.

"Oh well, that's cause you offer to take care of me."

Olivia smiled as she cleared her throat.

"Need me to come home early?" he offered.

Olivia would have liked to see him, but she didn't need him for case work, and it wouldn't be fair to drag him away from his training at the Behavior Analyze Unit. "No, I'm really okay."

"Alright," was that disappointment in his tone?

"How is the training going?" she asked trying to steer the subject.

"Different," he admitted. "The BAU has some wild ideas, but they seem to know exactly what they're talking about. There's this kid here, no more than twenty-six… twenty-seven… and he's the smartest person I've ever met. He has an I.Q of 187."

Olivia's mouth gapped open. "I wouldn't mind a clever mind like that."

"You're smart enough," he said. "You chose me for a partner, after all."

"Ah, so that was why my I.Q dropped ten points."

"Funny," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Maybe I'll stay here and never come back. They appreciate me here."

"Give it time."

Elliot scoffed. "Well, I better go then."

"Yeah, torment the BAU for a while, and leave us alone…"

"Well, yeah, there are a couple of broads here to keep me amused… good-lookin' women… Prentiss isn't too bad," he laughed.

Olivia wasn't the least bit phased, knowing that Elliot would never cheat on his wife. He just wasn't that type of man. "Beware, you don't rise the sleeping beat," she joked.

"You mean Kathy?" there was a seriousness to his tone. "She left me."

"That's how many times this month?" she teased, making light of the conversation, and not knowing what else to say.

He laughed half-heartedly. "Too many to count. She's gone to her parents. She left the divorce papers on the kitchen table before she left."

"Oh God, El, I'm sorry…" why did that piece of information make her feel somewhat relieved? Regret soon followed. Why did his heartache turn out to be her joy?

"Don't worry it. It's over for good. We tried more than once, and failed each time. I guess, we just weren't meant to be, you know… I think Kathy and I are better off as friends."

"Do you think that'll work?" she was curious about that.

"Maybe. She didn't leave in a huff this time, she just explained that she couldn't keep waiting for me to come home every now and then and she wanted a life for herself. I get that. She has put up with a lot over the year,"

"She has," Olivia greed.

"She didn't even ask me to give up my job…"

"She knew you wouldn't," Olivia stated. She knew her partner like she knew herself. She knew what move he made before he made it.

"Yeah probably."

"El?"

"Yeah?"

"I really am sorry…"

"I know. Listen, I should go. I got some training to get back to, and they've given me this big text book to study. It's like being back at school," he said.

"Okay," she said.

"I'll call you tomorrow," he promised.

Olivia frowned. "What's tomorrow?"

"Wednesday," he said.

"Why do you need to call me… not that I- I just… why?"

"Find out how the case is going, or whatever."

Olivia smiled. "Tomorrow then…"

"Yeah, tomorrow… maybe when I get back we could, I don't know… get dinner?"

There was a long pause as Olivia considered this.

"Dinner could be good."

"Good," he sounded instantly relieved.

"Yeah, good."

Goodnight, Liv."

"Night, El."

Olivia was smiling as she hung up the phone. She wandered into her bedroom, stripping down to her underwear before pulling a night gown from the drawer and sliding it over her head. Olivia climbed into bed, promises of tomorrow lingering in the fore of her mind, as she settled down, her head against the soft pillow.

Was this her chance at happiness? Now that it was over with Kathy, did she fit somewhere into Elliot's life, somewhere that didn't involve chasing perps and catching killers. She couldn't help but hope…

A/N: I wanted to leave it open. This is – for now a one shot – unless more than a few want me to extend it. In which case, I could figure out dinner, and thereafter, but for now, it's just a simple one-shot. I hope you liked it. Reviews would be appreciated… if you have time! =D