Chapter 1

"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…" Fin dragged their most recent perp to the car as he read him his Miranda rights.

"We did it Liv, another scumbag put away." Elliot Stabler said with a smile as he patted his partner on the back.

El's touch was electrifying. Every time they came in contact with one another, sparks flew through Olivia's body. But she could never tell him that. Even though he and Kathy's divorce was almost finalized, he was still the father of her five children, and Olivia was pretty sure he had never thought of her as more as a partner. Sure, over the years, there were more than a few moments when she had thought otherwise. The late nights they shared together, the emotional cases they dealt with on a day to day basis; it was hard not to develop a connection that went deeper than a partnership. But she had to remain professional, and she didn't want to ruin the partnership she had developed with Elliot. After all, he was the longest relationship she had ever had with a man.

"Hey, uh, Liv? You okay?" Elliot questioned.

Olivia shook herself out of her thoughts. "What? Oh yeah, sorry El. Great job." She smiled up at her partner.

"You had me a little worried there" Elliot said with a playful shove. "I'm going to head home, wanna grab something to eat?"

"Nah, I promised Casey I'd meet her for dinner. It's girl's night. Maybe next time." Olivia said smiling.

"Okay, see you tomorrow Liv".

As Elliot walked away, Olivia stared after him. Damn, did her partner have a cute ass.

LATER THAT NIGHT

Olivia and Casey Novak lay curled up on Casey's couch, each nursing a big glass of wine.

"Casey, I really care about him. Probably in a way that I shouldn't. But I do, and it kills me that I have to look at him every day, knowing he doesn't feel the same way about me."

"Liv…are you kidding me? You don't see the way he looks at you. I wish that someone looked at me with half as much love and passion as Elliot Stabler does when he looks at you. His divorce is, what, a week away from being finalized? You two would be amazing together. Not to mention you two getting together would win me some serious money… "

"Wait, Casey, WHAT?"

"Ummm…" Casey's cheeks flushed a deep red. "The, uh, precinct has a pool going for how long it's going to take you and Elliot to get together."

Olivia stared at her best friend, shocked. "Are you frigging kidding me?"

"Liv, forget I said that. You two would be perfect together, that's why the bet even exists in the first place. C'mon, I'm your best friend, would I mislead you?"

Olivia sighed. "Casey, I just don't want to put myself out there to have him hurt me. I don't want to ruin the partnership we've spent so many years working on."

"Olivia Benson. Elliot is in love with you. The way he talks to you, the way he looks at you, the way he lights up when you enter the room; there's no other explanation. After his divorce is finalized, go for it. Go to dinner with him, tell him how you really feel, and then come right back here and tell me all about it"

Olivia pursed her lips. "Okay" she said slowly, "I'll do it. Maybe. I don't know, Casey, that's so unlike me. Just confess my love to him, just like that?"

"You're right Liv. You know what? Do what you're comfortable with, and just see what happens. And no matter what, you're an amazing person, and any guy, especially Elliot, would be lucky to have you."

"Thanks Casey. You're the best." Olivia smiled at her best friend, and reached for the wine bottle.

"Hey Liv", Casey said with a smirk. I bet he has a huge…"

"CASEY!"