Disclaimer: These characters are the sole property of NBC Television and Wolf Productions. No copyright infringement was intended. No profit was made from their use. This story is the sole property of the author. Please do not archive without my permission.

Rating: PG-13 First time story between C/O.

Pairing: Det. Olivia Benson and ADA Casey Novak from Law and Order: Special Victims Unit.

Don't Think Twice, It's Alright

By: StumpjumperTab

"Maybe if you did your job Detective, and found some evidence I could actually work with, we could put this guy away." Casey yelled, frustrated beyond belief.

"Maybe if you were a better Attorney you could use the solid evidence that we've given you." Olivia retorted, immediately regretting what she had just said when she saw the look on Casey's face.

There was hurt in here eyes, but Olivia was too pissed to apologize right now. She didn't mean that Casey wasn't a good attorney, if fact she thought the complete opposite. She had done some amazing things at the 1-6, emotions were just running high today, and Olivia wasn't even sure why.

Casey and Olivia had been going at each others throats for the past month. Everyone was passing it off as getting to emotionally involved in the cases, but they both knew something else was going on.

It had taken Olivia some time to warm up to Casey, because she obviously had some enormous shoes to fill. But as time passed they became friends, maybe not close, but Olivia felt comfortable calling her a friend.

"Both of you need to take a breather." Cragen said, not so surprised to see the Detective and ADA at it again.

"Stabler, you and Benson go out and try and find Novak something else to work with." Cragen said, not only hoping that they would find some more evidence, but also wanting to get the two women apart for a while.

Olivia grabbed her jacket and walked out of the precinct, not waiting for Elliot to follow her.

Elliot walked out and found Olivia standing next to their unmarked car.

Leaning up against it Elliot asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Talk about what?" Olivia asked, holding her hand out for the keys.

As he handed them to her, he held onto them for a second, forcing her to look at him.

"Do you want to talk about why, for the past month you and Casey haven't been able to be in the same room with each other with out attacking one another?" Elliot asked, as he let go of the keys and got into the passenger seat.

"I don't know what you are talking about." Olivia said as she started the engine.

"Well when you feel up to talking about whatever is bothering you, I'm here you know." Elliot said, as he put his hand over Olivia's, and gave it a re-assuring squeeze.

"Thanks." Olivia said, grateful that her partner got the drift that she did not want to talk about this now

Three and a half hours later, Olivia and Elliot were back at the station with some surprising new evidence.

As they walked into the precinct, Olivia was obviously in a much better mood than when she had left early that day.

"So what did you guys find?" Fin asked skeptically. "Olivia you said that yall found something that would definitely get this guy sick bastard some cell time?"

"We did." Olivia replied, smiling a little before she started telling them what they found. "The stupid son of a bitch left his cell phone at his apartment, which had pictures of the Vic at the scene of the crime."

"Well that definitely puts him there." Munch chimed in, still not completely sure that the cell phone would guarantee the perps conviction.

"Yep, anyone know where Novak is?" Olivia asked hesitantly, trying to keep her face as neutral as possible.

"I'm pretty sure she is in her office, when she left earlier she mentioned not having to be in court today." Fin answered, while re-filling his coffee cup.

Olivia turned and walked out of the precinct, making eye contact with Elliot before she left. He understood where she would be, if he needed her.

"So does anyone have any inkling as to what is going on between Benson and Novak?" Munch asked, not looking up from the paperwork he was immersed in.

"No idea." Elliot replied, thinking even if he did know anything, he sure as hell wouldn't be sharing it with Munch.

"I've got a theory." Munch started to say, but Elliot cut him off before he could finish.

"Lets not get into any theories you have about my partner." Elliot said, throwing a balled up piece of paper at Munch.

"If you say so." Munch replied, still not letting go of his thoughts about Olivia and Casey being more than just friends.

Olivia had been pacing outside of Casey's office for fifteen minutes before actually getting the nerve to knock.

She knocked again. Still no answer.

"Come on Casey, I know you're in there. Let me in for a minute." Olivia pleaded to the door.

"Actually Detective, I'm not in there." Casey responded, walking up behind her with a small smile.

"Yeah...I see that now. I also see my embarrassment reaching a level its never been before." Olivia said, her cheeks turning a flushed red color.

Casey noticed this, and made a mental note of how cute Olivia Benson looked when she was embarrassed.

As Casey unlocked her office, she turned around and opened the door a little wider so Olivia could enter as well.

Olivia followed Casey into her office, and took a seat in one of the chairs facing her desk.

"So, how can I help you Detective? I have a lot of work to do, you know not being a good attorney and all." Casey asked, a little surprised that Olivia would actually have the nerve to come to her office after the argument they had earlier.

Olivia winced a little at her comment, which made her feel even more like an ass.

"Look Casey, I'm sorry about what I said earlier...I was way out of line, and I didn't mean it." Olivia said softly, looking into Casey's eyes. "I think you are a great lawyer, I was just...on edge because of the case."

"Well it's not ok for you to take your frustration out on me, when a case is bothering you." Casey said, trying her best to keep her attitude in check.

Casey had to admit to herself that what Olivia said hurt her a little. Not because of what she said, because God knows she has had her share of people telling her how to do her job. What hurt the most was that it was Olivia telling her this, Olivia her friend. Or so she thought.

"I know." Olivia said simply, looking everywhere in the room but at Casey.

"Well today is your lucky day Detective, because I am going to give you a chance to make it up to me." Casey said, giving her a small smile.

Olivia looked up and smiled along with her, "Anything you want, just name it."

"You can take me out for drinks tonight...and of course they are totally on you." Casey stated, not really giving any thought to how any of this was coming out.

"I think I could do that Counselor, but on one condition." Olivia said, waiting for the obvious response from Casey.

"You're making something up to me, and you have a condition? What could it possibly be?" Casey asked, realizing that she was somewhat flirting with the Detective in front of her.

"I get to pick the bar." Olivia said simply, unable to stop smiling.

"That seems fairly reasonable Detective, I think I can live with that." Casey replied, giving Olivia the once over.

Olivia noticed the sudden change in their conversation, it had turned from friendly banter to subtle flirting. Olivia wondered if Casey knew that she was gay. Well if she didn't, she would tonight.

"Okay, so I'll pick you up around seven then?" Olivia asked, standing up getting ready to make her exit.

"Sounds good." Casey replied, trying to think of what she was going to wear. "Oh...and Detective."

"Yeah?" Olivia asked, half way out of the door.

"Don't be late." Casey demanded, smiling sweetly at her.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Olivia replied, closing the door as she left.