DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN ANY CHARACTERS THAT ARE PORTRAYED IN THIS STORY...DICK WOLF DOES. NO COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT INTENDED.
Love Happens
Chapter 1
Olivia sighed as she awoke to what seemed like an unnecessarily peppy pop song. But lately, everything sounded like that. A loud, obnoxious noise, that couldn't be shut off. Everything, that is, except his voice. She found it amazing how one person had the ability to fill her stomach with butterflies, with just one word. It was as if he could turn her thoughts to soft serve with one gaze into her chocolate brown eyes. Olivia unconsciously kicked herself for letting her thoughts wander into places where they definitely shouldn't be lingering near. After all, he was an immensely unavailable man.
Olivia hastily jumped when she suddenly heard deafening knocking at her door. She then retreated to pulling the paper-thin blanket over her head and flopping onto her stomach. When she heard a key in the door turning briskly, she immediately knew whom it was. A very jumpy sounding man soon interrupted the 'clicking' sound. It wasn't hard to believe that she knew his mood by the way he walked into the room. It has, after all, been something like eleven years now, since they had first met.
"Olivia!"
She heard footsteps in her kitchen.
Olivia swiftly pulled on her sweatpants and lazily wandered out her bedroom door. She was greeted by a man whom she knew all too well, with a face marked with lines of worry. They stood face-to-face for what felt like hours.
"Olivia."
It was more of a statement than a question.
"Elliot."
"You weren't at work."
"Obviously, El."
He smiled at the sound of the sarcastic note in her tone. She followed suite as her lips gradually slipped into a grin.
"Are you okay?" he asked in a more serious manner.
"I'm fine, El. Seriously." Olivia mumbled as she casually swayed by the man in front of her.
"Liv, how many years has it been now? There's no need to perform the whole "I'm fine" routine with me. C'mon. What's going on?" he questioned her.
Olivia suddenly found herself immensely interested in the contents of her refrigerator despite the fact that it only consisted of a carton of milk, some Chinese take-out boxes, and a loaf of bread.
She silently contemplated on how to respond. She knew the answer. Olivia knew all to well what was "going on." She kept trying to tell herself that as long as she didn't say it out loud, than it wouldn't be true. It was completely and utterly childish, she knew. But somehow, she couldn't seem to bare the thought of anyone finding out the authenticity of how she truly felt. She could hardly handle it herself.
When Olivia decisively turned around, Elliot was instantaneously in her face. She recognized that all he wanted was the truth. Despite their partnership, this was a confidential matter that she certainly did not wish to share with anyone. Especially the one person it actually concerned.
"I called the Captain. He didn't tell you?"
"No, he didn't mention anything. Should he have?"
"Well, I've decided to use some of the sick days I've saved up over the past few years. I just need to think about some things. And before you ask, no, it's nothing serious."
A sudden look of shock and anguish washed over his strong, masculine features.
"Olivia. Think about this. Please. When you left… Oregon… and Porter. I just-"
"I know, Elliot. I know. I swear to you, this is nothing like that. I honestly just need some time to reflect."
She offered a petite smile in hopes of smoothing over the situation.