"Liv, what are you doing here?" Nick asked, pulling open the door.
"Well, I figured you could use some company," Olivia stated simply, slipping past Nick into his house.
Nick sighed," Liv, I'm fine, really," he assured her.
Olivia nodded," I'm sure you are, but I'm also sure that you're lonely," she started.
"I'm not lonely," Nick insisted.
Olivia sighed as she set the bag of Chinese food she had been carrying down on the coffee table and took a seat on the couch," Nick, you're wife just up and left you to move to Washington D.C., taking your daughter with her. This is an appropriate time to admit that you're lonely," she assured him, taking out two cartons of cashew chicken and fried rice from the bag on the coffee table. "Forks?" she questioned, looking up at him. Nick sighed and headed into the kitchen, knowing how stubborn she was. He returned a moment later and handed one to Olivia, sitting down on the couch next to her and taking a carton of cashew chicken and one of fried rice.
"Thank you," Nick said, not looking up from his food.
"Don't mention it, it's what partners do," Olivia said. "Me and my old partner used to do this every Wednesday night," she added after a moment of silence.
"You guys were close weren't you?" Nick asked, taking a bite of fried rice.
Olivia nodded," We were best friends," she said, trying to hide the sadness in her voice.
"Why did he leave?" Nick asked curiously.
Olivia cleared her throat awkwardly," Ugh, I don't, I don't really know," she admitted.
Nick looked up at her, finally," He didn't say goodbye?" he asked.
Olivia shook her head," No, he, um, he didn't," she confirmed, looking down into her food. Olivia chuckled," You know, you kind of reminded me a lot of him this week," she said after a short pause.
"How?" Nick asked.
"Your temper," Olivia answered simply.
"I guess I've kind of had a short fuse this week, haven't I?" he asked.
Olivia nodded," A little bit," she said, chuckling. "But it's understandable," she added quickly.
Nick nodded," You know, I've only known you for a year, but I couldn't leave without saying goodbye," he said quietly.
Olivia looked up at him," That's good to know," she said, giving him a smile.
"Liv, I doubt it's your fault he left," Nick said, reading her mind.
"I didn't think it was," Olivia insisted.
Nick raised an eyebrow at her," Liv, I know you by now, that's exactly what you were thinking," he said.
Olivia sighed,"I really don't want to talk about it," she said, finishing her food and taking it to the trashcan just beyond the doorway to the kitchen.
"You're a good partner, and a good cop," Nick said as Olivia sat back down.
Olivia smiled at him," So are you, ya know?" she asked.
Nick scoffed," That's not what Cragen seems to think," he said.
Olivia sighed," Cragen is just being careful. He doesn't doubt your abilities as a cop. You haven't given him any reason to," she insisted.
"I was investigated for-" Nick started.
"But you didn't. We all know you didn't," Olivia cut him off, effectively silencing him.
Nick sighed," I appreciate that," he said.
Olivia nodded,"If the tables were turned, you would say the same thing that I just said to you, to me," she said.
Nick nodded," Yep," he said simply. Nick surprised Olivia by wrapping his arms around her in a tight hug. " You're the only solid thing I have left," he said into her hair.
Olivia sighed and relaxed a little," I understand that feeling," she said.
Nick pulled away," What do you mean?" he asked.
"Nothing," Olivia said shaking her head.
Nick realized what she was talking about," I'm not going to leave you like he did," he said.
Olivia nodded," I know," she said, but the doubt was clear in her voice. Nick had to make her understand. He knew how to do it, too. He didn't know how she would react, though. But he decided to take a chance. He leaned in, without giving her anytime to think, and kissed her.
How will Olivia react?
What'd you think?