A/N: Ok, this isthe beginning of astory I had saved on my computer for a couple of months now but I never posted itbecause I didn't think people would like it. Anyway, I was recently cleaning up my hard drive and decided to give it a chance instead of just deleting it.

So let me just start by saying some of you might find this particular story line hard to believe but then again this is fiction…So although this probably isn't something you'd see on the show, I did do my best to keep everyone in character (perhaps the greatest challenge in fan fiction.) Okay consider yourself warned.

Please review and let me know if its worth continuing.

Disclaimer: I do not own the show or the characters.

"Don't you dare walk away from me!" he shouts at her back as he follows her though the squad room. They're shouting in the middle of the busy 16th precinct.

She stops, hands on her hips, head tilted back. She knows she should just ignore him because it's been a long day. They're both irritable. Tough case. No sleep. Now really isn't the ideal time to get into it with her partner. He has been on edge all week. Cold and distant one moment, hot and angry the next, randomly launching into fits of rage. He had hit two suspects this week alone. Cragen even threatened to bounce him from the department. Something was up at home but he wouldn't open up about it. Usually she would ask him about it until he gave it up, but this week she wasn't in the mood. She was tired of being the one who always had to go out of her way for him, tired of him shutting her down and treating her like crap. She had her own problems and she never got so much as a sympathetic look from him lately. She understood he had a lot to deal with but there's other people in the world.

Olivia turns around. "Don't I dare? Who the hell do you think you are?"

"I was talking to you," he growls.

"God Elliot. You know, I'm getting tired of the angry cop routine. Why don't you just grow up!"

"Yeah, and I'm getting tired of the sympathetic martyr act."

"Fine. Then leave me the hell alone."

"No. I want an answer."

Olivia sighs and rolls her eyes. "Go home Elliot." She starts to walk away again in hopes of avoiding further conflict. He could use a break, they both can.

Elliot refuses to drop it. He goes after her, grabs her elbow and swings her around to face him. "Answer me, damn it."

"Let go of me," she demands twisting her arm away from him. "I'm not one of your kids. You can't order me to do anything."

"When did you become such a bitch?"

She grins and places her hands on her hips. "A few months ago, but you were too self-involved to notice."

"Oh that's real smart," he mocks. "Too bad you're not that smart when it comes to your job."

"Excuse me?" .

"You were the only one who couldn't tell Jamie Keller was lying. Come on Olivia, every other word out of her mouth was a contradiction, but you just didn't see it."

"Screw you!" They've fought before but he has never accused her of incompetence on the job.

"No. Screw you! Oh that's right half the unit has. Give my best to Brian will ya."

"Wow. You bastard," she breathes angrily. "No wonder your wife left you."

Elliot's blood boils, his teeth clench and he sees red. His hands ball into tight fists and before he knows it, before he can stop himself, his arm cocks back and then lurches forward with all the strength his body can muster behind it.

The blow lands just above her left cheek bone. She stumbles backwards into the desk but manages to regain her balance before falling. Instantly the people around them spring into action. Fin and a couple of officers grab Elliot while Munch rushes over to Olivia, whose covering her face with her hands.

"Oh my God," Elliot mumbles to himself. He can't believe he just did that. "Oh my God," he repeats lowly. He wants to see if he hurt her but the other officers won't let him.

"What the hell is wrong with you man!" Fin's shouting at Elliot as he keeps him at bay.

"I…I didn't mean to. Is she okay? Oh God. What did I do?" Elliot rambles. He's starring at his friend trying to comprehend what really just happened.

Munch takes Olivia by the arm and helps her to a chair. "You alright, Liv?"

"Mmm, what?" She seems disoriented. "Did Elliot just hit me?" she asks in shock.

"Yeah," he answers lowly. "Here let me see." He attempts to pull her hand away from her eye but she snaps her head back. "Come on Olivia, I just want to see if you're alright."

She lowers her hand to reveal the fresh bruise. "Jesus Liv," Munch mutters recoiling slightly.

"John?" John?" Olivia cries suddenly.

"What?"

"I…I can't see. I can't see out of my left eye." Her voice is dripping with nervousness.

"Alright, relax sweetie. We'll have a doctor look at it." Munch rises and helps Olivia up. He turns to Fin, who's still restraining Elliot, not for fear that he'll hurt her again but fear that he'll upset her. "Fin, I'm gonna take her to the hospital. Let Cragen know where we are."

"Yeah, sure. What's wrong?" he asks glancing at Olivia.

"I think he might have shattered her cheek bone. She's having trouble seeing. Could be a collapsed eye socket or something," Munch answers purposely glaring at Elliot.

Elliot opens his mouth to speak, to apologize, but before he can find the words Olivia turns her head towards him. The ugly bruise shocks him and suddenly he can't find the words. Without saying a word to him Olivia walks out of the precinct with Munch.