He stopped in the doorway to the squad room looking in the direction of his desk. Adrenaline, and something else shot through him as he registered the scene before him.
Olivia was sitting in her chair, an unknown man sitting on her desk, their knees touching. Olivia laughed at something the guy said and Elliot blinked when she swung her chair a little bringing them into closer contact. And when the guy leaned down to her ear and she didn't deck him for it, Elliot actually glanced around to make sure he was in the right squad.
Finally he found his voice. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything," his tone far from apologetic. Olivia looked appropriately startled as she practically ejected from her seat.
"Elliot!" she exclaimed, her features a mask of confusion. "What are you doing here?"
The unknown guy eventually stood and turned to face him, and Elliot hated him already. Ignoring Olivia's question, Elliot stared down this new guy waiting for an introduction.
Olivia seemed to get the message.
"Elliot this is my new...ah...this is Nick. Nick Amaro. Nick, Elliot Stabler."
"Olivia's old partner," Elliot filled in as he took a step towards the younger man.
Nick held out a hand as he closed the gap between them. "Olivia's current...partner."
Nick smiled and Elliot wanted to break those perfect white teeth.
"Yeah well, hope you had fun with that while it lasted..." Elliot taunted, that shit eating grin spreading across his features.
Nick looked to Olivia. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Olivia rolled her eyes, the testosterone so thick she could barely breath. Placing a hand on Nicks chest she tried to placate him. "I don't know," she began. "But why don't you go find that file we were discussing earlier and I'll find out."
Elliot fumed when he saw his partner lay her hand on this jerk. "Yeah Nicky," he sneered. "Why don't you run along and let the grown-ups talk huh?"
"Shut up Elliot," Olivia shot over her shoulder without looking around.
The smirk that appeared on Nicks face made Elliot want to rip his head off. Then the other man looked down to Olivia and Elliot just knew there was more there than a partnership.
Olivia finally turned to face him when Nick walked away.
"Discussing files," Elliot mused. "That what you kids are calling it these days?" He knew he shouldn't have said it, but he couldn't help himself.
Olivia's eyes narrowed. "What are you saying Elliot?"
Elliot snorted. "C'mon Liv...the guy was practically in your lap!"
"Fuck you Elliot!" she said venomously, her voice low. "You've been gone for what...eighteen months? And you think you can come in here..." She turned away from him shaking her head.
This was not the reaction he had anticipated his return would garner. He was pissed and he was going to let her know it. He walked up behind her, his lips millimetres from her ear. "Lets face it Liv," he purred. "You do have a bit of a track record when it comes to sleeping with your partners."
She spun to face him, not needing to say anything to let him know she thought he'd lost his mind.
"Cassidy," he clarified.
Her eyes went dark and he knew he'd crossed a line bringing up the decade old indiscretion, having no clue about their recent meetings. She sighed, her barely contained fury evident. "Why are you here?"
He looked away from her, his eyes falling on his desk, now populated with someone else's things and he wondered how the two of them had gotten here? You left you moron!
This certainly was not the way he'd envisaged their reunion. Obviously he was crazy to think she'd be glad to see him. After a moment he answered her question. "I want my desk back," he murmured, trying a for a conciliatory smile. "I was kinda hoping my partner would come with it."