A/N: Thank you for taking an interest in this story… enjoy and happy reading :)

I shall TRY my hardest to keep this IN character but MAYBE as time goes on it could become OOC. Tell me if I'm taking it into a direction you don't wanna go… :)

As she lay there awake, her eyes counting the tiles on the ceiling, she could feel the brush on her neck, where he had touched her. His touch was overpowering at times, just like those piercing blue eyes of his that haunted her dreams more nights than she could stand. His lips would- no, she wouldn't- COULDN'T think of him that way. He was married. He had always been married.

Olivia had thought about marriage. But she had always decided against it. Her hours were long, and her dedication was obsessive. Whoever was insane enough to marry her would never get any time to spend with her. Her heart was with the job, where it had been for years.

Finally sleep claimed her, and she drifted off, getting barely four hours sleep before her alarm clock buzzed from the night stand. Her eyes hurt when she tried to open them, and she made an effort to take a shower, she was drained by the time she was ready to leave for work. She took a cab to the precinct and saw that he was already at his desk.

"Morning, Liv," he announced in that casual way he did, like he carried no burden.

"Hi," she responded tiredly, next to the little sleep she managed, she was in no mood for conversation. Elliot handed her a cup of coffee and smiled.

"Might help," he offered.

She took it gratefully. "Yeah…"

She busied herself in the latest case, before Cragen called her into his office.

Olivia was ordered to close the door.

"I never did like the game playing," he began. "So I'll get straight to the point. Hummers have offered you a position with them, for the next two years, you'll be working with special needs children who have been abused."

"What- Captain," she shook her head. "I didn't request that."

"I know," he nodded. "It's a great opportunity for you. They requested you, remembering how well you did with Maria…"

"The 911 call," she remembered.

"Yes. Everyone knows about that. Listen, it's up to you, but I advise you at least give it some serious thought. Your job is here when you're done there, that is if you want it, and if you don't want this position with Hummers, well… you still work here."

"Thanks Captain," she said feeling slightly overwhelmed. She made her exit and returned to the desk across from her partner. She couldn't manage to look at him.

"What?" he asked bluntly seeing the expression on her face. Elliot never liked games either, and there had been VERY few secrets between them.

"I just got offered a job transfer… for two years," she said.

The look on his face was pure poker. She hated that.

Let me know you're interested in the next chapter… How will Elliot react when he finally lets her in on his feelings regarding this? Will she like it? Find out by reviewing and telling me to post more :)