Chapter Three: Truth and Lies

"So, then the bitch blames me for losing the evidence!" Casey exclaims from Olivia's bedroom while Olivia got ready in her bathroom for her get together.

"I'm starting to get the feeling Elliot is the only one who tolerates Dani." Olivia replied and turned on the blow dryer. Casey didn't reply until she turned it on.

"Speaking on behalf of myself, I would like her out of the precinct as soon as possible." Casey sighed, "Please, come back, Liv. Everybody misses you."

"As much as I miss you guys too, I can't. Dani seems like she's on a roll with all of these cases and I would hate to break that." The second part was a lie and the lack of protest made it obvious Casey knew it was a lie. Deep down, Olivia would love to strip Dani of her job as fast as possible but Elliot liked her so Olivia spared the blonde girl.

Casey groaned with irritability, "Fine, but don't think it's over now. Your ass will be back in the chair with a gun stuck to your hip even if I have to glue it myself." She sighed and looked around, "Why'd you say Munch and Fin couldn't come?"

"They said it was personal. I don't know." Olivia finally came out in a tunic tank top that cut down low in the front, dark denim jeans, and a pair of black boots. Casey sat up in surprise, "Wow." She said, "Liv, I didn't even know you had clothes like this in your closet. Some advice from a friend, Liv, show off your curves more. Dani doesn't, she wears those baggy clothes but I'm sure she's got nothing on you."

Olivia smiled brightly and went over to her mirror, "I just want to look good for him! I think I really like him." She said excitedly as she put on her necklace and other jewelry. Casey has never really seen Olivia this perky before.

"I'm sure Elliot will be impressed." Casey muttered. Olivia stopped and looked at her in the mirror. "What?" She asked. Casey shook her head, "Nothing. Who's this guy you're going with? Is he like the Elliot of your new job?"

Olivia turned around and leaned against the dresser, "His name is Ryan, and he's not exactly like Elliot but he reminds me a lot of him. He's loud when he wants to be and tough when he needs to be. Just imagine Elliot but a lot calmer everyday and you'll have this guy." Olivia explained.

"What about the fact you don't mix pleasure with work? How's that gonna happen if you're two doors down from him?"

"I might just make an exception."

"I'm still angry I can't go. I really want to meet this guy." Casey complained and crossed her arms.

"It's okay, thanks for coming by. I should get going though. They should already be there." Olivia looked at her watch and then grabbed her coat. She and Casey both walked out of Olivia's apartment and parted ways when they got outside.

The bar wasn't very far from Olivia's apartment so it was easy for her to walk there. When she arrived, Elliot was the first to notice her but it took him a while to actually say something. He was amazed at how sexy Olivia looked. For some reason he couldn't take his eyes off of her until Dani said something.

"There she is!" Dani called out. The three sat at the rounded table and already getting started on their drinks when Olivia approached them.

Olivia smiled and placed her hand on Ryan's back as she sat down on the stool next to him. "Sorry I'm late." She said and looked at Elliot. He was looking back at her with a bottle of beer dangling between his fingers.

"You look amazing." Ryan told her, obviously just as attracted to her as Elliot was. Elliot just didn't make it as noticeable.

As the night went on, Elliot and Olivia didn't really talk much. It didn't stop them from staring at each other though. "So, Dani, how did you and Elliot know that you two were meant for each other?"

Olivia's eyes widened a little bit. Here comes the story that kept Olivia from her job and her life at the precinct. She felt now was the appropriate time for a drink. She caught the waiter's attention and ordered a beer.

"When I came to the Special Victims Unit, Elliot and I got off to a rocky start but then we got closer because we seemed to connect over time. Then, it just happened. You know, he kissed me and we took it from there." She smiled and took Elliot's hand.

Olivia smiled on the outside but all she could think was, Bullshit.

"Elliot, how do you know Olivia?" Dani asked. Her holding his hand irritated Olivia. She only kept calm and took a sip of her beer.

"She was my old partner." He said and all eyes were on her. Olivia shrugged modestly and smiled. "For a while, yeah." Olivia replied.

"Oh, so you're Olivia! I knew you looked familiar! All those pictures Elliot has on his desk, I just thought you were his sister."

"Elliot doesn't have a sister." Olivia replied so quickly, that it was almost like she had it written out in front of her It almost sounded defensive in a way. If this girl was serious about Elliot, she should at least know his family. She averted her eye contact with Dani, embarrassed at her outburst.

"Hey, are you guys up for a drinking game?" Ryan asked. "It's called truth and lies. We go around and say three things about ourselves to one other person. Two of them are lies and one will be the truth but you can't say which. The point is for the opponent to guess the true statement. If the person we say it to gets it right, then we keep going but if they get it wrong then they have to take a shot." He explained and then ordered a round of shots for the table once everybody agreed.

The first few rounds were harmless things, such as favorite colors, animals, vacation spots, but when everybody started getting lightheaded, that's when the personal facts came into play.

"Dani, it's your turn." Elliot said and looked over at her.

"Okay…Olivia." She looked at the brunette, "My first job was at gentlemen's club, I've kissed a girl before, and I was married before I met Elliot."

Olivia stared at her for a moment, "Your first job was at a gentlemen's club." It was a stab in the dark; she didn't know anything about this girl except she stole her job and her partner from her.

"Wrong!" Dani shouted obnoxiously, "I was definitely married before I came to SVU." The only questions Dani got right were the easy ones about Elliot. She was probably the most intoxicated one out of the four of them. Everybody laughed and cheered as Olivia downed the drink, just like they did with the others. She could almost feel the pain from a broken heart being washed away with the alcohol.

"Okay, last one before we move onto something else. Elliot, go ahead." Ryan said. He moved his hand from under the table and onto Olivia's knee. He looked at her and smiled. Olivia smiled back but was still a little uncertain.

"Ryan, I've worked with Olivia for about eight years, I'm deeply in love with Olivia, and I prefer working with Olivia over Dani." He said. He looked over at Dani who seemed confident in what the two lies were. Olivia, however, stared at him in confusion.

"Umm, you've worked with Olivia for eight years?" He guessed. Elliot smiled in defeat. He laughed then turned to Dani and kissed her deeply. Olivia couldn't bear it any longer. She didn't want to see, talk to, or even think about Elliot now that she knew the answer to the question she's been asking herself for years. The question if Elliot had any feelings for her at all. Olivia smiled to cover up her pain.

"It's getting late. I think I should go." Olivia said and stood up.

"It's Friday and it's only going on midnight, Liv. Come on, stay a little longer." Elliot pleaded.

"I really can't. I have an appointment tomorrow. Nice seeing you." She told Elliot and Dani. Olivia grabbed her coat and as soon as she turned around, the fake smile left her face. The February chill was definitely in the air along with a little snow but that didn't stop Olivia from keeping her jacket off. She walked down the snowy street, trying to get home as soon as possible to make the pain, stress, and embarrassment go away. The best thing she could do was cry it out.

"Olivia, wait!" Olivia turned around to see Ryan running behind her. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." She replied and kept walking, she was shivering but refused to put on her jacket. Ryan took his own jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders.

"Let me drive you home." He insisted.

"I only live a few blocks down."

"Then let me walk you home."

Olivia sighed and kept walking. Ryan kept his jacket steady on her shoulders by keeping his arm around her, and to keep her warm. After talking to Ryan, Olivia concluded that Elliot has found the person he's in love with and will never go to her, so why is she still stuck on him? Finally, Olivia and Ryan walked up to Olivia's apartment door. Olivia took off his jacket and handed it to him with a thankful smile. When she got the door unlocked and open, she turned to him.

"I guess I'll see you at work." Ryan said kindly.

Olivia looked at him, the alcohol, her emotions, and the rush of everything that's gone in the night all combined into one. She didn't need Elliot. She didn't want Elliot. Elliot didn't want her so she needed to show him she could do better.

"Olivia?" Ryan became a little worried since Olivia didn't reply to his goodbye. He was worried she could've been sick or upset. Instead, she leaned in and kissed him. Ryan was a little surprised but he went along with it. He wrapped his arms around her waist and returned the kiss. Olivia was the first to deepen it. She felt Ryan's hands on her stomach underneath her shirt. Then she remembered her personal rule. The rule she doesn't mix work with pleasure.

"Ryan," She breathed but the drinks she had consumed her mind. She couldn't think about what she wanted to say next and she definitely didn't consider the fact she would most likely regret this in the morning. She stared into Ryan's green eyes and smiled. "Let's go inside." She whispered and led him inside. She pulled him into her bedroom but that didn't stop her from thinking about Elliot as much as she didn't want to.