Chapter Seven ~ Exposed

Ryan escorted Olivia back to their table. She was now especially quiet and even though they'd become closer over the past couple months, he wasn't quite sure how to treat this situation. Elliot had obviously put her in a very awkward position. He knew that they were close. After being partners for nearly a decade, they would protect each other at any cost, but it looked like Elliot was taking that blue line too far.

"Liv? You ready to go?" He didn't want to force her to stay in an environment that was now tainted.

Olivia was trying very hard not to look back over at Elliot and Lydia because they sure weren't paying her any attention. She looked up at Ryan and smiled, "No. We were having a great time before all of that," she waved her hand motioning toward Elliot and Lydia Whittington. "Weren't we?"

Ryan grinned, "Yeah, yeah we were."

Olivia was hesitant, "Um, Ry? Listen, could you…do you think maybe you could not mention what you saw…Elliot with Mrs. Whittington…I just…I'd hate…" She was stumbling all over herself, not exactly sure how to ask.

Ryan got the gist and saved her from having to spell it out for him. "Don't worry about, Liv. I don't gossip. I'm sure…well, it's none of my business, and I'm not looking to jam up your partner. Stabler's a good guy...although I'm not sure what all that is about."

"Thanks," Olivia reached across the table and touched Ryan's hand that was gripping his glass of water. "I really appreciate it. I just…" She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. Enough about him…about work…you were telling me about your plans for tomorrow?"

Ryan took a swallow of his water, replaced the glass and nodded. "Yeah, I thought maybe if you didn't have plans you'd like to join me. It's nice out. Should be sunny. My brother's firm owns the house and it's right on the beach. He had it reserved for tomorrow and Sunday but something came up and he asked if I'd want to use it."

Olivia brightened immediately. She loved the beach. She had this weekend off. Well, she wasn't technically on call, but she knew that being the lead on this case could mean a call at anytime. But given the intensity of the case, a trip out to Long Island was exactly what she needed. Even if she got pulled back into work, she wouldn't be too far. "So, are you leaving in the morning?"

"Yeah, I thought early. Seven? That way, even if we hit some traffic, we're there well before nine. Maybe get some breakfast, head to the house, and then right out to the beach. It's a four bedroom, and it would just be the two of us. There's plenty of room," Ryan was sure to clarify because he didn't want Olivia to think that his intentions were anything other than having some company and having a good time.

She smiled. She thought it was cute how he still seemed to get a little nervous around her. She expected it had something to do with a confession he'd made during their second dinner together. He'd told her that he'd always had a bit of a crush on her but was a little too intimidated to ask her out. He said it had less to do with her seeming unapproachable and more to do with her partner who was always around. Olivia thought it was cute that he would think Elliot would care; nonetheless, Ryan said the guy intimidated him. He admitted that there were several guys who'd mentioned Stabler's overprotective presence when it came to Olivia. She'd assured Ryan that her personal life was just that—personal and that Elliot was her partner at work, and yes, also a friend, but she could decide who she saw outside of work, thanks very much.

"That sounds like fun. Listen, I'm not working this weekend but I am lead on this case so even though I'm not technically on call…"

"You are on call…I know. Don't worry. If you needed to get back, I'll make sure you get there. I just…I think we could have a lot of fun. Grill out, catch some sun. The water should be fairly nice. Maybe play some cards," he laughed, "I don't know...watch old movies."

"Ryan, thank you. It sounds great. I suppose if I let Munch and Fin know…everything should be fine. They're on this weekend. So, um, you'll pick me up?"

Ryan's grin spread from ear to ear. "Absolutely. Seven sharp?"

Olivia nodded, "Perfect."

Their check was brought while they chatted about what they could do during their weekend at the beach. Olivia had failed to notice Elliot glancing over at them several times, but Lydia certainly didn't.

"You make it a habit of keeping an eye out on your partner even after hours, Detective?" Her tone was entirely too friendly for Elliot who now knew exactly what Olivia was referring to when she said Lydia was all over him. He thought the innocent flirtation was fun. Lydia was incredibly attractive, and he'd always had a soft spot for blondes. In fact, until Olivia, it was usually only blondes that turned his head. "Looks like she's snagged herself a younger man. Good for her."

It was those last words that cut deep. Olivia seemed to be all over the place. Moss was a good ten or fifteen years older, O'Halloran had to be at least five years younger. And there she was—touching his hand, smiling, laughing. Elliot took the last swig of his drink and put down the glass. He turned his focus back to Lydia and smiled, "Won't last long."

"Oh no?" Lydia smirked, "Your partner is a beauty. But she's not getting any younger, and that is one good looking man. If I were her, I would hold on to him."

Elliot bristled. He thought about Olivia's complaints about dating over the years. It was almost always, he doesn't understand my job, he's too interested in my job, he doesn't understand my hours, etc. O'Halloran certainly understood her job. He knew her hours. God help him if she fell for Ryan before he had a chance to tell her how he feels. He didn't know why he behaved the way he did when Olivia approached him—when what he really wanted to do was kiss her, hold her, tell her that he would do anything to make her happy. It seemed for every step he took forward, he was jogging backwards by two.

He glanced back over at their table and they were gone. His eyes darted to the door. They were on their way out, Ryan's fingers entwined with hers. He didn't know what made him do it, but he knew he had to do something.

"Lydia, excuse me one moment. I just need to…" he looked toward the door. "I just need to tell Benson something before she leaves."

Lydia flashed a blinding smile, and she nodded. As soon as Elliot was out the door, she rolled her eyes. She knew her way out of further inquiry into her mother-in-law's hospital visits was the sexy detective. She noticed the way Detective Benson has been looking at her, and Lydia was no airhead. She was sharp and quick and she knew that she needed to get one of them on her side. Elliot seemed so drawn in by her flirtatiousness, she knew he was the key.

"Hey, Liv!" Elliot caught up to Olivia and Ryan, and they both stopped in their tracks. "O'Halloran," he nodded at Ryan.

"Yes, Elliot?"

He could tell by her tone that Olivia was not in the mood, so he would make this short before he made it worse. "Listen, you gonna be around this weekend in case something comes of this meeting with Lydia?"

Olivia ran her fingers through her hair and took in a deep breath. He had to be kidding. He was still trying to convince her that this was an interview. In a seafood restaurant. On a Friday night. "I'll be out of town with Ryan." She squeezed Ryan's hand that was still holding on to hers and leaned into him. "If you really need me, call—but if it can wait until Monday, I'd really appreciate that. Fin and Munch are working the case this weekend. I'll give one of them a call tonight and let them know I'll be gone. If you really get a break in the case, call them.I think they can handle it," she said with a tone of sarcasm that had Elliot's blood boiling. "Just enjoy your weekend, Elliot. And your date." Her last words were biting and said with a tone of disgust that made Elliot flinch.

She turned before he could say anything and even though every fiber of his being wanted to grab her arm and spin her around, he let her go. He just watched as the pair headed down the street, fingers entwined. Olivia didn't look back and Elliot couldn't turn away.

Hither Hills, Long Island - Saturday, June 28 – 8:30 a.m.

When they pulled up to the beach house, Olivia's mouth dropped open. She could only tear her eyes away from the house for a moment to look at Ryan's equally surprised expression. He'd picked her up that morning, and they'd decided to forgo breakfast for coffee and cinnamon rolls so they could get the beach right away.

"Wow, Ryan. I thought you said this was a cottage?"

He just shook his head, "Well, yeah. That's what my brother said."

It was a grand, two-story house constructed of gray stone and brick. It was all windows and angular points. Olivia had never been so intrigued by a house.

She looked back at Ryan again and smiled, "So, here's hoping neither of us gets called into work!" She laughed and so did Ryan. She'd called Fin last night after she'd arrived home to let him know where she'd be for the weekend. He said not to worry. If they needed her, they would call but that he and Munch had plenty to do and unless something new came up, she should just relax while she could and have a good time.

Ryan was looking forward to a weekend with Oliviato really get to know her better. He had so much fun with her, and he honestly couldn't believe that she was willing to spend this much time with him. He knew that he was a catch. He'd never had trouble with confidence in the dating arena before, but Olivia always seemed just slightly out of reach; not to mention Elliot's obvious protectiveness worked to keep men away from her just by his intimidating presence.

They left everything in the car and walked in through the front. After passing a small, tastefully decorated foyer, they entered the great room. It had a two-story ceiling that made it large and airy. The floor to ceiling windows looked out onto the pool and just beyond, the ocean. The floors were hardwood and the furniture was large and overstuffed. There were books everywhere but otherwise, it was sparsely decorated.

"Ryan, this is so…thank you so much for inviting me," Olivia's smile was huge. She was glued to the window.

"I wouldn't want to be here with anyone else, Liv. Why don't you look around, and I'll go grab our stuff?"

"Oh, I can help," she offered as she moved toward him.

Ryan smiled, "I got it. Go pick a room."

"Ok," Olivia's eyes brightened and she headed off down the hall in the direction of the stairs.

By the time Ryan unloaded the car, Olivia was nowhere to be found. He made his way up the stairs and heard a rustling in the bedroom in the corner on the Oceanside of the house. "Liv?" he knocked on the door and pushed it open when he heard her answer.

Olivia was stretched out on the bed, on her stomach, looking out the window to the sweeping expanse of the ocean in front of them.

She turned to see Ryan standing in the door with a huge grin on his face and patted the space on the bed next to her.

"Join me."

Ryan made his way over and climbed up onto the bed next to Olivia but left several inches between them. She turned her head to face him and smiled, "Just give me a moment. I am dying to get out into that sun but this is nice—just watching the waves."

Ryan turned his gaze back to the ocean in front of them and wished he could preserve this moment with her. She seemed to be so relaxed, so happy. He let his eyes drift back over to her. She was incredibly beautiful, inside and out. He could understand why so many men tried to get near her.

Olivia turned her eyes back to Ryan and let out a deep sigh, "Ok. Let's go."

Ryan headed out to the bedroom on the opposite side of the hall while Olivia unpacked her bag. She rarely got the chance to lounge around in the sun, and she was looking forward to relaxing and working on her tan. She pulled out her solid black bikini. It certainly showed a lot of skin, but she wasn't fond of tan lines. The bandeau top and boy shorts allowed her to feel covered without leaving her crisscrossed with lines. She undressed, neatly folded her clothes and slipped into the suit. She pulled out her poppy-colored tunic and pulled it overtop of her suit. She slid into her flip-flops, grabbed her sunglasses, cell phone, and suntan lotion and headed out of the room.

She made her way downstairs and saw Ryan standing by the pool. He was dressed in brown trunks with beige stripes along the sides and a pair of sunglasses. Olivia passed through the sliding door and couldn't help but admire him. He was much smaller than Elliot. He was several inches shorter and not nearly as broad. He did spend time running, though. She could tell by his long, lean muscles. He had a slight tan that gave him a healthy glow without looking over-baked. It was nice to finally see what she'd been feeling overtop his clothes these past couple of months, but it did nothing to help her self-imposed restraint. She hadn't been with anyone since Kurt, and she definitely had the itch.

"Hey, Liv," Ryan turned around when he heard the door open. She looked cute in her red top and big sunglasses. "So, you want to hang at the pool or go down to the beach?"

"Let's stay here for now. It's a nice view of the ocean. I wouldn't mind swimming some laps and then laying out in the sun for a bit." Olivia looked around and picked a lounge chair in the sun. She tossed her bottle of sunscreen on it and Ryan walked over to her, two towels in hand that he grabbed from a closet off the deck.

Olivia grabbed the hem of her cover-up and pulled it over her head. Ryan's mouth fell open. She was drop-dead gorgeous.

"Hey, Ry," Olivia picked up the bottle of lotion and waved it in front of him, "Do you mind."

He tried to keep from smiling too much, "Sure."

After an hour in the pool and an hour out, Olivia could feel the sun beating into her skin. She and Ryan had spent the time swimming, talking, and dozing off. She was just stepping back into the pool when her cell rang. Ryan handed it to her and joined her against the wall in the shallow end.

"Benson," Olivia looked toward Ryan. "Ok…yes, sir…yes…I'll be there…by three…no problem…see you there."

Olivia sighed and set her phone back from the edge of the pool but still within reach. She moved toward Ryan who was in the center of the pool of now. "That was Cragen. He needs me back at the house tomorrow by three. We have a press conference at five with Commissioner Morris, the Chief of Ds, and the mayor."

Ryan smiled, "It's ok, Liv. When do you want to be back?"

Olivia shrugged, "I should leave here at noon. That will give me enough time to get back to my apartment, change and get down to the precinct."

"No problem. That still gives us the morning to spend together."

Olivia wrapped her arms around his shoulders, "And this afternoon…and tonight."

Ryan leaned in and brushed his lips against hers. She felt his hands sliding around her back to pull her closer, and she moved hers from his shoulders up to his face to deepen the kiss. She knew she should stop this now before it led to more. She had decided after Moss that she wouldn't jump too quickly into another serious relationship, and sex was a complication she didn't need right now.

"Ryan, we should…"

He finished for her, "Stop?"

She rested her cheek against his and nodded, "I'm sorry."

"Hey, Liv," he grasped her shoulders and pulled back to look into her eyes, "I didn't bring you here hoping for…I mean…of course, I want to…with you…but…that wasn't my…" His nervousness was evident in his mumbling, and Olivia kissed him again to save him from further embarrassment.

"I know. I'm sorry. I just. I was in a relationship a while back that…"

"Moss?"

Olivia dropped her head and leaned into him, "Oh God, everyone knows about that?"

Ryan chuckled, "Well, the guys tend to keep track of who you're dating Liv but yeah, that one made its way around the rumor mill after Tucker made a scene. That guy's a jerk."

She laughed, "Which one? Sorry. Tucker is a jerk. Anyway," she lifted her head. "I promised myself I would take my next relationship a bit more slowly…I just…"

"Liv, stop explaining yourself. I'm just happy you let me spend time with you, and kissing you every once in a while isn't so bad either." He was also thrilled that she referred to what they had as a relationship.

Olivia kissed him again. No, kissing him wasn't bad at all.

Their weekend was relaxed, full of laughter and devoid of complications. She felt rested and ready for work by the time noon rolled around the next day. After an evening of barbequing, Scrabble, and several old movies—she was starting to feel better about Ryan and pushed Elliot's evening with Lydia out of her mind.

Benson Residence - Sunday, June 29 – 1:12 p.m.

The drive back was fun. Olivia leaned back in her seat and took sips of her tea while Ryan talked about his family. He and his brother were very close even though his brother is ten years his senior. Olivia thought that was the perfect opportunity to find out exactly how old Ryan is. She knew he was younger but she wasn't sure how much younger.

"So, um, how old is your brother?" She took another sip of her iced tea and shifted slightly in her seat.

Ryan laughed, "I'm thirty-six, Liv. Don't worry. You aren't robbing the cradle."

Olivia's mouth fell open, "Oh and you assume I'm older?"

Ryan smiled and winked and Olivia grumbled, "Maybe I should be dating your brother."

She smiled when Ryan started to laugh again, "I'm sure his wife would love that."

They arrived at Olivia's apartment and unloaded the car. Just as Ryan was balancing his fountain drink on the trunk, so he could pick up her bags, a car blew by blaring its horn, startling Olivia enough that she reached for the trunk to steady herself. In the process, her hand hit the icy cola and knocking over into Ryan. The cold liquid ended up running down the front of Ryan's shorts and onto his legs.

"Oh, my goodness! Ryan. I am so sorry," she winced as she watched Ryan adjust to the cold and she bent down to pick up the now empty cup.

"No prob, Liv but I think I'll be seeing the inside of your shower sooner than expected."

Olivia laughed and grabbed her bag that was near Ryan's feet, "Come on. You jump in the shower; I'll get changed for my press conference."

Ryan reopened the trunk to grab his bag, thankful that he had an extra pair of shorts and a tee shirt packed away.

Once inside, Ryan, who had been to Olivia's apartment numerous times, headed straight for the bathroom.

"Ry," Olivia called out to him, "there are fresh towels in the small linen closet on your right.

"Thanks, Liv. I'll just be five minutes." The cola had already formed a sticky layer on his skin causing the hairs on his legs to pull when he walked. He wondered what this stuff was doing to his insides if it did this to his outsides and thought maybe he would take Olivia's suggestion to switch to iced tea.

Olivia tossed her mail on her counter and then made her way back to her bedroom. The shower was already running. She tossed her bag beside her bed and headed toward her closet. She picked out her best black suit and a deep purple, silk shell with a delicate scalloped collar to wear underneath. She pulled out her black heels and tossed everything on her bed.

She was just about to pick out her jewelry when her cell rang.

It was Elliot.

"Benson."

"Liv, it's me. I want to fill you in on my talk with Lydia. Are you home? I'm on my way to come and get you. Thought we could just go over some things before we need to be at the house."

Olivia glanced at her alarm clock. It was just now a little after one and she wasn't supposed to meet Cragen until three.

"Yeah, I'm here. What's your ETA? I need to get ready."

"Pulling up now."

Olivia glanced at her bathroom door. Perfect! Ryan's in the shower, she isn't ready yet, and Elliot could show at any moment.

"Fine," she flipped the phone shut and looked around her room. The water shut off in the bathroom and Olivia knocked.

"Yeah?"

"Ryan, do you mind changing out here? Elliot's on his way up and I need to get ready."

Ryan opened the door. He was dripping wet and holding his bag in one hand and the knot in the towel, which was slung around his waist, in the other.

"No problem."

Olivia smiled and grabbed her clothes from the bed, "Thanks." Before closing the door, she looked back, "Just let him in if he gets here before I get out."

Ryan made his way over to her bed to toss his bag down and then realized he'd grabbed the wrong one. He had two identical duffels with him, one black and one navy. He'd grabbed the black one when he'd meant to grab the navy one. This one was full of sunscreen, toiletries and damp swim trunks, and he'd left his dirty clothes in a pile on the floor of her bathroom.

There was a loud knocking at the front door. Ryan froze. Elliot. He smiled and shook his head. Just great! Someone must've let him into the building. He headed for the front door, still dripping wet, his towel wrapped around his waist. He checked the peephole. Sure enough, Elliot, hands on his hips and waiting.

When he opened the door, he tried his best to stand behind it. He could only hope for the best at this point because he suddenly felt very exposed. He stepped out from behind the door and opened it fully to let Elliot inside. He tightened his grip on his towel and didn't say a word.

Elliot just stood there.