"What are you talking about?"

"The locker room."

She briefly looks at him, "I do not want to discuss that."

"Because you're angry at me?"

"Because I am not proud of it. We had sex in the locker room at work."

"I don't think that we should do this anymore."

"Why not?"

"Because I think that it is effecting our partnership. That comes first."

"You're right, our partnership comes first," she agrees.

"And, I don't think that you know what you want."

"What are you talking about?"

"You don't want to be with him, but you refuse to admit that."

"Do I sense a note of jealousy, here?" Olivia questions.

"I am not jealous of him. I don't care what you do with him."

"Then why are you bringing it up?"

"Because you don't seem happy."

"You think that it's his fault?"

"You know what, I think that have to call it quits, before either of us gets hurt. I don't want one of us to say something we can't take back. It's best, if we put an end to this, and we focus on being partners. Right?"

She nods, "You're right. I think we have let this go too long."

"So we're agreed, we aren't going to do this, anymore."

"Ok."


They get orders from their captain to stay in Connecticut, until they can solve all of the open cases related to their perpetrator. They end up in a motel, near the interstate, that smells like stale cigarettes, and only has one bed.

"This is the best the department can do?" Nick questions as they enter the room.

"That isn't the issue. It is the only room I could find in a fifty mile radius, Nick. There is some sort of festival going on, that has attracted tourists."

"I guess I'll take the couch."

"Fine by me," she agrees, completely exhausted from their trip, and the eight hours spent with the local police department.

She heads into the bathroom, to take a shower. When she comes out, Nick is passed out on the bed, with the TV on. She rolls her eyes, and takes the remote from his hand. She flips off the TV, and gets into the bed, refusing to sleep on the couch. She gives him a shove, since he's in the dead center of the bed.

"Move over, and pick a side."

He wakes up, and looks over at her, in the dark. He doesn't move.

"Come on, you're being childish."

He scoots closer towards her. Her breath hitches. She breathes in the subtle smell of his cologne.

"Nick, what are you doing?" she questions him.

"Right," he recalls their earlier agreement.

She kisses him, anyway. He kisses her back. He puts his hand on the base of her skull, pulling him closer to her. His fingers rest in her wet hair.


They finally make it home, three days later. When she gets to her apartment, she finds Brian waiting outside. All she wants is a shower, and a full night worth of sleep. She drops her bag in the hallway, in front of her door, and forces a smile. He pulls her into a hug. He lets go, and then he kisses her. When he's finished she opens her door. He follows her in. He carries her bags inside.

"I missed you."

"I was only gone for three days."

"I know."

"I missed you too," she begins.

He cuts her off, "But?"

"I am exhausted."

"That is always your excuse. Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Brian, I don't know if I can keep doing this."

"Doing what? What are you talking about?"

"This. I get home, and you're waiting on me."

"I have missed you. Why can't you see that? I hardly ever get to see you."

"You want to spend every single free moment that you have with me. That isn't normal."

"It is, when you care about someone," he argues.

"I feel suffocated. I don't do clingy, you know that."

"You feel suffocated? I am not being clingy."

"I talk to you at least four times a day. You show up at my apartment, whenever you feel like it. I just feel overwhelmed."

"Olivia we are in a relationship. I just want to be with you. That is what happens, when you are in a relationship. If you don't want to spend time with me, then maybe we shouldn't be together."

"I never said that," she argues, her voice grows louder.

"Then what are you saying? You basically just said you don't want to spend time with me. You keep pushing me away. Why? Why won't you ever let anyone get close to you? What are you so afraid of?" his voice escalates, too.

"I am not afraid. I want to spend time with you, I just don't want to spend every single waking moment with you. I have to have time for me, too."

"You have had your entire life."

"Whoa! That isn't how it works. Yes, we are in a relationship, but that doesn't mean we don't still have boundaries. We do. There are still boundaries. I am still entitled to be able to have a little bit of personal space."

"I give your plenty of space. You spend very little time with me."

"I work all of the time. Do you hear yourself right now? You sound like a child."

"I am sorry that I want to spend time with my girlfriend."

"I want to spend time with you too."

"Just not now? You always have some excuse as to why you don't want to spend time together. You're too tired, or you have to be to work early. Olivia, I am beginning to think that you don't want to be with me."

"I didn't say that."

"If you want space, take it. Take all of the space that you need. I'm done. If you want to try this, at a later date, you have my number," he turns and heads for the door.

"Brian! Where are you going?"

"I'm gone. Take your time, and your space."

"So, you're just going to walk away, just like that?"

"What choice do you leave me?"