Disclaimer: I don't own it. Simple as that.

Author's notes: Sorry for the delay. Busy with school work. Gonna be even more busy cause I just got enrolled in more classes. So, sorry in advance. Oh, and… enjoy.

Chapter 25

Two men, who both wore shades over their eyes, dressed in black suits treaded a safe yet close distance behind Olivia as she approached the brown wooden door of her partner's apartment. Slowly raising her fist, she rapped it softly against the door. She glanced around herself as she awaited the familiar sounds of her partner's imminent footsteps. She sighed softly when she caught sight of the men, whom she had attempted to lose on the subway but to no avail. She closed her eyes as she heard the clicking sound of the lock being turned. She released a breath, lungs expanding; she hadn't even been aware that she had stopped breathing for a moment.

The door opened halfway, exposing her partner; he wore gray slacks and he had a five o'clock shadow on his chin. His lips curved upward into a soft, welcoming smile as his eyes found hers.

Olivia's eyes remained connected with his, and she slowly returned the smile, though her smile was a bit more forced.

When Elliot's eyebrow arched up slightly, Olivia knew that he had most likely spotted the protection that had been assigned to her. Elliot studied the men, who stood there like statues, one hand on their federal appointed weapon that was hoisted at their waists, prepared for the unexpected.

Olivia let out a nervous chuckle, and whispered, her tone sarcastic, and left hand rubbing her right arm as she spoke. "A whole lot of good they do."

She glanced over her shoulder at the men, who barely made any indication of hearing what she had just said. Turning back to look at her partner, she explains softly, "The captain ordered a detail for me."

Before he could even joke about why she was going along with it so easily, she added. "I have no choice, according to the captain." She looks up at him, and sighed in relief as she was met with his understanding gaze.

Elliot nodded as he kept his gaze set on her, ignoring the company of the other men. "I understand."

Olivia smiles up at him, and a thought came to her mind. "El?" she asked in a soft whisper.

Elliot's eyes seemed to sparkle a brighter blue, almost sapphire, when the nickname came out of her lips - the lips that he had felt the last night that she had slept over. "Yes, love?" he asked in a soft whisper, his voice filled with love as he remembered that night; using these terms of endearment with her had become a habit - a habit that Olivia didn't mind him having.

Her cheeks flushed a soft rosy color at the fact that his voice when he had said love had sounded so intimate and full of pure love itself , Olivia slowly replied in a hesitant whisper. "Can I-" She trailed off as she begun to doubt herself.

What if she asked and then he felt like she was intruding? Was she spending too much time with him? Maybe she should get a hobby that wasn't him. Yeah. That's what she needed. A hobby. She sighed softly as she tucked her hands inside her pockets, so she wouldn't fidget.

Although Olivia hadn't finished her thought, Elliot seemed to understand what his partner had been trying to say.

"Of course. Come into my lovely cave." Elliot murmured with a soft smile as he let the door open all the way, exposing the mess that his lovely cave was in - empty beer bottles thrown about and dirty laundry on the floor and furniture. Ignoring the mess that his place was in, he motioned for her to come inside his apartment.

Her lips curved into a small smile as she realized that they still had that mental connection with one another; being apart hadn't altered that, if anything it had strengthened it. She slowly lifted her feet off the floor, taking a step inside, and almost as if given an order, the two men followed her inside.

Author's notes:

Well there is the chapter 25. I hope you enjoyed it, and I hope you understand why I make late updates. :3