A/N: This fic is AU, Elliot is 45 and Olivia is 28. Just a warning. Also, thanks to Robin for tweeting the idea, and eotopia for helping with the moving parts in this fic.


She took a deep breath and dabbed her pulse with a cool cloth.

Each time she inhaled through her nose, out through her mouth, pausing for three seconds after her lungs completely empty. Soon, she began to feel the walls begin to fade back to their rightful place, and not right against her. The shade of red that she had been seeing softened to pink and then disappeared.

Olivia had been assigned to Manhattan SVU as her first detective post six months ago. She had been partnered with a great cop and now an incredibly loyal friend, Monique Jeffries. In just six months she felt as though she had a best friend, and someone who she felt like she couldn't believe wasn't in her life prior to her new assignment.

She got along great with her fellow detectives. Munch, ever so concerned with how the government was involved in his life; Cassidy, his partner, a young, immature detective – but still passionate about his job. Her life was what she had wanted.

Except for one thing.

One person, she would say.

The Captain.

It was just her luck that her captain could never seem to be satisfied with her work. No good job, Benson or thank you for submitting your paperwork a week early. He was stoic with her. Never gave her an inch. Yet, he was perfectly nice and close with all the other detectives, including Monique.

Within a week of starting at SVU, Monique had already noticed something was off.

"So," Monique started. "I know we haven't known each other long but I need to ask you something." Olivia looked to the driver seat of the sedan at her partner, raising an eyebrow. "What did you do to the Captain?"

Olivia let out a long, exhausted sigh. "I had never met him until I walked in on my first day. I was professional, nice – eager. But he just sat there and looked… I don't know. Angry. Is he like that with you?"

"No… We've always been on good terms. I even messed up paperwork once and he didn't mind, just showed me what I needed to fix and how. Really nice guy too, once you get to know him." Monique shrugged and put the car into drive.

Olivia couldn't figure out what had caused him to dislike her so greatly. Her old captain had given her glowing recommendations, personally calling SVU to formally request Olivia to be assigned there.

Every case she worked had gone according to plan. Only Monique and Munch knew about her biological father and they saw how she was with the victims. She wore professional attire, wore conservative amounts of makeup, kept a low profile outside of work. On paper and in person she was a good detective.

So, what was the fucking problem then?

She looked up at her reflection. Flushed cheeks, bright eyes. With one more pass of the cloth over her mouth, Olivia ran a finger along her lips and sighed. She was determined to figure out what his issue was.

When Olivia walked back into the bullpen, Monique looked up from her paperwork at her. "Captain wants to see you."

Pursing her lips, she flexed her fingers out and back into fists, trying to re-calm herself down. Before she could knock, the Captain interrupted. "Benson… Come in, sit." Olivia did as she was told, folding her hands in her lap while maintaining her open, friendly body language.

"Do you know why you're here?" He asked, looking at her with a steely, hard gaze.

"No, Captain."

Keep it short and sweet.

"You just finished your first six months at SVU. This is your first evaluation as a detective." He sat up, shrugging off his suit jacket. In one fluid motion, he stood up, came around his desk, and leaned against the front of his desk, crossing his arms. "How do you think you did?"

"Well, I closed eleven cases with Detective Jeff-"

"You have a good partner. Tell me how you did." He interrupted her, throwing her off guard. Olivia busied herself, staring at her captain's hands.

"I'm not sure what you want me to say, I'm not very good at self-assessment." His hands squeezed at the wood beneath his fingers and show off his bruised knuckles. She immediately wondered about who – or rather what – he had punched to earn bruises like that. When was he not in control? She felt a rush in the pit of her stomach.

There was very little she knew about the Captain. Recently divorced, father of four. Analytical. In the rare times she had seen him interacting with victims and families he had been gentle, kind even – but all of this seemed to wash away when he spoke to Olivia. He was never mean to her. Never raised his voice. He was calculated. Almost as if he had planned any interaction he had with Olivia.

The Captain unbuttoned his sleeve and began rolling up his sleeve. For a moment Olivia glanced at the thick muscles covering his forearms before looking away. Her heart quickened. A thought crossed her mind, but she quickly put it back in its place, biting down hard on her lower lip. The Captain cleared his throat.

"Okay Detective," He made quick work of his other sleeve. "I think you've been exceptional. This is all in your official evaluation, but you've got a knack for victims. I've never seen anything like it."

Olivia stared back at him. He had never complimented her. Shock ran coolly through her veins.

This is all in her head, right?

"How old are you?" Olivia's head pops up at the question. She realized she had been looking off at the side of his desk, probably not a great look for her first evaluation.

Detective is dazed, confused – distracted.

Distracted.

"Twenty-eight," Olivia replied, attempting to regain control over the situation. She needed to reign in whatever was happening to her, bury it somewhere no one would ever find it.

"Ah," The Captain seemed to be doing math in his head. "If you just want to read over your review and sign it." He slid a folder across the table. Olivia took it without looking at him.

Detective Olivia Benson, 6-month performance review.

Joined: May 1992

Previous Precinct: 55th Precinct, Bronx.

Promotion date: January 1998

Position: Detective 3rd Grade – Partnered with Detective Jeffries

Detective Benson has produced exemplary work in her time at the Special Victims Unit. Benson is professional, courteous, and very compassionate with the citizens she handles. In her first six months, she has created an incredible closure rate – 92%. Her coworkers speak highly of the quality of work Benson is able to put out and she has assimilated well into the role of Detective. Additionally, she completed the NYPD annual fitness examination and scored in the 99th percentile for her age range and gender, earning her a platinum score.

Signed,

Captain Elliot Stabler

Olivia signed quietly, noting his name scrawled under his typed name.

Elliot.

She closed the folder and placed it on the desk, sliding it towards her captain. "Thank you," Her cheeks warmed while she processed the words in his review of her. She looked up at him – locking onto his gaze. Her fingers grazed against his then and they both retracted, neither of them breaking the eye contact. Elliot's eyes grew darker suddenly, his eyes narrowing.

"Thank you, Olivia." His voice was rough, raspy – impossibly low. He looked away from her only to look back and rake his eyes down her body. Olivia stood up, ignoring the urge to press her thighs together under his gaze. Her first name on his lips had awoken something within her core.

He was older than her, from Monique's description he was 17 years older. She knew better than to feel this way. But she had felt this way before, and it hadn't ended well. Her mind raced with thoughts, flashes really – of his forearms, her slim body, his low voice grunting.

Olivia swallowed hard and exited the room, glancing once more back at her commanding officer before closing the door. She bit down hard again on her lower lip. His eyes were still hard.

A dark, heated look was exchanged.

She walked back to her desk, keeping her head low.

Monique furrowed her brows at Olivia, her expression questioning.

Olivia couldn't begin to explain what was coursing through veins.

Desire.

A/N: Please drop me a review and let me know your thoughts. This fic will quickly heat up, don't worry...