Thank you all for reading! So i just want everyone to know I don't hate Cassidy, butttt... I've never liked her with him, and also this is about EO all the way. I love Dean Winters as an actor, but Cassidy... lol. All I see is Johnny Gavin from Rescue Me lol... anyways enjoy! Will they work through this? I guess you will have to keep reading to find out! lol

Dick Wolf owns everything

Unnerved and Overwhelmed

Brian Cassidy.

Elliot felt the hair on the back of his neck stand up. Even though he knew he had nothing to worry about, he was always going to feel uneasy when facing an ex of Olivia's. It wasn't like anything, or anyone could ever hold a candle to what they have together. He knew that.

It was other things that caused Elliot's jealousy to rise. Cassidy was just another name on the list of men who had seen her naked before him. Had been privy to the intimate workings of the love of his life. Elliot's job now was to not overreact. He knew Olivia secretly go off a little on watching him become jealous, even though she'd never tell him that. But as long as he wasn't going off the wall and kept his anger in check it was fine.

And he trusted her implicitly. Not a single ounce of these feelings bubbling up in him were from questioning her, or her faithfulness to him. Hell, she had just inked the words always faithful underneath an infinity symbol with both their badge numbers on it and then led him into an alley to fuck him because she couldn't wait to have him until they got home. It was silly to even entertain the idea.

Cassidy started walking towards them… well stumbling was more like it, with a half empty bottle in his hand. Clearly, he was drunk. Olivia took a deep breath, knowing this could go south at any minute. Brian was drunk, and Elliot, was… well Elliot. And even though he had grown in leaps and bounds, she knew he was never going to be ok with any of her past lovers. He had promised he'd try after he found out about Tucker, and she believed him. But he would never come face to face with Tucker now that he had passed. She could only imagine how that interaction would have gone had they ever came across Ed.

She could already feel his protectiveness seeping out of him as he stood there on the street, half in front of her. She brough her hand to his shoulder and squeezed it and felt him relax the tiniest bit.

Cassidy made his way over to them, and then he saw who was standing in front of Liv.

"Stabler…" he said with the slightest bit of surprise in his voice.

"Cassidy." Elliot said flatly. He was trying hard to leave his distaste for this man out of his tone, but it was hard.

For a moment Cassidy looked between the two of them. It was like he was trying to figure out what was going on. He knew something was up, he wasn't that stupid, but he was drunk. Then he looked to Liv.

"It's been a long time Liv… last time I saw you, you were dumping me on the street." he said with a hint of humor in his voice, but there was an underling sting as well.

Olivia felt the bite in his words, and it wasn't lost on Elliot either and Olivia felt him bolster his stance. She quickly responded to him.

"Brian… let's not." She said and looked to Elliot pulling his arm. She wasn't about to do this with him on the street and have it ruin the wonderful after glow she was feeling. Had he been sober, maybe… but he wasn't, and she was over it if this was how it was going to go.

She pulled Elliot again, and with a lingering stare at Brian, he turned with her to walk away from Cassidy.

"What guys? Don't want to catch up?" and he paused to look Olivia up and down as she walked away arm in arm with her old partner. "Oh wait… am I interrupting something?" he said getting bolder.

Elliot stopped and half turned to look at Cassidy. Brian's eyes narrowed as he met the cold hard stare of one Detective Stabler.

Elliot took a breath. He could feel the hair on the back of his neck bristle. Cassidy was baiting him. He knew it. He wanted so badly to walk right up to Brian and tell him exactly what he thought of him. How he didn't deserve Liv. He didn't deserve her twenty-three years ago, and he didn't deserve her the second time around. He couldn't help but wonder if Cassidy would have even had a second chance with Liv had he not left, but before Elliot could travel further down that road his love's voice slipped into his ear.

"El… lets go… he's drunk… it's not worth it." Olivia said quietly to him, hoping Cassidy would just leave well enough alone. They were stopped facing each other, Olivia's hand still on his arm.

He looked into Olivia's eyes.

How did she do that. Instantly he melted. This woman could ask him to do anything, and he would most certainly agree. She was right of course. He wasn't worth it. He wanted nothing but to go back to Olivia's and love her again like she deserved. He always wanted that.

"Cassidy… actually you are interrupting something…" Elliot said turning his head to him, and then back to Liv. He saw the hint of her smile forming on her face.

Cassidy laughed to himself. "Oh, I get it… you two are a thing now?" he with questioning judgement. He watched them just look at each other. Like he wasn't even there. It made him feel sick to his stomach. Olivia had been the love of his life, and yet he knew he wasn't hers. He remembered the way those two use to look at each other. How she always went to him for everything. There were bets going on throughout the precinct about them. If they fucked… when they fucked… if they haven't, then when were they going to fuck. It was lost on no one the connection they had. But Stabler was married and Brian though, he had a chance. He should have known better then when she brushed their time together off as nothing. Said they worked together so it couldn't ever be anything. He never thought he'd ever have a chance again with her, but then he did. Stabler was gone and he couldn't help but think maybe that was the only reason why she even tried with him again.

Even when he asked her about Elliot, she said nothing. She never wanted to talk about it. She never really wanted to talk to him about anything that was important. But he also never pushed. He was happy with beer and sports bars. He was skating through, and he knew it. And then Lewis happened… there were so many mistakes… and he just didn't know what to do. He realized at one point he wasn't what she needed… or maybe wanted… or ever wanted.

He couldn't compete.

How do you compete with a ghost?

He was there to past the time with… an option that turned out to be second to being alone. He knew she had never tried to hurt him. She tried to make it work with him, but he was a second choice. But seeing them together on the street right in front of him… the look in her eyes… a look that had never been for him… it wasn't fair. Stabler didn't deserve her. Brian didn't know if this sudden anger was from the alcohol or if it was something else, but he felt the need to ruin what was so blatantly being shoved in his face.

They started to walk away from him again and he just… snapped.

"Give me a fucking break…" Cassidy muttered. It cut like a knife that even after ten years of his absence she still loved him.

He could leave her… abandon her without a word, come back into her life, and she just… took him back. She just let him back in and gave him everything.

"You know what… I'm happy for you Liv…" he shouted. "This married prick strung you along… and then left you for ten years… and yet I'm not good enough? I didn't know you preferred sloppy seconds…" he said with bitterness.

In an instant Elliot had whipped around and stampeded towards Cassidy.

"Elliot what are you…" Olivia said but before she could finish, he blindsided Cassidy as he was taking a sip out of his beer and his right fist was connected to Cassidy's face. The sound Cassidy made as he hit the ground was discerning.

"Elliot!" Olivia shouted.

Brian was reeling on the concrete. He knew he wasn't sober enough to open the can of worms a physical fight with Elliot would entail. He huffed out a breath and brough his hand to his lip that was now bleeding.

He looked up at the solid statue above him and waited for a second hit, but all that he saw was the intense gaze of Elliot staring daggers at him. Cassidy knew he went too far, and he felt the guilt of his words.

"If her name ever leaves your lips again…" Elliot said with immense clarity in his voice, "I'll personally make you regret it…" he finished and walked away back towards Olivia.

She was standing there with anger on her face. He could physically feel it. He knew he probably shouldn't have done that but when Cassidy implied Liv was a second choice… all he saw was red. Everything shifted beneath him, and sounds became muffled. And before he knew what was happening, he was standing over Cassidy watching him bleed.

He met Olivia eyes and stood there for a second not sure what was going to happen next. How long would she be mad at him? He wasn't sure, and he felt a little nervous. She was formidable when she was angry… and it turned him on immensely.

She stood there for a second staring back at him. Trying to decide just how mad she was. She didn't like how this had ruined their date and as much as his physical display turned her on, she also preferred he didn't go around punching every guy she ever dated. He was better than that, and he had let Brian get to him. And not only that… they still hadn't disclosed to 1PP and now they faced the possible problem of Brian saying or doing something to hurt them.

But he was staring at her with those eyes of his. She could see the anger and passion in them… with just a hint of apprehension. She knew what he was doing. He was trying to melt her resolve for his heathen behavior.

But she decided she was mad about this ruining their night.

She decided.

"Don't." she said and turned to walk away.

Oh boy he thought. He was in trouble.

Elliot followed her, glancing once back behind him to see that Cassidy had gotten up and was walking back into the bar he came out of. He turned back to look at Olivia who was now a few steps ahead of him.

Goddamn he thought. He knew he should be trying to explain himself, but she was just so breathtaking and sexy storming away from him. She hailed the first cab that drove by, and they both got in.

Her body langue in the cab was icy. She sat her legs crossed away from him, her arms folded, her face turned away from him.

They sat there in the cab for a few minutes in silence. He turned to look at her. This woman… ugh this woman. He loved her so much and yet she could also get under his skin just as much. He was only defending her honor. He couldn't stand by and listen to vile things come out of Cassidy's mouth with her name attached. Even if Cassidy was drunk… even if maybe he didn't mean it… Elliot just could not stand by and do nothing.

But he recalled all the other times they had fought in the past and he knew she needed time to cool off. He needed to tread lightly if he didn't want this to turn into an all-out screaming match.

"Liv… don't be mad." he said quietly. He watched her chew on her bottom lip and she shook her head slightly as she mulled something over in her mind.

"Babe… come on…" Elliot said turning towards her in his seat.

"Come on what Elliot?" she said, a small biting tone in her voice, and turned to look him in the eye. "Don't think that you can just look at me the way you do and call me babe and I'll just let it go…" she paused. "You could have hurt him…" she added.

He felt the prick of anger again. Did she think he wouldn't be able to control himself? Did she think he would have just beat him into a pulp on the street?

"It's not a big deal… he's fine." He said feeling a little more irritated that she seemed to care more about Cassidy's well-being and took a deep breath in as he looked down at his right hand. There wasn't any physical evidence of a fight, but he felt the twinge between his knuckles, and he flexed his hand.

"El… there was no need for you to hit him." She said sensing his change in demeanor as the cab pulled up to her apartment.

She paid the fare and got out the other side before El could fish his wallet out. She was already on her way up the stairs when he caught up with her and grabbed her by the arm to turn her around to him.

"Is that what your worried about? Are you upset because I could have hurt him? Like I'm some animal?

She rolled her eyes. Always one for the dramatics she thought.

"Of course I don't think that… it was just… unnecessary." She said turning to unlock the door to her building.

He followed her into the lobby, and then into the elevator. She hit the button to her floor and crossed her arms again.

"Liv… it was necessary." Elliot said moving closer to her. "I just… I had to respond. The things he was saying about you…" he said, and she cut him off.

"Don't matter right?" she asked turning to face him.

"You're right… they don't." he said, and the elevator dinged, and the doors opened. She moved first breaking their eye contact and exiting the elevator.

Once they were in her apartment, she threw her jacket on the couch and made her way into the kitchen. She was still a little mad and needed something to take the edge off.

"Liv… please… I'm sorry, ok?" he said following her.

She put the bottle of whiskey down she was going to open and looked up at him. "I'm sorry, ok?" she repeated his words and lifted her eyebrows at him.

"Olivia… why are you so mad about this? Cassidy is fine, end of story… I don't know why you care so much…" he said, his anger now evident in his body language.

"I don't care about Cassidy Elliot, that's not what this is about…" she said not backing down an inch.

"Then what Olivia?" Elliot said his voice a little louder. He was getting frustrated and wished she would just tell him why she was mad or forgive him so they could move on from this.

"Because now Cassidy has something on you… do you know how many people think you're still a part of the whole gladiator cop era? That you use violence to get what you want and ask questions later? Elliot, that's the last thing we need…" she said letting her own frustration show now.

"And if I had wanted to handle Cassidy's drunken outburst, I would have…" she huffed out.

"Right… and you know exactly how to handle Cassidy…" he said quickly without thinking.

The second those words left his mouth he regretted them. He didn't mean them… they just came out. He watched the shock on her face as her jaw opened slightly and she took a sharp breath in. Pain streaked across her face and tears were quick to brim her eyes. She looked down and swallowed.

"Liv… I'm sorry… I didn't mean that…" he said his voice now soft. The guilt that he had hurt her with his words punched him right in the gut. He went to touch her arm and she moved back a step and brought her hand to her chin.

"I… I need some air…" she whispered and slipped past him and grabbed her jacket from the couch. She slid it over her arms and walked out her door without so much as a look back in his direction.

The closing of the door seemed to echo in his ears. Elliot felt his heart drop. Why did he say that? For half a second, he thought about going after her and took a step and then stopped. She had said she needed air.

She needed a minute. A minute away from him, and his hurtful words.

Goddammit… fucking Goddammit why did he have to be such a prick. He decided to give her a little time, a little space, but then he was going after her. There was no way he was going to let this fester between them, and the pain in his heart was going to eat at him until he could apologize… tell her all the reasons why he hit Cassidy.

He vowed he would never be responsible for that look on her face again. He was going to do better. He would do anything for her.

He swallowed hard and then opened the bottle of whiskey on her counter. He took a drink straight from the bottle.

He stood there in her kitchen and let the silence seep into his aching soul.