Any immediate awkwardness that might have stemmed from their new relationship was easily avoided for the rest of the day. Elliot had some paperwork to finish for Alex, so he stayed behind with Munch while Olivia and Fin went out canvassing for their latest case.

Sitting across the car from Fin, Olivia hoped he couldn't tell. That her pupils were a little to dilated. That her cheeks were a little too flushed. That her lips were a little too pink. At a traffic light, she turned to face him.

"Fin, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"Okay. This is a completely hypothetical situation. This isn't about me or anything."

"Of course not."

"So just say this person gets together with her friend. When is it too late to turn back?"

"Well, if either one of you. . .of them. . .has decided that they want to have a romantic relationship, they can never go back to just friends."

"Okay, Fin, cut the crap. You know exactly what I'm talking about. The thing is, I just don't think this can work," she confided.

"Why not?"

"Well, I mean, what do I do when we go back to his house tonight? Am I just supposed to pretend that nothing happened?" She asked.

"No. Just act on your feelings and be yourself."

"God, that's cliché," she said.

"Why do you think it'd be overused if it weren't true?" Olivia smiled.

"Thanks."

"No problem."

**********

Munch sat across the desk from Elliot, who was working intently. Munch put his feet up on the desk and watched Elliot casually. Elliot glanced up.

"Don't you have something to do?" Munch grinned slyly.

"So, was it fun?"

"What are you talking about?"

"You know exactly what I mean. You're really. . .relaxed. Way more than usual. So either you've been practicing a new form of meditation, or Olivia's been sharpening your pencil, if you know what I mean."

"That's disgusting, Munch. Even if we were, I wouldn't be using her like that."

"Does she know that?"

"Yes! Well, I think so."

"Hmmmm." Munch swung his feet off the desk and stood up. He went to sit at his desk, pretending to busy himself. He heard Elliot pick up the phone, but he missed what was said.

**********

Olivia and Fin got back to the precinct at five.

"Congratulations," Munch greeted.

"Aren't we gonna interrogate the guy?" Elliot asked.

"Well, if you really think we should. We got him with the gun in his hand, the victim's blood on his clothes, and her name and address in his wallet," Olivia said.

"Good caller," Elliot said, standing awkwardly. He just wanted to hug her, but it might look weird. People would talk. Olivia fiddled with her watch, unsure of what to do as well. Cragen had emerged from his office.

"I agree. Great job. Fin, John, you two can go home. You two," he said, pointing to Elliot and Olivia, "are staying. Three hours late from traffic? I don't think so. I want you to finish your report, Olivia. Then you can help Elliot clean up the first filing room.

When Cragen left at seven, they were still working in the cozy dimness, the only light coming from Olivia's desk and the filing room. Eventually, she finished and walked through the silence to the filing room.

"Hey," she said. Elliot closed the drawer of the filing cabinet and turned his full attention to her.

"Hey. You finish your report?"

"Yeah. How can I help?" She walked slowly over, standing so close to him she could feel his breath.

"I missed you today," he said, taking her hand in both of his. She smiled at him adoringly.

"Yeah," she placed her other hand over his. A strange, quiet noise broke the silence momentarily.

"What was that?" Olivia began to laugh.

"I'm really hungry," she said.

"Me too. I was going to take you out. I made reservations at the Italian place down the street, but then. . . ."

"Well, we have to do this. It was our fault for beng preoccupied this morning."

"I think it was worth the punishment. The sooner we finish here, the sooner we can eat," he said, taking in her face, the emotions that played across it.

"So let's get to it," she said, withdrawing her hands.

*********

By the time they had finished, it was dark outside, save for the eternal glow of the city lights.

"I can't wait for food until we get home," Olivia said. Home. Not 'your house'. Home.

"But everything will be closed," Elliot said.

"You are such a Queen's boy. There are always places open in Manhattan."

"Yeah, strip clubs and some bars."

"And 24-hour delis," Olivia said, pointing to the corner. She got out of the car. "I'll be back in a minute." She returned with a couple of bags.

"Where to?" Elliot inquired.

"I don't know. The park, I guess. We'll have a midnight picnic. Actually, on second thought, let's just park beside the park and eat in the car," she said. At his nod, she knew that he was also remembering the case in Central Park a month ago. They parked in the scattered shadows of a tree, but the orange streetlamp cast its light over the front of the car, leaving enough to see. Olivia pulled some containers out of the bag and began to munch on a perogie, sighing contentedly as she bit in.

"I feel like I haven't eaten in days."

"Me too. Pass the food." She did. As he watched her eat, savouring each bite, he found himself enchanted by it. He began to eat faster. As soon as she set the last container down, "Olivia?"

She turned, "Uh-huh?"

And he kissed her, wrapping his arms around her and pressing his mouth onto her. She pulled his head into hers with her hand. She pushed him back so he was lying across the seats and she was half-straddling him in the small space. He pushed her shirt up roughly, grabbing her breasts through her bra...

**********

The patrol cops chatted idly as they wandered down the street.

"So Joanne comes home last night, completely pissed," said one.

"You gotta do something, man," said the other. They stopped suddenly.

"What do you think? Transaction in progress?"

"Looks like it. Let's just leave it, I don't feel like filing more reports."

"Come on, we need the caller."

They stopped at the car, one on either side, and the first one rapped on the driver's window.

**********

Olivia gasped at the knocking and hit her head on the ceiling.

"Ow!" She bit her lip as they scrambled to figure out what was going on. She yanked her shirt down and climbed off Elliot. Elliot sat up and rolled the window down.

"Can we help you officers?" He said.

"Yeah, we're Vice. Do you mind telling us your names?" The truth dawned on them Olivia began to laugh nervously.

"You mean you thought. . . No, it's nothing like that. I'm Detective Olivia Benson and this is Detective Elliot Stabler. We're from the one-six," she said. The cops exchanged glances.

"Badges?" One said. Elliot produced his from his pocket. Olivia looked frantically through her pockets and her purse.

"It's around here somewhere,"she said.

"Don't bother, ma'am. Sorry about the mixup. Maybe you should finish somewhere else, like at home."

"Good idea," Olivia agreed, smiling at them with intense embarassment. "Come on, Elliot. Let's go home." They did.

***********

"What do you think?" Said the first cop.

"Big day at the one-six, you decide to go get some action."

"She's new around here."

"Yeah. Let's put a call in to the one-six in the morning to check the story."