I have always thought there were sparks between Olivia Benson and Hank Voight, and I definitely think they spent time alone together and kept in touch through. While they could never have anything long term due to their distance, there was no reason they couldn't be good friends and have a little fun when they were in the same city.

This picks up at the end of CPD season two, episode 7 "They'll Have to Go Through Me" and will walk through the years, covering things we saw on screen and things in between.

Before you try to revoke my EO card, while I don't think we will actually see Elliot in this fic, he will have a presence. We know that even when Olivia was dating other people, Elliot was never far from her mind, and he's always been her endgame.

***While the major focus of this fic will be on the relationship between Benson and Voight, do not come at me with any Stabler hate. It is not welcome here.

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"I wish I could've seen more of your city."

"It's beautiful. Even when it isn't."

Hank Voight extended his beer toward Olivia Benson, and she gently clinked her bottle with his before taking a drink.

They'd just wrapped a taxing case, with the discovery of the photos talking them to New York City, Erin's injury, finding out the man in charge was actually back in Chicago, and bringing the SVU squad back with them.

Sadly, they'd sadly lost a brother officer in the process, but it was over now, and Hank couldn't imagine a better way to wrap up a case than by having a drink with the SVU sergeant.

Olivia's phone rang with a check-in call from one of her squad members, so while she was distracted, Hank took a moment and let his eyes travel over her.

She was so beautiful.

Her eyes were captivating, and more times than he'd like to admit, as they worked the case together over the last few days, he found himself getting lost in their depths. Olivia carried herself with a grace and poise that he found so stunning, but he knew without a doubt she could take down an offender twice her size with very little effort.

Hank was incredibly impressed with Olivia Benson. They'd only met in person a few days prior, and the more he learned about her, he was even more in awe of her. Olivia was a single mother fostering a baby boy and commanding officer of one of the most elite units of the NYPD. She was great at her job and had an empathy that he'd never witnessed before. He was vaguely aware of an incident a year or so before where she was kidnapped and held hostage for a few days, and the fact that she survived something so horrific and returned to the job just added to how incredible he thought she was.

He watched Olivia lift her arms in a stretch as her phone call was ending. Her white blouse clung to her in all of the right places, and that, plus the gun and badge on her hip, caused him to clench the fist not holding his beer, trying to stifle the urge to run his hand over her curves. It had been a long time since he'd felt like this.

Olivia looked down at her watch and sighed. "Hank, it's late, and my flight leaves mid-morning. I should probably get going."

Hank agreed, and they each threw back the rest of their beer and started toward the door. Olivia was a little surprised to feel Hank's hand come to rest on her lower back, but it was comfortable. After a moment, she allowed herself to sink back into his touch as they made their way to the exit.

As Hank started to hail a cab, for her Olivia stopped him. "It's a nice night, and my hotel isn't far. I think I'll walk."

"I'll join you," Hank offered, smiling as he dropped his hand from her back and offered his arm to her.

Olivia shot him a questioning look, trying to determine his motive.

"What kind of man lets a woman walk home alone this late?" he asked. "Let me make sure you get there safely."

Olivia saw the sincerity in Hank's eyes and while she was surprised at his forwardness, after a moment, she slipped her arm through his, and they were on their way.

Their walk was short, and Olivia found herself dreading the moment they'd have to say goodnight. There was something about the gruff sergeant that she felt drawn to, something about the softness with which he regarded her. She felt safe with him, almost immediately feeling as though she could trust him, a trust that typically took others a considerable amount of time to gain, something she didn't easily give away, not since her former partner left her.

Olivia had sensed an electricity between her and Hank since she'd threatened to arrest him. He hadn't been intimidated by her in the least, but she could immediately tell that he respected her rank and would default to her wishes, recognizing that he was on her turf, and she called the shots.

When they reached her hotel, before Olivia could say anything, Hank said, "I know you can take care of yourself, but it'll make me feel better if I make sure you get up to your room safely."

Olivia noticed the small smirk on his face, and after just a moment, she agreed to allow him to come up.

When they reached her room, Olivia turned around to face Hank, leaning back against the door.

"This is me."

Hank smiled at her. "Good," he replied with a nod. "Now I'll be able to sleep better knowing you're tucked in safe for the night."

A small laugh slipped out of Olivia at his response. "Thank you Sergeant."

Her breath caught in her chest as Hank's hand boldly reached up to gently tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.

As his thumb gently traced her jaw, Hank softly said, "I've really enjoyed getting to work with you and getting to know you, Olivia. You're an incredible sergeant and an incredible woman."

"Thank you, Hank. Despite the circumstances of this case, I've enjoyed all of this as well."

"I hope I'm reading this situation appropriately, but I think there's something here, Olivia, and I think you feel it too. Am I right?"

Olivia took a deep breath, nodding as her eyes flitting between both of his. "You're right," she agreed.

After a moment's hesitation, her hand rose to rest against his chest, her fingers toying with a button on his shirt. "I know I'm leaving in the morning, but I…if you'd like, would you come in for one more drink?"

Hank nodded as his hand continued to trace her face. "Yeah, I'd love to."

Olivia's hand drifted down his chest before moving to slip into his. She unlocked her door, pulling him inside behind her. Once the door closed, Olivia felt herself being gently pushed against the wall beside the door. One of his hands landed on her hip and the other cradled her cheek as he leaned in close to her, their lips just a few inches apart.

Hank's thumb brushed against her lower lip. "Is this ok?"

Olivia nodded. "Yeah."

He quickly closed the distance between them, pressing his lips against hers. Olivia's arms slipped around his waist, traveling up under his arms to grip his shoulders, holding him tight as she deepened the kiss.

Olivia was certain she'd never been kissed like this ever in her life. As rough as Sergeant Hank Voight could be with a perp or even his unit at times, his hands were so gentle as they traveled down her back, softly squeezing her backside before moving back up to tangle in her hair.

When the need for air became too great, Hank's mouth moved to her cheek and down her neck as one of his hands slipped under the back of her shirt. Olivia shivered as a muffled moan slipped out of Hank when his hand landed on the bare skin of her lower back, traveling back and forth, leaving goose bumps in its path.

When Hank's lips moved back up, they captured Olivia's one more time before he pulled back, resting his forehead against hers, his breath intermingling with hers due to their proximity. Looking up into his eyes, Olivia knew Hank wanted her, and she absolutely wanted him too.

But there was one problem with advancing this "thing" between them any farther; Hank lived in Chicago while Olivia lived in New York City, and Olivia wasn't sure it was fair to either of them to start something that would inevitably end in the morning.

Olivia pressed her lips against Hank in a soft kiss before whispering, "Hank, I…I want this, I do, I just…I don't want to hurt you."

A puzzled look crossed Hank's face as he pulled back a little, trying to understand her hesitation.

"Hurt me? What are you talking about?"

Olivia's arms pulled him closer. "I'm leaving in the morning."

His mouth curved up into a quick smile. "Then we'll just have to make the most of the time we have together tonight."

After a moment of contemplation, Olivia decided to give in to her feelings, pressing her lips against Hank's again. Like he said, if one night was all they could have, they'd make the most of it.

As Hank reached for the hem of her shirt, Olivia was suddenly hit with flashbacks from a year ago, and she put her hands on top of his, stilling them. As badly as she wanted him, before this could go any farther, she had to tell him what to expect.

"I…I don't know if you know, but something happened to me a little over a year ago, and I have…" Olivia took a deep breath before she was able to continue. "Scars, Hank."

He pulled her close and kissed her gently before tucking her head against his neck, holding her tight against him. "Olivia Benson, I mean this, and you know I wouldn't lie to you, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen, inside and outside," he promised softly into her ear. "There's no scar that could ever change the way I look at you. I don't know much of the story, but I know you survived something terrible, Olivia. The scars…they just show how strong you are."

Olivia lifted her head, looking up at Hank as tears formed in her eyes. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she pulled him into a deep kiss. After a few moments, her fingers moved to the buttons on his shirt, slowly unbuttoning each of them and slipping the shirt off of his shoulders.

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Olivia woke early the next morning, her body having not adjusted to a new time zone. There were still several hours before she needed to catch a cab to the airport, but she was awake now, so she figured she'd get an early start to her day, maybe have herself a quiet breakfast somewhere nearby.

She shook her head, trying to will away the beginnings of a headache, and started to climb out of bed, but she was stopped by the arm curled tightly around her waist. Looking over her shoulder, a sleeping Hank Voight was tucked up against her back.

A sleeping, naked Hank Voight.

Olivia smiled as the events of the previous night flashed through her mind.

Lips. Fingers. Skin. Muscles.

His hands, while strong and possessive, roamed her body almost reverently, and it had been ages since she'd felt so safe with a man. Although she and Elliot had never been intimate, the sense of security she felt with Hank rivaled her days as Elliot's partner.

"Morning," Hank's voice said softly in her ear, interrupting her memories. His early morning voice was even deeper than usual, sending chills down her spine.

Olivia turned around in his arms. "Good morning," she whispered as Hank's lips pressed against hers.

As they exchanged kisses, Hank asked, "Are you ok this morning?"

Olivia nodded her head, tucking her face against his neck as he cradled her against him. "I'm good. Really good, Hank."

"Good," he whispered, kissing the top of her head.

After a few minutes of silence, Hank quietly asked, "Tell me more about this old partner of yours, the one you mentioned the day you tried to arrest me. Sounds like the kind of detective I'd like to have in my unit."

Olivia rolled over, facing away from him. Elliot was the last person she wanted to think about right now. Thinking about him led to missing him, and she really didn't want to miss him today, especially while in bed with another man. When Hank first arrived at SVU, after getting too physical with one of the perps, she'd casually slipped that she had an old partner that occasionally interacted with suspects roughly. She hadn't meant to bring up Elliot, but although they were very different men, she couldn't deny the similarities between her former partner and the Chicago sergeant.

"I don't want to talk about him, Hank," Olivia said quietly.

"Where is he now?" Hank pressed.

Olivia sighed, sitting up and tucking the sheet around her as she leaned against the headboard. Running her fingers through her hair, she quietly said, "He left. Walked away after a shooting, and I haven't heard from him since. But I really, really can't talk about him. Please."

She could tell by the look on Hank's face that he could see through her brief explanation, that he could hear exactly what she wasn't saying. He scooted closer to her, pressing his lips against her shoulder. "He's an idiot for walking away from you, Olivia."

Olivia's tears threatened to fall, so she tucked herself back into Hank's side, hoping the feel of his skin beneath her cheek, the smell of him filling her senses, the protectiveness of his embrace would cover up the memories of Elliot, at least for right now.

After a few more minutes of lying in Hank's arms, Olivia reluctantly pulled away and began getting dressed and packing her things, preparing for her flight as Hank watched.

"Can I buy you breakfast?" he asked. "Take you to the airport?"

Olivia smiled down at him, touched that he cared enough, that maybe this really had been more than just one night to him.

"You don't have to," Olivia said, fastening the button on her jeans.

"I know," Hank insisted, standing up and slipping his arm around her waist. "But I know the diner with the best breakfast in town. Besides, I want to." He gently kissed her cheek before whispering in her ear. "I'm not ready to let you go just yet."

Olivia felt her face flush as she looked away for a moment before her eyes returned to his. "Ok," she answered softly.

Hank and Olivia left the hotel hand in hand before making the short trip back down the street to the bar they'd met at the night before, where Hank's car was waiting for them.

They shared a quiet breakfast, and when their meal was finished, the mood shifted as they both realized their time together was coming to an end. After arriving at the airport, Hank stepped out of the car, reaching for Olivia's bags, as she turned away, trying to figure out how to say goodbye.

Hank's hands gently grasped her arms, turning her around, forcing her to look at him.

"I had an incredible time with you, Olivia," he said, slipping his arms around her waist as he pulled her close.

Her arms instinctively circled his neck, stepping further into his embrace. "Me too, Hank. This was…amazing."

Hank placed a gentle kiss against her lips before pressing his against her forehead. "Really gonna miss you, Benson. You better keep in touch."

Olivia nodded, her arms squeezing him one last time before stepping back. "If you ever find yourself in New York City…"

Hank smiled, kissing her hand as he released her completely. "If you ever find yourself back in Chicago, you know where to find me."

Olivia picked up her bags and gave a small wave as she reluctantly walked away.

Luckily the airport wasn't crowded, and Olivia made it through security and located her gate quickly, finding that Amaro and Rollins had already arrived. After settling next to them, Amanda offered to get coffee for everyone, and as soon as she walked away, Nick leaned close to Olivia, quietly asking, "Did you have a good night last night?"

Olivia cut her eyes at him, and seeing the look on his face, she knew he suspected how her night ended.

"Yeah," she answered, offering no additional information. If Amaro wanted more, he'd have to work for it.

"You had drinks with Voight?" he pressed.

Olivia pulled out her phone, mindlessly scrolling through her emails. "I did."

A small smirk appeared on Nick's face. "Good for you," he quietly said, as Rollins returned with their drinks.

Olivia sipped on her coffee as she allowed herself to drift back into her memories. As she'd told Hank when they first stepped into her hotel room, before any of the rest, they couldn't be anything more. But something about last night, whatever it was, caused Olivia to just know that Hank Voight was someone that would be in her life for a long time.