Not Just Partners

Chapter 13

A/N: Thanks to Emma102491 for betaing.


Elliot and Olivia pulled up in front of a small diner. Olivia looked up at the sign above the door and read it out loud.

"Fountain Diner, I've never heard of this place. How did you find it?" she asked.

Elliot hesitated, "One night when Kathy told me not to come home I was driving around and I saw it."

"So is the food good?" Olivia asked him trying to lighten the mood. Kathy had always been a tense subject around them, but after the divorce and the shooting it had gotten worse.

"Yeah it's good," he replied.

"So what should I order?" she asked as they walked toward the entrance of the diner.

"I don't know. They have really good fries though," he told her.

They sat down at an empty booth by a window. A few minutes later a waitress came over and handed them each a menu. After taking down their order for drinks, she informed them she'd be back in a few minutes to take their order. Olivia scanned the menu and when it was time to order she had decided on a grilled cheese and fries. Elliot just ordered a cheeseburger.

"You aren't going to get any fries?" Olivia asked. "I thought you said they were really good."

"Nah. I figured I could just eat some of yours," he said smiling. This is great how we can still tease each other and have a normal conversation as if nothing happened. Nothing did happen he reminded himself. I just let her know how I feel. It's not like we had sex, hell we didn't even kiss.

"Earth to Elliot. Anybody there?" Olivia said laughing. Her voice bringing him away from his thoughts.

"Sorry Liv. I was just thinking," he said.

"Oh anything interesting?" she questioned.

Elliot reached across the table and put his hand over hers. He was rubbing her palm with his thumb.

"Actually I found it very interesting," he hesitated before continuing, "I was thinking about how nice it is to still be able to talk to you without all the awkwardness after I told you how I feel."

"I'm glad we can still talk, too," she told him. "Our friendship is the most important thing to me. That is one reason I'm so worried about getting involved with you."

Elliot looked deep into Olivia's chocolate brown eyes. He could tell she felt the same way he did, but she was scared. "No matter what happens, our friendship will always be the most important thing. I would never let anything destroy that."

"You say that now Elliot, but once we act on any romantic feelings our friendship will be completely different. And besides there are a lot of other factors to consider," she told him.

"Oh and what would those other factors be?" he asked. Before Olivia could respond, Elliot's cell phone rang. Damn phone.


"Stabler," he snapped when he answered the phone.

"Hey Elliot its Fin. Did I catch you at a bad time?" the other detective asked hearing the annoyance in Elliot's voice.

"No sorry. What's up?" Elliot asked.

"We got word that Kathy was found guilty. The sentencing hearing is tomorrow at 11 o clock if you want to go."

"Thanks Fin. I appreciate you letting me know. Did we get anything on the prints from the gun used on Olivia?" he asked.

"Actually I was just about to tell you. The name is Bradley Ashmen. We haven't found anything in Olivia's collars though, so it could've been random," Fin said.

" Thanks man I gotta go," Elliot said and hung up the phone. The food had arrived while he was on the phone. He could see Olivia was curious as to what the other end of the conversation had went. He decided to tease her a little.


"So what were we talkin about?" he asked trying to keep a straight face. He lifted his cheeseburger and just as he was about to take a bite, Olivia snatched it from his grasp.

"Elliot what happened?" she asked. Her frustration was obvious. She had er lips drawn in a tight straight line.

"Relax Liv. I was just teasing you." he said. Then his tone turned serious, "They got prints on the gun. They matched Bradley Ashmen, Kathy's boyfriend. Munch and Fin are going to go pick him up."

"Oh. I don't know what to say. I was really hoping that this would have nothing to do with Kathy. What else El?" she asked. She could tell there was more not only from what she'd heard of the conversation, but in Elliot's eyes.

"Kathy was found guilty. Sentencing hearing is tomorrow," he said. His voice conveyed no emotion.

"Let's go home. You need to be with the kids," she said. She stood, breaking the contact between them. She felt strange not having his hand in hers. Elliot followed her lead and they headed toward the register to pay. Olivia reached in her purse to get some money but Elliot stopped her.

"I got this one Liv," he said handing the woman the money. After getting his change they walked out of the restaurant.

"I want to finish our conversation," Elliot said turning toward Olivia once they were in the car.

"We will. Just not now. Maybe after the kids are asleep tonight," she said.