It was one of those days. One of the those days that everything was off. One of those days where everyone stayed back because they knew you were extra sensitive that day. One of those you woke up depressed and nothing could shake off the feeling. One of those days where the hurt hit hard and you couldn't hit it back.
Olivia was having one of those days. It was a relatively slow day and there was nothing to distract her from the inner-thoughts that threatened to break her. She sighed as she realized that she had been staring at the same piece of paper for an hour. Her eyes slowly crept up to the framed 5x7 sitting on her desk. She smiled. It was a photograph of herself, Elliot, John, Fin, and Cragen. It had been taken almost a year and a half ago.
Flashback It was Friday evening, and four of New York's finest detectives had just solved their latest biggest case. Cragen had given them the weekend off and they were determined to milk the two days for all they were worth. Presently, they were attending a party thrown by Fin. It was going pretty slow, but the evening had just begun. Everyone was milling around, engaged in private conversations when the sound of metal tapping against glass rang out into the crowd.
"May I have everyone's attention, please?" John glanced around the room, catching the eye of each person present. "I'd like to first thank Fin for throwing such a fabulously dull party..." He paused as everyone giggled and Fin pursed his lips in mock annoyance. "...and, second, I'd like to propose a toast to a few of New York's finest Special Victims detectives. To eight years of sleepless nights, heartaches, and unsolved cases. To the arguements, the laughter, the...,the..."
"Oh would you hurry up?" Fin exclaimed.
"...To us! Cheers!" John concluded, raising his champagne glass. He took a sip and strolled over to his fellow collegues.
"John, that was beautiful," Olivia said.
"John, that was long and drawn out," Elliot countered. Everyone laughed at that. "Next time, ease up on the chit-chat."
"I'll drink to that," Fin chuckled as he and Olivia raised their glasses and tapped them against Elliot's. John looked almost insulted. They all went back to their private conversations. Unknownst to them, some lucky soul had managed to snap a picture as the four detectives in an unusual good mood.
Flashback ends
"Olivia?" Cragen's voice interupted her thoughts. She was surprised to find that her cheeks were moist and that she was grinning like an idiot. She chuckled as she reached for a tissue, praying that her mascara wasn't running.
"Olivia?" She realized that she still had answered him.
"Yeah, Cap?" she replied, embarassed.
"The medical examiner has summoned you. Says she has something that will help with the MacGuire case."
"Okay," she answered, reaching for her jacket. She really didn't want to see Warner, but after what happened, she decided to put aside personal feelings and remain professional. After all, she was the cause of her own pain.
TBC
A/N: This is the start of my second story. This is darker than "Rainy Mondays", but I don't know how it will turn out. Please Read and Review. Thank you.