Author's note: Welcome to my first real attempt at SVU multi-chapter. If I start to fall behind, feel free to poke me with a stick.
Disclaimer: OW! Hey, I said if I fall behind! Anyway…I don't own any of these characters. Including Special Agent Smith. He just kinda wrote himself.
"Fin, Munch! Scene was just called in. You're headed out," Cragen announced, dropping a file onto Munch's desk.
"I thought we were catching today," Elliot said, looking up from the folder he was filling out.
"Change of plans. You and Benson are going home and packing."
"What? Why?" Olivia asked, bewildered.
"The higher-ups have ordained that we pick one pair to go to this team-building seminar they're doing in conjunction with the FBI. You're driving down to Quantico."
Elliot leaned back in his chair and gave Cragen an incredulous look. "Just like that? We don't even get to draw straws? Flip a coin? You're just picking us."
"Yes, I'm just picking you," Cragen challenged.
Elliot looked from him to Olivia, who merely raised her eyebrows and looked down at her desk in an "I'm not getting into this one" gesture. Elliot shrugged and said, "Okay. When do we leave?"
"Check-in is tomorrow morning from nine till eleven," Cragen said, plopping a folder on Elliot's desk and walking back to his office. "The hotel's booked. Information is in the file."
"Great," Elliot murmered sarcastically, picking up the folder.
"And keep your travel receipts!" Cragen called out before shutting his office door.
The next morning, two hours before the sun was up, Elliot was knocking on Olivia's door. She opened it wide, letting him inside and stifling a yawn. "I really have to talk to my neighbors about letting just anyone into the building," she teased.
"Yeah, well, my charming smile gets them every time," he countered, flashing said smile and holding out a cup of coffee.
"Right," she answered cheekily, gratefully accepting the cup after zipping her duffle bag shut.
They loaded her things into the trunk of Elliot's car and set off for the week-long workshop. It was about five hours from Manhattan to Quantico, and they traded off driving halfway through.
Finally, around 10:15, Olivia pulled into the parking lot of the Holiday Inn.
They unloaded their bags and walked into the lobby. "I'm gonna grab another cup of coffee," Olivia said, pointing to the lounge area. "You want one?"
"Yeah," Elliot said, reaching for her bag and shouldering it. "I'll get us checked in here."
She nodded and walked away. She had to wait for the attendant to put out a fresh pot, then poured two cups and fixed Elliot's coffee the way he took it. When she got back to the check-in desk, Elliot was having an argument with the clerk.
"Look, I realize that the hotel is full this weekend, but there's got to be something you can do about it!"
"What's up?" Olivia asked, putting the cups on the counter and putting a placating hand on his back.
"They only booked us one room," Elliot said.
"There are two beds," the clerk interjected. At Elliot's venemous look, he added meekly, "I can page the conference director, if you'd like."
"That would be great," Elliot said sarcastically.
"Elliot," Liv said exasperatedly.
"Alright, I'm sorry," he said, picking up one of the styrofoam cups she'd placed on the counter and taking a sip. He immediately pulled it back, making a face.
"That would be yours," he said, handing her the cup and picking up the other. He tasted it cautiously, then took a longer sip upon confirming it was his.
"Detectives?" an inquiring voice called out behind them. The partners turned around and found themselves being addressed by a brick wall with legs.
"Hi, I'm Special Agent Greg Smith. I'm directing the conference," he said, holding out his hand to Elliot. He gripped the proffered shovel-sized palm. Olivia held out her hand, which was completely ignored by the gruff director.
Elliot took a mental note of this, but said nothing. "Special Agent Smith, I assume you've been made aware of our rooming situation."
"Yeah, I guess there was a misunderstanding. I assumed all units were sending same-sex pairs."
"Well, how can we fix it?" Olivia cut in, annoyed at being ignored.
Smith could barely hide the contemptuous glance at Olivia before directing the answer at Elliot. "Since it's too late for your captain to send a different pair, you two are gonna have to stick with the rooming situation. The hotel's completely booked." And with that wholly inadequate answer, he flashed a politician's grin and turned to greet other conference participants mulling about.
"Where's my gun?" Olivia murmured, her fingers seeming to twitch at her weaponless belt.
"It's in your luggage," Elliot whispered in her ear. He picked up her bag, ready to carry it for her, but one look at her face told him that his chivalry would not be appreciated. Instead, he slid the handle of her duffle into her grasping fingers and picked up his own suitcase. "C'mon," he chuckled, nudging her backside with his bag, "let's get settled."
"I just don't understand how someone like Smith gets to the position he's at with the archaic attitude he has about women!"
"Uh-huh," Elliot agreed automatically, putting shirts away in a drawer. A pillow came pelting his way, catching him on the side of his head. "Hey!" he protested.
"Elliot, listen to me when I'm ranting," she snapped.
"I'm listening!" he said, picking the pillow up and chucking it back at her. She caught it easily and tossed it back against the headboard, then flopped back on the bed, her legs dangling over the side.
He moved over to where she was sprawled and lay down in similar fashion beside her. After a moment, he propped himself up on his side so that he could study her face.
She continued her rant as though there had been no interruption. "You know, it's kind of ironic that you're the one who was vocal against doing this thing, and I'm the one who's gonna get the raw deal this week."
"Yeah, but just think how much better we're gonna work together," he said with mock earnestness.
She just rolled her eyes and pushed herself up off the bed. "Well, I suppose we'd better go. Don't want to give him any more reason to hate our team."
With one last reassuring pat on the back, Elliot followed his partner out.
To be continued…
Okay, you readers will have to be very patient with me on this. I'm in the writing spirit now, and hopefully I'll remain this way to the end of the story. But if I hit the occasional dry spell, feel free to offer extra encouragement. ;)