Thanks for the reviews everyone! I'm so sorry I haven't updated in a week. The stupid phone company turned off our phone line. Grr... Think they're so damn powerful, not working on the weekends... Sorry, ignore my rambling. Anyway, here's some more EO fluff with a side of Munch and Fin. ;) (Work with me on the basketball terminology and rules, I've never been accused of being a jock.)
Little Things That You Do Make Me Glad I'm In Love With You
As Olivia slowly regained consciousness, she kept her eyes shut and allowed her head to rise and fall with Elliot's breaths. Finally willing her eyes open, she let that just awoken daze settled over her, forgetting where she was for a moment. A quick glance at the figure underneath her, and the previous night came flooding back, bringing a smile with it.
Elliot was still lost in a peaceful slumber, his arms wrapped around her and his face already beginning to regain its normal color. She contemplated getting up, but decided against it when she realized it would disturb him. Instead, she tediously shifted around, pausing each time Elliot responded until she was finally in sight of the digital clock on the coffee table. Bright red numbers informed her it was about nine-thirty.
Genuinely surprised, she glanced out the nearest window, being at such an angle that she only saw the clear blue sky, dotted with a few clouds. Normally, Olivia had always been half-blessed half-cursed with her own internal clock that never allowed her sleep past seven-thirty or eight. A nonchalant sigh heaved her shoulders and she folded her arms on top of Elliot's chest. Gently setting her chin on top of them, she watched Elliot sleep, appearing more serene than she could ever recall seeing him. On average, most people she knew would wake up if you stared at them long enough, but Elliot didn't look like he was one of those people, as he remained unfazed through the next few minutes. Olivia could tell he wasn't getting up anytime soon.
Oh well, at least neither of us has to work today. As the word 'work' popped into her head, all her unfinished cases came with it like clockwork. With nothing else to occupy her, she let her eyes stare away as she mentally reviewed the cases. Let's see… I still have to finish up the report on the Simmons' case. Elliot and I hit a dead end with the Pritchard case, no more suspects and the probability of finding any very low. And then there's Karissa Perry's case. Only thing left with that is forensics and trying to convince Casey to do a 'he-said' 'she-said' trial with the 'she' still in a coma.
Letting her guard down for a moment, two mental images obtrusively invaded her vision, one of her attacker's shadowy face and the other the twisted grin of Dr. Aultz. She felt a cold chill run through her blood as she snapped her eyes shut, desperately fighting the pictures away. When the remains still lingered behind, Olivia pressed her face against Elliot's chest and used him as a shield to ward the memories off.
Two nights ago, back in Olivia's apartment, Elliot had been right when he guessed that she was so distant because of what Aultz had said in the interrogation. It had gotten to her, but a lot more than he thought. Listening to the perp meticulously destroying her job she could tolerate, that wasn't the first time, after all. But when he said that no woman was ever raped, it hit her like a personal attack. If he had known that she was raped, it probably would have been the same speech, only with her name substituted in place of the generalizations. What really caught in her ear was the last thing he'd said: What kind of weak, pathetic, shell of a human can't stop them self from being violated like that? There was no fiber in her being that didn't scream that the phrase was ludicrous, but that didn't take the bite out of it nonetheless.
Just as Olivia had coaxed the memories out of her mind, she felt Elliot stir underneath her grip. Raising her head, she watched as he yawned and blinked his eyes open.
"Hey sleepyhead," she smiled, placing her head back down against her arms as she kept her stare on him.
He groaned in response, rubbing his face awake with open palms as he mumbled. "What time is it?"
"Nine-thirty." Elliot smacked his lip against the roof of his mouth and squinted at Olivia.
"And you're up already? Ever heard of sleeping in?" He drowsily stared at her with a lopsided grin.
"Ever heard of waking up at a decent hour?" She picked up one of her arms and set her elbow down so that she could lean her head against her hand.
"Just 'cause I can work on three hours of sleep doesn't mean I want to." Another yawn parted his lips as his eyes fluttered shut again, ready to drift back off to sleep.
"Hon, you got at least eight hours of sleep. I'm sure you're fine." When Elliot ignored her, a mischievous grin flashed on Olivia's face and her mind formulated the perfect plan to really wake him up. Making sure her legs and feet were completely free to move, she picked her right one up and tossed it over Elliot's legs. Her hands braced themselves on either side of his torso and she lifted herself in the air. She set herself down so that she was lying directly on top of him, pressing against his stomach with the force of her weight.
As Olivia did that, a groan came from Elliot, like she had just knocked the wind out of him. When he realized by shifting around that she had him entirely pinned down, his eyelids flickered open. "Would you mind moving?" His tone held an air of playfulness despite how drowsy he was. "You're no lightweight and you're crushing my rib cage."
An insulted gasp came from Olivia as she glared at Elliot with fake offense. "Just for that, you are definitely getting up now!" She swung both her feet onto the floor and stood, pushing off of the couch. "Come on." Gripping both her hands around one of his, she tugged and yanked until she had forced Elliot into a sitting position.
"Li-iv…" He whined in protest, bending his waist as she jerked his arm forward with her attempts to drag him to his feet. "It's Sunday and we don't have to work. Lemme sle-ep!"
Olivia laughed in amusement as she somehow managed to haul Elliot up on his feet. "You can't sleep, we should go do something." Keeping a tight grip on his arm so that he couldn't fall back into the couch, Olivia studied the floor and racked her brain for some activity. Her face lit up as an idea crossed her mind. "I know! Let's go for a run!"
"As in 'let's go run down to the donut shop across the street for breakfast and coffee?'" A shimmer of hope appeared in his half-closed eyes momentarily, dissipating as Olivia spoke.
"No… running!" She didn't even notice Elliot's reaction as she became more excited with her idea. "I know this jogging path we can go on. It'll be great!"
--XXX--
"I… can't… breathe…" Elliot shot his hand out to grip the nearest telephone pole and steady himself. Bending forward, his breath was ragged and heavy, each intake of air like fire to his lungs. He drew his hand over his forehead and down his face, soaking it in sweat.
"You can't stop now!" Olivia appeared in front of him, walking in place as thin beads of sweat delicately formed on her brow and she barely seemed winded. Her cheeks were flustered as she looked down at Elliot. "We've still got two miles to go."
"Two?" He heaved, turning his head up towards the side to glare at her in shock. "But the…" Waving one hand down the direction they'd just came from, his head was spinning too much to articulate. "And the… We just…"
"That was just barely a mile. Here." Olivia grinned at his babbling as she held her hand against his back, pushing in so that he straightened. "Keep your shoulders back, it opens your airway." He did as she said, slowly regulating his breath. When it became normal, he met Olivia's gaze. "I didn't know you were so out of shape." Olivia chuckled, her hand still lingering on his back for support. "You'd think Mr. Muscles here would be able to run a mile without collapsing." Her opposite hand traced its way over his stomach, caressing the curves of the six pack abs under his shirt.
"That," Elliot started, his breathing still slightly labored, "is upper body strength. All in the arms, not the legs." As if his body was responding to the statement, the muscles near his shins starting aching in a dull pain. "I don't run."
"Apparently." Olivia pushed the hair away from her face and rubbed the side of her neck impatiently. "It's so exhilarating! I used to run every night, sometimes in the morning, but I suppose we can cut it short." Her face didn't even attempt to hide its displeasure at the thought.
"When did you stop?" The two mutually and leisurely began continuing their walk along the sidewalk, keeping in rhythm with each other as they spoke.
Olivia paused, letting her mind and the air clear for a brief moment. "After I was attacked." She pursed her lips together and looked ahead with a despondent stare. "I couldn't be out on the street, especially at night." Her shoulders rose and fell with a sharp intake and release of oxygen, the sound tugging at Elliot's emotions.
His words from the previous nigh echoed in his ear. You can always feel safe with me Liv, I promise you that. And now here she was, all but begging him to stay with her. A hesitant expression settled on his face. "How many more miles are there?"
Olivia turned to face him as a delighted smile started to creep on her face. "Just two."
"All right," he sighed, turning his walk into a slow jog as he held his arms bent against his side. His sudden transition had moved him a few feet ahead of Olivia, but she quickly cut the difference and appeared beside him. Sweat starting to drip from his forehead again, he glanced at Olivia. "You're lucky you're so cute," he remarked jokingly, as if that was the only reason he'd agreed to this.
"Shut up!" She playfully punched his arm, swinging her right fist past her chest and solidly connecting. "Jerk," she muttered with a sly smile.
"Ow!" His hand shot up to cover the wounded area, the blow hurting more than he thought it would. "If that's how you take a compliment, I'd hate to see you react to an insult."
"The only thing you're going to see is the back of my head," she declared challengingly. Without any more warning, she began pumping her legs even harder, easily gliding ahead of Elliot. "Bet I can beat you there!" She taunted, calling over her shoulder.
"Head start!" He objected with a grin, trying to match Olivia's pace. "No fair!"
"Life's not fair, slowpoke!" She yelled back, gaining even more distance between them.
--XXX--
"Don't think I didn't see that, you little cheater!" Olivia misjudged her speed and distance as she sprinted towards the stationary Elliot, almost knocking both of them to the concrete ground as she collided with him.
"What? No congratulations on my victory?" He smirked, grabbing onto Olivia's elbows and holding her steady until she regained her balance.
"Victory my butt, you cheated!" She panted and pointed a reproaching finger at him. Their "race" had led them to an old abandoned playground containing a few rusty swings and a basketball hoop. They stood in the middle of it, right over a wooden bench.
"How'd I cheat?" The smug grin was never wiped from his face as he crossed his arms.
"When we were going around that last corner, I couldn't even see you. Then all of a sudden you were in front of me. You had to have taken a short cut somewhere."
"Circumstantial!" He protested, carefully stressing each syllable with his best lawyer impression. "You have no eyewitnesses, no proof, no case."
"Don't pull that lawyer crap with me. You cheated, just admit it." Olivia leaned closer towards Elliot, just like she was interrogating a suspect and trying to get him to crack.
Elliot played her game, moving in as well with a haughty expression. "Under the Fifth Amendment I reserve the right not to incriminate myself." His blank expression turned into a boyish grin at his statement.
Olivia ran her tongue over her lip and studied his face, her mouth curling up as well. "You do realize how guilty that makes you sound?"
"All right," he sighed, tossing his hands up in the air. "You win!" He dejectedly held his hands in front of him, palms down. "I cut through an alley, I admit it." Elliot inhaled a deep breath of air and waited, like Olivia was going to cuff him. "Am I under arrest?" He teased, laughter finally breaking through from him at the end of his question.
Olivia chuckled as well, unable to keep a serious expression. "No, but the joke's on you." She sympathetically patted his arm and met his crestfallen gaze. "We still have to get back to your house, brilliant one." The look on Elliot's face when she said that was priceless, drawing another fit of laughter from her.
"This is just some big plan of yours to dig me an early grave, isn't it?" His amusement seemed to be waning.
"Yep." Her face fell as Olivia ran her hand back and forth on the top of Elliot's head, over his sweat-soaked hair. "Just a gold digger looking to bump you off for your money." She pulled her hand down, wiping it along the bottom of her shirt before folding her arms together.
"Oh no, Liv…" Elliot instantly recanted in guilt, taking Olivia's words to heart. "I didn't mean… I don't think…"
"El," Olivia gave a small smile at his awkward apology. "I was kidding." She pulled him into an abrupt hug, momentarily resting the side of her head on his chest. "You take me way too seriously." Her head turned up to look at him, her eyes scanning over his. Suddenly her eyes narrowed as she suppressed a grin in favor of a more serious, inquisitive expression. "Unless you do think I'm just some hussy after your wallet."
"After my wallet and extensive back account," Elliot added, tossing an arm over her shoulder. "If you cleaned them both out you'd have just enough for the dollar menu at McDonalds, and who wouldn't kill for a few bucks?"
"Right…" Olivia dubiously nodded her head, raising up her left hand to rest on the one Elliot was setting on her shoulder. "Now let's head home and get cleaned up. Then we can go out and grab some lunch. I know this really good seafood place with the best lobsters…" She glanced out of the corner of her eyes, waiting for Elliot's reaction.
"Oh, hilarious." Elliot pulled his arm backwards, dragging Olivia with it until she was pressed up against him. "Let's spend another night in the hospital."
Olivia laughed as they mindlessly began sauntering around the park with no particular destination in mind, still embraced. "It brings back such memories though, like the second half of our first date." She teasingly brushed her cheek against his chest, signaling that she was just fooling around.
"I still feel like a horrible date for that," he added in a guilty murmur. "When are you going to let me make it up to you for ruining the night?" Every time he tried to apologize or make any attempt to fix it, she'd just shrug him off.
"You didn't ruin it," she insisted, carelessly kicking the ground and sending a few pebbles scattering away. "It was different," she conceded with a small laugh, "but at least I know things won't get boring with you."
"True," he agreed, his eyes studying the landscape in front of him.
"Now, are you going to keep avoiding the subject or are we ever going to go back to your house?"
Elliot gave a dramatic sigh, moving his other hand to Olivia's free shoulder and transferring all his weight onto her. "Only if you carry me." He pushed his arms forward so that his elbows were on her shoulders and his chin was resting against them.
Olivia felt her knees defensively buckle against the new weight, halting her in place. "You're so melodramatic." She curled her arms up so that they were hanging over Elliot's. "I'm not carrying you, you big baby."
"Hey…" An idea formed in his head as he watched a taxi drive by the lot. "Let's get a taxi."
"And where's the fun in that?" She reasoned, finding it absurd to take a taxi a few miles when they could just walk.
"You're just mad because I won," he grinned, purposely trying to push her buttons.
"You did not win, you cheated by your own account," Olivia reminded him, arguing with herself over whether or not to shove him off of her.
"I took a shortcut, yeah, but you did get a head start, which could also be considered cheating." Elliot made her choice for her as he lifted his arms and weight off of Olivia and straightened himself.
"Don't even try that." She slightly shoved Elliot backwards as she whipped around to face him, the glint of a fire starting in her eyes. "Anyway, two wrongs don't make a right. Don't tell me you've never heard that."
"Well three rights make a left," he childishly shot back, like a kid arguing with his mother. It was all he could do to keep from sticking out his tongue at her. "You know I would have won if it had been fair, that's really why you're upset." Elliot had to stifle a grin as he tried to appear as serious as possible. He knew exactly what to say to get her angry, and he couldn't stop himself.
"Please!" She seemed outraged by the very thought. "I'd've kicked your butt hands down! I can beat you in anything."
"Oh really?" He challenged, a devilish twinkle in his eye.
"Really." She snapped, defiantly crossing her arms. "Any time, any place. You name it."
"All right." Finally allowing a smile on his lips, his eyes scanned over the surroundings, looking for an event in which they could settle their duel. His vision rested on the basketball hoop and deserted orange ball conveniently set next to it. "First to twenty wins?"
Olivia followed his gaze to the makeshift court and grinned. "You're on." It took the two only a minute to race over to the hoop, Elliot arriving first and snatching the basketball up. He audaciously began dribbling it back and forth from hand to hand, heading towards Olivia.
"How 'bout we make it interesting?" He and Olivia stood a few feet apart, both warily keeping an eye on each other. Elliot was facing the hoop, starting the game.
"I think wiping the floor with you will be interesting enough," her lips curled into a grin as she bent her knees and waited for Elliot to move.
"I know, winner gets to decide how we get back." He bounced the ball off of the concrete one more time before tossing it to Olivia to check it. She threw it back as he spoke again. "When I win, we'll take a taxi, your treat."
"Well, when I win, you can carry me back."
"You're on." Elliot adroitly bent his waist as he starting dribbling the ball back and forth, scanning the situation. Olivia watched him like a hawk, taking in everything in slow motion. Suddenly, Elliot held the ball and feigned throwing it left. When Olivia dived towards it, he pulled his hands back and curved around her. Breaking into a sprint as he dribbled the ball, Elliot easily made a bank shot off of the backboard. He caught the basketball in his right hand as it passed through the net, sending a smirk towards Olivia. "Two zip," he declared, hurling the ball towards her.
Olivia skillfully caught it between her hands and couldn't help but smile at Elliot. After they tossed the ball back and forth, Olivia hung back, casually dribbling it around her feet. Catching Elliot off guard, she jumped even farther backwards. Positioning her feet on the ground, she launched the orange ball into the air and towards the hoop. Elliot snapped his head around just in time to see it slip into the rim, getting nothing but net. "I think that's far enough to be considered a three-pointer, wouldn't you say?" He met Olivia's smug grin in awe. "Something else you didn't know about me, I played basketball all through high school. Even named MVP my senior year." Running past Elliot to retrieve the basketball, Olivia gave him a playful wink as she laughed.
--XXX--
"18-19," Olivia breathed, watching Elliot sink an easy rebound. "Next basket wins." He tossed her the ball and she quickly checked it, sensing that this was her only chance to pull off another basket. Since she was in no situation to attempt another foul shot or three-pointer, Olivia realized she'd have to try and take the court. Transferring the bouncing ball to her left hand, she dashed forward, trying to circumvent Elliot. He immediately thrust his arms out and started blocking her from making a shot. Still dribbling the ball, she curled forward, knowing she couldn't keep this up for much longer.
In a split second decision, Olivia stuck her left foot out to make it appear like she was going to go backwards. As Elliot followed the motion, she jerked back around and went to dash in the opposite direction. Instead of stepping over him, Olivia's foot accidentally tangled behind Elliot's leg. She felt herself pitch forward and threw her arms out to break her fall. Elliot noticed this and spun around to grab her, only catching him off balance as well. The two instantaneously fell to ground, a groan escaping both of them.
Olivia had landed face down, her knees ultimately breaking her fall. Elliot's side was right on top of her, his elbow inadvertently shoved into her back. "You're no lightweight either," Olivia gasped breathlessly underneath her partner. "Get offa me!" Elliot hastily rolled backwards, landing his back against the concrete, still somewhat dazed by the sudden fall. He looked over to see Olivia turning up into a sitting position. She seemed to be uninjured as she wiped the gravel from the palms of her hands, there because she'd landed on them to break her fall. Elliot pushed himself upright as well, sitting on the ground next to her. "You okay?" A somewhat pained look crossed her face as she met his gaze.
"Yeah. You broke my fall." He flashed a reassuring and joking grin. "You okay?"
"Yeah," she sighed halfheartedly, reaching forward to wipe the dirt off of her knees. As soon as she placed her hands against them, she drew in a sharp breath and winced in pain.
"Your knees hurt?" It was more of a statement as Elliot examined them closer, realizing the material of her pants was torn around the wounded area.
"It's all right," she shrugged it off, rolling her pant leg up. "The ground broke my fall." Once the material was removed, it revealed her bloody knee, scraped raw and strewed with fragments of rocks and concrete. Olivia bit her lip and tried to ignore the agony as she brushed her hand over the injury in an attempt to clean it off.
"Be careful," Elliot warned, leaning forward and gently grasping her knee between his thumb and forefinger. "You don't want to embed anything deeper than it already is." Eyeing up a particularly noticeable piece of gravel, he held his other hand in a pinching motion and nimbly plucked it from her skin.
"Ow!" Olivia impulsively smacked his arm back in reaction to the discomfort. "That hurt!" She glared at him before suspiciously rechecking her wound to make sure he hadn't inadvertently caused anymore damage.
"Just trying to help," he remarked defensively, noticing the blood was starting to gather on her scrape. "Do you have a tissue or napkin or something?"
"No." The sound of a car pulling up to the curb suddenly caught their attention. They looked up to see one of their squad cars parked next to the fence surrounding the lot, Fin and Munch inside of it.
"Oh my God," Olivia hissed, a fretful expression on her face as she turned to Elliot. "It's John and Fin," she pointed out in anxiety. "What do we do?" The biggest concern with their relationship had been to keep it a secret. If either one of them found out, it would be all over the precinct in no time.
Elliot raised an indifferent eyebrow at her as he remained calm and composed. "Liv, relax. Just be cool." He turned up to see the two stepping out of the car, their voices slicing through the air.
"See?" John bragged, pointing in their direction as he yelled at his partner over the hood of the car. "I told you it was them." Elliot couldn't help but roll his eyes as Fin rudely yelled something back that he'd have a hard time repeating. "What are you two doing rolling around on the ground?" John refocused himself as he slammed the door behind him.
"Do you guys have a first aid kit in there?" Elliot yelled back, conveniently ignoring his inquiry for the time being.
"Yeah!" It took Fin a second before he emerged with a small tackle box object in hand. The pair didn't ask any more questions as they jogged through the opening in the wire fence and made their way towards Elliot and Olivia. "What happened?" Their eyes immediately found their worried way to Olivia's banged-up leg.
"I just fell, I'm fine." Olivia attempted to brush the concern away as she awkwardly tried to make it to her feet without applying any pressure to her wounded leg.
"You still didn't answer my question," John reminded her, his hand the first to shoot out to help her up.
Olivia sighed as she accepted the assistance and stood up. "We were just shooting hoops and I fell on my knee." Refusing anymore aid, she limped over toward the bench with the three men in tow behind her. Once there, she lowered herself onto one side and stretched her leg over the length of the seat. While she tended to the abrasion, John continued to grill them.
"What are you two doing out here on your day off?" He crossed his arms and expectantly waited for an answer.
"Just playing a game of one on one," Elliot shrugged, desperate to change the subject. "What are you doing here?"
"We're just canvassing an assault a few buildings over that happened last night," Fin informed him. "John said he saw you two and he wouldn't shut his bony ass up 'til we came over here."
"It was either that or talk to more of the lovely tenants in these apartments. Besides, we had to talk to Olivia anyway."
"About what?" Having just finished bandaging her knee, Olivia gingerly stood up and joined back into the conversation as she heard her name.
"Casey needs you to testify for the MacGuire case," Fin hesitantly answered, knowing Olivia's history with the case.
"You finally nailed the Reid kid on that?" Elliot folded his arms and glanced back and forth between the two of them.
"Yes and no." John responded with his usually cryptic answer. "We found the clothes that Emma described him wearing and we also matched his DNA to the hair found in the rape kit."
"So what's the problem?" That seemed as open and shut to Olivia as any other case she'd ever had.
"Reid's the problem," Fin slipped his hands into the pockets of his pants. "Bastard's claiming it was consensual."
Understanding flooded Elliot's expression. "And with the victim dead, no one to dispute it."
"But what about the fact that he shot her? You can't even use S&M as a defense for that."
John paused before mustering up the courage to answer her. "We couldn't recover the gun."
"And no weapon…" Fin added, letting them finish the thought.
"Nothing to tie him to it." Olivia shook her head in incredulity. "Sonofabitch."
"Casey says that the only way we'll be able to indict him is by proving her behavior was consistent with that of a rape victim." John directed his next statement at Olivia. "Since you took her statement and talked to her in the hospital, you're our best bet on establishing her state of mind."
"Okay, when's the trial?" Olivia was all too willing to help put him behind bars.
"Starts the day after tomorrow. Casey said she can prep you sometime before then." She just nodded, already envisioning how the trial would go.
"So who's winning?" Fin broke the tense silence as he reached down to pick up the basketball by his feet.
"Me," Olivia answered, a proud grin forming on her lips, "by one. Next basket wins."
As Elliot watched Fin dexterously dribble the ball against the asphalt, a thought popped into his head. He turned to Olivia with a smile. "What do you say we make the last play two on two?"
"Know you can't win on your own so you try to recruit people to help you?" Olivia met his gaze with a knowing smirk. "Put all the handicaps on it you want, I'll still win. Come on!" She grabbed John's hand in hers and pulled him onto the court. "Me and John against you and Fin, game point." Fin and Elliot exchanged an amused glance as they both pictured John attempting any kind of sport.
"I don't remember agreeing to this!" John yelled at Olivia as Elliot and Fin joined them on the court.
"You'll be fine," Olivia shouted back, checking the basketball with Elliot as she remained aware of her tender knee. "Just watch the ball." The three heard him grumbling as he sauntered off and took up a position right next to the basket. Fin rolled his eyes and stayed on the other side of the pavement, not bothering to guard his partner as Elliot began blocking Olivia.
Olivia began just as she had done before, trying to move down the court with Elliot almost right on top of her, now favoring her left leg. Instead of trying to fake him out this time, she awkwardly twisted around so that she had a clear view of John. With only a second to work with, she launched the ball towards him. "John!"
The unsuspecting detective looked up at the sound of his name, just in time to see the orange sphere hurtling towards him. A look of alarm settled on his face as he covered his head with his hands, literally dove out of the ball's path, and threw himself to the ground, leaving it to collide and clatter against the wire fence behind him.
While Elliot and Fin were doubling over in laughter at John's erratic behavior, Olivia cupped her forehead in her hand in dismay and shook her head in disbelief. After the ball had completely lost all momentum and was motionlessly resting against the fence, John cautiously removed his hands from his head and his eyes alertly darted around. Temporarily unaware of his colleague's reactions, he rose to his feet. Brushing the dust from his coat, he heard Olivia's voice.
"John?" She spoke over the laughs in an irritated tone as she massaged the bridge of her nose in aggravation with her eyes still closed. "What was that?"
"Me?" He instantly yelled back in outrage, his sudden fear overcome by anger. "What was that!" He demanded, reaching an open palm towards the basketball. "Are you trying to kill me, throwing that thing at my head?"
"That thing," Olivia shouted back, finally prying her eyes open, "is a basketball. As in we're playing a basketball game?" She waited for some hint that he knew what she was talking about. "I throw you the ball and then you throw it into that big circle-thingy?" She found herself mocking him in her anger as she pointed towards the basketball hoop.
"Well, how 'bout you give a guy some warning that you're about to hurl a ball the size of my head at me!"
"Because that defeats the entire element of surprise!" Olivia found herself talking with her hands. "If I tell you I'm going to pass it to you then the other team can block you, ruining the play. Don't you know anything about the game?"
"No!" John shouted obviously, like that was the point he'd been trying to make the entire time. "What part of 'I was a walking bruise in PE' did you interpret to mean that I was in any sort of way athletically inclined?" Elliot and Fin only laughed harder as John spread his arms out, a flustered redness starting to form on his face. As Olivia took in the entire scene and listened to John speak, she felt a smile sneak onto her face. Before she knew it, she was bursting into laughter as well. "It's not funny!" John argued, trying to hide his embarrassment.
"I'm sorry, John," Olivia apologized between chuckles as she walked towards him, regaining her composure. "But it is kind of funny." She couldn't hide the telling grin on her face as she placed an arm around his shoulders and gave him a reassuring squeeze.
John just bit the side of his tongue as he felt his cheeks blush under her stare. "All right," he conceded somewhat, walking forward with Olivia. "It's a little funny."
"We still love ya John, athletic or not." Olivia comfortingly patted his shoulder as they headed towards Elliot and Fin, both of whose laughter had finally subsided. Fin's cell phone started ringing, bringing all eyes on him.
"Tutuola," he professionally answered it. "All right, thanks." He glanced up at John and started walking past him. "Come on 'bruise,'" he called behind him with a smile as he referred to Munch. "Our vic's awake. See ya guys later." He held up his hand in a semi-wave at Olivia and Elliot.
"Bye," they spoke in unison as John sprinted after his partner. They could still hear Fin making fun of John as the two got into the unmarked squad car. Once they were completely out of sight, Olivia turned to Elliot.
"Look's like it's just you and me again," she grinned, still amused by the past few minutes.
"And it's my ball," he informed her, jogging over to pick the basketball up. Holding it in his hands, he sprinted back, tossing it to Olivia as he passed her.
"Still game basket," she reiterated, bouncing it towards him once he was in position. The two bent down, each keeping the other eye level as Elliot tauntingly weaved the ball through his legs and brought it back down into a dribble. "Stop showing off and move," Olivia ordered, her eyes dizzily following the sphere.
"All right," he shrugged, a grin curling his lips. He abruptly caught the ball and threw it over Olivia's head towards the basket. They watched as it landed on the rim, circling it a time before falling out. "Damnit!" He cursed as Olivia dashed for the basketball and easily retrieved it. She dribbled it back up the court, trying to avoid Elliot, though ending back up in their normal position. His arms swinging around both sides of her as she hugged the ball as close to her as possible. Just when she thought he had her trapped, an idea came to her. Transferring the ball to her right arm, she suddenly cried out.
"My knee!" She moaned, pretending to grab her leg in pain. Elliot immediately jumped back, trying to be mindful of her injury.
"What happened?" Just as he was about to lean in to examine it closer, Olivia whipped around and raced towards the basketball hoop. Once there, she jumped up and effortlessly tossed the ball through the net, scoring her winning basket as Elliot stood back in a daze. When Elliot had finally found his voice, she turned to face him, a huge smile on her face.
"21 to 18!" She gleefully announced, clapping her hands together. "I win!"
Elliot gasped, his mouth hanging open as he realized what just happened. "You cheater, you played me! There was nothing wrong with your knee!"
"Resourceful tactics," she grinned, walking back towards him. "No rules against it. We walk home." He opened his mouth to debate, but felt it snap shut as he saw Olivia's face glow with her smile. As she came in arm's length of him, Elliot quickly snatched her up in his arms like he'd done so many times before to carry her. Olivia cried out in surprise as she was literally swept off her feet. "What are you doing?" She met his grin with alarm in her eyes as she held onto his arm for fear he'd drop her.
"Part of the bet. If you win I carry you home," he shrugged, a playful twinkle in his eyes.
"I wasn't serious!" Skepticism flashed over her face as she tensed in his arms. Apparently, she wasn't as trusting awake as she was asleep. "Put me down!"
"Now where's the fun in that?" He used her own argument against her as he resisted her wishes.
"Stabler, I swear, if you drop me…" She left her cautionary voice fade out, allowing for him to fill in the blank. Her worried eyes scanned him over.
"Liv," Elliot dropped his voice to a whisper as he locked his eyes onto hers. "Do you seriously think I'd let you fall? Is that how little you trust me?"
Olivia instantly felt horrible as she watched his blue eyes fill up with hurt. She had just begun racking her brain for something to say when she felt Elliot tenderly set her feet back on the ground, letting her steady herself before he pulled his hand away from her back.
"Elliot, of course I trust you." Olivia spun around and grabbed his head between her hands. Gently pulling down so that his head was level with hers, she pressed her lips against his, locking them in a kiss. Once they finally broke apart, a happily surprised expression settled on Elliot's face.
"Wow," he remarked with a grin, snaking his arms around her waist and hugging her close. "You really know how to cheer a guy up." Olivia laughed, resting her hands against Elliot's arms.
"Tell you what," she suggested, pulling out of Elliot's grip and grabbing one of his hands. "Since I did trick you, we'll catch a taxi home." She proceeded in yanking him towards the street. "But just this once," she warned, holding a finger up.
Relief flooded Elliot's face as he obediently followed Olivia, his arm stretched out with hers. "Have I mentioned how much I love you right now?" She just laughed again as they continued walking.