Diamond

Summary: See ch1

Disclaimer: I still don't own them

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, I'm glad to see that everyone seems to like the way I've taken this story!

Enjoy this chatper, there is one more after this, and then the sequal.

What did he say?

Olivia sat at a table talking to her third date of the night. He was a tall, built, blond man, who was easy on the eyes.

"So, Olivia, what do you do?" Martin asked.

"I'm a New York City Detective." Olivia answered.

"Wow, sounds exciting." He said.

"Well, it's gratifying." Olivia smiled. "What do you do?" She asked.

"Stock Broker on Wall Street" He answered sipping his gin and tonic.

'That explains the suit.' Olivia thought.

"From what I hear, that can be exciting too." She flirted.

"Yeah, and stressful, and time consuming." He laughed. "Which is why I'm here."

"Oh, you don't even have to talk to me about time consuming!" Olivia smiled.

"We really need to work on doing things for ourselves." He said, raising his glass for a toast.

"I will drink to that." Olivia smiled, clanking her glass to his. "So, how did you hear about this whole thing?" She asked after sipping her cocktail.

"My brother actually." He answered. "I think you may have met him, Jordan."

"Yeah I did, his idea?" Olivia asked.

"Yep, I actually just got out of a three year relationship, and Jordan said I should get out and meet some new people. So here I am!" He answered. "What about you?"

"Well. My last relationship ended badly, let's just say he was a prick." She chuckled. "Anyway, the ADA for our precinct talked me into this."

"Is she here?" He asked.

"She's 'observing' me with her boyfriend tonight." Olivia answered, indicating Casey and Ben with her head. Casey tried to make it look like she wasn't straining to try to hear their conversation form across the room, but Olivia was onto her.

"One minute." The leader of the group announced. "One more question."

"Well, anything else?" Olivia asked. She had genuinely enjoyed Martin's company.

"You said that you were a cop." He began.

Olivia nodded her head yes. "Mmm Hmm."

"Do you carry a gun?" Martin asked with interest.

"Umm, yeah. "Olivia answered suspiciously.

"Wow! That is sooo cool! I have always wanted to carry a gun!" He beamed.

"Times up!"

"Well, it was really nice meeting you." Martin smiled as he rose form his seat. He gave Olivia a quick peck on the cheek, and headed to the next table.

Casey took her chance to run over to Olivia to be filled in.

"So, how was it? He was pretty good looking. "She whispered crouching down to Olivia's level.

"Yeah, he was great. Charming, considerate, a stock broker. But then he asked about my gun." She sighed.

"Oh." Casey huffed.

Before the conversation could continue Olivia and Casey were interrupted by two men arguing at the other end of the table.

When Olivia turned her head she saw Elliot arguing with another man that Olivia recognized as someone attending the speed dating event.

Elliot flashed his badge at the other man. "Look, sir, this is a police matter. It is imperative that I speak with this woman immediately." He lied.

The other man eyed Olivia suspiciously before backing down. "Whatever man." He huffed before finding a seat at an empty table to await the rotation.

"Elliot, what the hell are you doing?" Olivia fumed as he took his seat. Her voice was in a whisper, but Elliot could tell she was irate.

Casey sensed the fight, and decided to flee back to the safety of her boyfriend, clear at the other end of the room.

"What? I just wanted to stop by and see how the dating was going." Elliot smiled.

"Bullshit." Olivia seethed. "Now come on, there are guys here who actually want to meet me. One of them may be my diamond. I can take care of myself. I don't need you to look out for me like one of your kids." She pleaded, not understanding what Elliot's actual intention were.

"First of all, I'm not trying to treat you like one of my kids. I know that you're a grown woman who can take of her self." Elliot said.

"Then why are you here?" She asked again.

"Because…"Elliot began.

"Because why Stabler?" She asked, anger seeping back into her voice.

"Because I don't understand why you're wasting your time mining through mounds of filth to find a diamond when you can just reach out and take one!" He finally said.

"What the hell are you talking about?" She asked. She was confused, what was he saying?

"Olivia, you have wasted your entire adult life searching for a man who will care about you, and trust you, who will take care of you without stifling your independence, a man who will hold you at night, and actually mean it when he says he loves you." Elliot continued, taking her hands in his.

"El…" Olivia tried, but Elliot stopped her.

"No, let me finish." He interrupted. "You want to be able to look into someone's eyes and see all the love, and respect in the world in them. You want someone who you can just be yourself around. You want a best friend, a companion, and a confidant. You want to be able to connect on a different level with them. You want a man who will make you feel feminine without treating you like a damsel in distress. You want someone you can come home to each night, hell, you just want to love and be loved in return." He breathed. "And do you want to know how I know this? Because I know you Olivia. I have known you for seven years, and because I want the same things." He finished, and looked to her for a response.

"Why are you telling me things I already know?" She choked hoarsely.

"Because I need to tell you something you don't know." He answered. "Olivia you were there for me when Kathy split, you've helped me find a place, and with my kids. I treated you like crap but you still stuck by me. Liv, I'm here because I can't just sit back and watch you go out with all the wrong guys. They could never love you… as much as I do." He blurted.

"What?" Olivia asked, shocked.

"One Minute!"

"I love you." He said. Finally. "More than I have ever loved anyone before."

"Times up, switch!"

Olivia just sat with her mouth agape as men started rotated around her.

"Okay, well then." Elliot said, terrified that she hadn't spoken yet. He had to get out of there. "I'll let you get back to your dates." He said quickly as he pushed his chair put and almost sprinted for the door.

TBC... Another cliff hanger, but the last chapter is the next, and it will answer all questions!

Tell me what you think in a review!