Hi guys, this started off as a one shot but has now turned into a three-chapter fic (at least). It's a nice one where Fin, Munch and Cragen settle a bet that they have been waiting on for years.
Feel free to review, they are always appreciated.
I own nothing
Set the day after Elliot invites liv to a "Christmas family get together"
Fin came in early today. The Captain had spent most of the past few days helping Elliot deal with the whole Eli situation and Fin was covering for her. Whilst Fin was reasonably good at filling in for her, the paperwork never seemed to be his forte. So, in an attempt to not leave her a mountain of paperwork upon her return, he had come in early to try and finish some of it.
Eli was home safe, so Liv would be back at work today. The squad room was pretty empty until about 8am when Amanda showed up. Not long later, Liv had walked in looking oddly refreshed.
She had taken her time that morning, getting herself and Noah ready for the day. They had sat at the breakfast table together and she had heard all about Noah plans for his day. She was able to drop him off to school herself today, something which she swore she would do more often as a parent, but life always seemed to get in the way.
Walking into the squad room, coffee in hand she nodded at Fin to follow her as she made her way into her office. Fin got up from his chair and left his paperwork behind.
Her office was bright, the blinds already open and the morning sunshine streaming through. Liv dropped her handbag beside her desk and sat down in her chair, pulling her laptop out and setting it up. Fin made his way in and opted to sit on the couch to the right of her desk, resting his feet up on the small coffee table in front.
"Fin, I just wanted to say thank you for helping out these last couple of days. I know it was a bit out of the blue but you really were a life saver" she says, whilst simultaneously logging onto her computer.
"No problem, you know I'm happy to. How's Eli?" he asks, remembering the boy as a baby, keeping his father sleep-deprived for a solid two months.
At the mention of Eli, she looks up from her computer. A sombre smile gracing her face.
"He's not doing to good, but El is back now, and they are working on it"
She is smiling now, remembering the sight of Elliot holding his son in that hospital room. Expressing such raw emotion that he rarely let rear its head.
Thinking of Elliot is a slippery slope. She thinks about Eli. About his other kids as well. About their family. Now she is thinking about the invitation. The invitation to join his family for a Christmas get together. That small conversation in which they had decided to be "friends…for now".
Her smile has now turned to a looked of utter glee and she realises she has been staring at Fin silently for the better part of thirty seconds. It's his turn to smile now. In his case though, it's more of a smirk.
He had been watching her. Watching as her mind recounted the past few days. All of the stolen glances, the prolonged handholds and he playful conversations. The smile. He knew. He knew that he had just won himself fifty bucks.
His smirked has now been joined with a pair of raised eyebrows and a knowing "mmmh".
"What!" she exclaims, defensive but playful.
He stands up now, off the couch. He puts his hands up in surrender.
"nothin'" he says, shrugging his shoulders and he turns to leave.
She rolls her eyes and lets out a soft chuckle before returning back to her computer.
"You deserve it" Fin tells her before walking out of her office and closing the door behind him.
Looking at the back end of her office door, she sits, dumbfounded by the fact that within thirty seconds, he knew. She really had to get better at hiding it if this really was more than a "friendship".
Having walked out of her office, Fin heads straight for the breakroom. When he gets there, the coffee is already gone so he goes about putting another pot on. While he waits for the coffee machine he saunters over to the box of donuts and secures himself the last jelly donut.
Coffee in hand and donut half eaten he settle into one of the plastic chairs and whips out his phone. He has been waiting years to do this. He has been waiting years to finally claim full bragging rights over this bet. He has been waiting years to cash in his prize and rub it in the faces of the losers, Cragen and Munch.
Ooh, victory tastes so sweet.
He opens his messaging app and creates a new group chat. One with just Don and John. He has others, including Noah, Carisi, Barba and Casey but they can find out later. First, he needs to claim his winnings.
Fin: You both owe me $50. Time to pay up.
He sends the text and sits silently, awaiting a response. Hopefully he won't have to explain. This is one of the few remaining bets that they have going.
Munch: You're lying, last I heard he is still undercover.
At least he knew what they were talking about, even if he had been living under a rock.
Fin: Nah, UC gig finished up a few weeks ago.
Fin: She's got that look guys, this is happening.
Cragen: Never more than now have I been happier to have retired. Those two never were good for my health and now they are costing be another $50, Goddam.
Everyone was on the same page. This was happening.
Munch: I need some sort of confirmation. Details. Evidence. We are cops you know; we don't accept hearsay as proof.
For years, these three men had witnessed this relationship. The emotional love affair playing out in front of them, for all to see. None of them had doubted the truth, but when Elliot had left, the games had finished for a while. Liv was their girl, and they had her back.
Cragen had taken the bet that they would never get back together, the superior officer responsibility shining through. Fin had secured the endgame and Munch had settled on a friendship. Only time would tell.
Fin: I'll see what I can do, but trust me when I say, I have won this bet.
Fin knew it in his bones, he would need to find proof to secure his winnings but there was no doubt in his mind that he would succeed.
