The Bet
Chapter Two
By: Lizzie B
------------
Author's Note: Well, people liked this story so much and my muse is harassing me about it, so I'm continuing this! Yes, The Bet is now going to be a chapter story! I have no idea how long I'm going to make it, I've got lots of time to cover. Also, if you, dear readers, think there's a particular episode of SVU that would effect The Bet, tell me about it! If I like it I'll write about it. Also, be on the look out for a companion story called The Ante, it's basically The Bet from Elliot and Olivia's point of view. I think I'm done babbling now…yeah, I'm done.
------------
"Happy Anniversary honey," John said, raising his class of red wine to Fin, "It's been the best three years of my life." The members of Special Victims laughed and raised their own glasses.
"The three longest of mine," Fin drawled and the table burst into more laughter. They were all down at the local cop bar celebrating Fin's three year anniversary with them. It was the perfect reason for them to let a little steam off after a difficult case. A little drinking, a little hazing and some bad jokes were the perfect way to do it.
"It's so nice to be appreciated," John said, clapping Fin on the back.
"Hey, I'm glad you stuck around," Captain Cragen jerked his thumb at John, "I thought this nut with all his conspiracy theory talk was going to drive away every person I paired with him. I expected you to come back from your first stake out together and beg me for a transfer." Everyone instantly started telling their best stories about John and stake outs, which just make John tune them out. He glanced at his partner out of the corner of his eye and smiled. Only two more days and Fin would have to pay up. The Bet, as it was now jokingly called, was about to make John two hundred dollars richer. Not bad, considering there had been a few times he'd wondered if he knew Elliot and Olivia as well as he thought he did. But, they didn't let him down, and he was going to gloat about it for days.
"So Fin and I jump from the car," Olivia was saying when John tuned back in, "And we both have our guns out, sun glasses on, looking like some rejected Miami Vice spin off. I'm surprised the perp didn't just point and laugh at us."
"You looked like the reject. A white suit? What were you thinking?" Fin tipped his glass towards Olivia and shook his head, "Someone seriously needs to just burn your closet down."
"At least she wears a suit, you still look like you're in Narcotics," Cragen defended.
"And look like a black Lurch? I'll leave the mortician look to John." Once again the table exploded in laughter.
"Shouldn't we be picking on Fin? He's the man of the hour," John pointed out, scowling at everyone at the table.
"Okay, okay," Elliot leaned back in his chair and grinned at Fin, "Remember the Cruz case? Maybe two years back?"
"Oh man, that's cold," Fin said, shaking his head.
"But it's funny," Elliot pointed out, "So, the Cap sends Fin and me to talk to this homeless woman who called in a tip to the hotline we'd set up for this missing kid. So, we go meet this "woman" at some dive bar in Soho. Turn's out "Candice" was a cross dresser and built like a line backer. Had the fakest blonde wig I've ever seen on and a five o'clock shadow. "She" instantly falls in love with Fin and to get any information out of her, he has to start buying her drinks."
"Oh man," Fin groaned, "Just stop there, man."
"And skip the best part?" Elliot grinned evilly, "Now "Candice" was a big girl, but she couldn't hold even one gin and tonic, but by this time we'd figured out she was pretty much useless to our case so we're about to leave when she throws herself at Fin and they go crashing to the floor." Everyone was chuckling at this point, while Fin kept drinking, "It took Fin, the bar tender and me five minute to get "Candice" off of him."
"Wow, didn't know you were such a ladies man, Fin," Olivia propped her chin in her hand, "I know a few "ladies" who would love to meet you."
"If you're all gonna spend the whole night makin' fun of me, I need another drink," Fin said, getting to his feet.
"Woah, anniversary boy doesn't get his own drinks," Elliot said, also standing. "Anyone else need a refill?" Since everyone agreed that yes, they needed another drink, Olivia and Cragen ended up carrying empty glasses to the bar. Sensing an opportunity, John turned to fin.
"Only two days left man, ready to pay up?" He asked, a cocky grin in place.
"A lot can happen in two days," Fin scowled, not ready to admit defeat. Well, he wouldn't admit defeat to John. He knew Elliot and Olivia better and could see now that three years had been a bad choice. He actually figure John's first argument, that not as long as Elliot's married, was the best choice. Damn, John was going to gloat for days about this.
"Ha! Not that much," John snorted, "You should just pay up now and get it over with."
"What are you two talking about?" Alex Cabot asked. Although not officially part of the squad she along with Dr. George Huang had been invited along to join in the fun. So far, they seemed to be enjoying themselves.
"A bet," John explained, "In two days, Fin loses."
"A bet about what exactly?" Huang asked. John and Fin exchanged a look. They hadn't let anyone else in on their little wager, mostly because they had never thought about that before. For three years it had been a little inside joke between them. Any time Elliot or Olivia got too involved in a case they'd ease their concerns by joking about The Bet and who was going to end up paying who. It had also been a big part of becoming friends on top of partners. Now that the time limit was almost up, however, they didn't see the harm in letting others in on the joke.
"Elliot and Liv." Huang and Alex smiled.
"You bet on that?" Alex laughed, "I can't believe it."
"I can," Huang looked at John, "What were the terms?"
"Fin said three years, I said seven. You should have given them more credit Fin," John teased.
"Yeah, yeah," Fin rolled his eyes, "And if you keep rubbin' it in my face, I'll kick your boney white ass from here to Queens."
"You mean you're just going to let it go?" Alex looked incredulous, "You have to keep it going!" John and Fin once again looked at each other. They'd actually never thought about continuing The Bet before. What was the point? Fin was wrong, John got his money and Elliot and Olivia still had enough chemistry to fill up a high school science lab. Things would be like they had always been, only John got to gloat more.
"I'd certainly like to make my own wager," Huang said, looking over his shoulder to the bar where Cragen and Elliot were talking while Olivia silently listened.
"Oh yeah?" Fin leaned forward over the table, "What do you think, Doc?"
"Never. They may feel that way about each other, but it only comes from spending so much time together in stressful situations. They know that it'll burn out as soon as they act on it."
Alex snorted into her beer, "She loves him, and more than as just a friend or partner." Everyone looked at Alex in surprise. Sure, they'd figured Olivia was attracted to Elliot, but love? That was a whole other line to cross. "What? You don't see it? Pay close attention to the way she looks at him, you'll see it." The men at the table looked towards the pair in question and watched.
"Damn," Fin said after a moment, "She's right."
"Men," Alex muttered with a sigh.
"Still, sex and love are separate issues. Just because she loves him it doesn't mean she'll have sex with him."
"Doc's got a point," John agreed.
Alex snorted again, "Men really know nothing when it comes to women in love," She pushed her drink aside, crossed her arms on the table and fixed everyone with a hard look, "She loves him. She wants him. As soon as the opportunity presents its self, she'll take him."
"Care to make a wager counselor?" John grinned, "All you need is two hundred bucks and a time limit."
"I give it another five years," Alex said after glancing over her shoulder once more.
"Doc?" John asked, raising an eyebrow at Huang.
"If it ever happens it will be more than five years. Certainly not while his kids are still young as they are. I say ten."
"And since I'm feeling generous," John turned to Fin, "I'll let you change your bet for an extra one hundred dollars."
"Fine. I'm goin' with woman's intuition, five years."
"Are you going to let Cragen in?" Alex asked as the Captain started back for their table, leaving Elliot and Olivia at the bar.
"I don't see why not," John said with a shrug, wondering how he'd become the bookie, "Hey, Captain, want in on a bet?"
"It'll have to wait, we've got a case."
------------
Author's Note: It's kinda long, lol. I guess that's what happens when you've decided to make it a serial story. So, dear readers, please review and if you have any suggestions for SVU moments that could effect the bet, feel free to tell me about them!