They were coming back to the precinct from the sub station, it was very late, about one a.m. They had caught the guy and gotten the victim to the hospital, and she going to be okay. Everyone was exhausted, but it was a successful catch, so it was a good tired. Elliot and Olivia were in their car, driving through the quieted streets of the city.
"Sorry you missed your date with what's his face." He said suddenly, breaking the silence. Olivia startled, El hadn't said much to her all night. " That was random." She said. "His name's Tim." She informed him after a second.
"Tim, Tom.. Steve, Rick.. whatever." He grumbled.
"What are you saying Elliot? That I see a lot of men?" Olivia started to get angry and turned to look at her partner, who was clutching the steering wheel and staring moodily at the road in front of him.
He refused to turn to look at her. "Answer me damnit." She demanded, thoroughly pissed off. Elliot really knew how to pout. All night she had been ignored by him, and now all a sudden he was basically saying she a slut? She put her hand on his arm, to get his attention.
Elliot shook her hand off, he was disgusted at himself for starting a fight with her, and for being so angry about her dating. Realizing that probably made him look mad at her, he softened his expression and turned a sideways glance at her, with a half smile. "Sorry Liv, I'm just tired."
She relaxed, he was tired, and he had been through a lot lately. Not seeing his kids everyday had to be murder for him. "I know El, it's ok." She laughed, "besides I do pick some real winners don't I?"
They chuckled together, the men Olivia dated were pretty funny. Most of the guys she dated were male bimbos. Elliot teased her a lot about what a man-nizer she was.
"You said it, not me." He said. She play punched him in the arm. "Well I can't wait to see what you bring around." Oops she thought to herself, probably wasn't the time to bring that up.
Elliot made a frown. " I don't think I'll be dating for awhile yet, but when I do I highly doubt I could find any women to half way compare to the men you bring around."
She realized he was still joking and thanked God silently. The last thing she needed was to say something that would upset him again.
Elliot knew she'd never be interested in him, after seeing what she liked to date. He wasn't a model, or a ken doll. She didn't seem interested in getting serious with anyone. He stopped for a second, shocked when he realized that depressed him, because he wanted to be serious with her. He had never really allowed himself to think that, and now here he was in the middle of the night, with his partner in the car, and he wanted more.
"You know I'm always here for you, don't you El?" she broke into his thoughts.
"I know Olivia, I know." He smiled at her, and she felt her heart skip a beat. She wanted to be there for him in so many ways, she blushed thinking about if he could read her thoughts, he'd think she had lost her mind.
They pulled into their parking space, and exited the car. Walking side by side, without touching, they headed into the precinct to start the long arduous paperwork. He brought her a coffee automatically, with exactly the right amount of cream and sugar, before they settled down to get busy. Working side by side, they went over the evening, working like a well oiled machine, doing their job. They finally finished around three a.m, and Elliot realized how early in the morning it was.
"You can crash here at the crib with me, or I'll take you home, but you are not going alone." He told her when she stood up and started to stretch.
"Elliot… I happen to be a member of New York City's Finest, I'm a cop!" she exclaimed.
He gave her that look, his Elliot give me a break Olivia, and drop it look. She had to bite the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling. He was so damn hot when he was bossy. Hmm she thought to herself, a little giddy from lack of sleep… go home.. sleep in the crib with Elliot… tick tock, tick tock.
"Fine," she said with a mock sigh of exasperation. "I'll sleep with you in the crib."
She could have sworn he blushed, before he raised an eyebrow and leered at her, "You'll sleep with me?" He rubbed his hands together.
"Oh yeah baby, too bad you couldn't handle me." She flirted back jokingly.
He made a step towards her, and she squealed and ran into the locker room to get her spare t-shirt and pj bottoms, slamming the door shut and locking it. They often played around late at night like this, but somehow it felt a little different this time. Elliot had been looking at her in a way she hadn't seen him look at her before.
She took a few minutes getting ready for bed, brushed her teeth, and calmed herself down. Then she unlocked the door and headed into the crib. Elliot was laying on one bunk, the other one next to him empty. He had his hands behind his head, and was staring at the ceiling. He had taken off his shirt, and was just wearing a pair of cut off sweat pants, and Liv had to force herself not to stare.
She settled down on the bunk, and turned on her side away from him, and about five minutes later, when she thought he had fallen asleep, she heard him murmur to her, " you have no idea how well I would handle you."
She started, and rolled over to stare at him, in amazement, but his eyes were closed and he was pretending to be asleep. She wasn't sure how the context of what he had said was to be taken, so she rolled back over and fought herself to sleep.