Close Calls

Summary: See ch1

Disclaimer: No mine

A/N: Again, loved the reivews, keep them coming! Thanks for the luds thing, Inara Cabot, I had no idea! Enjoy!

Surprises and Coffee Breaks

When Olivia finally made it to the door of her apartment she couldn't wait to just take a warm bath and get to sleep. She had been planning on being home by seven, but it was almost midnight, and she was just now unlocking her door.

She was startled at what she saw when she first pushed it open.

There were candles covering every hard surface of her apartment. On the coffee tables, television, counters, table, and even on the floor. There was soft music playing, and she could smell the chicken franchise. She couldn't help but smile when Kevin appeared in the kitchen.

"What is this all about?" She asked with a smile, still standing in the doorway.

"Well, it sounded like you were having a long day on the phone, so I decided to surprise you." He smiled as he made his way over to her and kissed her lightly on the lips. "Your coat mademoiselle?" He asked as he helped her with her jacket.

"You never fail to amaze me." She smiled.

"Come and eat. Just because you get home at this ungodly hour does not mean you should have to live on cold pizza and Chinese food." He informed her, well aware of what a cop's diet usually consisted of.

He led her to the table; which he had covered in a table cloth and adorned with yet more candles. He then took a plate of chicken out of the oven where it was being kept warm and placed it in front of Olivia. "Bon appetite." He smiled before retrieving plate for himself.

Olivia couldn't help but smile. It was hard for her to find a man who treated her so well.

"You do know that my insurance doesn't cover fire caused by hundreds of candles, right?" She asked as she began eating her meal.

"Don't worry, I was careful." He told her. "And their all on trays so the wax won't get on any of your stuff." He added.

"Do you ever stop being thoughtful?" She asked.

"Not when it comes to you." He answered. "I love you Liv." He said suddenly.

Olivia froze, her fork in midair. She just stared at Kevin for a moment. "What did he just say?" She wondered.

In the silence Kevin lowered her fork hand, and took it and the other in his. "I know that we've only been dating for a few months, but I really do love you. It's okay if you don't say it back. I just, I just wanted you to know." He said almost it a whisper. After another silence he added, "Say something Olivia."

Olivia finally snapped out of her trance. She hadn't expected him to say that, not so soon in the relationship. The truth of the matter was that she wasn't ready to say it to him. Sure she liked him, and really liked where the relationship was going, but love? It took a lot for Olivia Benson to love someone. She kept her heart guarded at all costs, and she wasn't ready to totally let this man in; not yet, not so soon.

"I, uh, I…" Olivia began. "Uh, I don't really know what to say." She finally managed.

"You don't have to say anything." Kevin smiled. "This doesn't change anything you know. I've felt this way for a while. Now I've just said it." He smiled, rubbing the back of her hands with his thumbs.

"For a while? We've only been together for a few months!" Olivia thought. "But is it really so bad? I mean, so what, he loves me. I should be happy." Her mind continued.

"Are you mad with me?" Kevin asked when the silence continued. "I didn't make you uncomfortable, did I?" He questioned.

"No, no, of course not." Olivia assured him. Shaking her head and coming out of shock. "I just… I didn't expect you to say that. I… I'm used to relationships that end way before we're ready to say 'I love you'." She answered. "You just shocked me a little, but… I'm flattered." She smiled.

"Okay, just making sure." He smiled back, and then returned to his dinner.

Later that night Olivia lay wrapped in Kevin's arms; the events of the night spinning in her head. He had actually told her that he loved her. Olivia wondered if anyone could really mean that after only dating for three months. But then again, what did she really know about love? She was pretty sure that she didn't love him though, and that bothered her. Sure she had strong feelings for him, and she loved being with him, but did that mean she loved him? And, although she was happy being with him, there were times when she couldn't help but feel that she belonged with someone else; although that could have just been because she tended to run from love.

Olivia would never admit it, but she was terrified of love. Everyone she had ever loved, left her. First there was her mother, then the man she had been engaged to when she was 16; he high tailed it away from her as soon as her mother threatened castration. The few boyfriends she had who made it to love all ended up leaving her heart broken, and alone.

After an hour of lying there, not sleeping, she finally concluded that it didn't matter whether or not she loved him at the moment. Kevin loved her, was good to her, and respected her. He understood what it was like to be a cop, and could comfort her in a way that didn't suffocate her. He was good for her, he was safe, and in time; who new, maybe she would love him too.

Olivia had expected to feel better about the whole 'I love you' thing when she woke up the next morning, but after finding Kevin in her kitchen cooking her breakfast, and hearing him say it again as he left for work, she found herself still stressing over it.

It felt like she had a million pounds sitting on her chest. She felt guilty that this man clearly loved her, and she wasn't sure if she felt the same way, or if she ever would for that matter. But, she was happy in the relationship, and hoped it would all work itself out.

When she got to work she was relived to find the computer report sitting in her in box. Work would get her mind off of her personal issues.

As she picked it up to read it, Elliot's voice came from behind her.

"Morning Liv. That the report from the warehouse computer?" He asked; walking past her and straight over to the coffee machine.

"Yeah." Olivia answered. "Mind making me a cup?" She added when she saw him starting the machine. She began reading through the report as she hung her coat on her chair and pulled it out to sit.

"They find anything helpful?" Elliot asked leaning against the table so that he could face his partner, but not be too far away from the liquid when it was ready.

"Umm, looks like we got some e-mails detailing the kidnapping of her. These guys planned this." She said, looking up to Elliot.

"Any names?" He asked.

"Looks like only screen names. We've got a 2hottboy2121, a wildman3342, and an Ido4U8859." Olivia answered. "These names always crack me up a little." She added to lighten the mood.

"Yeah, especially when we find the guys and 2hottboy turns out to be a not so hot forty year old man!" Elliot added as he turned to pour the coffee. "Same as usual?"

"Yeah, two creams…" Olivia began.

"Three sugars." Elliot finished. "After seven years, I know." He smiled, placing the mug on her desk. "Any of those e-mails say where they planned on taking her?"

"Just says 'the location'." Olivia sighed.

"So, basically we know no more than we did last night." Elliot huffed.

"Basically." Olivia answered.

"What's with the long faces?" Munch asked as he strolled into the precinct.

"The files we pulled from the computer in the warehouse didn't give us anything." Olivia answered, tossing the file onto her desk and taking her coffee. "They made sure to keep their e-mails as cryptic as possible."

"The guys down in IT weren't able to trace where those e-mails were sent?" Fin asked as he came in. He had heard most of the conversation and decided to join in.

"They're working on it. Won't have it for us until noon." Cragen said from his office. The detectives were beginning to think that the man slept in his office. He always seemed to be there, not matter how early they arrived.

"Liv, you think you can pull some strings to hurry them along?" Munch asked over his glasses.

"John, Kevin will have the files ready as soon as he can. He doesn't hold out on people." She huffed. It wasn't that she was mad at him for what he said; it was just that she had hoped not to have to think about Kevin today.

"Sorry, just asking." Much said with his hands held up in defense.

"Well, what'll we do till then?" Fin asked.

"Jacobs and Marney should be back any minute now from their stake out of the warehouse. Talk to them, see if they got anything." Cragen offered. "Elliot and Olivia, I want you two looking over the computer report until the rest of it comes in. Try to find anything that may point to an ID or location of these guys. I can't believe that they didn't slip up somewhere." Cragen ordered.

TBC...

This was a little of a transition chapter, I know that there wasn't a lot of action, but there was some! And of course the little office banter/fluff!

REVIEW, and tell me what you think!