The hairs on Elliot's neck stood up on end as he watched Olivia carefully in the bar and all the men around her. Even a little broken, battered, and spiritually washed out she still lit up the dingy bar. Like a rose growing through concrete.
She was shut off to the world, knocking her drinks down like a champ. The past few weeks had been to hectic and her honey colored hair was growing uncharacteristically long. A fringe of bangs dipped past dark eyes, so soft and feminine for the tough cookie she was.
She finished her glass of citrine beer and her fingers twitched for another. Elliot frowned. "Shouldn't you slow down?" He grumbled. Her lips curled into a sneer.
"Shouldn't you have one?" Elliot looked at the untouched glass of water in front of him. He shrugged. He hadn't felt like drinking lately. Olivia rolled her eyes. "Dr. Huang asked us to go out and attempt to be normal."
Elliot opened his mouth to speak but froze as he watched a guy craned his neck to stare hungrily at Olivia who didn't even notice. He suppressed the growl in his throat. "I don't think you knocking down 5 drinks in an hour is normal, Olivia." She chuckled, jumping when Elliot grabbed her hand and prevented her from grabbing her new beer.
She sent him a dangerous, unreadable expression that made him release her, before sliding the beer over to him. "At least I'm trying to deal. Have it." He looked down hesititantly before knocking the mug back, drinking half of it.
"I am trying." He said breathlessly, setting the glass down.
"You can't even look at me, Elliot. You treat me like a pariah. Like, like you're so repulsed by me after what happened." Her voice was small now, drowned out by the noisy bar.
"I've never been repulsed by you. Ever." He downed the rest of his beer and waved down the bartender. He ordered two dark shots and another beer. He slid one over to her and stared ahead, his expression blank. "I'm repulsed by myself." He said finally. "That I could do what I did to you. Something so important to me, vital..." He trailed off, staring at the bottles of liquor on the top of the bar.
"Elliot. What you did was save my life." Their eyes met finally for one long, painful moment.
"Olivia," The moment was ruined by some commotion behind them. A blonde who didn't look old enough to be in the bar was wailing, a biker tugging on her arm.
"C'mon." He grunted, trying to drag her towards the door. Before Elliot could say otherwise Olivia was on her feet, moving surprisingly well for someone who'd had a liquid dinner.
"Liv-" Elliot tried but she had already approached them.
"I'm sorry, do we have a problem here?" She asked, a dangerous look on her face. She hated bikers. He looked her up and down and sneered.
"No, we sure don't." He said with a grin, before pulling Olivia close. "But I reckon we could make one." His hand slithered down her back and on her behind. Olivia gave a surprised gasp. In seconds she had grabbed his arm and flipped him onto the bar, multiple people fleeing.
"I'm NYPD. Big mistake." Olivia whispered in his ear. Elliot watched as the rest of the biker gang finally noticed, and they didn't seem happy.
"Let him go, bitch!" Another yelled, raising a beer bottle. Elliot grabbed him quickly, holding his hands behind his back. Soon he was pinned to the bar as well.
"Elliot Stabler. NYPD As well." he flashed his badge quickly and everyone backed off.
"Now, unless you wanna spend tomorrow in lock-up, I suggest you and your little friends go stink up another joint." Elliot and Olivia let them both go in unison.
"You cops are fuckin' crazy." Said Olivia's assailant, before quickly exiting the bar with the rest of the gang. The bar was silent for a moment before the sounds slowly picked up again. Once they were in the clear Olivia and Elliot busted out laughing. It felt like an eternity since the last time they laughed.
"Let's get out of here." Said Elliot after a while, handing Olivia her jacket.
...
"So," George began optimistically. "How was dinner the other night?" Their smiles were small but hopeful. Olivia looked warmly at Elliot.
"Uh, pretty normal I think." She answered. Elliot nodded.
"I guess I would say so."