Usual disclaimers, blah. Thanks for the support. Keep talking to me, enjoy and review.
"Hey Fin, you got a second?" without waiting for an answer Nick asked another question. "What kind of photo did Rollins put up of Liv and that old partner of hers?"
Slightly amused by Nick's obvious jealousy Fin replied, "You know he does have a name, right? Elliot."
"Yeah man, whatever. What kind of picture was it? What were they doing?"
"It was a picture man, they were hugged up. They looked a little wasted but it was nothing. Why you buggin' about that picture? Something going on between you and Liv?"
"Nah man, I was just curious. I thought he was married that's all."
"He was married."
"What do you mean was? H-he isn't anymore?"
"Hey gossip queens!" interrupted Murphy, "You guys gonna work today or what? We caught a case, here's the address. Sorry to break up your tea party, go."
Across the street from the 1-6 was a coffee shop that Olivia and Amanda had visited several times before but never under these particular circumstances. People were chatting, reading and enjoying their beverages all around them. However, there was nothing being enjoyed at their small table in the corner but silence. Neither woman had said a word since leaving the precinct, nor was there any eye contact being made. Olivia didn't trust herself to speak, fearing that she might say something that she couldn't take back. Amanda was too ashamed of how she let this situation get out of control. Knowing that the reason why they were there was her fault had Amanda stepping up to break the uncomfortable silence.
"Liv, I feel like a fool. I-I'm so—"
"Stop," interjected Liv. "Just don't, I let you go off on me and call me names because I knew you were hurting but now I really don't give a damn about your feelings. You so crossed the freakin' line. I've worked hard to earn my reputation and the respect of my colleagues. To have it in question because of your antics, due to the fact that your boyfriend dumped you truly baffles me. Instead of blaming me, you should probably blame yourself for being an insecure, adolescent, psycho! I recognize that you wouldn't know what it's like to have a good reputation with your gambling, lying and almost screwing Murphy to save your ass but I do." Olivia ran her fingers through her hair in an attempt to calm down before she said even more than she already has.
Feeling all of Olivia's words hit her right where it hurt, Amanda swallowed hard before she said anything. "I guess I deserved that. I uhm, haven't been feeling like myself lately and then all of this came out of the blue. I just kind of lost it. Then I saw Nick at your place and I just felt betrayed by someone I respected and then thinking went out of the window from there."
Olivia heard what the blonde detective was saying and understood but she couldn't give in to her needs right now because she still had questions. "I have two questions for you, no just make it one. Where in the hell did you get that picture from?"
"I uhm, I can't tell you that. It's my only one though and I really am sorry about this, all of it. Even if you two were doing whatever, I had no right to bring it to work. I know you can't forgive me now but I hope one day we can be friends again."
"You know I'm a trained detective so I will get to the truth, eventually. I hope whatever the reason why you're keeping that a secret is worth it."
Amanda was seriously pondering whether she should just let everything out or let Liv figure it out on her own. It couldn't get any worse or could it, thought Amanda. Amanda decided to play all of her cards right now; however it had her stomach on the verge of erupting. "Well after I suspected you and Nick, I uhm, did some digging. I knew you were extremely close to your last partner so I looked at old files, your personal lives etc. That's when I discovered that his wife had a private investigator follow you two."
Olivia couldn't believe that she and Elliot were being followed and didn't notice it. She made a mental note to ask Elliot if he knew anything about that, later. What else did the PI have on them; she shook off that unpleasant thought and refocused on Amanda. "Not that I owe you an explanation but I want you to know, that picture was taken out of context. We were undercover, playing a role, that's all. Look, we have to work together; I'm not promising anything more than professionalism. That's all that I can give at this moment, who knows the future?"
Amanda realized that this was better than the alternative and she could work without worrying about retaliation. "I will take that and I am sorry."
"I know, let's get back to work."
The end of the day was finally upon the detectives and they couldn't be happier. Although they did important work, the dark nature of their job was hard to bear at times. The inhumanity that they saw everyday had them grateful for the times that they could actually help to prevent others from being hurt. Everyone seemed to be in a good mood so Lt. Murphy decided they should all go out for a drink, it was Friday after all. They arrived at the bar, Get Lucked Up ten minutes after leaving the 1-6.
"I'd like to make a toast," began Murphy. "You guys are a pain in my arse but at the end of the day you get the job done, cheers."
"Cheers," agreed everyone in unison.
"I also would like to make a toast," everyone rolled their eyes and sighed loudly making the toaster laugh. "Seriously, I know I'm the new guy and just got here but thanks for letting me in the family," said Carisi.
"Who said you were in the family?" joked Fin, receiving more laughs from the other detectives. "Nah I'm just giving you a hard time playa, welcome to the family rookie." They all drank in agreement to Fin's statement as the night carried on.
Murphy, a true Irishmen, was the highlight of the night to the detectives. He was buying shots, jigging and overall just killing it as the life of the party. He showed the squad that he knew how to enjoy himself outside of work. Two hours and countless of cocktails later had the group buzzed and chatting about nonsense. Nick was now unable to keep from gravitating towards Olivia. Thanks to the liquid courage that he had been imbibing all night, he felt no need to stay away.
"Having fun?" asked a slightly impaired Nick.
"Absolutely, I had no clue that Declan had this in him," laughed an equally buzzed Olivia.
"Yeah, that guy's a maniac. Anyway, I couldn't stop staring so I decided to come and talk to the best looking woman in the bar."
"Stop it, I'm impaired, my inhibitions are low and your lines just might work on me."
"Well that's the encouragement I needed to keep going," a devious smirk stretched across his attractive face. "You know, we never had our dinner."
"That's right, we got interrupted by a pissed off blonde, and you got the best slap I've seen dished out in a long time." Olivia let her head fall back and laughed at the memory.
"You liked that huh? Well I'm glad you enjoyed that and hope you didn't get any ideas."
"I wouldn't dare put my hands on you in that way."
"So you would put them on me in some other way?"
"Nick…"
"Liv, everything else is falling into place, so it's time for you to follow suit woman. I need to know if I have an honest shot with you."
Olivia swirled her finger around the rim of her glass getting lost in the eyes of the stimulating man in front of her. "Nick, you're uhm, putting me on the spot here; in front of everyone at that. You know that I have feelings for you but-"
"Nope, not buts. Leave it at that and let's enjoy the rest of our evening." Nick moved in closer to Olivia as they continued to talk, kind of separated from the group. Amanda was just leaving the restroom as she noticed the two looking awfully cozy. Son of a bitch she thought to herself. Unwilling to cause another scene she decided to let it go and 'get lucked up'.
"Ya know I never thought you liked me," slurred Carisi.
"I don't," deadpanned Amanda.
Laughing almost obnoxiously, "You're funny, you know that?"
"Yeah, I'm a riot."
"Want another shot?"
"Why the hell not, bartender," yelled Amanda.
Fin was getting ready to call it night. They came, they drank, they were merry, and he figured it was time to get home. These white people don't know when to take their ass home, Fin thought to himself. He was preparing to say his goodbyes when he saw a hammered Carisi struggling to make his way back from the restroom. Damn rookie, Fin thought as he let everyone else in on his little discovery.
"Hey who's going to babysit the rookie? It's not gonna be me, I got shit to do," asked a slightly amused but irritated Fin.
"Shite, what a lightweight," chimed in Declan. "I will make sure the poor bastard gets home alright."
"Actually, uhm, I will make sure that he gets home ok. We're in the same neighborhood," drawled a clearly inebriated Amanda.
"I don't think that's a good idea," intervened Nick.
"Great, I don't remember asking for your damn permission Dad."
Aw shit, here we go; damn I was almost out the door, thought Fin. "I agree with Nick baby girl, you two won't be able to defend yourselves against anyone in your conditions. Come on let's share a cab."
"I'm not ready to go yet; I'm still having a good time."
"You should listen to your partner, Amanda," said Nick.
"Don't say my name!" exclaimed Amanda. She took a deep breath and tried to simmer down before she made yet another scene. "You know what Fin, let's go. Thanks to Mr. Buzzkill, my good time is ruined."
"Look I'm just trying to loo-"
"Let it go, Nick. Just let her be," cut in Olivia.
"Yeah, you should listen to your girlfr…just leave me alone, Amaro. Fin come on."
Can't take these damn folks nowhere, dramafied asses. "Alright partner let's hit it. Peace, everybody get home safe, see you Monday." Just as Fin and Rollins were leaving, Carisi stumbled over to the table confused.
"Hey w-where's Mandy?"
"Who in the bloody hell is 'Mandy'? blurted out Murphy. "You know what, never mind. Come on you pathetic lightweight, Mandy's gone."
"Damn, I should've never gone to the restroom. Can, can we get some food? I need like a lot of bread, like a lot."
"Christ almighty, see you two Monday," said Murphy as he and poor Carisi left Amaro and Benson alone.
"Well this was fun," said a sarcastic Liv.
"Yeah, sorry about Amanda, she's just well Amanda."
"Don't apologize, as a matter of fact, let's not talk about Rollins."
Happy to change the subject, Nick slid his chair over to Olivia and asked, "No problem, so what do you want to talk about?"
Olivia finished the last of her Manhattan and said, "Nothing." She kissed Nick right there in the bar. Unbothered by their surroundings, they let themselves get lost in the kiss. Their lips glided in sync with each other, like they had been acquainted forever. His tongue invaded her mouth with greed for more of what she was willingly giving. The only thing that they felt was pure desire and the necessity for air. They broke away from each other and came back down to Earth as whistles and claps filled their ears.
Grinning that mega-watt smile Olivia softly spoke, "I lied, Nick. I do want to talk about something."
Still mesmerized by that kiss, Nick tried to form the words, "Yeah what's that?
"Who's place, yours or mines?"
Bensaro action! I know you want the deets as to what went down after the bar, talk to me and come back for more. Slight twists on the horizon.
