Shanice was nervous as she knocked on the office door and for a brief moment she wanted to run away.
But too late the door swung open and there stood a cubby bald man with scowling grey eyes. And now without a doubt she wanted to run back to the safety net her parents and built for her. She swallowed hard. "Good morning, I'm here to speak with Captain Cragen." She said trying to sound normal and that the man before her didn't scare the very guys out of her.
"How may I help you?" he asked and she caught the stench of whiskey on his breath.
"I'm Shanice Valentine, I was sent over from the chief office" She replied handing him the folder.
"Oh…" Cragen said hoping he could sink. This wasn't the way he wanted to start with a new detective, but the darn case had taken its tool and now so was the whiskey. "…yes this way please" Cragen straightened his tie and slowly sat back in his chair. Taking the folder from her he realized she came highly recommended but she lacked the experience.
Cragen excused himself as he called for Olivia.
Olivia walked slowly in the room with a smile on her lips. "Yea Cap'n" Olivia said sipping the coffee.
"Detective Benson, meet your new partner Detective Valentine" They glared at each other for a while.
"Detective, Fin and John can finish this case. Show Miss Valentine around will you?" he asked in a tone that booked no argument and Olivia felt with the rookie on her heels.
Olivia was sitting at her desk and smiled expecting to find Elliot there but instead she found the new detective. Shanice smiled back awkwardly and how could a woman who was so loved by her peers be such a 'bitch'
"Listen Detective Benson, I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot. But is it possible you not speak to me with so much hostility in your voice, it doesn't suit your character" Shanice said looking Olivia square in the eyes then getting up she walked to the restroom. This want she expected she expected a loving person who had a mishap years ago and was even ready to forgive her, but at the present moment she didn't like her very much.
Olivia watched her as she walked towards the ladies room and was suddenly embarrassed, the rookie hadn't done anything wrong yet for the past fie hours she had done nothing more than insult her. Getting up she walked to the bathroom and knocked on the closed stall.
"Listen, I'm sorry I didn't mean to snap at you, it just takes a little getting used to." Olivia said holding back her head, which was now fully throbbing with a head-ache, she had skipped lunch and now she was paying.
Shanice offered her a shy smile as she walked out of the bathroom. "I guess we could start over." She said with a hope-full smile and Olivia could have kicked herself when she noticed the tear stains on her face.
"I'm Olivia Benson, you can call me Liv."
"I'm Shanice Valentine. You can call me Val or Shan whatever you choose" Yes maybe it was going to be alright after all. She thought as they walked through the door with a shy smile on both there lips.
EOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOEOOEOEOOEOEOEOEOEOEO
Olivia was in the parking lot waiting for Elliot, his car was in the garage and she was now his chauffeur. A little rap on the window and she looked up to see him with a tried look on his handsome face.
"Hey, you look awful" Olivia joked as she gunned the engine.
"Thanks, you don't look too bad yourself" Elliot retorted. "I hate computers!" he finally screamed. Pushing back the passenger seat he got comfortable.
Elliot was out like lightening and the sleep seemed infectious because somehow she was dying to sleep.
"El." Olivia said shaking him gently when she brought him to his apartment.
"Mmmm" he said as he slowly came awake. "Liv?" he asked rubbing his now red eyes and his sounded like sand paper. And it felt like it too.
"Yea, sleepy you're home. What time should I pick you up?" she asked as Elliot fumbled with the handle on the door.
"Do know maybe round 7 I've got to get to the lab by 8" he said finally opening the door and stepping out into the cool night air.
"Okay then, sleep well El" she said and began to reverse the car.
"Yea" he replied and walked up to the entrance of his apartment building.
Olivia smiled and drove home. Maybe things were so bad after all she thought as she remembered seeing Shanice's smiling face.
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