So, I've been asked a couple of times to continue this story, and I wasn't sure how.. so it took me a few days to come up with something. This is the in-between chapter from the first part and the third part (yay... there's more! lol). This is just a little teaser before the good stuff! I have to edit the last chapter (which will be coming in the next few days) before I can post it. I hope you like this!

PS- make sure to think of me tomorrow morning (10 am Ontario time) because I'm going for my G (my full driving licence) and I'm super nervous! I have no idea how to park in reverse into a parking spot, so if they ask me that, I'm screwed! ahh! Anyways, this chapter is rated K.

Elliot had been worrying about his partner for the last couple of weeks. She just hadn't been herself. He knew that she was a workaholic but lately it was ridiculous. When he arrived in the morning, she was at her desk, and when he left at night, she was still there- with no signs of leaving. She had quiet lately, withdrawn. She was doing her job properly, but that spark that was once there was gone. Lately it seemed she was constantly distracted and it was starting to really worry him. There was something on her mind and he knew it. He just didn't know what it was because she had never brought it up. Elliot had waited, but after two weeks of having a quiet and withdrawn partner, he had had it. He needed to confront her. So, after their shift, Elliot approached Olivia's desk and waited for her to look up at him.

"You heading out?" she asked.

"In a minute. You gonna stay late again?"

"Probably. There's some phone calls I wanna make to see if we can go visit some people tomorrow."

Elliot nodded, waiting to see how he should approach the topic.

"Don't you think you've been working a lot lately?"

Olivia shrugged.

"There's been a lot of work lately."

"No more than usual, Liv. What's going on? I know something's up."

She sighed. She could tell by his tone that he was serious about wanting to talk.. She ran a hand through her hair and looked down at the papers on her desk before looking back up at him.

"I know something's on your mind."

Olivia stayed quiet for a moment. She shook her head and looked away.

"I don't know what to do."

"What's going on?"

"Alex. She's withdrawn from me and I don't know what to do. It's been weeks."

Elliot knew Olivia had started something with Alex, but she hadn't brought it up and he had assumed that things were going well. He knew how long she had been into the blonde and when it finally happened, he had been ecstatic for her. However, now it troubled him to hear that things weren't going well.

"What's wrong? Have you tried talking to her?"

Olivia nodded.

"I don't know what's up though. Something's going on but she won't open up."

"Do you have an idea?"

"Not really. I don't really know what's going on because she won't let me in."

"Maybe you just need to be straight with her, Liv. You need to tell her what's going on and what you're going through. Maybe she just needs reassurance. She needs to open up sooner or later because, realistically, how long can you keep going on like this? It's eating you up."

"I know."

He nodded.

"Are you sure you don't know what it is?"

She sighed.

"I'm not sure. I mean, I suspect but I'm not positive… She been pushing me away and no matter what I do, she won't let me get close. We were good for a while but… she has her walls and won't let me in. I tried and I haven't given up yet, but I don't know how much longer I can keep doing this. I don't want to give up but I don't know if I should keep pushing or what. I gave her time and space, but nothing is changing. I'm going crazy."

Elliot felt his heart tug for his friend. He knew how much she liked and cared for Alex, even before the two had started being more than just friends. To see her hurting now like this, it made him feel helpless.

"Liv, Alex is an honest person. She probably isn't pushing away you to hurt you. Odds are she's hurting just as much as you are, and is probably just as confused. Unless you want things to end with her, you should go talk to her."

Olivia sighed and nodded.

"I know. I just… It's hard to get up the nerve to go to her."

"Eventually you gotta decide what's more important: her… or your fear?"

Elliot waited a moment for her to respond, but she didn't.

"Go talk to her, Liv."

With that, Elliot squeezed her shoulder and left the precinct.