Saturday 12/18/04 2:15 A.M.

They stood outside the door of Lance DeVries' loft in lower Manhattan. Elliot rapped loudly on the door. After a few minutes, he knocked again but louder. The door opened a few inches, a pair of green eyes peered out at the detectives.

"Mr. DeVries?"

"Yes?"

They held up their badges for him to see. "We'd like to talk to you about Joanne Amica."

"Now?"

"Its very important sir."

He sighed and closed his door. They heard his chain unlatch and he opened the door all the way. Lance DeVries was as tall and as broad as Elliot.

"Come in."

"Mr. DeVries we want to ask you about a number of checks you made out to Joanne."

DeVries sat in a big leather chair and stared at the detectives but didn't say anything.

"Do you know anything about her daughter's kidnapping?"

"Riley was kidnapped?"

Elliot nodded. "You don't know anything about that do you?"

"Why would I?" He stood up.

"What were those checks for Lance?"

"Joanne was having money problems, she asked me to help." He shrugged.

"So you gave her $5,000 a month?" Elliot questioned, raising an eyebrow.

Lance shrugged again. "I guess I'm just generous."

Elliot and Olivia glanced at each other. "I'm sure you are Mr. DeVries. Sorry to wake you. We'll be in touch with you soon."

"We need to check Joanne's bank records and Lance's too." Olivia said as they walked into the elevator.

Elliot nodded and pushed the ground floor button. "We can't do anything else tonight…this morning."

"I need some sleep." She yawned.

"You and me both."

When they walked into Olivia's apartment, Elliot watched as she gracefully took off her sweatshirt and slipped off her shoes. She felt his eyes on her and turned around, smiling. "What?"

He shrugged his shoulders and grinned. "Nothin'." But his grin gave away his thoughts. Wow he looks like the Cheshire cat off of Alice in Wonderland. Why does he have to be so goddamn sexy? She felt herself blush.

"I'll uh get the blankets for you." And with that she hurriedly went into her room.

Elliot laughed to himself and took off his coat and jacket. He had developed a migraine on the ride from DeVries and he needed some Tylenol.

"Where's the Tylenol Liv?" He asked as Olivia came into the living room.

"Umm…" she pointed to the bathroom. "In the medicine cabinet."

Elliot was amazed at how many hair products she had on the counter top. He opened the cabinet and pulled the bottle of pain reliever out. He carried it back to the living room. Olivia wasn't there so he went into the kitchen. Her back was facing him; it looked like she was getting coffee ready for them when they got up. He watched for a few seconds before she turned around. He smiled at her and went to the refrigerator. He pulled out a bottle of water and swallowed three pills. He took off his tie and unbuttoned his shirt.

They went into the living room and sat on the couch. Olivia laid her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his head against hers.

"Elliot?"

"Hmm?"

She pulled away from him and ran a hand through her hair. "What is this between us?" I mean it feels right but yet it doesn't. You're still married and…hell you're a Catholic. Doesn't that mean-."

He raised a hand to cut her off. "First of all don't worry about me being a Catholic. I, uh, I lost my faith a few months ago." Olivia shot him a double take. "And second of all, me and Kathy are as good as dead."

"Elliot…"

"Liv, I'm tired and I really don't want to talk about this." He sighed. "If you don't want us to be together then…"

She looked down at her hands. "No Elliot I, I do want us to be together."

"Then where is the problem Liv?"

She shrugged. "I guess I'm too much of a good girl." She said with a smile.

Elliot grinned. "You? A good girl? Nah." He pulled her close to him and kissed her softly. "We need to get some sleep."

Olivia nodded and got up from the couch. "Goodnight El."

He smiled and said, "'Night Liv." He watched as she walked into her room then laid down on the couch, staring up at the ceiling. He closed his eyes. His last thoughts were what would have happened if he had met Olivia twenty years earlier.

Sorry it's so short.There will be more next chapter.I promise.