Chapter 3

"You guys should hit the crib." Munch said looking over at Olivia passed out on her desk, and Elliot dozing off as he stared at Olivia.

Olivia lifted her head off of her desk and looked over at Elliot who was staring at her, "What?" She asked.

"Nothing," He said with a smile. A piece of her hair was sticking straight up, but no matter how ridiculous it looked, he couldn't help but think she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, "We should hit the cribs." He said standing up.

"Any word on, Simon?" She asked her eyes becoming wide open in hopes of some good news.

"Sorry, Liv. Nothing yet." He said sympathetically.

"Wake me if you here anything?" She asked.

"Definitely."

The dynamic duo slumped up the stairs as if they were sleepwalking. Olivia walked over towards her locker to change into her pajamas, however the thought of actually going to the bathroom, stripping down her work clothes, and putting on something else, seemed like too much work, way too much work. She shrugged, shoved her pajama's back in the locker and walked towards the cots.

She rolled around a bit on the cot trying to make herself comfortable, "I don't know how much longer I handle sleeping on these cots," She complained as Elliot walked by and took the cot next to hers.

"Come on, it's not that bad." Elliot said turning to face her.

"Not that bad?" She questioned, "Elliot this thing is smaller than a two by four! I almost fell off of it the other day! Not to mention these mattresses are 100 years old, and as thin as this sheet! And this bar! Don't even get me started on the metal bar that keeps poking into my back!" She said her face none too pleased, as she thrashed around trying to make herself comfortable. After a moment or two she looked over at Elliot, "I'm sorry I'm being whiney." She apologized.

"You have every right to be, Liv."

"I know you miss your bed, your family, yourfreedom, and I'm sorry that I'm keeping you from that."

"Olivia, there is no place I would rather be, than right here, protecting you." He said.

"Thank you, Elliot. I don't believe you, but thank you." She said curling up into a ball, "I don't think I can get comfortable."

It was then that Elliot got an idea. He hopped off his cot and started taking the mattresses off the cots and laying them on the floor. He placed four mattress cots in a square and then placed the last four on top of those making it doubled layered. Olivia just watched him amazement, "There you go, me lady." Elliot said lying down showing off his creation.

Olivia smiled at him, but didn't move.

"Well come on, Liv, your king size bed awaits!" He said with a smile as he grabbed some sheets, and some pillows. He looked over at Olivia who looked like she was about to cry, "Huh? Did I do something wrong?" He asked unsure of what he did.

"No, no…you're great, you didn't do anything wrong, except be the best partner a gal could ask for." She said climbing out of her cot and onto the stack of mattresses. She placed her hand on Elliot's cheek and kissed him on the other side, "Thank you, Elliot."

"Well then why all the tears?" Elliot asked, wiping a drop that escaped down her cheek.

"I'm just an emotional mess these days." She said wiping a few more drops that had also escaped down her cheek, those bastards.

Elliot put his arm around her, "I know this can't be easy for you, but I'm here for you every step of the way."

"I know, and thank you, Elliot. You really mean a lot to me. I hope you know that." She said as she shifted and lay down.

"You mean a lot to me too, Liv." he said getting up from the pile of mattresses to return to the cot.

"No, El. Stay here," She said patting the spot next to her. He looked at her with a questioning look, "Elliot, its fine. Come on, besides I would feel horrible making you sleep on that thing," She said pointing to the cot, "After you made this, surprisingly enough, quite comfortable contraption."

"Are you sure?" Elliot asked to make sure that this was in fact alright.

"Positive." She said with a sleepy smile.

Elliot climbed in; his body hovered over the edge of the mattresses so that if he moved .0001 of an inch to the left he would fall off.

Olivia turned to him, but he was facing the opposite way, "Elliot?" She questioned so that he would turn and face her.

"Yeah, Liv?" He answered.

"Nothing," she said chickening out, she rolled over and took a deep breath and closed her eyes, falling asleep within minutes.

Elliot on the other hand, wished he was so lucky. Olivia's body was so close to his, he couldn't concentrate on anything except that. If he reached out his hand he would be able to touch her, that thought alone kept his eyes from closing, and therefore his body from doing anything that he might not be aware of if he was sleeping…like dreaming.

EOEOEOEO

When Elliot awoke the next morning he felt a pair of arms wrapped around him. The skin was so smooth, so soft and silky; however as unfamiliar as it was, it was also some how…familiar… does that even make sense? He wondered. There was a piece of hair trailing across his chest, and he could smell…this amazing smell that made his mouth water. He opened his eyes and looked around. He was still on the far edge of the mattress, which means that SHE, not him, but SHE was the one to move over and wrap her arms around him. That thought alone sent his body into shock waves.

He covered her arm with his, smiled, and closed his eyes. Only to feel Olivia's arms jerk frantically away from him, "Whoa! I'm sorry, Elliot." Olivia said as she immediately woke up, "This is probably borderline inappropriate," She moving away from him, "I'm sorry, I must be a sleep cuddlier or something," She joked nervously.

"No, it's ok." He said a little bit too quickly.

"We probably should get up, huh? And pray that Munch or Fin, or anybody for that matter came in and saw us." She said quickly getting up and heading towards the woman's room.

Elliot rolled over wondering if that just happened; and when he felt his dick harder than steal he figured, that yes, that did just happen. He quickly got up and headed for the showers…a cold shower this time and nothing more.

EOEOEOEO

Elliot came out of the showers to find Olivia sitting on the bench, "Hey," He said casually.

"Hey," She said with a small smile, "I just wanted to say thank you, last night was the best night of sleep I have had in a long time, so thanks." She said standing up, her cheeks rosy, "and…uh…I'm sorry about the uh…inappropriateness."

"What? No, it was fine, Liv, really." He said as he tried sound as calm and cool as he could, "And besides, I mean if anyone is to blame for the inappropriateness, I think that would be me," he quipped with a smile.

"Well, we better get down there." Olivia said and she and Elliot walked down to the bull pen.

EOEOEOEOEO

"Good morning, guys, or should I say, good afternoon." Munch said looking at his watch.

Olivia and Elliot both looked at the clock, "Oh my God, it's really 12:30?" Olivia asked shocked.

"Yup, you guys sure must have been tired." Fin said looking over at Munch trying to hide his smile.

"Tired? Is that what they are calling it these days?" Munch asked with a grin on his face.

Olivia and Elliot just looked at each other, "Shut up, Munch." They said in unison.

Munch walked over to Elliot and whispered into his ear, "Olivia was looking pretty comfortable up there." And walked away. Elliot couldn't help the smile that appeared on his face.

Olivia booted up her computer, and Elliot did the same. She looked over at him and smiled, "So much for them not seeing us."

Elliot let out a soft laugh, "Yeah."

"Again, I'm sorry, Elliot."

"Don't be sorry, it was uh…nice." He said giving her a smirk.

"Yeah?" She asked nervously.

"Yeah."

EOEOEOEO

8 hours later no leads had come in and Olivia was getting frustrated, "I'm going to head to the roof, clear my head." She said getting up from her desk, as she told Munch and Fin. Elliot was in the bathroom and she decided that if she wanted some alone time now would be her chance.

"Uh, wait for Elliot." Munch said.

"I'll be fine, Munch." She said not waiting and headed towards the stairway.

"Where's Liv?" Elliot asked when he came back.

"Roof." Munch answered.

"What? By herself?"

"I tried to tell her--" Munch began but Elliot was already gone.

When he reached the top of the roof he saw Olivia standing there. Her silhouette shinning through the moons glow, and Elliot swore he had never seen something so beautiful, "Getting sick of me?" He asked as he approached her.

Olivia turned around and smiled, "Never. Just looking at all the people down there, living life, being free…"

Elliot smiled, "Soon Liv, soon." It was then that he noticed the red eyes, and tear stained cheeks on his partner, "Awe, Liv." He said and with out thinking pulled her into a hug.

He wondered when things began to change with them. They didn't hug, they didn't sleep together, and by God they definitely didn't think about each other while doing…'things'. Ok well maybe he did, but she sure as hell wasn't supposed to know about it and be ok about it!!

"Thank you, El. You have been such a great friend to me these past few days. I don't know what I would have done with out you." She said into his ear, sending shivers down his spine.

He gripped his arms around her tighter, "Well, I don't know what I would have done these past 9 years with out you." He said, and she giggled softly. They stayed hugging for a minute or two in silence, allowing the night air to sweep over them and clear their heads.

She took a deep breath, "What's happening to us, El? I mean--this" she used her hand to motion between the two of them, "We don't do this." She said as she looked him in the eye.

Elliot's eyes searched hers, "I don't know, Liv; but I like it. I like holding you, I like being there for you, like this." He said squeezing her gently; but before they could say anymore the heavy metal door came swinging open.

Their heads turned and their bodies jumped apart when they saw Fin standing there, "You guys probably want to come down. Cragen and Lake are back," He said unable to look in Olivia's direction, "They got some news."

"Tell me! Is it Simon?" Olivia asked her voice shaky, and terrified.

"Olivia---" Fin said in a patronizing way.

"I'm a big girl, Fin. Just tell me."

Fin looked at Elliot for reassurance, but got nothing, "I'm Sorry, Livia." He said bowing his head, "There was nothing they could do. They just got there too late."

"NOOOO!" Olivia shouted and walked over to Fin.

"I'm so sorry---"

"NO!" She shouted again and pushed Fin into the brick wall behind him, "Take it back!" She shouted as her face became covered in tears, her fits now pounding into Fin's chest.

"Liv, Stop!" Elliot shouted and ran over to her and grabbed her forced her into a hug, "I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry Liv." He said as he ran his fingers through her hair.

"Just leave me alone, please just leave me alone." She cried pulling away from Elliot's arms and falling to the ground. She wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked back and forth, "Just leave me alone." She said again.

Elliot nodded for Fin to leave, which he did; but Elliot wasn't going to leave, not now, and maybe not ever. He slowly walked over to her, sat on the dirty ground and wrapped his arm around her. Elliot thought she was going to push him away, or tell him to get the hell away from her; however when he felt her body fall into his, he knew that things were really changing between them. She was letting him comfort her, and that was something he knew she didn't let anybody do.