A/N: See Chapter 1 for disclaimer. Thanks for your reviews! I really appreciate it. Hope you enjoy reading part 3!

Let's see what happens next...

Part 3

After a rather boring Sunday Olivia was the first to arrive at work on Monday morning. She started the coffeemaker and looked into their current cases to make sure they didn't overlook anything. Deep in thoughts she forgot about the coffee and didn't hear Elliot coming in.

"Good morning Olivia. You're an early bird."

Surprised, Olivia jumped and nearly toppled over her chair.

"God, do you have to sneak in here? You almost caused me a heart attack."

"Sorry, didn't mean to startle you." He draped his coat over his chair. "So, no coffee for you?"

Olivia shook her head. "At the moment any rise of blood pressure wouldn't be comfortable."

She sat back down and followed her partner with her gaze. "How was your weekend?"

"Nice. Kathy and I had dinner out and went to the theater after that. So, yeah, it was really good. You know how it is. We don't have much time alone together." He settled at his desk. "And you? Anything to tell about?"

"No, nothing. Just me, myself and I." Olivia shrugged.

"Okay." Elliot knew when to drop a subject. "What are you looking at?"

"I checked those three cases to make sure we followed every lead we had."

"Found something?" Elliot sipped his coffee.

"Nothing unusual. But there has to be something, anything." Olivia leaned back and shook her head. She hold up a folder. "Here. That's the case of Tamara Jelenova. She was raped in the middle of a park. And nobody saw anything unusual. We have to speak to her again."

"She's still in the hospital?"

Olivia nodded.

"Well, shall we?" Elliot got up.

"No time like the present." Olivia followed her partner out of the squad room.

ADA Cabot was the whole Monday morning in court. As she finally made it back to her office, she was glad, that she only had to check some files over the afternoon. And would be able to leave the office at five.

She sat down on her desk and checked her cellphone. Two missed calls and a new text message. As she opened the text message her heart started to race. Olivia had texted her.

'Hey Alex, thought we could have lunch together. But it seems you're still in court. Maybe we can meet tomorrow? Olivia'

At first Alexandra was disappointed that they had missed another chance to meet. But then she made sure that her schedule was free for lunch with the lovely detective the next day.

As she thought about it, another idea crept into her mind. Maybe Olivia would be free for dinner tonight. So she answered.

'Hello Detective Benson. I am sorry for another missed opportunity. But lunch tomorrow sounds good to me. If it doesn't counteract with your schedule, perhaps we can meet for dinner tonight too?'

The ADA put her cell aside and concentrated on the work on her desk. She just hoped Olivia was free and nothing interfered with her plans.

It was already late afternoon as she received an answer from Olivia.

'Sorry, Counselor. I would love to have dinner with you, but I'm out with Elliot. We have a new lead in the Jelenova case. Keep you informed. Get you for lunch at twelve tomorrow. I look forward to it.'

Alex covered her face in her hands and sighed heavily. It almost seemed as if fate interfered with her plans to date the detective. Never before had they had to postpone their meetings so often. That just started as they both acknowledged that they wanted to see each other in a more private setting. She shook her head and leaned back in her chair. Was it really good to change their friendship into a more intimate relationship? Maybe that wasn't what their lives were planned for.

She closed the folder on her desk in a rather harsh motion and left her office. She needed something to distract her.

Olivia sat in the passenger seat of the black sedan. She didn't say anything over the last half hour and Elliot knew that something bothered his partner. But he didn't know how to approach the subject. Olivia didn't seem to be in the mood for discussion.

"What is it, Stabler?" Olivia did not look at him.

"Nothing."

"You sure?"

"Well..." Elliot scratched his head. It was now or never. "Something seems to bother you."

"I do not want to talk about it. It does not have anything to do with the case we are on. So just leave it."

"Liv..."

"No, El. Let it go. I am not talking."

Stabler hold his hands up in surrender and fixed his gaze on the apartment building in front of them.. He knew when his partner was ready, she would talk to him or do something about it. He hoped that it happened fast, because he couldn't stand this silence much longer.

"Did you hear anything from Cabot today?" Elliot thought this would be a safe enough topic.

"No, why should I? Was there anything we needed her for?" Olivia's voice had an annoyed ting to it and he just shrugged.

"Can we do our job or do you need someone to entertain you?"

Before Elliot could even think about an answer to that, Olivia's cellphone vibrated. She grabbed it and her threatening attitude changed into a rather longing look.

Olivia held her cell in her hands and took a deep breath.

'Olivia, I hope you find, what you are looking for. I, too, look forward to lunch tomorrow. Only hope fate is with us this time. And do not give your partner a hard time, because you are disappointed. 'Til tomorrow, Alex.'

How does she know, I am pissed off?, Olivia thought.

She answered.

'How do you do that? I try my best to be nice. Would rather be with you. It is frustrating. Best would be we leave town and just forget about work. Sleep well and sweet dreams later.'

Olivia put her cellphone aside and looked at Elliot.

"I am sorry. It is not fair to let you suffer for something you don't even know about."

"Is okay. As long as you start talking to me again."

"Well, that should be something I can to." Olivia tried a tentative smile.

"Good. Now, what do you think is going to happen? Does he come out there tonight or do we just sit here and accomplish nothing?"

Olivia took a moment to weight up their possibilities.

"Even if he comes out. We can only follow him. Hope he makes a failure. Leads us somewhere or returns to the crime scene. At the moment we have nothing to arrest him."

"Then let's hope fate is with us."

"Let's hope not." Olivia mumbled silently. She didn't believe in fate anymore.