A Smile And A Look
Chapter 2
"Fin, you're looking very..." Olivia wasn't exactly sure what to say. Sexy? Handsome? Good enough to eat? "Um, good. You look good." She fumbled and sighed, "Sorry. Just getting used to seeing you in a suit. You know, with buttons instead of zippers."
Thankfully Fin just smiled and nodded, "Don't worry Liv, I get it. Just had to find something I could work in." He nodded at her own jacket sitting on the back of her chair, "After all, not everybody looks as good in a suit as you do." He winked and jerked his head towards Munch, "Witness my partner."
"I always thought he was trying to imitate Johnny Cash," Olivia grinned. "And let's face it, there are worse looks." Her grin widened as Fin chuckled and grabbed some coffee before heading towards his desk, his hand patting her shoulder as he passed.
"Oh you're right about that," Fin continued the conversation. "I bet if we could tap into those government spy programs we could find out that Munch here tried just about every one. Bet the man even tried out the afro."
"I'm Jewish," Munch reminded him dryly. "Jericurl isn't exactly a look I can work." He held up his hands to make a picture frame around Fin before turning and doing the same to Olivia, "Now you two...I could see you sporting matching fros."
"Well I guess with my DNA anything is possible," Olivia forced her tone to stay light but she couldn't help withdrawing from the conversation after that. Delightful as it was to watch Fin's ass in those lovely suit pants as he walked past her to get coffee she couldn't enjoy it as much as she might have before John's remark.
"Hey Liv, I'm headin' out for something to eat. You wanna join me? I'll treat you to something good, sweet even if you like," Fin invited, jingling his keys persuasively.
"Thanks Fin," She smiled and knew it didn't quite reach her eyes. "Can I get a raincheck? I wouldn't be very good company right now."
"Might do you some good to get out for a bit," He cajoled, still swaying the car keys as if he could tempt her to grab them and run off.
"She said she's good where she is," Stabler cut in. "Let her be man."
"That ain't what she said but whatever," Fin nodded curtly. "John you get Liv's order an' text me what you guys want. I'll bring you back food, but I gotta breathe some air." He walked out of the squadroom with that graceful loping stride she liked to watch so much.
Olivia blinked at Elliot, "You didn't have to do that. He was just trying to be nice."
"He's always sniffing around you," Elliot shrugged. "I don't like it. We're SVU not a dating pool."
"Right," Olivia nodded slowly and looked back down at her paperwork. Sometimes it seemed like all she did was work, sleep, maybe eat, drink coffee and work again. She got to work out, go to the firing range and every six months it seemed like she had a bad date and crappy sex or she'd have a good date, decent sex and the guy wouldn't be able to handle her job and it would end after a month. Elliot had Kathy and the kids and when he wasn't working he was home, living his life.
Thoughtfully she looked at the door Fin had exited. She got the impression from the little he'd said that Fin's life was similar. John's was the same, she'd gleaned that much from their conversations, because yes, she was a trained detective and working with someone for a couple of years did allow her to gather some information.
John put a hand on her shoulder, startling her for a moment, "Are you all right Liv?"
"Yeah," She nodded automatically. "I'm fine John. Thanks."
"So what did you want to eat?"
"Oh, well if he was serious, tell him to bring me a sandwich, anything that doesn't have pork on it, and I'll pay him back tomorrow," Liv forced herself to think of food.
Fin was fuming, Stabler was getting on his nerves again, Mr. Holier Than Thou Catholic boy telling him what Olivia needed like the woman couldn't speak for herself. She was one of the strongest women he knew and that included the ADA and ME Warner.
His phone rang and he snapped it open, "What?"
"It's me," Munch never gave his name over the phone, as if the government was listening in constantly. "I'm not in the squadroom, came out onto the street so I could talk."
"So talk man," Fin pulled up to his favorite restaurant in the neighborhood and argued with himself about parking, finally caving in and renting a space in the nearby lot.
"You were right to try and get Liv out of the station," Munch said without preamble. "Something's bothering her."
"Yeah I got that," Fin wasn't sure if Munch thought he needed to be spoon-fed the information or if it was his partners natural inclination to stretch out the story. "Do you know what?"
"Stabler's overprotective of her and about six months ago I found out why," Munch apparently was going to actually tell him. "Olivia's mother was raped. Liv is the result."
"What so she was adopted and she just found out," Fin frowned. That could mess with anyone's head. Thinking you know who you are and then learning it was a lie, that your dad was a bastard who raped your mother.
"No, that's the thing," Munch sighed. "I probably shouldn't tell you but since I put her in this mood and you tried to help her out of it..."
"John just spit it out already," Fin was hungry, irritated and rapidly losing patience.
"Her mother raised her."
"Shit," He sighed. "That's one hell of a head trip man." Fin couldn't imagine growing up knowing that your father raped your mother. Couldn't imagine what sort of relationship that would make. It couldn't be a healthy one if Olivia reacted the way she did to a random remark about an afro.
"Yeah and from what she's let drop, Liv's good with the teenage victims of abuse because she pretty much was one herself," John was really pulling out all the stops today Fin thought to himself. He hadn't shared this much information since he'd given Fin the history of Elliot and his four or was it five children.
"So what do I do with this information," Fin couldn't believe he was asking his conspiracy theorist partner for advice.
"Nothing right now," Munch had a shrug in his voice. "Thought it was something you'd need to know sooner or later and figured you're calm enough to not act as if you already knew when it does come out."
"Yeah, I can play it cool," Fin admitted. "I didn't spend years undercover for nothing." He thought a minute, "So how was she when you left?"
"Well after Stabler said he didn't like the way you were sniffing around her and that SVU wasn't a dating service she seemed a little down," Munch had an uncharacteristically annoyed tenor to his voice and Fin wondered once again just how quick his partner's temper could be roused when it came to the female detective in their unit.
"I'm not sniffing, I gave her coffee," Fin objected. He liked her. She was beautiful, smart, sexy as sin and one of the nicest, strongest women he'd ever met. If he wasn't attracted he'd be dead.
"I'm not accusing you of anything," Munch clarified. "That's just what Elliot said to her. I for one appreciate the view across the aisle as much as you do, Liv's a lot prettier to look at than Elliot and she's nicer to talk to. Not as judgmental."
"Yeah, Stabler's coming across as more of an asshat than I usually enjoy," Fin admitted his own irritation. "Guess I just...appreciate quality you know? If I didn't...well you may as well bury me six feet under."
"Yeah me too," Munch chuckled. "Though you probably have a better chance than I do. After all, it's not my ass she's looking at when I go to get coffee."
Fin knew his grin was coming through in his voice as he replied, "Maybe she's just so in love with you she's hiding it better." He teased. "After all, you've known her longer, and she trusts you."
"The day Olivia stares at my skinny ass is the day someone has taped a sign to it saying 'kick me'," Munch retorted. "Though I do know she has a weakness for men who can kick ass and wear a suit."
"Huh," Fin took in that information with a thoughtful smirk. "That's great but I'm not wrecking my suit." He shook his head, "I still gotta get food man. Did you find out what she wanted?"
"Yeah she said a sandwich that doesn't have pork on it," His partner replied. "I recall she's partial to turkey and avocado, bizarre combination but that's Liv for you." Fin chuckled and made a note, "She also said she'd pay you back tomorrow."
"Hell with that," Fin said indignantly, "What kind of a jerk does she think I am? Offer to take her to lunch and then go dutch? I ask I pay. That's how it works." He shook his head, "You however, since I know your food order, in meticulous detail, is coming, can pay me when I get back. I'm at Bella Maries. You know the menu so text me what you want. I'm gonna figure out what to get Liv."
Olivia looked up and pushed a hand through her hair as she'd been staring at her paperwork and doing nothing but thinking of all the reasons she should put a moratorium on dating for the foreseeable future. Munch had ducked out and then come back in to make more coffee before he sat back down at his desk. He hadn't said anything beyond that he'd texted Fin their food orders before he'd buried himself in paperwork.
Glancing at Stabler she repressed her urge to roll her eyes before she looked back down at her computer. She understood that he was protective, but still, she was a grown woman, though maybe sometimes that should be groan woman since all she felt like was bitching about her partner. Olivia smirked to herself and mentally shrugged, she certainly couldn't complain about Elliot to Elliot. He'd never understand what he did wrong, he never did. It was always his way or the highway. Maybe it came from being a Marine.
Munch's phone beeped and he paused in his typing to look down at it, "Someone go down and help Fin carry up the food." He requested, "If I lose my train of thought on this a murderer could go free."
"I'll go," Stabler began to stand up but Olivia stopped him quickly.
"No you're in the middle of that, I'm done with my last form so I'm at a good stopping point," It would be good to get away from him for a few minutes she thought as she hopped out of her chair and hurried down the stairs to the vestibule of the building. Strangely enough Fin wasn't there. How hard can it be to carry one bag of food anyway, she wondered as she pushed open the door and blinked in the sun to see Fin walking towards her with three big takeout bags of food.
"Hey Liv," He just smiled at her and handed her a bag. "I got these, just could use a hand with the doors."
"What did you do?" She really didn't understand what had possessed him, "You know we can't possibly eat all this?" Olivia looked at him and the bags and shook her head in amazement.
"Figured we could have the leftovers tomorrow," He told her, still smiling. "Sides, you seemed a little down. Thought maybe a good meal and some of John's nuttier conspiracy theories might cheer you up."
"If you keep feeding us like this I'm never going to fit into my pants again," Olivia shook her head as they rode up the elevator, the bags filling the small space with heavenly smells.
"Girl, if you tell me your ass is too fat I'm gonna take you to George an' have him examine your head," Fin told her flatly. "You an' me, we live on coffee and take out. Pretty sure I could stuff you full of chocolate mousse and you wouldn't gain an ounce."
"Is that a threat or a promise?" Olivia wasn't sure what her brain was doing with her mouth but she was pretty sure a filter had been turned off there somewhere.
"Olivia, when I'm making you a promise you'll know it," Fin's voice was dark and rich as the chocolate mousse he'd just threatened her with and it was only with an extreme effort that she kept from shivering.
"So a threat then," She smiled and hoped her face didn't betray the quiver of lust tightening her belly.
"Damn straight," Fin chuckled as waited for her to exit the elevator, "So now that I'm threatening to force feed you, and the Captain for that matter, you walk in front of me. Need to keep an eye on you woman. And your excellent ass." He added the last sotto voice before they entered the squadroom and Olivia could feel herself blush.
"Fin did you just take everything they had out of the kitchen," Munch called from his desk, surprise etched on his expressive face.
"Had to feed Stabler before he went cannibalistic on me," Fin retorted unloading a styrofoam container and putting it in front of the ex-Marine. "Got something for the Captain since the man seems to be surviving on vending machine soup and that is no way to live." He handed Cragen a box and went on to do the same to Munch, putting a box on his own desk.
Olivia watched as Fin with a wicked smirk on his handsome face took out box after box, until she had at least six containers on her desk. "Seriously?" She blinked at him, "You are so helping me eat at least some of this."
"I figured this is the best way to make sure you eat," Fin chuckled as she stared at the containers in bewilderment. "Got you a bunch of sandwiches, no pork, so they'll keep and you can have them for dinner."
"Okay..." Olivia reached for her purse with a shake of her head. Well you would have ended up with take out anyway so its not as if the money is wasted, she reminded herself as she began to pull out her wallet.
"I don't want your money Liv," Fin shook his head. "Told you, thought you could use the laugh."
She blinked in surprise, a little amazed and managed a nod finally, "Thanks?"
"My pleasure," Fin smiled and returned to his desk, "By the way the package that's cold...that's the chocolate mousse..."
"Wicked, evil, wretched man," Olivia groaned in anticipation as she began to read the labels on the boxes, half laughing as Fin just smirked at her again.
Author's Note: So I wasn't sure exactly when John or Fin found out about Olivia's parental situation but I did want them to know about it so I fudged that a bit. I also wanted to have the relationship between Fin and Olivia be changed from the show.
I also can't stand how self righteous Stabler can be so I figured he'd get on Fin's nerves as much as he does mine.
Questions? Comments? Great thoughts? Criticism? So long as its constructive I'm happy to listen to any and all of the above.
Thanks so much for reading.