AUTHOR'S NOTE:

This is what I did at work on Christmas Day. (He he.) Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! Travel safe! Please remember to review!

~ Detective Olivia Stabler ~

One More Day

(Chapter Five: Taking Chances)

Elliot watched as Olivia stepped out of the locker room, dressed to kill.

"Big plans tonight?" he asked admiring the black spaghetti strapped flapper style mini dress she wore.

"I have a date."

"Good for you," he replied smiling. "But it gets crazy out there on New Year's Eve, are you sure you wouldn't rather hang out here with me instead?" He asked turning on his Stabler charm. "We could rent a couple of movies and order take out, watch the ball drop on television at midnight. Could be fun."

"El, a bunch of us are going out as a group. You should come."

"Going out isn't really my style. I guess I was hoping I could talk you into staying in with me. The weather is bad and traffic is worse. And with all of the drunk madness, it is dangerous out there. But it's safe here, Liv."

Olivia turned her head until her eyes met his. What was he up to?

"You are acting so strange lately. Look, El it is sweet of you to worry. But I am traveling in a group, we are taking cabs, I hardly drink so that shouldn't effect my judgment and furthermore if you are that worried about my safety Detective Stabler, then suck it up and come with me," she replied with a smile.

Elliot exhaled. The truth was he wanted to be there with her. He wanted to be beside her every moment from now on to ward off any danger and protect her forever, but this would be no kind of life for Olivia.

"We are off tomorrow. Go out with me tonight. You can crash at my place and we will spend all day tomorrow watching movies and eating Chinese food, I promise. Please come."

"I am sure your date would love that."

"I would. Do it for me. You are my best friend and I want to start out the new year with you. He is just arm candy," she said with a smile and he laughed. "Seriously, I promised him months ago that I would go or I'd call the whole thing off in a heartbeat and stay back with you. But we never do anything. This could be a lot of fun."

Maybe she was right. Sitting here and being all depressed about something that may not even happen wouldn't do him much good anyway. And if he were to lose her tomorrow, shouldn't he spend every moment possible with her now?

Maybe if he was with her, maybe if he was there when that call came in he could keep her from going. And maybe it was all some horrible dream and she was perfectly safe. Maybe he was sitting here like a loon tearing himself up over this and nothing was going to happen at all.

Elliot had spent the entire day trying to think up some sort of plan, some way to prevent her from being in that car when that SUV hit it. Maybe this was his chance.

"Okay," he said and she smiled. "You twisted my arm."

"It is going to be so much fun, I promise."

"I just need a little time to get ready."

"Well, Rick is picking me up here in half an hour and we are all meeting up for reservations at the Ivy at seven o'clock if you want to just meet us there."

"The Ivy, huh? Kind of ritzy."

"It's New Year's Eve," she reminded him.

"Only happens once a year," he agreed staring into her gorgeous brown eyes. "I will see you there at seven."

"You'd better get going," she said taking the file from his hand and placing it in his desk drawer.

Elliot stood as she handed him his jacket.

"And Elliot," she said as he made his way to the doorway.

"Yes?"

"Thank you," she said with a pretty smile. "It really does mean a lot to me that you are gonna be there."

"It meant a lot to me too," he replied returning the smile as he pressed the button on the elevator.

Across town Elliot shaved and quickly showered. He then spent half an hour tying the tie on his tuxedo until it looked just right. He walked across the room and picked up his vibrating phone from the dresser.

We're leaving now, are you almost ready? said the text from Olivia.

On my way, was his response.

Elliot still wasn't sure how to approach this evening, but he was determined to make sure to keep her by his side tomorrow. Just in case. He tucked the phone into his jacket pocket as he opened up the dresser drawer and switched out his credit cards for one with a higher limit. Then he pushed the drawer shut and headed for the door.

Somehow he managed to make it to the restaurant before anyone else did, so he took a seat at the bar until their table was ready. Moments later he felt a sudden urge to turn around.

There she was. More gorgeous than ever and glowing from head to toe. Her smile radiated and seemed to warm the entire room.

"Hey," Olivia said making her way to him. "This is Rick," she said as the man extended his hand. "Rick, this is my partner and very best friend, Elliot."

"Rick," Elliot said shaking his hand as he looked the man over.

He wasn't bad looking, but he was by far not good enough for Olivia.

"It's nice to finally meet you," the man replied. "Livy, here talks about you all of the time."

Elliot almost choked on his drink. Livy? Who the Hell was Livy? His eyes shot straight to Olivia's as she shrugged. It was obvious this man hadn't taken the time to get to know her the way that Elliot did. Infact, he didn't seem to know her at all.

"Well, I couldn't exactly turn down the request," Elliot responded, "today being her birthday and all."

Olivia raised an eyebrow trying to figure out what he was up to.

"Oh my," Rick said. "I am so sorry," he said sincerely. "I completely forgot, I was thinking your birthday was in March."

Olivia smiled and shook her head.

"It isn't my birthday. He is just messing with you. But no, my birthday is the twenty third of January. Why don't you go and see if our table is ready. I am going to try and call Casey," she suggested placing a soft kiss against his lips.

"Sure," Rick agreed and disappeared into the crowd around them.

"What?" Elliot asked feeling the sting of her glare.

"What are you doing?"

"Making small talk."

"You could at least be nice to the guy. He doesn't know anyone."

"Sure thing, Livy," he said with a smirk.

"It's a pet name."

"Pet names are for dogs. You HATE when people call you that. What the Hell is going on here?"

"You tell me. You are the one giving him the third degree. And what's with the birthday trivia?"

"Well, if you are dating he should know your birthday. He doesn't."

"So."

"Your favorite color is green, favorite song "Walking In Memphis," the Marc Cohn version, not Cher or that God awful country version…and your left eye has these little flecks of green that in the right light make it look like your eyes are two different colors."

"What is your point?"

"My point is, you have been dating this guy for three weeks. When you are in a relationship with someone, you get to know these things. He doesn't know anything about you."

"Well, we have not been able to spend that much time together. I've been busy with work."

"When is his birthday?"

"November third."

"And what color are his eyes?"

"Brown, why?"

"You are the one making all of the sacrifice in this relationship, while he stands around getting the benefits."

"What are you talking about?"

" You have not slept with him yet, have you?"

"Not that it is really any of your business, but no. We have discussed it and we've decided to wait until we know each other a little better."

"You haven't put out…"

"Excuse me?" she snapped cutting him off.

"He is being all sweet and romantic, because he is trying to get into your pants, Olivia. If he had already, he wouldn't still be here. He is using you."

"You're wrong! You don't even know him!"

"Oh, I do. Apparently a little better that you do. Let me guess, he got a hotel room for the night and has asked you to stay with him. He doesn't expect anything, he just wants to cuddle."

"He doesn't live in the city. He got a room so he didn't have to drive home tonight. He's being safe."

Olivia blinked and stared at him.

"I don't know what is going on with you lately, Elliot. But I don't like it," she said and he could see the hurt in her eyes. "Let me know when the old Elliot Stabler returns alright? Because I don't care much for this new one."

Elliot watched as she picked up her purse and made her way across the room to stand beside her date. He felt terrible for hurting her feelings, but he knew men like this. He, himself, used to be one. And he knew exactly what it was this man was after.

"I see she talked you in to coming out after all," Fin said from behind him.

"Yea, and I have already managed to ruin the night for her."

"What do you mean you ruined it?"

"I pissed her off. I admit I was a jerk, but I was only trying to protect her."

"What did you do?" Casey asked approaching them and overhearing the conversation.

"It's this fool she is here with. She's been dating this guy for a while now and he knows absolutely nothing about her."

"Sounds like he's looking for a hit and run," Fin said picking up a beer from the bartender. "You don't get to know them," he said turning to Casey to explain, "so you don't get attached. Then when you get what you want from the deal you part ways. But usually both people are in on it."

"I just don't want him to hurt her. She hasn't dated anyone since that bad break up about six months ago and she is just getting back out there."

"Are you sure about him, though? He seems harmless to me. If you are wrong and chase off a perfectly good guy, she may never forgive you," Casey reminded Elliot.

"I've seen his type," Fin said staring him down from across the room. "That man is a predator."

"Maybe you should lay down the law," Casey suggested. "Pull him aside and explain to him how things work."

"She means threaten him. I will personally break his face if he hurts her," Fin growled in Olivia's defense. "Lets see pretty boy cruise the market for chicks while he in traction."

Elliot watched as Fin met up with his girlfriend at the door and moved back to the table with Rick and Olivia. Casey, however, was watching Elliot.

"I get why Fin is so protective over her. She is like a kid sister to him, it's sweet. But you…."

"Me?" Elliot asked shifting his attention to her.

"It is almost pathetic."

"I'm pathetic?"

"When it comes to Olivia, yes. It is getting that way."

"How am I pathetic?"

"I'm not blind, Elliot. The guys don't see it….well, because they are men. But I see it. I have been ignoring it for so long, but it has reached a point that I feel it is best to address the subject, my friend."

"What the Hell are you talking about?"

"You do this with every guy she dates. No guy is good enough for Olivia."

"Well, they aren't! She has horrible taste in men! But how is that any different than when Fin says it?"

"Fin isn't in love with her."

"In love…." Elliot began to argue, but knew every word of his defense was a lie.

"The men she dates aren't good enough. They don't treat her the way she deserves to be treated….the way that you would treat her."

Elliot shook his head.

"She deserves to be treated like a queen, Casey. She is so amazing and cares so much about everyone around her. And these douche bags come along and cheat and lie and break her heart. I do love her. Hell, we are family. And I don't have anything against that man except that the game he is running is on my partner, my best friend."

"Your girl," Casey added and he stared at her.

"We have never been like that Casey. Probably never will be. I adore her, but she doesn't love me like that. Besides, it would only make complications at work and neither of us need anymore of those."

"So she isn't worth it?"

Elliot wrinkled his brow in confusion.

"It isn't worth a little struggle to be that man, the one that she deserves who treats her the was she needs to be treated. She isn't worth the fight?" Casey asked.

"I would do anything for her."

"Then get in there and fight for her. If you want her, take her. Show that schmuck how we do things around the 1-6. And show Olivia that you weren't being a jerk because you don't want her to be happy. Show her that you were fighting for her because you love her and you want to be the one who makes her happy."

"Fight for her…." he mumbled to himself as he stared at the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.

"Make her see that you are the man she is supposed to have been with all along."

"But she is pissed at me because I was rude to her date."

"Elliot, you can't have a war without battle wounds. It is liable to get even messier before this is all over. But I assure you, once you open her eyes and make her see how you feel about her….she will forgive you."

"But what if she doesn't feel the same, Casey? What if I tell her all of these feelings I have for her and I just spook her and push her further away?"

"At least she will know. And you will know that no matter what happens, she will always know how you feel about her. You can't stumble onto the playground and push the big kids around unless you are ready to fight. Step up and show her that you are the man she has been looking for all of these years."

Elliot gulped.

"You're right. I already pissed her off, what's the worst I could do now?"

"You got this?" she asked squeezing his shoulder.

"Yea, I've got it."

"Good. Because I see my man," she said smiling and waving as a handsome stranger entered across the room. "Go get her, tiger!"

"Thanks, Casey."

"Thank me on your wedding day," she said with a wink as she disappeared into the crowd.

Elliot laughed and turned back to the bar. He ordered a club soda and headed to the table. If he was going to do this, he had to be smart about it. He had to find a way to expose this guy without making himself look like a complete dick in the process. It was going to be tough, but Casey was right, Olivia was well worth it. And the good news is that his friends seemed to be in agreement that this guy was not right for Liv. And Fin was already eyeing him like a bulldog hunting the mailman.

Casey and her date were about to take their seats as Elliot arrived at the table. He watched as she suddenly decided to change seats leaving the only available seat right next to Olivia.

Elliot caught Casey's eye as she smirked at him. He sat down and scooted up to the table picking up the menu. It was obvious that Olivia was trying to avoid him, because she refused to even look in his direction. This was going to be a real challenge.

After a round of cocktails, dinner was ordered. Olivia's date, Rick, a doctor, was on call for a nearby ER and kept getting calls. He would excuse himself from the table for five or ten minutes at a time always apologizing when he returned. Then Olivia would turn on the charm, holding his hand or laying her head on his shoulder just to spite Elliot.

After dinner Elliot found himself alone with her at the table as the other couples were dancing and Rick, once more was away with a business call.

"I'm sorry," he said hoping he could get her to understand his intentions.

But she just ignored him.

"I deserve that," he said flagging the waitress and ordering two more club sodas. "At least let me buy you a drink to try and make it up to you."

"I'm not drinking," she said still refusing to look at him.

"It's soda," he laughed as he slid the glass her way.

"You really think this is funny, don't you?" she said finally turning to him with tears in her eyes. "It isn't. You are my best friend, Elliot. And you do this every time I get close to a man. It is hard enough for me to trust people without you doing…..whatever it is that you do. I don't understand. I thought you were happy for me, that I had found someone."

"I was."

She shook her head.

"You couldn't wait to tear into him. I get that you are just looking out for me. And you think that no guy is good enough for me….I even appreciate it. But you have to back off and let me live my life. Let me decide who I want to be with, who I think is right for me. If you keep acting like this you will push every guy away and I will be alone forever."

"Not every guy. Just this guy," Elliot replied.

"Or maybe you would rather it be that way," she said standing and picking up her purse. "Then we can both be alone and miserable for the rest of our lives."

"What are you saying?" he asked standing to follow her.

"I'm saying I think you are just jealous! Because I have found someone and you are still alone. I'm saying, maybe you need to focus on your own love life and stay the Hell out of mine," she said with piercing eyes as she turned to walked off.

"Liv, don't leave."

"I'm going to the ladies room! Or should I have run that by you first?"

She stared at him beginning to cry as Elliot shook his head.

"I'm sorry."

"Sorry doesn't fix everything, Elliot," she replied, then turned and walked away.

He exhaled feeling in his chest the pain of hurting her. It was going to take a lot more than fancy small talk to dig his way out of the hole of shit he had managed to get himself into this time.

"I really am sorry," he said from behind her as she walked out of the ladies room.

"You are stalking me in the bathroom now?" she said still pissed, but half joking.

"I was a complete ass. I did it because you are my friend and I love you. But it doesn't matter why I did it. Bottom line is….you are right."

This got her attention and she raised her head to look him in the eyes.

"It isn't my job to decide what guys are right for you and what guys aren't. My job is to be there for you and support your decisions, whether they are right or wrong. Because if they are right, then seeing you happy makes me happy. And if they are wrong…."

"Then I need my friend more than ever," she said reading his mind.

"I'll try not to interfere anymore."

"All I ask is that you just give me the chance to decide on my own."

"And you're right…."

She turned back to look at him.

"I am jealous," he said as her eye widened. "But it's not you that I'm jealous of," he confessed as he walked past her and back to their table.

Olivia stood there, her heart pounding and curiosity getting the best of her as she wondered exactly what he meant by that. She stalled a few minutes then returned to the table as well. She looked around the room seeing her friends dancing with their partners and her date still nowhere in sight, she took her seat next to Elliot.

He watched her as she sat nervously, barely able to breath and could tell his comment had sparked a fire in her mind.

"Dance with me," she said softly looking over her shoulder at him.

Elliot smiled.

"I thought you'd never ask," he replied standing and leading her to the dance floor with his hand in the small of her back.

Holding her felt so natural. Her arms rested on each side of his neck and his hands fell to her waist. Still, he couldn't see to catch a glimpse into her beautiful brown eyes.

"Hard to believe another year has come to an end," he said trying to make small talk and make this less awkward.

"Yea. It went by fast."

Finally she raised her eyes and they met his. Now he couldn't even blink. He didn't want to, for fear he'd lose sight of her again.

She smiled nervously as she looked into him. She wasn't sure exactly what was going on here, but whatever it was it felt right.

Elliot drew a deep breath as he raised one of his hands and locked his fingers between hers, sliding her palm down his shoulder to rest over his heart. There were so many things he wanted to tell her….so many things he needed to say, but he just couldn't find the words to make her understand.

Within moments he found himself longing to kiss her. He stared deep into her eyes secretly praying that if there were ever a time she could read his mind, it were now. Elliot watched as she blinked and seemed to lean into him. Their noses were just about to touch when she pulled back and turned away from him.

"I should find Rick," she said pulling away and leaving him on the dance floor alone.

"What happened?" Casey asked appearing out of nowhere.

She must have been watching the entire thing.

"She doesn't want it," Elliot said backing up and walking back toward their table.

"What do you mean she doesn't want it?" Casey asked as Elliot took a drink from his wine glass.

"I mean, she doesn't want me. We were right there. Seconds away from the worlds most perfect kiss and she pulled away. I could tell she was torn about it, that she wasn't sure what she wanted. I could see it in her eyes as we danced."

"And?"

"And it looks like she decided."

Elliot took a deep breath and sat down for a moment.

"Elliot, I am sorry. I was so sure that….I can't believe she just walked away."

"Maybe she really does care about this guy, Casey. And maybe I am just making things worse for her by standing between them. I want her. But it doesn't matter what I want if she doesn't feel it too."

"Don't give up on her, Elliot. Just give her some time to think about it. To process all of the things that are going on around her. She will come around."

"I'm running out of time," he mumbles adjusting his tie as Casey stood up and went to find her date.

Elliot sat there for a while then decided he needed some air. He got up and made his way outside. He was there, leaned against the wall when he saw her stumble out onto the sidewalk, clearly upset. She was crying and had been for a few minutes at least. Her pretty eyes were glassy and she drew short shallow breaths as she clutched her purse strap in her hand. He watched as she raised her hand to signal for a cab.

"Liv," he said approaching her but she turned away from him.

"Just leave it alone, Elliot."

"Olivia, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable in there. I sure didn't mean to make you cry."

"I'm not crying because of you," she half sobbed and half snapped as she wiped her cheek with her hand.

"What happened?"

"What do you want from me? Do you want me to say you were right? Okay, you were right!" She shrugged her shoulders and paced the sidewalk for a moment. "He's an asshole!"

"Did he hurt you?"

"No. I mean not physically. He didn't touch me."

"What happened?"

"I went to find him. And I did. Sitting at the bar talking on the phone. To his wife! I just feel so stupid."

"Don't. You can help that other people do bad things. And you are not stupid for giving them a chance. You are the smartest person I know. Do you want me to set him straight?"

He watched as she shook her head.

"No, Fin already has it out for him. He will get what is coming to him. In any case, New Year's Eve is over for me. I am going home. I just want to take a hot shower and crawl into bed."

"It is quarter to ten. The video store is still open," he suggested as her cab pulled up.

Olivia raised her head and looked into his eyes.

"I don't know, El. I appreciate you trying to make me feel better. But maybe it would be better just to leave it alone. I have a lot going on, a lot of things to sort through in my mind and I….I don't want to do anything I am going to regret."

"Alright," he said holding the door as she climbed inside. "Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year," she said softly forcing a smile.

Elliot stood on the curb for a while just thinking, before deciding to head home himself. Just as he settled in on the sofa to watch one of the sports networks on the satellite the doorbell rang.

He opened the door as she stared up at him. Elliot opened the door and stepped back allowing her to enter the apartment.

"I'm glad you changed your mind," he said as he took her coat.

"I rode around in the back of that cab for a while. It's depressing, being alone on New Year's Eve. I definitely wasn't going back to the restaurant."

"You could have watched Fin kick Rick's ass."

Olivia forced a smile as she sat down on the edge of the sofa.

"Tempting, but no. I asked myself if I could spend this night with anyone, who would I want that person to be," she choked out softly. "The answer was you," she said looking up at him and fighting back tears. "The answer is always you. You are my comfort, my safety. You are the one I run to when I am hurt or scared or just don't know where else to turn. And tonight, when we were dancing….the way you looked at me….for a moment I thought….I thought you were going to kiss me."

"I wanted to," he confessed.

Olivia closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

"I know you did," she whispered. "The bad part about always knowing what someone is thinking is that you always know. Even when it is something they shouldn't be thinking. But the truth is, I was thinking it too. Tonight for the first time I realized that I could have feelings for you, Elliot. Feelings I am not supposed to have. Romantic feelings. I mean I guess I have thought about it , been attracted to you for a long time. But this was the first time that I knew that you felt the same way. When I looked into your eyes, there was no way either of us could deny it anymore."

"What do you want to do about it?" he asked.

"I don't know. Maybe we should just think about this for a while. Consider all of the possibilities before we jump into anything that we can't take back."

"Okay."

"I should go," she said standing and heading for the door. "I just want to take a shower and relax."

"Stay," he suggested. "I've got popcorn and pajama pants. Shower is all yours. If you get in there now we could be chillin' on the couch in time to watch the ball drop on TV."

"I don't know. It's been a long night."

"You can have the bed. I'll sleep right here. I'm not trying to put the moves on you. I just want to hang out with my best friend. Like you said, being alone on New Year's Eve sucks."

Olivia smiled a soft smile.

"Okay."

Elliot clothes to sleep in and made the popcorn while she took a shower. He pulled a blanket from the hall closet and they curled up together under it to watch television. After ringing in the new year together, they ordered a movie on pay per view and fell asleep on the sofa together. Her on one end and him at the other.