Author's Comments: Oh I am so cruel. This is just gratuitous fluff, I'm afraid. But fun, nonetheless.
Too Close
Chapter Twenty-One
Olivia sat at the farthest barstool from Elliot. She hadn't planned it that way. She had picked out a seat, and Nick and Munch and Fin had filled in around her, followed by Amanda, and finally, Elliot. She caught glimpses of him nursing a coke at the end of the bar when she wasn't answering a barrage of questions from the others.
As the night marched on, her head got lighter as the bar tab got heavier, Munch buying several rounds for her. "I think I might just buy this place," he said, after downing several shots of jagermeister. "I have to do something after I retire."
"No way," said Nick. "You're really going to buy a bar?"
"Don't listen to him," said Fin. "He's been talking 'bout this for years. Never done a thing to make it happen."
"Because I couldn't face the thought of leaving you guys," Munch said. "You're the closest thing to family I've got."
"Ah, no," said Fin. "Don't let him be drinking no more of them jagers. Next thing you know, he'll be huggin' on you and tellin' you how much he loves you, Nick."
Olivia chortled as she started on her third drink, or possibly her fourth, as she had lost count. Munch put an arm around Nick, causing Olivia to snort into a giggling fit, almost spitting out her drink.
"What's up with you, Liv?" chuckled Nick. "I don't think I've ever seen you this . . . frisky."
"I don't know," she said. "Just glad to be out of that cast, I guess. Feels like my leg is made of straw."
Olivia peeked around everyone else to glimpse Elliot sitting back on his stool, watching her longingly in the mirror behind the bar. She tried to get up to go visit with him, but Nick stood in her way, a special glint catching in his eye. She guessed it was the alcohol, but whatever it was, she was too wobbly to push past him. "Yeah," said Nick, leaning in to speak into her ear, "well you look great. I don't know if it's the cast, or maybe you've just had lots of time to rest, but you're glowing tonight."
He put his arm around her, and she knew this was drunk Nick talking, because sober Nick would never venture into this territory. She glanced into the mirror again and saw Elliot's hawk-eyes following Olivia and Nick's movements. She turned her attention back to Nick and slurred, "Thanks, Nick, but I think maybe it's time to go home."
Eyes squinted, he pushed a strand of hair away from her ear and brushed his lips against it saying, "Need a ride home?"
She glimpsed Elliot's hands balling into fists in the mirror, and half-smiled at Nick, saying, "No thanks, Nick. I'll catch a ride home with Amanda."
She stood unsteadily and staggered toward Amanda, and she could feel Elliot's gaze drilling into her, every wobbly step of the way. Like a stupid sailor, Nick followed her, and Elliot stood now, his biceps tensed. She opened her eyes wide as she met his gaze, and twisted her mouth in a silent warning to him.
He lowered his eyebrows at her, and a pit formed in her stomach as she prepared for the worst. But then she watched, dumbfounded, as he glared at her one last time and turned away, heading toward the bathroom. She stopped dead in her tracks, and then turned to Nick and said loudly, "Nick, I'll see you on Monday. I'm coming back in to talk to Captain Cragan then, anyway."
When he didn't say anything, just stood looking devastated, she said, "Goodnight, Nick," and turned away from him.
Following Elliot's path, she found him slouching next to the restroom, sulking. When he saw her coming, he stood tall and straightened his shirt. "Elliot," she said, noting the lines on his brooding forehead. "Is everything okay?"
"Yeah," he answered too quickly and with a hint of sarcasm. "Everything's great."
"Okay," she said, "Because I was getting ready to come down and talk to you, and you—"
"I what?" he said. "What did I do wrong this time?"
She sighed, preparing for the impending battle. He studied her face and softened his own, saying, "I'm sorry, Liv. I'm trying. But it's really hard for me to watch you living it up with the guys, and Nick getting all handsy with you." He rolled his eyes up to a corner of the hallway and said, "You know, maybe I should just leave."
She smiled at him, and he glanced down at her and said, "What?"
Still grinning, she said, "You just told me honestly what's going on with you without taking it out on me." She nodded. "I like that."
He tried to suppress a smile, but it crept onto his lips regardless. "Really?"
"Yeah," she said, hoisting her arm onto his shoulder. "And I noticed you didn't have anything to drink."
His smile turned sheepish, and Olivia found it completely irresistible in her tipsy state. "Unlike you," he said, notably amused.
Flashing her flirtiest look at him, she put her other arm around his neck and pressed into him. "And I like that you didn't pummel Nick's face."
Laughing deeply, he said, "Oh, you have no idea how tempting—"
Seeing a twinkle reappear in his eye, she took advantage of her own giddy condition and cut him off with her lips, which worked in heated kisses on his mouth. He pulled back, his breath a hot whisper on her face, and whispered, "Liv, I don't think we should do this right now. You're in no con—"
She shut him up with her mouth once again, planting it firmly on his and pressing him back into the wall with her body. She forced her tongue into his mouth, wrenching a moan from him, and she knew he wouldn't be able to resist. His muscles finally softened beneath her, and she pressed harder into him until he brought his arms around her, his solid hand spawning tingles in the center of her back.
Now his lips fed hungrily on hers, and she could feel him getting hard against her belly, and she wanted him right now. She pulled away from him and tugged on his arm, and he followed her willingly, even if confused. She slipped into the men's bathroom, and he stood wide-eyed in the doorway, shaking his head. She gave his arm one last yank, and he tripped into the room. She snuck around behind him and locked the door, sweating, wide-eyed, and ready to go.