She shivered slightly when his arm brushed hers as they walked to the elevator. When he put his hand on the small of her back as he held open the door, she felt her chest tighten with appreciation and something deeper. This was going to be a long night.

Giorgio's was crowded but sometimes being a cop had its perks. Olivia and Elliot had worked a case involving the owner's wife a few years ago and now whenever they stopped by, Mr. Giorgio always managed to get them a table.

Sitting with his back towards crowded dining room, Elliot stared at Olivia as she placed her order. She seemed subdued, he thought; cautious even.

"So, what's up? You seem lost in thought." Elliot said as he bit off a piece of garlic bread. Olivia had barely said a word since sitting down in the corner booth. In fact, she kept staring into the dining room as if she was trying to figure something out.

"Hmm? Oh, no, it's nothing."

Olivia shook her head slightly and concentrated on her own piece of bread for a second before looking up and meeting Elliot's eyes again.

"It's just, I need to talk to you about something but I need you to not be an ass. Think you can manage that?" Olivia's eyes glinted with mischief as she spoke and Elliot's narrowed his in mock anger at her statement. She needed their regular banter, their normal back and forth word play to garner the courage to open up. And besides, it was kind of fun to get Elliot riled up.

"Wow, have a little faith in my here, Liv! I may be a smart ass but I'm not a jack ass!"

Olivia cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Okay, I'm not a jack ass to you!"

Olivia raised both eyebrows this time and held his gaze.

"Okay, okay, but not when it's serious!"

Liv burst out laughing and Elliot, realizing she had been playing him, relaxed and let out a soft chuckle.

"El, it's just, you know how I am. I play it close to the vest. I don't like to let people know what's going on but this affects you too to some degree and you have the right to kno…hang on. I swear I keep seeing Kathy." Olivia sat up a little higher and craned her neck towards the other end of the dining room.

"Kathy? My Kathy?" Elliot asked, confused. "Nah, she's working a double tonight. She tried to get off early but when I talked to her earlier she said the bus crash on 24th has her pulling an extra shift. I think Maureen is with the twins and Eli."

Olivia nodded. "I'm sure I'm seeing things. We've been up for how many hours now?" She smiled and turned her attention back to her partner.

"Anyway," She took a big breath. "What I started to say was that I think you need to be awar-" Liv's attention was again diverted when applause erupted from the other end of the restaurant. A man and the woman who Olivia had mistaken for Kathy were standing in front of their table locked in a passionate kiss.

"Must've gotten engaged." Elliot mused, tuning back to his garlic bread and popping another piece into his mouth.

With Olivia still looking on, the couple pulled away from each other and looked at the cheering crowd. Olivia's eyes were suddenly wide, her hand shot to her mouth and her stomach dropped. Elliot hadn't seen her yet but there was no mistaking it this time. Kathy, Elliot's wife of 20 some years, had just gotten engaged to another man and was currently showing off her ring to the waitress.

Elliot gave Olivia a confused look as she locked her wide and terrified eyes on his. He immediately swiveled his whole body in his chair towards the commotion.

And just like that he was gone. Elliot had made it half way across the restaurant by the time Olivia had processed that he had gotten up from the table. She quickly followed his tense and shaking frame and called his name knowing that what came next would not be good for anyone involved if Elliot reached Kathy's table before she got to him.

Olivia's cry startled some of the restaurant patrons including Kathy who turned her head just in time to see Elliot's fist connect with the face of the man she was sitting with.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?!" Elliot was inches from his face with his hand around his neck. His voice was horse with emotion and eerily quiet and his whole body shook with a rage Olivia had never seen.

Liv ran to his side and put her hand gently on his bicep.

"El. El, let him go."

"ELLIOT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LET GREG GO!" Kathy suddenly screamed, as if waking from a trance, and launched herself at Greg, elbowing Olivia in the face in the process. Olivia was caught off guard and fell backwards into the table behind them and crashed to the floor. Only then did Elliot release his hold on Greg.

Bending down to help Olivia to her feet, Elliot's expression changed from rage to panic and back again in an instant. Olivia could read so much sadness in his eyes when he pulled her off the ground and helped her brush the lingering food off her jacket.

As soon as Elliot was convinced that Olivia was okay, he turned back to Kathy who had gotten Greg to sit back down and was now tending to his broken nose.

"Kathy." Elliot breathed, rage bubbling to the surface once again. "Tell me this guy didn't actually ask you to marry him. Where the fuck would he get the idea that you were even remotely interested or available?"

"Look, buddy," Greg interjected, standing up once again. "I don't know who the hell you think you are or how you know my fiancé but you need to get out of her face and back the hell off!"

Elliot lunged at Greg again. As Olivia made for Elliot, the owner of the restaurant appeared and ordered them out. Olivia dragged Elliot towards the door as Kathy and Greg were escorted by Mr. Giorgio

Only once the cold night air hit them did Olivia remember they had left their coats at the table. As she turned to head back into the restaurant to retrieve them, Mr. Giorgio met her at the door, coats in hand. She gave him an apologetic look and thanked him. By the time she had turned back around, Kathy and Greg were getting into a cab and Elliot was nowhere to be seen.