Prompt #66: Nick and Amanda parent-trap Elliot and Olivia (with the help of Munch and Fin)
Sorry To Inconvenience You - Or Not
~oOo~
Amanda Rollins sits at her desk, eyeing the desk where Benson sits, talking up to the guy who'd come from the Computer Crimes Unit. Even from a distance, she can feel the magnetic pull between the two. The way the pair looks at each other, Amanda wonders if either of them are even aware anyone else is in the room with them.
"Nick?" she whispers. "Nick. Amaro. Hey!"
Nick finally looks up at her. "Hmm?"
"What's up with the guy with Benson, d'you know?"
He looks over at the pair. "Oh. Cap said that's Stabler, used to be Benson's partner."
"You mean, the guy who shot—"
"Yeah, him. He couldn't stay in SVU where it happened so they worked out a transfer for him."
"I hadn't realized he and Benson were...well, more than partners."
"They're not, though. Apparently, he was married, but he's divorced now. Got a bunch of kids. Why'd you think they're together?"
"Nick...just look at 'em over there. They're basically eye fuckin' each other six ways to Sunday."
Nick laughs at her colloquialism so hard he draws the attention of the rest of the room. Trying to keep from giving away the fact that they were gossiping, Amanda says, "Sorry, y'all, sometimes I forget how differently y'all speak from Southerners. Apparently, Nick here's never heard someone say 'butter my butt and call me a biscuit' before."
Liv looks over, one brow raised. "Do what to your butt, and call you what, Rollins?!"
Amanda laughs. "Y'all haven't heard it either? No? It's just something you say when you're surprised to hear something."
Elliot chuckles. "Definitely not one I've heard before, either. Elliot Stabler, by the way, nice to meet ya," he says, walking up and offering a handshake.
She takes his hand and shakes firmly. "Amanda Rollins. Nice to meet you, too."
He walks back to Benson's desk, and Amanda watches the two of them again. The chemistry is both palpable and undeniable.
"Nick? You positive they're not knockin' boots?"
"From what I've been told, yeah. I mean, I suppose Cap could be out of the loop. You could try asking Fin or Munch, they may know something he doesn't."
"Hmm. Yeah. Thanks, Nick," she replies. Watching the pair continue to talk about whatever information he'd brought, she decides to talk with Fin and Munch, thinking "'cause if those two ain't fuckin' each other senseless, well, they damn well should be!"
~oOo~
Standing by the coffee maker, Amanda watches as Munch refills his mug.
"Rollins, I'll tell ya, there's been a betting pool for basically the entire time Liv and Elliot have known each other as to when those two schmucks will get their heads out of their asses and fall into bed together. Or, y'know, up against a wall. Whatever floats their boats. But so far, it's just longing looks and sexual tension so thick we can eat it with a spoon. Not surprised you already picked up on it."
"But...he's divorced now, yeah? So...what's stopping them from just jumping each other's bones?"
"Probably both too stubborn to admit what they feel for each other, they are both stubborn SOBs."
"Nah, man, it's 'cause they're scared," Fin interjects. "They're afraid that if they let themselves become more than what they are, they'll wreck the friendship they got. They're afraid of losing everything they've built over these years. They're being chicken-shits, if ya ask me. Anybody with eyes can see those two fools belong together."
"Well, damnit, then, why hasn't anyone given them a lil push or something? I mean...any time he's come in, Benson's a completely different woman. If he makes her that happy, and vice versa, they someone oughta light a fire under their butts!"
Munch looks over at Fin. "Where has this one been all our lives, right? I'm willing to split the pot if you are."
"Aight, but what're we sayin' here? We talkin' about doin' a 'Parent Trap' kinda thing?"
Amanda's head pops up, eyes shining. "Yes! Fin, that's perfect! We need a plan to get them both to show up somewhere, something that sounds legit that they wouldn't turn down. But then it's just them. But we don't just all back out at once, they'll just trip over their own asses to leave. So we stagger it, call 'em every so often so they'll stay wherever we set it up. Give excuses, car trouble or whatever. The longer we can keep 'em there, the better, y'know? I'll fill Nick in, and we can figure out a plan."
It took them a while to make a plan and settle the details, but by the shift's end, they had set the ball rolling for that coming Friday evening. Under the guise of celebrating Amanda's "birthday", they planned a fake gathering at the bar they'd often gather at after tough cases. Fin tells Amanda that as soon as Benson agreed to go, Elliot's face lit up and he immediately agreed as well.
"This is perfect. Absolutely perfect. They won't see it coming!"
~oOo~
Friday arrives, and Olivia Benson sits at her desk, catching up on her DD-5s. She's looking forward to the end of her shift, and the celebration with the crew for Amanda's birthday. Having not just one, but two newbies in the unit and Elliot off in Computer Crimes still felt a bit odd, but both Rollins and Amaro seemed like good people. Remembering back to when she was the new kid on the block, she's glad that Fin suggested they mark Rollins' birthday as a unit, to show her they were like a family.
Stretching her arms up over her head, she looks around the squad room and sees Fin putting his jacket on.
"Heading out?"
"Yeah, I gotta give Ken a hand with a couple things, shouldn't take too long. I'll meet up with ya at the bar in a bit, 'kay?"
"No problem, see you soon, Fin."
Fin gets into the elevator and watches the doors close before pulling out his phone. He quickly types a message to his cohorts.
Fin: Okay, gang. Leaving now, told Liv Ken needs my help with stuff, and that I'll meet up at the bar later.
Rollins: Good thinking, Liv knows your kid comes first, perfect reason not to be able to make it. See you at the meetup spot in a bit then?
Amaro: I'm thinking I'll head over with Liv, but get an "emergency" call that my sitter is sick or something, and duck out apologetically. Then I'll find you guys across the street. Still a little concerned about watching from across the way.
Munch: As am I, tell me again why we're watching?
Rollins: Well, a, to make sure it works, and b, in case they start accusing each other of being behind being set up. We're trying to bring them together, not cause an argument.
Munch: Well, if they start making out, you guys are paying to get the vomit dry-cleaned off my suit. I love these two dearly, but I don't need to see that.
Rollins: Hey, if Mama's finally getting some from her dream guy, I doubt Liv'll wanna be hanging around the bar and not heading off somewhere private to let him rock her world. You can close your eyes if they kiss, John.
Fin: Alright, kids. If things start going that well, we'll see it coming and we can head out before John's sensitive eyes see anything. See you guys soon.
~oOo~
As planned, Nick heads over to the bar with Olivia, and Elliot, as he and Olivia had already planned to go together. Nick smiles at this, thinking this was a sign of their plan being a success. They walk inside, and Nick's phone rings moments after. He knows it's Amanda, pretending to be his sitter, and he looks at the screen, saying, "It's my sitter, better take this," and stepping back outside.
Elliot looks at Liv. "Getcha a drink, Liv?"
"Mmm...I'll do a Manhattan, thanks, El." As he steps up to the bar, she watches him walk away, eyes on his rear end. She doesn't hear Nick return, and startles when he puts a hand on her shoulder.
"Shit, sorry to startle ya! Listen, my sitter is sick and I can't get ahold of anyone else, so I have to take off. Buy the birthday girl a drink for me, okay?"
"Sure thing, Nick. Drive safely, okay? See you tomorrow."
Nick leaves, and Elliot returns, drinks in hand. "Nick leavin'?"
"Yeah, his sitter's sick. Said to buy Rollins a drink for him."
"Well. Wanna grab a small table while we wait for the others to get here?" he asks, handing her drink to her.
She nods, and they walk over to a small high-top by the window. They sit on the high stools, already chatting easily, no idea that they're being watched from the convenience store across the road.
~oOo~
Inside the store, the four detectives watch as the pair inside the bar sit, talking and laughing.
"Look at them. They only see each other, that place could be on fire and I don't think they'd notice. I bet they'll be knockin' boots by the time the night's over!" Amanda exclaims.
"Just as long as I don't have to see it, I'm happy for them. About damn time, really."
"Aight, man, give it another ten minutes or so, then Munch, you call or text one of 'em with an excuse, okay?
~oOo~
Inside the bar, Liv and Elliot are talking about everything and nothing; his kids' latest antics, her thoughts on the newbies, his thoughts on the folks in his new unit. After everything that happened, Liv is glad that Elliot seems to be doing okay. Even though they're no longer partners on the job, she's glad to see him settling into the Computer Crimes unit, and even more glad that their friendship hasn't been affected by the changes. They've finished their drinks, so Elliot goes to get them a second. She sees him answer a call, as he waits for the drinks. Shit, she thinks, I hope he's not getting called away now, too. He puts his phone back in his pocket, takes the new drinks from the bartender, and walks back to their table.
"Munch just called," he says, putting her drink in front of her. "Car trouble. Said he's waiting on triple-A, but they estimated over an hour wait. He said he'll call again if they actually come faster."
"Damn, first Nick, now John. Gonna be a small party. Still, I was worried you were being called away, so, better him than you," she says, blushing when she realizes her admission has a bit of a flirtatious sound to it; and blushing more when the look in his eyes shows he noticed it as well.
"No need to worry about that, Liv. I'm not going anywhere," he said, in a low, husky voice. He stares unblinking into her deep brown eyes, noticing her blush deepening. God, how beautiful she is, he thinks. Why are we still fighting this? I'm divorced, we're not partners anymore, there's no reason we have to hold back. Emboldened, he reaches across the table and takes her hand.
~oOo~
"Oh, shit, y'all seein' this, too, right? He's definitely holding her hand there?" Amanda exclaims.
"Well, will you look at that?" says Munch. "Our boy seems to have grown some balls. Good job, Stabler."
"Y'know, I gotta admit, I wasn't sure this would work, Amanda, but it looks like it just might," Nick says, "Maybe we should nickname you Cupid."
~oOo~
Olivia surprises them both by not jerking her hand away from his grasp. Instead, she flips her hand over and grasps his in hers. "I...I like the sound of that, El. I couldn't imagine life without you in it, partners or not."
"Liv. I told you, however many years ago, I'm your partner, for better or worse. Just cause we're working in different units doesn't change that. You're stuck with me, Liv," he says, a wry smile dancing on his lips.
Before she can respond, her phone buzzes with a text notification. She glances down at it. "Jesus. Now Fin's backing out. Taking longer with what Ken needs than expected. Also, not for nothing here, but...the guest of honor isn't here either." The wheels in her head begin turning. She looks up at him, and his eyes are wide. They say in unison, "We've been set up!" Taking her phone in hand, she replies to Fin's message: The jig is up, Fin! Whose idea was this? Are you guys all in on it? Elliot laughs, and she can't help but laugh with him.
Pulling her from her stool, Elliot wraps Olivia in his arms. "You know they're watching us from somewhere. I would've rather this happened a bit more privately, but—-" he cuts himself off and kisses her deeply.
Her phone buzzes again. About damn time, Liv. Have fun tonight. Love ya. She looks up at Elliot. "Let's go home."
The author of this SVU: The Rewrite story will be revealed in July