Monday morning had a rhythm Olivia found comforting: coffee in hand, reports to skim, and a brief window of quiet before the chaos of the day descended. She was halfway through reading a case file when Elliot strolled in, his coat slung over one shoulder and a travel mug in hand. He dropped into the chair across from her desk with an exaggerated sigh.

"Morning," he said, leaning back casually.

"Morning," she replied, not looking up.

He waited a beat before speaking again, trying to sound offhand. "So...how'd your big Friday night go?"

Olivia's eyes flicked up. He had that look—part curiosity, part smirk. "My what?"

"You know, your date," Elliot said, drawing out the word. "The guy with the flowers?"

Olivia exhaled sharply through her nose, setting the file down. "It was fine." She hoped her tone would be enough to signal that the subject was closed, but Elliot didn't take the hint.

"Fine? That's it? Come on, Liv, you cooked for him. That's not nothing."

"Since when are you so interested in my personal life?" she asked, a trace of amusement in her voice, though her guard was already inching up.

"Since you had a guy in the hallway Friday night who looked like he was about to propose," Elliot shot back, smirking. "What was his name again?"

Olivia blinked, her amusement fading. "Wait—you met Daniel?"

Elliot filed away the name Daniel for future reference, keeping his tone casual even as his mind turned over the encounter. He shrugged, taking a sip from his mug. "Ran into him in the hallway when I was leaving. Big guy, dark hair, kind of...I don't know, put together. You didn't know?"

The realization hit her like a small jolt of electricity. So that's why Daniel had seemed a little off when he arrived. He'd met Elliot. Of course, he hadn't said anything, probably trying to be polite. Olivia stared at him, the pieces clicking into place. Now that she thought about it, Daniel's slightly stiff demeanour made more sense. She'd assumed it was jitters—anticipation over the date becoming more intimate—but...maybe it wasn't.

"Oh," she said carefully, filing the thought away. "No, I didn't know."

Elliot didn't miss her slight frown and leaned forward, clearly enjoying himself. "What, he didn't mention me?"

"No," Olivia said quickly, maybe a little too quickly.

"Huh," Elliot mused, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. "I wonder why."

"Maybe because it wasn't a big deal," she snapped, annoyed by his tone.

Elliot laughed lightly, but there was an edge to it. "Hey, I'm just saying. You're the one who didn't tell him about me."

Her jaw tightened. "What is there to tell?"

Elliot raised his hands in mock surrender, though the smile didn't leave his face. "Relax, Liv. It was a joke." But as soon as the words left his mouth, Elliot felt a pang of regret. Was it a joke? Sure, but it came out wrong—too pointed, too personal. Maybe it was a weird thing to say between two work colleagues, even if they were more than that, at least in his mind. Her expression didn't soften, and the silence that followed felt heavier than it should have. He glanced away, silently berating himself for pushing too hard, for saying the quiet part out loud.

"Well, it wasn't funny." Her voice was sharper now. "I'm perfectly capable of having a life outside this job, in case you hadn't noticed."

"Okay, okay," he said, backing off slightly. "So, you two are...serious, then?"

"Not that it's any of your business, but it's still early," Olivia said, keeping her voice even. "We're getting to know each other."

Elliot studied her for a moment, his expression unreadable. "Getting to know each other," he echoed. He paused, as if weighing his words. "Sounds...interesting."

She frowned slightly, feeling a flicker of annoyance at his tone. What was he getting at? The hesitation in his voice didn't sit right with her—it wasn't teasing, exactly, but it wasn't neutral either.

"What does that mean?" she asked, her words sharper than she intended.

"Nothing," he said casually, leaning back in his chair. "Just...dating. It can be...complicated."

Olivia's eyes narrowed. "Complicated how?"

Elliot shrugged, his nonchalance feeling a little too practiced. "Forget it. You're a grown woman. You know what you're doing."

But as he leaned back and looked away, Olivia couldn't help but wonder why this conversation felt so charged. Was he trying to warn her about something? About Daniel? Or was this something else entirely? The way he said "complicated" stuck with her, as though it carried a weight he didn't want to explain. Was he worried? Jealous? Or just being overprotective, like he so often was? She couldn't tell, and the uncertainty left her unsettled.

"Damn right I do," she replied, her tone sharp but not heated. She turned her focus back to the file in front of her, but she could feel his eyes on her for a beat longer.

He hesitated, as if considering saying more, but thought better of it. "I'll catch you later," he said, standing and heading for his desk.

Olivia watched him go, her mind whirring. She hated how he always seemed to know how to get under her skin, even when he didn't mean to. Or maybe he did. She couldn't tell anymore.

A few weeks had passed since that awkward, tense moment with Elliot, and Olivia found herself settling into a rhythm with Daniel that was unexpectedly comfortable. It wasn't fast, but it wasn't slow either. They were getting to know each other in the way that felt natural, with no pressure, no expectations.

They spent most weekends exploring the city together—simple things, like Sunday morning coffee runs and long walks through the park, their easy conversation flowing like they had known each other for years. Daniel was surprisingly good at making her feel at ease. He would make little poetic comments, like how he'd always thought that the early morning light looked best through the café window. It wasn't anything groundbreaking, but it was real.

Olivia appreciated how he seemed to genuinely enjoy the little things. He didn't have an agenda—no grand gestures, no heavy conversations pushing things forward. It was just...nice.

One evening, after a particularly relaxed dinner at her apartment—pasta and wine, nothing fancy—he'd put his glass down, then leaned in to kiss her cheek, his lips brushing her skin so lightly it felt almost like a dream. She'd turned her face toward him, catching his gaze. For a moment, the world had fallen away, leaving just the two of them, connected in that quiet, gentle way.

"You know, I really like being here with you," he had said, his voice warm, his smile easy. "This is perfect."

The simplicity of his words had struck her in the best way. No need for overly romantic declarations or elaborate promises—just a quiet, sincere acknowledgment of what was happening between them.

And she found herself thinking about it more than she thought she would. She liked how he made her feel like she could be herself, how he made her laugh without trying too hard, how he always seemed interested in what she had to say, even about the mundane things. He remembered the little details about her life—the fact that she liked her coffee black with just a hint of cinnamon, the way she always fidgeted with her bracelet when she was nervous, the book she'd been reading on their first date that she'd mentioned casually.

There was an ease to it all, a comfort that Olivia hadn't realized she was missing. It was the kind of relationship that didn't require her to perform or be anything other than who she was. With Daniel, she could just...be.

What's more, this growing sense of comfort had made her completely forget about how strange and awkward their third date had felt. That night, when he'd seemed ready to take things to the next level—urgency almost radiating off him—had started to feel like a distant memory, like it had never happened at all. The tension and the sense of rush that had unsettled her in that moment had completely faded from him. There was no more pressure, no more intensity. It was almost like a different version of Daniel now. One who was just...normal. Patient. Calm.

Olivia had to admit, it had taken a while for her to shake off the weird feeling from that night. But now, she almost convinced herself that she had misread him. Maybe his enthusiasm had been a little too forward, but surely that was her own doing. The whole thing had probably felt off because Elliot's interruption had coloured her perception of things. He'd been in her head, she knew that, and his instinctive judgment about Daniel, combined with the weird, awkward timing of the evening, had led her to second-guess everything. But looking back, it felt like a silly thing to worry about. Daniel had never given her reason to doubt him, not really. It was almost like the night itself had never happened.

And so, each day with him—each small, sweet moment—made her forget any hesitation or doubt. Their connection, so easy and so real, felt like it was building into something more solid, more meaningful. She couldn't have asked for a better version of what she was beginning to see as a budding relationship. And for once, she allowed herself to just enjoy it, without looking over her shoulder or questioning what might come next.

Elliot had his back to the desk, half-watching Olivia as she worked, when the phone on her desk rang.

"Detective Benson," she answered, her tone all business as always.

Elliot leaned back in his chair, catching a glimpse of her face as she listened. Her brow furrowed slightly, a subtle shift in her posture that made Elliot look up from his paperwork. He could tell something was off.

"Daniel," she said after a beat, her voice softening slightly. "Hey...I wasn't expecting you to call me here. You've got my cell, right?"

Her tone was light, but Elliot caught the faintest hint of something in her expression—surprise, maybe. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, her lips pressing together as she waited for his reply.

"You could've ignored a call on your cell," Daniel's voice carried through her receiver, low and almost teasing. "But if I call here, I know you'll answer."

Olivia blinked, startled, though she recovered quickly. "Right," she said, her tone still kind, though a little less certain. "But...you really didn't need to do that. This isn't exactly the best time for a chat."

Elliot's stomach twisted slightly. That was an odd thing to say—manipulative, even. He pretended not to listen, but his jaw tightened. This guy was not sitting right with him.

"I mean, it's fine," Olivia continued, though there was a small hitch in her voice. "It's just...I'm at work. It's a busy day here."

She paused again, and her lips pulled down at the corners, just slightly. Elliot saw her glance his way, a fleeting look that didn't quite meet his eyes, but the discomfort was clear.

She shifted in her seat, trying to keep her voice warm but firm. "Daniel, no. I can't step out right now—I've got back-to-back interviews all afternoon." Another pause.

"Okay," Olivia said, a little more firmly now, but still trying to smooth over any tension. "I'll catch you later, alright? We can make plans for tomorrow or the next day. We'll talk soon."

Elliot glanced at her as she set the receiver down gently, but her expression was tight. She was good at masking things, but he could tell this was one of those moments she wasn't entirely sure how to feel. He leaned in just a bit, concern written on his face.

"Daniel, huh?" Elliot said, keeping his tone light as he sipped his coffee. "Didn't know your desk line doubled as a dating hotline."

Olivia shot him a look, half-amused but mostly exasperated. "He's not in the habit of calling me here, trust me."

"Yeah?" Elliot leaned back in his chair, his expression carefully neutral. "Weird choice, though. Why not just call your cell?"

Olivia hesitated, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear again, a nervous tell. "I don't know," she said slowly. "He just...wanted to be sure he'd reach me, I think. It's just Daniel being Daniel, I guess."

Elliot frowned, the words settling uncomfortably in his mind. "Sounds like he's got his own way of doing things."

Olivia gave a soft laugh, though it was more forced than genuine. "He's not trying to be difficult. He's just...persistent. He means well."

"Persistent," Elliot echoed, his tone easy, but his gaze was sharp. "That can go either way, you know."

She turned back toward her file, her shoulders stiffening slightly. "It's not like that, El. He's been great. Don't overthink it."

Elliot didn't push, but the unease lingered. Something about the way she dismissed it—trying too hard to convince herself it was nothing—made him want to push back. But he stayed quiet, knowing Olivia would only dig her heels in if he said too much.

Still, as he watched her flip through her paperwork, the thought nagged at him: a guy who couldn't take "no" for an answer, even for something as small as a phone call, wasn't someone who should be ignored.

Half an hour later, the door swung open, and there he was: Daniel, standing in the doorway with an easy smile, holding a coffee in one hand like he'd just casually decided to swing by.

The atmosphere shifted instantly. Elliot didn't even have to look at Olivia to feel the tension that crackled in the air. Daniel exuded confidence, stepping inside as if he belonged there, entirely unconcerned about her earlier insistence that now wasn't a good time.

"Hey, Liv," Daniel said, his voice warm and impossibly smooth. His gaze locked on Olivia like they were the only two people in the room. "I figured I'd drop by. Thought I could catch you between meetings."

Olivia blinked, her polite smile faltering for a fraction of a second before she quickly recovered. "Daniel," she said, her tone pitched just high enough to sound surprised. "You didn't have to—"

"I wanted to," he cut in easily, holding out the coffee as if that made his unannounced visit perfectly acceptable. "I know you said you were busy, but I thought you could use a little pick-me-up."

Elliot leaned back in his chair, his jaw tightening as he observed the scene. It wasn't just Daniel's presence that irked him—it was the way he brushed right past Olivia's boundaries, acting as though her earlier words had been a suggestion rather than a clear request. Elliot's gaze flicked to Olivia, noting the slight tension in her posture as she took the coffee, her fingers tightening briefly around the cup.

"That's...thoughtful," Olivia said, her voice steady but lacking its usual warmth. "Thanks. But, like I mentioned earlier, I've got a packed day." She gestured vaguely to her desk, where stacks of paperwork made her point clear.

Daniel nodded, his expression all charm and ease, but there was something about his persistence that set Elliot on edge. "Of course," Daniel replied smoothly. "I won't stay. Just wanted to see you for a minute—make sure you're not working too hard."

Elliot watched Olivia's reaction closely. She smiled again, though this time it didn't quite reach her eyes. "I appreciate it," she said, keeping her tone light. "But I really can't chat right now. Maybe later, okay?"

Daniel didn't seem the least bit phased, his grin unwavering. "Sure thing. I'll let you get back to it." His gaze lingered on her for a beat too long before he finally stepped back toward the door, glancing around the office like he was sizing up the space. "Catch you later, Liv."

As the door closed behind him, Elliot exhaled slowly, letting the silence settle for a moment. Olivia turned back to her desk, busying herself with the papers in front of her, but Elliot could see the faint tension in her shoulders, the way she avoided meeting his eyes.

Elliot leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk as he studied her. "Seems like he's got a hard time taking no for an answer," he said, keeping his tone casual, though the edge in his voice was hard to miss.

Olivia glanced up briefly, her expression unreadable. "He's just...thoughtful," she replied, though the words sounded more like an excuse than a genuine sentiment. She picked up a pen and began writing, effectively ending the conversation, but Elliot didn't miss the flicker of doubt that crossed her face.

Elliot leaned back in his chair after Olivia returned to her paperwork, his mind unable to let go of the gnawing feeling Daniel's visit had left behind. The guy was too smooth, too comfortable stepping over boundaries Olivia had clearly set. Sure, maybe it was harmless—but Elliot had learned the hard way not to ignore those gut instincts. He figured Olivia probably had, too.

After Olivia wrapped up her day and left, he stayed at his desk, drumming his fingers against the wood as he mulled over his options. He didn't want to hurt her feelings or make her think he didn't trust her judgment, but something about Daniel didn't sit right. If the guy was legit, no harm done. If he wasn't...well, Elliot needed to know.

He replayed the earlier phone call in his mind. Daniel had called the precinct, which meant his number might still be logged somewhere in their system. It wasn't like he could start digging into someone's personal life on a whim—not without a good reason or a warrant—but checking who'd made a call to a public office wasn't exactly overstepping. It was information that was already there, wasn't it?

Elliot opened his desk drawer, pulling out the desk phone's directory system. If Daniel had called from a cell phone, the number would have been captured. He typed in Olivia's extension and scrolled back through the most recent incoming calls. Sure enough, there it was: a number he didn't recognize, timestamped right around when Olivia had taken the call.

Leaning closer, Elliot jotted down the number and stared at it for a moment. He knew he could run it through the department's basic database to see if it was tied to any reports or incidents—standard procedure for identifying unknown callers. He told himself he wasn't crossing a line. It wasn't personal; it was about making sure Olivia wasn't getting involved with someone who could hurt her.

After a quick check, the results popped up. The number wasn't flagged or tied to anything suspicious. But it also didn't come with a name or much identifying information, other than a registered service provider. If he wanted more, he'd need to dig deeper—something that veered dangerously close to misuse of resources. Elliot hesitated, his fingers hovering over the keys. Did he really want to go down this road?

He decided against pushing further for now. Instead, he made a mental note to keep an eye on Daniel, to watch how he interacted with Olivia. If something more concrete came up—a real red flag—then he'd dig. For now, it was enough to know that nothing alarming had surfaced.

Still, Elliot had been around enough people to know that charm wasn't always harmless. Something about Daniel felt too calculated, too controlled. And if Daniel ever crossed a line with Olivia, Elliot vowed he'd be ready.