A/N: The only thing that has changed from the previous post of this chapter is that the page break I had didn't show up so I had to fix it. Sorry for the confusion. This story is a little different than what I've done before. I like EO but I also think their partnership/friendship is just as good. Maybe they'll end up together in this one. Who knows. Peace.
He spotted her from across the bar and motioned with his arm. He smiled as she made her way to the back booth.
"Hey, El." She grinned and slid in next to him.
"There you are. We just ordered." Casey patted Olivia on the forearm and looked up. Out of the corner of her eye, she'd caught the man staring.
"Great, thanks. Sorry I'm late. Had to stop by Cragen's office." Olivia sighed and shed her coat and scarf. She rested her hands on the table before her and looked around. The bar was starting to fill.
"What'd he want? I thought you were right behind me. Wondered where you went." He cleared his throat when he saw Casey making hand gestures at a man two tables over.
"I just had something I wanted to run by him. What are you doing?" She caught Casey trying to cover up what she'd been doing. The ADA stared down at the table and traced the pattern.
"Don't look, but there's a hunk of a man that's been undressing you with his eyes ever since you came over. Maroon shirt, grey slacks. Go to the bathroom." Casey threw her hands up innocently when Elliot elbowed her in the ribs. She raised her eyebrows and shrugged her shoulders.
"The hell are you doing? She doesn't need some stranger's number. I already hooked her up with a friend of mine." Elliot scowled at the man, letting him know Olivia was off limits.
"I am still here, guys. I don't need your help, thank you. And you should know better than to think I'm going to go out with some complete stranger. I don't do bars. I'm sticking to the conventional way of meeting guys." She wasn't sure what conventional was anymore. She just knew she was over do for a date.
"Oh, yeah? And what way would that be? 'Excuse me, sir. If you're done describing how you found the body, I'd really like to meet for coffee.' Face it, Liv, you're not getting any younger." She cringed at the look she got in return. As much as they'd joked about it in the past, it appeared to be a sensitive subject for the detective.
"Funny. If you'll excuse me, I really do have to go to the bathroom." Olivia brushed past the waitress and made her way to the bathroom. She turned around abruptly when a hand caught her sleeve.
"Whoa. Hey, I just wanted to say hi. Billy Wade." He stuck his hand out, waiting for her to accept his introduction.
"Um…yeah. Look, I'm sorry if my friend misled you. I'm just looking to unwind. It's been a long day." She cocked her head to the side and felt a flush rise to her cheeks when he smiled.
"I'm new in town. I'm from the Midwest, actually. My little boy is going to love all the snow. I was just looking for a friendly face. Nice to meet you. Whatever your name is." He stuck his hands in his pockets and took a step back.
"Well, welcome to the city, Billy. Be careful out there." She licked her chapped lips and opened the door to the restroom.
"He's cute, isn't he?" Casey followed Olivia to the sink and leaned against it with her side pressed to the porcelain. She crossed her arms, noticing the blush in the older woman's cheeks.
"I guess. You can have him." Olivia pumped the soap dispenser several times before giving up and going to the next sink.
"It's all you, Liv. He looked sweet. What'd you talk about?" Casey pulled several paper towels out and handed them to Olivia.
"Nothing. He was just telling me how he was new to the city." Olivia shook her hands before wiping them off. She braced herself for the man to be on the other side. She just wanted to knock a few back. Nothing more, nothing less.
"You could show him around. Maybe, casually lead him to your place. When's the last time you got any? Last month? What was his name?" Casey held the door and followed Olivia out. She stopped when Olivia scanned the bar. She saw her relax upon seeing the man was nowhere to be seen.
"Casey! His name was Ben and we went out twice. If you could call it that. His ex was on the phone with him the whole time. Ask her how it went." Olivia sped up, indicating the conversation was considered dropped.
"What took you so long?" Elliot pocketed the napkin he'd folded up. He wasn't sure why he'd even accepted it. The guy had another thing coming if he thought Elliot would allow him to date his partner. Not that he had any say in the matter. He liked to think he did, though.
"Girl stuff. Oh, good. The dip is here." Olivia grabbed a chip and swirled it in the creamy mixture before biting off a piece.
"Right. What'd you have to talk to Cragen about?" He'd seen the time off request on her desk and hoped she'd come to him. He'd waited all day.
"Oh, just this thing I have coming up." Olivia glanced down at the table, wishing she could crawl underneath. She had expected him to drill her. She just hoped he'd do it in a more private setting.
"Who's playing?" Casey took in the uncomfortable moment of silence that followed Olivia's statement. She scooted the bowl closer and stole a chip.
"Huh? Oh, I don't know." Olivia stood slightly and leaned over the table to get a better look.
"You gonna' start on that or save it for later?" Elliot clicked his bottle against hers, sending the over the top. It ran down the sides and onto the table.
"I'm starving. I was about to gnaw my right arm off." She grabbed a napkin and wiped off the sides of the bottle before downing a third of its contents.
"If you're done hogging the dip, can I have some? I didn't get lunch, either." Elliot snagged a chip and dug into the untouched portion of the container.
"Cragen working you hard lately?" Casey was just getting into the swing of things after having been on vacation for a week. Her apartment had never looked cleaner.
"Eh, I guess. No more so than usual. Just didn't get a chance to get out today. Our day to catch." Olivia laughed when the dip Elliot had been balancing on the tip of his chip fell down onto the table.
"Damnit!" He tossed the uneaten chip back in with the rest and rubbed his hands together to get the salt off.
"Order something else. The chicken fingers are good." Casey grabbed a menu and opened to the second page.
"If you're twelve, yeah. I want a burger. A fat, greasy burger." He grinned when he spotted it on the menu.
"That sounds good. Get an extra basket of fries." Olivia licked her fingers and grabbed another chip.
"And…I'm done. All yours, Liv." Casey scrunched up her nose and gestured for Olivia to take the basket.
"Great, thanks." Olivia nibbled on the chip and stilled when she saw him staring at her once again.
"Want me to say something? Get him off your back?" Elliot shifted in his seat so he could see the man more clearly.
"He's hardly on my back. He's completely harmless." Olivia motioned for the waitress and gave her their order.
"Famous last words." He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and licked his lips.
xxx
The day had been relatively uneventful. She had a glow about her he hadn't seen for a while, and he wondered what the source of such happiness was. He stared at her from across the threshold. Raising his eyebrows, he made a gesture with his arms outstretched. Spill it.
"Billy invited me to go to the park on Saturday afternoon. He's new to New York and wanted to show his son Devon. What?" Olivia frowned at the exasperated look Elliot had given her.
"You know the guy, what, two days? Two days and you're going to the park when I've asked you countless times to go with the kids. Not once have you ever come along. Whatever happened to not going out with complete strangers? You don't even know this guy." Elliot felt his anger rising. He wasn't even sure why he was mad.
"I said I was busy, and it was only once. If you had asked again, I might have been available. Don't take it personal, Elliot. Why are we even arguing about this? You're the one who gave me his number, so don't turn this around on me." Olivia shook her head and rested her hands on her hips once she was standing.
"Yeah, well, I shouldn't have. I didn't think you'd actually go out with the guy. I thought you had enough common sense." He stalked over to the coffee pot and turned back to face her once again.
"Nice, Elliot. What's the real issue here? You've never had a problem with me going out before. Why now? Why him?" She shifted her weight onto her left leg and waited for a response.
"All the other guys you knew for at least a week. How do you know he's not married? I'm just looking out for you." He knew he was grasping at straws. His defense was weak, at best.
"You just don't want me to see anyone you don't approve of. Well, you know what? You don't get to make those kinds of decisions. You didn't before and you sure as hell don't now. So, either tell me what the real problem is or let it go because I'm too damn tired to argue with you about this now." She lightly kicked the chair leg. She really wished she had a drink.
"Forget it. You want to date him, go right ahead. Don't come crying to me when it doesn't work out. I thought you were leaving for the night." He saw the flicker of hurt flash across her face and sighed.
"I had to leave a note for Cragen to remind him of something." She was getting fed up with his meddling.
"You're taking off work to go to the park? I saw the form on your desk." He regretted his assumption the moment he'd gone there. What she did on her own time was none of his business. He knew that.
"No, you nosy son of a bitch, I'm not. I have an appointment; two entirely different things. I can't believe you would accuse me of such a thing. You know, I thought it would be nice to get out and do something for a change because I honestly can't remember the last time I did. Thank you for ruining the mood. Anything else before I leave?" She pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes.
"Sorry. I just…I don't know what my problem is." Elliot watched her eyes, waiting for her to open them again.
"I don't either, but it's pissing me off. I don't even know where this thing is going. It could turn out to be nothing but I'll never now if I don't try. So, just…let me have this. I think I deserve to be happy for once, don't you?" She eyed him, tapping her foot.
"Yeah. Sorry." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. He'd blown it. It wasn't as if he didn't want her to find happiness. It was just so damn hard to see her falling for someone, knowing that he was still alone. Then there was the protective nature he'd developed whenever it came to her and the opposite sex. She'd never had an older brother to look out for her, and he'd taken on that role early on in their partnership. She'd gone enough years without it, and as hard as it was to stand by and let some arrogant asshole enter the picture, he knew it was the right thing to do. She was right, as usual. She did deserve to be happy.
"I'm going to go. Bye, Elliot." She blinked slowly, letting her eyes close briefly.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Liv." Elliot sighed in defeat. He clicked off the lamp and scooted in his chair. There was nothing left for him to do.
"That's what I was sticking around to tell you. Tomorrow is the day I asked off, so I guess I'll see you on Wednesday." She rubbed her eyes and felt the incessant throbbing ebb slightly.
"Oh, okay. Bye, then." He powered down his computer and grabbed his suit jacket before giving her a small wave and watching her leave. He saw her bring a hand up to her temple. She'd been doing that a lot lately.