Elliot groaned as he sat back in his chair having gotten back from yet again another call. He loved his job but sometimes he wished he could just quit. He was too tired, too aggravated, too fed up with the bullshit of New York; but there was one thing that made it all worth it, one thing that kept him up at night and had him up early in the morning eager to start his day just because he knew it meant being with her: Olivia Benson.

And she was looking exceptionally beautiful this evening, with her hair in curls, make up a little darker than usual, and a tight fitting low cut, black dress. It was almost as if she was going somewhere; like a date. "Liv?" Asked Elliot. "You got plans tonight?"

Olivia stared up at him from the paperwork on her desk. She was hesitant about telling Elliot about her date. After all it wasn't as if many men had stayed around long after meeting Elliot Stabler. "Uhh, yeah I do. Why?"

Damn. If that wasn't a sucker punch to the Stabler Happy Dance. "Oh", he began, "Do I know the guy?"

Olivia shook her head, wondering when the timer on his temper would go off. "No, you don't but he's funny and seems like a nice guy. I think you two would get along."

"When can I meet him?" He asked, knowing it would provoke a negative response but he was hurt that she was going to be spending her night in the arms of someone else so he needed a reason to lash out.

Olivia looked up at him again, her eyes questioning the integrity of his statement. "Never." She said, trying to sound light hearted but she knew where this was going.

"Why not? Didn't you just say we would get along?" Retorted Elliot.

"Because, Elliot." Olivia sighed. Here is comes, the angry, hurtful, son of a bitch that is the Mr. Hyde of Elliot Stabler. "I don't want you two meeting yet, okay."

"Well why the hell not? Do you even know this guy? I think we should check him out." He said, gesturing towards Fin.

"Don't look at me, Stabler." Said Fin. "She's a big girl. I'm not getting involved in this."

"Thanks Fin." Said Olivia as she returned to her files.

"Yeah, thanks Fin." Spat Elliot, sarcastically. "Seriously, Olivia, we all know you have shit taste in guys. How do you know this guy isn't some creep?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" She asked sharply.

Elliot let out a harsh laugh. "Well shall we review? There was that sleazy journalist, that baby rapist from COAP-"

"He came on to me!" She said. "I was never interested in Eric."

"Well lets not forget Dean Porter." He spat. "And we all know how comfortable you two were with each other. You pick some real winners, Liv."

Olivia glared at him, hurt and anger in her eyes. Everyone knew that she like Dean and everyone knew how devastated she was to find that she had been blind sided by the man she let warm her cold nights. She wanted to scream, her anger boiling to the top but her eyes were watering and if she let herself cry it would ruin her makeup and by this time she wouldn't be able to fix it before her date arrived.

So, hurt and embarrassed, she gathered her things from her desk drawer and made her way into Cragen's office to inform him she was leaving early.

Fin stared at Elliot, keeping quiet until Cragen's door was shut. "That was low, man." He said. "Throwing that shit in her face; why can't you just let her have fun for one night? Don't you think she deserves it?"

Elliot scowled. "What, like she did with Porter? You don't think that guy was an ass?"

"Porter was an ass", said Fin, "but she liked him. And as I recall you acted like a jealous bastard then too."

"I'm not jealous!" Shouted Elliot, defensively.

Fin smirked at him, his outburst proving him right. Still, Fin was never one for poking the wounded, so he kept his mouth shut. "Fine, if you say so. But you can at least lay off her. You know she had no clue about Porter, that last one was low."

Elliot was just about to reply when Cragen's door swung open and Olivia shuffled out. She briskly walked past Elliot's desk, trying to hide the sob that escaped her throat.

He heard it. Damn it, he heard and it broke his heart. He hadn't realized how much his comment had crushed her. He wanted to run after her, he wanted to apologize but like every other time he had pissed her off or hurt her he just stayed in at his desk, waiting for someone else to take the bunt of his anger.

For those of you waiting for the sequel to Strength, it's coming. I haven't forgotten but I want to it to be perfect. Hang in there. I will post it soon along with more to this story.

Review. Let me know what you want to happen with Elliot and Olivia's date.