TITLE: Getting The Message

AUTHOR: E.C.

RATING: G, this one's tame.

FANDOM: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

PAIRING: Benson/Fin

ARCHIVE: WWOMB, everyone else just let me know so I can gloat

WARNINGS: None. Venture forth with a light heart, my sons and daughters in fanfic...no spoilers, just a kernel of angst/sap, and het. Follow up to The Language Of Dance...FinMuse is good to me. *grin*

SUMMARY: A week after the prolific dance, Fin and crew become engaged in a conversation about wooing. Olivia gives Fin hope.

For Peja, Queen Of The Challenges, and for NBC, who put SVU back in its Friday night time slot. Also for USA who's airin' it every night. Gots to have me my Meloni fix! *evil grin*

Special dedication to all those that dug The Language Of Dance...the kind words have nudged me into place. There will be more to come from these two, and I'm now hooked on writing this stuff. *grin*

Getting The Message
By E.C.
**********

"It's all about the seduction..."

Olivia laughed. "What? Get serious...that's so hokey."

"What?" Fin chuckled in response, spreading his hands. "You women are hung up on it. Most important thing to you is winin' and dinin'...guy's gotta put up a huge routine just to get laid."

"I concur." Munch interjected. "My first wife was not what you'd call a cheap date...and she's even LESS cheap these days."

"Didn't have to for my wife." Elliot threw in, going over a report as he interjected into the conversation. "She's pretty easy to please."

"Yeah, well, there's exceptions to every rule." Fin replied, sneering good-naturedly as Munch rolled his eyes across from him.

Fin shifted his gaze back to Olivia, remembering their impromptu dance the week before at Mulligan's. Nothing had happened...but he was a lot more hopeful after that night. There was still a lot he was unsure of...but there were possibilities. Endless possibilities.

"What about you, Liv?" Fin asked, his heart pounding as she looked up, dark eyes meeting his. "What floats YOUR boat?"

Olivia just held his gaze for a moment, and Fin's stomach filled with butterflies at the warmth...the AFFECTION... that filled her eyes in that single second.

"Me? Doesn't take a lot to win me over." she replied mysteriously with a small smile.

"Specifically?" Fin prompted, suddenly feeling as though they were the only two people left in the room. Was this the best-case scenario he'd been dreaming of? Or was he reading way too much into her demeanor?

Olivia raised an eyebrow, her smile growing wider for just a second. Fin's hopes rose along with her as she stood up from her desk, venturing towards the door of the squad room, bringing her past his chair.

"Well," she drawled softly, "I DO like dancing."

Fin watched her walk off, feeling his own lips curve in a grin.

"Think she's trying to tell you something, Oda?" Munch asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Nah, she's lookin' to be the third Mrs. Munch." Fin deadpanned, reaching for a case file on his desk, still grinning. "Lay off, John."

John just shook his head, returning to his work with a knowing smile.

"It's all about the seduction."John muttered to himself with a sigh, silently wishing his partner luck.

END