TITLE: Silent Broodings

Silent Broodings
by E.C.
**********

Fin sat at his desk, a case file spread out in front of him. He'd been sitting that way for over an hour now, and he still had NO idea which case he was reading up on.

All he could think about was Olivia. Again.

He sighed heavily, finally giving up and shutting the folder, stowing it back in his desk. He still had an hour before his shift was over, and for a change, no active cases to follow. Paperwork was his only other distraction, but thoughts of his co-worker made even that simple, mindless task nearly impossible.

Once again, his mind drifted back to that morning...what had started as casual office conversation became a study in slow torture on his part at the sound of four words that had tied his heart up in knots.

\\"I have a date."\\

Fin glanced over at the desks across from him...Stabler was home with his wife for once, and John had a hot date of his own, leaving just Fin and Olivia as the last two in the squad room for the night.

He found himself wondering just who she was seeing...was he someone from the department? What did he look like?

How interested in this man WAS she?

Fin had been so sure...that dance at Mulligan's, that conversation a week ago...the warm glances and friendly touches that were growing increasingly more frequent...he thought she just MIGHT be open to something, even if she didn't feel as strongly as he did.

He THOUGHT he'd had hope.

He finally couldn't stand it anymore. It was getting late and still she sat there, poring over case files...looking utterly exquisite in simply her usual work ensemble. Damn it, how did she DO that?

"So what gives? Figured you'd be out and about by now." he finally managed to get out, reaching back into his desk drawer for the case file he'd abandoned not five minutes before.

Olivia glanced up from her work, smirking slightly. "You obviously didn't hear me earlier." she replied with a soft chuckle.

Fin frowned in confusion. "I heard you say you had a date...when I was gettin' coffee this morning."

Olivia shook her head with a smile, closing the folder she'd been reading. "Ah, yes...and if I recall, you poured that particular cup into your hand rather than the mug."

Fin couldn't help but smile, spreading his hands slightly. "Ya caught me...I'm a klutz."

"Lucky for you grace isn't high on my list of qualities I look for in a man." she replied, meeting his eyes briefly.

//Damn it.// Fin thought to himself, swallowing hard as his heart flipped pleasantly in his chest. "So what's yer point?"

"My point IS," Olivia drawled, rising from her chair and picking up the folder she'd been reading, "that you obviously didn't hear what I said this morning. I was telling Munch just how sad and pathetic my social life's become...it's Friday night and I have a date..."

Fin forced himself not to cringe. He had no right to be hurt, there was nothing between them!...

"...with a big stack of paperwork and HIS partner."

...yet.

Fin met her eyes in surprise. "Huh?"

Olivia laughed, and the sound was like music as she moved across the room to plant herself behind Munch's desk, setting her folder down in the middle as she folded her hands primly across the top.

"Think John will mind if I sit here?" she asked softly, her features almost glowing in the dim light of the squadroom.

Fin could only shake his head, a small, hopeful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Nah...nah, I don't think he'll mind." he replied just as softly.

"Good." Olivia chirped brightly, her smile never wavering. "But if he does...can I count on you to get my back?"

"Hell yeah." he managed to chuckle, picking up the case file he'd been reading. Baisley...he'd been trying to catch up on the Baisley rape-homicide. It was suddenly a LOT easier to concentrate. "Don't sweat it...we won't even tell him you were here."

"I think he'll smell a conspiracy, Oda...wouldn't want to subject you to more of his ranting."

Fin glanced up from his case file to see that Olivia was working once again, her head down over her own folder, dark, luminous eyes focused on the paperwork before her. "Hey, I'll survive...what're co-workers for, right?"

And as Olivia glanced up to grace him with the brilliant, warm smile that was becoming more and more common when they were together, Fin had to wonder...

Friday night at the office with almost an hour left to his shift...why did he suddenly get the feeling he was going to be pulling some overtime?

END