Unrequited

Chapter 3

A few days later Olivia was walking full speed to the elevator to catch a briefing from Rollins on the Williams homicide. It turns out there was a connection to the Queens murder and there was another detective from their bureau coming in to help them investigate. She was running late because Noah was being especially fussy that morning and she didn't want to leave until she got him settled.
Checking her phone on the way up to the squad room, she sees that she has a missed call and a text message from Ed. She puts her phone away deciding to call him back later once she has this case squared away.

"Good Morning Lieutenant," Amanda greets her as soon as she steps off the elevator. Their hurried steps accompany each other over to the meeting area where Fin, Carisi and Dodds are already waiting. Placing her bag down on a nearby chair, Olivia looks over at the evidence on the board. "Ok walk me through it."

Thirty minutes later, they've identified a suspect and Fin and Amanda are going to go and pick him up. The evidence is circumstantial but she's hoping to at least get a confession or some other details that can lead to more substance so they can obtain a warrant to search his home.

It's a typical day at the 1-6 and now that she has a little time she decides to pick up the phone and give Ed a call back while walking to her office. Her attention is so focused on making the phone call that she doesn't notice the person sitting on her couch.

"Oh," she jumps and hangs up the phone.

"Oh?" Ed cocks his head to the side and stands up adjusting his navy blue jacket that brings out his eyes. "That's the kind of greeting I get?" His stance is firm with his hands in his pockets assessing the surprised look on her face.

"What are you doing here?"

"Ouch, it keeps getting better. I can't just stop by?" Shutting the door, he moves closer to her desk.

"You've asked me that before and I will give you the answer I always do. No."

His eyes cast down and he looks almost hurt for a split second and she questions her choice of words.

"It's just that usually when you come around here it's not good news, so spill it."

He shakes his head from side to side thinking about her words. She's not completely wrong. No one likes to see IAB anywhere near their precinct, even if they are secretly dating them. Her laptop is powered up, her belongings in their rightful place and she comes around to sit on the edge of her desk.

"Ok fair enough," he concedes. "How's your case going?"

"It's going well," she answers folding her arms. "But I'm sure that's not why you are here. What's up?"

It wasn't meant to be harsh although he squints a little. The truth is his presence there is a bit unnerving for her especially considering it doesn't seem to be relating to anything professional.

"I had two questions," he moves closer and her outstretched legs are touching his ankle. The proximity makes her nervous. "One was if you were available for lunch today?"

Her eyes widen in surprise and a small smile plays on her lips. "You came all the way down here to ask me that. You could've just text me."

"I did you didn't answer." Her mind immediately goes back to the texts she ignored and curses the floor plan of the new squad room that allows people to walk by the evidence board more unnoticed. "So are you available?"

"You know how things are around here," she circles her desk towards her seat. "I will try but if things get off the ground with this suspect..."

"Understood. You will call me later and let me know?"