A/N: This was one of those fics that plagued me and kept me from slumber until I got out of bed and jotted down my ideas. Inspired by the episode "Ripped" I give you the humble beginnings of "Company". Rated OE for some Liv and Elliot action! Enjoy!

She felt his eyes boring into the top of her head. She pretended not to notice as she closed her eyes to the paperwork in front of her and took a deep breath. Here we go. She couldn't help but sigh because she could feel the heat and lust from his gaze and there wasn't a damn thing she could do about it.

"I asked her for a divorce."

She still didn't look up. She took a moment to gather her thoughts and calm her emotions, constructing her cold, hard, protective shell against him and those piercing electric blue eyes of his. She looked up with a sad smile. "I'm sorry Elliot."

The look in his deep blue eyes was heartbreaking. She knew he was taking the separation badly. It was, well, a separation. He was separated from his children, his wife of twenty years, and the only life he has ever known. He was alone and he wasn't handling his recently acquired status very well at all. And now a divorce! She figured it was settling in fast that his new tittle was a permanent one.

She stood and grabbed her black wool jacket tossing him his. "Let's get a drink." She glanced at her watch which read 2am. "It's been a long day. These files will be here when we get back."

"The only constant thing in my life," he mumbled as he took his jacket from her and stormed out of the station.

Olivia winced at the comment relived he wasn't there to witness the pain his words had caused her. She bit her lip and took a deep breath slowly following his lead.

He was hurt she reasoned to herself as she caught up with him. He was so use to her presence in his life that he took it for granted. Yes that was it. He was so use to leaning on her and borrowing from her strength just to make it through each day that it just didn't register with him that he could loose her too. She was his partner afterall. It was only natural she assumed. They were one in the same. She felt an ache in the pit of her stomach. She just wasn't quite sure she was okay with that.

"Jack and coke" Elliot stated as he pushed through the doors of McMullens sitting at the first available bar stool.

Olivia sat beside him. "MillerLite please."

They sat in silence as they usually did... at least as they usually had for the past few months since he had... separated.

They got their drinks simultaneously. Olivia took a long swing of hers ice cold beer as Elliot finished his in one gulp and signaled for another.

"Listen Liv... I just wanted to let you know..." he scratched the back of his head fishing for words.

Olivia sighed. Why did men always have such a hard time with emotions? But who was she to talk? She was the queen of one night stands. A firm supporter of the "Love 'em and Leave 'em" motto. She admitted she was a cold, hard bitch, but then again, that came with the job, with her past. So why was she, no, why has she since the day she laid eyes on him been such a push over, dare she even say softie with Elliot Stabler?

She looked down at her bottle as he clumsily stumbled over his words.

"I...well... thanks," he managed as his second drink arrived.

She smiled absently in his direction. "No problem Stabler." She knew what he was trying to get at. "Thanks" for all the nights she took him out for drinks where they both just sat in silence comfortable just knowing that for a few hours they could escape the loneliness that was waiting for them back at their apartments. "Thanks" for the kid gloves she'd been handling him with for the past few months. "Thanks" for all the slack she was picking up for him. "Thanks" for the boundless patience she exerted just for him. "Thanks" for the times he'd show up at her apartment in the middle of the night and just sit next to her and never say a word. "Thanks" for the times he'd show up and talk the night away. The list went on and on.

She watched him down two more as she finished off her beer. "Come on Elliot before I get you too drunk to finish our paperwork."

He smirked at her. "You kiddin' me? I'm not drunk. I've seen you down this much and still kick some guy's ass for looking at you the wrong way."

"And as I recall it, I ended up going home with that guy after one more drink," she replied slapping down thirty dollars and pulling Elliot up off the stool.

"At least let me pay Liv."

"Keep your wallet in your pocket Stabler," she teased as she pulled him out of the bar into the chilly September night.

He slipped his arm through hers pulling her close. "For warmth," he explained with an innocent smile as she shot him a questioning glare.

The two walked silently arm in arm and lost in thought, Elliot cold and somber and Olivia rigid and contemplative. This was common as of lately. She catch a momentary breakdown of his defenses and get a glimpse of raw emotion, but then it would disappear and his affect would flatten once again deadening his emotions to everything leaving her feeling confused and a little bit used at the same time. She hated this recently acquired pattern of his. It drove her absolutely crazy that he could do that to her, but mostly that she let him continue to do it. She, however, was helpless to do anything about it. He pushed away and stayed away if she pried too hard, yet she was in too deep with him to completely put an end to it. He needed someone, and the way she saw it, he had no one but her.

She stifled a yawn as they reached the precinct.

"Hey Liv why don't you go home and try to get a few hours of sleep and let me take care of the paperwork. You know for the drinks and all," Elliot offered.

"It wasn't a bribe Elliot," she stated defensively.

"I know but you see I have this huge male pride that is bruised right now because I let you pay for our drinks so call it an act of chivalry," he smiled.

"My how old fashioned of you," she stated with a role of her eyes.

He laughed and followed suit.

"Alright. But promise me you won't stay too much longer Elliot. I'll come in early to take care of what's left alright?" She bargained.

"Deal. G'night Liv."

"Goodnight.," she hissed through chattering teeth as he disappeared inside. She knew full well he was lying through his teeth and would spend the night in the cribs. She shook her head as she made her way to her car. "And so it continues for another day," she whispered to the cold, empty night looking back over her shoulder at the station house.

A/N: Alright darlings so there it is. Please take a tiny little second and leave me an itty bitty review! Thanks for reading!