After Townhouse Incident (Thanks to bonosaurus & Fid2916 for their intel on how Liv gets to/from work, and when Liv & Ed called each other by their respective first names.)
It was almost 5:00, the day after the fiasco at the townhouse. Captain Tucker was just about wrapped up with work for the day, and decided to make a trip over to SVU to check in on Lieutenant Benson. She really should have taken the next few days off, but being the dedicated cop that she is, she decided to go into work. Her loyalty did not go unnoticed by Tucker, nor did her squad's loyalty to her. She really was a good cop.
When he got to the squad room, it was fairly empty, as mostly everyone had gone home for the day. He got some quizzical looks from remaining unis, but managed to find Dodds lingering around, catching up on paperwork. Tucker decided to ask Dodds about Benson. Dodds hadn't been here long enough to know Tucker's reputation with SVU.
"Sergeant Dodds, is the Lieutenant in her office?"
Dodds looked up curiously and explained, "No, she's napping in the cribs. She's been in there a while and should actually wake up soon to go home to her son."
"Thanks, I'll go wake her," Tucker responded before Dodds offered.
"Just so you know, Captain," Dodds pointed out, "she seemed a little off today. She was quiet and reserved."
"She had a rough one yesterday. I'll make sure she's alright."
Tucker knocked quietly on the door but received no response. He knocked a little louder with still with no response, so he opened the door slowly, let himself in, and quietly closed the door behind him. Benson was asleep on one of the bottom bunks, her back facing him. He walked over to her and put his hand gently on her shoulder.
"Lieutenant," he whispered, nudging her lightly. She stirred, but did not fully awaken.
"Lieutenant Benson," he said, louder.
"Mmm," she mumbled.
"Lieutenant, it's after five-o-clock, you should wake up," he said softly. She slowly turned around and once she realized who was standing over her, she sat up abruptly. The last time he came to wake her up in the cribs it was to arrest her. "Tucker, what are you doing here?" She asked incredulously, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
"I wanted to stop in and see how you are doing. You had quite a day yesterday and shouldn't even be here today." Tucker spoke in a tender, caring manner, that didn't go unnoticed by Olivia. Their previous meetings over drinks had gone quite well, and Olivia was beginning to let her guard down a little bit more around Tucker. And he had been opening up more with her, too.
"Um, the doctor gave me these meds. I took one earlier and I can't seem to stay awake," she yawned. As she tried getting off the couch she teetered and fell back down again.
"Whoa, hey, are you okay?" he asked, lunging towards her with his arm out for support.
"Yeah… yeah I just got up too fast." She paused and lifted her eyes to his. She saw a look in his eyes that was different from his usual hard ass stare. They were soft and kind, a heart-stopping brilliant blue. Characteristics she had never noticed before. She blamed the medication. But she also knew the medication was making her drowsy and dizzy. "Um, she started, reluctantly, "would you mind just making sure I get home okay?"
Ed was quite taken aback for her to be asking for his help like that. But he looked at her reassuringly and said, "Of course, what would you like me to do?"
"Uh, I usually just walk to the subway, but I think I'm still too unsteady…"
"It's okay," Tucker interjected, "I'll call a cab."
"Um, would you ride with me? It's a short ride but I'll most likely fall asleep on the way."
"Of course, I'll get you home, Olivia," he promised. She noticed his switching from her title to her first name and smiled slightly, definitely more at ease than when he first arrived.
While Tucker called for the cab, Olivia drudged to her office to grab her purse and some work to take home. She did indeed fall asleep on the brief ride to her apartment, and woke yet again to Tucker's voice.
"We're here, Lieutenant," he exclaimed, reverting back to her professional title. He was still unsure of how personal to get with her.
She eased awake and, for reasons beyond her understanding (she blamed the meds again), asked, "Ah, would you like to come up? I can make us some coffee. You can meet Noah, if you'd like."
Ed gazed into her soft brown eyes with his piercing blue, almost not believing that she had actually invited him in to her home. Maybe those meetings over bourbon and red wine have softened her up towards him a little.
"Yeah, I'd like that," he replied, trying not to sound too eager.
She led him up to her apartment and as soon as she got through the door there was a squeal of "Mommy!" and miniature feet running, and then little Noah was in his mother's embrace. Ed watched as Olivia hugged him and he smiled, knowing how much that little boy meant to her.
Olivia hung up her coat and then did the same with Tucker's. They moved into the living room and Olivia put Noah down near some toys he had out.
"Lucy, sorry I'm late, I fell asleep at the station. This is, ah, Ed Tucker, Captain of the IAB unit. Tucker, this is my sitter, Lucy."
"Oh no problem Liv, Noah was wonderful today, as usual! Nice to meet you, Captain Tucker," Lucy offered, extending her hand.
"Likewise. Please, call me Ed."
Liv and Lucy exchanged goodbyes. Liv, returning to the living room, said, "Please, have a seat," signaling to her couch. Then she introduced Tucker to Noah.
"Hey Noah, this is Captain Tucker. He is a policeman just like Mommy! Can you say hi?"
The little boy looked up at Tucker with awe in his eyes. "Hi Tuck! You policeman? Like Mommy?"
"Yes I am, kiddo." He took out his badge to show the boy. "And you can call me Ed, too," he said, smiling. When Noah came over to Tucker, Tucker thought that Noah was just going to examine the badge. But, holding up his arms, the little boy exclaimed, "Ed, up!" Tucker glanced at Olivia and she gave him a nod, so Ed picked up the boy and set him on his lap. Noah took Tucker's badge and observed it with interest. Smiling at the two boys, Liv said she was going to put a pot of coffee on. Noah looked up at Tucker and said, "You good policeman!" Tucker laughed and said, "Well I'm glad YOU think so, Noah!" Noah giggled and gave back Tucker's badge. Olivia couldn't help but stifle a giggle from the kitchen.
The boy then slid off Tucker's lap and went to show grab some of his favorite toys. He had a fire truck and a police car and some Legos. He was proud of all of them and showed Tucker every one. After he exhausted interested in his toys, Noah went over to the bookshelf and grabbed a book. He brought it to Tucker and asked, "You read Farm to me?" Tucker took the well-worn book from him, noting the title, "A Day on the Farm."
"Sure, bud," he said as he lifted Noah back up into his lap. He opened the book to the inside cover where it said, "This Little Golden Book Belongs to" with a line for the owner's name. In chunky green crayon writing was Noah's name with the "N" backwards.
"Mommy read that," Noah pointed to his signature, so I said, "Alright, This Little Golden Book Belongs to…" and he joined in saying, "Nowwa Pohrter Benson!" He giggled and Tucker smiled at him and said, "Good job kiddo!"
As Tucker read the book to Noah, the little boy pointed enthusiastically to all of the characters and animals. Tucker became so immersed with Noah and how excited and entertained he was with the book, and how comfortable and trusting he was with him, that he didn't even notice Olivia standing there watching them, smiling, until he was finished with the book. As Noah slipped off Tucker's lap to put back to on shelf, Tucker was still smiling when he finally noticed Olivia there with a steaming cup of coffee in each hand.
As Tucker glanced up at Olivia she handed him a mug and sat down on the opposite end of the couch facing him. She sipped her coffee and then, with a smile on her face, she looked at Tucker and said, "He must really like you. He's usually very shy around strangers, but he even let you read him his favorite book." The interaction between Tucker and Olivia's son had warmed her heart and broke down a barrier between her and Tucker that most likely would not be built back up. He had just then gained her trust and maybe even a bit of admiration. Maybe he wasn't such a terrible guy after all?
Tucker smiled warmly and replied, "Thanks for the coffee. Noah is a great little guy. You must be very proud."
"I am, and also very happy."
"I can tell," Tucker responded softly, piercing Olivia with his bright blue eyes. Olivia returned his gaze and, instead of the contempt and anger he usually saw in her eyes when she looked at him, there was warmth and tenderness. She smiled at him and then focused her attention on her son.
Noah entertained them with more of his toys while the adults sipped their coffees. When Tucker was finished, he lingered onto his mug, not wanting to leave quite yet. Liv finished a bit later and set her mug down on the coffee table. Tucker followed suit and then stood up and said that he should get going, not wanting to overstay his welcome. He secretly wanted her to invite him to stay longer, but she stood up too and said, "Well, thank you for getting me home this evening, Tucker. I really appreciate it."
"You're welcome, thank you for the coffee."
"Noah, are you going to say bye to Tucker?"
The boy came over to and hugged Tucker's legs. "Bye-bye Ed!" he said, still addressing him by his first name, as it was probably easiest to remember. Tucker knelt down to him and tousled his hair. "See ya, Noah."
Liv walked Tucker to her door. "Goodnight, Ed," she said softly, before opening the door. His heart skipped a beat. That was the first time he had ever heard her address him by his first name, and he liked the sound of it emanating from her lips. "Thanks again." She smiled warmly at him. He returned her smile. "Goodnight, Olivia. You're welcome," he whispered. They locked eyes again before he turned to leave. She closed the door behind him and felt herself grinning. "The way he looks at me. The way he was with Noah," she mused to herself. "He was there for me tonight as a friend. Maybe he's not such a bad guy after all," she thought as she went to prepare dinner for her and Noah.
Ed smiled to himself as he walked down the hallway and to the outside of the building. He didn't know if it was because of how he and Noah interacted or what, but whatever it was, he was beginning to think that the relationship between he and Olivia was starting blossom. And he couldn't be happier about it.