To Find What I Wasn't Looking For.
Chapter 1
I'm back with a multi chapter fic. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I enjoy writing it. Let's see where this story will take us.
Olivia jumped slightly in her office chair as her phone suddenly vibrated againt the wooden surface of her desk, creating a loud and obnoxious sound. She had been completely absorbed by paperwork for the past couple of hours that she had almost forgotten where she was and what time it was. Glancing at the clock, she realized that it was nearly five pm and Fin, Munch and Carisi were just about to leave their desks for the day.
She picked up her phone and was surprised to see that she had received a text message from an unknown number.
"OMG! You won't believe what happened today, Sarah! Remember that guy that I've been drooling over for the past two months where I work? He asked me out! This friday, eight pm at that fancy new restaurant down by the marina. I'm so existed I can hardly wait. I hope he's paying cause I can't afford a glass of water in that place. You have to help me decide what to wear! XX"
Liv frowned as she read the text a second time. She smiled slightly at the comment about the glass of water but was brought out of her amused state as Fin popped his head in along with Carisi.
"We're heading out for a drink, boss. Wanna join us?" Fin questioned while studying the brunette, the faint smirk on her face didn't go unnoticed by him. "Who's texting you? Or should I say sexting?" he snickered, as he spotted the small smirk on his boss' face, but flinched as Carisi shoved an elbow into his ribs, basically telling him to shut up.
Liv raised her eyebrows. "Why? Are you jealous, Fin?"
The smart remark caused Carisi to chuckle loudly a couple of times but immediately stopped when be spotted Olivia's non amused face. "Sorry, Lieutenant. So um,... drink?"
"No thanks guys. I have to finish this before I go. Raincheck?"
"Absolutely." Carisi quickly stated, grabbed Fin by the arm and literally dragged him away from the doorway, slightly uncomfortable and embarrassed.
Liv snickered to herself as she watched her squad exit the bullpen, laughing and pushing each other around, acting like teenage boys rather than fully grown men. As they disappeared out of view, her attention was then focused on the phone in her hand and the text that, obviously, had been sent to her my mistake.
She couldn't decide whether to reply back, telling the person that she wasn't Sarah and that she must've gotten the number wrong, or if she should just ignore it, forget about it and delete it. After a long few minutes of contemplating her options, she eventually decided that this woman, this stranger, deserved to know that she wasn't the person she thought she was.
"I am glad to hear that you have a date with the guy you've been drooling over for quite some time. However, I'm sad to say that I'm not Sarah, I'm Olivia, and that you must've mis-dialed a number or two."
Happy with her reply, she pressed the send button and turned her gaze to the computer screen, continuing her case files. About a minute later, her phone buzzed again with another message.
"I am completely mortified! I'm so so sorry for bothering you. My friend recently changed her phone number and I now realize that I got the third and the last number wrong. So sorry! Just ignore my comment about drooling and the glass of water... even though it's true."
Olivia couldn't help but to chuckle lightly to herself. There was something light hearted, easy and comfortable about this stranger and, surprisingly, she almost felt drawn, perhaps even intrigued by this woman. There was just something about the way she chose to put her words into her texts, the way she instantly changed an embarrassing situation in to a funny, amused and slightly sarcastic one in the matter of a minute was endearing and, to Olivia, a great quality to have.
"No worries. Don't be embarrassed, I completely understand. Good luck on your date this friday. Only two days to go."
Liv sent the message, thinking that that was probably it, she would never hear from the woman againso she was surprised when she received yet another text from the same number.
"Sorry to bother you again but, woman to woman, what do you think I should wear? you can totally ignore my text if it makes you awkward. I would completely understand. Sorry again and sorry for saying sorry a lot and now I'm rambling."
The brunette let out a heart felt laughter, greatful that she was alone so she wouldn't attract awkward side glances from her squad members or people around her. No matter how weird this was, texting a stranger like this, she still felt compelled to answer back and to give this woman her advice about what to wear even though she had no idea what tis woman looked like, how old she was and how she dressed.
"Well, it's hard to give clothing advice to someone when you don't know what they look like or how old they are. I would recomend to dress in whatever makes you feel comfortable but I would wear a pair of heels if I were you, it always gives me that extra confidence boost."
After sending her third message to a complete stranger, she focused her attention on the lap top in front of her that had been untouched for the past twenty minutes. She shook her head to clear it, thinking it would help but her phone buzzed again and she was, once more, lost in this compelling woman words.
"Oh yes! Heels are a must so that's sorted. I am blonde, blue eyes, about 5 foot 6 and slender built. God, it sounded like I described myself for some cheesy dating site or to an old man who's just being pervy."
Something fluttered deep inside Olivia's stomach causing her to break out in a goofy smile that would certainly stay there for the unforseeable future. It was a feeling she hadn't felt in a long long time and she had almost forgotten how good it could feel. She didn't know what to make of it just yet but it didn't really bother her, not at this time.
" You're lucky I'm not a perv or a dating site. I can't stand those things. Call me old fashioned but I prefer to get out and meet people first hand. I believe this man will be a very lucky man on friday night. Red always looks good on blondes or, if you want to play it safe, go for navy or a blue that will match the colour of your eyes."
This time, Liv didn't even bother to look at the case files, documents and reports on the blaring screen. Instead she found herself glued to the smaller screen in her hand, waiting for a reply back, like a teenager who was texting her first crush. When she saw the screen lit up, so did her face.
"I do have a red dress that I haven't worn yet. Excellent choice! God, I can't even remember the last date I had, I'm so nervous. I like an old fashioned girl, there's not many of us left. I thought we were a dying breed."
"She likes an old fashioned girl, ugh?" Liv said out loud to herself, still smiling like an idiot and began to type back, her fingers shaking slightly.
"We're probably the only two left of our kind but I'll let you know if I come across any more of us. I must say that I'm slightly curious about your date and how it will play out. Considering that I gave you some of my personal knowledge in what to wear, I believe it's only fair if I could get an update, on saturday, on how the date went? Oh, and by the way, I feel like you have a head start here. You know my name but I don't know yours. Care to share?"
She felt nervous sending the text. Maybe she had asked too much? Her date was none of her business so why would this woman provide her with any information about her private life? Olivia had voluntary given the woman her name so there was no reason for the stranger to give away hers. Why did it matter anyway? She didn't have time to think about her question as another text message came through.
"Well, since we might be the only two left of our kind, I think it's vital that you know my name and it's Amanda. It's nice to meet you Olivia and, of course, I will give you an update on saturday. Consider it done. Thanks for all your help. I'll text you on saturday."
Liv decided to keep this text short and sweet so she just wished her good luck and that she should have an escape plan if things didn't work out the way she wanted them to or if the guy was simply an asshole and she needed to get away. She was slightly relieved and disappointed, at the same time, that she didn't receive another text from Amanda. She could now focus on her work that needed to be done as soon as possible, which in SVU time was yesterday.
Thursday was an awful, grim and dreary day. A case of child abuse had come to their attention and they were all working so hard to get the child removed from his current foster home and into a safe environment. Liv knew that she wouldn't be able to relax until the six year old boy had been taken somewhere safe and sound where he could find some peace and closure and be a kid again.
"Poor kid, I don't think he'll ever be the same again." Carisi sadly stated as he watched the six year old exit the bullpen, hand in hand, with a social worker.
"I'm not the same person I was when I was six. We all change as we grow up. Fortunately, he's still a kid and he has time ahead of him to heal. Children are resilient and he will get through this." Fin placed a hand on the shoulder of the youngest member of the squad and gave it a firm squeeze before letting it go.
"I hope you're right, Fin." the youngest detective sighed, turned and sat down by his desk but his mind was currently not in working mode, feeling somewhat melancholy and low after everything that had happened in just one day.
"He is." Olivia chipped in from where she was standing, by the doorway to her office, a gloomy expression visible on her features, her eyes reflecting the pain she felt for the little boy. "He'll get through it." she stated. "With counselling and with the right kind of people, he will."
Carisi shrugged sadly, not really believing in what Liv and Fin just said. "Maybe." he muttered and turned his attention to his computer screen, forcing his brain to focus on the documents in front of him that needed to be filled, printed and filed.
Fin approached the Italian man and stopped about a foot away from his desk. "Have you ever heard the expression; you should respect and listen to the elders?"
Carisi frowned. "Something along those lines, yes. Why?"
"Me and Olivia are way older than you so that, unfortunately, makes us the elders in this case and you should listen to the wisdom that we speak of."
The young man peered up at the african american man, raising one eyebrow in a questioning manner. "Just because you're older doesn't necessarily mean that you're wiser. Wisdom doesn't automatically come with age, Papa." he snickered.
"Papa? Really? I'm not old enough to be your dad and you're too old to be my son." Fin replied, crossing his arms over his chest, making a physical statement that he was right.
"I'm not too old to be your son. I'm..."
"Okay! Enough you two! You are worse than two toddlers sometimes. Do I have to separate you and call your mothers? I want the paperwork on this case done and dusted before you leave so I'd suggest you get on with it." the brunette retreated into her office to begin her own paperwork, waiting for the day to end. Even though two of her detectives were acting like children a lot of the times, she wouldn't have it any other way. She kind of liked the light banter and joking around between the two but she would never say it to their faces. If she did, she would never hear the end of it.
Friday was another hectic day. Liv had a court appearance, a meeting with the commissioner and had to meet up with their ADA Barba about an old case which trail was coming up. She felt drained, tired and unfocused. The weather outside didn't exactly elevate her mood as it was grey and dreary with steady showers that seemed to last forever.
Since Fin was now the new sergeant, and could hold down the fort by himself, Liv decided to leave an hour early, hoping to have a quiet and relaxing evening at home. Maybe a bath, a glass of wine and some soothing music would calm her racing mind. As she laid in the tub, soaking in lavender bubbles, her phone beeped and she instantly groaned in frustration and annoyance. All she wanted was a nice and quiet evening for herself without any interruptions and definitely didn't look forward to going back into the precinct for another case. Not tonight.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips as she spotted the unknown number, that wasn't really unknown anymore, on her screen. When she finally realized that it was Amanda she got confused and, for a second, thought that it was saturday and that she was giving her an update, as promised, on how her date had gone but she knew for a fact that it was friday.
"Hello again. I know I'm not suppose to text you until tomorrow but my friend Sarah is not answering my texts or calls and I'm desperate for some encouragement. I'm all dressed up and ready to leave and I'm literally about to shit myself because I'm so nervous. You probably have better things to be doing on a friday night anyway but, as I said, I'm a desperate woman."
Olivia actually felt a bit sorry for her. She hadn't been on a date herself in a couple of years, but she remembered the anxious and nervous feeling that would settle deep in your gut and stay there until it was finally over and you were inside the safety of your own home.
A strange warm and tingling sensation spread through her body as she read the text again and she felt as though she had to try and calm the woman down. She took a large sip of her wine and swiped her fingers over the touchscreen.
"No problem at all. It's only natural to be nervous. Just be yourself and things will work out just fine. If nothing can calm you down then try to picture him naked. That will keep your mind occupied and too busy to think about anything else."
Happy with her reply, she pressed the send button and sank back down into the steaming water, feeling her muscles and joints ease up and stop aching from the welcomed heat. Then, she jumped slightly as a reply was sent back surprisingly fast.
"Oh, the naked thing is a good idea, thanks. Hopefully that will help unless he is thinking the same thing? I'll get all paranoid and wonder if I look good underneath my clothes as he tries to scan me with x ray vision."
Olivia laughed and shook her head. This woman was funny and witty. Whoever she was seeing tonight would most certainly be entertained.
"X ray vision or not, I'm sure you look just fine underneath your clothes and he should be so lucky to spend time with you tonight. Go get'em tiger!"
Ten minutes after she sent her last text, Liv didn't receive a reply and she figured that her encouraging words had calmed some of her fears and nerves and that she had finally pulled herself together and left for her date.
The water had turned luke warm and her fingers and toes were more of a resemblance to dried prunes than actual digits. As she toweled herself off, got dressed and slipped underneath her covers, she found herself thinking about this stranger, what she would order to eat, what she looked like, what conversations she decided to engage in and if she was having a good time. She caught herself staring, into the darkness, up at the ceiling, wondering if her date was treating her right. Since she knew that Amanda was an old fashioned girl, just like herself, chivalrous manners and behaviour was probably important to the woman who, somehow, refused to leave her mind.