After Collateral Damages (pretend it's set sometime in October)
Thanks to my friend Greg for the bourbon suggestion. I asked him, "What kind of bourbon would a tough, gruff, no-nonsense NYC police Captain drink?" He said, "Well… Booker's of course. Barrel strength Jim Beam from the center of the warehouses. A flavor sledgehammer."
Tuckson fluff. Always.
Underlined text is from the episode. I own no characters.
"Are you still up for a nightcap?" Tucker asked. The night was crisp and there was a bright, full moon.
"Yeah, I could really use a drink." She replied.
She went to the door of the bar. As she peered in, Ed put his hand gently on her back. But she said, "You know what, not here."
Ed replied, "Wherever you wanna go, you tell me."
Ed put his hands in his pockets as they continued their stroll, and then Olivia linked her arm in his. Ed felt a warm shudder wash over him that started in his chest and spread like lava through his limbs. It felt better than the most expensive bourbon. "This was the first time she ever voluntarily made physical contact with me," he thought pleasantly. Sure, there were times where it seemed as if she wanted to hug him or touch him on the arm or something, but she had held back. God he had been longing for some intimacy with her for quite a while now. Could this be another turning point in their relationship?
They continued their moonlit walk in silence, still thinking about the night's events. At least they both agreed that the commissioner is a prick. Sure, Tucker busted Olivia for waking him up in the middle of the night, but she and her squad were just doing their jobs. That's something Ed was beginning to admire about SVU. He knew that everyone thought he had it out for them, but in seeing how they operated recently, especially under Lieutenant Benson's leadership, he acknowledged that they all really are good police.
Olivia slowed down to a stop at a quaint little bar. She turned to Ed and asked, "Is this okay?"
"Sure, this is fine," he replied. When they walked in, he recognized it was the bar where he had teased her the first time for drinking tea. He smiled a little to himself, unsure of whether she brought him there on purpose or if it was just a happy coincidence. Not one to believe in coincidences, Ed preferred to think it was the former. They found two seats at the bar and settled in, music playing softly in the background. She ordered a red wine, and he decided on Booker's bourbon. They both sipped at their drinks before anyone said anything. It was an oddly comfortable silence, and they eventually eased into conversation.
"So," she said, turning to face Ed. Olivia's soft brown eyes locked on Ed's clear blue.
"Yeah, rough day," he countered. "I knew Hank Abraham was a prick, but who would've thought he could ever be capable of something like this. Especially with a wife and two kids. Pippa seems like a good person, too, I don't know how she ended up with a guy like Hank," he scowled. "How is she handling all of this?" There was genuine concern in his voice.
"Well, she took her kids to her parents' in Pennsylvania. Last I saw her she was only starting to accept all of this. She's going to have a rough road ahead of her. I can't even imagine someone I love, someone I'm close to, turning out to be… well… whatever Hank is. It's amazing what kind of double life people can lead."
"I know I wouldn't be able to do what he did. I mean, leading a double life like that. Obviously I don't do… that stuff. But yeah, I'm too much of straight shooter, by-the-book kind of guy," he said with a knowing smirk. "I'm not good at lying or hiding things," his blue eyes penetrated Olivia's as he said this.
"I know exactly how you feel," she returned his look with a half-smile. The last time they had drinks at this place together she had opened up to Ed and told him about her situation with Noah. Although she wasn't obligated to do so, she had voluntarily named Johnny D, the sex trafficker, as Noah's biological father on her adoption papers. She didn't want to lie about her life with her son. Ed knew what she meant, and nodded.
There was another break in the conversation as they tended to their drinks.
"How is Noah doing?" Ed asked, eager to steer away from work-related conversation.
She smiled, touched that Ed always asked about her son, and responded, "He's great! He liked that you came over to read to him the other day. You two seem to have hit it off really well."
Ed smiled. "He's a really sweet kid, Olivia. I'm glad he is comfortable around me."
"I feel so bad when I can't be there to put him to bed, though, "she mused. "He is with Lucy at her place tonight since I had no idea how long this thing with Abraham would take."
"I'm not keeping you from anything, am I?" Ed asked.
"No, the plan was for me to get him tomorrow morning so he could sleep through the night. We're okay here now," she smiled.
They made more small talk – about his favorite sports and her favorite TV shows – as they sipped their beverages. Through a lull in their conversation, Ed heard a familiar song over the speakers. It was Van Morrison's "Moondance." Right then and there he got a crazy idea and acted impulsively upon it.
He set down his half-finished glass of bourbon, and stood up from his barstool, Olivia looking up at him quizzically. "Dance with me," he said.
"What? Ed, no!" Olivia retorted, giggling. But then she looked into his eyes, those crystal blue eyes that have started to make her go weak in the knees, and set down her wine glass next to his bourbon.
He took her by the hand as she stood up. "Where do we even go?" she blushed, smiling at him.
"Just right here," he whispered in her ear. He twirled her around and then pulled her in close, one arm around her waist, the other holding her hand at his chest. She gently rested her head in his neck, breathing in his scent, a scent more intoxicating to her than the alcohol. He buried his face in her soft hair as they danced in rhythm to the lively jazz. The song just started the second verse.
Well, I want to make love to you tonight
I can't wait 'til the morning has come
And I know now the time is just right
And straight into my arms you will run
And when you come my heart will be waiting
To make sure that you're never alone
There and then all my dreams will come true, dear
There and then I will make you my own
And every time I touch you, you just tremble inside
And I know how much you want me that you can't hide
Can I just have one more moondance with you, my love
Can I just make some more romance with, my love
Ed wasn't sure if Olivia even knew the song let alone the lyrics, but he did, and they spoke directly to his heart. He held her close and enjoyed the moment with her. Her deep brown eyes drifted up into his and he nearly melted. It was as if they were the only two people in the room; everything else was just a blur. Their breathing grew heavy as they gazed into each other's eyes. He smiled at her, a smile she was beginning to adore. She smiled back, and his heart soared.
The song came to an and end and, as there is always that awkward moment of what to do next after a song you are dancing to is over, they just looked at each other and sniggered. Olivia, remembering they hadn't yet finished their drinks, released her hands from his and sat back down at her seat. Ed followed.
"That was so spontaneous, Ed," she breathed. "I rather enjoyed it," she said, playfully.
"I've always enjoyed that song. It was nice to have someone to share it with," he said throatily. "Thanks for dancing with me, Liv."
Ed used her nickname without even thinking. He was just so caught up in the moment, felt so at ease with her, it just slipped. Olivia, noticing his usage of the name, felt her heart skip a beat as she looked at him, her eyes widening and her grin broadening. She didn't say anything. She didn't need to. Ed took her reaction as a sign that it was okay for him to continue to call her that. He returned her smile, his eyes dancing.
"Would you like another glass of wine?" He asked, noticing they were just about finished.
"Ah, yes, but no. I'm getting tired and it's really late," she stated. They both almost forgot how late it actually was.
Ed signaled for the bill, but Olivia reminded him that it was her turn to pay. "Yeah but you got dinner the last time. We'll split it," Ed compromised, knowing that Olivia wouldn't budge on her promise.
"Fine," Olivia smirked in agreement. They both left their respective amount of cash on the bar.
Liv led the way out of the bar, Ed's hand gently on her back. When they got outside, still relishing the romantic moment they had just shared, she looked into his eyes and asked, "Take me home?" Ed, not wanting to in any way displease this incredible woman after an amazing night with her, obliged.
They had driven in Ed's unmarked Crown Vic that he had used during the ordeal with Hank Abraham. Ed found a spot a half a block away from Olivia's building. Olivia slipped her hand in his on their walk to her apartment.
"So…" Olivia started as they reached the entrance to her building.
"So…" Ed returned, as he moved to embrace her. He pulled her in close and she held on tight. They lingered in each other's arms for a moment, breathing heavily, caressing one another's backs, each not wanting to let the other go.
Eventually, Olivia broke away, looked deep into Ed's eyes, and then kissed him on the lips. A soft, virtuous kiss, which Ed then deepened after fully wrapping his arms around her. She enveloped her arms around his neck and continued the kiss, a bit more passionate. They finally broke apart and Liv whispered, "Would you like to come up?"
Ed nodded silently. Olivia took his hand in hers and led him up to her apartment. She unlocked the door and they went in. As soon as Ed shut and locked the door behind him, Olivia planted another kiss on his lips, this one slightly less chaste. She inhaled deeply as Ed passionately returned her kiss. This was a kiss enumerating from all of their pent up sexual tension that had been accumulating during the progression of their relationship. All those times Olivia wanted to touch him but was scared to get too close. All those times Ed wanted to hold her in his arms but was afraid of her rejection. All of it was being expressed in this kiss.
They helped each other take their jackets off. Ed took off his suit jacket. Olivia unbuttoned his dress shirt for him and he stripped it off. Once their clothes were in a pile on the floor, she jumped up into his arms, wrapped her legs around his hips, and kissed him fervently. He wanted to take her to her bedroom like this but realized he had no idea where it was. She seemed to sense this and directed him where to go in between kisses. He found the doorknob and opened the door.
There was enough light from the moon streaming into her bedroom that he didn't bother finding the lights. He sat down on her bed, Olivia still in his arms, now straddling him on the bed. She tackled him backwards so he was now laying on his back. She ceased kissing him long enough for him to inch back so that his legs weren't dangling uncomfortably over the bed. She rested her hands on his chest, feeling his soft white undershirt, as he stroked her back.
Instead of delving back into the kiss, Ed paused for a moment to look the incredible woman on top of him. A wisp of hair was falling in her eyes, so he gently tucked it back behind her ears. "Olivia, you're so beautiful," he whispered huskily. She leaned in to kiss him and then collapsed on her side next to him, her hand on his chest, his arm wrapped around her. She smiled and began stroking his chest, nuzzling her head under his jaw. She moved her hand up and down his torso, caressing his solid abdomen, kissing his neck. Her breathing grew heavy as she moved her hand back up to admire his pectoral muscles.
"Mmm, Liv," Ed murmured softly.
"I'm so used to seeing you in a suit. You look great in it, but I wasn't expecting this. You're so sexy," she breathed as she felt his physique.
She slowly moved her hand back down his body, all the way down his side to his hips where she slid a couple fingers under his pants, caressing his hipbone. Ed moaned. She undid his belt. Ed inhaled and held his breath. Olivia's hand went back up his abs and chest, and then back down under his pants, this time in the center. She was surprised to find him already hard.
"Ed!" she exclaimed playfully as she looked up at him. "Wow, already?"
In his soft, raspy voice he replied, "With you, Liv, it didn't take much at all."
With her hand still on him, she reached up and kissed him passionately, and he reciprocated. She finally pulled away, bore her beautiful brown eyes into his and said, "Take me, now."
And so he did.
"Wow, Ed, that was incredible," Olivia complimented, the both of them lying on their backs.
"Yeah, it was. You weren't so bad yourself," he joked. Olivia nudged him good-humouredly. They turned to face one another and cuddled in silence for a while, getting to know the rhythm of each other's breathing. Liv eventually looked up at him and whispered, "Thank you, Ed."
"For what?" he asked. It seemed that this woman was always thanking him lately, thanking him for just being there. He didn't mind one bit, though.
"For being so… gentle. You seemed to know exactly what I wanted and needed, and what I didn't want or need. You made – no, you make me feel safe, like I can trust you."
"You are safe with me, Liv, and you can trust me," Ed reassured, stroking her hair.
"I know, it's just, you made me feel that way without having to say it, and I like that. I'm aware that you know all that I've been through and it seems you took it all into account. That was very sweet," she smiled.
Ed kissed her forehead and squeezed her tight. "Thanks for saying that, Liv. I care about you and I don't want to hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable in any way."
"I care about you too, Ed," she said.
"Hey, I keep a duffel bag of fresh clothes in my car, do you mind if I run down and grab it?" Ed asked, assuming he was welcome to stay till morning.
"Yeah, just grab my keys and lock the door behind you, though." From her past experiences, she didn't want to be alone in her apartment with the door unlocked.
"I'll be right back," Ed said, kissing Olivia's forehead.
Olivia got up to get into her pajamas. She went to the bathroom, brushed her teeth, and washed her face. By the time she was finished, Ed was back and changing into sweats in her room. As he was pulling up his sweatpants, he noticed Olivia's freshly washed face. She had a splash of freckles on her cheeks and forehead that he found extremely endearing.
"Wow, Olivia, you may be even more gorgeous without makeup on," he said, pulling her into his arms.
"Ed, stop," she blushed, grinning.
"I'm serious, Liv, you are a beautiful person, inside and out. I've wanted to tell you that for quite a while."
They got back into bed and faced each other. Ed stroked a strand of hair away from Olivia's face as she kissed him fully on the lips. "Goodnight, Tucker," she yawned.
"Goodnight, Benson," he whispered. Ed watched as she easily fell asleep in his arms and then he, too, drifted into a peaceful slumber.
