Waiting

Dean Porter and Olivia Benson stared at each other with unreadable expressions, a skill required in their line of work. Their outsides however betrayed their interior. The turmoil of emotions where overwhelming for both. He was afraid of her reaction. She wanted to slap him, among other things she was trying to push out of her mind.

"Cragen said he will tell you I was coming".

"He said the Deputy Director of the FBI was coming".

"Yeah… that would be me".

Olivia let go of the door and walked back inside hoping it would slam him, he caught it on time and locked it behind him.

"Wow you cover a murder and they promote you? I am in the wrong agency. Why are you here?"

"You know why I'm here. Calvin is my grandmother's neighbor, I watch him sometimes."

The mention of Calvin brought her back to reality.

"Are you sure he ran away?" she asked obviously concerned

"Yes" he said it in a way that did not convinced Olivia

"But?" Cragen had given her a glimmer of hope that Calvin was on his way to her.

"Sit down Olivia". Olivia sat on her couch and he took the oversized chair beside her.

"Calvin's birthday was last week. He got a new wallet and a new cell phone. I bought him the cell phone. I put my business card on his wallet he had your card on it as well. I programmed the cell phone myself with my number, your number and several others. It also had a GPS tracking device. We traced the phone to the Reservoir in Central Park" he broke the news slowly. Olivia went pale, and looked as if she could not breathe. He jumped to her side and he made her face him keeping his hands lightly on her arms. "We will find him. I think he ran away but I have a few theories as to how he lost his phone. None of which I like".

"You think he was jumped"

"Maybe , he had a brand new phone. I taught him how to cross Central Park safely during the day but…"

"What?" she asked in disbelief and outrage.

"Olivia he spends too much time alone, I taught him to navigate the city safely. You would have done the same"

"NO! I never let him wander the city alone, he was only allowed to go to school on the school bus AND when he was let out he had to come straight to the precinct or go to the after school program. You had no business making him feel he can go out and about alone in New York. CENTRAL PARK ? ARE YOU MAD?" Olivia was screaming not caring it was almost four in the morning. She paced the floor, the worst case scenarios running through her mind.

"Olivia he lived with you , it was different. I noticed his grandmother's growing neglect and I reported her to social services, but they did not felt he was in danger. I spend as much times in the weekends with him as I could and some weeknights too. I help him with homework took him out to the movies, practiced soccer in the park . He said he went to park alone often so I did what little I could so he had some street smart on him."

Olivia was surprised by all of this. She remembered the Sunday she had spent on Central Park with him. They had gone to the Zoo, eaten hot dogs and then crossed to the Natural Museum of History and spend the rest of the day there exploring the Museum. It had been a good day, a great weekend in fact. It was a long weekend and she had requested all 3 days off. They had been all over the city having fun. She remembered how Calvin found enjoyment in the simplest things. Even chatting up an NYU student for a whole half hour who was painting a Madonna and Child in the sidewalk with chalk. The young man took great pleasure showing his portfolio and answering all of Calvin's his questions.

"How long before you knew I had been his guardian?"

"He mentioned you the first day we met, about a month ago. I told his grandmother I would be happy to take him to visit you, but she refused. She was a bit threaten by his love for you"

"You could have called me, tell me he was ok"

"I did call you. You never answered and I did not think it was wise to against his grandmother, she may have forbid me any more contact with him" Olivia could see the wisdom in his decision. She knew he had called. She ignored him every time.

"How long do you think he's been missing?"

"I don't know. His grandmother told him about moving to Buffalo and he went to bed upset. When she woke up at midnight to use the bathroom she checked on him . The fire escape window was open.

"If I had said yes he would be here safe with me"

"What do you mean?"

"Mrs. Brandt came this afternoon to see me. She asked me if I would adopt Calvin." Olivia explained much calmer now. "Hmm ,I thought something was up when she asked me to help locate you, but I though she probably will ask you to watch Calvin a few days. And before you say something, she asked me not to tell you, she did not looked convinced that she wanted to do this" Olivia wanted to argue but decided against it.

It was close to 4.30 am now and fatigue and drowsiness was settling over them.

"I wish Cragen will call"

"I'll check on my guys"

"If you need to go to them"

"I don't want you to be alone"

Olivia surprised herself at how good it felt to hear that.

She watch him as he dialed. He had on a white crumpled dress shirt, no tie and gray pants. He looked tired and worried. When the agent he called answered, he activated the speakerphone.

"What's going on guys you are supposed to call every hour"

"I apologize boss we just got a lead that a young blond boy with a backpack was part of a crowd watching a guitar player by Strawberry Fields. He seemed to be alone. It fits his description"

"What time?"

" Around midnight. We are still looking for his cell phone . A film crew was near the Reservoir ,they do not remember seeing him but they have been there most of the night and are helping us with their lighting equipment. Amber alert is in full force."

He saw Olivia go pale at the Amber Alert mention.

"Ok, keep me posted" He stressed "Every hour even if you don't have news"

"Copy" the agent said before hanging up.

"We need to eat something, you want coffee" Olivia was already at her kitchen changing the filter in her coffee machine". He saw her wipe her eyes quickly.

"That would be great thanks"

He was watching her now. She was wearing black sweatpants and a NYPD navy blue oversized shirt, her hair was longer and blonder than the last time he had seen her, her bangs where a bit shorter than last time but long enough that they swept to the side. She was not wearing a stitch of makeup and he noticed how freckled she really was. She looked tired, fatigued and beautiful.

"You like pancakes?" she looked up to ask him.

"I do." He said noticing her red eyes, she had been fighting tears.

"Good that's what I'll make then."

"Actually, let me make them , you should shower and change. If he got lost in the park he will try to contact us once there's daylight, he'll know to go to a cop and say he's lost and if he gets here we should take him to a hospital and make sure he's ok. "

Olivia could not agree more.

"I'll be right back "

By the time she was back he had a stack of pancakes waiting for her and he was looking for coffee mugs in her cupboard.

"Top right shelf"

"Got it"

He put them on the counter and looked up as he smelled her scent . He knew it was body lotion, he had seen it in her bathroom. Warm Vanilla Sugar.

"You smell nice"

"Thanks" she was too tired and too hungry to feel self-conscious. The ate in comfortable silence for a few minutes. They had both skipped dinner for different reasons, she hadn't been hungry last night and he had dranked too much coffee in a meeting that had ran late.

Pancakes and eggs was the only two things he could make, barely. If they weren't edible she did not seem to care.

She was wearing the dark, stretchy, but fitted pants she favored for work, they looked dressy but where comfortable for all the running she did. A blue sleeveless shirt and her NYPD badge clip to her belt . Her gun rested on a holster at her waist.

She had applied makeup but still looked natural and fresh. Dean was staring. She noticed.

"What ?"

"Nothing"

"Dean what is it"? Now she was feeling self -concious and ran a hand trough her hair.

"Nothing eat your breakfast"

Before she could ask again her phone rang. The caller id said Fin.

"Benson"

"Liv, its Fin. We found him"

To be continued….

HI everyone! Thank you again for reading and for your reviews. I am thrilled that some of you like Dean. For those who are still in the fence, just keep reading! Ill try to make him worth it of Olivia's heart.

Happy reading.