„Is there something you've always wanted but never got? Material or a specific experience?" The second bottle of wine has been opened and Olivia was taking the first sip of her glass as she thought about Tom's question. A child had been something she had always wanted, only that dream had come true. „Well, I've wanted to go to Paris since I was eighteen, to see the architecture, the Eiffel Tower and just… experience the City, that energy that everyone's always talking about. But I've done that a year and a half ago, so I can't really say there's anything I wanted badly that I've never got or got to do." She still kept thinking for a moment. „Maybe one of these Cabbage Patch dolls, was that even what they were called? I really wanted one when I was still a kid, I remember begging my Mom to buy me one but she wouldn't, and then I wrote a letter to Santa asking for nothing but that doll but… I suppose he never read that letter," she joked. „I was quite heartbroken over that doll."

„That's sad. What did you get instead?"

„Phew… I don't know. An easy bake oven I think. I didn't even want it although it was popular. Makes sense that I still can't bake to save my life," she laughed.

„See, traumatic experience for sure. You could be a pastry chef if it hadn't been for that unwanted Christmas present," Tom said with conviction, making Olivia snort.

„What about you? Any dreams you couldn't make come true yet?"

„Let's see… when I was Germany I sat in on a day of Kindergarden, which is different over there. They don't usually have pre-school in Germany, so the kids go to Kindergarden until they are five, six years old and they don't learn the things they do here, at least not so early, they start being taught in school. And they are perfectly happy and free children. That kindergarten was amazing, it was right at a beach with open rooms that offered different activities. They basically let the kids discover everything by themselves, let them teach themselves and clarified things for them when there were questions. I loved it, everyone was so welcoming and just… happy. And there's no such thing here in the US, no concept like that except maybe Montessori or Waldorf but that's not really up my ally. I wouldn't be teaching in any way I do here but I think a job like that would be a dream come true. Except I wouldn't want to live in Germany I suppose."

„Didn't like it there?"

„Oh, I did. I mean, it's different for sure but it would be too far from home. And the language seems so complicated. I basically only remember how to say my name and a few swear words like Arschloch or Mistkerl." He said those words with a heavy American accent. „The food's good, though. But terrible pizza."

„Where else have you been? I remember you mentioned Ireland," she asked curiously.

„We traveled Europe for three months. I was in between jobs and Becca had just gotten her degree. We started in Portugal, then Spain I believe, France, although we weren't in Paris, we visited the Isle of Oléron and Strasbourg, then Austria and Switzerland for a few days each. Then we were in Germany for two weeks spent a day in Munich then flew to Berlin where we stayed for four days and then spend the rest of our time there somewhere close to the Baltic Sea, I don't remember the name of the city. Then England - London and Manchester, Scotland for five days and we finished in Ireland for another two weeks although we had planned to visit Prague and Iceland, too but we decided most of it on a whim. Becca loved Ireland so we decided not to fly to Prague. And from there we went back to London and then came back here. It was amazing, I'd love to do it again one day."

„It sounds great. The furthest I have gotten was Paris and that was just for a week because I couldn't take more time off, the trip was planned and scheduled quite spontaneously."

„Did you go alone?"

„No, with Noah and my ex," she explained. „It was too little time and we lost almost two days to the flights. The hotel was great but I would never choose hotel accommodation with a three year old ever again, we basically had no alone time at all."

„Did you visit Disney in Paris?"

„We wanted to actually but have decided against it because it would've been too stressful within the five days. I would've loved to see it, though."

„Have you ever been? To Disney?"

„Me? Never. Have you been?"

„Nope, not yet. Figured I'd take my…" he stumbled, realizing he was about to say kids there. But that was not going to happen. „…niece there someday."

„How old she is? Your niece?"

„Just a year old. She's great," he smiled fondly. Just thinking of Abigail made his heart flow over with affection.

„I bet she'll love it when you take her to he happiest place on earth," Olivia smiled as her phone started ringing. She assumed it was Lucy but saw Amanda's name on the screen. Raising her finger she quickly got up and excused herself, walking a few steps towards the kitchen.

„Yes Amana, what is it?" She listened to Amanda explain that their victim from Friday night, who was still at the hospital, had the nurses call them in because she had changed her mind and was now willing to talk. With Amanda and Fin on call they had made their way over to Bellevue, only to realize that Emily Clarke wasn't willing to talk to a man, but not to Amanda either. After twenty minutes of trying to get any sort of information out of the woman, Rollin's had finally asked if she would like to talk to Olivia, who had been at the hospital with her the previous night to try and talk to Emily, to which their victim had nodded her head. Sighing softly Olivia turned to look at Tom who was already expecting the worst. „Yeah, okay. I'll be there." Hanging up she looked apologetically at Tom who was putting down his glass.

„You gotta go, hm?"

„Unfortunately, yes. I am sorry, I promise I'll make it up to you. It's just…" He interrupted her softly by raising his hand.

„It's okay. No need to explain. Do you need a ride?"

„No, I'm… I'll take a cab, you don't have to-„

„I know I don't have to, but if I can make things less complicated or stressful for you then I'd love to take you wherever you need to be. I've finished my last glass of wine a couple of hours ago, I'm good to drive." Of course he felt some disappointment over the abrupt ending of their night together, but by now he was no stranger to Olivia's work getting in the way. He had promised to be supportive and told her repeatedly that he understood. „Where do you need to go?"

„Bellvue Hospital," Olivia told him, already straightening her clothes before she sent Lucy a text that she wasn't sure when she would be back as she was called in. She wanted to argue and insist on a taxi but knew it wasn't going to fly with Tom. „Thank you."

„Does that mean you'll let me drive you?" He was mildly surprised and had already put together a list of things that would make him taking her much more convenient.

„Yes, I'll let you drive me," she agreed, scanning her phone for Lucy's reply that was a single ‚ok'. Olivia went to the bathroom to quickly check her appearance in the mirror. She'd put on some lipstick in the car and would be presentable enough, she decided. Returning she saw Tom had buttoned up his shirt and was already holding her jacket and handbag, ready to go. She was amazed that he understood how she had no time to waste.

„Is it going to be take long?" He asked as he helped her into her jacket and then put on his shoes.

„I have no idea, it could be anything between twenty minutes and a couple of hours," Olivia explained, zipping her boots. „One of our victims decided she wants to talk, but apparently only to me," she told him as Tom grabbed his keys and they left his apartment. They only had to walk a minute until they reached his car.

„So, does this happen often? That you get called in although it's not your turn?" He didn't know exactly if they were taking turns with their on-call duties but figured that was how it worked.

„Not often but it happens. Usually this isn't something they can't handle but if a victim will only talk to one of us," she shrugged. „Not much either of us can do except make it happen. It beats not getting a statement at all. And sometimes it's crimes where they want the head of the unit on the scene. Problem is that we're understaffed and nobody is trying very hard to change that because in their opinion we're efficient enough," she explained, shaking her head, her dismay audible in her voice. „Politics."

„I know a thing or two about that," Tom said, pulling onto the street.

„It messes with our on-call rotations, one of us is always screwed. Fin and Carisi don't have kids so they are trying to cover for Rollins and I, but they've got a life, too. So I'm usually on call every other weekend and I try to cover Wednesdays and Fridays."

„So, you might not be able to go out next weekend after all, huh?" Tom asked. As far as he understood this was her weekend off, and she'd be on call the next.

„No, Amanda and Carisi had a week off recently, so they're catching next weekend. And trust me, I'll try like hell to not make it about work. I promised I'd make it up to you, I'll do what I can do keep up to that next weekend." Looking at him she smiled and as Tom briefly glanced at her, she saw him respond with the smile she loved so much.

„That would be great."

They reached Bellevue Hospital Center within twenty-five minutes and Tom stopped the car as close to the entrance as possible. „Thank you for driving me. And I am really sorry," Olivia apologized once again.

„I can wait, take you home when you're done," he offered. Of course he could think of much better things to do, but it wasn't her fault that she got called in, and she probably wanted to be somewhere else rather than here, too.

„Oh no. Please, just get home, go to sleep, watch a movie - do whatever but don't stay here and wait for however long this might take. It could be hours, Tom. I'd feel terrible, it's bad enough that I couldn't stay." How did he even get the idea to wait for her? She certainly didn't want to make his night worse than it already was.

„It's no big deal. I mean, I'll park the car, I'm sure I can find a coffee vending machine somewhere in the waiting area. I've got my phone on me, so you'll find me when you're done."

„I couldn't…" He didn't let her finish.

„Of course you can. Don't make this difficult. Let me wait for you. Please. We can grab some tea or… whatever else you like on the way back. I wanna take you home. I would've if you had stayed, I still want to do it now. Say yes."

„But.."

„Olivia, say yes." He told her again, nodding at her as he took her hand. Looking at him she shook her head, deciding not to mirror him. Sighing she rolled her eyes at him. She had a feeling that even if she kept insisting he'd go home, he wouldn't listen.

„Fine. Yes." He was giving her a brilliant smile and before he could say anything else she leaned in and kissed him. „However, if you should change your mind, feel free to go home."

„Got it." He wouldn't, of course. And she knew it, too. Olivia leaned in for one more kiss before she got out, waving at him quickly before she turned and walked towards the entrance where she saw Amanda.

„Did I interrupt a date?" The blonde asked, falling into step with Olivia as her superior reached her.

„Actually, yes. How is Emily?"

„Distraught. I hope she's still willing to talk."

„Yeah, me too. Where's Fin?"

„Inside, waiting in front of her room. She's agreed to the rape kit, that's when they called us and said she wanted to talk to us. Just turns out she only wanted you."

„Well, let's see how that goes then. Have they already done the kit?"

„Not yet," Rollins informed her, and Olivia groaned inwardly. She might as well call Tom and tell him this was not going to be a quick affair. Rape kits took awhile, and at times a Doctor wasn't available immediately, especially at his hour.

„I didn't expect anything else," Olivia said dryly as Amanda led her along the hospital floors.

…

It was almost 2 AM by the time Olivia left Emily Clarke's hospital room. She had held the young woman's hand during the rape kit, had explained the importance of the different procedures, especially the photographs that had to be taken to capture even the smallest bruise. And finally she had listened to the recount of Emily's rape that she now carried in recording before it would be typed into the computer by Amanda. Tom had slipped from her mind completely up until she was walking the hallway with both of her colleagues. She felt exhausted now and definitely would need some sleep. Going through some last details with Fin and Amanda, Olivia caught sight of Tom sitting in the waiting area, nursing a beverage from a plastic cup. She faltered for a second, Fin and Amanda noticing and turning their heads into the direction of the guy, but finished her conversation first before she excused herself and wished the two detectives a good night. For now everything was done and taken care of, everything else could be handled in the morning. Under Fin's and Amanda's watchful eyes she walked over to Tom, who looked just as tired but smiled and got up.

„You done?" He asked hopefully.

„Yeah. You shouldn't have waited around for me. I would've been fine. I'm sorry it has gotten so late."

„It's okay. Let's get you home," he said softly, putting his hand on the small of her back to gently lead her towards the exit.

…

„Who's this?" Fin asked Amanda as the younger man guided Olivia towards the doors of the hospital.

„Apparently her date. She's definitely kissed him as he dropped her off here earlier," Amanda said, feeling intrigued. Olivia wasn't someone who shared about her private life easily. The more surprising was it to see that she let a guy drop her off - and even better - pick her up.

„Good for her," Fin shrugged, ready to move on now that that mystery was solved. He normally didn't care for who was dating who but when it came to Olivia that was a different matter. He's been working with her for almost twenty years, had seen the men come and go. He wished her happiness in her private life. The kind that actually lasted. And seeing how whoever the guy was he had waited here for her for hours, made him seem like a decent enough candidate.

„He's cute," Amanda said easily, earning her a roll of the eyes from Fin.

„I wouldn't know, I'm not gay," he retorted. „Let's get the hell outta here."

…