3 months later

Staring out at the snow, Ed Tucker glared at the strangers passing by the window of the cafe. It only took a few weeks for Chief Dodds to hear about the rumors of his investigation and thanks to Dodds connections, Ed's Captain threatened him to end it. Annoyed but compliant, he had ended his investigation.

Well most of it.

He still caught wind of drug dealers recently imprisoned, coughing up mentions of Chief Dodds. Ed never understood why this case meant so much to him. A great chance of becoming Captain but even coming for Dodds could cost him a demotion. It wasn't a normal cop does wrong gets caught and loses badge and pension...especially when drug lords and a higher-ranking officer was involved.

It could cost him and lots more everything. Maybe even his life.

So Ed dropped it.

For now.

He hissed as his coffee burned his bottom lip. Diverting his eyes away from the window he was shocked to see her. Olivia Benson had just walked into the cafe, waiting in line. Her boy wasn't with her nor her husband, just her.

One thing he noticed right away was her sagging shoulders and upset look. Dressed in a thick coat, tight slacks, and leather boots, with little makeup, and her hair tied up, she looked amazing.

He kept his eyes on her all up until she got her own cup of coffee and danish. Studying her as she looked around a crowded cafe for a spot, he raised his arm hoping to get her attention.

It took her a few seconds to find him and he frowned once he caught a glare from her. Lowering his arm in embarrassment he was still a bit relieved when she walked over and planted herself across from him.

'Hi," he said softly, slightly annoyed she was clearly trying to avoid eye contact.

"Hello," she sighed.

"How are you?"

"Do you really even care?"

"Excuse me," he said, shocked at her both her tone and accusation, "of course I do...bad morning,"

She looked at him as if she was going to apologize. However, as expected, she quickly closed her mouth and looked away embarrassed.

"Do over?" he suggested.

She gave a thin smile, still flushed with embarrassment. "Please,".

"How are you?" he asked again.

"Tired….worn out," she sighed, "handling all these galas and speeches, talking about the same injustices…it gets tiring quick,"

"Of course," he agreed.

They sat in silence and although they started off uncomfortable the silence wasn't at all awkward.

"Everything going great?"

"Amazing!" she said a bit to chipper for his liking, especially when it was clear the woman was clearly upset.

"Olivia you su-"

"I'm fine," she sneered.

This time the silence was awkward and almost too much.

Quickly drinking her coffee, she adverted her eyes to anywhere but at him. Even the loud clanging of dishes and the talking of other costumers did nothing to distract them both from each other. Ed watched her closely as she ate her Danish, almost if she was forcing herself to eat.

He wondered just what happened between when he saw her vibrant with her son until now as she looked worn out barely able to eat.

"Want some?" she said offering the other half of her danish.

He smiled at her and shook his head. Noticing her disappointment, he wished he had accepted it, except he couldn't change his mind without being too obvious and he just wanted to see her finish eating something.

"Thanks," she sighed. Olivia got up, grabbing her trash and walking away from him. He watched her throw away her trash and brush past a couple of people before walking out the café. Outside, he saw her put her beanie on and walk the opposite way, and once she was out of sight he looked down at his cold coffee.

That went nicely.


"Tucker what part of stay the hell away from Dodds do you not comprehend," Captain Davis sneered as he leaned over Ed's desk, clearly pissed.

"Sir I have no idea-"

"Save it," Davis snapped "why do I have Dodds breathing down my neck about you hassling his wife,"

Ed glared in return not only confused but also insulted. Had Olivia said that? Did he make her feel that way? Yesterday morning may have been awkward, but he hadn't harassed her nor had he questioned her.

"I just don't get it Tucker," a man chuckled.

Both men looked up to see William Dodds, leaning against Tucker's office door, snarling at the IAB Lieutenant.

"What would that be Chief?"

"Charges are dropped, both dealers confessed, and I was searched with a clean record and yet for so me reason you have something to prove," William sighed. "Leave us, John,"

Since the academy people have been telling him to avoid questioning William Dodds, a man who he's seen break regulation even when they were rookies, he watched this man climb higher and higher with rank, avoiding rightful punishment. He harbored hatred for William because no member of the NYPD should cheat the system and still manage to succeed to much, it was immoral and cowardly. It was first seeing Dodds let dealers go as a rookie for pay that made him want to go into IAB to begin with. This man was somehow untouchable, and it was ridiculous.

Hesitantly, and giving Ed one last look of anger and warning, Davis left the office. William looked back before closing the door, leaving the two men in privacy.

"I wasn't hassling your wife,"

"Well you'll have to excuse me if after you've been investigating me and still hold this childish grudge against me that I don't find your little run in with my wife to be a bit suspicious,"

"Did Benson suggest I upset her? A few sentences between the both of us isn't harmful is it?" Ed sneered.

Dodds smirked at him and took Davis's place as he leaned over the other man, leering at him.

"You know you were always a bitter bastard, even when we were in the academy," William said, "but you are pathetic. Now I don't know if this is jealousy because of my ranking, my success, and me always achieving more than you ever have, but this needs to stop,"

"Don't flatter yourself Dodds," Ed spat. "Unlike you, perhaps I'm concerned with your wife's wellbeing,"

They both stared at one another, pissed and irritated.

"Stay away from me Tucker," William hissed, "stay away from my wife, stay away from my son, anything or anyone related to me…stay away,"

Dodds glared at Ed for one last moment before walking out the office, but not before saying one last thing to him.

"Maybe if you got your own family, got your own life you wouldn't be so pathetic in trying to destroy others,"

Ed watched the man walk out, too confident and cocky for his liking. Although his face was blank he still felt great embarrassment as other officers who were watching, snicker at him as they glanced into his office.


Ed walked back in forth through his home office, reading a file on a cop suspected of on the job drinking. Ever since his investigation on Dodds, to die things down, he was assigned much more simple and easy cases. Cases where the cops in questioned would easily confess and would only get a few weeks of suspension, nothing to serious and damaging.

Dressed in am IAB tshirt and sweats that hung on his waist, he walked barefoot, the only sound being the ticking of his clock. He tapped the arm of his reading glasses as he studied the file, a case he already figured out but sometimes reading a cop's record could be more entertaining than a crime novel, depending on who's he read.

A knock on his door startled him and before heading to open the door, he grabbed his service weapon. It was almost 10 PM and it wouldn't be the first time a drunk cop would bang on his door threatening to kill him for 'ruining their lives'.

Looking through the peephole he was shocked to see her, Olivia Benson, standing at his door dressed in her clothing from that morning. Hoping to not startle her, he put his gun on the hallway table before opening the door.

"Olivia?"

"Tucker" she smiled, walking past him without an invitation.

"Can I help you?" he asked. He was concerned about her well being still noticing she was just as worn down as this morning, but he was also still suspicious considering her husband accused him of harassing her just a few hours earlier.

"I want to know just what you were investigating Will for," she said, sitting on his couch. She took her coat off, clearly making herself at home, and threw it over the end of the couch.

"Benson, you know I can't tell you that," he chuckled.

She nodded, upset but refusing to beg him to tell her.

He watched longer, studying her. His biggest notice was just how much she'd grown from the prostitute he knew back in the harsh grimy streets of 80s New York. She had cleaned up, and even then when she worked the streets that night, she looked healthy and clearly up to part on her hygiene. She had changed, wisdom becoming of her age, her past being a part of her work now to help girls who once reminded her of herself. He studied her features, her hair shorter but still the same dark color just with the added blonde highlights. With a few aged lines she still looked gorgeous, graced natural beauty.

"You know I never forgot that night," she murmured, glancing at him as he sat down beside her.

"What night?" he shrugged.

"Don't be humble," she smirked, "the night you saved me and gave me a meal,"

"Oh..that night,"

He sat confused as once again she grew quiet, never finishing her thoughts. He was more concerned as to why she would even bring it up. He'd never even shared that moment with her husband, never spoke of it, and tried his hardest to forget it.

"Will...did what you did for me that night," she sighed, "he saved me. After saving me from my...you know, he took me in provided for me, got me clean, had is father find me a job,"

What a great guy.

"Olivia I don't understand," he shook his head, mostly annoyed by the praising of a man he despised by a woman he respected.

"What I'm saying is whatever you think you have on him, whether he did anything or not, for me...please let this go,"

He stared at her in both pity and anger. First from his boss, then his department, from Dodds himself and now from Olivia. He'd been told to excuse Dodds of his crimes all day and now even in the comfort of his own home.

"No," he snapped.

Her eyes grew wide, shocked at the venom in his tone. She always suspected that he never liked her husband but this anger towards her was shocking.

"Your husband is one of the most crooked cops I've ever witnessed in the department," he continued, "him making Chief is an insult itself and now I even have you showing up on my doorstep to fight his battle, for his own badge. I hate to tell you Olivia but your husband is dirty and too much of a coward to get his own hands messy even for you,"

"Excuse me?"

Shit.

"Olivia I'm going to have to ask you to-"

"What the hell do you mean for me too?"

She had stood up, staring him down. She had come over to try and persuade Tucker to close the case while she was already struggling to keep her family in order, especially after finding out her husband's dealings. She had no idea what Tucker's attitude was about and she figured after his kindness this morning, he would at least give her the benefit of the doubt.

Clearly she was wrong.

"I mean your husband isn't as great as he wants you to believe," he hissed, "and just like that night I helped you I helped you the day we both found you against tha alley wall, battered and bruised,"

"I don't understand wh-"

"And your husband," he continued, "didn't pay a damn dime to your pimp for you to be freed,"

"You're lying," she spat, "he told me-"

"I told him my name was Dodds," he said, softer this time, "because you already fell for Dodds and I figured-"

"Screw you," she said, "Will was right, you're so lonely and bitter the only thing you can do to feel is hurt and ruin others. Trust me it's a sad life and you'll die a pathetic bastard,"

Although he may have been harsh and started this whole argument, her words had stung more deeply than anything. Of all the accusations thrown at him during his time in IAB, no insults from a fired or demoted cop stung as much as hers.

Olivia glared at him one last time, tears in her eyes as she furiosuly shook her head, unable to believe the nerve of this man. She snatched her jacket off his couch. Something had flung out of her pocket and before she could bend down to get it, Ed swiped it off the carpet. It was a small bag and he looked at her. Never taking his eyes off her, watching her breathe heavily shaken with nervousness, he opened the bag.

Cocaine.

"Listen-"

"Turn around, Olivia,"

"What?"

"I have to,"

"You son of a bitch,"

Grabbing her arm, he swiftly but softly turned her around. He reach to take the handcuffs on his table and cuffed her.

"Please-"

"Olivia Dodds you are under arrest," he said dryly, " anything you say can and will be used again-"

"I know my rights," she snapped.


Anyways, tbc.

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