Finally! I had to split this in half to even get it to upload. And in this chapter, I give you Fin and Rita. Thanks to everyone over at Tumblr for that idea. I love it. Almost done.
She was thankful for the quiet Saturday morning. It was still early enough that anyone who might be coming in to do exactly what she was – catching up on paperwork – weren't here yet. Her goal was to get in and out before most people came in today. It was going to be a beautiful day in the city and she was hoping to bribe back some of Noah's love with the park and ice cream since he was still mad that Barba wasn't there this morning. She sat down at her desk and looked around. It felt very different than it did when she left a week ago. Or maybe she was the one that was different. Nothing around her had changed, but she felt lighter, more energized, more focused. She smiled to herself. Clarity will do that to you. She booted up her computer and zoned in, determined to get in and out as fast as she could.
Fin smiled when he saw the door to her office open. No rest for the wicked. He dropped his coffee on his desk and leaned against her door jam.
"You look tan. Rested. Refreshed."
"I am all of those things and a bit more" she said, taking off her glasses and looking up at him.
"So that… trip… was good?"
"I hate you." She laughed and nodded.
"How is he?"
"He's… he was so different down there. It was so different. Amazing. But different. I hope that…"
"Liv, can I be honest with you for a minute?" he sat down in one of her chairs.
"Please."
"You two are cut from the same cloth. I always figured you two would either kill each other or…" he just trailed off.
"I hate you."
"You already said that." She threw a wadded-up piece of paper at him.
"Liv, is it worth it? You think this is worth fighting for?"
"I told him I love him."
"And did you mean it?"
"Yes."
"Well then that's all that really matters, right? The rest of it is just bull shit and at this point in our lives…" she just nodded. She didn't even need him to finish that sentence. He had been with her forever. He had been with her through it all. Fin had her back. Always had. Always would. She would always do the same for him. He shot her back a quick smile and got up, heading for his desk. She watched him pause in the door.
"Fin?"
He looked over his shoulder at her. "I'm meeting Rita for a drink tonight. That's not weird, is it?"
Her eyes shot wide. "Calhoun?"
"Yeah. She was in here a couple of days ago dropping something off and I was in here and we started talking and it just…" Olivia held up her hands. "Fin, I am the last person to judge. Anyone. You like her?" He just nodded. "Then go with God." He let out the breath he had been holding and smiled back at her.
"So, dating lawyers…"
She shook her head and slipped her glasses back on. "That was a stupid rule anyway. I'm a moron." He laughed and walked back to his desk.
The quiet courthouse unnerved most people, considering most days it was loud and chaotic. But she found it peaceful. Almost zen-like. She was just dropping off some paperwork for the upcoming week on her way home. Wanted to make sure it was at the top of someone's list first thing Monday. She was looking at her phone, checking to see what Lucy and Noah were doing, which is how she completely missed him sitting there.
"Lieutenant." She turned to see the DA sitting on a bench, paperwork on his lap, drinking coffee.
"Sir. I'm so sorry. I didn't see you there."
He looked around. "I love a quiet courthouse. It is nice to get out of my office and look at something different. Can't do this during the week."
"I can't imagine anyone being able to do anything considered work during the week." He shifted some of the papers over and she took that as an invitation to sit down with him. She hadn't had too many run ins with him over the last few years (thank God) but she had been around long enough to know him and how he operates.
"So, what bring you here on this beautiful spring day, Lieutenant? I figured you would have been out with your son?"
"Just trying to get a jump on the week, Sir, since I was…" and she trailed off, looking at him.
"Ah. Yes. I thought I had heard something in passing last week about you taking an actual vacation. Good trip?"
"Yes sir" she said slowly. "My son and I had a great time."
"Go anyplace interesting?"
"Florida" she replied, hesitantly. He just nodded and turned back to her paperwork. She took that as her cue to leave and as she stood up, he asked "How is he?"
She whipped around and faced this man. Barba's boss. The big fish in their small pond. The decision about 90% of what happens in her cases comes down to this council, his advice, his thoughts. He's not dumb. She thought about lying to him for a split second but knew he would call her on the carpet before the words finished coming out of her mouth.
"He's good, sir. Relaxed. Spending some time on him. He started running again. He's been spending a lot of time on the beach. His mother is down there with him now."
"Good". She just looked at him as he looked at his paperwork. She wasn't sure what she had expected to happen by being honest. But a one word response was not at all on her list.
"Sir, if I could ask. Have you…"
"I have not. I am going to have to see him with my own eyes before I can make a decision like that." And with that, he turned all his focus back to his work. She left him. As she walked out into the sun, she looked up and just sighed. And hoped.