28.

Sarah strode briskly, with purpose, through the squad room and into Olivia's office. The Lieutenant, accustomed to but not expecting family interruptions, whisked her glasses off and regarded Sarah with a smile and raised eyebrows.

She stood, arms akimbo, in front of the desk with a troubled, disconcerted expression that made her even more closely resemble her father.

"Should we close the door?"

"Nah," Sarah huffed, "Well, um, maybe." She practically punched the door, causing it to slam shut and immediately looked remorseful, "Sorry."

"Sare?"

Through a clenched jaw, Sarah managed to mutter, "Chief Dodds called me."

"What?" Olivia tried not to sound too alarmed.

"Did you give him my number?"

"Of course not."

Through an exasperated breath, Sarah huffed, "Then it was me. Fuck." She rubbed her eyes, "I gave my number to the guy, uh, Mike—"

"Matt."

"Yeah, Matt, um, that's where he got it."

"What'd he want?"

"To have a drink!"

Flabbergasted, Olivia flung herself backwards and hit the credenza, rattling but not overturning her framed photos. "And…are you going?"

"Ye-ssss. But I didn't know what to say and I didn't have a good excuse. I didn't even know who was calling. That's the problem. All communication should be done by text as far as I'm concerned, as soon as I picked up he was all, Sarah! And I was like, huh? And then he said he was Chief Dodds but call him Bill and he thought it'd be fun to buy me a drink."

At a loss for words, Olivia wondered how in the world she was going to present this scenario to Ed without him immediately hunting down the chief and killing him. Sarah wrung her hands, kneaded at her eyes with her knuckles, and stared at the ceiling. "What. The. Fuck."

"When are you meeting?"

"In an hour."

"Oh."

"Livvie," Sarah dragged a chair over so she could sit directly in front of Olivia. "I've asked you this before and I was wrong. But I'm begging you this time. Just for tonight. Please. Can we keep this between us?"

"Call me when you leave," Olivia instructed. "Dodds is okay. Just…have a couple drinks and go. Blame it on us if you have to."

"Okay."

"Tell him you forgot you agreed to babysit."

"Okay."

Then, something dawned on Olivia. "Sare?"

"Uh-huh?"

"What happened the first time you met the Chief?"

"We had a few drinks after you left and they took me home," Sarah replied innocently.

"That's it?"

"Well, Matt was supposed to call me, but he never did."

Disappointment clouded Sarah's face at the memory. Olivia understood. Sarah was gorgeous and used to men fawning over her. Matt Dodds failing to call her must have been a torturous snub.

"Matt had a lot going on."

"And he lives in…California or something."

Fin knocked on the door and let himself in, "Liv, we gotta situation."

"Be right there." Olivia waited for Fin to close the door again. "We'll keep this between us for right now," she said seriously, "But…one drink. Maybe two. No more. And text me."

….

Carisi parked his sedan outside of the South Bronx middle school were Brooke worked. Charming the typically ornery desk clerk, he was allowed to go to her classroom without an escort. On his way he nodded collegially to students and parents who were still lingering after the morning's awards ceremony. After wandering in what he deemed to be an endless maze of identical-looking hallways, he pulled out his phone and called Brooke who guided him to her classroom. Finally, he heard her actual live voice and not just the audio coming through the phone.

"Hey, B! Thanks, I—"

Brooke's calmly delivered instructions masked her emotions. She'd obviously been crying, and she sat on top of her desk, staring blankly at the empty desks, while resting an elbow on one of the few boxes she'd packed. Carisi rushed over to hug her.

"You okay?"

She shuddered and sniffled. "I didn't think it'd be this hard to say goodbye. I mean, it's always hard at the end of the year, but I'll never see these kids again."

"Aw, you don't know that, you can still keep in touch if you wanna."

"That never happens."

Carisi gently caressed her head, "It can if you want it to. And even if it doesn't happen, you made those kids' lives better by being their teacher this year. They'll never lose that."

Brooke leaned back, nodding and wiping her nose with a ratty tissue. "Ok," she said, taking a deep breath, "Enough of this. I'm all packed and ready to go. Let's get out of here." Suddenly smiling brightly, she added, "I'm on vacation!"

Carisi ran his thumbs under her eyes, ridding her skin of residual tears. "You are, so, let's celebrate. I'm not working tonight or Saturday so I can be at the party…if…that's what ya want?"

Brooke regarded him with wide, curious eyes, "Of course that's what I want. Why are you asking?"

"Just making sure," he answered with a shrug. "Lieu's the one who invited me."

"She invited everybody, it was her idea, or their idea, my Dad included."

At the last minute, Ed and Olivia decided to host a get together at their apartment and have it serve the dual purpose of celebrating Brooke's new job and Father's Day which everyone in the family had almost forgotten. They invited Caroline and, despite Ed's fear of a Mother's Day repeat performance, included John and Margie.

"I know," Carisi stacked three boxes and easily lifted them from the desk. "I don't wanna assume, though, anything, ya know?"

Brooke was glad they were walking out with boxes so she could avoid eye contact during the borderline uncomfortable conversation. "Sonny, I want you there, okay? That's why Olivia invited you."

"Oh…okay, um, should I bring anything? Oh! I'll have my mother make cannoli, the pistachio ones you like."

Brooke blushed a little. Despite having dated Carisi for a while now, his attention to detail and thoughtfulness still amazed her, so much so that she had to spend a long time convincing herself that his personality was genuine and not some act he was putting on just to get close to her and her family.

"I love those," she said.

Carisi was glad to hear her normal tone return. "Great, so, where you wanna go? Fancy? Dive bar? Somewhere in the middle a those?"

"Let's hit a dive bar first and then just, like, someplace casual for dinner?"

"Cool." Sonny popped the trunk and shoved the boxes in among bulletproof vests and other police equipment. "We'll drop this stuff off and I gotta take the car back, though. Sorry."

"No problem."

Before making his way to the driver's seat, Sonny gallantly opened the passenger door for Brooke. She smiled and moved to sit down, but he grabbed her forearm and kissed her. "I meant to do that first thing," he explained shyly.

Brooke felt goosebumps form on her back and she blushed again, this time from nervous excitement. "Well," she said slowly, licking her lips and trying to be flirty, "Your tardiness is forgiven."

He flashed a relieved grin. "Thanks. Now. Let's go. I've been waiting all day to cheers with you!"

….

Noah ran back and forth from one interrogation room window to the other while his mother munched on the pasta primavera he and his father brought her for dinner. Ed perched himself on a corner of her desk, and Noah fist-bumped him each time he passed.

"This is so good," Olivia reported between bites, "Thank you. Noah, was it your idea to bring Mommy something to eat?"

"Uh-uh!" Noah breathlessly replied. "Daddy say, we bring da food!"

Olivia smiled sweetly at her husband. A hand drifted to his hip and she tugged a little at his pocket, "Thanks, Daddy."

"You're welcome," he replied. "We'll get outta here soon."

"What are you two going to do?"
"Think maybe watch a movie? Looks like it might rain." Ed crouched down to peer out the window.

"You know, they have weather apps," Olivia teased.

Ed brushed off the suggestion, "Nah, I go by evidence and instinct." Catching sight of Fin and Rollins escorting two cuffed perps through the squad room, Ed called Noah over. "C'mon, pal. Let's head home. Kiss Mommy."

Noah ran into Olivia's arms for a kiss. "Bye, sweet boy."

"Bye, Mommy." Noah caught sight of one of the men in the interrogation room. "Who dat?"

Olivia craned her neck to follow his line of sight. "That's…my work. I have to go ask him questions now."

"Ohhhh," Noah cooed. "I go wiff you?"

"No, sweet boy, you go with Daddy."

Ed plucked Noah from Olivia's lap. "You and I, my friend, are gonna get some junk food and watch movies til Mommy gets home."

Noah giggled as Ed slung him over his shoulder and readied to leave.

"Hey," Olivia stood up and frowned.

Ed spun around with a quizzical expression.

"I didn't get a goodbye kiss from Daddy." Olivia grinned as Ed's eyes darted from the office to the squad room. Officers milled about. Rollins was in one interrogation room with a perp, but Fin had returned to his desk, wanting to consult with Olivia before proceeding. Ed raised his eyebrows as Olivia closed the distance between them and gave him a quick but conspicuous peck on the lips.

"Bye," she whispered.

Shock registered on Ed's face as he rasped his own goodbye.

….

Outside, Ed was strapping Noah into the car seat when he heard the unmistakable friendly voice of Sonny Carisi call his name. The detective slammed the sedan door and rushed over to greet them.

"Hey, guys!"

Noah waved, "Hi Sonny!"

Ed reached out to shake his hand, "How ya doin?"

"Good, just picked up Brooke from school, she had a few boxes to bring home."

"Yeah, her last day," Ed recalled, "She okay?"

"Yep! Think it was a little tough to leave, but she's good now." Carisi jiggled the keys, "I gotta get these up to Lieu, then we're goin' out."

"I'll wait, drop you off if you want," Ed offered.

"Thanks Captain! I'll be right back."

Seconds after Ed turned the key in the ignition, Sonny returned and slid onto the passenger seat. He slapped five with Noah and chatted with him about school, the upcoming concert, and, of course, soccer.

"I kick da ball in da net!"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah, I have ovver ball, too. Daddy frow it."

"Football," Ed clarified.

"That's cool," Sonny said, "One a these days I'm gonna come to a game Noah."

"Sisters come."

"I know. They're your biggest fans. I wanted to come last weekend but I had to work."

"At p'lice?"

"Yep, you got it. At police."

"So, you ever give any serious thought to becoming an ADA?" Ed asked.

Carisi drummed a beat on the tops of his legs, "I think about it all the time, but, I'm happy here. I like it. Doesn't feel right to leave, and, I may wanna try the Sergeant's exam next time it's offered."

Amazed, Ed replied, "That's impressive."

"Just wanna have as many options as possible."

"Get promoted, though, and they'll move ya."

"I know, that's the tough part about it."

"Sonny! You watch movie wiff us?"

Carisi craned his neck to see Noah, "Sorry, No. I can't. I'm taking Brooke out to dinner."

"Eat pizza?"

"Maybe. Brooke's choice."

"Brookey like pizza," Noah stated confidently.

They crossed Ninth Avenue and approached Brooke's building. Ed pulled over to let Sonny out.

"Thanks for the lift, Captain. So long, Noah! See you Saturday!"

"Bye, Sonny!"

Ed ducked his head to look Sonny in the eye after he was out of the car. "Hey, Carisi?"

"Yeah, Captain?"

"You can call me Ed, ya know."

Carisi smiled, "Thanks, Captain…I'll…try that sometime."

….

Sarah used Chief Dodds' restroom break to send yet another text to Olivia. She arrived at the bar first and ordered a shot of vodka to calm down, so now that they finished their first cocktail and had ordered a second, Sarah began to feel the pleasant, familiar effects of the buzz.

Having the second drink now. And this is IT. But, he's nice.

He was nice. The Chief arrived a few minutes late and greeted her with an apology and a handshake. Sarah excused him and stroked his ego a little by marveling that his job must be of the 'round the clock variety and she admired him, her Dad, and Olivia for being so dedicated. After insisting she call him Bill, he asked about her job and she explained her new project which required her to use her fluency in Spanish. Dodds complimented her for being bilingual and told her he wished he had learned a different language when he was young. As an adult, he found it impossible.

It took a few minutes for Olivia to text back, and, when she did, she made sure to emphasize that Sarah should leave after the second round. Olivia assumed the Chief had motives other than a friendly five o'clock cocktail, and she didn't trust Sarah's ability to fend him off while she was under the influence.

The drinks had not yet arrived when Dodds returned. He frowned and got the bartender's attention.

"Sorry, sir," he said, "Had to get another bottle of Maker's."

Seconds later, their orders arrived and Dodds proposed the second toast of the evening, "To being bilingual," he said with a grin.

"So, how's Matt?"

Dodds responded flatly, clearly not interested in talking about Matt. "He's doing well. Almost done with his degree."

"That's a good feeling, to be almost done," Sarah said.

"Did you finish your Bachelor's and go right into the MBA program?"

Sarah gulped her drink. "I did. I wanted to delay the real world as long as possible."

"Penn?"

"Yep."

"Musta been tough, and you must be an excellent student."

Sarah felt her face redden at the compliment, "I had my moments." She took another drink, nearly finishing the glass. Both she and Dodds downed their second drinks quickly.

He waved the bartender over and, without checking with Sarah, ordered another round. She checked her phone and saw another check-in text from Olivia.

Leaving soon, was Sarah's reply. For the purpose of appearing normal, she added several pink heart emojis.

"Have some place else you need to be tonight?" Dodds asked.

"Nope," Sarah replied, gingerly sipping from the too-full glass. "Schedule's clear."

….

Sonny and Brooke started kissing in the elevator and did their best to continue the kiss, giggling, as they stumbled toward the apartment door.

"I…haveta find my keys," Brooke said, struggling to talk with Sonny refusing to peel his lips from hers. She rummaged around in her purse, produced the keys, and, once inside, Carisi backed her up against the door.

"Let's get you outta these clothes," he muttered, bunching her shirt in one of his fists. He broke away from her momentarily to fling the tunic from her body but immediately latched back on to her neck.

Brooke yanked at his belt and unbuttoned his jeans. "This is great beginning to my vacation," she gasped, tilting her head back to give Carisi more room to explore. He continued running his tongue and lips along her collarbone and reached behind for the blasp on her bra.

Stepping back to admire her exposed chest, he grinned, "That's better."

"Let's go to the bedroom. Sarah could come back at any minute." Brooke bent down to pick up their clothes and grabbed his hand, "C'mon."

Still glued together, they made the short trip to Brooke's bedroom. Once behind the locked door, Sonny blindly tried to turn on the iHome.

"How 'bout some music?"

"Okay."

He selected one of his favorite Pearl Jam albums, shimmied completely out of his jeans, and crawled over Brooke, clad in only his boxer briefs, and went to work divesting her of her pants.

"B, you're…so…beautiful."

She broke into a wide grin.

"And I love it when you smile like that."

Carisi lowered himself and swirled his tongue around each of her nipples, giggling a little when she shuddered and moaned.

"Like that?"

"Mmmmmmm," Brooke hummed, stroking his head and he moved down her torso. "I love that."

"I'm falling in love with you, Brooke Tucker," Sonny mumbled before sliding her panties off. The gravity of the statement didn't seem to register with Carisi, because he remained hovered over the center of Brooke's body and trailed kisses up her inner thigh.

Brooke, on the other hand, froze.

Did he just say he loved her?

No, he said he was falling in love with her.

She was torn between stopping him for clarification and urging him on because what he was doing felt so good.

"Oh, Sonny," she gasped, thrashing now in response to the flicks of his tongue.

He looked up at her, face glistening, "Alright?"

The concern and care in his eyes turned Brooke on even more. She dug her fingers into his shoulders.

"Don't stop."

…..

Olivia tasted herself on Ed's tongue as he ravaged her mouth with his own. They were an absolute mess of damp hair, tangled sheets, and bodily fluids, but it was so erotic, so passionate, and as Ed began thrusting in and out of her, she alternated between gasping I love yous and muffling her shrieks by biting his shoulder.

It was almost midnight when she got home and she found Ed on the sofa waiting up for her. He'd poured her a drink when he received the I'm on my way text, and he held out the bourbon as soon as she emerged from the foyer.

"Thank you," she said, kissing him. She tossed her blazer over the armrest and snuggled into his chest, but he allowed her to stay there for only a few seconds before taking her face in his hands and planting a passionate smooch on her lips.

Stunned by the sudden outburst, she blinked and grinned, "What was that for?"

"I love you."

"I love you, too."

"And…you kissed me today…in your office…in front of everybody."

"It was just a little kiss," Olivia replied.

"You don't usually do that."

"I'm changing the definition of usual."

Ed kissed her again on the mouth and then ran his tongue along the outline of her ear, "Fine with me…I was…surprised."

"I know."

From there, they left the bourbons on the coffee table and frantically made a beeline for the bedroom where they now lay panting, sated, curled together on top of the bed with the breeze from the ceiling fan wafting over their slick bodies.

"God, Ed," Olivia droned, "How is it possible, this, every time, is better?"

"Cause I love you more everyday," Ed replied matter-of-factly.

Olivia chuckled softly.

"I do," Ed added insistently.

"I do, too."

"I'm obsessed," he said, "That feeling when you finally get something you've always wanted."

"You've had me for a while now."

"The novelty of being with you, making love to you, will never wear off, Liv."

Olivia traced circles around his belly button. "You do the best pillow talk."

She felt him shrug. "Just sayin' what's on my mind." He kissed the top of her head. "All part of the obsession."

…..

Sarah entered the dark apartment and listened for sounds or movement. Hearing nothing, she turned on a table lamp and fumbled around in the dark for a wine glass and the Chardonnay she'd opened a day ago. She angled her head to see into the hallway and noticed a bluish glow coming from Brooke's room. She and Sonny were probably watching a movie.

Before connecting her almost-dead phone to the charger, she checked her texts one last time. The last one from Olivia arrived several hours ago, after Sarah reported she was leaving soon.

Call me if you need me, was Olivia's reply.

Sarah forced an exasperated laugh.

It was too late to call now.

Instead, Sarah grabbed the glass and the wine bottle, collapsed on the sofa, and spent the early morning hours staring at the ceiling, wishing she could get a re-do of the past twenty-four hours.

….

#Tuckson