Back up, i thought you didn't date lawyer's?" Don looked at Olivia like she was a stranger, not sure he knew her at all.
This wasn't going exactly to plan, worry lines started to crinkle Olivia's face.
"I really don't see what the problem. He makes me happy." Olivia was hurt.
Don had the grace to hang his head in shame at that. He softened "I'm sorry Liv. It was just a shock, that's all." He reached for Olivia's hand, squeezing it supportively.
Don knew better than most how hard Olivia had tried to make things work with her ex. How humiliating loving Elliot could be. His drinking. His affairs always choosing Kathy even though he did not love her. She deserved happiness and if she'd found it with Edgar, Don would warm easily enough to the man who made his Daughter smile again.
"I'd like to meet him." Don chanced. " If that's ok."
Olivia beamed "Of course, I'd love that. I think you two would get on well. We'll arrange it for the next time you're home." Olivia felt lighter then, knowing that Don was ok with this.
They finished off the rest of their meal in companionable chit-chat, relishing in each other's company. Olivia was basking in the glow of having both her parents near.
As they headed outside, Serena noticed that Liz pager went off and Don knowing what it was went up to Liv and asked "Could I have a lift in to town to my hotel?
"Oh alright sure yeah"
Don kissed Liz and told her he woukd see her later back at the hotel he had to scramble into the back behind Liv's seat, as Casey was in the passenger's seat and jumped in first.
"Just let me see if I can give Edgar a quick call before we go." Olivia moved to a quiet spot away from the car and dialled. Straight to voicemail. He must be busy, but Olivia wanted to let him know things had gone well.
"Hi hun. I was hoping to hear your voice but I guess you're up to your elbows in your case load. Things went really well with Don and Liz and they want to meet you. Can you believe it? I'm just going to drop him at his hotel and head home with Casey. Maybe I could persuade hee to swing by your office on the way back. I'd love to see you, since we won't be toasting our first New Year together. Anyway, I'll hopefully see you soon. If I'm asleep when you get back, please wake me for a New Year kiss. Happy New Year, Edgar. I'm so happy we'll be together this year. Gotta run. I love you."
As she hung up Olivia tensed at having said those words. It had just slipped out. She did love him. Hopefully Edgar wouldn't panic when he heard it, they hadn't said it to each other yet and maybe an answerphone message wasn't the best first time. Olivia didn't have time to consider it for long..
They set off in the direction Casey indicated, soft music falling from the speakers and continuing their conversation from inside the restaurant.
Under normal circumstances, Olivia and David Knowles would never have met. There was no reason for their lives to overlap. Until tonight.
David's wife had chosen this morning to announce that she was leaving him, taking the kids and staying with her parents until the divorce was final. Divorce. The word hit David like a freight train to the chest. She'd said she couldn't start another year married to a jobless no-hoper. Since the redundancy, David had looked for work but not many were in the market for a 40-something car salesman these days.
That was the story of how David came to be here. Standing by the side of the road, bottle of Jack Daniels in hand, contemplating the remnants of his so called life. He couldn't even do this properly, he taunted himself. Anyone with any conviction would find a flyover bridge somewhere and throw themselves off. Not you, David, you loser. He was going to hurl himself in front of the next car. Or so he'd told himself for the last 30 cars or so. Come on, David, be a man for once in your life! Just before you kill yourself, anyway.
Taking one last swig from the bottle, he tossed in into the road, glass smashing everywhere. This was it, the next car was definitely the one. His mind was made up now.
Olivia Benson's car was the next one to come towards him. He readied himself, it was now or never...
The three of them had noticed the man swaying on the footpath, but assuming he was just some drunk separated from his mates, they carried on chatting until Don saw him move at the last minute. "Liv look out!" he screamed as he saw the man fold to throw himself in front of the car.
Olivia swerved at the very last possible second to avoid David Knowles. She had done her job, as she has countless times before as a police officer. She had saved his life.
The blow out of her tyres hitting the broken glass in the road was deafening. The force throwing her car sideways into the oncoming traffic. The last thing Olivia saw was the headlights as the other vehicle ploughed into the driver's side.
Then darkness.