144So a one shot? Or if you want more review and tell me!
Olivia was relaxing at home after a hard day and night of work. Her mind wouldn't rest after the horrible case they'd just closed and even though she'd been awake for thirty hours sleep didn't seem to be on the agenda.
As she snuggled into the couch with her coffee and watched a breakfast show that she wasn't really listening she almost missed the shrill ring of her cell phone. Groaning she checked the caller ID but the number was unknown. She debated quickly whether or not to answer it, she was off the clock and no one from work would call with a hidden number but knowing that it could be a victim reaching out to her, needing her, or even in trouble of sorts made her knock the little green button.
"Benson." She answered softly in case it was a victim, she didn't want to scare them off the phone.
"Detective Benson? I don't know if you remember me, it's Master Sergeant Dominic Pruitz."
Olivia was stunned.
"Master Sergeant. Of course I remember you." She said sitting bolt upright as she debated what to ask him. "How are you?"
"I'm well, I hope that you don't mind that I called." He said and it was obvious to Olivia that he was smiling down the phone.
"Of course not. What can I do for you?" Olivia replied with a smile of her own on her face.
"Well I arrived back in the city yesterday, I'm on leave and was wondering if you'd like to accompany me to dinner this evening, just to catch up." He said and Olivia could hear the confident Marine sounding a little shy.
"Oh uh wow uh…"
"I mean you don't have to but …"
"No I'd like to." Olivia said with a smile.
"Ok." He replied and Olivia heard a breath being expelled heavily through the phone. "Ok well uh meet you at Saudi's at seven?"
"Ok." Olivia replied. "I'll see you then." She said.
"See you." He replied before hanging up.
Olivia fell back into the couch with a look of complete wonder on her face. She hadn't seen or heard anything about the Marine she'd held a gun to since they closed the Jessie Crews' case, she'd spoken to him before he last deployed three months ago, she'd apologised to him for her reaction and given her explanation about her PTSD.
He was young. She remembered that and knew there had to be about five to ten years between them but she also did remember how handsome he had looked in his uniform and how his confidence radiated from his every pore.
Later that evening after a long nap and hot shower, Olivia dressed in a yellow silk tea length dress with gold heels and clutch, put on some make up and tidied up her hair before heading out to the restaurant. The cab pulled up outside and as she stepped out Dominic Pruitz walked towards her with a radiating smile.
"Detective Benson." He smiled taking her hand and kissing it.
"It's Olivia." She chuckled lightly remembering the last time she'd said the same thing.
"Dominic." He replied still holding her hand. "I made a reservation so our table should be ready." He said offering his arm out to her which she gladly took.
They walked into the restaurant with brilliant smiles on their faces. Olivia was in shock, except for a darker looking tan Dominic looked no different to the way he had looked standing in the elevator when she last saw him. Except now he wasn't in uniform instead he was wearing a navy blue morning suit with a blue shirt and black tie.
The concierge showed them to their table and Olivia allowed Pruitz to take off her coat and hand it over as he took off his own. She couldn't stop smiling as he pulled out her chair for her to sit down and once they were both seated with a glass of wine and ordered their food the conversation started.
"So Dominic, you wanna tell me how you got my phone number?" Olivia asked as she slowly played with her wine glass.
"I called the station." He said honestly. "To get that number I just had to look in the directory."
"Wow ok." She said shocked that he'd even thought about calling her let alone doing it and inviting her out to dinner.
"So how have you been Olivia?" He asked softly as his hand slipped over hers on the table, she knew what he was talking about and she knew he genuinely cared and wanted to know.
"Things are better." She replied. "I'm still in therapy and I'm still working at it but the flashbacks are gone and I haven't held a gun to anyone else's head." She said and they both laughed lightly.
"I'm glad to hear it." He said.
"Why didn't you tell your defence attorney that I had done it?" Olivia asked genuinely intrigued, she'd wondered a lot since the case.
"I told you, I knew my DNA wouldn't match. Why ruin a dedicated Detective's career over one mistake?" He replied sipping at his own wine still holding Olivia's hand.
"Fair enough." Olivia nodded. "Thank you."
"Don't ever thank me for it Olivia." He replied. "I knew I was innocent and you did your job that's all that matter's the ins and outs can be forgotten."
"Ok." She nodded guessing it was time to close that area of conversation. "So how long are you back for?"
"I'm back for four weeks." He smiled. "It's good to be back."
"No running after missing Marines this time?" She asked playfully.
"Nope." He replied with a shake of his head. "So how's everything at work?"
"It's still challenging, no two days are the same." Olivia replied with a shrug. "But my job isn't exactly dinner conversation." She said with a slight whispery laugh.
"No good point. We're here to enjoy so we'll forget about work. What about family?" He asked.
"Well I'm taking a guess here and saying you clearly know I'm not married." She laughed and he smiled sheepishly.
"I checked your hand last time we spoke." He admitted bashfully.
"I don't have any family, not really, my Mom passed away nine years ago and I have a brother who I haven't seen in three years but I didn't know about him till four years ago so…" Olivia cut herself off, family was a tough subject. "What about you?"
"No family, grew up in the system, signed into the Marines straight out of high school." He replied honestly. "To be honest, I used to hate leave from work, I'd find it boring but something tells me this leave is going to be the best leave ever."
They continued to eat and talk about likes and dislikes and anything they could that wasn't really personal. As they shared a sorbet desert Olivia's cell phone rang making her groan.
"I'm so sorry." She said shaking her head and grabbing her phone. "Benson."
We've got a DB west ninety sixth I'll pick you up in ten
"El I'm not home." She replied her cheeks flushing red.
What? Where are you?
"Saudi's." She replied looking over to a smiling Dominic.
Want me to come get you there?
"What so you can find out who I'm here with and run a background check, I don't think so Stabler I'll hop a cab and meet you there." She replied making Dominic laugh as he played with her soft hand.
Fine. See you there.
She hung up the phone and looked at Dominic apologetically.
"I'm so sorry."
"Hey I get it duty calls but I'm home for four weeks and I will be expecting a do over." He said cheekily and she laughed.
"That I can do." She smiled. "I really had a great time." She said as Dominic called for the check.
"Me too Olivia, I really am holding you to a do over." He told her.
"If I get this case closed quick enough how does take out and wine at my place tomorrow night sound?" She asked.
"I'll need your address." He smiled.
"I'll need your phone number." She chuckled as she scribbled down her address on the back of one of her business cards.
"I have your so I'll text you it." He said as she handed the card over and took her hand. "I really did have a great time with you Olivia."
"Likewise." She smiled as he led her outside and hailed a cab for her. "So let me know about tomorrow?"
"Of course." She replied and he leant in to her slowly having seen her eyes flicker down to his lips.
The moment their lips touched Olivia's eyes fluttered closed. She felt the sparks between them as he held the kiss, soft and tender yet with some form of passion behind it. When the cab honked they jumped apart and laughed.
"I'll let you know about tomorrow." She said getting into the cab.
"You do that, goodnight Detective." He smiled.
"Good night Master Sergeant." She replied before he shut the door.
