Somebody That I Used To Know - Tagged

[Anthony Romano]

New city, new department, new partner, new start he told himself. Anthony had never been great with the whole social interaction aspect of meeting new partners, at least for the last few years. He was finally supposed to be getting back on track with life, whatever life was now as he wore his usual work suit. Not his best but not the worst he owned either, he had moved into a house in one of the suburbs. It helped to know where all of the crime too place as no one wanted that house with the triple murder in the living room.

Anthony had never been too bothered by that, the house was nice and a new floor it was practically brand new. His black suit and white shirt, a bold choice given that clothing never usually stayed that way but he was hopeful for an easy first day. He dropped his back off at his locker and was escorted part way to where he was supposed to be. First day and all he wanted to make sure he was early and had everything checked. Walking in it he could see he seemed to intruding on the officer that was leaving, goodbyes as he stood off to the side of the room.

Nothing more awkward than the exchange of hi and bye that came with passing ships. Tony was happy enough to keep out of the way though his attention was taken by a woman in the room. With the mix of bodies milling around he thought he knew her. The slight glimpse of a face though no, it was likely the same old cop that looked like every other cop he had ever met. Tony considered his move as he milled about on the sidelines of the room, he had his transfer papers with him to hand over to the chief whoever that was now.

Like all cops, the paperwork was the stuff that bit you as he waited to see who was chief and who was his partner. Out of the room he had no idea though at least he knew where his desk was, the cleaned out empty one he assumed. Tony edged a little closer to the group, deciding to brave the social interaction phase of ‘hey I’m the new guy’. Which given his age and experience seemed like a silly thing to say. New to the city maybe but not to the job.

Olivia Benson,

[Olivia Benson]

[attr="class","jenkins"]

[attr="class","maraschinocherries"]

Anthony Romano

[attr="class","jscroll"]
Olivia had her back turned when Anthony came into the room. Nick and Amanda were as usual bickering. “He better take care of you Amanda. I mean it.” Nick had a hard time trusting people as it was and Amanda had been a long time partner of his. He had his arms around his partner and had her in a hug. Olivia was trying to make sure she was here when Nick and Tony and Amanda all ran into each other. Otherwise it was going to be a train wreck.

“You stay outta trouble too Liv.” Nick stated as he gave Benson a hug. There had been a lot going on in her life and it was a monumental wreck he knew that. Olivia pushed Nick out the door after returning his hug. He’d been a long term partner after Tony had left NYPD. Ironic that the three musketeers had found their way to Chicago.

“You oughta know better than to harass the chief, Amaro.” Amanda smirked seeing Amaro catching his footing. That was when Olivia turned around to be face to face with Anthony. Well time had certainly not been kind to them. She’d not seen his face in any number of years, she’d tried to call but had no such luck.

Olivia had been through hell and back in the last few years and she wasn’t sure how much of that Anthony had known about. “Detective Amanda Rollins meet Detective Anthony Romano.” Right because that was going to go about as well as…

“Wait? As in your partner Romano?” Rollins quirked a brow. Well this was only all awkward. Though she could tell Liv wanted to say something that she wasn’t saying.

“He’s your partner now Amanda.” Olivia stated. Right because she knew maybe they could trust each other.

“Oh no Chief. I’m so not ready for another partner yet. You just…” Amanda realized what she was saying as she was saying it.

“That’s how it rolls Detective. Get used to it. Both of you know how it rolls, besides you can trust him.” Liv replied as she set her fingers down on the desk then looked towards Anthony. Amanda had trust issues with guys and well Liv wasn’t sure how Tony was holding up.

Liv stepped towards Tony and eyed him up and down. She was still debating if she wanted to lecture him about leaving so suddenly. It had taken her a while to trust Amaro after spending the decade with Tony. “Your timing has never ceased to amaze me.”

► kaigra ◄

[newclass=.jenkins]height:400px;width:400px;border:10px #555 solid;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.maraschinocherries]transition:all 1s linear;[/newclass][newclass=.jenkins:hover .maraschinocherries]margin-top:-400px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#ccc;[/newclass]

[Anthony Romano]

Tony could hear the guy as he stole a glance toward the woman he figured was his new partner. Oh how he loved to know that the guy leaving already thought he was unable to take care of his partner. He had done the job long enough to know how to do that like the back of his hand. The one time he was no good to anyone he had stepped away from a department, a family and a job because he knew there was no way he could handle all of that. Things changed and he was here now despite what the guy leaving thought.

Liv? He heard that name as he shook the thought from his mind; no Liv was in New York she was New York all through and that he was hardly ready for. Seeing his old partner who he had up and left without so much as a goodbye. Tony knew he was in no state to do that, had he seen her he would likely have stayed because she was as much family to him as anyone. In that thought he just shook his head until he saw her face and he could never have turned a whiter shade of pale.

Usually he had a lot of words to say, snarky comments, back handed remarks but right then all he could do was stare until there were further words from the other detective. Chief? She made Chief? Tony almost wanted to check his own pulse to see he was still alive and not having a visit from Christmas future or something just as nuts. Rollins was his new partner but that was a small thing considering what he was looking at right then.

Tony was more than happy to let the two talk as he tried to catch up as he pointed to Olivia. “Who made her chief?” He asked in his usual blunt way. “Benson is Chief of CPD... wow I have been out of this loop for too long.” Loop or decade or really whatever decision making had gone on. Frankly Tony knew there was no better choice for Chief, even with the time elapsed between the two of them he had no doubt she was the right woman for the job.

“Yeah you can trust me Rollins and call me Tony. I had her back and she made Chief... never know where you’ll end up if you stick with me long enough.” He said sarcastically grinning, maybe his first day to Chicago was turning out to be a lot better than he first thought. Tony grinned when Olivia stepped toward him; seeing her was fantastic and she hardly looked a day older than when he had left. Not that he would tell her that, likely the exact opposite but she would know what he really meant.

“My timing is solid as always. Heard you needed another detective but if I’d have know you were chief I’d have come here long ago. So what’s Rollins like?” Tony asked fully aware that she was there too as he grinned at Amanda. “And Rollins, what’s the chief actually like?” He asked her as he passed across the file to Olivia with his paperwork in it. “All the signatures of bureaucracy in there Chief Olivia.” He said still grinning, he was happy for her as well as taken back that she was in Chicago.

Olivia Benson,

[Olivia Benson]

[attr="class","jenkins"]

[attr="class","maraschinocherries"]

Anthony Romano

[attr="class","jscroll"]
Olivia had been given a largely fair shake since Tony had left. There had been William Lewis, she’d taken in Noah, been through more relationships than she cared to count, and left NYPD due to an investigation into her now ex-husband who hadn’t done anything wrong. Not that Ed and Tony ever got along. But that was neither here nor there at the moment. After Reagan had left back for New York, she’d taken over when others had turned it down.

Olivia was not in the habit of answering rhetorical questions and Rollins wasn’t getting a word in edgewise. “You’ve been out of everyone’s loop for too long.” Liv commented. Oh she was still a bit bitter that he’d left her to cry her heart out without so much as a goodbye. They’d been partners for so long and he couldn’t even afford her that little bit of respect? One thing Olivia was good at, was remember things.

Liv bit back her lip and wanted to say something about needing a detective who would stay but she decided it was not the best thing to say being his boss. Major crimes especially when it came to SVU had been having a hard time keeping detectives, it wasn’t for everyone. Though she knew Rollins and Amaro from NY so she knew the people she was hiring. Now she was looking at the one person who had let her down at a rather vulnerable time in her life. Yet, she’d made the decision to trust him again.

“Why don’t you ask her?” Liv indicated Amanda who was standing there. Olivia wasn’t in the mood to play games. Rollins was silent but only to let Olivia and Tony talk about whatever it was that needed to be talked about. Olivia took the paperwork from Tony and decided that she would look at it later. Deep down Olivia was still bitter at Tony and until the two came to a head about things… she was probably going to have a bit of a bitter edge to her tones. That was usual for her.

Rollins looked towards Tony and then finally said something. “It might be best to leave Chief Tucker to her job Romano.” Amanda had no idea anything about the divorce between Ed and Olivia. It wasn’t like Olivia advertised her personal life to the force.

“It’s Benson again Amanda.” Olivia stated. It wasn’t like she had explained things to anyone. She didn’t want to explain. Her and Ed were still friends but their jobs had gotten in the way of things, and she’d been spending too much time at work or something like that.

Rollins quirked a brow. Whatever Ed had done Rollins wasn’t even sure she wanted to know at this point. “We can talk about that later.” She decided that it was best left as a friend to friend conversation than a professional relationship.

► kaigra ◄

[newclass=.jenkins]height:400px;width:400px;border:10px #555 solid;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.maraschinocherries]transition:all 1s linear;[/newclass][newclass=.jenkins:hover .maraschinocherries]margin-top:-400px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#ccc;[/newclass]

[Anthony Romano]

Tony could hardly miss the bitter twist to her words though he could hardly deny them either. It might be a case that he had read too much into it he thought though he knew exactly what he had done in leaving without so much as a goodbye. Tony also knew that he had gone to say goodbye to Olivia he never would have left either, there was no way he could have walked away from her and staying in New York after everything. No, he knew he could barely face anything back then given the amount of darkness in his head he wanted to be a thousand miles away from anyone he knew.

“I had a good reason for it.” Tony stated knowing full well Olivia knew what had happened. His wife had killed their daughter, there was no two ways about it and Tony had been the one to enable her when he worked so many hours that he never saw it. It might have been a case of not wanting to see it but either way he felt he was as much to blame as his ex was. Tony had purposely kept away from the people he knew because he hardly knew what he was going to do himself. He knew he was going to get a few questions or even attitude but he hoped enough time had passed for the two of them.

“Fine I will.” Tony said as he turned to Amanda. “So what are you like? Good partner? Nutty partner? One to watch? Done much of this before?” Tony asked one out of his own curiosity and two for the simple fact he wanted to know what sort of cop had his back. At the same time he knew that he needed to talk to Benson about the whole transfer thing and butt heads over what had gone on but now, in front of others? No it was entirely the wrong time though was there ever going to be a good time for that conversation. Years ago he might have suggested a beer and a locked room but now, orange juice and no guns was more his style.

Tony felt his eyes widen, not at what his new partner had said but the fact that Benson’s last name was WHAT? Surely she had more sense than to marry the only Tucker he knew of and that was the IA style rat that was no good and how long had he been away again? “Oh thank God.” Tony sighed when Benson confirmed her name was now Benson again. Tony shook his head at Amanda when she spoke about talking of it later. No there was no time like the present to catch up on what choices had been made.

“You and Tucker? Benson seriously?” Tony stated giving her that ‘you have to be mad’ look before turning his attention to Amanda. “And you didn’t stop her from making that mistake?” Tony almost demanded feeling the familiar rise of anger inside of him as he tore off his jacket and dropped in onto the nearest desk looking toward Olivia. “Tell me where he is and I’ll paste his ass up the nearest wall for whatever he did to you and if you don’t I’ll find him myself. Just hold off on my paperwork because then I don’t work here yet.” Tony stated feeling a little of his old self coming back as he glanced around the office there trying to see any sign of the guy.

Olivia Benson,

[Olivia Benson]

[attr="class","jenkins"]

[attr="class","maraschinocherries"]

Anthony Romano

[attr="class","jscroll"]
Olivia really hated his attitude. No one had told her what was going on. So when he said he had a good reason for it, she was slightly confused. Though one thing she had learned was not to push Tony into things. That always blew up in her face. She was trying to figure out what else to say when Tony began addressing Amanda. Maybe it would be just enough to keep him busy while Olivia tried to unscramble her emotions that were hiding just underneath the surface.

“I’ve been around the block a time or two. Worked Atlanta PD before I went to New York then transferred here with Liv. SVU eight years give or take. I cover ass and I don’t play fair.” At least she was honest about it. She had blackmailed a woman into not pressing charges against Nick, by threatening to show her husband’s porn collection to the world. Yeah that was totally in her cards.

Before anyone realized what was happening Tony was going off about Tucker. No, she couldn’t sit here and defend Tucker against Tony that was about to go wrong a million ways and one. Tucker had been good for her, they’d just drifted and wanted different things from life. “Still making snap judgments I see.” Liv decided to put her foot down there.

Amanda threw her hands up when Tony accused her of something. “You are presuming I knew anything about her personal life Romano.” Though she saw Olivia’s hand go up when Tony threw his coat.

“Calm down detective. First off, he’s done nothing to me. Secondly, I’m capable of making my own decisions on who I marry and divorce.” Liv shook her head. “I’ll be damned if I have you going after other officers of the CPD for some ludacris decade old vendetta.”

► kaigra ◄

[newclass=.jenkins]height:400px;width:400px;border:10px #555 solid;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.maraschinocherries]transition:all 1s linear;[/newclass][newclass=.jenkins:hover .maraschinocherries]margin-top:-400px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#ccc;[/newclass]

[Anthony Romano]

For Tony to feel like he was being pushed, it was a really bad idea to even consider it. All that would likely happen was he would dig his heels in and never go down that route ever again no matter if it was a good idea or not. Tony had no idea what to feel about his old partner that was now his boss, he knew he had disappeared on her and he had his reasons for it. He had never wanted to hurt her and he took the only option he thought was right to prevent that. How could someone hurt when there was no one there to hurt about.

“I like you already, know your chickens and no one ever plays fair. It is a rule of being a cop; no one has rules on either side.” Tony said knowing there were days when the rules just got in the way of answers. Rules he was willing to break if he had to simply to get the job done, the trick with it was to be able to justify it or hide it well enough. Those two things were the ones he struggled with the most, he was honest if he was angry and that never went well together. “Good to know you’ve been around the block a time or two, hate new starts in this job. Too many tears and walk outs.” He stated glad that eight years had been under her belt.

“Snap judgements, yeah you’re getting divorced and I know it’s not you to blame for that.” Tony stated, in his eyes Olivia could do no wrong and even if it was her then he would find a way to blame Tucker for it. The man was IA and that was bad enough but to know that Liv married the guy, no his brain was just getting back to cop mode the last thing he wanted to hear was that. Anthony glanced at Amanda as he raised his brow. “You should you’re a detective... detect.” He added smirking lightly though in all honestly he was serious about it.

“Done nothing to you, Liv a divorce isn’t nothing. Second are you sure on that because I could have told you Tucker was the wrong guy for you from the start.” Tony added watching her shake her head. “Decades old, you were there you know what he did to you. Are you saying you forgot about that? What happened to you Olivia? I knew I should never have left, you run off and marry Tucker and you’re new best friend here never stopped you.” Tony said glaring at Amanda for a moment. “Detective that never detects and a chief that married Tucker. We really need to talk Liv.” He said with a sigh wondering what had happened since he had been gone.

Olivia Benson,

[Olivia Benson]

[attr="class","jenkins"]

[attr="class","maraschinocherries"]

Anthony Romano

[attr="class","jscroll"]
Olivia saw Amanda just slip out of the room apparently Roman and Olivia had issues they needed to work out and Olivia hardly felt like explaining herself to Tony. “I don’t want to talk about it Tony.” No she hardly wanted to talk about failed relationships or past mistakes and regrets. The two could hardly sit here and talk about that. Anthony seemed not to be able to keep a level head about anything. She knew how his temper could be, but she’d changed some and she wasn’t going to give into his arguments and hot headed sentiments.

Liv opened his file and signed the paperwork. “I suggest taking a few minutes to calm down detective.” She moved over and set his badge on his desk leveling eyes with him. “This isn’t the NYPD. Better get yourself straight.” She took her hand off of his badge and headed for the elevators. This was already hard enough. He’d been gone too long for him to come in here and uproot everything she’d been fixing.

She pushed the elevator door button trying to close it before anyone else got in, but as always that never seemed to be fast enough. So what if she wanted to to retreat back to her office. That’s what it was there for. Liv knew she had to keep the peace of some sort and right now, removing herself from the situation might solve the issue. She was getting too old for all of this bullpen drama.

► kaigra ◄

[newclass=.jenkins]height:400px;width:400px;border:10px #555 solid;overflow:hidden;[/newclass][newclass=.maraschinocherries]transition:all 1s linear;[/newclass][newclass=.jenkins:hover .maraschinocherries]margin-top:-400px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px;[/newclass][newclass=.jscroll::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb]background:#ccc;[/newclass]

[Anthony Romano]

Relationships were always complicated; he hardly had the spotless record in that department. He would love to meet the person that did but a divorce, that was a major life event and he had been away from his partner for too long. Too long to have her married and now going through a divorce to the IA guy. “Really? Because I do Liv, I want to talk about it.” He stated knowing he had a lot to say on the matter of Olivia and Tucker because, Tucker? Could there be a worse man for her? So maybe he had jumped to a lot of conclusions and a few wrong ones likely but then seeing her hurt. It was unacceptable no matter who had done it.

Was she really telling him to calm down? How long had they not worked together he wondered because if it was New York, his temper was what made him a good cop. He could hardly deny the smile that graced his face when he saw the badge on the desk as he made sure to keep eye contact with her. No this certain had nothing to do with New York, it seemed a world away now though he took the badge off the desk and fixed it to his belt. Watching her leave Tony hardly wanted to leave things as they were.

He had some explaining to do but then he needed to catch up with her without telling her that Tucker was completely the wrong guy. Tony took off a light jog to catch up with her at the elevator; he could see the doors close as he managed to jump between them before he heard the familiar sound of the door close. “So is that it Chief?” Tony asked keeping his eyes levelled at the doors, he was impressed that she was chief and if anyone deserved it. It was Liv.

“I thought we’d have more time to catch up and since when do you disappear from bull pen drama?” He asked though it was becoming clearer that this was far from how New York used to be.

Olivia Benson,

[Olivia Benson]

[attr="class","Bensonner"]

[attr="class","Bensonner1"]

[attr="class","Bensonback"]

[attr="class","Bensonnert"]Olivia narrowed her eyes. “Well I don’t want to hear it.” Olivia pointed out. Her divorce was hard enough. She didn’t need anyone coming in and telling her that her past decisions were mistakes. Tony was getting under her skin and right now she didn’t need that. Shaking her head, she just disappeared. It was easier that way. Time to collect herself and let the emotions hit when no one was watching her.

Tony would slide in the doors. Oh she hated that. So much for trying to work things alone. “Yes detective it is.” Though there was more she wanted to say; but after so long of a time away what was she supposed to say? “I have a job to do Romano, you shouldn’t get to used to my face in the bull pen.” She replied. Things were a hell of a lot different from New York. This was Chicago. Olivia wasn’t uncomfortable with Tony in the elevator with her, in fact she was a little bit on the relaxed side. She knew him better than most of the cops that worked for her, or at least she used to.

When the elevator dinged to where she was going she nailed Tony with a look as they made her way to her office not saying much. “I have things I have to do. Contrary to popular belief, I have a career and a son to take care of. I don’t have time for all of that.” Noah’s adoption changed her life, even before she came to Chicago. Her desk was much the same as it had been years ago in New York when it came to how it was organized.

∵ Anthony Romano ∵

[attr="class","Bensonner2"]

[attr="class","Bensonnerlyric"]I have been stabbed and I have been assaulted
My gun didn’t save me

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + ADOX 2.0

[newclass=.cred]text-align:center;font-size:6pt;color:rgb(132, 132, 132);letter-spacing:1px;font-family:verdana;margin-top:5px;[/newclass]
[newclass=.cred a]color:rgb(132, 132, 132);font-size:6pt;letter-spacing:1px;font-family:verdana;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner]width:420px;height:500px;background:#fcfcfc;padding:1px;border:10px solid #3691b3;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner1]width:415px;height:495px;margin-top:2px;border:1px solid #f0f0f0;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner2]width:415px;height:495px;float:center;margin-top:-390px;background: url(https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/pQmrGF.jpg);transition: 0.9s ease-in-out;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner:hover .Bensonner2]margin-left:-850px;transition: 0.9s ease-in-out[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnerlyric]width:330px;padding-top:405px;text-shadow:#333 1px 1px;font-family:bookman;font-size:25px;text-transform:lowercase;color:#3691b3;padding-bottom:5px;color:#fcfcfc[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnerlyric span]font-size:108%[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonback]width:400px;height:380px;margin-top:8px;background-color:#fcfcfc[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert]width:400px;height:465px;margin-top:10px;overflow:auto;text-align:justify;font-family:verdana;font-size:12px;padding:2px;color:#666;background-color:#fcfcfc;line-height:13px;opacity:0;transition:0.8s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0.9s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert span]font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert b]color:#3691b3;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner:hover .Bensonnert]opacity:1;transition:0.8s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0.9s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:vertical]border:2px solid #fcfcfc; background-color:#aaa;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:horizontal]background-color:#fcfcfc; border:1px solid #fcfcfc;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px; height:5px;background-color:#fcfcfc; border:1px solid #fcfcfc;[/newclass]

[Anthony Romano]

|| TAG:Olivia Benson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

“Fine we’ll just ignore all that part of everything.” Tony sarcastically replied, his tone saying exactly what he thought to their ‘not talking about it’. It was half the battle to get people talking, it was their job to do that and all of a sudden Liv wanted to not talk about it. Tony entirely blamed Tucker for that, rightly or wrongly (yes the man would never do any right in Tony’s eyes) the man was to blame for Liv’s silence and that never sat well with him.

“Oh I know you hate it.” Tony said the minute he saw her face as he slid in the doors. “But at least that hasn’t changed since New York. I still make that move look damn gooood!” He teased raising his voice at the end of his sentence, in a farfetched attempt to get a smile from her as he straightened his collar and tugged on his jacket. “Wait what?” Her not in the bull pen, no he worked with Liv before she was in the bull pen that was her thing it was what they did. Benson worked the bull pen as he gave her a surprised stare.

If he ever needed a reminder that this was as far from New York as Australia then he just had it. Liv was not brass, she married an IA guy and she avoided the bullpen. Was this what life had come to in the seven years he had been away. The brass part that was fine with him, he always knew she would make a fantastic boss because she was a fantastic partner and one of the few people in the world that truly understood him. He could be himself around her and there was little in the way of awkward, well maybe not entirely now but then seven years was hardly a pinch of salt time wise.

Tony followed her to her office keeping step with her despite the look he was nailed with. “You have a son too?” He asked wanting to make sure he had heard that correctly. Tony knew he had missed out on some major life events with a marriage but a son too. He really had been away too long, he should have checked in with her but then he knew if he did he would be right back in New York and he never would have left. Right or wrong he had made that choice because he could never bear to put Liv through seeing him hit rock bottom.

He could never have done his job as a sane person and likely would have dragged her down with him. If it came to sink or swim it seemed like Olivia had done well for herself though not having time. “Yeah I get that you’ve things to do Olivia but we need to catch up.” Tony replied serious in his tone. “I’m asking as a detective of this precinct... and more so as a friend if you’d still consider me that for some of your time now.” He asked not entirely sure she would still consider him a friend but he had to at least try.

“Just to talk, just us but I totally get if you want to throw me out of your office or don’t want to deal with me.” Tony added taking a breath, “We can coexist without seeing much of each other if you’d like but give me a half hour.” Tony was about to walk back to the elevator when he noticed her desk, it was practically a carbon copy of her desk in New York. If he had been fuzzy on his location he might well have said they were right back there but there was that one thing that was off.

Deciding that she could kick him out later he walked over to her desk and moved the stationary pot on her desk a few inches before moving a stack of files. “Now it’s like New York.” Tony said trying to smile in a more ‘please keep me in your office’ sort of pleading look though he knew it was a long shot now she was the boss and he was the detective down in the bullpen.

Red☠Frost

[Olivia Benson]

[attr="class","Bensonner"]

[attr="class","Bensonner1"]

[attr="class","Bensonback"]

[attr="class","Bensonnert"]
Tony was trying and so she could only smile when he teased her but it was brief lived as she had a lot on her mind. Olivia closed the door behind Tony when he came into the office with her. She hadn’t really said much until Tony questioned about Noah. “A lot has happened Tony. Noah he um… he was part of a case I got wrapped up in. NYPD found him in a dresser drawer when we busted a trafficking ring.” Olivia didn’t say that she’d tried to help Noah’s mom get clean or that she’d died trying to get her life back together. Ellie Porter was a soft spot with Olivia as much as William Lewis was a button not to be pushed.

“A lot of things have changed Tony. Seven years is a long time.” In those seven years she was pretty sure she’d been through everything just short of hell and in it. Hearing a door slam down the hall she winced. What had she told them about slamming doors. There was a different look in Liv’s eye than there had been years ago. This look was more tired and experienced, beaten down but still trucking. “My time as a detective as a sargent and lieutenant in New York, those days are gone.” She was glad of it. “This is Chicago and this isn’t the NYPD. I trust my people to run the bullpen, I'm not a part of it anymore.” Trust wasn’t easy, especially not after losing so many partners.

After Nick there wasn’t really anymore partners after that. Amanda worked with her and was close enough to a partner; but they’d butted heads at first. Olivia looked down at her desk and put a few fingers down though when he moved her papers she quirked a brow. “Is now really the time for discussing all of this? I have work to do, you have work to do and unless you are planning on ditching Chicago like you did New York, I’ve always just been a phone call away.” Her cell number was still the same New York number she had when she was up there. She’d not bothered to change it.

“I don’t know what you are after Tony, what is so important that it couldn’t wait until after work.” She was trying to keep things on a personal level by using his first name but at the same time she was also trying to find out what was going on with him. He was acting all out of sorts. Sighing, she turned and looked out the window at the Chicago skyline. Chicago had been her last chance at keeping her career together after NYPD politics tanked it. She’d started over here in Chicago with Ed and Noah and now where was she? At least she knew people here, it wasn’t like she was alone but she’d gotten so involved with her work and Noah she’d not made time for anything else. That had been her mistake.

∵ Anthony Romano ∵

[attr="class","Bensonner2"]

[attr="class","Bensonnerlyric"]I have been stabbed and I have been assaulted
My gun didn’t save me

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + ADOX 2.0

[newclass=.cred]text-align:center;font-size:6pt;color:rgb(132, 132, 132);letter-spacing:1px;font-family:verdana;margin-top:5px;[/newclass]
[newclass=.cred a]color:rgb(132, 132, 132);font-size:6pt;letter-spacing:1px;font-family:verdana;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner]width:420px;height:500px;background:#fcfcfc;padding:1px;border:10px solid #3691b3;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner1]width:415px;height:495px;margin-top:2px;border:1px solid #f0f0f0;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner2]width:415px;height:495px;float:center;margin-top:-390px;background: url(https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/pQmrGF.jpg);transition: 0.9s ease-in-out;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner:hover .Bensonner2]margin-left:-850px;transition: 0.9s ease-in-out[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnerlyric]width:330px;padding-top:405px;text-shadow:#333 1px 1px;font-family:bookman;font-size:25px;text-transform:lowercase;color:#3691b3;padding-bottom:5px;color:#fcfcfc[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnerlyric span]font-size:108%[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonback]width:400px;height:380px;margin-top:8px;background-color:#fcfcfc[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert]width:400px;height:465px;margin-top:10px;overflow:auto;text-align:justify;font-family:verdana;font-size:12px;padding:2px;color:#666;background-color:#fcfcfc;line-height:13px;opacity:0;transition:0.8s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0.9s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert span]font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert b]color:#3691b3;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner:hover .Bensonnert]opacity:1;transition:0.8s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0.9s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:vertical]border:2px solid #fcfcfc; background-color:#aaa;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:horizontal]background-color:#fcfcfc; border:1px solid #fcfcfc;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px; height:5px;background-color:#fcfcfc; border:1px solid #fcfcfc;[/newclass]

[Anthony Romano]

|| TAG: Olivia Benson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

It was turning out to be a tough crowd that day he thought seeing the brief smile on her face. It was a smile none the less but he had hoped for how things had been. Was it so wrong to want to go back to how it had been in New York though Liv managed to state the very reason why it was a pipe dream. Tony winced hearing that Noah had been found in a dresser drawer, he would never understand people, especially not that sort of people. “It’s good that he’s got you now, I always figured you’d make an amazing mum one day.” He said with a smile, honestly there was nothing he thought would suit her better.

“It is, you’re right but we’re still the same people. Older maybe and not wiser in my case but that’s exactly why we need to catch up.” Tony added trying to work out what was going on with the doors in the building. “Did they want to shut it or put it straight into next week?” He grumbled seeing Liv wince though the look in her eyes, it was a small part seven years ago and now the, tired looked of beaten down experience he could see it in her eyes clearly. “Not to me they’re not, those days were the best days and the bullpen needs a leader in it. You lead people, it needs you.” Tony added.

He knew full well that stepping away was good for so long but then again, when the parents were away the kids would play. Who knew if Liv came back from the higher floor one day to find crayon up the walls and holes in the curtains where they had found a use for that pair of scissors that should never have been available in the first place. Even without burning a hole in the carpet just because they could do. Tony would have followed Liv anywhere she wanted to go but then a bull pen without her, that was a new concept to him entirely.

Was now really the time? Tony had no idea when the right time would ever be, if he just got right on into work he could do that but then there might never be a right time for anything. The knife to the heart came about ten seconds later when he heard the comment about ditching New York, oh he knew he had it coming and likely a lot more than that but it still hurt to hear it said out loud. Tony forced himself to stay silent for a moment, no he had tried to control his temper before and lately he felt like he had made decent progress with it... until now.

He barely heard her ask about what was so important, even when he saw her turn and look out of the window he had no idea what he wanted to say to her. Seven years was a long time and maybe this seven years had gone too far to get back to anything more than just work. “Ditching New York, what because staying would be have been so great for me?” Tony snapped, “The detective that was too busy saving other people, other families that his own fell apart before his eyes and he couldn’t save the one person that mattered most. Yeah, New York was just great to not ditch.”

No this was not the way he wanted to come back to another police department, he was trying to find out if talking was a good idea and apparently talking was about as good as a nail to the foot. He knew if he had seen Liv before he left, there was no way he would have been able to leave but that was the exact reason he had left as he did. Surely of all people she could see that though seven years and no phone call had done enough damage. Talking really did suck, then as the saying went actions spoke louder than words.

With that in mind and never being one to wait for an invitation, Tony walked up to Liv. Too close for there to be a conversation unless it was to be in whispers and too close for him to yell. He placed one arm around her waist as his fingers of his other hand ran lightly through her hair before he kissed her. The kind of kiss that said everything it had to, a sorry, a hello and about everything in between. Tony knew she could shoot him, fire him, yell at him or beat him to death and yes he could take whatever it was she wanted to throw at him for it but then at least he had done his talking to her. At least for now she would know exactly what he thought and what he hoped for, it was a lot for one kiss but then it saved an argument and his temper being put to any other means.

Red☠Frost

[Olivia Benson]

[attr="class","Bensonner"]

[attr="class","Bensonner1"]

[attr="class","Bensonback"]

[attr="class","Bensonnert"]Of all the things that Olivia wanted in her life, and in Noah’s it was stability; something she thought she had found when she married Ed. It had been everything but stability right now. “That’s not my place Tony. That’s the job of Lieutenant Sullivan.” She pointed out. “My time in the bullpen is long past. I just came down to see a familiar face.” The admittance was little more than the truth. Liv didn’t make a habit of spending time in the bullpen when she was buried under paperwork.

Hearing Tony snap, Olivia just went silent. He could have said something, she could have tried to help but instead he hid everything. Hid everything from the one person who actually gave a rat’s ass. What was she supposed to say. Making him feel guilty wouldn’t help matters. She just clammed up and kept her eyes on the Chicago skyline. A reminder of a city she’d tried to start over in and failed hard. It was a hard adjustment when you were born in New York, raised there, and spent a better half of your life there.

In seven years, he’d forgotten to call her. In seven years, she broke in two new partners, got herself promoted three times, had a son, gotten married, gotten divorced, and now Tony wanted to play catch up. Now he wanted to be a part of her life again. It stung, more than he could realize. The one person she’d had once shared all her ups and downs with in life. She more or less blamed the failing of her marriage of her holding onto her past.

Liv wasn’t expecting Tony to get so close to her, and when he did she froze in place. More so because she didn’t know what to do or say, or even react. Soon she kissed him back and then tried to figure out what she was going to say. “You know PDA is against department regulations.” She mused off, though it was more of a teasing tone. He could have always asked to see her after work, gone and gotten a drink or something. Yeah, a drink she needed one of those after today.

∵ Anthony Romano ∵

[attr="class","Bensonner2"]

[attr="class","Bensonnerlyric"]I have been stabbed and I have been assaulted
My gun didn’t save me

[attr="class","cred"]MADE BY VEL OF WW + ADOX 2.0

[newclass=.cred]text-align:center;font-size:6pt;color:rgb(132, 132, 132);letter-spacing:1px;font-family:verdana;margin-top:5px;[/newclass]
[newclass=.cred a]color:rgb(132, 132, 132);font-size:6pt;letter-spacing:1px;font-family:verdana;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner]width:420px;height:500px;background:#fcfcfc;padding:1px;border:10px solid #3691b3;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner1]width:415px;height:495px;margin-top:2px;border:1px solid #f0f0f0;overflow:hidden;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner2]width:415px;height:495px;float:center;margin-top:-390px;background: url(https://cdn.nickpic.host/images/pQmrGF.jpg);transition: 0.9s ease-in-out;transition-delay:1s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner:hover .Bensonner2]margin-left:-850px;transition: 0.9s ease-in-out[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnerlyric]width:330px;padding-top:405px;text-shadow:#333 1px 1px;font-family:bookman;font-size:25px;text-transform:lowercase;color:#3691b3;padding-bottom:5px;color:#fcfcfc[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnerlyric span]font-size:108%[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonback]width:400px;height:380px;margin-top:8px;background-color:#fcfcfc[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert]width:400px;height:465px;margin-top:10px;overflow:auto;text-align:justify;font-family:verdana;font-size:12px;padding:2px;color:#666;background-color:#fcfcfc;line-height:13px;opacity:0;transition:0.8s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0.9s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert span]font-size:11px;text-transform:uppercase[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert b]color:#3691b3;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonner:hover .Bensonnert]opacity:1;transition:0.8s ease-in-out;transition-delay:0.9s;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:vertical]border:2px solid #fcfcfc; background-color:#aaa;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar-thumb:horizontal]background-color:#fcfcfc; border:1px solid #fcfcfc;[/newclass]
[newclass=.Bensonnert::-webkit-scrollbar]width:5px; height:5px;background-color:#fcfcfc; border:1px solid #fcfcfc;[/newclass]

[Anthony Romano]

|| TAG: Olivia Benson,|| WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Tony had little idea what stability was even like for the past few years, he had walked away from the one stable person in his life. Had it been a mistake, yes a big one and did he regret it? Sure he did though dragging Olivia down with him, he knew if he had stayed in New York then he would have torn the city up until either he was gone, jailed or had caused a big enough problem for people that there was no other option than to disown him.

Instead he took his frustrations out on the several other police districts he had bounced around in. Leaving before he could do too much damage or get too attached to one place. “Oh you leave it to the Lieutenants now.” Tony said surprised by that though he guessed if it was Sullivan’s job then so be it. “Glad you came down to see a familiar face, it’s nice to know there is one here.” He replied smiling a little, “Then again I know you too well to think you’d not stick your nose into the bull pen from time to time. It’s your thing, chief or not.”

Leaving New York, it was for a reason but it had done little to dampen the temper he had at times. It had maybe faded a little with time but it was still there and snapping at Olivia. It was just a reoccurrence of those same old feelings he had. Why did people miss why he had left? Could he really stay around and be that detective, the one he knew people would point at and talk about. Who knew what he would do if a suspect found out and mentioned his family to him, Tony was sure the next person up on a murder charge would be him.

In the first few years Tony never made that call because he knew he would have hurt her, then it became too difficult to even think about what was going on. The more time that passed the more making that phone call out of the blue seemed impossible to do. Then Chicago and he was back under the command of the one woman that made life worth it. Go figure. Karma was a serious issue at times though this karma he could take all day long.

Feeling Liv freeze Tony wondered how long it would be until he was in cuffs and sitting in the IA office with her ex husband. Then when he felt her kiss him back, it was as if the lights had been turned on again. The day seemed brighter and the world was a little bit more bearable. Tony grinned hearing that teasing tone as he shrugged. “Well you’re the Chief I’m sure you can make an exception. Then again technically I can always say I was coerced by my superior because she wouldn’t talk to me.” He replied using the same teasing tone she had, “But if you’re so against it then maybe you can make some time for me in your schedule later? Maybe I can get you dinner?” He offered though he never made one move to step away as he leaned in to kiss her again.

Red☠Frost