One.

Morning sunlight blanketed the Lieutenant's desk. To an outsider, she was backlit perfectly, seated, and presumably engrossed in whatever was on her laptop screen—the epitome of productivity. However, the sun cast an unwelcome glare on the framed photographs, and Olivia moved them strategically so her family's smiling faces were unobstructed. She needed to see them this morning.

For a few precious minutes, Olivia lost herself in the images of Maggie, Wyatt, and Noah on Santa's lap and the entire family perched on the sofa after Brooke and Sonny hosted dinner just a few weeks ago. It was a welcome respite from the visions of Lowell Harris she'd been enduring every night since the chance encounter with Dominic Pruitt—a man she had almost killed and a man whose face was also showing up late at night after the past jolted Olivia awake.

Hoping to remedy her subconscious struggle to keep Sealview and its repercussions in the distant past, Olivia went so far as to check Harris' prisoner status. He would most likely die behind bars, but the nightmares didn't subside. She wasn't even sure if "nightmare" was the appropriate term. She didn't wake up screaming or drenched in a cold sweat. There was no tossing or turning or wrestling with the sheets. Her eyes simply snapped open. After seconds of panic in which she checked the baby monitor and the alarm panel, she attempted to sleep again; however, most of the time she stared at the ceiling until sunrise. Each morning as she prepped for work, she promised herself she would tell Ed, for he expected her to divulge these types of things. But then she would see him bundle the twins or get Noah's backpack ready or emerge from the walk-in closet in his suit and tie, and she opted not to sully their current blissful state with tales of ugly flashbacks.

Since being assigned to a special investigation involving possible illegal evictions by the NYPD, Ed was practically back to full time employment with no clear end in sight. The twins spent their days at day care, and Noah either went to an after school program or was picked up by Brooke, Sarah, or even Sonny. The three adults were eager to help out, but also weighing on Olivia's mind was whether or not they needed to rehire Lucy for part-time help. Olivia still kept in touch with her former nanny. After testing the waters of social work and child psychology, Lucy opted to stick with childcare for the time being and had found steadier work with another family. Even so, she mentioned that she would be willing and able to help out the Tuckers on occasion if need be. Ed felt guilty for agreeing to the most recent assignment. He was beating himself up for what he called reneging on his part of the deal. Olivia reminded him that contract work was part of their deal. Nevertheless, both parents were busy and exhausted and unintentionally neglecting little signs that all was not well with each other.

"Hey Lieu!" A jolly Sonny Carisi practically skipped into the office, deposited a white bakery bag on the desk and took a seat. He opened his own bag and bit into a giant éclair. "Happy March."

"Thank you," Olivia replied both dazed by her daydream and taken aback by his grandiose entrance. "To what do we owe this good mood?"

Sonny's words seemed to bounce out of his mouth. "Ah, a sunny day, weekend's coming and I'm off duty, Brooke and I finally booked our belated honeymoon…everything seems right with the world."

"Where are you going?" Olivia was more than willing to immerse herself in Brooke and Sonny's happiness for a few minutes.

"South Beach for three nights and then Key West for another three. We couldn't decide."

Olivia smiled, recalling her own honeymoon in Florida. "Ed and I went to Key West…it was amazing."

"I know. Brooke mentioned we were copying you," Sonny said with a grin, "But it was my idea. I'd forgotten all about that."

He didn't mean to conjure negative feelings, but the word forgotten caused knots to form in Olivia's stomach. She and Ed were only in their third year of marriage, and their island adventure seemed like it occurred decades ago.

"Make sure you go snorkeling." Finding the recommendation soothing, Olivia continued, "And there were two or three restaurants we loved…I'll have to look up the names. And the sunset is absolutely stunning. You have to get there early because the crowds got crazy. When are you going?"

"End of the month. Brooke's spring break. You signed off on the vacation time."

"Oh..oh..yeah I did," Olivia grimaced at her forgetfulness and waved a hand dismissively in the air, "Sorry…a lot going on lately."

Sonny didn't sense her unease, "Ah, you sign things all the time."

Olivia glanced at the assortments of files on her desk, "I do," she sighed.

"Another thing, well, attributable to my good mood is Brooke, well, she, maybe I shouldn't say anything, but—"

Concerned, Olivia stared at Sonny, waiting impatiently for him to get to the point.

"—Brooke wants to start trying for a baby again."

"Carisi, that's great," Olivia's replied warmly, "I was…wondering how she was doing with all that. She never talked about the miscarriage after those first couple of weeks afterward. I was worried, but I didn't want to push her…or you."

"That's the way she is," Sonny said matter-of-factly. "I was the same way, wanting her to talk but not wanting to make her talk…but she comes around in her own time and her own way. Always tough for me though," he grinned, "Cause I'll tell anyone anything at any time."

"I fall more on Brooke's side of that coin."

"I know." They shared a few seconds of knowing laughter before Sonny broached another topic. Rafael Barba was increasingly eyeing a move to the bench, and with several anticipated vacancies in the next year, Carisi was seriously thinking about making a move to the District Attorney's office. He wanted the Lieutenant's honest opinion.

"Carisi, I can't tell you what to do," she began, "And I'm sure you've weighed the pros and cons. I think the most glaring drawback is the pay cut you'll take. But if you're going to start a family, the hours are certainly more predictable. And, selfishly, I would miss you here…but don't let that sway you one way or the other."

"It's so tough," he moaned, "I love the law…I like Barba's job…probably a little too much, I know I get on his nerves sometimes, but I also love the police work. I wish there was some type of hybrid…and you're right about the money…but we don't spend a whole lot."

"Have a kid and that'll change," Olivia advised, grinning, "What does Brooke think?"

"She said it doesn't matter to her—she wants me to be happy—but it'd be more helpful if she would just tell me what to do."

"That's not gonna happen."

"Probably not."

The Lieutenant and the Detective batted around possibilities for a while longer until duty called—a rape homicide in Battery Park City that would keep them occupied well into the evening. The victim's statement mirrored previous unsolved attacks in the neighborhood, but the assailant was sloppy this time—he'd shown his face and left physical evidence. When the squad finally zeroed in on a suspect, Rollins and Fin went to make the arrest only to find the perp's apartment empty. They ran his name through flight manifests and put an alert on his E-Z Pass; with all immediate investigative tools exhausted, Olivia sent everyone home just before midnight. She put a rush on the rape kit and DNA left at the scene. It would be ready first thing in the morning.

…..

Sarah rolled over and into her bedmate, the man she'd met online and had been seeing almost every night for the past two weeks. He was the partner she'd always imagined for herself—the clichéd tall, dark, and handsome professional, slightly older and way wealthier, yet demonstrating a humble and down-to-earth personality. When Brooke and Sonny observed their first meeting from across the bar, they both agreed his mannerisms were completely antithetical to his appearance. He was shy…almost childlike…and perhaps that's why Sarah latched onto him so quickly. She had the upper hand. She was calling the shots.

"Sure it's alright if you go in late today?" He asked. The question could have been misconstrued to imply he wanted her to leave, but there was genuine concern in his voice and he made no effort to disentangle himself from her arms.

"It's fine," Sarah mumbled, "It's Friday anyway. I'll probably show up when everyone is leaving which is perfect. Need to start on first quarter reports."

"I really don't understand finance at all."

Sarah giggled, "At times, neither do I."

"Come on," he lightly challenged her, "You must understand something. To be where you are at your age? Those guys…they know talent when they see it."

"I thought you didn't understand finance?"

"I understand CEOs."

"Ha!" Sarah huffed, "Sometimes I think about stealing my clients and breaking off on my own. Give them a big fuck you."

"I would—"

His reply was interrupted by Sarah's phone. A Face Time call was coming in from the Argentina office. It was an hour later there, but Sarah was immediately concerned something was terribly wrong. If anyone was even at the Buenos Aires office at eight in the morning, it hadn't been for long enough for a screw up.

Sarah declined the call, jumped out of bed, threw on clothes, and quickly washed her face. She was pulling her hair back into a ponytail and standing in the kitchen when she called back.

"Hey, Sarah, it's Ben."

"I see you," she snapped, "What's going on?"

"Well, everything's alright here business-wise, but we can't find Hillary."

Trembling from the neck down, Sarah screwed up her face and asked what Ben meant.

"I mean," he was clearly frustrated, "She hasn't shown up for work in two days. She's not answering her cell. We've been to her place and it looks like she may have gone off somewhere."

"Did you call the police?"

"No."

"Why in the fuck not?" Sarah's voice was rising and her date was now out of bed, dressed in sweatpants, and observing from the hall.

"Sarah," Ben spoke to her as if she were a child, "Hillary hates it here. I bet she went back to New York."

Exasperated, Sarah countered, "She's been gone for two days? A flight back to New York doesn't take two fucking days. You don't think she wouldn't have shown up at the office? Or called me?"

Ben stared blankly at his boss.

"Call the fucking police," Sarah ordered. "And stay by your phone."

"What are you gonna do?"

"Find her." Sarah jabbed the "end call" icon and turned apologetically to her date, "I have to go. One, well, the only woman on our Argentina team is missing. I'll call you later."

"Is there anything I can do?" He asked as Sarah, in whirlwind fashion, collected her belongings.

She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and headed for the door. "Not at the moment. Sorry I have to leave like this."

"No problem," he said, grinning from ear to ear, "I once dated a cop. I get it."

Sarah wanted to freeze and gape at him; she had not divulged any information about her family other than that she had siblings. On her way to the elevator she shook her head and managed to laugh to herself before exiting into the real world once again.

…..

Olivia poured her third coffee of the morning. She didn't bother with cream or sugar or the fancier mixers someone had gifted her with around the holidays. Overnight, their perp had struck again, only this time the physical description was different and the detectives debated amongst themselves whether they were dealing with a copycat or a two-man team. This required poring over surveillance footage yet again. The promised DNA still hadn't turned up, and Olivia impatiently hounded the lab every fifteen minutes. She had the phone to her ear and was barking instructions when she saw Sarah rush through the squad room. She was clad in sweatpants and a sweatshirt, her blonde hair was heaped atop her head in a messy bun, she wore no makeup, and she slammed the door, after which she looked at Olivia with remorseful, wide eyes.

"Livvie, I am so, so, so sorry."

Olivia placed the received back in its cradle. "What happened?"

"Can't you look up people on flights?"

"What?"

"Can't you check flight lists and see if someone has traveled?"

"Yes."

"Can you see if Hillary's flown anywhere in the past two days?"

The last Olivia had heard of Hillary was that she was in Argentina and Sarah was trying to move on with her life. "Hillary?"

Anticipating the inevitable question, Sarah preemptively gave the explanation, including that she'd been in another person's bed when she received the call

Hit with a barrage of information at once, Olivia took a few breaths before responding. True to form she suggested and insisted the police be contacted, but as details poured forth Olivia agreed to check flight manifests.

Having other things to do, the Lieutenant darted around the precinct while the search commenced and Sarah floated around to the chair side of the desk to get a glimpse of the screen. She marveled at the speed of it all—numbers and names rolling in front of her in indecipherable rapid speed and when there was finally a hit she yelped and jumped in the way Noah might have reacted at a surprise visit from Santa Claus.

"Livvie!"

Olivia spun around from Fin's desk and tried not to look irritated.

"I think there's a hit," Sarah said innocently.

Olivia tapped the desk and followed Sarah into the office. She inspected the screen, scrolled, and reported, "It looks like she flew to Nashville."

"Oh for fuck's sake," Sarah muttered.

"She didn't say anything?"

Sarah rolled her eyes, shook her body, and did everything imaginable to appear annoyed. She took out her phone and held it in the air, "She left without calling anyone. Livvie…thank you…I'm sorry for bothering you…there's obviously serious shit going on. I got it from here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah. I'm glad she's safe. I need to call off the Buenos Aires cops."

…

Ed declined the insistent offer of lunch and drinks in order to pick Noah up from school. The boy was used to being surprised with caretakers, but Daddy had been scarce lately. He bounded into Ed's arms.

"DADDY!"

"Hey, bud!"

"Daddy you get me today!" Noah hugged him tightly. "What we doin?"

"Almost anything you want," Ed replied, "It's a nice day. Wanna get changed and go to the park?"

"Yeah! Let's throw the f'ball!"

Ed took Noah home to change and grab the football. He opted to go to Central Park rather than DeWitt Clinton and he and Noah found a patch of grass to emulate their "field." They were in the middle of a crucial fourth and goal when Ed's phone vibrated in his pocket. With the twins still at day care and Olivia away, he couldn't ignore it.

"Hang on, No."

Noah froze in a ready position.

"Daddy. Where are you? I need to see you." Sarah's voice was as urgent as it had ever been.

"I'm at the park with Noah. I have to get the twins in an hour."

"How bout I get them and come to you?"

Ed jerked his head signaling for Noah to run ahead and he lofted the ball. "That's fine but you'll haveta go to our house and pick up the stroller." Sarah was on the permanent caregiver list, but Olivia had taken the twins in the car that morning.

"It's only a few blocks. Can't I carry them?"

Ed frowned, "Sarah, Wyatt's fifteen pounds. Just Wyatt. And you'll have their bags. Just get the stroller or wait for me."

Sarah groaned, "I'll get the stroller. Don't move. I'll be there soon."

"Sare, what's the matter?" Ed grunted the last words because Noah had come crashing into him at full force. He smiled at the little boy and mussed his hair. Noah grinned back at him then sprinted away for another pass.

"I need your advice," she said in a clipped tone, "And I don't want to talk about it over the phone."

"Does it need to be just the two of us? Or…do we need Liv?"

"Livvie already helped me."

"Oh."

"And I need to see the kiddos. They're a calming presence."

Ed rolled his eyes.

"Anyway, I'm almost at your building." Sarah was almost breathless now. Ed could hear the street sounds in the background. "Do. Not. Move."

"Well, we're kinda in the middle of a football game," Ed sassed, smirking.

"Oh, Daddy, you know what I mean."

…..

#Tuckson