"Liv..." Fin poked his head inside looking worried

"Fin? What's wrong?" Oliva asked getting up from her chair

"...Elliot called...we've got a problem..."

...

"Elliot you and I both know that's not going to happen."

Finally after nearly a month they had found a possible lead to the Wilson family attack...unfortunately that lead has now connected them with Elliot's current case involving a very dangerous crime syndicate. Loans sharks and rapists are just a small part of this group, the second Elliot heard that part was praying that Olivia would not get involved...clearly he was ignored.

...And now he and Liv are having yet another argument about their involvement...

"Please Liv! For your own safety just back down!"

"I'm not dropping the case Elliot and that's that!"

"THAT'S IT!" Ayanna put herself in between them pushing the two apart "Break it up both of you! You're acting like toddlers right now!" She then turned to Carissi who nodded.

"Look, we all know this whole argument is just going to go on and on until someone decides to do their own thing which will result in getting in the other's way. So how about we skip all that and just go straight to the working together part?"

Everyone looked at each other before nodding in agreement...

"His name is Riki Longfang."

(I'm no good with meeting scenes so just bear with me)

"Liv Look I'm sorry..."

"Ehe, Elliot don't it's fine, really. Honestly we should be used to this by now."

"Ehe Yeah.."

They stood awkwardly for a moment not really sure of what to say to each other.

"Did I tell you...Calvin came back."

"Really?!" Elliot was excited now not to mention happy

"Calvin?! I haven't seen him for years. How is he?!"

"He's an art major at Pratt. He's also taking a course as a teaching assistant, says he wants to be an art teacher."

"That's great! So what else is new with Calvin?" The two went to sit on a couch as they continued to converse with each other.

"He's got two very sweet dogs, a pit bull and a rottie, Stella and Luna. Giggle said he wants to eliminate the 'vicious' breed stereotype."

" Chuckle, And how's that working out for him." Elliot chuckled a bit

"Stella is a real sweetheart and Luna is the laziest dog you'll ever meet."

"How did he come up with their names?"

"It was a really starry night when he got Stella and Luna has this toy she just loves, a plushie of Princess Luna from My Little Pony."

"Ok! Anyone who calls that dog vicious is a blind idiot! Oh my God that is the most adorable thing I've ever heard!" Elliot laughed

"I think my son's turned into an anime nerd?" Olivia added with giggle and Elliot snorted in response.

"No?! Really?!"

"He has a Naruto pin on his backpack, when I took Noah to spend Halloween he was dressed as...I think his name is Natsu..."

"Natsu Dragneel, Eli watches that show."

"Well Calvin was dressed in a full costume, pink wig and all."

"Hey Eli did the same with Goku." Elliot added which caused the two to burst out laughing.

...The next day at Calvin's work...

I'm gonna slap this bitch if she keeps giving me attitude! Calvin internally screamed with a slight eye twitch as he carried some boxes into the back, let's just say one of his coworkers isn't the easiest person to get along with.

And seriously! Who is that stingy about a f@cking pair of scissors! Calvin is a courtesy clerk at a local grocery store.

"Don't take it personally bro..." Zeke elbowed him "She's like that with everyone, even customers."

"That's the problem." Calvin grumbled before walking off to get more boxes.

...At Olivia's apartment...

"Come on Calvin she can't be that bad." Olivia patted his shoulder while Noah was at the park playing with some of his new friends he met at the Halloween carnival.

"Mom...she even gives customers attitude."

"And how does she give them attitude?"

"Ok so a customer came in asking if we could put a photo on a cake he brought with him, of course we can't because of Covid and copyright. Even still he asked if he could please speak with the decorator, so I brought her over." Calvin then buried his face in his hands in annoyance.

"And no joke she was giving him attitude from the very beginning even after he asked if she could simply take off the berries. Even the guy said it himself she was being extremely rude!" Calvin took a deep breath as Olivia patted his shoulder once again.

"And when I asked her why she had to be so rude and why she couldn't simply take the berries off..." He raised his hands in the air

"This bitch tells me that she doesn't get paid enough for this and that I should do it myself since clearly I know everything! Well I'm sorry you don't get your extra 5 cents for taking off some stupid berries!"

Ok Olivia had to admit that she was not expecting that...Calvin slammed his head on the counter and groaned once again.

"I hate her."

"Calvin, if she's causing such a hostile work environment then you should really tell the manager about that."

"I'm not even a year into work, I don't wanna be known as a whiner."

"You won't sweetie, and it's part of their job to handle...complicated employees."

"Honestly I'd just rather not deal with her at all if I can help it."

Olivia shook her head with a smile as she was in a similar situation when she was younger and she had the exact same mindset, she kissed his cheek before going on.

"Ok sweetie so what else has been going on at work."

"I ran into my first Karen." Calvin said with a slight smirk.

"This one I gotta hear." Olivia giggled a little

Calvin went on to tell her about his first encounter with a Karen.

"An easy fix and she refused to accept it."

"Aw I'm sorry baby." She couldn't help but laugh as she heard the story

"I don't even want to mention this one creep I had on St. Patrick's Day."

The word 'creep' got her interested.

"Go on."

Crap! Should have worded that differently!

"The guy... gulp ...no joke he acted like he was legit going to pinch me because I wasn't wearing green." The look on his face showed Olivia he was insanely uncomfortable.

"I pray I never see that guy again."

"Ok that guy you definitely need to report!"

"He tries that crap again I sure as hell will." I honestly would have punched him if he even took a step towards me!

"Now there has to be at least one good moment you've had at work?" That question had calmed him down almost instantly.

"Maria..." he said with a smile "Aside from the fact that she doesn't speak english very well, I treasure the days she's working."

"Though I'm starting to wonder if they gave her a run down of the rules because she tried to offer me a piece of cornbread which only the bakery manager can do that...and don't worry I did go to management with that one, not to get her in trouble though just to make sure she understood."

"Good."

...Hours later...

It was getting late and Calvin had class in the morning...but the second he opened the door Olivia got a call...from the hospital...Darrell is awake!