She barely made it.

 

Sliding into her customary spot on the last bench in the back of the courtroom, Olivia watched the bailiff walk out and announce that court was back in session.

 

Alex heard the courtroom door swing shut and turned, rolling her eyes when she caught sight of the detective. 

 

Olivia would have been worried if she hadn’t seen the corners of the ADA’s mouth turn up slightly in a smile she couldn’t quite suppress.

 

“The People call Detective Olivia Benson.”  Alex kept her gaze impassive as the brunette walk by her on the way to the witness stand, but she had to admit… it was hard.  Olivia was dressed in a snug black skirt and matching jacket over a crimson shirt. Not for the first time, Alex took note of just how good the detective looked in black and red. Glancing down, her eyebrows rose slightly when she saw that Olivia was wearing heels.  Their height clearly outlined the muscles of her calves and the blonde found herself wondering if the skin covering them was as soft as it looked.

 

Realizing that the bailiff was done swearing Olivia in, Alex mentally shook herself, her lips thinning in surprise when it took longer than it normally did to refocus her thoughts.  She glanced at the jury before moving to stand before the detective who was now looking at her with a pleasantly curious expression on her face.

 

“Detective Benson, can you please describe the events that transpired on the afternoon of June 24^th of this year?”

 

Olivia’s voice was warm, her manner open as she addressed the ADA and the jury.  “At approximately two forty-five that afternoon, my partner and I were at 236 Stewart Street speaking with a witness involved in another case.  As we were leaving the residence, we were approached by a neighbor who informed us that Tabitha Neal, a fifteen year old girl who lived across the street had run out of her house in tears earlier that morning.  The girl had been bloody and bruised and was calling for help.  Her father, Victor Neal came out of the house and grabbed her by the arm, dragging her back inside after threatening the neighbor with violence should she call the police.”

 

“What was the neighbor’s name?”

 

“Allison Montgomery.”

 

“Did Ms. Montgomery report the incident?”

 

Olivia shook her head sadly.  “No she did not.  She was worried that Mr. Neal would follow through on his threats. He is known throughout the neighborhood for his quick temper.”

 

The defense attorney shot to his feet.  “Objection, Your Honor!  Hearsay!”

 

Alex looked up at the judge over the tops of her glasses, causing Olivia’s heart to skip a beat.  “The comment was directly stated to Detective Benson and is being presented to explain the neighbor’s state of mind, Your Honor.”

 

The Judge looked at Alex sternly.  “Then I suggest your witness restate her answer.”

 

The ADA arched one eyebrow and looked at Olivia expectantly.

 

The detective sighed.  “Ms. Montgomery stated that she was well aware of Mr. Neal’s temper, having witnessed him strike another neighbor over a dispute involving a dog defecating near the steps to his home.  In addition she had seen Mr. Neal react violently in numerous other situations.”

 

The defense attorney frowned and sat back down.

 

Alex’s smile was imperceptible to anyone but Olivia.  “Please continue Detective Benson.”

 

She nodded.  “We knocked on the door to the Neal residence and presented our identification, announcing who we were.  Before we were able to ask any questions, we heard someone call out to us from inside the residence.  Mr. Neal proceeded to try and shut the door in our faces, but my partner managed to subdue him while I entered the home.”

 

“And what did you find inside?”

 

Olivia glared at the defendant.  “We found his daughter tied to a bed upstairs.  She was naked and had been badly beaten.  When I removed the strip of cloth she was gagged with she informed me that her father had raped and beaten her several times.  She was taken by ambulance to Bellevue where a rape kit was done.  Semen was found inside of the victim.”

 

Alex pursed her lips.  “And that semen belonged to?”

 

“According to the DNA results it was an identical match to Victor Neal.”  She tried to keep her eyes from following Alex’s hand movements but the long fingers that alternately waved in the air and gripped the banister between them were hard to resist.  When the ADA extended her index finger and pointed at the floor as she asked her next question, Olivia had to struggle to hold back a smile.

 

“And what was the defendant doing while you were freeing his daughter, Detective Benson?”

 

This time she did smile.  “He was yelling from the street.”

 

“Yelling what?”

 

“That ‘The little bitch deserved it!’  and that she ‘Put out for the whole neighborhood!’.”

 

The defense attorney was back on his feet.  “Objection, Your Honor!  My client had not been properly Mirandized at that point so any comments he may have made are not admissible!”

 

Olivia could see the feral look that flashed through Alex’s eyes.

 

“The People maintain that said comments were made in the heat of the moment, Your Honor.  No questions were asked, the defendant’s admissions were given freely and with malice.  They qualify as an Excited Utterance and should be allowed.”

 

“I agree.”  The judge looked sternly at the other attorney.  “Overruled.”

 

“What happened at that point Detective?”

 

Olivia shifted as Alex’s attention returned to her, still heated by her recent victory.  “My partner arrested Mr. Neal and took him into custody while I accompanied Tabitha to the hospital.”

 

“And what occurred at the hospital?”

 

“During the course of the examination and the collection of the rape kit it was discovered that Tabitha Neal had been a virgin at the time of her father’s initial attack.”

 

Alex graced her with a small smile and nodded slightly.  Olivia could read her expression easily. 

 

Let’s see them try and blame it on the victim now!

 

“No further questions.”

 

She watched Alex return to the Prosecutor’s table, enjoying the slight swagger in her step so much she almost missed the first question from the defense.

 

“Ms. Benson-“ 

 

She shifted her attention to the attorney standing in front of her, taking in the expensive suit that did nothing to hide the slime that showed through from underneath.  “Detective Benson.”  She leaned back in her chair, her posture easy but her eyes hard.

 

He blinked, a slight flush the only indication of the anger he felt at being corrected.  “Detective Benson,”  The derision in his voice was clear and she noticed Alex’s tiny grin from across the room.  Nothing like insulting the savior of a fifteen year old rape victim to kill your rapport with a jury!  “You stated that when my client opened his front door, you heard his daughter call out for help, is that correct?”

 

“No.”

 

He blinked again.  “I can have the court reporter read that part of your testimony back to you.”

 

She leaned forward again, her eyes turning to bits of ice.  “And if you did, you would hear that I stated Tabitha Neal called out to us.  I never said she called out for help.  That would have been difficult, considering she was gagged at the time.”

 

He swallowed; a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.  “So you are stating that you could just tell that she needed help?  Is that some kind of sixth sense cops have?”

 

Olivia shook her head; smiling softly.  “I think it went something like this…”  She covered her mouth with her hand and proceeded to scream, startling the jury, causing most of them to blink and sit up straighter as the defense attorney turned a strange shade of white.

 

From the Prosecutor’s table, Alex looked down at her lap and pressed her lips together to keep from laughing out loud. 

God, I love you Olivia.

 

            *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *          

 

Fin looked up as Olivia sauntered into the bullpen, his wolf whistle loud in the empty squad room as he took in the outfit she was wearing.  He was awarded with a deep flush.

 

“Yeah, yeah, whatever!”  Olivia poured herself a cup of coffee.  “Don’t forget I’ve seen the suit you wear to court, Pimp Daddy.”

 

“How come you only ever dress up for Alex?”  He grinned at her glare.

 

“I’m dressed this way for court, thank you!”  She looked around.  “Where is everyone?”

 

“Kathy called.  Dickie’s sick and she’s stuck at work so he took off a little early.  Munch is down at the mail forwarding place that Tate has listed as her address on her license.  The owner didn’t want to give up her address on record but he threatened to get a court order to go through every package in the place and he coughed it up pretty quick.”

 

She looked at her watch.  It was past five.  She hadn’t realized she had spent that much time at court.  “Anything else going on?”

 

“Yeah.”  Fin handed her a folder.  “Daddy dearest came by.  Seems he remembered the name of that book store after all.  He dropped off the info along with a statement about every negative bit of info he had on Serra Tate.”  Fin frowned.  “Funny how he forgot to mention all that to you when you talked to him.”

 

Olivia flipped through the folder.  It was filled with candid shots of Serra in various city locales along with some very in depth information about her personal and financial history.  “Some of these reports are dated months ago.”  She raised her eyebrows.  “And they look pretty official.”

 

“If you ask me Wainscott had a P.I. on our girl.”

 

“My thoughts exactly.”  She saw him grab his jacket.  “You out of here?”

 

“Yeah, I got a date.  You should take off too.  Elliot said he’d do the rounds with you on the home and work in the morning.  Have a good one!”

 

She wandered over to her desk and sat down, going through the file more slowly.  She wasn’t aware of how much time had passed until Cragen’s door opened some time later.

 

“Olivia!  What are you still doing here?”  The Captain looked at his watch.  “It’s almost seven.”

 

“I just got caught up reading through the info Judge Wainscott dropped off.”  She closed the file quickly and stood, stretching to get the kinks out of her neck that her intense concentration had caused. 

 

“Well, we have a new development.”  He tossed the evening edition of the Times on her desk and she groaned as she saw the headline on the front page.

 

Socialite Found Dead In Uptown Apartment.

 

“How bad is it?”

 

Cragen shrugged.  “Not as bad as it could be.   The name is still being held ‘pending notification’ thanks to Warner, but someone leaked the missing face.  No mention of the S&M angle as of yet.”  He sighed heavily.  “I guess we should be grateful we got two days on this without it splashed all over the city.”

 

“Have we heard from Huang?”

 

“Yeah he called this afternoon.  He’s still at his conference in Miami but he got the pictures and Warner’s summary that we fedexed him.  He’s going to start going through them but he won’t be back until Monday.”

 

She nodded tiredly and he seemed to take notice of her outfit for the first time. “How did it go in court?”

 

“Pretty well I think.  No news yet though.  Alex was supposed to call me…”

 

Cragen laughed.  “Knowing her she’s buried under a mountain of paperwork in her office and can’t reach the phone.  The two of you are like matching bookends.”  He pushed her gently towards the door.  “Go home.  Get some rest and come back to this fresh in the morning.”

 

Nodding wordlessly she slid on her jacket and followed him out the door.

 

            *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *

 

Her fourth floor apartment was dark when she entered, stuffy from being closed up all day and far too quiet for her liking.  With a sigh, Olivia cracked open the window and allowed the cool early winter air to wash over her; it smelled like the city, like the rain and snow that would be coming soon.   She slowly slipped off the jacket she was wearing and draped it over a chair.

 

Unbuttoning her shirt, she wandered into the bedroom.  She undressed in the dark, pulling on a pair of boxer briefs and a t-shirt, knowing that she would be cold but looking forward to curling up under the quilt that lined the back of her couch as she went over everything that had happened that day in her mind.

 

It was her little ritual; a way to unwind and sift through her thoughts until she was tired enough to sleep.

 

As she settled herself into the corner of her sofa and pulled the blanket over her however, she found herself haunted by bright azure eyes.  The way they had seemed to surround her in court, how they had held her safely as she recounted the horrors she had found in the house on Stewart Street.  After a brief inner struggle she gave up trying to control her own thoughts and allowed her mind to piece together Alex’s face.  First it was the smooth, peach colored skin, then the high cheekbones, followed by full red lips, the bottom one swollen slightly, as though she was pouting…or had just been thoroughly kissed.

 

In her mind’s eye, Alex’s head tilted back slightly on the long, leonine neck; her eyes rolling back and then closing as the blonde licked her lips, one word dropping breathlessly from her mouth… Olivia…

 

The shrill ringing of the phone snapped the brunette out of her fantasy and her jaw dropped open slightly as she realized that her hand had slid under the blanket to gently cup one of her breasts.  Pulling it away as though it were on fire, she shook her head violently.

 

“Jesus, Benson!  Get a friggin’ grip!”  She reached out and plucked the phone from it’s charger on the end table, barking into it a little more roughly than she intended to.  “Yeah?”

 

There was silence on the other end for a moment.  “Olivia?”

 

The detective’s eyes closed and she groaned quietly as her softly spoken name did things to her that even her own hand hadn’t accomplished.

 

“Are you ok?”  Alex asked, concern threading her voice.  “Are you hurt?”

 

“What?”  Olivia reigned in her thoughts.  “What?  No!  Why would you think I was hurt?”

 

“Well you kind of… groaned.”  The voice at the other end of the line became slightly amused.  “Or am I interrupting something?”

 

Olivia didn’t think she could be more embarrassed than she was at that moment.  “No!”  She stammered. “No!  I’m alone!”

 

“Still not an answer to my question…”

 

She had been wrong.  Her cheeks bright pink, she could only stare at the phone in her hand.

 

Alex’s voice dropped an octave and suddenly the cool air coming from the window seemed to have no effect on the room temperature whatsoever.  She tossed away the blanket.  “Do you need me to let you go…”

 

“Alex!”  She growled.

 

“Ok, ok!”  The ADA’s laughter was bright and cheerful.  “I’m sorry.  I couldn’t resist.”

 

“You don’t sound very sorry.”

 

“I plead the fifth.”

 

Olivia smiled.  “You’re in good mood.  Did the jury come back?”

 

“Not yet.”  She could hear Alex moving around in the background.  “We’re adjourned until tomorrow morning but I don’t expect deliberations to take very long.  Not after your testimony.”

 

The detective shrugged but couldn’t help the smile that graced her lips.  “Any time.”  She heard the sound of a cork being pulled from a bottle.  “Where are you?”

 

“I’m at home.  I’m sorry I didn’t call earlier but I got stuck at work.  Got back to my office to find a tower of case files on my desk.”

 

“I figured.” Olivia stretched, unaware of the slight whimper that escaped her as her muscles loosened.  “So what are you going to do now?”

 

Alex was quiet for a moment. “Well, I was going to see if a certain SVU detective wanted to meet me somewhere for drinks, but you sound pretty happy right where you are.”

 

The brunette looked down at herself with a rueful grin.  “I’d love to but I’m already in my pajamas.”

 

She could almost hear the blonde’s eyebrows arch.  “You wear pajamas?”

 

Olivia’s mouth went dry.  Alex was being…playful? 

 

“You saying you don’t?”  She grinned in victory at the unmistakable sound of liquid being expelled through laughter.

 

“Olivia!”  Alex growled.  “I’ll have you know this is a wonderful Shiraz and you just made me waste it!”

 

The detective laughed.  “I’d say that was a victimless crime.”

 

“Tell that to my dry cleaner.”

 

“Are you going to answer the question?”

 

“I think that would be classified as privileged information, Detective.”

 

“I believe you opened the door to this line of questioning, counselor.”  She smirked.  “You can’t un-ring a bell.”

 

Alex’s gentle laughter made her heart ache.  “I do believe you have been spending way too much time around me.”

 

“Not possible.”  Olivia clamped her hand over her mouth a second too late, her eyes widening as she realized she had spoken her thoughts out loud.

 

There was silence from the other end of the phone for a few long seconds.  When Alex finally spoke, Olivia could hear the smile in her voice.  “Well, we could still have a drink together.  Give me a few minutes to change and I’ll meet you on my couch.”

 

The brunette took a deep breath.  “Change into…?”

 

“You’re impossible!”  The blonde laughed.  “Do you have something to drink?”

 

“Not at the moment.”

 

“Well go and get something.  I’ll be right back.”

 

Olivia heard her set the phone down and dashed to her kitchen, returning to the couch with a bottle of Merlot and a glass.  She had just pulled the cork free when she heard Alex call her name.

 

“I’m here.”  She tucked the receiver between her ear and her shoulder and poured herself a glass of wine.

 

“So what did you find?”

 

“ 1997 Beringer Bancroft Ranch Merlot.”

 

There was a soft whistle.  “You opened that to talk to me on the phone?  I’m flattered.”

 

“When I bought it, the guy at the store said it was meant to be consumed slowly, so that you could truly appreciate the flavor.  I guess this will have to be a long conversation counselor.”

 

“Be careful what you wish for, detective.”

 

Olivia smiled.

 

 

*           *           *           *           *           *           *

Friday 08:57 AM

 

Elliot squinted into the morning sun as he climbed out of the car.  Walking around to the passenger side he opened the door, rolling his eyes as he took in the sight of his partner.

 

Olivia was sound asleep, her head tilted back against the headrest. She had been that way since they had gotten on the expressway forty five minutes earlier.  He half wished the drive had been longer; maybe then she would have drooled on herself.  That alone would have been worth the long drive spent in silence.

 

“Olivia!”  He shook her shoulder gently.  “Hey!  Wake up!’

 

Slowly, Olivia stretched, raising her arms over her head as she purred deep in her throat.  A slow smiled eased its way across her lips until she opened her eyes and saw him standing over her, then it faded quickly to a confused frown.  “Elliot?”

 

He snorted.  “Hey, I know I’m not your idea of Princess Charming but you don’t have to look at me like I’m a Sasquatch.”

 

“You forget I’ve seen you changing your shirt in the crib.”  She yawned.  “I KNOW you’re a Sasquatch!”

 

“Ha ha.”  He slammed the door after she had climbed out, watching as she arched her back until it popped.  “What is it with you this morning?  Another late night with Cabot?”  She got a strange look on her face but before he could question her further she shifted into business mode, the gentle laziness and easy manner gone in a millisecond.

 

“So, what’s the address?”

 

He blinked at the rapid change but flipped open his notebook.  “Twelve forty-one.  It’s the second one up on the right.”

 

Olivia stopped at the curb and studied the small duplex in front of her.  It was a run down building in a run down section of town.  Definitely not someplace anyone with money would want to live.  “Who owns this place?”

 

“It’s a rental.” Elliot looked down at his pad.  “The mail forwarding facility that Tate had on her license lists this as her home address, but it isn’t in her name.  Lease is under the name Shelly McManus.”

 

Olivia shrugged.  “Maybe she rents a room?”

 

“Or maybe she’s trying really hard not to be found.”

 

The brunette frowned but didn’t say anything.  Walking up the steps, she hit the bell, waited ten seconds and then hit it again.

 

The door flew open to reveal a pretty redhead in her early twenties with an extremely irritated look on her face.  Elliot held up his badge.  “I’m Detective Stabler, this is Detective Benson.  We’re-“

 

“I know what you’re doing here.”  She snapped. 

 

Olivia’s eyebrows rose.  “You do?”

 

“Yes, and Serra isn’t here, so go and look somewhere else.”  With that, she slammed the door in their faces.

 

“That went well.”  Elliot shook his head as they walked back to the car.

 

“No kidding.” She chewed on her bottom lip.  “It doesn’t make any sense.  How would she know we were here for Serra and why would that make her so angry?”

 

“No clue and that statement sums up our track record with this case.” 

 

“Well, we’ve still got her job to check out.”  Olivia flipped open her notebook reading the information she had gotten from Fin.  “She works at a book store on E street called Ink, Inc.”  She laughed under her breath.  “That must have taken a lot of thought.”

 

“Let’s go give it a shot.”

 

It was late afternoon by the time they got there, and the store was fairly crowded.  A young brunette wearing a name tag that said ‘Mary’ walked up to them with a smile.  “Welcome to Ink.  What can I help you with?”

 

“Some information.”  Olivia flashed her badge.  “Can we speak to the manager?”

 

“Oh,” Her eyes glanced over Elliot’s shoulder.  “Jodi’s at lunch.  I’m the lead, can I help you?”

 

“Maybe.”  Elliot smiled.  “We’re trying to locate an employee of yours.  Her name is Serra Tate.  Is she working today?”

 

“Uh... Serra?  I’m not sure.”  Her eyes flicked away again.  “Why don’t you come back to the office and I can check her schedule?”

 

Olivia frowned.  “Something interesting going on over there?” She glanced over her shoulder to the cashier.  The young man behind the counter flinched visibly as he tucked a walkie-talkie into his pants pocket.  A moment later, a fire alarm went off at the back of the store.

 

“Elliot! Take the front!”  She pushed him towards the door while she ran for the back.  She made it to the alley just in time to see a silver Lexus speed around the corner.  “Damn it!” 

 

Elliot jogged towards her from the street.  “Anything?”

 

She shook her head.  “Dealer plates.  But that was one hell of a car for someone that works part time at a used book store.  Whatever is going on, she’s definitely running from us.

 

He nodded as he caught his breath.  “Now we just need to find out why.”

 

Olivia smiled darkly.  “Well, I can think of two people who better have some fucking answers.”

 

            *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *           *          

 

Captain Cragen sighed as he watched the young man through the two way mirror, frowning when Elliot and Olivia walked in; both of them with irritated looks on their faces.

 

“She wouldn’t give you anything?” He asked.

 

Olivia shook her head.  “Apparently Mary Ferguson is pre-law.  She knew we didn’t have anything to hold her on.”  She ran her fingers through her hair.  “So, short of staking out her work and her home round the clock, which I don’t think would do us any good at this point, our last avenue of information on Serra Tate is sitting right there.”  She nodded to the young man sitting in the gray room looking nervous.  “Do we have anything we can use for leverage?”

 

Munch held up a thin file.  “Danny Todd, below average student at Brooklyn Junior College.  No criminal record but thirteen outstanding parking tickets.”