DISCLAIMER: As much as I would like to say these beautiful women are mine, I can make no claims. They belong to a master by the name of Dick Wolf, who I would like to believe can see the chemistry they possess.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: No real spoilers. The case came out of my own head (as far as I know). Hayden and Christianson are mine (I think) and all the Psych analysis came from 4yrs of college.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.

The One True Thing
By Foolish Heart

5

Olivia spent the best part of the next morning reviewing reports on Christianson's autopsy and wishing for an excuse to see Alex. She had left the attorney's apartment a little before midnight, explaining that going to work in the same outfit two days in row would invite nothing but problems and questions from her partner. Alex had tried to convince her to stay and just stop by her own place in the morning to change, but Olivia had declined, not sure that she was ready to spend the night.

"You look relaxed today Liv," Elliott said as he sat down a little past 11am. "Did you actually get some sleep last night?"

"Some," she answered vaguely. "More than the usual four hours anyway. Why're you late today?"

"The twins were sick and Kathy can't handle two screaming kids on her own. I played Dr. Dad until Dickie fell asleep."

"And now you get to deal with sickness of a whole other kind," Olivia answered as she motioned towards the reports on her desk.

"Those from the M.E.?" Elliott asked as he picked up a file.

"Yeah. She found fluids on Christianson's thigh, and unfortunately, they did not belong to him."

"And I guess we can't for sure link it to Hayden either, huh?"

"The fluids, no. But the room, yes," Olivia said quietly. "Hayden checked the room out yesterday afternoon. Paid cash for three days in advance and instructed that he did not want maid service."

"And I guess the desk clerk didn't think it strange that he was going to be there for three days without maid service?"

"El, at that place, they aren't paid to think. He said it's not all that unusual for a guest to make a request like that."

"So, where can we go from here?" Elliott asked with a sigh. "You think we can get a warrant from Cabot to arrest Hayden?"

"I don't know Elliott," Olivia answered as she leaned back in her chair. "All signs point to Hayden killing Matt, but the fact that he defended him on the stand may get in the way."

"He didn't really defend the guy Liv. He just said that it was dark and he really didn't see anything. If the hotel was in Hayden's name, and the desk clerk is positive it was him that checked in, that should be enough to get the warrant. And maybe we can push him into providing us with something other than his fingerprints," Elliott replied as he stood and headed towards the coffee pot. "You wanna talk to Cabot again or you want me to try?"

"I guess I can try again. But you know, she's gonna get tired of seeing me in that office unless we can bring her something concrete really, really fast. You see if you can track Hayden down so that if she says yes, we can just pick him up today." I hope she's still in as good a mood as she was last night Olivia thought as she stood and started walking towards the door leading out of the squad room.


Olivia stood silently outside the heavy door to Alex's office, amazed that she still felt a jolt of nervous arousal anytime she thought about the tall attorney. So this is what it feels like to be in love she thought as she pushed open the door. Damn, I wish I had given into this a long time ago.

"Hey Alex," she said quietly as she closed the door behind her. "How's your morning been?"

"Olivia," Alex responded with a smile and a sigh as she looked up from the mess of papers scattered all over her desk. "I'm not sure who I need to thank for this visit, but I'll square up later. How are you?"

"I'm good," Olivia answered as she leaned over the desk to give the attorney a quick kiss. "I've spent the day with autopsy reports on our favorite rapist."

"Gee, autopsies before lunch. That sounds like a barrel of fun," Alex said with a laugh. "Did the M.E. find anything worth mentioning?"

"Actually, yeah. She found fluids on his thigh. And she said they aren't his fluids. And, they're most definitely not of the female persuasion. More interesting though is the fact that the desk clerk said Hayden paid in advance for the room and said he didn't want maid service. We're thinking he planned on us not finding Christianson until he was well on his way to the sunny islands."

"But we found Christianson. Is there any way other than the hotel to put the two of them together?"

"Together at the hotel, no. But we did find a slip of paper in Christianson's apartment signed with the letter 'H' and with a phone number. When we searched the phone books, the phone number belonged to Hayden. Now, if we can get some of his DNA to test against the fluids on Christianson's thigh, we could prove he was in the hotel room too."

"Do we have any idea where to find Hayden right now Liv?" Alex asked with a sigh as she leaned back in her chair. "Do we even know if he's still in the country?"

"Stabler is looking into that now. Fin has been hanging around Hayden's favorite bars, hoping to overhear something, but we haven't found the yellow brick road yet," Olivia said quietly, a hint of defeat in her voice.

"Do we have any other suspects in this detective?"

"No Alex. We are sure beyond any doubt that Hayden was the one that murdered Matthias Christianson."

Alex held the detective's eyes for a few moments, hoping to see some of the confidence in her voice touch the coffee colored circles. I hope to God you guys are right on this one. Because if you're not, I think we all might have just shaved twenty years off our careers./

"Okay Liv. I can get you a warrant for his arrest, but you're going to have to try to get him to agree to the DNA test. Try to convince him that the test will clear him rather than implicate him."

"Thanks Alex. I'll check in with Stabler and see if he or the others had any luck finding Hayden. I promise you that we'll get a conviction out of this one," Olivia answered with a smile as she stood to leave.

The excitement in Olivia's voice made an unconscious smile creep across Alex's face. "Don't make promises you can't keep detective," she said as Olivia walked towards the door.

"I never make a promise if I can't deliver on it," Olivia said quietly as she turned to look at the attorney.

"I know that Liv. And for that, I'm very thankful," Alex replied as she stood and walked towards the detective, holding her gently between her own body and the solid door, their mouths only inches apart. "You have any plans tonight?"

"Hmm, I'm not sure," Olivia said with a small smile as she leaned towards the attorney and captured her lips in a gentle kiss. "I'd have to check my book and get back to you."

"Really?" Alex asked as she kissed Olivia again, harder this time, her tongue asking entrance into Olivia's mouth, stealing the detective's breath. Her hands started roaming across the lithe body of their own accord and as her long fingertips came to rest just inside Olivia's belt and jeans, she felt the detective's breath catch. "When can I expect an answer detective? You know I don't like to wait."

Olivia's mind was reeling from the heat of the kiss and the warmth passing from Alex's hands and directly into the center of her body, settling somewhere tight against the bottom of her spine. Her body reacted to the only clear thought in her mind as she pulled Alex's pelvis tight against her own, unconsciously rocking her hips to gain more contact while her body screamed for Alex's touch to relieve the ache that had started between her legs the moment she walked into the attorney's office.

She felt Alex smile against her neck as she continued to run her hands over the plains of the detective's body, knowing without a doubt the effect her light touches were having on the otherwise stoic detective. "Olivia," Alex said as she gently pulled her head back to look into the detective's heavy lidded eyes. "You didn't answer my question. Do you have any plans tonight?"

The feeling of Alex's body pressed against her own was driving all rational thought from Olivia's mind. She had dimly heard Alex ask if she had any plans, but the heat spreading up her spine had pretty much halted any response.

"Olivia?" Alex asked quietly as she stepped slightly away from the detective.

"Huh? Wha…" Olivia mumbled as the blood returned to her brain and quickly settled in her face from embarrassment. "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

"Nothing important," Alex responded with a laugh. "I was just asking if you had anything pressing planned this evening."

"Oh, no. Nothing. Why? Did you have something in mind?"

"Actually, yeah. I've had one thing in mind nearly all day," Alex said as she moved back into the circle of the detective's arms. "I had an image of you and me, some wine, low lights, and heavy blues music," she finished as she kissed Olivia deeply.

"Oh, well that sounds good to me," Olivia whispered as she gently pulled away from Alex's mouth.

"Really?" Alex asked the surprise evident in her voice.

"Yes, really. It sounds perfect."

"Ok. Well, do you want to meet me here? Or would you rather meet me at my place?"

"I'll just meet you at your place," Olivia said as she gently pushed herself and the attorney away from the door. "How's 8pm?"

"That's perfect," Alex answered as she started to return to her desk. "Um, Olivia…" bring an extra set of clothes so you can spend the night.

Just as Olivia turned back, her phone rang, reminding them both of the unwelcome reality of work. "Benson!" she barked with an apologetic look at Alex. She listened for a few minutes, nodding her head as if the person on the other end of the line could see her. "Okay, yeah, I'll tell her."

"So, what's up?" Alex asked from behind her desk as Olivia hung up her cell phone.

"We've got another rape," Olivia answered quietly. "Same M.O. as the ones we tried Christianson for. Only this time, the girl is dead."

"Could it be a copy cat?" Alex asked quietly, back into full A.D.A mode. "Or someone Christianson told about the rapes?"

"It could be. But it could also be the person who actually raped the girls we tried Christianson for," Olivia said as she paced in front of Alex's desk. "What if Hayden is the one behind all of this?"

"You don't really think that, do you?" Alex asked with a tone of disbelief.

"Why not? We never found clean DNA samples. He knew what color underwear the girls were wearing. None of the victims could identify either of them. Maybe we were going after the wrong person the whole time."

"Okay, well that might explain the change of story on the stand," Alex said, clearly thinking out loud. "But that doesn't explain why Christianson didn't put up much of a fight when we picked him up."

"Sure it does Alex. Hayden had him brainwashed, thinking that if he took the wrap, Hayden would change his story on the stand, they'd both get off and live happily ever after in the land of sand and sun."

"Okay, well do we have an ETA on the M.E. report on this one?"

"No. It was just called in. That was Stabler saying he and Fin were going to check it out. I'm going to go back over the stuff we have on Hayden and see if there's anything we missed. I'll call you as soon as we hear from the M.E.," Olivia answered as she moved to open the door.

"Okay, Liv. I'll get your warrant. I can drop it off later," Alex said as Olivia moved out the door. "Bye for now."

Olivia threw a quick smile over her shoulder as the door closed behind her. Shit, how could we have missed this? I swear, if I can get a hold of that man, I'm going to hurt him personally.


"We got lucky on this one Liv," Stabler said quickly as he came back into the squad room nearly two hours later. "The bastard left a little bit of himself in the victim's lace panties."

"Enough of himself to test his DNA?" Olivia asked as she looked up from the pile of papers on her desk.

"Yes ma'am. In fact," Elliott continued with a smile. "He left enough to compare to the fluids we found on Christianson. And they were a match."

"Okay, well, do we have anything else that would link Hayden to this one?"

"Would an eyewitness be good?" Stabler said, his smile growing even wider.

"You're kidding me" Olivia replied, not ready to believe their luck.

"Nope. And this one doesn't have a reason to be on Hayden's side. It's the victim's sister."

"How'd she see anything?"

"Well, the attack happened right outside the victim's apartment. The sister just happened to walk outside for a smoke and caught him pulling up his pants. She thought he was a peeping tom and when she screamed he looked back and then ran, but there was enough light from an apartment window for her to see his face."

"So she didn't know her sister was in that alley?" Olivia asked.

"Nope. All she saw was the perp. She went back inside and went to bed. When her sister wasn't home this morning, she got worried. When she went outside again to have a cigarette, she saw the legs of the body sticking out from under some garbage. Thinking it was a bum sleeping off some high, she went over and kicked the pile, when it fell, she saw that it was her sister. She called NYPD and they called us, considering the sexual assault."

"Okay, did we get a statement from the sister?" Olivia asked, excited that they might catch Hayden before he had the chance to skip out.

"A preliminary statement, yes. She'll be here in about an hour to make an official statement. You think Cabot will want in on it?"

"Probably," Olivia said as she stood behind her desk. "I'll call her and let her know. You want to check with Munch and see if he's had any luck tracking Hayden down?"

"Sure. You want to talk to the witness when she gets here? I think she might be more willing to talk to you than me."


Olivia sat across from a very quiet, very withdrawn, and very nervous petite red-head, trying to follow her disjointed account of the previous night's activities.

"So you said the man who killed your sister looked right at you and then ran away?" Olivia asked quietly, jotting a few notes on her legal pad.

"That's what I said. Christ, that's what I said four times. Are you people deaf or just dumb?" the now irritated red-head responded.

"I understand this must be hard," Olivia said, trying to calm the witness down. "But, we need to make sure we have the events down exactly as they happened."

"Look lady, I told you, he was about six feet tall, dark hair and blue eyes. He was fairly handsome. He had broad shoulders and a small waist and was wearing a pair of black gloves. He was wearing blue jeans and a button-up shirt. Boxers, not briefs. You want me to draw him for you?"

"That's not necessary Ms. Ashton. I just need you to look at these pictures," Olivia said as she slid a piece of paper with six wallet sized photos of very similar looking men pasted to it. "And tell me if you recognize any of them."

The witness only had to look at the pictures briefly before she pointed with certainty at the man in the bottom left corner. "That's him. That's the bastard that killed my sister."

Olivia slid the paper back in front of herself and noted that she had identified Hayden. "Are you sure?"

"Yes detective. I'm sure. That man's face is all I see every time I close my eyes."

"Okay. Thank you very much Ms. Ashton. That should be all we need. Detectives Munch and Fin will drive you home. If we need anything else, we'll be in touch."

The smaller woman stood and wiped a nonexistent tear from her cheek as Olivia opened the door. "You'll catch him right? You'll make him pay for what he did?"

"We'll do our best," Olivia answered as she nodded to Munch for him to take the woman's arm. "I promise I'll let you know if we find him and he goes to trial."

"Thank you detective. You know, Jen was my only sister. She was all the family I had left really," the witness said through choked sobs as Munch led her away.

Olivia heard Munch whispering something to the seemingly inconsolable woman, but she blocked it out as she focused on Alex.

"Was that enough to arrest him?" she asked with a tight smile, leveling intense blue eyes with equally intense brown ones.

"If you can find him, you can arrest him. If we can get his DNA, we can lock him away forever."

"God do I want to nail this guy. I wish we knew where in the Hell to find him," Olivia said angrily as she leaned back against the two way mirror.

"You've got your chance Benson," Cragen said as he walked into the observation area and appraised the two women. "NYPD just pulled James Hayden over for expired tags. They're bringing him here now. ETA is fifteen minutes."

"Okay Captain," Olivia answered as she felt the familiar adrenaline rush that always came when she would get to interrogate someone so obviously guilty.

Alex watched the retreating form of Captain Cragen before turning her attention back to Olivia.

"Do you think this guy'll talk to you Liv?" she asked quietly. "Or would it be better for Elliott to try to push him?"

"I don't know Alex," she replied with a sigh. "He obviously has issues with women, but I think he might like trying to one-up me."

"What about Huang?"

"I think that would piss him off. He needs to feel like he has the power, like he's important, and like he's in control. So I'm going to make him think he's not in control."

"And how do you plan to do that detective?"

"By making him think that Christianson was cheating on him."


Detectives Benson and Stabler sat on one side of the metal interrogation table while Hayden lounged comfortably on the other.

"Detectives, it's been awhile," he said quietly. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

"Well James, we just had a few questions for you about something that happened early this morning," Olivia replied calmly. "Do you know a Jennifer Ashton?"

"Hmm, the name doesn't ring a bell. But then I'm sure you already know I don't spend much time with women," Hayden replied with a smile. "She wasn't a drag queen was she?"

"You know, you're a funny man," Stabler broke in. "I'll bet the women go mad for that."

"I don't know about the women detective, but the queens love it," Hayden answered laughing. "So, why am I here?"

"Well, despite the fact that you think you're not popular with the ladies, we have reason to believe you've been rather successful with them recently," Olivia said quietly. "Five times successful actually. With the most recent being this morning."

"And what in the world would make you think that?"

"The fact that someone saw you rape and murder Jennifer Ashton this morning and we've got a pretty good idea that you did the same to the women we tried Matthias Christianson for," Stabler answered with a sneer. "Bet you thought you were too smart for this to come down on you, huh?"

"I'm shocked that you would accuse me detective," Hayden said to Olivia. "I've been in a committed relationship with someone for six months. And that someone's a man. I would think someone like you would understand that."

You bastard. How dare you compare me to you? We are nothing alike, thank God. And I hope your stay in Reikers reminds you of that. "I can understand relationships James, that's why I feel so bad having to tell you that Matt is sleeping with someone else. He's been cheating on you for quite awhile apparently."

"And why would he be doing that?" Hayden asked coolly. "He had all he ever needed with me."

"Well, apparently he didn't think so," Olivia answered. "Because he's been having an affair for more than a month now."

Olivia saw that slight panic that quickly passed across Hayden's face, could almost hear him rationalizing the situation and convincing himself she was wrong. How's it feel to be lied to you piece of shit? I give you ten minutes before you crack…

"No, detective. I think you're wrong. I chose to be with Matt. That was enough for him. I could have been with anyone I wanted."

"And I think you're full of shit," Elliott said heatedly. "The fact is, no one, not even lonely fags wanted to be with you. So you had to rape innocent women to get your rocks off. Then Christianson came along and you convinced him he was like you, made him believe he needed you, and when that wasn't enough, you had to kill a woman to make yourself feel like a man. Did it work? Do you feel like a man? Because I'm not looking at a man. I'm looking at a piece of garbage who wouldn't know how to please a woman if his life depended on it. Hell, I bet you can't even please yourself."

"Fuck you detective!" Hayden screamed his face red with rage. "I'm more of a man than you'll ever be. And you wish you could do to women what I do. I had them begging for mercy. Begging for me. All of them. And I'll bet that's more than you can say for yourself."

"Making a woman beg for mercy does not make you a man James," Olivia said in the ensuing silence. "Making a woman beg for mercy makes you an animal. Worse than an animal. It makes you a predator. Someone that everyone fears and nobody loves. I guess that's why Matt decided to move on to someone else. I saw them together yesterday. They make a very interesting couple. She's quite an attractive…"

"Matt is not seeing anyone else!" Hayden yelled, propelling himself out of the chair and leaning on the table. "Do you know how I know he's not with anyone else, you little bitch? I know he's not with anyone else because I killed him. I found him, made him fall for me, convinced him to go to trial for me, fucked with his mind, eventually fucked with his body, and then killed him. I had complete and utter control over him!"

Both Olivia and Elliott sat in stunned silence, amazed that he had actually admitted to killing Christianson. Hayden's heavy breathing was interrupted by Alex pushing open the interrogation room door, smiling at him, then at her detectives, and saying one simple sentence: "Arrest him detectives."

"James Hayden, you are under arrest for the murder of Matthias Christianson and Jennifer Ashton, as well as the rapes of Amy Cavanaugh, Allison Smith, Sherri Metz, and Kristen Hodges. You have the right to remain silent…" Elliott recited the words from heart, having known them for more years than he could count.

Olivia blocked the rest of the statements out of her mind, as she watched Elliott lead Hayden from the room and heard the door click shut. Her eyes met Alex's and she saw the smile forming in the blue before it hit her beautiful lips.

"Well done detective," she said quietly. "I think you deserve what we talked about earlier now more than ever."

"Mmmm, I think you might be right," Olivia answered with a lazy smile as she checked her watch. "Only three hours left. God, I don't know if I can last that long."

"Oh I'm sure you'll survive. Waiting is half the pleasure."

And with that Alex turned and stepped through the door, leaving Olivia to her less than holy thoughts. Oh counselor…when I get you alone tonight, you're going to be screaming my name.


The rest of the afternoon found Olivia writing up the final reports to hopefully put James Hayden behind bars, or better yet, six feet under. Being so caught up in the reports had allowed her to completely lose track of time, and when the phone on her hip vibrated, she was caught completely off guard.

"Benson," she answered, not bothering to look at the caller ID.

"Olivia?" The voice on the other end was soft, questioning, and almost sad.

"Alex. Hey. What time is it?" Olivia asked, turning her wrist to where she could view her watch.

"It's getting close to 7pm. Are you still at work?"

"Yeah. I'm glad you called though. I need to leave if I'm going to meet you by eight. Where are you?"

"I'm still in the office. I'm trying to get everything ready for the arraignment tomorrow morning. I think I'm going to have to take a rain check on tonight."

"Oh," Olivia replied quietly, her heart sinking at the news. "Well, we could push it back a little. Say nine instead?"

"Liv, I would love to. But I just don't think I can make it. I'm sorry. I was really looking forward to seeing you," Alex answered softly, apology plain in her voice.

"No, it's okay. I understand. A rain check it is. I'm sure I can find something here to keep me busy," Olivia said, trying to sound upbeat. "Do you want to get lunch tomorrow?"

"Yes. I would," Alex said, unsure if she should tell the detective the other reason she had to cancel their plans. "How does 11am sound? The arraignment is at eight, so I should easily be done by then."

"Okay. Eleven is fine. I'll swing by your office and pick you up."

"I can't wait. Goodnight Olivia."

"Goodnight…Oh, Alex…?"

"Yes?"

I love you./ "Never mind. I'll see you tomorrow."

"Sure."

And the line went dead, leaving Olivia to dwell on what had sprung so easily to her mind, but had been stopped just short of her lips. Shit. Why is it so easy for me to say that to her? And why am I so upset because we're not getting together tonight? I think I'm going to need to find some kind of outlet for this.


An hour and two finished reports later, Olivia was changing into sweatpants and a t-shirt, ready to beat her frustration out on a heavy bag. She warmed up slowly, enjoying the feel of blood moving into her muscles. As her body loosened up, her workout became more and more intense and her thoughts became louder in her head.

I'm already falling in love with her. I can't be falling in love with her. We've been out once. I don't really know her. But I feel like I know her. I feel like I've known her forever. I've never felt what I felt when we made love. I wonder if she's still down there. I wonder if she fell asleep – or if she's still working. She's probably still working. Ah fuck it. I'll drop in for a minute then go home to bed./


Forty-five minutes and a hot shower later, Olivia was standing outside the A.D.A's office for the second time that day, still feeling excited and more than a bit nervous. As she raised her hand to knock, she heard a familiar, even if annoying male voice.

"Alex, I thought we had something going on. I thought you had fun when we were together," a very confused Trevor Langon said quietly.

"I did have fun. You're a nice guy Trevor. But I can't think of you in a romantic way. I'm sorry," Alex replied, equally as quiet.

"But what about all the dinners? What about the shows? Was I just a distraction?"

"No. Not at all. You were – are – a lot of fun. But I don't want to be your living accessory."

"Well you certainly didn't mind last Friday night," Langon said, venom seeping into his voice. "In fact, you seemed to enjoy yourself quite a bit if your callings to God were any indication."

You son of a bitch! Alex said it just as Olivia thought it. That bastard had his hands on her less than five days before I did? Wait – were they dating? When we got together, she was with him! Shit…

"Trevor, I obviously made a mistake. I thought we were both adults. But I see now that there is only one adult and on petulant teenager in this room. And I think it's a bit crowded. Perhaps you should leave," Alex replied, her voice a deadly calm. Besides, your ego couldn't survive if I told you who I was imagining when I was in bed with you.

"Yes Trevor, maybe you better leave," Olivia said with a smile as she pushed through the door. "I think you've out-stayed your welcome."

"Olivia!" Alex said, unable to hide her surprise. "What are you doing here?"

"Yes detective, what are you doing here? Isn't it well past closing time?" Langon said quietly, obviously irritated.

Olivia regarded Langon carefully and chose to answer Alex. "I wanted to say goodnight. I didn't think I could wait until tomorrow to see you."

"Oh, well, hi then," Alex responded, blushing slightly. "I'm glad you stopped by."

Langon watched the two women carefully, not missing what was unsaid between their eyes. "What the hell? You can't be serious Alex."

"Actually Trevor, I am serious. Much more serious than I was about you," Alex said coolly, sighing heavily. "Now, will you please leave?"

Langon looked back and forth between the two women, not wanting to believe what he saw. "Alex, no way. Come on, think about this. It's social suicide. Come home with me tonight. We'll discuss it later."

"There's nothing to discuss. I am not one of your brainless rich bimbos Trevor. I'm capable of making my own decisions. And this happens to be one I've already made. Now, leave before you embarrass yourself further."

"Oh forget this," Langon said, his chest swelling indignantly. "If you want to run off with NYPD dyke over there, go ahead. But I hope you weren't holding your breath for the D.A. position someday, because it'll be a cold day in Hell before that happens."

Both Olivia and Alex watched as the defense attorney stalked out of Alex's office, throwing one last disgusted look over his shoulder. Neither woman could keep from laughing as the door clicked shut.

"Jeez, what an ass," Olivia said when she finally caught her breath.

"Yeah. I wasn't really expecting it to go that badly though," Alex said quietly.

"You know, I would have thought a man with his education could come up with a better insult that 'NYPD dyke,'" Olivia said, smiling again. "Is this the real reason you cancelled tonight?"

Alex looked at the detective for a long moment, trying to decide how best to phrase what she needed to say. "Yes Liv. This was part of the reason. I'm sorry I wasn't entirely honest about why I was canceling, but I didn't want you to get the wrong idea."

"Well, the idea that I have right now is that when you went to bed with me, you were in a relationship with him," Olivia said, her voice completely void of anger. "Is that the right idea?"

Alex leaned back in her large leather chair, sorry that she had to admit that Olivia did in fact have the right idea. "Yes, that would essentially be it."

The two women looked at each other for a long moment, neither sure what to say, both hoping this was something they could get past.

"Well, it certainly isn't the first time I've been the escape route," Olivia said quietly as she sat heavily in one of the other chairs.

"Is that what you think this is?" Alex said, her voice tinged with anger and sadness. "You think I was just looking for a way to get away from Langon?"

"Well, that's what it seems like, yes."

"God Liv, weren't you listening to anything I said to him?"

"Alex, it's okay. This is something I can understand."

"No, you don't understand," Alex said with a sigh as she stood and walked to the chair directly beside Olivia, angling it so she could look at the detective. "I think it was more like I was using Trevor as a distraction until I found something – someone – who meant something to me."

"But you slept with him.'

"Yes, I did. But what does that matter? I'm sure you've slept with more people than just me."

"Well, yeah. But…"

"Well, should I be upset by the people in your past?"

"Well, no. But…"

"Well Liv, Trevor is just someone from my past. Admittedly it is my recent past, but my past none-the-less."

"I know Alex it's just that…" Olivia trailed off knowing that what she wanted to say might make her sound crazy.

"What is it Liv? Why should this mean anything?"

"Because," Olivia started then stopped, drawing a deep breath. "I can't stand the thought of his hands anywhere near your body."

Alex had to smile at this admission, her heart rate increasing at the warmth in Olivia's words.

"I assure you Liv," she said as she stood and pulled the detective up against her. "His hands never made me feel the things you do."

"That's good to know Alex," Olivia replied on a whispered breath as she leaned in to kiss the attorney. "Because I would hate to think you settled for second best."

As their lips met in a gentle kiss, Olivia felt the energy seeping back into her tired muscles, her body responding to the heat from Alex's. Jesus, how can this feel so damn right so damn soon?

Olivia deepened the kiss, her tongue easily gaining access to Alex's mouth, gliding against Alex's tongue. She slowly backed the attorney against her desk, her hands roaming across the cotton covered back, eventually making their way south to cup Alex's perfect ass. Olivia felt the attorney gasp as she pulled their hips closer together, insinuating her thigh between Alex's legs.

Alex gave a fleeting thought to the possibility that someone might enter her office unannounced, but quickly decided she didn't care as she felt Olivia's deft fingers begin to unbutton her blouse. I can't believe what she does to me – what she makes me feel.

As Olivia finished unbuttoning Alex's shirt, laying it open against her chest, she couldn't believe that a woman this beautiful wanted to be with her.

"I missed you today," Olivia whispered against Alex's ear as she pushed the shirt back and off her shoulders. "I'm sorry I barged in just now."

"Oh God, I'm not," Alex said, her breath catching. "I'm just sorry you didn't stop by sooner."

"Oh yeah?" Olivia said playfully as she gently unclasped Alex's bra, letting her bare breasts brush against Olivia's clothed ones.

"Oh yeah," Alex exhaled when she felt Olivia's fingers encircle her nipple, squeezing until it was a hard bud, sending shock waves to settle right between Alex's legs. "I've found it very hard to think about anything that wasn't you today."

"Yeah, I seemed to have the same problem," Olivia replied as she stepped slightly back from the attorney's grasp and pulled her own shirt up and over her head, then unclasped her own bra before moving back into Alex's embrace.

"I love feeling your body against mine," Alex murmured as she pulled Olivia more tightly against her chest. Her breath caught as she felt Olivia's hand sliding in between their bodies to unbutton her suit pants, letting them fall from her hips to pool around her feet. "Liv, I need you to touch me."

Olivia smiled to herself as she started laying a trail of kisses down Alex's neck, over her collarbone, between her breasts, and onto the hard plain of her stomach – letting her hands wander over the backs of her thighs, eliciting soft gasps at every gentle caress. She felt Alex lean more of her weight against the desk in anticipation of that first illicit kiss.

As soon as her body registered Olivia's warm breath against her silk panties, Alex was sure her legs would collapse and both women would be prone on the floor. When she felt Olivia's fingers slide under the waistband and start to move the soft fabric off her hips she thought her clit would burst with anticipation. And from the first moment Olivia's tongue began its slow exploration of Alex's sex she knew the strong brunette would own her; mind, body, and soul.


After the women had thoroughly satisfied both their emotional and carnal needs, a feeling of peace neither had experienced in too long a time settled between them.

"So, what do you think your colleagues would say if they came in here tomorrow morning and found us like this?" Olivia asked as they lay together on the leather couch, naked legs tangled and fairly visible under the chenille throw.

"It's hard to say," Alex answered, pushing her upper body more tightly into Olivia's arms. "Some of them would enjoy it, but others might not survive the shock."

"You think Langon is going to say anything?" Olivia murmured quietly. "He could make this pretty tough on us."

"I really doubt he'll want to admit that I left him for someone else, especially considering I left him for another woman," Alex responded quietly. "But I honestly don't care that he might say something."

"Are you sure? I mean being a woman A.D.A. is hard, but a lesbian A.D.A is about twice as bad."

"Well, if that happens I'll deal with it," Alex answered softly. "What about you? If he outs me, that effectively outs you. Will you be okay with that?"

"I don't know. I've never really thought about it – but I've never really went to any lengths to hide it either. I mean most of the guys just assume I think and I don't really care what anyone else thinks," Olivia replied, more to herself than Alex. "So whatever happens happens. We'll deal."

Alex adjusted herself on the couch to look Olivia in the eyes, surprised by how easy it was for her to get lost in their depths. God, she's so beautiful. I wonder if she realizes how beautiful she is. I wonder if she can see what I see.

"So, how much longer are you going to be here?" Olivia asked, tracing idle patterns across Alex's shoulder.

"Well, I kind of got side tracked a bit, so I've still got some things to get together before the arraignment. Maybe another hour or so."

"Another hour?" Olivia said, her voice bordering on a whine. "But that'll put you here past eleven. Don't you need to sleep?"

"Yes, I do need to sleep. And with as relaxed as I am right now, I could sleep for days. But," Alex said with a languid stretch. "I want to see Hayden behind bars and for that I need to be ready."

"Okay," Olivia said with a sigh. "I guess that's my cue to leave, because if I stay here I assure you, you will not get much work done."

As Olivia lifted herself out from behind the prone attorney, she stopped for a moment poised over Alex's body to give her a gentle kiss. "Alex, just tell me one thing," Olivia said, a playful smile on her lips.

"Sure, anything."

"Tell me this was the only action this couch has ever seen," Olivia finished, now laughing freely.

Alex smiled at the detective's playfulness, wishing she could forget about her paperwork and stay locked in Olivia's embrace. "Yes detective, this is the only action this couch has seen," she finally answered as she watched Olivia pull her clothes back on. "Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?"

"Of course," Olivia said as she buttoned her jeans. "Might I suggest somewhere a little more public? Because I wouldn't want you late for court because of a repeat of tonight's activities."

"I wouldn't want to be late, but I wouldn't mind a repeat performance," Alex said, still reclining on the couch and shamelessly appraising Olivia's body.

"Get back to work counselor," Olivia said, laughing as she bent to kiss Alex one last time before she left. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

"Goodnight Liv," Alex replied with a smile. "I'm glad you stopped by."

Olivia tossed a final smile over her shoulder as she pushed the heavy door open onto the deserted hallway, her body already missing Alex and her mind on constant replay of all that had changed in the last few days. It's gonna be a long and lonely night…

6

"How does the defendant plead?" Judge Petrovsky asked from behind the bench.

"Not guilty your honor, by reason of mental instability," the sullen Trevor Langon replied for his client, glaring at the A.D.A.

"And what is the people's position on bail?"

"We request remand your honor," Alex Cabot replied coolly.

"That's absurd you honor," Langon replied scoffing. "My client is anything but wealthy and is currently enrolling in a residential setting for disturbed individuals."

"Your client removed $50,000 from an account and had plane tickets to Cabo San Lucas. The only reason he's not on that plane now is because he couldn't control his impulse to murder. So, unless you've started collecting your attorney's fees up front, he has a very good opportunity to run," Alex answered shortly.

The judge looked back and forth between the two attorneys wondering what had brought Alex's temper to the surface so quickly.

"I would have to agree with Miss Cabot on this Mr. Langon. The defendant is remanded to Reiker's Island until my receipt of proof that he is in fact entering a treatment program. When I receive that proof, I will consider allowing him to attend that program," the judge finally said. "Opening arguments will begin Monday morning at nine."

Alex couldn't believe Langon was going to try and pull a mental instability defense. She knew he had the hardest road ahead of him, especially considering Hayden had confessed, but the coward's defense never sat well with her.

Alex looked up from her briefcase when she felt Langon's presence close by her elbow. "What do you want Trevor?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

"I was just wondering if you had a good time with your little friend last night," he replied with a nod towards the back of the courtroom. "It looks like she's here waiting, just like a loyal dog."

"Yes, and it looks like you're green with envy, just like a horny teenager," Alex responded with a smile. "See you Monday morning Mr. Langon."

And with that she was gone, leaving him blushing and sputtering in her wake as she walked towards Olivia.


"So what was that all about?" Olivia asked quietly when Alex reached her side.

"Nothing important," Alex responded with a glance over her shoulder. "He seemed to just want to pour salt into his wounds."

Olivia smiled slightly as Trevor sulked past, glaring at the two women. "What do you think about his choice of defense?" she asked Alex as the door closed behind Langon and the courtroom was empty at last.

"I don't know. I can't stand it when they use this kind of defense and it's obviously a game. I'm going to see if I can get Huang to evaluate him. Hopefully he can and he'll tell us in no uncertain terms that Hayden is most certainly able to stand trial."

"I don't think you have to worry about that Alex. Hayden knew what he was doing and I would be shocked if any shrink couldn't see that, let alone Huang. Let me know when Huang is going up to Reikers and I'll tag along. See if I can't stir up the hornet's nest a little more," Olivia said with a small grin.

"Okay Liv…Hey, are we still on for tonight?" Alex asked quietly, the stress that was so evident in her eyes only seconds before seeming to drop away. "I already bought the stuff for dinner."

"Of course we are. I wouldn't miss it for the world. I'll be at your place at eight. Is that good?"

"Perfect. It gives me time to get home and start cooking," Alex said, her face finally breaking into a true grin. "So I guess I'll see you then."

"Yes Counselor. You'll most definitely see me then," Olivia responded with a soft laugh as she gently took Alex's hand in her own. "And I'll be thinking of nothing else all day."

Just as Alex was getting ready to reply, the door in the back of the courtroom opened and the bailiff lead another defendant into the space behind the heavy oak table. The two women stepped silently apart and left through the double doors that led back to the main part of the courthouse. Walking too close to be only friends, but not close enough to suggest they were lovers, the two shared a gentle smile and went their separate ways.


"So, I wonder if Langon is going to try and find a shrink who says being gay is still a sign of mental disease," Fin wondered aloud as the detectives sat in the squad room discussing the case. "'Cause if that's his plan he better hope to hell there are no gay people on that jury."

"It's hard to say what kind of trick Langon has planned," Olivia responded as she looked up from the papers she was pretending to read. "Huang and I are going to Reikers this afternoon to interview him. I hope Huang can push his buttons as well as Elliott and I did."

"Why are you going with him Liv," Elliott asked from his desk. "I doubt Huang needs assistance."

"I'm going to irritate Hayden. I'm hoping that simply seeing me will piss him off enough that he can't play the 'crazy man' routine."

"You really think he'll be that stupid?" Fin asked quietly. "He has to realize that this is the only thing standing between him and that wonderful pink drink served via I.V."

"He might realize it, but I don't think he's willing to let his pride get tramped on just to stay alive."

"Well Liv, I hope you're right," Captain Cragen said as he entered the room with Huang by his side. "Cause there's nothing I'd like to see more than that bastard behind bars."

"Dr. Huang," Olivia said as she stood to grab her jacket. "You ready to roll?"

"Sure thing Detective. Let's go see if we can't figure out what makes this man tick."

"I'll be back in a few hours guys. If we find anything I'll call," Olivia said over her shoulder as she followed the FBI doctor through the swinging doors.

7

"What the fuck is she doing here?" Hayden asked angrily as he was led into the interrogation room at Reiker's Island. "I'm not talking to him if she's gonna be in here."

"James, I'm afraid you don't have a choice," Langon advised his client quietly. "Detective Benson is not one of my favorite people either, but we're both stuck with her for the near future."

"Perhaps we could get started?" Dr. Huang stated simply. "James, my name is Dr. Huang. I'm here to evaluate you for the prosecution. I just have a few questions to ask you and then both I and Detective Benson will be out of your hair."

"Fine. I'll talk to you. But she had better keep her filthy mouth shut," Hayden replied with a sneer.

"It sounds like you have an issue with women James. Why is that?" Huang asked softly.

"I don't have an issue with women. I have an issue with that woman. And her kind."

"What do you mean by 'her kind' James? Do you mean police officers?"

"No. I mean dykes. Faggots. HO-MO-SEX-U-ALS," he said darkly, enunciating each syllable as if it made him sick.

"Well James, I find that strange. I mean, weren't you dating Matthias Christianson?" Huang asked as he made short notes on the yellow legal pad in front of him.

"No. I wasn't dating that freak. I'm not sick like he was. I like women. Obviously. I mean I've had hundreds."

"What do you mean you've 'had' hundreds?"

"I mean that women can't resist me. They fall in love with me as soon as they see me. Unfortunately, faggots are the same way. I can't seem to make them understand that I don't swing that way."

"Is that why you killed Matthias? Because he wouldn't leave you alone? Because he thought you 'swung that way?'" Huang asked, gazing intently at the suspect.

"Yeah. He just wouldn't leave me the fuck alone. I didn't want to be dirtied up by his kind, so I had to get rid of him. I was afraid I'd catch something if he kept after me."

"Afraid you'd catch a disease?"

"Yeah. Afraid I'd catch the disease," Hayden said with disgust.

"You mean HIV?"

"No you idiot. I mean being gay."

You've got to be fucking kidding me. I can't believe this guy. He baited Christianson with the magazines and the notes. He led Christianson to believe he was in love with him. Christ, he killed Matt while his ejaculate was still on his leg. No one is going to believe this defense,/ Olivia thought to herself as a deafening silence filled the interrogation room. She slowly looked into the eyes of the three men sharing the cramped space with her, wishing that it was just her and Hayden once again.

"So James, you were afraid you were going to catch being gay from Matt. Is that right?" she asked the defendant quietly.

Hayden looked at her for a long moment, anger boiling in his eyes before answering. "Yes, that would be right."

"So, can you tell me why you bought him magazines that were designed for the enjoyment of a gay man?"

"Well detective, that would be because he was gay. Christ, I can see you really are part of New York's finest," he added sarcastically.

"So you were encouraging him to be gay, but you were afraid you would catch it from him. Well that just doesn't make any sense to me James. I especially don't understand the note we found in one of the magazines telling Matt that if he got lonely he could call you. Can you tell me what the purpose of that note was?"

Anger flashed through the defendant's clear eyes, and for a split second, Olivia thought she had him right where she wanted him to blow the lid right off the 'fear of infection' defense. "That note was there because Matthias Christianson brainwashed me into believing that I wanted that with him."

"James, I don't believe for one second you were brainwashed. In fact, I think that Matthias Christianson was the one who was brainwashed. I think you had him convinced that you were in love with him and that the two of you were going to run away together," Olivia answered calmly as she rested her back against the stone wall. "And I think most of all; you enjoyed having sex with him. That's rather obvious really considering you ejaculated on his leg before you killed him."

"Explain to me one thing then Detective, if you're so fucking smart. If I like to take it up the rear why in the Hell did I have sex with all those women?" Hayden spit across the table, his face red with anger.

"That's enough. My client is done here," Langon said quickly, attempting to pull James Hayden up with him.

"No Trevor, I think I'm just getting started," Hayden replied as he pulled his arm away from the attorney. "I want to know what this stupid bitch thinks she knows about me."

"James!" Trevor said angrily. "You need to stop talking right now."

"No, I don't need to do anything. In fact, I think this could get very interesting. Please Detective. Share your knowledge with me. Tell me how your kind thinks."

"That's funny James," Olivia said as she settled in a seat next to Huang. "My kind think much the same way you do. In fact, we think the same way as anyone else. And I think you are guilty as sin for all the rapes and the murder of your gay lover."

"Detective, I will say this only one more time. I AM NOT GAY. I did not have a gay lover. However, I did have sex with those women. It's up to you to prove that it wasn't consensual."

"I think we're done here Detective," Huang interrupted the ensuing silence. "Guard!"

"I doubt this is the last time we see each other Hayden," Olivia said with a confident smile as she stood. "In fact, I'll see you in court on Monday morning. I'll be in the front row, watching as the jury sentences you to death."

Langon led his client out of the room roughly before he could respond to the detective's cocksure attitude. She watched his retreating back, and caught what she swore was a smile from the defense attorney. Arrogant bastards, the both of them.


"So what do you think?" Olivia asked Huang once they were back in the car and headed towards the station.

"I think he's sane enough to know what he's doing. But I also think that his temper is the way to get to him. Any challenge to his manhood is enough to send him over the edge. He is certainly able to stand trial, and if Alex can push his buttons like you, we'll have no problem getting him to confess on the stand," Huang answered slowly.

"Then I guess I'll just have to give Alex a few ideas on how to press his buttons," Olivia replied with a small smile as she stared out the passenger's window.


"So what happened?" Elliott asked as soon as Olivia walked through the doors. "Does Huang think the guy's nuts?"

"Nope. He thinks he's just smart enough to play nuts. And he thinks the best way to prove to the jury that Hayden is as sane as the rest of us is to piss him off on the stand. It's a damn shame I'm not the one asking the questions," she added with a smile. "That man positively hates me."

"And that's a good thing how?" Elliott asked as he handed her a cup of coffee.

"Honestly El, I couldn't care less what that guy thinks of me. I just want to see him get what he deserves," Olivia answered truthfully as she sipped the coffee. "I'm just going to give Alex a few tips on how to really stir him up so that she gets what she needs."

"And I'm sure she'll love getting advice from a lowly detective," Elliott said with a laugh.

"Somehow, I doubt she'll mind," Olivia murmured quietly as she walked away from her confused partner.

8

The rest of the day had gone by uneventfully and Olivia had found herself checking the clock every few minutes hoping that it was a little closer to quitting time, especially considering that she had had to miss her lunch with Alex so she could visit Hayden with Huang. At one point somewhere around 4:13, she had convinced herself that the clock was going backwards and she had actually missed her dinner date with Alex. But to her dismay, when she checked the clock in the corner of her computer screen, it showed 4:14 and she knew she still had at least an hour to go.

When her phone rang at 4:57, she nearly jumped out of her chair in her haste to answer. "Benson!" she said, hoping she covered the surprise in her tone.

"Hi Liv," Alex said, a smile audible in her voice. "You still at work?"

"Physically, yes. Mentally? I've been in bed with you since about noon," Olivia answered quietly, looking around to make sure no one was within earshot. "How about you?"

"I'm just leaving. I was wondering if you would just like to ride home with me," Alex responded softly, encouraged by Olivia's confession.

"Now?"

"Yes, now," Alex said, laughing softly. "Unless you want to spend the next three hours attempting to focus on work while I take a nice hot bath all by myself."

Olivia's jaw dropped open of its own accord, her mind immediately flashing back to the image of Alex in her blue bathrobe answering her door to meet the eyes of a very shocked detective. "Um…sure," she finally managed to stutter out. "I'll meet you downstairs in like five minutes. OK?"

"No need Detective," Alex said, laughing freely now as the doors to the squad room gently opened. "I'll just wait for you right here."

Their eyes met as Olivia snapped her phone shut and smiled broadly at the attorney. "Confident in my answer I see," she said playfully when Alex was close enough to hear her clearly.

"Hopeful of your answer is more like it," Alex said softly. "Hi."

"Hi yourself. It's good to see you."

"You too," Alex answered as the rest of the squad room with its dark desks, steel chairs, and concrete walls seemed to slip away and it was only the two of them in their own little world.

"I'll be ready in a few minutes," Olivia said, becoming aware of a flush that was spreading across her body under Alex's intent stare.

"I'll be waiting."


Half an hour later, the women were wrapped in each other's arms attempting to make it away from the doorway of Alex's apartment without breaking contact with each other. Olivia had managed to contain herself during the entire ride from the precinct and through the ride up the elevator, but as soon as she had shut the door behind her, it was a freefall of emotions and sensations.

"So, I think you mentioned something about a warm bath?" she said playfully as she pulled herself away from Alex's lips to rest their foreheads together.

"Did I?" Alex asked innocently, attempting to catch Olivia's beautiful mouth in another kiss.

"Yes. You did. And I think that sounds absolutely wonderful. You draw the water and I'll pour the wine. I'll be back in a few minutes," she added playfully smacking Alex's ass to shoo her away from the doorway.

Alex started towards the bathroom, stopping for a moment to watch the deceptively powerful detective search her cabinets for the wine glasses and then deftly un-cork the bottle of aged merlot. I could certainly get used to coming home with her every night. I wonder if she feels the same? With that thought in her mind, she finished her short trek to the bathroom and started the water running in the receded tub, unzipping the back of her skirt with one hand as she adjusted the lights to more of a haze than a glare with the other. As she was about to turn around to grab the pile of towels, she felt two small hands sliding around her hips to rest at the points where they joined her body and watched as the fingers splayed open across her lower belly, snugging her body tight against the strong body that had materialized behind her.

"Hello lover…" she mumbled softly as she turned within the circle of Olivia's arms and caught her mouth in a bruising kiss. "I have a feeling it's going to be a long night."


The women spent more time than either had planned exploring each other's bodies, languishing in the rush of sensations and warmth of the bath water, each getting used to knowing that the other was there. Once they were sufficiently pruned and the water had mellowed to barely tepid, hunger took over and they extracted themselves from each other's arms to dry off and start cooking.

"So…what are we having good tonight?" Olivia asked as she entered the kitchen behind Alex, allowing her question to suggest that this would be the first of many nights they ate in together.

"I thought I'd make mushroom ravioli in a marsala sauce with tossed salad and fresh baked bread. If that's okay with you," Alex answered playfully, turning to look at the surprised detective.

"You're gonna cook all that?" Olivia asked with genuine awe in her voice.

"Well, the bakery kinda helped with the bread, and the specialties shop helped with the ravioli, but I'm making the sauce and the salad," Alex responded, struggling to keep from laughing.

"Sounds like my kind of dinner," Olivia said with a smile as she walked towards the sink. "What can I do to help?"

"You can exit my kitchen," Alex said seriously. "Go put on some good music and relax, I'll be in as soon as the sauce starts working," she added with a smile and a gentle kiss.

"Okay…Whatever you say counselor," Olivia tossed over her shoulder as she took her wine and headed towards the living room.

45 minutes later, the women were gathered around the island in Alex's kitchen, feasting on heavy Italian food and good wine, sharing stories about their childhoods, past lovers, and general work related gossip. Halfway through the meal, Olivia realized that she hadn't had such an easy going conversation in ages. So much of her life was defined by the job at hand, the perps that needed to be caught, and the victims that needed consoling. It had been so long since she had done something to take care of herself that she had forgotten what it felt like.

"What?" Alex asked when she noticed Liv smiling.

"What what?" Olivia responded, seeming to be genuinely confused.

"You're smiling. What are you smiling about?" Alex said, laughing.

"I don't know," Olivia answered shrugging. "I didn't realize I was smiling. I guess I'm just happy to be here."

Alex smiled at the detective's admission and moved from her side of the island to stand directly behind Liv, resting her arms on the brunette's shoulders. "I'm happy you're here too Liv. Very happy. Come on; let's go see what movies are playing on cable. Maybe we'll get lucky and there'll be something from the eighties."


Two hours later, Olivia was engulfed in Alex's arms and legs, watching "St. Elmo's Fire" and wishing time would stop so that neither she or Alex would have to go back to work on Monday.

"What are you thinkin' Liv?" Alex asked quietly, her mouth centimeters from Olivia's ear.

"Nothing now," Olivia said laughing as she trembled from the feeling of Alex's breath on her skin. "You gave me goose bumps."

"Oh yeah? Hmm, let's see if it happens again," Alex responded playfully as she laid a trail of kisses from Olivia's ear lobe down to her collar bone.

Olivia's nipples immediately began to harden from the contact, her body reacting before she even had time to reply. She quickly turned her face upwards so that she could capture Alex's lips, gently running her tongue over their soft surface, requesting entrance as if she were at the gates of heaven.

Alex's hands began wandering across the detective's body. A body that she had only recently began to know and so loved to stimulate. She felt Olivia's sharp intake of breath as she gently brushed over her breasts, applying more pressure as she moved to the strong muscles of Liv's stomach and thighs, eventually resting one hand on her mid section and the other on her right thigh. "I love the way you react to me," she whispered in the infinitely small space between the lips of the two women, before closing the gap and losing herself in Olivia's kiss once again.

The women remained on the couch, just enjoying the ability to be in each other's arms, exchanging soft, romantic kisses and nonsensical murmurings. Each feeding off the growing arousal of the other until it was nearly too much for either to handle.

"I know you have a bedroom in this place Alex, and I know that bed is more comfortable than this couch," Olivia said haltingly, trying to catch her breath. "Can we please go there?"

Alex smiled at the detective's request, her heart beating more and more quickly, although it was hard to tell if it was from arousal or simply knowing that Liv wanted her as badly as she wanted the beautiful detective. Rather than answering the detective, she extracted herself from the tangle on the couch and offered Olivia her hand, looking straight at the detective with what could only be described as 'bedroom eyes.' And from that look, Olivia felt herself melting into the blue, praying she would come out on the other side.

Olivia followed Alex down the now familiar hallway, nearly forgetting how to breathe as her mind played bits and pieces of their first encounter behind that door. When they entered the room, Alex turned her so that her back was towards the bed and slowly walked her backwards, until the mattress rested against Olivia's knees.

"I think I need to pay you back for that visit you made to my office the other night," she whispered as her hands began roaming under the hem of the t-shirt Olivia was wearing. "I hope I can make you feel as good as you make me feel."

"Alex," Olivia began, her head tilted slightly back, eyes closed, breathing slow and deep. "You don't have to do much of anything to make me feel good. Just being with you does amazing things to me."

"I sense that detective," Alex responded with a small laugh, "but I intend to make you feel more than amazing." And with that admittance, she claimed Olivia's lips in a searing kiss, allowing her hands to freely roam across all parts of the detective's body, her mind noting the slight changes in the way Olivia was breathing, the more severe arch of her back, the look of longing across her face. "Lay back Olivia, I want to know you like you know me."

Olivia's mind was spinning as she reclined on Alex's large bed and watched the attorney make short work of the clothes she had been wearing only seconds before. Just thinking about her touching me is almost enough to make me come. I've never been with someone who can drive me this crazy with nothing more than a look./ She felt the breeze of the room across her skin as Alex gently lay down beside her, draping one leg over hers to insinuate it between her thighs.

Her mind barely registered Alex's hands moving lightly over her body, pausing on each nipple, working them into hard peaks, before covering each in turn with her warm mouth to ease the pleasure-pain that she had caused. Her body began acting of its own accord, rocking against the thigh that was still locked between her legs, her moisture telling Alex all she needed to know.

When she felt Alex's weight shift as she began moving down the detective's solid body, she thought her mind would explode with the anticipation of that first velvet warm touch. And from the first moment that Alex's warm breath caressed Olivia's overheated sex, she felt herself plunging off the precipice and into the void of orgasm.

Hours later, Alex cradled the spent detective as she slept soundly, her breathing slow and regular, each exhale tickling the tiny hairs on the attorney's skin. Alex couldn't seem to slow her mind down enough to fall asleep, it was like she was afraid that if she did, she would wake up and Olivia would be gone, as if it had all been a dream. As she watched the detective's face relaxing in sleep, she felt herself falling farther and farther in love with Olivia. She knew that she shouldn't be letting herself feel this way, but she could no more stop the feeling than she could stop her heart from beating.

She shifted her weight so that she was cuddled behind Olivia, her arm wrapped protectively around the detective's middle. Sure that she was asleep, she allowed herself to whisper the words that had been trying to bubble forth since the first time the two had made love, "I love you Olivia." And as the last syllable drifted into the night, the exhausted attorney finally drifted off to sleep.

Olivia smiled gently as a single tear dropped from her cheek onto the pillow that smelled of her newly acquired lover. "I love you too Alex," she whispered almost inaudibly as she quickly fell back into a sound sleep.


Monday morning found a very impatient Alex Cabot waiting for Trevor Langon to show up to a meeting he had called last minute. As she checked her watch for the tenth time in the last two minutes, he finally poked his head through her door.

"Alex, good to see you. I trust you had a good weekend?" he said happily as if he was addressing an old friend.

"What do you want Trevor? We're set for opening arguments in thirty minutes. This had better be good," Alex responded coolly.

"I came to make an offer. James is willing to plead guilty to the murders of Matthias Christianson and the Ashton girl, life in prison with chance for parole after forty years. You drop the charges of the other rapes."

"Hell no Trevor. You know as well as I do that if we put that guy on trial the jury will convict him on all counts. And you also obviously know that should he be convicted he will face the death penalty."

"Now Alex, do you really want to go through all this? I mean parole after forty years? The guy'll be in his seventies. What can he do then?" Trevor responded in a whiney voice that had become all too familiar to the A.D.A.

"Frankly Trevor, I don't really care if he's too old to walk, I will not settle for anything less than the death penalty. What this man did was heinous beyond imagination and he deserves to die," Alex stated firmly, leaving no opening for discussion.

"Fine Alex, but don't be surprised when the jury comes back ruling against the death penalty," Trevor said with a smug look as he opened the door from her office. "Oh, I saw you and that little detective at the bodega last night. Hope you and she had a good time shacking up for the weekend."

"Goodbye Trevor," Alex said coldly as she turned back to the papers on her desk, preparing for trial.

9

A week had passed with Alex spending six out of her eight hours a day in the courtroom, calling witnesses, making statements and summations, and objecting to the ridiculous things Langon was attempting to pull to get his client off. She and Olivia had barely seen each other outside of work, but Olivia was sure to be in the courtroom as much as possible, whether it was to support Alex or torment Hayden it was unclear, but Alex liked her presence no matter what.

"Has the jury reached a verdict?" the trial judge finally asked late in the afternoon, nearly 9 days after the trial had started.

"We have your honor," the lead juror replied, looking at the defendant with disgust.

"On the four counts of rape in the first degree, how do you find the defendant?"

"Guilty, your honor."

"On the single count of murder in the first degree, for the murder of Matthias Christianson, how do you find the defendant?"

"Guilty your honor."

"And on the final counts of rape and murder in the first degree, for the rape and murder of Jennifer Ashton, how do you find the defendant?

"Guilty, your honor."

The resounding crack of the judge's gavel halted all murmurings from the crowd that had gathered for the sentencing. "James Hayden, you are sentenced to death by lethal injection to be enforced by the State of New York in no less than 6 months time. You are remanded to the custody of Reiker's Island. I would like to thank the jury for their service. Case closed."

The look of disbelief mirrored on the faces of both Trevor Langon and James Hayden were enough to make Olivia almost laugh out loud. As the courtroom cleared, she silently made her way to Alex's side.

"So, what are we having for dinner tonight?" she whispered quietly as the attorney filled her briefcase.

"That's up to you detective. You're taking me out to celebrate, right?" Alex responded, smiling brightly.

"That's right, I am. Hmm, well, there's a nice Mexican place down the street from my place. We could go there, and then see where the night takes us."

"That sounds like a plan to me. And I have an idea where the night might take us," Alex stated playfully as the last person cleared the courtroom.

"Oh yeah? Where's that?"

"I'm thinking it will take us to your bed, where neither of us will leave until tomorrow morning."

"And I'm thinking that I am perfectly okay with that. I'll swing by your office at 7 to pick you up."

"I'll be waiting patiently detective," Alex said with a smile that was obviously only meant for a lover.

The End

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