DISCLAIMER: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and its characters are the property of NBC and Dick Wolf.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Total stand alone, no links to any episode- big thanks to Em for the Beta..Any errors are mine following formatting.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
Flooding Emotions
By clairebear
Part 3
Olivia made it to the court house just as her name was being called. Flustered, and aware of the creases in her clothes, she made her way to the witness stand.
Alex moved from behind the ADA's table, glancing at some notes before crossing the floor to stand before Olivia.
"Detective Benson, you were one of the detectives who arrested Mr Harper, is that correct?"
Olivia nodded, "Yes. My partner and I arrested him at his office."
"And at that time you confiscated a computer from his work place."
"Yes."
"Did you obtain a computer from Mr Harper's home?"
Olivia shook her head, "There wasn't a computer at his home."
"What led you to arrest Mr Harper?"
"We had reason to believe he had used a credit card to obtain child pornography over the internet."
"What led you to think that?"
"We received a tip off about a website, and when we investigated further we managed to get a list of users details."
"And Mr Harper was one of the users?"
Olivia nodded.
Alex moved back towards her seat, speaking over her shoulder, "No further questions."
Malcolm Turner, acting as defence attorney was on his feet before Alex had sat down. "Detective, didn't you think it strange that my client would be using a computer at work to download pornography, but not have a computer at home?"
"Objection, Detective Benson isn't here to discuss what she finds strange." Alex looked bored at the proceedings.
Judge Barker nodded, "Sustained, please rephrase your question Counsellor."
Turner shrugged, "Do you often find men are downloading this type of stuff at work, but not from home?"
Olivia shook her head, "No, we usually find they will use any computer available to them, and most will have access at home."
"You said you arrested my client based on his credit card being used to pay for downloadable content."
"Yes."
"Are you aware of the number of reported cases of identity theft in this city every month Detective?"
"Yes, I know the numbers.."
"Do you have a credit card Detective?"
"Objection your honour, relevance."
Turner spun to face Judge Barker, "If you give me two more minutes."
Barker nodded, "I'll allow it, but make your point Mr Turner."
Turner turned back to Olivia, "Detective?"
Olivia nodded, "Yes, I have a credit card."
"Do you have it with you?"
Again Olivia nodded.
"Can I see it?"
Olivia could see Alex was bursting to object, but was holding her tongue. Olivia reached into an inner pocket of her jacket and withdrew a wallet, pulling a card from inside. Turner meanwhile had made his way back to his notes, and picked up a slip of paper. Walking back to the witness box, he started to read, "Olivia Benson. Expiry date zero three, one one. Card number five seven eight nine-"
"Objection." Alex was on her feet.
Barker was nodding, "Sustained."
"Your honour I think this proves how easy it is to obtain these details, so the fact my client's card may have been used to purchase the material, there is no proof that my client was responsible."
"Counsellors, approach."
Alex got to her feet and followed Turner to stand before Barker. "I will not have police officers subjected to an invasion of privacy to prove a point Mr Turner. Ms Cabot, if you have nothing further for Detective Benson I am going to excuse her."
Alex nodded.
"Thank you Detective Benson, you may step down. We will be taking an hour recess for lunch, I trust everyone can be back for one o'clock." Barker stepped down and walked to her chambers as the court room emptied.
Olivia made her way slowly to where Alex was gathering papers. "Do you have lunch plans?"
Alex lifted her brief case, "I need to read over notes for this afternoon's session."
"Can I join you?"
"I really need to prepare Olivia."
Olivia stuck her hands in her pockets, "I'll take that as a no then."
"Would have thought you had more than enough work to keep you occupied through lunch."
Olivia sighed, "Ah, this is about this morning."
Alex shook her head, "It's about me being busy Olivia. I can't drop everything just because you ask, the same way you can't." Alex stepped past Olivia, and made her way out into the hallway, leaving Olivia staring after her.
Alex was staring into space when a knock on her door brought her back to earth. Olivia's head appeared around the door, "I'm not interrupting, I just wanted to drop off a coffee."
Alex took her glasses off, placing them on her desk as she nodded towards the bookcase in the corner of her office, "I have a coffee pot in here Liv."
Olivia bit her lip, "Oh."
Alex sat back, crossing her arms over her chest, "Come in."
Olivia came into the room, closing the door behind her. She was holding two cups of coffee, and although now redundant, she placed one on Alex's desk before taking the empty seat opposite her.
"I'm sorry."
Olivia shook her head, "No, I think that's my line."
"I know you didn't have any choice when you left this morning, I was just angry and what I said was out of order."
"If I promise not to talk, can I spend the next hour here with you?"
Alex laughed, "If you last an hour without speaking I'll buy you dinner every night this week."
Olivia smiled over her coffee cup.
Olivia returned to her desk in time to join a discussion she was instantly confused by.
Elliot was sitting on the edge of his desk, surrounded by Fin, Munch and Cragen. "Barney's house?"
Munch nodded, "That's what he said."
"Barney Rubble?"
Olivia slipped her coat over the back of her chair and approached the group,
"Why are you discussing the Flintstones?"
Munch turned to look at her, "Marat said his mother worked at Barney's house. We're trying to work out what he meant."
Fin snapped his fingers, "Barney from The Simpsons."
Elliot looked at him, "How does that help?"
Fin shrugged, "Barney basically lives in the bar, so maybe she works in a bar?"
"He said she makes burgers, so a bar is out." Munch dropped into Elliot's empty chair.
Olivia looked between them all, "She makes burgers at a place that is Barney's house?"
Elliot nodded, "That's what he said, but it makes no sense."
Olivia smiled, moving back to her desk and accessing the internet on her computer. She typed as the others gathered around her. With her smile swelling, she turned the computer monitor so they could see it. "Dinoburger." A view of the front of a burger bar filled her screen. A large plastic purple dinosaur face was the main image on the logo. "Fast food place in Queens, I wouldn't recommend it."
Elliot moved to study the screen, "How did you know that?"
Olivia shrugged, "It's burgers, I've tried most of the places in this city." Olivia stood, grabbing her jacket, "Father of five kids, how did you not make the connection?"
Elliot moved back to his desk, lifting his own jacket, "We'll call in when we get a name."
Elliot followed Olivia out of the bullpen.
Finding herself back at her desk later that afternoon, Olivia was pleased to see Alex's name on the display of her cell phone when it rang.
"If you're calling to gloat, I'm hanging up."
"I'm calling to invite you out tonight."
Olivia noticed Elliot's glance in her direction as she spoke. She stood up, moving towards the window as she continued the conversation out of his earshot. "Where did you have in mind?"
"Well, I've just been given two tickets to Madam Butterfly that I don't want to waste."
Olivia couldn't help but snigger, "Opera?"
Alex hesitated before replying, "Is that a no?"
"It's not really my thing."
"It would be a shame to waste the tickets."
Olivia thought back to their conversation earlier, and remembered how upset Alex had been about missing out on time together. "What time?"
She could hear the smile in Alex's voice, "Starts at seven."
Olivia looked at her watch, "I don't know that I'll get away in time."
"Oh."
Olivia smiled, and hoped it was reflected in her words, "Bring me something to wear, and come pick me up, I'll change here and then we can go."
"Are you sure?"
"I'll see you soon." Olivia disconnected the call, and went back to her desk.
Elliot tried not make eye contact, but was sneaking glances as she turned her attention back to her computer.
"Don't even ask."
He shrugged, "I didn't say a word."
Half an hour later, Munch came into the room, waving a sheet of paper, "We got an address."
Elliot switched his attention from Olivia to Munch, "It's an apartment in Queens. Uniforms are there now checking it out."
Olivia took the paper from Munch, studying the address. "Is this near the take out place she works?" Munch nodded. "So why dump her in the park?" Olivia handed the paper back to Munch, "It makes no sense. She lives and works in Queens, so someone kills her and hauls her over here to dump her?"
Elliot shrugged, "It wouldn't be the first time a case makes no sense."
Olivia shook her head, "I don't like it."
Elliot turned to Munch, "What about her kid, has he said anything that would make more sense?"
Munch shook his head, "He can't read English, so street signs mean nothing to him. He knows that he stayed in an apartment with some other people, and that he went to work with his mother. Beyond that, nothing."
"How far is this apartment from where she worked?"
Munch shrugged, "Walking distance, maybe fifteen, twenty minutes."
Olivia sighed, "That makes sense I suppose, if she had to take her kid to work she would make sure it wasn't too far from home."
The phone on Munch's desk started to ring. He moved to answer it, Olivia and Elliot unable to hear the conversation. He replaced the phone and came back to them, shaking his head. "Apartment is boarded up. No one's been there in a few months according to neighbours."
"So she gave false address on her application at work?"
Munch nodded at Olivia, "Looks like it."
Elliot sighed, "Another dead end."
Olivia ran her hands through her hair, "Okay, the kid must be able to give us something. He's been to her work, and travelled back home from there, so he must know the way."
Munch nodded, "We could take him down there, see where he leads us."
Elliot agreed, "First thing tomorrow morning, we see what he can tell us."
The sound of high heeled shoes drew their attention to the hallway outside the bullpen, and they all turned in time to see Alex enter. Wearing a full length electric blue dress with a matching shrug covering her shoulders, she entered the room with a coat hanger suspended from her hand supporting a short black dress.
"Are you ready?"
Elliot and Munch both turned to Olivia, surprised that Alex would show up at this time of night to meet her.
Olivia nodded as she walked towards Alex, "That dress isn't mine."
Alex shrugged, "It's mine, I couldn't find anything in your stuff."
Olivia raised an eyebrow, "We're not the same size."
"It'll be fine."
Olivia took the offered clothes and made her way to the ladies room.
Elliot exchanged a brief confused look with Munch before turning to Alex, "You guys going somewhere nice?"
Alex offered Elliot a small smile, "I had tickets to the opera, I asked Olivia to accompany me."
"Opera?" Munch couldn't hide his surprise. "You're taking Olivia to the opera?"
"She's doing me a favour by keeping me company."
Elliot allowed his eyes to work their way up Alex's body from her shapely ankles, over her toned abdomen and up over her small but clearly firm breasts. "I find it hard to believe you'd struggle for someone to keep you company Alex."
She shrugged, crossing her arms over her breasts as if warning Elliot to stop staring, "Opera isn't everyone's cup of tea."
Munch nodded, "That's true. My second wife dragged me along once, I sneaked out at the first interval and she wasn't too happy."
Five minutes later Olivia came back into the room, dressed in a knee length black dress which fit her perfectly. She was attaching ear rings as she approached the small gathering. Alex, glad of the excuse to make her exit, walked towards Olivia, "We have to go."
Olivia nodded, "Okay."
"We'll be taking Marat out to Queens at ten tomorrow morning."
Olivia turned to Elliot, "I'll be here." She turned back to Alex, "Let's go."
Olivia followed Alex out, ignoring the obvious stares from the two men she left behind.
Arriving home at eleven, Alex immediately excused herself to go to the bathroom. Olivia poured them a glass of wine and was just settling onto the sofa when Alex came back.
"You ok?"
Alex tried to look surprised by the question as she sat on the sofa, leaving a gap between herself and Olivia, "Yes, why wouldn't I be?"
Olivia raised an eyebrow, taking a sip of wine. "No reason."
Alex took a sip of her own wine, and making herself more comfortable, kicked off her shoes and pulled her feet up under her.
Olivia glanced sideways, studying Alex's face. "Was it just the music, or was it something else?"
Alex turned to look at her, and had to smile, knowing she'd been caught.
"It's no big deal, I still cry at ET."
Alex laughed, "Is that the comparison you're making?"
Olivia shrugged, "You cry at opera, I cry at movies."
Alex lifted a cushion from behind her, and threw it at Olivia, "It's not the same thing."
Olivia, deflected the cushion, knocking it to the floor, "Why, because ET doesn't cost fifty dollars a ticket to sit through?" Olivia placed her wine glass on the table before her, and slid along the sofa to sit beside Alex. She took the glass from Alex's hand, and placed it beside her own. She ran a hand over Alex's cheek before leaning forward to kiss her. "I think it's cute that you get emotional at that stuff."
Alex ran a hand down Olivia's arm, entwining her fingers with Olivia's. "Is your cell phone handy?"
Olivia looked confused as she shook her head, "It's in my bag which I think is still in your car. Why?"
Alex stood up, holding a hand out to Olivia, "I just want to know whether or not to expect an interruption this time."
Olivia took her hand, standing and allowing herself to be led to Alex's bedroom.
As Alex dropped Olivia at work the following morning, she couldn't help tease. "So, should I phone Elliot or John when I'm looking for you later?"
Olivia laughed, "Don't. You have no idea what questions I'm going into today."
Alex smiled, "I have an idea."
"And your sympathy is clear."
Alex leaned over and kissed her softly on the cheek, "I'll be thinking about you."
As she sat back, she couldn't help the cheeky smile that crossed her face, "Of course, it'll be thoughts of last night, so those won't be very sympathetic either."
Olivia offered a sarcastic laugh as she climbed out of the car. Before closing the door, she leaned back inside, "You can forget dinner out tonight, I think I might find myself caught up at work."
Alex shrugged, "That's ok, I can drop off some food for you and the rest of the team, I'm sure they'll have plenty of questions about last night."
Olivia shook her head, "Ok, you win."
"Oh, I know."
Olivia closed the door before Alex had a chance to say anything else.
Waiting until Munch had taken Marat out of the car, Elliot spoke as Olivia reached for the door handle of the car, "How was the opera?"
Olivia stepped out of the passenger door, offering her response over the car roof, "Enlightening."
Munch was talking to Marat and gesturing to the burger bar they found themselves outside. Marat in return was answering and pointing down the street.
"He said they would head down that way to get the subway."
"How many stops?"
Munch translated the question to Marat, who simply shrugged.
"Does he think he would know their stop if we took him on the train?"
Munch asked this and was rewarded by a single nod of the head from the little boy. Olivia reached into her pocket, pulling out a handful of change. She sifted through the coins, "I have 3 tokens, anyone make it up to four?"
Munch dug into his trouser pocket, and pulled out a single token, "I've got it."
Olivia nodded down the street, "Let's go then."
Finding themselves outside an apartment building in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, Olivia, Elliot and Munch turned to the little boy accompanying them.
"Is he sure about this?"
Munch nodded, answering Olivia, "He's sure. They came home to this building every night after his mother finished work."
Elliot shook his head, "Why would the job application list an apartment in Queens?"
"To hide where she lived, and who she was." Olivia answered.
Elliot reached into his pocket for his badge, "Well, let's see who is home." He walked to the intercom system and pressed the first five buttons. He was rewarded by an answer a few seconds later. "NYPD, we're looking to speak to someone about a missing woman."
The intercom system buzzed as they were granted access to the block.
Elliot turned to Munch, "Which apartment?"
Munch in turn relayed the question to Marat, who led the way into the building.
They climbed three flights of stairs and when they reached a door that had recently been boarded up, the detectives weren't surprised when Marat stopped.
Olivia sighed, "Looks like we're too late."
A door opened below them in the building, and a voice rose up the stairs, "They moved out a few days ago."
Elliot, Olivia and Munch followed the voice downstairs.
A woman in a dressing gown was standing in a doorway. "Someone came by and boarded up the door on Sunday."
"Do you know who was living here?"
The woman shook her head, "No, no names. But there were at least four women, and two kids, boys."
Munch turned towards Marat who was hiding on the stairway. "This little boy?"
The woman nodded, "Yeah, I think he was one of them."
Munch reached into an inside pocket of his coat and pulled out the artist sketch of the man who had visit Marat's mother. "Do you know this man?"
She took the picture, and nodded, "Yeah. He would come by every day to visit."
"Do you know his name?"
She shrugged, "He rang my apartment by mistake once, gave his name as Timur."
"No surname?"
She shook her head.
Olivia offered a smile, "Thank you."
The detectives turned, and walked downstairs, Munch waiting until Marat had caught up.
Once outside, Munch stopped on the sidewalk, "I promised him we'd feed the ducks if he came with us."
Elliot offered a smile, "We'll meet you back at the precinct."
Olivia offered a small wave to Marat, watching as he reached up to take John's hand.
As Olivia shut down her computer later that afternoon, she couldn't help but stretch as she stood. She'd been bent over her computer for the last two hours.
Elliot mimicked the stretch. "What you doing now?"
Olivia opened her top drawer to withdraw her cell phone, "Heading home."
"You fancy a run? It's been a while."
Olivia glanced quickly at the phone, and seeing no messages, nodded towards Elliot. "I've got my kit in my locker, you ready to go now?"
Elliot nodded, "I can be ready in five minutes."
"I'll meet you outside."
Olivia headed to her locker as Elliot closed down his computer.
An hour later, Olivia was bent double trying to catch her breath at the North entrance to the park. She turned in time to see Elliot run towards her.
"You owe me a beer." She gasped as she tried to regain her breath.
"You've been working out in secret."
Olivia offered a laugh before sitting on a bench, "You're a sore loser Stabler."
Elliot dropped onto the bench beside Olivia, dropping his head into his hands as he tried to slow his breathing.
Olivia sat back, taking deep breaths and trying to rub a stitch out of her side.
"What's going on with you Liv?"
Olivia seemed surprised at the question, "What do you mean?"
"I know you think I'm prying, but I just want to know that you're ok." Elliot sat back, turning his attention to her, "This new guy, is he good for you?"
Olivia made to stand up, but he put out an arm to stop her, "I'm not looking for details. I just want to know that you're ok."
Olivia pulled her arm out of his grip. "Why can't you just let me have my life El? We're not married, it's not like I have to run everything past you first."
He nodded, "I know that."
She sighed, "I'm fine."
"But you won't tell me anything?"
She shrugged, "There's nothing to tell. You've jumped to the wrong conclusion, and I should have put you right but I didn't."
He looked puzzled, "What do you mean?"
"There is no guy Elliot." She offered a small laugh, "I've not been staying at a hotel because Alex offered me a room at her apartment."
"Alex?" He appeared to struggle with this information, "As in Cabot?"
Olivia nodded, "She had a spare room."
Elliot spoke with an undertone of hurt in his voice, "I have a spare room, you said you'd rather be at a hotel."
Olivia laughed, "It's hardly the same thing. You have a full house with kids, Alex is living alone."
He shrugged, "So?"
"So, it worked out better."
"But Cabot?"
Olivia tried to hide the defensive tone that she knew was sneaking into her voice, "What does that mean?"
"Come on Liv, you and the Ice Queen. That's like the original Odd Couple."
"Give her a break Elliot, she's doing me a favour."
"That would explain the opera I suppose."
She seemed confused by this statement, "Meaning?"
"Well, it's not exactly your thing, but I suppose you have to make sacrifices when you're living there rent free."
Olivia stood, this time getting to her feet before Elliot could stop her. "You've got her wrong Elliot. She's not the Ice Queen you think she is."
He held up his hands, "Hey, I'm not living with her. I just hope you packed enough sweaters 'cause I'm sure her apartment must be as icy as she is."
Olivia walked away, speaking over her shoulder, "I've got to go, I'll see you tomorrow."
Elliot watched Olivia walk away, feeling slightly confused by their conversation.
Olivia arrived back at the apartment still breathing heavily, having jogged the journey home, and up the five flights of stairs to Alex's apartment. Entering, she went directly to the kitchen, were she withdrew a bottle of chilled water from the fridge and drank most of the contents in one go.
Alex, who had been reading on the sofa when Olivia entered, put the book down and made her way to the kitchen.
"Jogging?"
Olivia nodded, sighing loudly as she finished with the bottle. She ran a hand through her hair, which was damp with sweat. "Elliot wanted to go, I haven't done it in weeks so thought it was a good idea." Olivia put the empty bottle on the counter before turning her full attention in Alex's direction. Alex still wore her court clothes, and Olivia couldn't stop her eyes trailing down over the tight white shirt, feasting on the long smooth legs that were displayed below the above the knee charcoal skirt. She made her way slowly to Alex, holding out an arm ready to encompass her.
Alex started to back away, holding up hands in protest, "Don't you dare. You're all sweaty."
Olivia slowed her approach, but didn't stop, "You weren't complaining about that last night."
Alex raised a lopsided smile, "That was because I made you sweat." She crossed her arms over her chest, "You're not touching me until you've showered."
Olivia displayed a petted lip in the hope of changing Alex's mind. Alex in turn simply shook her head.
"I'm so tired I might need to crash after my shower." Olivia walked past Alex with her chin in the air.
Alex waited until Olivia was standing on the threshold of the living room before reaching out and taking hold of her wrist, pulling her back towards her. She put an arm around Olivia's waist. "Of course, if you wanted to make me just as sweaty, then we could shower together."
Olivia reached out and ran a hand down Alex's cheek, smiling, "Counsellor, you just offered a deal I don't think I can say no to." She bent forward and softly kissed Alex, allowing her tongue to run over Alex's bottom lip before plunging it into her mouth.
Alex responded immediately, grasping Olivia close to her, her hips moving forward almost of their own accord. Olivia moved Alex backwards further into the kitchen without breaking their kiss. They only stopped moving when Alex found herself pushed up against the counter top. She dropped her hands to the surface, and as Olivia pushed her further back, she was forced to lift herself up on to the work surface, moving backwards as Olivia positioned herself between her legs. Alex broke the kiss, struggling for breath as Olivia ran a hand up the inside of her thigh.
"Sweating yet?" Olivia leaned over her, nuzzling into the hollow of her neck.
"A little, but I'm sure you can do better than that."
Olivia laughed softly, causing Alex to shiver as the laugh vibrated against her neck. Olivia allowed her hand to travel higher up Alex's thigh, disappearing beneath the short skirt and drifting over the fabric of the panties she found below. With her free hand, she skilfully undid the top two buttons for Alex's shirt, trailing kisses down the exposed flesh.
"How about now?"
Alex dropped her chin onto Olivia's head, moaning softly. Struggling with the rest of the buttons on Alex's shirt, Olivia leaned back to look into Alex's face.
"You have a choice. Either take off that shirt, or I need to use two hands."
Alex stared deep into Olivia's eyes as she lifted her hands, slowly undoing the remaining buttons on her shirt. Before Olivia had a chance to ask, Alex unclipped the front clasp of her bra, the cups falling aside and the smooth pale flesh of her breasts now exposed. Olivia returned the intense stare as she pressed hard against Alex's clit through the fabric barrier. Alex couldn't stop her eyes closing as the heavenly feeling between her legs was intensified as Olivia bent forward to take a newly uncovered nipple between her teeth. Alex raised her hands to circle Olivia's neck, supporting her weight as she shifted her body forward to push her sex harder against Olivia's touch.
"Liv." Alex spoke into Olivia's hair, "please."
Olivia raised her head to look at Alex. "Tell me."
"Please."
Olivia smirked as she tugged Alex's panties aside, allowing her fingers to stroke through the soft thatch of hair covering Alex's centre. "Tell me what you want." She reached forward and softly kissed Alex.
"You."
Olivia shook her head, "You can do better than that."
Alex swallowed hard, arching her hips into Olivia's hand, trying to force the contact that she clearly needed. "Touch me."
Olivia ran her hand back down Alex's thigh, gently caressing the soft skin behind her knee. "Here?"
Alex shook her head, "Please."
Olivia leaned into Alex, "Tell me Alex."
Alex reached down and took hold of Olivia's hand, moving it from her leg back to below her skirt, "Here. I need you here, inside me."
Olivia took Alex's lower lip between her teeth before kissing her deeply. Alex withdrew her hand, clenching the counter again as Olivia finally gave her what she needed.
Alex's orgasm shook her hard, she felt herself slump against Olivia as she climaxed. Olivia held a hand to the back of her head, pulling her into her shoulder, "I'm guessing you're ready for your shower now?"
Alex, still unable to speak, ran both her hands through Olivia's hair, lifting her head to stare into those deep brown eyes.
Olivia smiled as she kissed Alex, helping her down from the counter, and holding her body close.
Olivia entered the squad room the next morning to find Munch on the telephone, speaking Russian and gesturing in the air with the hand that wasn't holding the receiver to his ear.
Olivia made her way to her desk, offering Elliot a puzzled look as she took off her jacket.
"What's going on?"
"Marat got placed in a foster home last night, Munch made a call to check how he got on."
Olivia raised her eyebrows trying to act like that explained Munch's actions.
Elliot couldn't help smiling, "The family don't speak fluent Russian, so I'm guessing he's getting a run down of the confusion that Marat is experiencing."
Olivia had turned her computer on, and having checked her email, she turned her attention to the paperwork on her desk. "Do we have anything else on this case?"
Elliot shook his head, "Dead end after dead end."
"That little boy has lost his mother, been assaulted and witnessed God knows what. We can't just give up."
Elliot shrugged, "I'm not sure what else we can do."
"No one kills, cutting off hands if it's their first time El."
"You think he's done his before?"
Olivia nodded, "Don't you?"
"So what, you want to plough through the half a million photos of perps we have on file, hoping to match one of them to the sketch artist's impression from a six year old kid?"
Olivia seemed to ponder this, before pushing the paperwork back to the side of her desk. "Why not?"
Elliot couldn't help laughing, "Other than it's a waste of your day?"
Olivia shook her head, "Not if we find him." She stood up, walking away from her desk.
"Where are you going?"
Olivia spoke over her shoulder, "Records. This bastard has to be on file somewhere."
By two o'clock, Olivia was beginning to get sleepy from looking at page after page of mug shot. She continually had to rest her eyes, standing and walking around the small room she had commandeered for the purpose of spreading out the thick stacks of photo books.
When a knock at the door interrupted her, she was glad of the distraction.
Elliot stuck his head around the door, "Well?"
She sighed deeply, stretching backwards in her chair, "Nothing so far."
"You're wasting your time Liv."
"He's here El, he has to be."
"Do you want lunch?"
Olivia looked at her watch, then shook her head, "I think I'm going to take the rest of these home."
"Home?"
She smirked, acknowledging the sarcasm in his voice, "Ok, I'll take them back to Alex's. Unless you need me for anything else here?"
Elliot shook his head, "I'm finishing up some paperwork from last week, and I think I've got your reports already, so you're ok to go."
Olivia started to gather up the remaining books, "I'll let you know if I find anything."
Elliot laughed, "I won't hold my breath."
Alex arrived home to an eerily quiet apartment. She'd already called the SVU squad room looking for Olivia and having been told she'd left early, Alex expected to at least hear soft rock music emanating from her stereo since Liv was home alone. Finding the place deathly quiet, she wandered through the apartment until she came across Olivia. Bent over the dining table, sleeping with her head resting on top of a book of mug shots, Alex couldn't help but smile. Olivia's hair had fallen over her face, so only one eye was visible. Her hands were cushioning her cheek, and due to her position, her sweater was riding up her back slightly, a thin band of tanned flesh on show just above the band of her pants. It was that small patch of flesh that affected Alex more than anything, and before she could help herself, she found she was standing behind Olivia, reaching her hand out to run her finger tips over the exposed skin.
Olivia reacted immediately, sitting upright, rubbing sleep from her eyes.
Alex leaned over her, kissing her softly on the head, "Sorry."
Olivia turned in her chair, looking at Alex through still half closed eyes, "What time is it?"
"It's seven o'clock."
"Sorry, I was planning on making dinner for you getting home."
Alex smiled, absently reaching out to stroke a hand down Olivia's cheek, "It's ok." She leaned over and kissed her quickly, "Why don't you get an early night."
Olivia started to protest, "No, I'm ok, I just-"
Alex took her face in both her hands, "Go to bed. You need a break."
Olivia seemed to consider this, and following another quick kiss from Alex, she started to nod, "Okay, you're right."
"I always am."
Olivia stood, careful not to loose the page in the book she had been studying.
Alex nodded towards the table, "No luck?"
"No. Elliot thinks I'm wasting my time."
"Are you?"
Olivia shrugged, "I don't know. But I can't just sit around the squad room and forget this case. There's a little boy out there who lost his mother."
Alex reached out and pulled Olivia into a hug, "Go to bed and get some rest. You're no good to anyone if you're falling asleep on your feet."
"Will you join me?"
Alex nodded, "After dinner. But only if you're already asleep, it's pointless if I'm only going to keep you awake."
Olivia smiled as she walked away, "I wouldn't say it's pointless."
Having fallen asleep beside an already sleeping Olivia the night before, Alex wasn't really surprised to find she was alone in bed when she awoke the next morning. Making her way to the kitchen dressed in only a silk gown, she found Olivia fully dressed, preparing breakfast.
Alex embraced her from behind, kissing the soft skin behind her left ear as she pulled her body to her own.
Olivia spoke with a smile clearly on her face, "Morning."
"Morning." Alex let her go, and moved to stand beside her, lifting a slice of cut mushroom from the chopping board, "You look busy."
"Well, since I've been up for two hours, I thought I'd make myself useful."
"Two hours?"
Olivia smiled, adding diced onion to the omelette that was cooking on the stove.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
"The same reason you let me sleep when you came to bed, you needed it."
Alex started to prepare two cups of coffee as Olivia finished cooking the omelettes, and tipped them onto plates. Alex followed Olivia out to the dinning table, where they sat to enjoy their breakfast.
"Where do you go next with the case?"
Olivia couldn't stop the smile that spread across her face, "Well, since I have a name and address, I'd say I start by paying Timur Marov a visit and finding out just where he was last Sunday."
Alex broke out in a smile equally as wide as Olivia's, "You found him?"
Olivia nodded, taking a bite of her omelette, "I knew I would."
"And have you broken this news to Elliot yet?"
"Without seeing his face, what do you think?"
Alex couldn't help but laugh as she watched Olivia's self-satisfied smile grow even wider.