DISCLAIMER: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and its characters are the property of NBC and Dick Wolf.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
SERIES: Part of the Holiday Shorts series.
Holiday Short - New Year's Eve
By sunsetwriter
"Ten minutes," Olivia said breathlessly as she leaned in for a kiss. Her hair was still damp and she smelled of cucumber-melon scented shower gel.
Alex allowed her a quick kiss and then pulled away, much to the detective's dismay. "Ten minutes for what?" the ADA questioned.
"That's how much time I have before Elliot's picking me up for the stake-out," she answered as she leaned back in for another kiss, only to have Alex duck away at the last second.
A look somewhere between and smile and a frown appeared on Alex's face. "And what exactly do you plan to do in that time?"
"I thought I was being obvious," Olivia said with a crooked smiled.
"With just ten minutes?"
Olivia shrugged as she leaned toward Alex yet again. "You'd be surprised at what I can accomplish in such a short time." She then breathed a frustrated sigh as Alex once again dodged her advance.
"I know you're talented, Olivia, but I'm afraid I need much longer than ten minutes."
The detective groaned. "Oh, come on, Alex. I promise you won't be disappointed."
The ADA smirked. "I have no doubts about that. I was referring to the amount of time I need for what I have planned for you." She almost laughed at the look of surprise on the detective's face. "I may need hours." She then gave Olivia a very long, lingering kiss. "And hours."
Olivia made a sound that Alex could have sworn was a whimper as the ADA moved out of her grasp again just as her cell phone rang. She snatched it up and answered it gruffly, "You're early, Elliot! Yeah, yeah, I'll be right down."
Alex gave Olivia a quick kiss and pressed a warm thermos in her hand. "Here's some coffee to keep you warm."
"Not exactly what I had in mind, but thanks," Olivia said with a lopsided grin.
Alex gave her another kiss that was much more than a peck. "Maybe that will give you a good incentive to hurry home."
Olivia smiled. "That's the best incentive I know of."
Nine
"Nine counts? Don't you mean eleven?"
Alex took a deep breath in preparation for defending her decision to drop two counts from the charges against a vicious child rapist. She had known that the detectives, especially Olivia, would not agree with her decision, but she had to do what was best to convict this scumbag, as her detectives called him. Keep this professional. "Detective, we discussed the fact that I may not be able to charge him with all eleven rapes."
Olivia scowled. "So, Counselor, Julia Kingston and Katie Sanders get no justice?"
"We know he was responsible for those rapes, but the physical evidence is shaky at best, and neither one of them could I.D. him in a line-up. I'd rather convict him on nine counts than let his attorney use those two cases to convince the jury of reasonable doubt."
"So how do those two little girls get closure? What do I tell them?"
"Tell them that you arrested the man who hurt them, and I will make sure that he is punished."
"Just not for what he did to them."
"Olivia…"
"Offer him a deal."
The attorney couldn't believe her ears. "What?"
"He's facing life without parole. Offer him a deal."
"We have an airtight case on nine counts. Why would I do that?"
"Offer him life with the possibility of parole at twenty-five years. He still wouldn't get out until he's almost eighty - if he lives that long."
"But why? Wouldn't you rather put him away for life?"
"A stipulation of the deal is that he allocute to all eleven rapes. He'd be stupid not to take it."
Alex's heart melted a little. Olivia would go to the ends of the earth to help a victim, especially a child. And Olivia was right, the defendant would be stupid not to take such a deal. And Alex would be stupid to offer it, but she just couldn't resist the big brown eyes pleading with her at the moment.
Alex sighed. "I can't make any promises, but I'll see if my bosses will go for it."
Eight
"Eight o'clock?!?" Olivia exclaimed as she looked at her watch. She stood up so fast, she almost tipped over her desk chair.
Elliot looked at his watch. "It's actually five after, but I didn't want to give you a heart attack."
"Oh my God! I was supposed to be there half an hour ago."
"What? Is your date going to turn into a pumpkin or something?"
Olivia ignored him and grabbed her cell phone, punching a speed dial button. After a few seconds, she spoke into the phone as she hurriedly reassembled the file that had been spread across her desk.. "I'm so sorry. I got caught up in this file and lost track of time. I know, I know. How can I make it up to you?"
Elliot was amused to see Olivia's eyes widen slightly and a pink tinge appear on her cheeks. She held the phone between her shoulder and her ear to free up both hands to gather the papers faster. She glanced up to see Elliot watching, and her cheeks turned a shade darker. "I think I can manage that," she said, lowering her voice as she spoke into the phone.
Elliot chuckled. His partner said something else into the phone that he couldn't hear and then disconnected the call, ignoring his amused look. "I really want to meet the guy that can make you blush like that."
Olivia smiled. If he only knew.
Seven
"Seven glorious days. Can you believe it?" Alex asked as they settled into their seats in first class.
The detective smiled. "I still can't believe I let you talk me into this."
It had taken Alex months to convince Olivia to accompany her on this vacation. First, she talked the detective into just taking a week off. Then she started working on the trip. Olivia had been certain she couldn't afford it, and refused to let Alex pay her way, so Alex did her best to make sure that the trip would be affordable. My uncle's beach house is available that week. I have frequent flyer miles that I'm going to lose if I don't cash them in. She wasn't sure what actually ended up being the deciding factor that finally made Olivia agree to go, but Alex had a sneaking suspicion it had something to do with the new swimsuit she had purchased and then refused to model for Olivia until they were in the bungalow in their island paradise.
"We're going to have a wonderful time. Just picture it - white sand, blue water, sipping drinks with little umbrellas in them." Alex looked over at Olivia. Her eyes were closed. "Are you picturing it?"
The detective nodded, a blissful look on her face. "Screw the sand and water, I'm picturing you in that bikini."
"Are you sure it's the sand and water you want to screw?" came the wry reply.
Olivia's eyes flew open and she laughed. "Well now, Miss Cabot, I like the way you think."
"Good," Alex said, pulling a tiny gift bag from her carry-on stashed beneath the seat. She handed the bag to Olivia. "Because, this is all I want to see you wearing tonight."
Olivia smiled as she accepted the small bag and peered inside. She looked up at Alex and reached into the bag, pulling out the contents. "All that's in here is a plastic lei."
Alex nodded and smiled a wicked smile. "Exactly. We're going to Hawaii. What better place to get lei'd?"
Six
"Six bottles of liquid courage," Abbie Carmichael said as she placed a six-pack of Shiner Bock on the table. "Special delivery from the Lone Star State." She glanced at the tabletop and then back at Olivia. "Did you order my tamales?"
"Yeah, just like you requested - extra jalapeños. How on earth did you find this place?" the detective asked, glancing around at the small cantina where Abbie had suggested they meet.
The lanky attorney sat down as she snagged two bottles from the carton. She reached in her pocket for her keys to use her bottle opener keychain to pry off the caps. "I worked an immigration case with a gorgeous attorney from Guadalajara who brought me here for the most authentic Mexican food in town. They make everything from scratch, and you can brown bag it." She gestured to the bottle she had placed in front of Olivia and offered a silent toast.
Olivia picked up the bottle to return the toast, "So what's with the need for liquid courage? You planning a trip to Guadalajara?"
Abbie smiled. "Oh, it's not for me, darlin', it's for you."
Olivia arched an eyebrow as she swallowed her first sip. "Me?"
"Yep. I invited Alex Cabot to join us," the attorney said with a smirk.
Olivia almost spit her second sip across the table. She sputtered and coughed before she was able to speak again. "You did what?"
Abbie looked at her watch. "You've got about half an hour before she gets here, so drink up."
"Why did you invite Alex?"
Abbie shrugged as she took a long draw from her bottle. "I've known both of you for a while now, so I know the stubborness runs both ways. But I'm tired of you two mooning over each other without doing something about it. So, call me Cupid. It's time to shit or get off the pot."
Olivia just stared at her for a moment. "You have such a way with words," she finally said dryly. "And what do you mean 'mooning over each other'?"
"I let that slip didn't I? Well, it's just as well. You like her, she likes you - what more do you need to know? Other than now it's time for action." The waitress arrived with the plate of tamales and set them down in the middle of the table. "Mmm. Gracias." Abbie looked back at Olivia. "You really need to try one of these, Liv. They're to die for."
"Don't change the subject, Abbie. Are you telling me that Alex is… interested in me?"
Abbie looked at Olivia for a moment and then burst into laughter. "Oh my Lord," she drawled. "You've got it worse than I thought."
Olivia scoffed. "I'm just asking a question," she said somewhat defensively.
"This may call for desperate measures." Abbie signaled the waitress as she walked by. "Can we a get a bottle of tequila with two glasses please?" She thought back to her recent conversation with Alex. "Make that three glasses," she added with a smirk.
Five
"Five bucks says you're jumping to conclusions."
Munch looked surprised. "I don't want to bet on Olivia's love life, I was just curious if she was seeing someone." He had inadvertently opened a can of worms and now he wasn't sure how to seal it back up again.
Elliot narrowed his eyes. "I guess we can set the record straight when Liv gets here."
Munch was now wishing he could take back the question he had asked Elliot a few minutes before. The simple question led to practically an interrogation by Detective Stabler about the scene John had witnessed the evening before.
"Is Olivia seeing someone?"
"Not that I know of. Why?"
"No reason."
"There's gotta be a reason you asked the question."
"I just saw her out last night."
"Why didn't you ask her then?"
"I didn't want to interrupt."
"Why? What were they doing?"
"Sharing a candlelight dinner in very romantic restaurant."
"She's my partner. I'd think I'd know if she had a man in her life."
"I'm sure you would, Elliot. Forget I asked."
What Munch didn't say was that he wasn't sure Elliot would know if Olivia had a woman in her life. Especially this particular woman. Luckily he hadn't said anything to Elliot that would give away the identity or even the gender of Olivia's dinner companion.
"Morning. Sorry I'm late," Olivia said as she entered the squad room.
"Late night?" her partner asked.
She gave him a funny look. "Not really."
"What'd you do last night?"
"I had dinner with a friend. Not that it's any of your business." She said it good-naturedly with a smile, but she couldn't help but wonder what prompted the question. Maybe Munch's paranoia was wearing off on her.
Elliot looked at Munch. "See? A friend." At Olivia's questioning look he said to her, "Munch thought he saw you on a date last night."
The brief panicked look that Munch caught when Olivia quickly turned to him let him know that he had guessed correctly. She cleared her throat. "What makes you think it was a date?"
Munch gave a slight shrug. Time for a little damage control. "Just seemed that way. But I've been wrong at least once before."
Elliot's phone rang and he took the call, pulling him away from the current conversation. Munch stood and walked over to Olivia's desk and sat down with his back to Elliot. He leaned over and said in a conspirational whisper, "Your secret's safe with me."
Olivia glanced at Elliot before replying. "I really did have dinner with a friend."
"OK. But just in case it was a date, I'd just like to say you have good taste." He looked at Olivia over the top of his glasses and smiled. "And for the record, so does Alex." He gave Olivia's shoulder a friendly squeeze as he stood and returned to his desk.
Four
"Four men have asked you to dance and you've turned them all down."
Alex turned at the sound of the familiar voice behind her. One graceful eyebrow arched as she replied. "You counted?" she asked realizing that the detective had to have been watching her for a while to know this information.
Olivia shrugged. "I'm not really fond of these office parties, so I needed something to occupy my time."
"Then I guess we have something in common."
"Is that why you don't want to dance with anyone?"
"I never said I didn't want to dance with anyone, just none of the ones that asked."
"So… you're waiting on someone in particular."
Alex looked at Olivia for a moment before responding as if deciding how much to reveal. "I've had my eye on someone, yes."
Olivia stared back for a few seconds, very aware that she and the ADA had been exchanging glances all night. "And if this 'someone' were to ask you to dance, you would say yes?"
"That might cause a bit of a stir among this crowd." Alex hesitated for a moment. "But if this 'someone' were to ask me to join them elsewhere for a drink, I would certainly say yes."
Olivia sincerely hoped she wasn't misreading the situation. When the slender eyebrow once again began to arch, Olivia spoke. "I know a nice, quiet place a block or so over. Care to join me for a drink?"
Alex's face broke into a wide smile. "I thought you'd never ask."
Three
"Three are left, Alex. Want one?" Olivia opened the box and offered the ADA a fresh doughnut as she approached her desk.
"Ooh, I can never resist Krispy Kremes," Alex replied as she reached in the box for one of the glazed confections. "Thank you, Detective."
Olivia beamed, happy to be the bearer of something that Alex particularly favored. Because if there was one thing Olivia Benson found hard to resist, it was Alex Cabot.
The smiling ADA took a bite, closing her eyes while she savored the sweet taste. "Mmmm, there's nothing like a fresh Krispy Kreme."
Olivia nodded in agreement, speechless. If she'd known she'd get this reaction from Alex, she would have been bringing in doughnuts every damn day.
Alex took another bite and snaked her tongue out to capture the icing collecting in the corners of her mouth. Olivia watched, mesmerized. Alex finished off the pastry in two more bites and then licked the sweet glaze from each finger individually. "God, that was good."
Olivia swallowed and pushed the box toward Alex. "Yeah." Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat. "Care for another?"
Two
"Two glasses is my limit," Olivia said shaking her head as the waiter attempted to refill her wine glass.
Alex looked surprised. "Since when?"
Olivia waited for the young server to move to another table. "Since you decided to wear that dress." The detective openly admired the deep blue silk dress with the plunging neckline that Alex had chosen to wear for their evening out.
Alex smiled at the detective's obvious approval of her attire. "What does my dress have to do with your wine consumption?"
"Another glass and I can't be held responsible for my actions."
"Meaning?"
Olivia smiled. "I don't think you want me to ravage you right here at the table." She then caught the look in Alex's eye and arched a dark eyebrow. "Or do you?"
"Not here at the table, but once we get home…"
They were so intent on each other, that neither woman had noticed the third woman approaching their table. The sound of a throat clearing caught their attention at the same time and two heads snapped around to see Judge Lena Petrovsky standing tableside.
The judge bit the inside of her lip to keep from laughing. "Ladies," she greeted them. "Please forgive my intrusion."
"Judge Petrovsky, what a surprise to see you," Alex said as she recovered her voice.
"Yes, I could tell," the judge said with a smile. "I was dining a few tables over when I spotted you, Alexandra. I just wanted to make sure you received the message that tomorrow morning's court sessions will be delayed until two o'clock due to a ruptured water pipe beneath Judge Preston's chambers."
Alex nodded. "I did hear about that, but thank you for the reminder."
The judge nodded. "Very well, then." She glanced at Olivia and smiled. "Enjoy the rest of your evening."
The judge walked away and Alex leaned toward Olivia with a panicked look on her face. "Do you think she overheard our conversation?"
"I have no idea how long she was standing there." Olivia's eyes drifted down to Alex's cleavage that was very much on display with her current position. "I was a little distracted."
Alex rolled her eyes and sat up straight. "Olivia…"
The detective's eyes snapped back to Alex's face. "Sorry. I doubt she overheard anything," Olivia said to satisfy Alex, but she really had no idea if the judge heard them or not.
They finished their meal and opted to skip dessert. When the waiter brought the check, he placed a brown bag in front of Olivia. "We're really not supposed to do this, but the judge ordered me to, so I guess it's OK."
Olivia looked puzzled and peered into the bag to see a bottle of wine. The waiter smiled. "The judge asked me to bring that to you with her compliments. And she specifically said to tell you that she thought you might enjoy another glass of wine at home." He leaned down and whispered. "I would have brought you a better bottle, but she insisted on our table wine."
Both women turned crimson.
One
"One thing is for sure," Olivia said as she snuggled against Alex's warm body. "This is the best New Year's Eve I've ever had."
Alex looked skeptical. "Really?"
Olivia nuzzled Alex's neck and placed a soft kiss along her jaw line. "Really."
"What about Times Square and all the big parties you've been to?"
Olivia shook her head. She reached over to pick up the TV remote from the nightstand and turned on the television. A live shot of Times Square with thousands of screaming people filled the screen. "Been there, done that. But this?" She put the remote back on the table and then snuggled back up to Alex. "This is better by far. I've got everything I need right here to usher in the best New Year ever."
Alex smiled as the final countdown to the New Year began and she gave Olivia a soft kiss.
Ten…
"We still have half a bottle of champagne left," Olivia said as she nodded toward the nightstand where the bottle was resting in an ice bucket next to two empty champagne flutes.
Nine…
The detective slid her hand beneath the blanket and lightly tweaked a very sensitive area causing Alex to elicit a squeak of surprise.
Eight…
Olivia grinned. "I have my very own noisemaker…"
Seven…
"…and I seem to recall the best kind of fireworks to kick off the evening."
Six…
"So there is no place on earth I'd rather be right now, Alex..."
Five…
Olivia rolled their bodies together so that she was now lying on top of Alex.
Four…
"…except right here…"
Three…
"…with you."
Two…
Bright blue eyes seemed be looking straight into Olivia's soul as their gazes met. "I love you so much, Liv."
One…
"I love you too, Alex." Their lips met in a searing kiss as the crowd in Times Square erupted in cheers.
Happy New Year!
The End