Title: I. First Impressions
Fandom: L&O: SVU
Pairing: Alex/Olivia
Spoilers: None
Disclaimer: I don't own anything.
Rating: T
AN: This is my first time posting anything. Edit: This is the first in a series of one-shots. They'll likely develop to work as a larger story, but that's not how I'm writing it. Reviews would be nice. Hope you enjoy. :)
It hadn't been a good week for the SVU. Detective Olivia Benson and her partner Elliot Stabler had handed an air-tight case to the temporary ADA, who couldn't figure out how to work with live victims (or, in Elliot's opinion, people.) Instead of looking at fifty years in prison, the perp got let off. The squad wasn't taking it well.
Olivia leaned back in her desk chair and groaned. It was only Tuesday. Everyone in the station was stressed out and pissed at the loss. Tempers were running hotter than normal. Things were still up in the air with the Morris commission, meaning that the detectives were snippier than usual. Even though Olivia had just returned from her lunch break, she was already anxious for an excuse to leave the station. She looked around the squad room and frowned, noticing for the first time that the door to Captain Cregan's office was closed. The blinds were open and through them Olivia saw the Captain talking to a tall blonde woman.
"Who's the suit?" Olivia asked Elliot as she nodded in the direction of the office. Elliot looked over, shrugged, and went back to eating his lunch.
"A present for our superb behavior." John Munch cut in, "That's our new ADA."
Olivia's brow furrowed even more as she took in Munch's words. SVU wasn't the place to get your feet wet as a stepping-stone to a successful political career. This woman had all the signs of high society; designer suits to match the privileged attitude and body language that demanded the attention of everyone around her. Part of Olivia knew that it was probably wrong to judge a stranger based on body language spied through a window, but she was too pissed off at everything to care. She couldn't respect someone who would take advantage of the victims and crimes the squad dealt with to further their own career. She knew that's why the blonde lawyer had agreed to the position. Convicting sex offenders was a political gold mind.
In reality, working in the Special Victim's Unit was anything but glamorous. It was actually as far from glamorous as it was possible to get. Every case was gritty and twisted, exposing her and her squad to the worst sides of humanity. And no part of it was a spectator sport. Something the new ADA clearly didn't understand.
The opening of the office door pulled Olivia from her thoughts. She watched Cragen hold the door open for the blonde lawyer and was struck by how attractive the woman was. She looked like a model with perfect golden hair, a slender feminine form and legs that went on for days. She was flawless. Olivia hated it.
"Listen up!" Cragen yelled as they approached the ring of people who had gathered outside the office. "This is Alexandra Cabot, our new ADA. Play nice." With that, he shook her hand and went back into his office.
If the ADA was nervous, she didn't show it. She simply stared down each detective in turn like a lioness on the prowl. Instead of exchanging niceties, she asked the room, "Who's going to fill me in on the current cases?" As if expecting the whole room to break into utter chaos to get her the information she wanted.
When no one moved, Alex turned to face Olivia. "What about you?"
"When I need something from you" Olivia glared back at her, "I'll make sure to let you know."
Olivia watched with mild satisfaction as the lawyer's mouth opened and closed again. The reaction was fast and subtle, and probably went unnoticed by the men in the room, but Olivia caught it. She was willing to bet the lawyer wasn't accustomed to being challenged like this, her ice blue eyes smoldered through their black frames. Olivia's lips tightened into a slight smile. The sooner Alex Cabot learned that no one pushed Olivia Benson around, the better.
Olivia turned back to her desk and looked over a stack of witness statements from the current case. Olivia was determined to look like she was concentrating harder than she actually was, maybe that way the ADA wouldn't come barking up her tree again. By the time Olivia looked up again, Alex had gotten whatever information she had needed and gone back to her office. Olivia took a deep breath and tried to ignore the blood pumping in her veins. This ADA might turn out to be more trouble than the temps after all.
Things with SVU had gotten off to a rough start. Alex couldn't deny it. She wasn't ready for it. She had tried to prepare herself for the types of cases she would have to prosecute, the victims she would have to question. It was harder than she had thought it would be. But even the horrors of sex crimes weren't what were giving her the most trouble. No, it was the detectives who were making Alex work harder than she ever had in her life. She didn't understand them. They didn't work like a normal police squad. Behavioral problems indeed. They were clever and defiant and willing to bend the rules. They were also the most dedicated people Alex had ever met. They watched out for each other's backs, a group of misfits thrown together in the freaky crimes squad. None of them were excited to have someone like Alex around.
It's not like I was expecting to show up and be best friends. Alex thought to herself as she walked into her apartment building. But at least be a little more welcoming. Anything that could have been construed as a welcome would have been nice. But no, the detectives didn't welcome her. She had walked out of the Captain's office to a room of icy stares and her gut instincts had taken over. Never one to back off, Alex had to put them in their place so they knew who they were dealing with.
Just like that, she had entered hostile territory with the squad. They didn't welcome her or offer her advice. They didn't even try to put her through some sort of newbie hazing process. They simply didn't want her there. They used her when they needed to and otherwise shut her out.
Alex assumed they probably felt they had a reason to; she had been filled in with the division's rocky relationship with attorneys. Alex could tell they didn't think she would last any longer than any of her predecessors. She had no choice but to prove them wrong. All of them. Even Detective Benson. Especially Benson.
Turning her key in the lock, Alex paused. The sudden image of Detective Benson's firry glare burned in her mind. Alex had been taken aback by the hostility in her eyes. Alex was used to not being liked by women she met. She was beautiful, intelligent, driven and came from a wealthy background. It didn't exactly breed friendship. But the look the Detective had given her was different. It was more passionate than two independent people playing a mental game of chicken with each other. There was something behind that glare.
Alex opened the door, hit the light switch and entered her apartment. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. She hadn't walked into the station thinking the Detective would instantly fall in love with her and her commanding personality but she had hoped that, as the only female detective in the unit, Benson would feel a little camaraderie towards her. Alex was out of luck there and she knew that Benson's dislike of her could become a problem. She had figured out quickly that Benson was one of the key players at the precinct. And Alex was willing to bet her apartment that the rest of the ducklings wouldn't fall in line if she didn't have the support of Benson and Stabler.
Locking it behind her, Alex walked over to her couch and put her brief case on the floor next to the coffee table. She turned and headed to her bedroom to change out of her work clothes.
Alex knew it was going to be a long time before the squad was going to willingly work with her. She knew they would never be friends. But they needed a creative, determined, ruthless ADA to bring up their conviction rate. They needed her and the sooner they realized that, the better.