Author's Notes: Okay new story totally new thing for me too. I took A LOT of liberties with this one in particular. It's held within the confines of the SVU universe but I've taken Alex's history and totally fucked with it and made her a completely different character than the ADA we all know and love. Mostly because I wanted to. And I thought it would be fun to see her as a Detective instead of an ADA. It's totally different I warn you. I did a lot of work on this and I tried to make it as plot driven as the actual show while still giving you glimpses into the character's psyche. So I warned you there you go try it out see if you like it.
Prologue:
810 5th Avenue
Manhattan, New York
10:00 PM
July 16th 1998
Alexandra Cabot knocked on her father's study. She waited trying to see if her father would answer. She and her mother had just returned from their summer home at Martha's Vineyard, not that young Alex had wanted to go but none the less she was compelled to by the promise of horse-back riding and beach play. She was an intelligent child with her mother's blonde hair but she bore a striking resemblance to her father. They had similar facial shapes and the same hauntingly beautiful blue eyes. They even both chose to wear dark framed glasses when they were reading or doing other such things. James didn't truly need glasses, only to read unlike Alex who truly should've worn hers all the time.
She reached up pushing her long hair behind her ears and knocked once more trying to get a reply from her father. She knew that's where he would be. He was always in his study when they weren't there. He was a busy man after all. She waited still hearing nothing before pushing the door open. The sight that greeted her was anything but welcoming.
Her father was slumped forward, blood caking the top of the desk and steadily dripping to the floor. In his hand, a large black gun that was just hanging from it, slightly swaying in some sort of sick death rhythm. The warm blood rapidly cooling along with its shell, continued to drip over the desk and onto the white carpet staining it a deep crimson with little thuds. She stared in shock waiting to see if it was some sort of practical joke before she screamed, drawing her mother's attention.
810 5th Avenue
Manhattan New York
11:00 PM
July 16th 1998
"Detective Stabler, this is my partner Detective Benson. We're with the Special Victims unit." Elliot Stabler, the senior detective with Manhattan's Special Victims Unit introduced himself as well as his new partner Detective Olivia Benson to the uniforms standing outside the expensive apartment building. Due to the delicate nature of the crime they were called to the scene to investigate though Elliot didn't quite understand why there was a need to investigate. The man they were here to see to was well known to everyone in New York and supposedly had committed suicide.
James Cabot was a well-known member of New York's blue blood society. He had once been governor of the state of New York for two terms. He was young and charismatic and his bright blue eyes made most women swoon. He was a tall man with broad shoulders and a kind face shocking for a politician but he couldn't help the way he was born. His wife, Josette, was known to many as well. Originally from Paris, she brought to James' campaign a sense of style and elegance not so readily found with most other politician's wives. Supposedly descended from French royalty, she helped bring James to his position of power by being able to mingle so easily with the higher ends of society. Not much was known about his only child, Alexandra. In fact most people didn't even realize the young couple had a daughter. Both were careful to shield her from the media and to keep her life as normal as possible. But because of their need to shield their daughter, they were often away from her, leaving the poor girl to fend for herself.
"You guys are the sex police right? What are you doing here?" The uniform looked at them strangely. "It's a suicide, not a rape." He added.
"We were told by our Captain to come up here. So it's a suicide?" Elliot asked as he walked into the building with the man.
The man took off his hat as they entered the expensive apartment. "So far that's what it looks like. Mr. Cabot's daughter is the one that found him. She's up in her bedroom. Mother won't let her come down; doesn't want her to see all this commotion."
"Elliot, I'll go talk to her. You talk to the ME and the mother?" Olivia offered quietly.
This was only her second official case with SVU. She was still quite green though she tried to deny it. She tried to be tough and ready for anything but she knew that was easier said than done. This one would be tough; hell if she was honest with herself they were all tough. The first case had taken its toll on her and she was sure this one would too, especially considering the girl she was about to meet was only fourteen. No one deserved to walk into that mess, especially not a kid. And really that's what this girl was, she was a kid; a kid without her dad now. Though Olivia never knew her father and her mother was mostly career driven and if she was at home, she was drunk. Olivia could still find sympathy with a child's loss of a parent.
She took a breath and descended the spiral staircase noticing the thick plush carpeting her booted feet sunk into with each step she took. She turned looking down the hall trying to figure out which was the room she was searching for when she saw a pair of blue eyes hidden behind black glasses watching her wearily. The girl was standing mostly in her room but her head peered out in the hallway obviously trying to figure out what was happening.
"Hello. You're Alexandra right?" Olivia greeted her softly, walking towards her slowly. Her heel tapped the hardwood floor as she walked sliding off the runner that ran down the hallway.
"Hello. Yes I am, but I like Alex better." The girl greeted her blue eyes large and weary.
"Alex okay. I'm Olivia. I'm a police officer. I was wondering if I could talk to you for a few minutes."
"May I see your badge?" The girl asked stepping out into the hallway now.
Olivia immediately took her in. She was tall and gangly, her knees knobby and turned slightly inward like that of a pony that had just been born. She had a pretty face but she was still in that awkward "I'll grow into my body eventually" phase that a lot of kids went through. There was still a bit of baby fat to her cheeks but Olivia was sure given what she could recall of her mother that would go away the older she got. Josette was pretty well known for her high cheekbones and she was certain her daughter had them as well, they just weren't as prominent as her mother's. She was wearing a pair of long jean shorts and a ribbed pink tank top with her hair braided down her back. It wasn't the richest outfit in the world but she was just a kid. She looked a lot like Maureen, Olivia mused remembering the first time she'd seen Elliot's oldest daughter.
Without a word she unclipped her badge from her belt and held it out to the girl who took it immediately into her white hands. She turned it this way and that studying it before handing it back to Olivia.
"It's awfully heavy. Is it supposed to be so heavy?" Alex asked watching Olivia clip it to her belt.
"That's how you can tell the real ones from the fake ones. The real ones have some weight to them." Olivia explained. She noticed the way the girl cocked her head and seemed to take that in.
"Well if I meet any other police officers I'll know that then. The number on there; it's unique to you right?"
"Yes it is. It's my shield number."
"They use that to identify you?" Alex asked and Olivia blinked. The girl was quite inquisitive.
"They do." She decided to answer.
Alex opened her mouth to speak once more before her mother's voice called to her over Olivia's shoulder.
"Alexandra must you trouble the police officer with your incessant questions?" Josette was every bit as beautiful as Olivia remembered her being.
She had the same porcelain skin as her daughter, the same golden blonde hair with its natural white blonde highlights, high cheekbones and bright green eyes. She was as lovely as any of the fashion models but Olivia could hear a coldness to her voice that didn't fit a woman who'd just lost her husband. She frowned but chose not to say anything though she noted the hurt look on Alexandra's pretty face.
"I'm sorry Mother. I was just curious."
"Shouldn't you be downstairs with the other officers trying to get this mess cleaned up?" Josette asked, her French accent now making itself quite apparent.
Olivia took a breath poised to speak before Alex beat her to the punch.
"I'm sorry Mother. I asked Olivia to come upstairs with me. I was scared."
"There's nothing to be afraid of child, surely you know this."
Olivia looked at the child taking the berating as though it was something completely normal. Perhaps all wasn't as good as everyone seemed to believe in this house.
Alex looked down and shrugged.
"Mrs. Cabot. We do need a statement from yourself as well as your daughter." Olivia started watching the woman wave her off with a frown.
"Can it not wait until tomorrow? My poor husband has just died."
"Of course ma'am."
"I can give her my statement mother." Alex offered quietly and then quelled under her mother's scrutiny even going as far as physically curling into herself.
"Not tonight dear. You need to go rest. We've had a long day and it's only going to get worse these next few days."
"But mother…"
"Do as I say Alexandra." Her mother's voice was like ice as she all but glared at the blonde girl.
Olivia frowned wondering why the woman felt the need to be so cold to her own flesh and blood but knew it wasn't her place to say anything. She watched the child go towards her bedroom and then turned back to Mrs. Cabot who was waiting impatiently for her at the top of the stairs. She watched the woman turn when someone called her name and start downstairs giving her the alone time she needed. She walked back over to the small table with a large Chinese bowl sitting on it. A gilded mirror hung over it giving her a view of Alex who was still watching her. Deliberately she pulled out one of her business cards and put it in the bowl looking at the child before she turned and walked back downstairs.
