Chapter 1: First glance

Friday, 1 PM

Olivia sat at her desk impatiently drumming her fingers against the metal desk. Elliot was staring at her wondering why today of all days he was impatient. Then he noticed the calendar on herd desk, today's date circled. It made sense now, today was the day Alex was home. The Witness Protection Program had finally deemed New York City was safe again.

The Feds had said it would be between 1 and 3 PM that Alex would be escorted into the 1-6 Precinct and straight into the waiting hands of SVU detectives.

1:22 PM

"They sure take their sweet old time, don't they?" Olivia gripped to Elliot.

"Calm down, the time frame just began."

"Ugh, I've been waiting to see her back here for how long? I'm anxious."

Olivia tried to reread a file for a recent case, go online and check her email, anything to distract herself.

1:45 PM

"I need to go do something before I lose my mind. This is what she does to me, whether she's in the room or not. I'm going to the coffee shop. Want anything?" She asked Elliot, Munch, Fin and Cragen.

She jotted down their orders and headed down the street to the corner coffee shop, a favorite of theirs. For the first time she was glad to see a line, it meant more time spent away from the station idling waiting.

2:18 PM

4 cups of coffee in a carrier and hers balanced on top she walked into the squad room. It was darkened and empty except for someone sitting at her desk. Her first reaction was to set the coffee down and pull her gun out.

She slowly went up to Munch's and Fin's desk, as they were closer to the door and set the coffee's down. Her gun was in her hand in the next second as she approached her own desk. Who ever that was sitting their stood up.

"It's me," a familiar voice said.

Olivia almost dropped her gun in relief. She holstered it and opened her arms to envelop the blonde in a hug. "How long have you been here?"

"Not long, 5 or 10 minutes. The boys wanted to surprise you."

There was a unanimous groan and the lights turned on. 3 heads poked out of the hallway, followed by Cragen walking in. "I was in the bathroom, what did I miss? Hey Alex, good to see you."

"If I knew you were going to be here, I would have gotten you coffee too Alex," Olivia said sheepishly. "No one tells me anything anymore."

"But the look on your face was priceless when you walked in," Munch said grinning, wielding a video camera. "YouTube here we come!"

She ignored their banter and focused on Alex. "I'm so glad to see you Lex, there's so much I need to say to you."

"Tell me tonight, after I take all of you out for drinks, on me."

That went over well of course, who could resist free drinks? Cragen didn't come, he was a recovering alcoholic and never touched the stuff anymore.

"Well, I just moved myself into a new apartment, uptown, so I'm going to go home and change and meet you all back here at 6?"

With a smile she turned and exited the room. Olivia just stared at the spot where she stood only moments before, amazed she was really back.

"Just tell her Liv," Elliot encouraged her.

"I hope it comes out this time," she replied, now nervous to see that incredible woman again that night.

As soon as she left the phone lines seemed to ring off the hook. A serial rapist they had been hunting for had stuck again. This time in Central Park. The investigation was already in full swing before their arrival.

"What do we have?" Olivia asked.

"14 year old girl reported missing at 11 PM last night, 2 hours past her curfew. At 1:19 AM, a phone call came in to Central, a woman who reported to hear screaming in the park from her apartment window. A car was sent out to search, at first we couldn't find anything, but as the wind kicked up, a bloody glove blew our way. We followed the trail and found the body. She was beaten pretty bad, possible sexual trauma. Torn pants, shirt ripped apart. Called for a bus immediately and she's over there in the ambulance heading for Mercy."

"Thanks," they both said and headed to the ambulance.

"Hi, I'm Olivia. What's your name?"

"Melinda Johnson. I was out past curfew when a guy in black followed me cos I cut through here on my way home and attacked me."

"You're on the way to a hospital, you're going to be okay."

"I'll ride with her," Olivia said, getting in the back.

At Mercy they performed a rape kit, positive for fluids. Her head was stitched up and was put on an IV with morphine for pain, and a few other medications Olivia didn't know the name of.

"I'm going to call your parents, what are their names? Do you know their phone number from memory?"

The girl nodded. "Randy and Betty. 817-9103."

"I'll be right back," she said, pulling her cell phone, dialing those numbers. "Hi, is this Betty Johnson?"

"Yes," a crisp voice answered.

"This is Detective Olivia Benson of NYPD, we found your daughter, she's at Mercy for blunt force trauma and sexual abuse."

"Oh my god. Is she okay?"

"She's holding up ma'am. Could you get here as soon as possible?"

"Of course, I'll be there in 10 minutes."

Olivia hung up and went back to sitting with Melinda. Sure enough, her mom burst in not long after, hugging her daughter, visibly thankful they found her and she was alive.

She left Melinda in her mom's care and headed back to the station. It was only 3:30 at that time, still hours away. Maybe she'd have time for a quick shower at the Precinct and could change into her spare clothes that hung in her locker, unworn. Try to look her best this time.

Munch and Fin were out on a call, Elliot had to go to a parent-teacher confrence for the twins and Cragen was sitting in his office with the door closer per usual. She waved at him before heading upstairs to get ready. The phone lines were pretty quiet for a Friday, so it was unlikely anything major was about to happen. Then again, it was New York City, so anything is possible.

Olivia hopped in the shower, washing the crime scene off her skin and hair. She kept a couple spare sets of clothes in her locker for anything that could possibly happen.

She pulled on nice black slacks, a white bra, white tank top and v-neck shirt with a jacket over. Olivia did her make up and made sure she look presentable.

4 PM rolled around, a pile of files called her name. She sighed and sat down. Elliot came back in shortly after. Munch and Fin a little after that. There was the usual joking nature, trying to procrastinate working, all excited for the night's adventures.

5:30 PM

Alex faced herself in the floor length mirror of her closet, turning and flattening her black pinstriped skirt, long sleeve cream shirt and matching pinstriped blazer against her slender body. Satisfied that her hair was the way she wanted, make up wasn't overboard she headed back downtown.

5:53 PM

'If only time would speed up,' Olivia mused. 'So close to 6 but not quite there. And Alex isn't even here yet.'

As if on cue her phone rang. "Benson," was her standard greeting.

She paused. "Yeah, that's fine, see you there."

"Who was that?" Elliot asked.

"Alex, she's running late, we're meeting her at O'Malley's in 15."

"Oh, okay."

6 PM

The 4 detectives were out that door lightning fast. O'Malley's was in walking distance, a walk they knew well from many nights there.

As soon as they walked in the door, Olivia spotted Alex across the room. Her back was turned. She approached and noticed the woman that held Alex's undivided attention. Liv cleared her throat.

"Olivia! Guys! Glad you could make it."

"Of course, it's on you Counselor," Fin quipped.

She laughed, "Right, taking these heavy drinkers out is an expense but since I've missed you all so much, it's okay."

"So, Alex, who's this lovely lady?" Elliot asked casually, nursing his first beer.

"Oh, sorry! This is Cassandra. She lives in my apartment building. I actually got into the place a few days ago but didn't officially move in until today. She's my neighbor, we really hit it off.

Alex didn't see the look on Olivia's face as she turned.