OK, folks, I promised to return with a new A/O story with Alex & Olivia in WPP together. I've got several chapters written, but I may not update as often as you would like. Not that I don't want to, it's just finding the extra time to write with real life interruptions. I hope you enjoy!

Junebuggnc

Disclaimer: I do not own them, unfortunately Dick Wolf does. Any new characters introduced are mine and mine alone.

Timeline: Everything canon up to the Rafael Zapata case. Most of the elements during the episode of Loss are the same, except Alex and Olivia have been on two dates together.

Author's Notes: I know nothing of concealed weapon/gun laws in the state of Texas. I know nothing about the University of Texas at Austin other than what I can find on their website.

Chapter 1

It had been a horrendous week for the Special Victims Unit of the 1-6 precinct. They had been working nearly nonstop on the rape and murder of what turned out to be an NYPD police officer on loan to the DEA. The FBI was brought in and the detectives were working closely with them trying to solve this case. One evening Detective Olivia Benson was catching a few minutes of much needed sleep in the crib. She wasn't in a deep sleep, mostly dozing. She heard the door open, but did not look to see who had come in. She just assumed it was one of the other detectives coming up to catch some rack time too. Then she felt someone sit on the edge of her bunk and stroke her arm as it lay across her stomach.

"Liv? Wake up." Said the angelic voice.

Olivia slowly opened her eyes to see the beautiful blond ADA looking down on her with concern. Olivia stared back deep into those gorgeous blue eyes.

"Hey, Alex. How long have I been out?"

"A couple of hours. I brought you a sandwich. Since it looks like we aren't going to have our third date tonight I thought we could at least eat together."

"Yeah, sounds good to me. I'm sorry. This case has gotten in the way of our personal time. I had nice plans for us this evening." Said Olivia taking the turkey sandwich that Alex was handing to her.

They had repositioned themselves on the bed; Olivia at the head, Alex at the foot. They were facing each other with each sitting with a bent leg on the bunk and the other on the floor. It was one of the rare times Alex wore slacks vs a skirt. Their food in front of them and their ice teas on the floor.

"Oh, just what did you have in mind for our third date, Detective?" Asked Alex.

A few weeks back, the ladies had gone to dinner something they routinely did. They had never talked to each other about their love lives, but the subject came up. Olivia spoke of how difficult it was to find a good man, either they give up because of all the crazy hours she has to work, or she finds out that they are just a little bit too interested in her line of work and not in a good way. That is when Alex decided to open the door and asked Olivia if she ever considered dating a woman. Alex was surprised when Olivia confessed that she had dated a couple of women in college. Olivia admitted to Alex she considered herself bisexual, but she always assumed that she would eventually end up with a man; it was just easier to have a family that way.

Olivia went on to tell Alex that at this point in her life, she just wanted someone to love and have that someone love her just as much. Alex reached across the dinner table laying her hand across Olivia's, then sliding her fingers under it to hold it. She gently ran her thumb across the back of Olivia's hand as she told Olivia that the right person was out there for her and when the time is right she'll find her one true love.

They released their hands and Olivia changed the subject to Alex's love life; turnabout's fair play. Alex stated that it was expected that she would marry some distinguish blue blood male, a New York aristocrat who would be Alex's perfect mate, from looks to education, to political connections and lastly to money. She, however, had other ideas. She confessed to Olivia that she preferred the fairer sex, always had, always will. Alex went on to tell Olivia that she never came out to anyone, she decided to focus on her political aspirations; she tried to convince herself that if she met those goals she would be happy without a girlfriend to love. She was beginning to realize how much she was missing.

When they left the restaurant that night, they decided to walk to Alex's penthouse. They started along the sidewalk, Olivia's hand at the small of Alex's back, where it always seemed to be when they were walking side by side. They continued talking not about anything really important. Olivia began to realize that of the men she had dated recently none of them made her feel as comfortable as she felt anytime she was with Alex. Alex was caring, attentive; it was easy between them. She felt a jolt as this realization washed over her; her feelings for Alex went beyond colleagues, beyond friendship. Olivia decided to test the waters. With ease she removed her hand from Alex's back and slid it into the palm of Alex's hand at her side.

Alex turned to look at Olivia and smile gently. Olivia felt Alex's fingers separate and she naturally laced her fingers with Alex's as they continued their walk. The next day Olivia asked Alex out on their first official date; it was dinner and a movie. Their second date, Alex asked and they went to see a Broadway play and then a late dinner. Tonight was supposed to be their third date. Olivia was making the plans and her plans were to end the night with their first kiss.

But all of that would have to wait until this case was over and Zapata (who was responsible for the death of the one of their own) was in jail. Velez would be the FBI's problem even though Zapata worked for Velez, the only evidence they had pointed to Zapata.

"I wanted to take you my favorite Italian restaurant. It's near Central Park. We would eat early enough so that we could take a short walk afterwards before I walked you home."

"That sounds wonderful, Liv. We will have to do that as soon as this case is over with."

Soon they had finished their sandwiches. As they were cleaning up, Alex noticed that something seemed different with Olivia.

"Liv, is something wrong?"

"No, well, I was just thinking."

"About?"

"Tonight, I…" Olivia trailed off.

Alex stepped back over to Olivia after throwing their trash away. She reached a hand to Olivia's upper arm, near her shoulder.

"Tonight, what, Liv?"

"Tonight…Tonight after we had our walk and I walked you home. I had it all planned in my head. We'd walk into your building and we'd both say 'hello' to George as we made our way to the elevators, still holding hands. I figured we'd probably be making small talk in the elevator as we rode to the top floor. Then we exit the elevator walking to your door. You wouldn't have taken your keys out yet, you turn to face me and take my other hand in yours. Then you tell me that you had a wonderful time tonight. I'd say the same thing. Then you say you didn't want it to end, but we both had to work tomorrow. I agreed. Then I…then I kissed you good night. I wanted tonight to be our first kiss, Alex; but this case…"

"Liv, it's OK. I understand how crazy your life can be because of work. Mine can be the same way when I'm working on a big case. OK?" Replied Alex.

Olivia didn't realize at first that while Alex was responding to her that the one hand at her shoulder slid down to capture her left hand as the other captured her right. They were so close, barely touching.

"Alex…" Said Olivia almost a whisper.

"I know we're not outside your door, but I so want to kiss you right now." Continued Olivia.

"I won't stop you, Liv." Replied Alex.

In tandem the ladies moved forward, their lips gently brushing together. They pulled apart briefly each needing to look into the other's eyes for acceptance, approval, for it to be OK. Neither could fight the need to kiss each other again. This time, Olivia's hands moved to Alex's hips pulling the blond even closer. Alex's hands went to the back of Olivia's head running her fingers through Olivia's short hair. The kiss was deeper, Olivia's tongue stroked across Alex's lips seeking entrance. Alex was more than happy to obliged. The passionate kiss continued for another minute or so until oxygen became a necessity and they broke the kiss.

"Wow, Councilor, that was some first kiss." Said Olivia still holding Alex close.

"I could say the same thing, Detective."

Alex was wearing her heels which put her slightly taller than Olivia. She leaned forward to rest her forehead against Olivia's.

"As much as I would love to stay up here and kiss you some more, we should probably head back downstairs." Said Alex.

"I know."

As they were making their way to the door, Olivia stopped them as they were still holding hands.

"Alex, after this case is over with, you think…would you…could we go away together for the weekend, maybe, just us?"

Alex turned back to Olivia and placed a chaste kiss to the detectives lips.

"I'd go anywhere with you Detective, anywhere."

"Same here, Councilor." Replied Olivia as she gave Alex one last quick kiss.

A day had passed and they were getting closer. The detectives had enough to arrest Zapata. Things would have probably been OK, but Alex wanted Zapata and she wanted him badly, so bad that she attacked his manhood while she was in conference with him and his attorney. When Lionel Granger, Zapata's attorney, slid the table in front of Zapata to keep him from attacking her, Alex realized she may have crossed a line. She hoped she was wrong. Unfortunately she wasn't. Alex learned of the threat not only against her, but her mother as well. She refused to go into hiding as the FBI suggested. She did not want to give Zapata the satisfaction. Even later after another undercover agent was killed, she still wanted to see this case through and try Zapata for the rape and murder of an NYPD officer.

Alex had to follow her boss's orders and dropped the case against Zapata. He never made it out of the courtroom because the Feds arrested him. They were able to convince him to flip on Velez in exchange for a lighter sentence.

It all seemed to be a letdown; an NYPD officer dead, a DEA agent dead and one of the perps getting off nearly scot free because he is testifying against his drug lord boss. It wasn't much of celebration as it was putting an end on what was one of the toughest cases the 1-6 had ever seen when the group descended on the pub for an evening drink. After some discussion of how Zapata will never be held accountable for the NYPD officer's death, the group slowly dispersed. Munch and Fin left first; a few minutes later Elliot, Olivia and Alex left the pub.

No one saw the black SUV as it rounded the corner; it wasn't until the revving engine alerted them. Things from Olivia's perspective seemed to happen in slow motion. She saw the gun in the open window of the back seat of the SUV. She remembered screaming "GUN"! She stepped forward putting herself between Alex and the SUV. With her back to the SUV, she was facing Alex. Then the pain came; Olivia felt the burn as the bullet entered her back just below and to the right of her left shoulder blade. She didn't realize the bullet had exited her body until she saw the bullet hit Alex in her right shoulder. The impact threw them both to the ground bleeding.

Elliot followed the SUV into the street firing his service weapon to no avail. When he turned back to the sidewalk he was horrified, in shock, to see that both his partner and his ADA were laying on the sidewalk, shot and bleeding to death. They landed side by side on their backs with Olivia to Alex's right. Elliot ran to them immediately, he slid on his knees in between the two a hand going to each of the wounds applying pressure.

"No! No! No! You have to hang on both of you."

Some bystander's had come out of the pub now to see what was happening.

"Call 911! Tell them an officer is down and that we need two buses, ambulances. Do it now! Tell them an officer and an ADA are down!"

"Liv, Alex, you have to hang on! Help's on the way, just hang on for me, please! Hang on!"

They wouldn't let Elliot go to the hospital until he gave an initial statement. When he was released Fin took him while Munch stayed at the scene with the Captain. When they arrived at the hospital the waiting room was already starting to fill with cops. They still had not had any updates until about 2 hours after the Captain and Munch had arrived. When the doors to the waiting room opened time stood still as the two doctors came in; they looked tired and exhausted.

"Family of Olivia Benson and Alexandra Cabot?" Asked on doctor.

"I'm Captain Cragen, I am Detective Benson's superior and Alex Cabot is my precinct's ADA. This is Detective Benson's partner, Detective Stabler." Replied the Captain.

The doctor who initially spoke took a deep breath before speaking to the group.

"I'm sorry Captain. We lost them both." Replied the doctor solemnly.

Munch and Fin steadied Elliot as his knees started to give way.

"How…? What…?" Started the Captain.

"Detective Benson, the bullet entered her back on angle and it…it went through her heart; when the bullet exited Detective Benson's body it entered Ms. Cabot here."

The doctor pointed to a spot on his upper chest a few inches below the right shoulder.

"The bullet hit her subclavian artery. The blood loss was too great. I'm so sorry."

"Thank you doctors."

In a non-descript hospital room, in private hospital, just across the state line in Pennsylvania, Detective Olivia Benson and Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot had just come out of their anesthesia from their respective surgeries. They were in a semi-private room with a mere few feet separating their hospital beds.

Olivia was about to call to Alex when the door opened; instead of a doctor or her partner or her Captain entering, it was DEA Agent Jack Hammond.

"Detective, Ms. Cabot, I'm here to inform you that you are dead, officially."

TBC…