Under Covers

Pairing: Cabenson; Donnelly/Petrovsky

Disclaimer: L&O: SVUis the property of Dick Wolf, NBC, and USA Network…mostly Dick Wolf.

Spoilers: Season 13, episode 20 "Father Dearest"

A/N: This fic was just begging to be written. Saw the episode a while back and got annoyed. No Alex AND I had to watch Liv and Rollins in an undercover op as a couple? It was horrible! And thus, this fic was born. Pre-established Cabenson. Not for Rollivia fans…I can't even write that word without shuddering.This is a stand-alone story, not related to "Dinner Theatre."

A/N 2: In Season 5, episode 4, "Loss," Alex didn't go into WitSec after being shot. Set in Season 13, but no Amaro. I like Elliot better. Not sure how long this'll be quite yet, but it'll be more than a one-shot. Enjoy.

Summary: In the aftermath of Liv and Rollins' undercover operation as a lesbian couple, Alex starts to question the relationship she and Olivia have.

Chapter 1

Lounging against the worn couch in the familiar living room, coffee mug clasped in her hands, Alex Cabot exhaled a breath of air through her nose. She came here quite often, Holidays, after she had first started at Manhattan's SVU, and then again after her shooting, and as she had discovered early on, it was a house that was more like a home because of its occupants. She felt generally relaxed here, surrounded by décor that let her think more clearly, allowing her to sort out her problems in her head.

What had she really seen? After her initial meeting with Amanda Rollins during the time Elliot was on leave, she'd had a feeling that she wouldn't like her. Her next meeting with the slightly older blonde wasn't any less pleasant. The Atlanta beauty was sitting on Olivia's desk, in her spot, as they went over possibilities for a possible suspect in the new case they'd caught. She'd tried to hide her jealousy as she escorted the brunette out of the precinct and to lunch. But this incident took the cake. Amanda Rollins had gone undercover with her girlfriend as a couple and entered a sperm bank in order to obtain a suspect's identity. And then she had the nerve to try and kiss her in the squad room after hours? A kiss that Olivia looked ready to return had she not spoken up. By the time they had made it home, she was too tired to do much of anything.

"You looked like you were going to kiss her," she said as she hung up her jacket and discarded her heels, heading over to the window.

"I wasn't going to kiss her, Alex. Besides," the brunette came up behind her and wrapped her arms around her waist, "she isn't nearly as beautiful as you."

Shrugging out of Olivia's hold, she headed towards their bedroom, "I'm getting a shower and going to bed."

"Hey," Olivia gently grasped her wrist, pulling her back around to face her, "do you want me to help?"

"No, I don't, Liv." She frowned gently, "I'm tired. Let's just…"

"Are you jealous of Rollins?"

"Liv," she warned, her eyes flashing.

"It's a question, Lex."

"We'll talk tomorrow," she growled out, pulling free of the gentle grip.

"Let's just talk now,"

"I'm tired, Olivia!" she snapped.

"No, you're pissed."

Slipping her arms around the detective's neck, she kissed her softly on the mouth, "No, I'm not. I've just had a long day." Detangling herself, she turned and headed to get a shower.

She wasn't aware of another person entering the room, so when the coffee mug was plucked delicately from her fingers, she jumped; glancing up, she met her father's warm blue eyes. Nearing 60, Alexander Cabot looked 20 years younger, his once soft blonde hair graying in places, but the eyes that Alex had inherited still held the same warmth as when the attorney was a child. She sighed softly and closed her eyes.

"Welcome home, Alexandra," the older blonde said gently, warmly, as he placed the coffee mug on the mahogany table next to Alex's left arm.

The attorney scoffed, her tone quiet, "This hasn't been my home for a long time, Daddy."

"This will always be your home, Alexandra," the voice of her mother, Caroline Cabot, came from the top of the staircase and continued to get closer as she descended the steps. She looked younger than her 55 years, and Alex was still a little shocked at how well her mother had bounced back after her battle with cancer, despite it being over two years, "What's wrong, dear? Where's Olivia?"

One of the hardest things she had ever done was come out to her parents. It had been the weekend before she went off to college, and after knowing for nearly three years of her sexual preferences, she told them. And they surprised her by supporting her, by loving her. She knew that some parents disowned their kids, kicked them out, but her parents, she realized at that moment, would never do that to her. So when she and Olivia started dating shortly before her shooting, they had insisted they meet her…and they loved her nearly the second they met her. But, she was beginning to come to realize, it was a stupid idea to call in work and tell them that she had a prior engagement and then take an hour drive upstate to her parents' estate. She'd shut off her cellphone, and it remained in her pocket, waiting to be turned on, so she could be bombarded by missed calls and texts from a woman she wasn't sure…

"Olivia's at work," she said, her tone quiet, "I just needed a day away from the city."

"A day from the city or a day from Olivia?" her father asked, his voice still gentle. She'd never once heard him raise his voice to her or her mother, but his comment still struck a nerve.

"I don't need a day from my girlfriend," she said coldly.

"Then why is your phone off?"

"Olivia left for work before I called off," she said softly, "I just don't want to talk to her right now."

Alexander looked at his wife, catching her nod, "Come along then, Alexandra; let's make some breakfast."

"I'm not really hungry," she protested with a frown, but didn't stop her father from gently taking her hand and pulling her from the couch.

"Just some eggs and toast then," he replied with a smile.

"Fine," the attorney agreed, being led into the kitchen even as she spoke.

Making sure that her daughter was out of hearing range, Caroline took the home phone off the base and dialed the familiar number.

Grabbing the receiver moments before the phone stopped ringing, she spoke, her voice holding an edge of authority, "Benson, Special Victims."

"Olivia, dear, it's Caroline."

"Caroline," Glancing around the squad room, she took notice that Elliot had just walked in, chatting with Munch. Fin and Rollins were catching in Queens, and Captain Cragen was in his office, on the phone with the mayor over a case from last month. She sank into her chair, her voice lowering to a fraction of what it had been, "is everything okay?" She wouldn't come right out and ask if Alex was at the Cabot estate. Not only was it rude, but it could very well send the poor woman into a panic attack if the attorney wasn't there.

"Everything's fine, dear. I just wanted to let you know that Alexandra is up here with us. She called off work today, as I'm sure you already know, and drove up to visit. Alexander and I didn't want you to worry. If you can manage to drop by after work, you're welcome to."

"Thanks for letting me know, Caroline. I'll try to stop by later."

"Wonderful. Now, do try to get some work done, Olivia."

She chuckled quietly, "I'll try. Enjoy the rest of your day."

"You too, honey."

When she set the receiver down and looked up, Elliot was looking at her from his desk, "Everything okay, Liv?"

"Yeah, everything's fine," She stood and stretched, "I'll be back." Without waiting for a reply, knowing she wouldn't get one, she headed into the restroom.

Resting her head against the wall, she pulled out her cellphone and began flipping through her pictures. She stopped at the picture of Alex asleep on their bed, back from the first time the attorney had stayed the night.

Alex's hair was fanned out on the pillow, the sheets tangled at her ankles, the tank top she had donned the night before ridding just above her belly button, and the running shorts fitting snug against her thighs. Snapping and saving the picture, she tossed her phone to the floor and slipped into the bed beside her sleeping lover, spooning her from behind. Alex muttered something intelligible in her sleep and snuggled closer, pushing her lush backside into the brunette's pelvis. Involuntarily, her hips surged forward, drawing a low groan of arousal from the attorney, who slowly turned in her grasp to face her.

"Mmm," Alex's eyes were lit with arousal, and as she kissed her, she slipped over top of the detective, straddling her hips, "to what do I owe this wake-up call, Detective?"

"You snuggling with me," she replied, slipping her arms to the attorney's waist, kissing her soundly.

Breathless, Alex pulled back, her eyes burning with desire, "I think we're wearing too many clothes."

Running her tongue against the shell of her ear, nipping gently enough to elect a moan, she smiled, "Me too."

Shaking her head, the detective frowned. When was the last time they had actually talked? Hell, when was the last time they had made love? One week? A week and a half? Had they really been too busy with work that they hadn't had time for one another? She really needed to do something about that.

"Liv?" Jumping slightly, she turned to see Rollins in the doorway.

"Rollins," she shut and pocketed her phone and turned towards the blonde, "did we catch a case?"

"Yeah, we did,"

The brunette turned towards the sink, "Just give me a second."

"Liv, I just," the slightly shorter woman faltered slightly, "I just wanted to apologize for last night. I didn't mean to come on to you."

"It's alright," she said with a small smile, but in reality she knew it wasn't alright. She wanted to start tomorrow over; she wanted to wake up with her beautiful girlfriend, spend the morning making love and then walk into work fifteen minutes late, like she had done that first time. She wanted to hold Alex's hand in an undercover operation as a couple, where she didn't have to force herself to smile at a colleague like she loved them. She met Rollins' gaze in the mirror, "Alex and I will be fine." She hoped.

Alex pushed her omelet around on her plate, her stomach protesting the idea of food. She supposed she shouldn't have been too surprised; she'd been depressed for a while. At first, she'd dismissed the idea. She wasn't depressed after she'd been shot, she'd reasoned, so why would she be depressed now? Her mind made the connection for her: Rollins. More specifically, Olivia leaving her for Rollins. Maybe if she talked to Olivia, they could talk through it, but even the idea of bringing it up in conversation frightened and enraged her. Olivia would say that she was jealous, that she was over-analyzing, that she was being a lawyer. She didn't want to do that. She wasn't imaging the way they looked at each other. But, she reasoned, Olivia wouldn't cheat on her. Taking a small bite of toast, figuring that was all her stomach would manage, she stood from the table.

"I'm going to go lie down," she informed her parents in a quiet tone before heading out of the kitchen and up the stairs to her old room.

The four poster bed was made, the soft sheets and comforter turned down, and as she slipped into it and lay her head on the freshly fluffed pillows, she felt her eyes grow heavy, as if she hadn't slept in days. Slipping off her glasses of justice, as Liv called them, she sighed, closing her eyes. She was asleep in a matter of minutes.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoyed this first chapter. As always, please don't forget to review. I'll have the next chapter up as soon as it's complete.

Hime no Kowai Shumi