A/N: I don't know what I'm doing with this, but come along for the ride, if you will. One more chapter to Benson Cabot Romance coming and another few of Noah, but I need to work some new stuff into the mix, too. You know me: Angst guaranteed, and usually happy endings...Since I don't know where this is going, I can't promise, but I suspect this will be no different. At least a happy possibility to end.

CHAPTER 1

Olivia Benson sat at her desk, elbow on the top and her chin resting on her hand as she reviewed videoed victim statements before testifying in an upcoming trial for ADA Stone. SVU had been very busy lately, so Olivia came in early to finish some paperwork so she'd have time to review the statements later in the day.

She had earphones in but heard a familiar heel clicking sound in the squad room. The lieutenant looked up briefly to see if someone came in because no one on her team wore heels. When she didn't see anyone, she went back to what she was doing. A few minutes later, she heard laughter and loud talking outside her office. She knew her squad had a lot of work and trial prep so she couldn't imagine what or who would have pulled them away.

Slightly annoyed, and slightly curious, she got up to see what the ruckus was.

"What's going on?" Olivia said, sounding more like Cragen than she ever wanted to sound.

Before anyone could say anything, Olivia caught sight of blonde hair flipping around and then looked down to see a pair of long legs she'd recognize anywhere.

Alex Cabot stood in Olivia's squad room with a cocky grin on her face.

"Oh, just catching up with your squad before try to convince them to take one of my cases," Alex said, as Olivia gave her a stare wondering why the hell she was here without calling.

"Cabot's got an interesting one, Liv," Rollins said. "Mother and daughter gone missing. Daughter has special needs. Seems like an SVU case."

"Ah, well, I'm the one that needs to be convinced of that, and as I recall, you all have a lot of work to do, don't you?" Olivia said, again catching the Cragen in her tone.

The smiles disappeared as Rollins and Carisi hurried off back to their desks.

"It's good to see you, Alex. Don't be such a stranger," Fin said before heading back to his desk.

Alex nodded and then looked at Liv, still smiling. She followed Liv to her office.

Olivia immediate went back behind her desk, and Alex shut the door before plopping down in the chair in front of the desk, legs crossed at the knee.

"How have things been, Liv?" Alex said.

"Listen, Alex, before you start arguing your case for why SVU needs to handle this and not major crimes, you should know we have more than we can handle right now," Liv said, clearly not interested in whatever Alex was going to say. "We still haven't replaced Dodds and it's been ... well, longer than it should have been. And the brass is constantly on me about the overtime I'm paying my squad."

Alex just watched her, lips pursed, but smiling. Olivia hated that cocky look Alex almost constantly had about her.

"Well, to start, I haven't asked for anything yet," Alex said. "I asked how you were."

Olivia sighed and relaxed a bit. She gave Alex an eye roll before smiling to let her know she wasn't actually annoyed - even if she was a little. "I'm good," Olivia said. "Busy. It's been an interesting year."

"I heard," Alex said. "How's Noah?"

Finally, Olivia gave Alex a genuine smile. "He's good. Growing up too fast and doing really well at his school. He loves it."

"Smart like his mom, I take it," Alex said.

Olivia nodded, taking the compliment. "What about you? How's major crimes?"

"You know how it is. Too much testosterone and a bunch of detectives who can't stand taking orders or criticism from a woman when I send them back because their warrant is garbage," Alex said.

"I'd venture to say that's not just limited to the men in the squad," Olivia said, grinning.

"True. Most detectives are a pain in the ass," Alex said.

"And all ADAs are too cocky for their own good," Olivia said. They both laughed; whatever tension was there initially subsided a bit.

"It is good to see you, Alex," Olivia said. "But, I really am busy. So, go ahead and make your case. I promise to hear you out."

Over the next several minutes, Olivia sat patiently looking through the case file and listened to Alex tell her a harrowing tale of a mother and daughter who went missing before the mother was supposed to testify against the father of her child in a bank robbery case. "Basically we think it was an inside job and dad was the insider," Alex told her. The couple was in the process of divorce and had a nasty case pending in family court, in addition to the criminal case.

"Liv, please," Alex said. "You have no idea the 'brainiacs' I have to work with over there sometimes. Look, this girl is autistic and I suspect she's been abused, if not sexually, definitely physically."

"You have proof of that?" Olivia said, ears perking up.

Alex shook her head. "No, it was just something she said one day, but mom shut her down before I could get more. The detectives over there said there was no history or calls there, but the girl's doctor was a close family friend. I wouldn't be surprised if he weren't on dad's payroll, but there's no money trail."

"And it may be nothing, I mean, other than your kidnapping," Liv said. "How long have they been missing?"

"A week," Alex said.

"A week? Alex, you know the likelihood of finding someone. How do you know she just wasn't afraid and take off on her own?" Alex said.

"That's what my squad wants to believe," Alex said. "But, I just have a feeling."

Olivia was quiet as she thumbed through the file. Alex finally leaned forward, elbows on Olivia's desk.

"Liv, please. I trust you. Regardless of our history..." Alex said quietly and Olivia's eyes met hers for a moment, "... this girl need help, and SVU is the best. Liv, you're the best at this."

Olivia sat the file down and leaned back in her chair, contemplating the difficult decision.

"Look, I know you don't have a lot of time with her missing, but can you give me the night to think it over?" Olivia said. "I mean, your team is still on it, so they'll keep investigating in the meantime, right?"

"Yes," Alex said, leaning back. "Thank you, Liv. I really appreciate this. It's not for me...you know that right?"

"I can't make any promises," Olivia said. "And Al...you know I'd make the same decision whether you asked or not."

"I know, but...Just know I wouldn't be here if I didn't really need you," Alex said.

Olivia nodded. "I'll look over it tonight before I have my squad put too much time into it. Stone will kill me if they're not ready for this trial."

"That's all I can ask for," Alex said. She got up to leave but turned before opening the door. "If you have any questions tonight...you can call if you need to. Do you still have my number?"

Olivia looked at her and cocked her like, giving her a "really?" look.

"Of course, Alex," Olivia said. "We broke up. That doesn't mean I deleted you from my life."

Alex gave her a warm smile and left the squad room.

A/N: This will likely be another "episodic" fic that only runs a handful of chapters. Again, running some ideas in preparation for Cabot's return next month. There is a past romance here, and we'll explore that - with some flashbacks - and the possibility of the future. Let me know what you think.

As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on twitter -rileyclocks!