TITLE: Worth Every Penny

PAIRING: A/O

RATING: MA

SUMMARY: Vegas, a seminar and an in-call

SPOILERS: Set after Alex returns from the Congo.

DISCLAIMER: Not mine.

Alex glanced at her seat mate and took a moment to study Olivia Benson. The detective's head was leaning against the window of the plane, mouth slightly open, hair in disarray. She smiled at the sight and wondered, not for the millionth time, what waking up with Olivia Benson would feel like.

Dismissing such thoughts, she gently shook the brunette awake and let her know they were about to land in Las Vegas. They had been sent to a national law enforcement seminar to give a presentation on the role of cooperation in sex crimes between departments and successful outcomes.

Alex had hoped that Munch or Fin or even Rollins would be sent instead of Olivia, but her hopes fell on deaf ears and so she was across the country with a woman she'd carried a torch for, for the better part of a decade, with no hope of reciprocation.

She had made sure that she and Olivia would not be sharing a hotel room, something she hadn't told Olivia.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After getting their bags and rental car, Alex allowed Olivia to drive them to the Venetian and manage their luggage as she waited in line to check them in. When it became her turn, Olivia stepped up beside her, and was surprised to learn she had a different room than Alex, on a different floor.

For her part, Alex was relieved she was two floors above Olivia. As the brunette went to get off the elevator, she asked Alex if she wanted to get dinner and the blond agreed.

Olivia had been disappointed at not sharing a room with Alex, as she'd been hoping to regain the closeness they'd had before the Congo. Even as she'd fallen into and out of bed with David Hadden, her thoughts were never too far from Alex.

Sighing, she made her way to her hotel room and after unpacking, she called Alex to see if she wanted to do some sight seeing before dinner and was happy when the blond accepted, and a little surprised when Alex said she'd just meet her downstairs.

As she left the elevator she saw familiar blond hair and smiled as she made her way through the slot machines, trying to get to Alex. Her smile abruptly disappeared when she saw Alex being very friendly to a striking Asian woman.

She watched as the woman handed Alex what appeared to be a business card and frowned as Alex leaned in and placed a kiss on the woman's cheek. As the woman walked away, Olivia ducked behind a slot machine and waited until Alex turned around, seemingly looking for the brunette.

"Alex, over here."

"Hey. Ready to grab some food?"

Olivia smiled. "Unless you want to play the slots? Or try your hand at blackjack?"

Alex smiled back and shook her head. "Food detective. I need food." And sex. With you.

Olivia looked around and saw the sign for Delmonico by Emeril Lagasse. "How about there?"

Alex shook her head and grabbed Olivia's hand, pulling her through the casino to the parking garage.

Still holding Olivias's hand she turned to the brunette and asked, "Where did you park?"

Olivia glanced down at their hands and then up to Alex's face. Realizing she was still holding the brunette's hand, Alex quickly dropped it and mumbled an apology. They stood awkwardly for a few moments until Alex snapped out of it.

"The car?"

Missing the feeling of Alex's hand in her own, Olivia alson finally snapped out of it and pointed down a row of cars.

"We're down there, but where are we going?"

Alex smiled. "In-N-Out. Best burgers and fries this side of the Mississippi and only available in Nevada, Texas and California."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Olivia watched as Alex ate something called a double-double with something akin to idol worship. As the blond's tongue came out to catch an errant smear of the so-called "special sauce," Olivia shifted in her seat wishing she had "special sauce" smeared all over her body.

She watched, as Alex savored a particularly long french fry and darted her tongue out to clean her upper lip.

Realizing she was being watched, Alex said around a mouth full of fries, "What?"

"You seem to really be enjoying the burger and fries. I've just never seen you eat like this before. You're usually more..."

"Proper?"

Olivia chuckled, "I was going to say restrained."

"I haven't had In-N-Out since we were here the last time." Realizing what she'd just said, she stopped talking and wide-eyed, she looked at Olivia.

"Last time? I wasn't aware you'd been to Vegas before." She glanced down and then back. "Robert?"

Alex shook her head. "Heaven's no. Robert thought Vegas was beneath him. Actually, only New York, Paris and London were worthy of his presence."

For just the briefest of moments Olivia saw anger flare in the blond's eyes. Before she could comment, it was gone and the blond was talking again.

"I'm sorry Alex. What did you just say?"

"I said, I did a year in Albuquerque while in witness protection and a friend and I would come over on the weekends a lot."

Olivia stuck a fry in her mouth and nodded. "I never knew you lived in New Mexico. I guess I just thought you were always in Wisconsin." Olivia looked down. "With your good man."

Oblivious to Olivia, Alex shook her head. "No, Wisconsin was my second stop after Iowa. New Mexico was the last and my favorite."

"Never pictured you for a desert and sweat lodge kind of girl Alex."

The blond laughed. "I'm not, which is why Marti and I came over to Vegas a lot. Marti's girlfriend was in one of the Cirque shows, and Vegas was as close to New York as I could get."

"Vegas showgirl for a girlfriend? I bet he was a happy man." Olivia smiled.

"Oh she was. Marti was short for Martha, not that you'd ever call her that if you valued your life."

"She?"

Alex frowned. "Yes, she."

"Sorry, I just didn't know you had any lesbian friends Alex. Did you stay with them?" Did you join them?

Alex's look was one that said pissed. "I have friends from all walks of life Olivia."

"I know that Alex. I'm sorry. I just, well, I don't really know what I thought. It's not a big deal, just...oddly surprising."

Alex raised an eyebrow, but ultimately let it go. "Yes, I stayed with them." Blushing, she looked away. "But not always."

"Ah. Three's a crowd sometimes, huh?"

"Something like that." Placing all of their trash on a tray, Alex asked, "ready to go?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

As Olivia drove down the strip she saw a billboard for one of the Crique shows.

"Hey Alex, does Mart's girlfriend still live here?"

Surprised, Alex shrugged. "I don't know. Why?"

"Oh. I saw you with the Asian lady at the casino. I just thought that might be her."

Alex squirmed in her seat and quickly answered, "No! That was just...an old acquaintance I knew from back then. We bumped into each other. That's all. Her name is Michelle."

Olivia nodded. That would certainly explain why the woman was giving her a card. Feeling relieved Olivia suggested they visit the top of the Stratosphere, to which Alex agreed.

Alex declined the roller coaster ride at the top, but had to smile at Olivia's childlike enthusiasm. She rubbed her arms as a gust of wind kicked up, causing her to shiver. Olivia saw her and took off her leather jacket and draped it around the blond's shoulders.

"Olivia! You're going to need this on the ride!"

Waggling her eyebrows at Alex, she replied, "Counselor, I'm hot blooded."

Alex watched her disappear into the elevator to the coaster and pulled the jacket more firmly around her, inhaling Olivia's scent. When she saw Olivia's group get seated on the coaster, she pulled out her phone and made a quick call.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

2 Hours Later

Alex Cabot's room

Alex flipped her hair over and back, made a final adjustment to her lipstick and tightened the sash on her robe. She glanced at the clock and smiled as there was a knock on her door. Not bothering to look through the peephole she opened the door and pulled the brunette inside.

"Punctual."

The brunette smiled. "Yes, I am."

Alex stepped into the shorter woman's arms and kissed her.

"Fuck now, talk later."

"You're the boss."

.