TITLE: Empire of Dirt
PAIRING: A/O (what else?)
SUMMARY: It's been years, since they were together, can they find their way back? And more importantly, can any foundation survive an empire of dirt?
Alex Cabot pinched the bridge of her nose and for the hundredth time she looked at her desk calendar. The date had not, surprisingly, changed. It was the anniversary of her death and while she'd just as soon forget the day had ever happened, the media wouldn't allow it; hadn't allowed it for the last five years.
She let out a bitter laugh as she considered what a double edge sword that event had been; on the one hand it had cost her everything she'd ever held dear in her life and on the other it had given her everything she'd ever though she could want.
The day had gone much like every one of the last five; the obligatory media release, a public appearance so there would be news footage to show that night and the endless coverage on the cable news networks. She'd opted to skip out on a planned dinner, wishing to stay holed up in her office instead of being gawked at in a restaurant with her dinner companion and security detail by her side.
She was torn from her reverie by a knock on her office door.
"Come in." She looked up to see her trusted assistant Mason standing in the doorway.
"Governor?"
"Yes Mason?"
"The package is waiting for you in it's usual spot."
Alex barely managed to suppress a smirk at Mason's businesslike manner.
"Thank you Mason."
When the older man did not move, Alex looked back up and caught her eye. The raised brow asked the unspoken question.
"Do I need to work late this evening Governor Cabot?"
"I think we're well past the hour of working late Mason, but if you wouldn't mind staying, this shouldn't take long." Alex ignored the almost imperceptible flinch of her assistant and stood up, making her way out of the office.
Mason was discrete enough not to follow Alex into the private living quarters of the Governor's mansion, but she stayed close enough to stop anyone who might happen to wander into the wrong place at the wrong time. He took a seat in the sitting room at the top of the steps and busied himself reading a magazine.
Alex hurried into her bedroom and changed into a camisole. After running a brush through her hair, she slipped down the hallway and into the spare room. She was glad the lights were out and she was only caught slightly off guard when two strong hands grabbed her and then pulled her back against them. She turned and ran her hands up and down over familiar leather. She allowed herself to relax into the embrace briefly before pulling the short, dark hair to her.
"Alex…"
"Shh. Just fuck me." She ran her hands to the front of her lover's pants. "Are you…"
"Yes. That's what you asked for."
Alex stepped backwards and settled on the bed, watching her lover undress in the darkness. Even in the shadows the strength and leanness of the body couldn't be missed and she readily accepted the weight of her lover on top of her.
After several long minutes of kissing, touching and caressing, her lover made an almost fatal mistake; she moved down Alex's body and tried to settle her face between the blonde's legs. Alex squeeze her legs together, drawing a yelp from the dark head.
In a stern voice, Alex admonished, "You know the rules."
"I just thought that today being today and all…"
"You aren't here to think." Realizing how that sounded, she tried to soften her words. "I appreciate the thought, but I know what I want and how I want it." She ran her hands through the soft, brown hair. "I do like your haircut though." She pulled on the woman until they were face to face and she kissed her long and hard.
After several more long moments, the brunette pushed into Alex in one long, fluid stroke. She allowed her time to adjust to the new size.
"Are you ok?"
Alex heard the concern in her voice and squelched her desire to rebel against it, opting instead for a simple nod.
"It's not too big…"
"Shut up and fuck me. Please."
A short while later, Alex clinched around the dildo and let out a long, low moan. Barely recovered, she slipped her hand down between the harness and body of her lover, Finding the wet, swollen nub, she stroked long and hard, quickly bringing her lover over the edge with force.
She held the other woman to her and allowed her time to recover before turning them so that they were each on their backs, looking up at the ceiling.
"How's the new job going?"
"It's good, I like it. Thank you for helping with that."
"You were more than qualified, you just needed the right introduction." Alex grasped her lover's hand and held it. "When do classes start?"
"Two weeks."
"Ok, just make sure you give Mason a copy of your schedule."
"Oh joy. I know what he must think of me."
"Nonsense! Mason is nothing if not respectful."
"Says you. You aren't the one who gets snuck in and out like a thief in the night!"
Alex leaned over and kissed her lover. "Speaking of which, I asked him to wait tonight."
Sighing, her lover rolled out of bed and began to dress. "Tomorrow's Saturday Alex…couldn't I stay just this once?"
Alex's voice had a warning tone. "Morgan, you know…"
"Yeah, I know. That's not what you pay me for. I know my role."
"Morgan! You make it sound like…like…"
"Like I'm a paid stud? That I come and go at your whim, like a kept woman? That I fuck you, always with a dildo or my fingers, never my mouth because…."
"Morgan!" Alex was now out of bed, and angry. "You know the rules. You've known them from the beginning. They aren't about to change now."
Morgan hung her head. "I know Alex. I just worry about you. You've become more…withdrawn the last couple of months." She walked over to her lover and kissed her on the forehead. "I'll see you next week, ok?"
She watched her lover slip out the door and when she was sure she was gone, she quickly made her way to her bedroom, where she shut the door and allowed her tears that had been threatening to fall all day, fall.
XXXXXXXXXX
Earlier that Night
New Jersey
Capt. Olivia Benson nervously knocked on the door of the house, half hoping, half fearing it's occupant would be home. She was just about to leave when the door opened.
"Olivia."
"Julia…I…."
The dark haired woman stepped aside and waved Olivia inside.
"I've been expecting you."
"Oh?"
"I know what today is Olivia and I also know you aren't going to get what you need from Rebecca. She wants more than you're able to give her." She shut the door behind her guest and reached for her jacket. "I on the other hand want nothing more than what you are offering."
She pulled an all to willing Olivia to her in a bruising kiss.
"Fuck me Captain."
XXXXXXXX
Later that night
Olivia Benson woke with a start from a fitful sleep. Unsure of what had awakened her and unaccustomed to being in a strange place, she stilled her breathing and listened for any sound. She was just about to get out of bed and go check the house when an arm draped itself across her middle.
"There's nothing out there Olivia."
Olivia glanced over her shoulder. "Sorry I woke you. I just…something must have woken me up."
"You know very well what woke you Olivia." She pressed her naked body more firmly against Olivia's back. "Why don't you just call her?"
Olivia moved quickly, flipping Julia beneath her.
"Why don't I just fuck you instead?"
Julia grinned. "Well, it is awfully late to call."
XXXXXXXXXXX
Dawn the next morning in….
Albany
Alex was awake in time to see the sun come up. Truth be told, she hadn't ever really gone to sleep the night before. Easing out of bed, she slipped into her robe and made her way down the hall to the spare bedroom she'd been in the night before with Morgan. She knew she'd find no trace of their activities; it was after all what Mason had waited around for, but she needed to feel connected to something. The man routinely took the sheets to his home to wash so the housekeeping staff would never suspect what went on after hours.
After her divorce from Robert amid a scandal, Alex had been able to safely skirt the dating issue by citing her fear of being betrayed again, but she knew that argument only had a limited shelf life, and the expiration date was fast approaching. So was her bid for re-election.
Going back to her room, she took out a favorite and well-worn book. Somewhere in the middle, there was a photograph of Olivia and her at a trial from years ago. This photo was her guilty pleasure. She held it and wondered what Olivia was doing. More precisely, who Olivia was doing. Deciding not to dwell on that, she trudged into the shower, intent on starting her day. She had planned on going to her mother's grave later that morning.
New York City
After their last session of sex, Olivia had waited for Julia to fall asleep and then she'd quietly slid out of bed and made her way home just as the sun was coming up. She'd logged onto her computer and checked her email, not surprised to find an email from Rebecca. It was essentially a Dear John letter and Olivia was secretly relieved the relationship was over.
She picked up yesterday's paper and re-read the story they'd done on Alex and all she had accomplished since her return from the dead. The article even mentioned that she might be a Senate candidate or a Vice Presidential nominee at some point. Many had been surprised to learn her party of choice was Democratic, but then most people didn't know Alex preferred the Sapphic arts to getting boned nine times out of ten.
Olivia's stomach turned as she read the inevitable mention of Robert and his betrayal of Alex. While she had mixed feelings about Alex, her feelings toward Robert Shelton were nothing if decisive; he was a bastard.
Putting the paper down, Olivia decided to catch a few more hours of shuteye. She unplugged her phone and turned her cell off before collapsing into bed.
It seemed as if her head had just hit the pillow when the banging on her door started. In reality, it was roughly four hours later as she pulled herself from the bed and stumbled to the door.
"Hold your horses! I'm coming." Mumbling to herself, she threw the door open without looking out the peephole. "Elliot?" The grim face of her former partner was replaced by the irritated face Agent Hammond. Olivia's blood ran cold. "What's happened to Alex?"