Rating: M for later chapters

Alex Cabot/Olivia Benson

Summary: Law and Order SVU

DISCLAIMER: None of the characters are mine; all of them belong to the powers that be at NBC and Dick Wolf. I'm just playing with them.

Chapter 1

Olivia pushed herself back from her desk and stood up to stretch the kinks worked out of her neck and back. The resounding pops brought welcome relief and Olivia looked down at the offending object which caused the pain and gave her chair a healthy kick.

"Hello?" asked a tentative voice,

Olivia was alone at the station. Being on call that evening she had decided to stay and complete some much needed paperwork along with reviewing some cold case files cluttering her desk. She turned slowly toward the voice.

"Yes, I am Detective Olivia Benson. Is there something I can help you with?" she replied.

"Yes, I am Nicole, Nici, Ricci and I was just raped." Came the strangled reply.

"OK," said Olivia in her most calming voice. "Nici, I need to know when this happened and if you've been seen by a doctor."

"I…I went to the hospital but…but… I just couldn't go inside and this police officer who was outside was discussing this particular unit and that it specifically handles rape cases. He…was explaining it to a person holding a camera. I think he was doing some TV thing. I don't know. Anyway…" she trailed off as if exhausted.

"Listen, Nici, we really need to go to the hospital and get a rape kit done. The closer to the actual event the better the DNA results will be. When did the attack occur and did you shower or wash since? "Olivia asked deliberately using words other than rape to keep the victim calm.

"Um, it was about an hour and half ago. No, I went directly to the hospital. I mean, I know about DNA and how important it is, I watch tv. Do you think you can catch him?" Nici was now rushing her words.

"Let's take care of one thing at a time, Nici. Right now our priority is to get you to the hospital." Olivia answered. She would call Cragen from the car or the hospital, but right now she needed to get Nici to the hospital. She quickly retrieved her coat and grabbed the keys to the car she'd signed out of the motor pool for a trip out to Riker's that day and hadn't had the chance to return yet, thankfully.

*****

Liv had called ahead to the hospital and the rape specialist nurse was waiting for them with the kit in hand. She immediately got a doctor and the exam began. Nici, as Olivia was prepared for, was hesitant even stepping foot into the hospital and when asked to strip began sob, deep heart wrenching sobs. Liv stayed with her throughout the exam careful only to touch Nici when she was reached for and even then very aware of keeping her touch gentle although it felt like a vice grip was squeezing her hand. For such a petite girl, she certainly was strong Liv thought ruefully. During the exam, Liv sized up her victim. She was maybe 110 pounds soaking wet, about 5"1-2" and had been dressed in jeans and T-shirt. Nici had dark hair and incredible eyes, large and round and a deep shade of grey. Her hair was worn stylishly shoulder length with a rather rumpled look, but Olivia guessed that was exactly the look she was going for and not a condition brought on by the rape. As they were collecting the last of the evidence Olivia already had a few answers to the steady stream of questions she had been quietly asking since the beginning of the exam partly to distract the girl and partly to get working on the case.

First, Nici saw the rapists face and would be able to sit with a sketch artist. Nici was actually an art student studying at SVA (The School of Visual Arts) and said she could probably draw her attacker herself. She had left the window open in her bedroom trying to get some cool air as she had done so many times before and she knew her attacker climbed through the window. She blamed herself saying how stupid it was to leave the window open and lock the front door tightly like she was locking up Fort Knox. Olivia nodded but said nothing since Nici lived on the fifth floor of a walkup.

Nici also had fought back, only to have her hands raised above her with one hand by her attacker and the lower half of her body pinned down by him. He was tall she said, easily 6'3" plus and had overpowered her without batting an eye. He used her own underwear as a gag as he raped her. The only words he said were, "I don't even need you bitch!" Then he was gone. Out through the window. She ran to look at how he'd gotten in the window in the first place, and saw him riding a cherry picker down to the ground and calmly getting into a white truck and driving away. There had been something covering the license plate, so she couldn't read the numbers.

Olivia began making phone calls to the necessary people as the nurse went in search of a pair of hospital issue sweats for Nici. She called CSU and gave the location of the attack. She called Elliot's mobile to meet them there and then realized Cragen and the rest of the crew were probably already at the precinct since it was going on 8:00 am. She called Cragen and filled him in and he directed her to bring Nici back to the station with her so they could get to work on the sketch. He would send Fin over to help Elliot while he had Munch run the MO through the database.

*****

Olivia and Nici arrived at the station and Nici was whisked off to an interview room with the sketch artist. Olivia instantly began organizing her note, preparing them for the meeting the crew would have shortly. The only saving grace seemed to be that this guy didn't use a condom. The rape kit had gathered plenty of DNA. Liv only hoped they would get a hit in the database.

An exhausted Olivia headed off to the crib for a quick nap while she had a few minutes of down time.

*****

About the same time Olivia's head hit the pillow, Alex Cabot was walking out of a coffee shop, with brew in hand, newspapers tucked under her arm and signature briefcase slung over her shoulder. She was walking with a sprite air to her step. Her date the previous evening had seemed perfect. He was intelligent, articulate, handsome, and had a sense of humor. Everything a girl could ask for wrapped up neatly with a bow. She was looking forward to a second date, something she hadn't been on in quite awhile. A second date, she thought to herself, she had no idea if he was even going to call her again and here she was planning on her second date. Cart before horse, she thought as she climbed the steps to the courthouse prepared for an arraignment. She couldn't wait to tell Liv about Thatcher. Olivia and she had become close friends and even confidants being the only females in their small group.

Alex entered the courthouse and headed down the hall towards her courtroom with a wistful smile playing about her lips. Seconds later, she turned into the Ice Queen she knew was her nickname behind her back. She didn't mind a bit, as a matter of fact she took it as a form a flattery. No one wanted to mess with her and she was happy to have earned the reputation. The other ADA's were jealous and the defense attorney's well, let's just say, had learned she played hardball.

Alex settled behind her desk after the arraignment and arriving at her office. She looked at the stack of never ending paperwork and wished she had a fairy god mother who handled motions and research and warrants and all of the other pressing matters inside each file.

At first Alex had wanted to be a part of the Special Victims Unit because she had higher political aspirations. Living victims would make wonderful voters. Homicide was what most ADA's were gunning for, but Alex was content to bide some time with SVU making a name for herself until she felt it was time to move on. She hoped to get Major Case one day. Then she met Olivia and decided her time here was worth more than just a vote. It was about getting justice for the victim. Alex had decided to stay at least 3 years with unit doing what she could to help this small group of underpaid and overworked detectives who bit into each case with such gusto it had become contagious.

Alex reached for the phone and dialed Olivia's cell ready to tell her about her wonderful date and her hopes for a future one.