Lunch
Disclaimer: I own nothing
From my Wishful Thinking universe. Thank you to all those who reviewed.
Olivia stood in line at the small deli with Elliot just prior to lunch on Monday morning. After 24 hours of nonstop running things had slowed down enough for them to try and satisfy the disgruntled rumblings in their stomachs.
Unfortunately it also gave time for Olivia to think about the aborted date with Alex last night. Just her friggin luck. Quiet for a week and then when she has a chance to get to know the beautiful blonde better some arse decides to dump his weekly plaything in a back alley. She grimaced slightly at her disrespect towards a woman that had deserved better than to be beaten, raped and tortured to death then dumped like garbage. Unfortunately it was habit though, you did and said all sorts of things at a crime scene and afterwards to help you get through. Scenes like that were emergency responder's worst nightmares.
Checking out the small fridge displaying pre wrapped rolls, sandwiches and wraps she smiled as a couple of freshly wrapped chicken wraps were placed inside by kitchen staff. She had no hesitation about reaching for one before pausing. She wondered whether Alex had eaten yet, she knew she had court that morning, a pre sentence appearance for another arse they had captured a few months ago. Maybe she could make it up to the young attorney by bringing her lunch.
She reached for the second wrap, hoping that Alex liked chicken. She had no idea, that had been the idea of the date last night, getting to know the blonde, finding out her likes and dislikes and what made her tick outside putting away scum.
"Wow, two? You must be hungry" Elliot chuckled causing her to jump slightly and shut the fridge door.
"No, I owe Alex a meal" she said casually before turning to the woman behind the counter and requesting 2 diet cokes to go with the wraps "What do you want El, my shout. I owe you one"
"Er can I get the salami baguette please, and a Pepsi" he told the woman and Olivia winced. Salami and Elliot did not combine well, she was going to suffer for the rest of the day. "So what's this about owing Alex?" he asked as they stepped aside to wait for his baguette and allow others through.
"We were supposed to do dinner last night, I had to cancel" she told him glancing around the deli, always on the alert. This was New York, you could never drop your guard, even if you weren't a cop.
"Seriously. Why? You'd spend the night shivering, she is one cold woman" he grumbled remembering all the run ins he'd had with the icy ADA "Shame someone that young and hot is so cold" he gave a mock shiver and Olivia scowled at him, wanting to jump in and defend the attorney but also not wanting to give Elliot a clue it was meant to be anything more than just dinner.
"Come on El she isn't that bad" she grumbled
"Excuse me, says you who has regular cat fights with her" Elliot chuckled "I swear Liv, just last Monday I thought you were going to strangle her"
Olivia winced, she had been spitting mad at the blonde because the woman wouldn't budge, had determined they didn't have enough evidence to pull in the suspect after working 48 hours straight to scrape any evidence they could find together. It was just as well they hadn't because hours later the bastard had slipped up on his own and Alex had no issues with them hauling his sorry arse in then. She winced again, she still hadn't apologised for that, not something she did well.
"Hell Elliot she just likes to make sure we have evidence, not a gut feeling before making an arrest" she defended the attorney and watched as one of her partners eyebrows rose and he smiled in amusement.
"I'll remind you of that when you next go toe to toe" he laughed and thanked the woman who handed over his lunch before leading her outside. Once on the sidewalk they stepped back near the building to allow the rush of New Yorkers, in a hurry to get nowhere fast, to get by. "So you're really ditching me for the blonde" he grizzled and she couldn't help but laugh.
"Yeah El, I really am." She pat him soothingly on the arm "Give her a break OK, she was fun on Saturday night"
Elliot snorted "She was hammered on Saturday night thanks to Munch spiking the beer. We all knew his habit, she got caught out" he laughed at the sudden memory of the cool ADA dancing around the pool cue and singing into it "God if she ever remembers any of that our lives will become miserable"
"She doesn't" Olivia chuckled along with him as she was assailed by her own memories of the Pub, quickly replaced by a blush as memories of Alex begging her to come to bed suddenly hit her. Oh boy "Well I better go, I'll see you in an hour Ok"
"Righto, I'll let dad know. He shouldn't have a problem since it's our first break since yesterday" he hunched his shoulders and looked over at the precinct then down the road to Hogan Place "Maybe I'll call up Kathy and say hi, let her know I'm still alive"
"Sounds like a plan" Olivia smiled and turned to head off, trying to not seem too eager and aware that Elliot's confused gaze watched her leave. As she walked towards the office building that was home to the city's ADA's and other lawyers a tingle broke out in her stomach and a light sheen of perspiration covered her hands. She was nervous. This next hour was make or break she knew, as to whether she would get another chance to take out the delectable attorney. She blew out a rush of breath, no pressure. No pressure at all.
Alex power stalked into her office, slamming the door behind her with satisfaction and throwing her briefcase on her couch in the corner, not wanting to see its contents again until later. Striding around her desk she saw her glasses sitting on the pile of papers she had been reading, exactly where she had left them when she realised she was late for court.
Judge Petrovski hated her and asked her why she shouldn't be held in contempt and she was forced to eat humble pie in front of Langan. Bastard had stood there smirking. Then she realised she had left her glasses behind and due to the result of squinting to read she was now suffering a headache.
Slumping in her chair she tipped her head back and closed her eyes, releasing a sigh of pleasure as she kicked off her shoes. She probably shouldn't have done that though, it was a bitch to get them back on.
Her life had become hell in a hand basket since yesterday. Well since Saturday night really. After Olivia had left to go home and she had got up to prepare for her date she had been assailed by memories from the night before. Mortified she had wondered how she was going to show her face in the one six again.
Of course once Olivia had left she had also started to question her mind and what on earth had possessed her to accept a date with the beautiful woman. Yes she was beautiful, and kind and honest and caring. Not to mention fiercely loyal with a red hot temper that got her own going on occasions. Yes the smell of her was intoxicating, yes a smile made her knees tremble and a touch made her spine tingle but still. She was a woman, she'd never even looked at a woman before.
A light tap alerted her to someone at the door and if she could have she would have screamed at them to go away. Sighing she sat up straighter and tried to ignore the pounding in her temples as she bid for whoever it was to enter. Possibly her god mother and boss Liz Donnelly, she'd wanted a meeting this morning but she had been scurrying off to court late.
"Enter" she called again and watched in surprise as her secret fantasy, well not so secret she guessed, poked her head around the door "Oh, it's you" She grimaced when Olivia blinked, looking slightly hurt and dumbfounded by the comment "Sorry that didn't come out right, I was expecting Liz" she hastily assured.
"Oh" Olivia stepped further into view and Alex had to swallow a groan. There was nothing sexier than the brunette detective in pants that hugged her, tight shirt, leather jacket and big belt with her gun and badge clipped to it. With her natural dark complexion, short hair and warm caramel eyes she turned Alex into a salivating badge bunny.
She watched as the older woman approached her with a nervous smile that settled her own butterflies in the pit of her stomach. The great Detective Benson was nervous, she'd never seen her nervous before.
"I um brought lunch as an apology, you haven't eaten have you?" Olivia asked holding up a very delicious looking wrap. Considering she'd left her pre prepared lunch of saltines on the kitchen bench this morning she was very happy to see the food.
"No I haven't." Alex's mouth started to water and she flushed when her stomach growled. Then she remembered the other part of what Olivia said "Apology? You haven't been badgering suspects again have you?" she teased watching with raised eyebrows as Olivia moved to her couch and picking up her briefcase from where she threw it placed it aside before sitting and patting the couch next to her.
"Only if they deserve it" she chuckled a glint in her eye "I meant for cancelling last night"
"Oh" Alex cleared her throat while searching under the table with her feet for her shoes. One was handy but the other was too far away to reach "Blast it" she muttered.
"What?" Olivia blinked confused, looking up from trying to get the cling plastic off her wrap.
"My shoe, I kicked them off earlier"
"Alex it's just lunch, relax, forget the shoe" Olivia shook her head, returning her attention to her food.
Alex paused thinking about it, she really would love to give her feet a breather and it was Olivia. She'd seen her at her worst on Saturday night, hung over and in pj's Sunday morning. What was going barefoot compared to that? Sighing she stood and moved around her desk, rubbing her aching neck muscles wearily. It was only lunch time on Monday with the whole week to go. Gratefully plopping down next to the brunette she reached for her diet coke and popping the lid took a long drought. Olivia chuckled
"That good huh?"
"I have had a crap morning" Alex put down her drink and picked up her wrap, trying not to get frustrated as it proved challenging to get into "I left my lunch on my kitchen bench so I thank you for this, I couldn't find some files this morning and then when I eventually found them I got lost in reading the reports. This made me late for court with Petrovski"
Olivia winced sympathetically, that old battle axe. Alex continued to regale her with how she'd forgotten her glasses, how Langan had smirked, how much her feet hurt, her head hurt and she still had a meeting with Liz this afternoon and figured she was going to be chewed up and spat out.
Olivia tried her best not to choke at the mental picture she suddenly got from that comment, however it didn't involve Liz or any spitting out. Alex was oblivious as she finally took a bite of her wrap and groaned in delight, once again causing tingles to shoot down the brunette's spine.
"This is so good, thank you. I'm sorry for dumping on you"
Olivia blinked herself back into the present and shifted to a more comfortable position.
"It's fine Alex, it's all a part of what we're doing isn't it?" she waited for the blue eyes which captivated her to raise and meet her own "The getting to know each other, being able to talk, share the load a bit and lean, just a little."
Alex supposed it was, she was a little caught up in how hot the detective looked, how much she wanted the right to be able to place her head on those shoulders, to borrow that leather jacket, to touch that gorgeous soft skin and to kiss those pouty lips. She hadn't really thought of anything else. Stupid.
"Yes, I..I suppose" she smiled nervously "It's going to be hard" she admitted
"Yep" Olivia muttered around a mouthful of chicken and salad while watching the other woman carefully.
"I'm a very private person, I don't open up easily and people say I'm unapproachable." Alex admitted and Olivia paused looking at her, seeing the discomfort behind the words "They complain because I talk about my job so much, what I can"
"Hey" Olivia reached over and took her hand gently giving it a tender squeeze, both ladies hit by how well their hands fitted, how their fingers interlocked easily, how Olivia's slightly large palm cradled Alex's. Olivia's dark skin was a perfect contrast to Alex's pale, her warmth a quiet comfort for Alex's slightly cooler. They meshed well and both recognised it as a sign, a good start. "Your job is a part of you, it's something I like, your dedication. You want justice for the victims and fight hard to get it for them. I know all about your job and I like what you do, it's the personal side I want to get to know now" she added quietly.
"Me too" Alex flushed and they sat quietly eating their lunch, both lost in their own thoughts. Alex was glad Olivia came, not just so she got to eat, but because her mind was a lot calmer about them possibly dating. The more she thought about it, the more eager she was to retry their date "Lets make some rules" she suddenly blurted and caramel eyes turned to her questioningly.
"Rules?" Olivia queried
"Yes, about...about our dates." She explained nervously hoping Olivia would follow and agree with her line of thinking "Why don't we do things together, like dinner or drinks or watch movies without putting the added pressure of the term date to it" she shot the detective a look and could see the curiosity in her eyes, no disappointment or animosity at the small back pedal.
"Having said that if the situation arises and it feels right we can um link arms walking or hold hands or..."
"Kiss goodnight" Olivia teased watching the blonde swallow hard and flush before nodding "It sounds like a plan Alex. Can I add one rule to it?"
"Sure" Alex figured that was fair, they were in this together.
"What happens at work stays at work." Olivia stated firmly "If we have a disagreement about evidence or direction of a case we don't use it as an excuse or weapon against the other"
Alex thought about it, in theory it was great, putting it into practice was going to be hard. They went toe to toe nearly every case they had so far. Alex did it because she found Olivia exciting, challenging and just a little bit sexy in the middle of an argument. However Olivia was right, if they were serious about this they couldn't throw their differences in opinion at work in each other's faces outside of work.
"Ok" she agreed and Olivia nodded
"Good. I'll always try and make our commitments but if I can't I will at least text you and we will reschedule"
"That sounds fine" Alex smirked cocking her head to the side "And if that's the case, you still owe me dinner"
"Yes ma'am" Olivia grinned knowing dating the blonde was going to be challenging in a lot of ways but she also had a feeling it could be surprisingly soothing.
Just like that they agreed, no need for hashing and rehashing it, trying to make it something it wasn't. They'd spend time outside of work and let it naturally progress.
They continued to eat their meal in silence, sitting side by side on the couch. After dinner Olivia offered up a massage when the blonde complained about a stiff neck. At first the young ADA declined then gave in to it when the detective jumped up and started kneading at the tired muscles with strong fingers.
It took all of Alex's control not to moan, melt and beg Olivia for something more. Olivia merely chuckled and kept her semi alert by filling her in more on their latest case. Alex didn't care as long as the massage didn't stop.
All good things must come to an end though as Olivia was due back at the precinct. Prior to leaving she crawled under Alex's desk and rescued her shoes, handing them over with a flourish and a wink before heading for the door.
"Thursday" she informed the now relaxed ADA who was sitting like a limp noodle in her chair. "I know a great little Italian place, you'll like it. Munch and Fin are catching"
Alex watched her disappear out the door with a goofy smile on her face, suddenly ready to take on Liz and counting down until Thursday.