Sitting on the park bench wondering where her life her career was taking her was one of the things she did often. She often found herself sitting on the hard wooden bench staring into space thinking. Like in her coup on the bench she often found herself head first in a case. Justice for the victims. That's what it's all about. It doesn't matter if each case handed to you sucks you dry, breaks your heart, or leaves you with more than you bargained for.
It was all for the victims. The lives ones, the dead ones, the faceless ones, or simply the ones who have not found the courage to step up and speak of their life changing experience. It's never about you it's about them. She worries when the day is slow. Are there any victims on the slow days? You bet. She worries when they have multiple cases at the same time. Not because they won't be able to find the perp but because how humanity slowly kills itself.
She simply worries for everyone around her. Her friends mostly. The family, her only family, died. The burden and guilt lifted a little the day she got the news of her mother's accident. But it was still there. She carried the burden and guilt of every victim she came across. A constant reminder.
"You're losing it, Benson." She chastised herself. Her thoughts wandering again. Going on overdrive. Processing everything over and over again.
"Do you always speak to yourself? Because if you do0 I might have to agree with you." Came the strong timbre of an unknown voice.
Turning around to see who had interrupted her thoughts she caught sight of the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Her hair was pale blonde matching with her skin. Her eyes were an ocean blue. They were filled with warmth and something else she couldn't put a name to it. The strangers face was exquisite. High cheek bones, delicate nose, strong jaw. She didn't know if her mouth was open but the woman was beautiful.
She looked up into the tender blue eyes and smiled. "I'm going to have to agree with myself and you on that one as well. I am losing it. She extended a hand to stranger and introduced herself, "Olivia Benson."
The woman gave a small smile and shook the hand, "Alex Cabot."
She eyes the stranger once more. Olivia is still holding her hand. The warmth from the pale thin hands sending pulses to the one of the Detectives.
"Mind if I sit down?", the blonde asks while taking her hand back. She's not offended that the brunette held it longer than usual. She has that affect on everyone. She hides her amusement. The attraction that she feels for the dark figure is immediate.
"No. Not at all." She slowly slides over to accommodate the beautiful stranger.
The blonde seeing Olivia move to the side of the bench sits in the middle. Her firm thigh against jean clad firm thigh. She smiled inwardly when she hears the dark figure intake a sharp breath. She still has that affect on people.
"So...", Olivia says.
The silence between them is comfortable. Taking each other in slowly on the outside but the Detectives mind is racing. In her bench she never thought she would meet such a beautiful woman. The bench is located in on of the 'dirty' sides of the park. The old age showing up on the cracks of the sidewalk. On the worn down trash cans, benches and fences. The trees withered and old. Carvings of old romances on the tree trunks. The grass a mass of brown and mud.
"What do you do for a living?", Alex breaks the silence.
"I'm a detective."
"Interesting occupation. Now I know why you talk to yourself."
A small chuckle escapes Olivia. She tries to hold it back but it's futile attempt. None of this goes unnoticed by the beautiful stranger.
"You should laugh more. You have a pretty smile." She caresses the Detectives cheek with her soft knuckles.
Alex's touch is somewhat comforting to Olivia. She hasn't been touched like that in a while. She hasn't been loved in a while. She doesn't know what it is. She knows the feeling of a warm body. But she doesn't know the feeling of a warm body loving her.
She smiles at the caress and takes Alex's hand in hers. The surprise at how well they fit together isn't lost on the Detective. Alex hides the electricity going through her body and waking her dormant senses.
"You're beautiful."
The blonde blushes.
"You are. You can't tell me you don't know that. Someone would have to be blind no to notice."
The fading red hue comes back. Olivia smiles.
"Thank you."
They sit there once again in comfortable silence. No one says a word. The trees rustle when the autumn wind picks up. The remaining multi-colored leaves fall to the ground. Joining the dead brown ones.
"So...", Alex says.
"Sorry I'm not talkative."
"Is it because you just met me?", inquires the blonde.
"Yes. Maybe." She's unsure.
She's so pretty. Beautiful. Thighs are still presses against each other. Warmth radiating from each body seeps into each other. Keeping them warm in the autumn wind. Even the lonely need someone.
"What do you do?"
"Me?"
"Anyone else here that I should know about." She flashes a bright smile.
Alex simply chuckles. "I don't work yet. Just moved here."
"Ni..." The ringing of a cell phone interrupts. Advanced technology only makes itself present at the worst moments. She looks apologetically at the tender blues.
"Benson."
Another case.
"Ok."
Vague details.
"I'll be there."
Diving board ready? Head first.
"Hey Alex, I have to go. I'll see you around."
She hides her disappointment well. "Sure no problem."
"My bench is always here.", Olivia jokes. Another smile.
"Will you?"
"Cant promise anything."
She let go of the hand she'd been holding the entire time. The emptiness is felt immediately. Getting up to face and make demons of her own. It's always for the victims.
Looking back she smiles. She's never had anyone affect her like this. On impulse she leans down and gives a quick peck on the cheek to the beautiful blonde stranger. She gets a smile back.
Game face on. It's all about the victims now. The people they met. The people we'll meet. The one's we'll put away. It's always about the people we meet.