AN: I'm back with a little two shot from the Chocolate and Glasses/Cabenoah universe that was inspired by the Instagram pic on Mariska's account of her and 'Noah'. I've been wanting to write something regarding that adorable pic since it was posted, I just had to wait for my muse to come up with the story. Like all of my Cabenoah stories, they are written from both Olivia and Alex's POV's, except this one starts with Alex's POV and will conclude with Olivia's POV. I'll post the image to the Cabenoah board (link on my lookup) for those that mightn't know what Instagram image I'm referring to. Thankyou to livsgirl for helping out on the flying armed information :-). Also thankyou to trace619 for... everything ;-).
I hope readers enjoy Alex's POV (tissues might be required) and please let me know what you think :-)
"Ladies and gentlemen, this is your Captain speaking. We will be commencing our descent into Los Angeles shortly. We ask that..."
Removing my earbuds then stowing them in my blazer pocket, I seemingly turn my attention to the in-flight magazine now that I can't continue watching the in-flight entertainment... not that I was really watching or listening to begin with. My mind and thoughts have been elsewhere during this almost six hour flight. Half of my thoughts have been focused on this extradition Detective Odafin Tutuola and I undertaking with an NYPD Officer from the 6th floor of the 16th Precinct that's taken the course on flying armed, Officer Preston. With John Munch and Donald Cragen now retired, it's only Amanda, Nick, Fin and Olivia holding down the fort. As much as I'd have preferred another SVU squad member along for the extradition, I can't be choosy under the circumstances. The other half of my thoughts have been 2,500 miles away back in New York... back with my beautiful fiancée and our gorgeous son.
To be honest, I shouldn't even be part of this extradition, Barba should be. Unfortunately Rafael was in court, the third day of a high profile case no less, when the call came through from the LAPD that our rapist had been arrested in downtown LA for assaulting a member of the public. Therefore as the Executive Assistant District Attorney to the Special Victims Unit, I had to take Rafael's place once all the paperwork from our end had been finalised.
Telling Olivia that I'm the one that has to fly over to the other side of the country was no problem. She understands the nature of our jobs all too well and what it can entail. She's realises I'm not leaving like I done in the past, whether it was my decision or not.
Witness Protection.
International Criminal Court.
Liv knows I'll be back in New York somewhere between 18 to 24 hours time, depending on flights and how long the extradition hearing takes.
The one individual that doesn't understand why I have to go away is Noah. He's too young to understand the horrors Olivia and I see and hear constantly relating to our jobs. Nor does he fathom the things we have to do to put away the sick bastards that commit these heinous crimes… and thank goodness he doesn't. Unfortunately, even at his young age, Noah does understand about people leaving him. He had been passed from foster carer to foster carer, usually just around the time when he was beginning to form an attachment. Since he came into mine and Olivia's life, we have provided him with stability and the nurturing he needed.
That was until six hours ago...
Olivia glances over the top her glasses at me as she, Fin and Officer Preston go through the necessary documentation with the TSA agent to allow two members of the NYPD to fly armed. She informed me on the drive over to JFK that a teletype had been sent over NCIC to notify all federal agencies that Fin and Officer Preston would be flying armed this afternoon. With Noah on my hip, I take a moment to inhale the lingering scent of his baby shampoo. This, having to fly across the country, will be the first time either of us will be away from Noah overnight since he came into our lives. I knew it would happen one day, I just didn't expect it to happen so soon. We also both assumed Olivia would be the one to have the first night away from Noah, not myself.
"We have to go to the gate now," Olivia says as she approaches while Fin and Officer Preston follow the TSA agent.
"Already?" I reply, hoisting Noah higher on my hip as he clutches his fluffy caramel coloured teddy bear.
"Need to talk to the assigned Air Marshal and flight attendants," Olivia hands me Noah's diaper bag which I loop over my arm while she picks up my attaché case. She then grabs the extended handle of my carry on at my feet and begins wheeling the small suitcase behind her.
I'd forgotten how much needed to be done for anyone in law enforcement to fly armed but I understand why everything has to be in order. Not that I want to compare, but I know how much paperwork is involved on the legal side regarding an extradition, and this one is no different from the handful I have been involved with. Our warrant, a current photograph of our accused rapist, a copy of his fingerprints to name but a few.
Noah begins to wriggle, indicating that he wants to be put down so he can walk. Once he has his feet on the ground and I have his teddy bear under my arm, I hold his hand so he can't scamper off. Olivia slows her pace and takes Noah's free hand and we walk as a family towards our gate.
"Noah? Wanna play 'One, Two, Three, Whee'?" Olivia asks jovially.
A broad grin appears showing off his eight teeth in response.
Liv counts down, "One!... ...Two!... ...Three!... ...Wheeeeeeee!"
We hoist Noah off the ground a few inches before his feet are firmly back on the ground. His joyous laughter is music to our ears and we repeat the action, taking alternate turns counting down all the way to the gate. Once there, I keep Noah occupied with a snack of raisins and cheese cubes while Olivia joins Fin and Officer Preston to make sure everything is in order with the Air Marshal and the flight crew. I want and need to spend every moment I have left before departure with Noah. Olivia returns a few minutes later and sits down beside me.
"I don't want you to take this the wrong way because you know I trust Fin as much as you do, but I wish you were coming with me for the extradition," I whisper, allowing Noah to take another raisin from the container my hand.
Liv looks at me, "I wish I was too, sweetheart, but we can't both go. With waiting for Munch's replacement and still waiting to hear if we'll get someone to take Cragen's place in the foreseeable future, I have to stay here... and you know what it was like leaving Noah at day care for the first time. Thankfully he's becoming used to that now but just one of us being away overnight could upset him. I don't want to think how he's going to react with you not being there to read to him tonight."
I mutter with a sigh, "Don't remind me."
Fin sits down opposite us, "Hey Noah, my little man!"
A little hesitant at first Noah eventually toddles over to Fin and offers up his snack.
Fin leans forward, "Whatcha got there?... A raisin?! No little man, I'm good. You eat it."
Noah pops the raisin in his mouth and returns to me. He takes a cheese cube this time, returns to Fin and offers him his new snack.
"A cheese cube? Now you're talking, little man! Thanks!" Fin takes the offered snack and makes a show of eating it, earning a giggle from Noah and stifled laughs from Olivia and myself.
Noah comes back and gets another cheese cube but stops when Officer Preston sits down next to Fin. He wraps his arm around Olivia's shin and calf as he attempts to bury his face into her trouser covered knee.
"My little girl was just as shy at his age," Officer Preston comments while Olivia strokes the top of Noah's head in reassurance. "He should grow out of it eventually."
I'm not sure how much Officer Preston know of Noah's history but I'm not going tell him about it. I pack the container of snacks away into the diaper bag and catch Noah peeking up at me. I give him a loving smile which causes him to lift his head and smile in response.
"Eat your snack," Liv encourages.
Noah contemplates the cheese cube he holds with his small fingers then offers it to Olivia.
"Mommy's not hungry, Noah. Maybe Mama would like it?"
After some more contemplation, Noah offers me the yellow cube which I take and eat, much to Noah's delight.
Before too long the announcement comes that our plane is ready to board. Fin and I hang back as Officer Preston joins the queue with his ticket in hand.
"Fin, take good care of Alex for me," Olivia says as she gives him a brief hug.
"I don't think she needs protecting Liv... but I get what ya mean," Fin replies, discreeting tapping his gun on his hip hidden from view by this leather jacket. "See ya tomorrow, Sarg. Counsellor, I'll see you on the plane."
As much as I'd like to give Olivia a passionate kiss right now, neither of us like to indulge in gratuitous public displays of affection. Our lips meet and linger as we embrace.
Olivia murmurs as we break apart, "I love you, Alex."
"I love you too, Olivia."
I pick Noah up and hold him close before kissing his temple and inhaling his scent for the last time.
"Noah, you be a good boy for Mommy and..." I begin to choke up, "... and I'll see you really, really soon."
He looks at me curiously, studying my emotions that I'm trying to keep under control. I place a gentle kiss on his chubby little cheek then put him down. I gather my attaché case, carry on suitcase and boarding pass and begin to head towards the dwindling queue, Noah's bottom lip begins to wobble. He raises is arms up and voices is distress with a long howl of despair. I want nothing more than to gather him up in my arms, comfort and reassure him that I'll be back tomorrow. Who knew leaving your child for the first time could shatter your heart into thousands of pieces?
"I've got him," Olivia reassures me as she picks up Noah and holds him close. "You go, sweetheart. We'll see you tomorrow."
With much reluctance, I can only reply to Olivia with a small nod and head towards the gate. I chance a look back after my ticket has been scanned and see Noah clinging to Olivia for dear life. She gives me a tight smile as she tries to calm our wailing son...
I'm pulled from my memory by our plane landing smoothly on the runway and I take out my phone from my blazer pocket after stashing the magazine back into the seat pocket in front of me. Even though we can use our phones while flying, I prefer not to tempt fate. Switching my phone back on, I receive two text messages. One from Barba and the other from Olivia. Barba's text is just a brief summary of what happened on court and I'll reply to that when we get to the hotel. I open the other message from Olivia and see an image of her beaming at me, and holding Noah on our couch.
Only two words accompany the selfie: 'Missing Mama xoxo'.
I tap out a quick reply as the passengers around me jostle for position to claim their carry on luggage: 'Landed safely. Talk soon. Miss you both xoxoxoxo'