This story takes place in the summer between season 19 and (hopefully!) season 20. Although the ladies have been getting along very well on the show this season, they are still learning how to get along in this story.
Noah, Jesse, and Frannie don't exist in this fic.
This story will be a few chapters long and is rated "M" for sexual content.
I'm halfway through chapter 6 of "Dead or Alive" but can't figure out how to continue with a certain part, so I'm still working on it.
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"When the working day is done
Oh girls, they wanna have fun
Oh girls just wanna have fun"
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Olivia Benson is slumped in her office, hands covering her face and feet tapping out a frustrated and impatient rhythm on the floor tiles. There are stacks of paperwork blanketing every available surface on the desk in front of her, the words on the computer screen blurring to the point where she has been forced to close her eyes and take a quick break from one of the many open cases that she and her squad are in the middle of.
It is only the beginning of the week and Olivia is already eager for it to be done, mourning the loss of her quiet weekend and wishing for more time off; her duties as lieutenant and the constant cycle of horrific cases having taken quite a toll on her lately. She can feel the acute stress and exhaustion pushing down upon her like a physical weight, her shoulders and chin wilting toward the desktop as she struggles to remain upright in her chair; quickly reminding herself that the office blinds are open and her subordinates are able to see inside the room.
As if the mere thought of her employees has conjured one of them out of thin air, Amanda Rollins suddenly comes waltzing through the door, a concerned and curious expression on her face. "You alright there, Liv? You look a little tired. Rough weekend?"
"Rollins, don't you ever knock?" Olivia grumbles in annoyance, removing her hands from her face and placing them alongside the ridiculous piles of work that await her.
"Sorry," Amanda shrugs with a casual wave of her hand, not looking the least bit apologetic as she takes a seat on the couch. "How was your weekend?"
"It was fine," Olivia replies offhandedly, frowning at the younger woman who appears to be settling quite comfortably into the sofa like she intends on staying awhile. "It just wasn't long enough."
"I hear ya," Amanda sighs in response as she crosses one leg over the other and drapes an arm across the back of the cushions. "They never are."
There is a prolonged pause and Olivia arches a questioning eyebrow at the blonde detective. "Is there something I can do for you, Amanda? I'm kind of swamped here, in case you haven't noticed."
"Actually, there's something I want to do for you, Liv," the other woman answers with a certain amount of hesitation apparent in her tone, both of Olivia's eyebrows raised suspiciously now.
"Oh? And what might that be?"
"Are you free this weekend?" Amanda asks abruptly, a hopeful smile quirking a corner of her lips as they gaze at one another across the stacks of files.
"Amanda, we just finished a weekend and I haven't thought much further into the future than what I'll be having for lunch today," Olivia says dryly, a little puzzled as to why Amanda is inquiring about her potential personal plans, since they've never gotten along very well and normally don't see each other outside of work unless there is some kind of police function going on.
"Well, I couldn't help but notice how tired and stressed you've been lately, Liv," Amanda explains cautiously, seemingly undeterred by her boss' reluctance to chat. "My best friend Kelly and I were supposed to go away this weekend to her cottage in Montauk, but her grandmother passed away yesterday so she's flying out to California to be with family for the next week."
"Well, I'm sorry for your friend's loss, Amanda." Olivia motions somewhat impatiently with her hand for the younger woman to continue on with the conversation, not wanting to appear insensitive but aware that time is of the essence when it comes to finishing this work and unsure of why the detective is bringing this up.
"Thanks, Liv." Amanda leans forward on the cushions with her elbows braced on her knees, an expectant expression on her face and a hint of confidence in her tentative tone now. "I was really looking forward to getting away from the city for a couple of days and since Kelly can't go, I wanted to know if you would be interested in coming with me instead?"
Olivia sits up straight in her desk chair, her mouth suddenly feeling dry and her heart beginning to pick up speed, confused by her body's reaction to the question and trying not to let it show. "You want me to go away for the weekend with you?"
"Well, yeah," Amanda laughs lightly, gesturing toward the mounds of work on Olivia's desk. "Don't you want a break from things, Liv? Maybe have a little fun for a couple of days? I'm offering you a stress-free weekend away from work and the city."
"Rollins, I'm thinking a weekend with you is going to be anything but stress-free," Olivia replies dubiously, her brow wrinkled as she stares at the blonde.
"Is that any way to talk to the woman whose cottage you'll be staying in for free? Well, if you say yes, that is," Amanda adds in a sheepish voice.
"I thought you said it was your friend's cottage," Olivia shoots back with a deepening frown. "And you just invited me to a stranger's place without even asking her first."
"How do you know I haven't asked?" Amanda sounds irritated now, a matching frown marring her own delicate features. "Well, I'm going to ask, okay?" she continues hurriedly before Olivia can answer. "I already know she won't mind. And I've been there so many times, I like to think of it as my place too."
"I'll bet you do," Olivia replies knowingly with a roll of her eyes. "Just like you seem to think this is your office. You certainly barge in here enough times without knocking and enjoy making yourself right at home." She waves a hand at Amanda's lithe form, the younger woman sprawled out across the couch like she is relaxing in bed at her own apartment, and unsure of whether to be angry or amused by how comfortable Amanda appears to be with invading her personal space.
"Sorry," the smaller woman mutters, straightening up on the cushions as a slight blush colors her pale complexion. "So what do you say, Liv? We can leave Friday right after work. It might do you some good to get away from here and actually have a little fun for once."
"What makes you think I don't have fun?" Olivia counters lightly, ignoring the knowing smirk on Amanda's face as she contemplates her answer; quite wary of spending the entire weekend with the other woman due to the friction they've always had in their relationship but wondering if this could be something that will bring them closer together and make their daily interactions a little easier to bear.
Olivia figures it will either be one or the other as she opens her mouth to reply; that this trip will either end up bridging that gap between them or drive them even further apart, cursing herself for not having better judgment when she gives her response and hoping it won't prove to be the wrong one.
"Okay, Amanda, I'll go with you."
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"Here we are, Liv. Home, sweet home. Well, our home for the weekend, anyway."
Olivia steps tentatively through the door of the small, well-kept cottage and stands side by side with Amanda, their arms loaded down with luggage as she looks around with interest at the place they'll be staying for the next couple of days. The vacation house is a single-level dwelling that sits right near the water; a vast expanse of sand spreading out from the large bay window of the living room, and pink and orange rays from the setting sun illuminating the pretty décor.
Olivia is pleased with the homey and inviting atmosphere of the cottage, spotting a large deck in the backyard as well as a hammock; allowing herself to entertain the thought of actually being able to relax with a good book this weekend and maybe even get a tan. The trip there had been surprisingly pleasant despite the horrendous amount of traffic they had been forced to deal with on their way out of the city, the friendly conversation flowing easily between them while the younger woman had navigated her way around the vehicles of fellow New Yorkers trying to escape to the beach for the weekend.
Olivia feels a certain lightness taking up residence inside her chest, something that she doesn't experience very often, while exploring their surroundings with Amanda pointing out the different rooms on her tour of the cottage. That unfamiliar but welcome feeling comes to an abrupt halt when they reach what appears to be the only bedroom in the place, Olivia glancing around with confusion as she seeks to locate a second one.
"Uh, Rollins? Where's the other bedroom?" she asks warily, crossing her arms over her chest as she stares in consternation at the smaller woman who is gazing innocently back at her with those wide blue eyes.
"Well, there isn't one, Liv. This is the only bedroom in the cottage."
"And you didn't think that might have been a good thing to mention before we left the city?" Olivia replies sharply as she glances inside the room and notices the double bed covered in a pink and white checkered quilt. "And there also appears to be only one bed in this room."
"Well, yeah." Amanda clears her throat roughly, scraping the toe of one sandal back and forth across the wooden floor. "Kelly doesn't have kids or anyone else that she lives with, so she bought a cottage with just one bedroom and one bed. She doesn't need a lot of space when it's just her."
"But I thought you said you come here so much with your friend that it feels like your place too," Olivia prods as her relaxed feeling gives way entirely and is replaced by the usual annoyance that she feels in Amanda's presence. "So where do you sleep when you come here with her?"
"We share the bed," Amanda answers with a shrug, her cheeks reddening slightly with what looks to be guilt. "We're best friends so we don't mind sharing. I just thought...maybe you wouldn't mind sharing too."
"Argh, Amanda." Olivia scrapes her hands over her face in exasperation before letting her arms fall to her sides and fixing the other woman with an irritated expression. "This is exactly why we don't get along very well. You're always doing this kind of thing; choosing not to mention something important or asking for forgiveness instead of permission. And quite frankly, I'm getting pretty tired of it at this point. We've been on the same squad for nearly seven years now and you remain the most infuriating person I've ever worked with."
A regretful shame immediately overtakes her when she notices Amanda's gaze drop to the floor in disappointment, her small shoulders drooping and long blonde hair obscuring her face as her chin tilts down toward her chest. Olivia heaves a frustrated and exhausted sigh, not knowing what else to say and considering asking Amanda to just drive them back to the city, effectively putting an end to this ill-conceived trip.
She finds it odd that Amanda has expected them to share the bed instead of one of them just sleeping on the couch in the living room and feels quite a mixture of emotions at this prospect; the thought of sharing a bed with her subordinate seeming to be both extremely inappropriate and strangely appealing. Olivia is not sure why the concept of curling up on the same mattress as her irritating detective holds a certain appeal, especially given her negative response to the situation, and does not want to delve too deeply into the reasons for this; choosing instead to stay focused on her anger.
"I'm guessing you decided not to mention this before we left the city because you figured I wouldn't come otherwise?"
"You don't have to get so upset, Liv," Amanda says softly, raising her hands in a placating motion and fixing Olivia with cerulean orbs that hold a slightly pleading quality. "We don't have to share, if you really don't want to. I can take the couch and let you have your own space." There is a brief pause while Amanda bites down on her lower lip before continuing to speak. "I just thought this weekend would be a good bonding experience for us and maybe we could become actual friends while sharing a cottage and a room. You get to have a break from the precinct and maybe you can learn to stop hating me...you know, kill two birds with one stone..."
"Amanda, I don't hate you," Olivia murmurs honestly, softening her voice and taking a step toward the other woman before placing her hand on a shoulder that quivers minutely. "It just bothers me that you don't seem to find it necessary to be truthful about certain things."
"Sometimes it's hard to be truthful with you..." Amanda's voice trails off and Olivia cocks her head to the side in curiosity.
"Why is it hard?"
"Just forget it, Liv." Amanda shakes her head and sighs deflatedly as she gestures into the bedroom. "I'm sorry I wasn't honest about the sleeping situation. I really don't mind taking the couch if you want the room to yourself."
Olivia throws a glance into the living room and heaves a sigh of her own when she gets a better look at the sofa, the piece of furniture appearing closer to the size of a love-seat and likely not allowing for any kind of comfortable slumber. "Look, let's just get unpacked and maybe unwind with a glass of that wine you brought and then we can decide what to do, okay?"
Amanda nods gratefully, a trace of relief in the smile that spreads tentatively across her face, the younger woman looking so cute and hopeful in her striped tank top and ripped jeans shorts, wisps of blonde hair escaping from her ponytail and framing her face, that Olivia can't help but roll her eyes and smile back.
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By the time they stumble to bed in the wee hours of the morning after spending the rest of the evening out on the deck, sharing a bottle of wine and surprisingly funny conversation once Olivia had decided to be a good sport and make an effort to get along, she doesn't really care where they end up sleeping. She has a good buzz going, the alcohol that is swimming pleasantly through her system and the relaxed atmosphere of the place lending her a mellow quality that is generally absent from her life.
Olivia feels quite content as she settles down next to Amanda on the flimsy mattress after agreeing to share the bed, pressing her face sleepily into the pillow and closing her eyes, relishing in the lighter mood and smiling as she recalls the fits of laughter that had overtaken them both out on the deck. She listens to Amanda trying to get comfortable beside her, dark eyes flying back open in alarm when she hears a sharp intake of breath followed by a loud hiss of pain.
"What's wrong?" Olivia whispers in concern, lifting her head off the pillow and squinting into the darkness of the room to try and focus on the other woman's shadowy form.
"I think something cut me," Amanda mutters in chagrin, and Olivia can hear the small detective shuffling around uncertainly. "Ouch!"
"What? Something cut you?" Olivia answers with a hint of worry in her tone, swinging her legs over the side of the mattress and leaning toward the nightstand to turn the bedside lamp on.
Amanda is sitting up beside her in the sheets, twisting around to try and get a look at her back, and Olivia can see a thin line of blood spreading sideways across the thin material near the bottom of the younger woman's long white T-shirt.
"Oh, Amanda! What happened?" She leans over to get a better look, her brow furrowing in confusion when she hears another high-pitched squeak of pain.
"Ouch! It got me again!" Amanda is scrambling out of her side of the bed now, Olivia following suit so they are both standing on opposite sides of the mattress, staring down at a small coiled spring poking up through the flowered sheets and the tip of it appearing sharp as a dagger. "Oh man, this thing is attacking me."
The smaller woman sounds tired and disgruntled, arms crossing over her chest in irritation, and Olivia can't help but smirk slightly at the grumpy and disheveled appearance of her detective. "Okay, I think we need to get that cut taken care of," she says gently, concern and amusement mixing together in her tone as she doesn't want her co-worker to be injured or in pain but the extremely sullen look on Amanda's face suggesting that she might be overreacting to the situation. "You don't want it to get infected. You might need to get a Tetanus shot if that was a rusty spring."
"What? A shot?" Amanda looks like she is pouting now, a trace of fear in her voice. "This is supposed to be a vacation, Liv; a break from all the shit we have to deal with on a daily basis. I didn't expect to get maimed on my first night here. You think I can sue Kelly? She told me she was going to look for a new mattress after I complained about it the last time we were here."
Olivia snorts back a laugh as she leads the other woman out to the hallway and into the small bathroom next door, a light hand resting between Amanda's shoulder blades as she guides the detective through the door. "Okay, I'm guessing it would put an immediate end to this vacation as well as ensuring that you never get invited back, if you decide to sue your best friend. And with this being your home away from home, that might not make you too happy."
"Well, I guess you're right," Amanda grumbles as she plunks herself down on the closed toilet seat with a theatrical sigh. "Let's just hope we can find something for the pain in here and I don't bleed out all over the floor."
Olivia rolls her eyes as she digs around in search of some first-aid supplies under the sink, surprised at her colleague's rather childish and dramatic reaction to the situation when she has been through so much worse out in the field. "Okay, Amanda, you don't have to be so grouchy just because you have one little cut," she admonishes with an exasperated shake of her head. "I think you'll survive."
"It's two cuts, Liv," the smaller woman responds with that pouty, immature tone that is getting under Olivia's skin, along with finding it disconcertingly cute. "I have one on my thigh, too. And you're not the one who might have to get a shot. I have the right to be grouchy."
Olivia chuckles as she sets band-aids and antiseptic wipes on the counter before getting to her feet to fix the blonde detective with a curious look. "Ah, so that's the problem. I didn't know you were so afraid of needles, Amanda."
"I'm not!" the other woman replies with a quick vehemence, but her arms are crossed over her chest again in a defensive posture and she is staring down at the floor while she speaks.
"Okay, sure you're not," Olivia replies lightly, a teasing note in her tone now as her lips quirk up slightly at the sides. "I'm really surprised that something as simple as a needle would bother you, considering how dangerous our work is and the injuries you've sustained in the line of duty; particularly the time you got shot. I guess the little Georgia Peach isn't such a badass after all, huh?"
She laughs as Amanda sticks her tongue out in reply, apparently deciding to use a juvenile gesture instead of actual words; gently pulling the younger woman to her feet as she notices the unsteadiness of her legs and smells the alcohol on her breath. "Okay, let's get this taken care of so we can actually go to sleep at some point tonight. Turn around so I can take a look at your back."
Before she has a chance to say anything else or react at all, Amanda has whirled around and whipped the bloodstained T-shirt over her head, tossing it carelessly onto the floor and standing there in nothing but a tiny pair of pink lace panties. Olivia is completely startled, her throat suddenly feeling quite dry and forcing her to swallow very hard as she tries to keep her eyes fixed on her co-worker's injury instead of letting her gaze roam up and down the pale expanse of Amanda's well-toned back; somewhat disturbed by this lustful reaction as uneasiness and confusion pierces through her.
The younger woman turns her head to the side to fix Olivia with a slightly impatient look, one perfectly sculpted blonde eyebrow arched in question, and Olivia can feel a dark blush spreading rapidly across her cheeks, mentally cursing herself for wanting to let her eyes drift lower to linger on her subordinate's shapely rear end. "Are you going to fix me up here, Liv?" Amanda holds her gaze steadily for a moment, a corner of her lip turning up at the side and a knowing look passing over her features. "Or are you just going to stand there and stare?"
Olivia frowns down at the detective, feeling a hint of shame at her inappropriate ogling and the disconcerting direction that her thoughts are taking, quickly leaning over to swipe a bath towel off the rack and handing it to Amanda with a brisk impatience. "Here you go."
"What's this for?" the other woman asks innocently, still peering over her shoulder to regard Olivia intently with that hazy blue gaze, a trace of teasing apparent in her tone, and Olivia rolls her eyes and looks away, busying herself with the first-aid supplies.
"You know what it's for," she mutters with a hint of resentment, praying that Amanda won't decide to turn around again in her current state. "Cover yourself up, okay?"
"How come?"
"Amanda..."
"Yes, Liv?"
She glances up again to see the smaller woman grinning widely at her now, a spark of mischief shining in those large cobalt orbs as she leans over to pluck the towel out of her hands, and Olivia has to resist the urge to smile back, not wanting to encourage Amanda's behavior, especially since they have both had quite a bit to drink that night. There is a strange feeling blooming inside of her now, something that she is quite intent on pushing back down and ignoring; something that is not entirely foreign to her and admitting that she has felt on more than one occasion during her interactions with her colleague over the years.
"You've had a lot to drink tonight," Olivia finally murmurs, hesitating briefly before kneeling down on the floor behind the other woman and trying to keep her eyes off of what is now right in front of her face as she picks up one of the antiseptic wipes.
"So have you," Amanda points out, and then sucks in a sharp breath as Olivia very gently strokes the wipe over her skin, carefully cleaning the blood away from the cut. "Ouch, that hurts!"
"Sorry," Olivia says softly, grimacing at the obvious pain in her co-worker's voice as she tenderly and methodically continues cleaning the wound before placing a couple of band-aids across it, feeling a stab of guilt when Amanda winces beneath her touch. "Okay, you're all set."
"Thanks," Amanda replies quietly, turning around with the towel pressed up against her chest and Olivia averting her gaze even though the younger woman's breasts are covered. "What about the other one, though?
"The other one?" she echoes in confusion.
"The other cut," Amanda answers as she once again takes a seat on the closed lid of the toilet. "I told you there were two. That stupid spring caught the inside of my thigh when I was trying to get out of bed."
Olivia's throat feels as dry as a desert again when she leans back on her heels to look up at her colleague, Amanda gazing down at her expectantly with the tiniest hint of a smirk playing on her lips. Her eyes stray to the other woman's surprisingly long expanse of legs before glancing back up at the detective, taking note of the playfulness and something that speaks of a deeper intimacy in her expression; Olivia feeling an unsettling trace of need and arousal now.
"I think you can fix that one up yourself," she states uncertainly, shifting on the floor to get back to her feet but unsure if she actually wants to get up or remain right where she is.
Olivia feels Amanda's hand clutching onto her arm and putting an immediate halt to her movements, her heart pounding wildly in her chest and her head spinning with the effects of the wine as she watches creamy thighs spread slightly before her in invitation. "But it's at such an awkward angle," Amanda drawls seductively, lower lip protruding in a pout that suddenly seems much more sensual than cute, her legs widening even further and allowing a shadowy glimpse of those tiny pink panties.
"Help a girl out here, Liv."
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*Songs lyrics from Cyndi Lauper's "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun"