Title: Conflict of Interest

Pairing: Alex Cabot/Amanda Rollins

Rating: K+

Author's Note: These characters aren't mine. If they were, things would be different, and I wouldn't have to worry about paying for college. They belong to Dick Wolf and NBC. Do I have that right? Anyways, the only things I own are almost a dozen textbooks, a light-up Pillow Pet, and a laptop I got for my birthday.

Author's Note 2: A friend on twitter wanted me to write this. I hope I can do her idea justice.

Author's Note 3: This story takes place post-Deadly Ambition so there'll be some spoilers for that.

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Chapter 1

It's approaching midnight and she's the last person at the precinct, has been for a while by the looks of the squadroom. Desks, long since relieved of their occupants, stand like sentinels in the dark room. The double doors are closed – unlocked, but closed – and a single light is on as a sign that someone cares, someone can help. She sighs and looks at her watch. 11:53pm. Pushing aside the DD5s she supposed to be filling out, she rests her head on her desk. Just a few minutes, she tells herself.

The next thing she knows is after seven and an amused-looking Olivia Benson is shaking her awake.

"Morning, sleepyhead," Olivia says, handing her a cup of coffee.

She takes it with a sheepish smile. "Mornin'." He accent is heavy and her voice is thick with sleep.

"Late night?"

"Yeah. I was gonna go home, but I have all these DD5s to finish before Cabot gets on my case."

At that precise moment, the double doors of the squadroom open, and in walks Alex Cabot. She stops in front of the two women and looks between them. Amanda and Olivia are both wearing smiles. "Am I interrupting something?" Alex asks.

Amanda and Olivia blush deeply and Amanda turns to hide her face. Olivia is the first to recover. "Rollins fell asleep at her desk," she says.

Alex laughs. "You still don't have any furniture, Amanda?"

"I have a couch," Amanda says, "and a fridge. But that's it."

"The offer to stay with me is still open," Alex says, jotting down her address on a post-it from Amanda's desk.

"Are you sure, Alex? Fin doesn't mind me crashing there for a bit," Amanda says, taking the post-it from Alex's outstretched hand.

Alex smiles. "I'm sure."

Amanda smiles gratefully. "I'll see you tonight then."

Olivia watches the interaction curiously and with a bit of deeply hidden jealousy and a little bit of resentment for the blonde detective. It wasn't that she and Alex are a thing; she just doesn't want Alex with anyone else.

"Liv," Alex says, "I need to talk to you." She turns on her heel and walks out of the squadroom. Olivia follows obediently. In the hallway, away from the prying eyes and finely-tuned ears residing in the squadroom, Alex turns around and glares at Olivia.

"What did I do?" Olivia asks.

"You looked like you were going to wring Amanda's neck in there," Alex says, her voice a fierce whisper. Olivia shrugs. She thought she hid it well. "What's going on with you, Liv?"

"Nothing."

"You cancelled dinner three times in two weeks."

"I had to work."

Alex shakes her head. "Don't give me that."

"Alex, I-"

"Are you seeing someone, Liv?"

"What? No!"

"It's fine if you are. We never said we were anything more than friends."

"No, Alex, I'm not…Wait. Are you sleeping with Rollins?"

"Would it matter if I was?"

"Yeah."

"Why? You were the one that said you weren't ready for a stable, committed relationship with me. Remember?"

"Because you bail, Alex! Everytime we get close enough to make this something more, you bail."

"You're still holding that against me?"

Olivia starts to say something, then decides against it and promptly closes her mouth. She runs her hand through her hair and sighs. "No, I'm not."

Amanda chooses that moment to open the squadroom door and poke her head out. "Liv, we gotta go." Olivia nods and Amanda closes the door.

"Duty calls," Alex says.

Olivia nods. "Dinner? Tonight?"

"Are you going to cancel?"

"I hope not."

Alex nods. "Then I'll see you tonight. Your place. I have to get Amanda situated then I'll be over. How's eight?"

"Eight's fine."

"Need me to bring anything?"

"Just yourself."

Alex nods and Olivia turns to walk away. Before she can, however, Alex grabs her wrist and pulls her close. "Green isn't a good color on you, Detective," she whispers into Olivia's ear, her breath soft on the detective's neck. Then she turns on her heels and walks away, leaving Olivia to wonder what just transpired.

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Like it? Hate it? Let me know. Thanks for reading.