Alex woke up slowly and stretched out in the bed. She was stiff from the cold and from sleeping curled tightly around the "Olivia" pillow. Rolling on to her left side, she looked across the room to see if Olivia was OK in the bunk bed. What she saw brought a grin to her face. The detective had pushed the pillow off the bed and was lying on her stomach; her head was facing in Alex's direction with her fist tucked under her chin. Alex committed the sight of the slumbering detective to memory and threw back the covers to begin getting ready for the day. She dug through her bag to find a pair of khaki pants, a black t-shirt, and a red wool cardigan with a giant moose on the back. After getting her clothes laid out and starting a fire, she put on a pot of coffee.
Olivia woke up but didn't immediately open her eyes. She smelled coffee and heard the crackling of a fire. It took her a few seconds to remember where she was. Alex had brought her to the Cabot family cabin in Montauk. She smiled and rolled out of bed, put the pillow back, and headed off in search of the coffee pot.
Alex was stretched on the sofa with a mug of coffee in one hand and her book in the other when she heard the rustle of blankets followed by the sound of the bed springs flexing. "Morning, Liv. How'd you sleep?" she said without looking away from the page she was reading.
"I think I can safely say that I've never had a better night's sleep," Olivia said, running her fingers through her hair and making her way to the coffee pot on the counter.
Putting the bookmark in between the pages and tossing the book on the table, Alex looked over to the kitchenette and watched Olivia pour herself a cup of coffee and walk over to stand with her back to the fire.
"So we're going to have breakfast at your cousin's place and then we're going grocery shopping and then what?" Olivia asked before she sipped her coffee.
"Well, I figured we could walk around town a bit and I could give you a tour."
Olivia stepped to the rocking chair and sat down. "I'd like that." She took another sip. "What time are supposed to be at Josie's?"
Alex stood up. "Whenever. She knows I don't keep a strict schedule when I'm up here. I'm gonna go get dressed." Taking her empty mug to the kitchen sink, she turned and grabbed the clothes off the bed and went to the bathroom to get ready.
Getting up and making her way to the sink, Olivia drank the last of her coffee and put her mug next to Alex's. She went to the bunk bed and bent down to get her bag. Alex is probably gonna take a while in there, so I should just change out here to save time, Olivia thought. I just have to be quick about it. She grabbed a handful of clothes and tossed them on the bed. Changing into her jeans was easy enough. Then she shed her t-shirt and hoodie in one quick motion. What she hadn't realized while she was pulling the shirt over her head was that it covered her ears for just long enough to hide the sound of the bathroom door opening.
Alex only took two steps out of the bathroom and froze when she saw that Olivia was standing topless facing the bunk bed. Her mouth hung open, but she made no sound. She didn't even breathe. Olivia reached down and grabbed her bra off the bed. After putting her arms through the straps, she reached back to fasten the closure, but couldn't get the hooks to line up with the corresponding eyes.
"Dammit!" Olivia cursed as she kept trying to get her bra on.
Seconds, maybe minutes (but probably not hours, even though that's what it felt like), passed. Alex, who was getting a little dizzy from not breathing, stepped toward Olivia. "Let me help."
Now it was Olivia who froze. With her eyes wide she let go of the hook and eye, while her right arm moved at the speed of light to clutch the bra to her chest. She felt her entire body blush a deep shade of crimson and turned around slowly.
Panic hit Alex like a freight train as she spun quickly to turn away from the half naked woman in front of her. "I'm sorry, Olivia! I just—I… Um… I didn't—" she stammered. Olivia didn't look angry in the second and a half Alex had seen her face; more like a deer in the proverbial headlights.
Olivia's full body blush was fading as she awkwardly ran her left hand through her hair. "How long were you standing there?" she asked.
"Just a few seconds. I saw you were having trouble and the words were out of my mouth before I knew what was happening. I'm sorry. I really didn't see anything."
Olivia smiled shyly. This was the risk you took, genius! Why are you so surprised? she thought. Knowing Alex was freaked out, she wanted to let her know everything was OK. "Does the offer of help still stand? As you saw I'm not quite coordinated enough right now to get this by myself." She chuckled nervously and turned so her back was once again facing Alex.
Blinking away the anxiety attack that was forming, Alex came up behind Olivia and fastened her bra. "All done," she squeaked as she quickly turned and went back into the bathroom to grab her pyjamas from the counter. She stopped in front of the mirror and took a few deep breaths. Let it go, Alex. You didn't see anything and she's not mad at you. You caught her off guard...that's all. Play it cool, she told herself. When she came out of the bathroom this time, Olivia had put a navy blue henley shirt on and was lacing up her boots. She was folding her pyjamas when she heard Olivia's voice behind her.
"Nice rack," Olivia teased.
Alex whirled around with alarm. Did she see me changing? She couldn't have! I closed the door. But what about the keyhole? What am I saying? She wouldn't do that! What is she talking about? her thoughts raced. A high pitched "Hmmmm?" was the only sound she could make.
It was almost as if Olivia could see the questions Alex was asking herself through the blonde's facial expressions. "I was talking to the moose." Alex raised an eyebrow in confusion. "On the back of your sweater," Olivia added, seeing relief flood the other woman's face.
Alex let out a nervous chuckle and smoothed the front of her cardigan. "Oh, right! I found it in a thrift store years ago. It's really warm and looks outdoors-y."
"What did you think I was talking about?" Olivia said casually. She couldn't resist the opportunity to wind up the usually unflappable attorney.
Alex's eyes went wide. "Um…" Her eyes searched the room frantically. "The elk antlers above the mantle?" she said lamely.
"Seriously?" Olivia replied skeptically, trying not to laugh at Alex's obvious discomfort.
"The coat rack next to the door?" Alex tried again.
"I'm teasing you, Alex. You're too easy." Olivia smiled. "You should loosen up."
Alex glared at Olivia for a second before laughing. "You're a jerk. Has anyone ever told you that?"
Olivia grinned. "A time or two."
Sitting down on the edge of the bed, Alex pulled her sheepskin boots on. "Ready to go?"
"Let's roll!" Olivia said as she walked to the coat rack and slipped her parka on. "Hey, Alex?"
Alex walked over to grab her jacket from the rack. "Yes, Liv?"
"Maybe when we get back from town you could show me the bra you're wearing and then we'd be even," Olivia said, winking mischievously.
"Only if you behave while we're out today." Alex winked back and punched Olivia lightly on the arm.
"Ow! Assault on a police officer!" Olivia whined teasingly as she clutched the spot where Alex's fist had landed.
Alex laughed. "Since there aren't any witnesses it's just a case of 'she said, she said'. This case is never going to see the inside of a courtroom."
Olivia smirked. "Yeah, well, if I bruise, that's evidence."
"You're not a peach, Olivia," Alex giggled.
Olivia cocked her head and pretended to think for a moment. "You're right. I'm more of a cactus: prickly on the outside to protect the squishy, fragile, juicy stuff on the inside," she said with a firm nod of her head.
Alex rolled her eyes and grinned.
Olivia zipped up her parka and opened the front door. She took a deep breath and exclaimed, "I love this fresh air!" as she walked toward the car.
Taking her keys from the pocket, Alex smiled as she remembered their conversation in the squad room when she brought up coming out to the cabin. I guess she doesn't feel like she's being held hostage, she thought as she made her way to the car.
