Title: Endorse, Part 2
Fandom: Law and Order: SVU, Alex/Olivia
Rating: T
Summary: In part 1, Olivia informed Cragen of her new relationship status. I had many requests to hear about Alex's similar conversation with Donnelly. Well, it only took me 15 months (ha!) but here it is.
Notes: In many ways, this is more Donnelly than Alex, but I have to admit it was kind of fun writing Donnelly!

Endorse, Part 2

Donnelly only barely looked up from reading whatever paperwork was on her desk when Alex knocked on her office door, and the older ADA made little more than a vague motion with her hand inviting the younger attorney could enter.

Fortunately, Alex was used to this kind of greeting so she simply took the invitation at face value, entering the office, closing the door behind her, and then standing in front of Donnelly's desk.

Now from there Alex would normally wait patiently and silently, wait until Donnelly finished whatever it was she was working on, look up, and give the patented Liz-Donnelly-more-than-slightly-annoyed-sounding, "Yes?" that indicated that whomever was standing in front of her could now speak.

But today was not a normal day.

And Alex was not feeling particularly patient. In fact, she was anything but. She was nervous. She was VERY nervous. Actually, truth be told, she was mildly terrified. And so she wasn't in the mood to remain silent.

"I slept with Olivia Benson," she just blurted out.

Donnelly froze, pen poised over the paper in front of her, head still down. But all movement stopped, even the older attorney's breathing. It was obvious that she'd both heard and understood Alex's statement.

Alex's heart was nearly pounding out her chest as finally, slowly, Donnelly raised her head, one eye brow cocked. "Well, gee, Alex, by all means," she launched immediately into a mini-tirade, "please skip all pleasantries, forego even a simple 'good morning', and just come right out and say what's on your mind!"

Alex knew Donnelly was right, that her approach might not have been the most politic or tactful way to start a Monday morning conversation but she also knew it was the only way she could start it, and she said as much, "I'm sorry, Liz, but there was no easy way to say it so I figured you'd appreciate it if I just said it as straight forward as possible." Also, Alex thought to herself, she was afraid that if she didn't just get it out there immediately she wouldn't have been able to get it out there at all.

And the way Liz narrowed her eyes, Alex suspected Liz could read between the lines and see that secondary reason, as well.

Either way, Donnelly then simply threw her pen on her desk, leaned back in her chair, and just regarded her employee silently, letting the younger attorney stew in her nervousness for several seconds. Finally Donnelly spoke again. "You said 'slept with' rather than 'sleeping with'," the experienced attorney noted. "That means this is either something new that's happened since the last time I saw you, or it was a one-time occurrence in the past that is only now becoming consequential."

Alex's stomach fluttered, her cheeks flushed, and she quickly looked down at her feet. Because leave it to a lawyer – a very good one – to understand, pinpoint, and call out the nuance of Alex's statement.

And also leave it to a very good lawyer to notice and understand the body language of the person she's cross-examining. "I see," Donnelly, murmured in response to Alex's non-verbal answer. "So it wasn't a one-time occurrence in the past. That means it's recent, it's happened since I saw you on Friday." The older attorney paused to allow Alex to confirm her conclusion.

Which Alex did with a curt nod, still not looking up, trying not to let her mind wander to those 'happenings'.

Fortunately (or perhaps unfortunately) Donnelly wasn't letting her mind wander too far. "And, further," the older attorney pressed on, "Since you're telling me this at all, and telling me it so soon, does that mean I can I assume this isn't an indiscretion you both will try to forget? But rather this is something you intend to happen again?"

At that Alex lifted her head, her chin, and looked directly at her boss. Not challenging, just determinedly, openly.

"I see," Donnelly repeated her earlier response, once again very easily reading the younger attorney's demeanor: that Alex did intend for it to happen again. She intended for it to happen again regularly. And she was not apologizing for it.

And she would not be talked out of it so don't even bother trying.

The older attorney then went silent for several seconds, considering her next move. Finally she took a deep breath and rose from her chair. She came around to the front of her desk and perched on its edge directly in front of Alex. "Well, in that case, I guess congratulations on finally getting laid are in order."

Alex's mouth fell slightly open and she didn't know whether to be shocked or insulted or chastised or insulted for being chastised a bit of all of that. But, she quickly supposed, perhaps she deserved that after the way she broke the news to Donnelly in the first place. So she settled on just giving her boss a dry look and h.

Donnelly, having got her little pot-shot in, got serious and down to business then. She crossed her arms. "I can't keep this to myself. You know that, right?"

Alex recognized the shift in the discussion. She swallowed hard. She did know that. That's why she had informed Donnelly in the first place. She understood that it could have impact on the DA's office. She understood that there were those out there, sleazy defense attorneys and the like, who might try to make something of it. She understood that the cases she worked, the people affected by those cases, needed to be considered. "I know," Alex responded.

"And I can't promise this won't have consequences. You know that, too, right?"

Alex took a deep breath. "Yes, I know that, too," she nodded.

This time it was Donnelly's turn to take a deep breath. "Okay then," she said simply. She then rose from leaning against the front of her desk, returned to her side of that desk, and sat back down. Straightening her jacket she looked up at Alex and asked her next question, "I assume Captain Cragen is having a similar heart attack to mine about now?"

Alex was surprised by the wry humor and wry smile on her superior's face, but she was grateful for it. And for the first time since she'd entered Donnelly's office, she relaxed, just a fraction, but it was something. "If that is your way of asking if Detective Benson is informing him of our relationship," she replied, "then, yes, that's happening this morning, as well."

"Good." Donnelly picked up her pen. "Anything other bombshells for me this morning?" she asked, once again adding some wryness to her voice.

Alex breathed another sigh of relief, realizing she had survived at least this part, "No. Nothing else. Thank you." And with that she turned to leave. But Donnelly started speaking again, stopping Alex in her tracks.

"For what it's worth," Donnelly began, "I've known Detective Benson for a long time. Longer than you have."

Alex wasn't sure where this was going. She remained silent.

The older attorney looked the younger attorney directly in the eyes with an intensity before speaking again, "She's a good detective," Donnelly paused just a moment before finishing, "She's a good woman."

Alex knew Liz didn't give out praise easily. She also knew this was as close to genuine congratulations she'd get from her boss. She nodded once, acknowledging the statement, then allowed one side of her mouth to quirk upwards, "I'll tell Olivia you said that."

Donnelly's eyes narrowed dangerously, but the corner of her mouth was also quirked as she replied, "Don't you dare." Both woman remained silent for just another beat before Donnelly then waved her hand dismissively, "Now get out of here, I'm sure you have work to do and I have a police captain to call."

Alex nodded one more time, and made her way out of Donnelly's office.