As usual I own nothing. AN note at the bottom :)

Two days. 48 hours. 2,880 minutes. 172,800 seconds.

That was how long Olivia Benson had gone without seeing those piercing blue eyes that she fell in love with. It seemed as if time was crawling; every second that went by Olivia felt Alex slip away more and more. She knew Alex was stubborn, a fighter, and she would find a way to make it back to her. She had faith in the woman she loved – the woman she couldn't help but love from the moment they met.

Sitting in the chair next to Alex's bed, holding her hand – with only the beeping sound of the heart monitor – Olivia couldn't help but reminisce on the first time she felt like she was falling for the blonde attorney...

Alex POV

I come from a long line of distinguished lawyers and judges. Before I was born my career was always planned out for me. I was to go to Harvard Law School like my father and his father and his father… Then, I was to start working in the Manhattan DA's office under the guidance of my godmother Elizabeth Donnelly. After I had gained enough experience and prestige I would run for DA, then senator or governor. I was to marry a man with money and an equally impressionable career – maybe a doctor or a politician. When my parents died I felt I had to follow the path set before me to honor them. Now, I feel like I'm failing them both. Not only am I not going to marry a man (due to the fact that I'm gay!), much less a successful one, but I am an incompetent attorney as well.

Currently, I am sitting in my office: crying. I'm the ADA for Manhattan's distinguished SVU unit. It's only my second case and I feel like everything is falling apart. My entire life I was sheltered from the horrible, unspeakable, acts a human is capable of. Sure, I was raised by my godmother, but she never let on about the cases she tried and now I know why. She was reluctant when I told her I wanted to be assigned to SVU – she didn't want me to see how people could rape and kill and have no remorse afterwards.

I hear a soft knock followed by a concerned voice, "Uhm… Ms. Cabot?"

Ugh, Detective Olivia Benson. Just what I need, the strong (…and beautiful) female detective seeing me break down crying in my office.

I cleared my voice, hoping to regain some confidence, "Yes, Detective Benson, how can I help you?"

I can't help but notice her shifting her weight on her feet. She looks uncomfortable… maybe nervous? But why?

"Uh… I saw that you all but ran out of the courtroom today after the verdict. I came to see if you were ok?" She said, concern lacing her voice. But why? She doesn't even know me.

"I just don't understand how they could let him go. Now Katie has to go back to that house and he gets to keep abusing her! How is that justice?" Now I'm pacing around my office, opting to display anger rather than my disappointment in myself.

She reaches out to stroke my arm but I flinch, not used to the contact. Immediately, I regret my decision from the hurt look that momentarily crosses her face. Ugh, I can't get anything right today.

"Look, I don't know why they decided to acquit him but you can't blame yourself."

"How can you say that? If a more competent ADA had tried the case maybe that little girl would have gotten the justice she deserves."

"You are a competent ADA…" She says, staring right into my eyes as she says the words. I don't know why but in that moment she could tell me the tooth fairy was real and I would believe her.

The room goes silent and I stop my frantic pacing. She steps closer, "You can't blame yourself Alex. These cases, each one takes a bit from you that you will never get back. The ones with the kids hurt even more."

"So then why do you do it?" I find myself asking her.

"Because someone has to." She simply states. A look of confusion crosses my face and she gives me a small smile – which I can't help but return.

"Goodbye Alex." She says as she turns to the door.

"Detective Benson" I say and touch her shoulder to stop her from leaving. She turns around and we make eye contact. Damnit, what is it about this woman that makes me lose my train of thought with just one look?

Her voice brings me back to reality, "You can call me Olivia"

"Thank you, Olivia," I say, my voice just above a whisper.

She smiles, and I'm beginning to find that I want to see her smile more, "Anytime Alex" she says and leaves my office. I can definitely see why she's such a good detective. Something about her demeanor makes me want to trust her.

Staring at Alex's chest steadily rise and fall, Olivia smiled as she realized that that first late night conversation was the true start of their relationship. She simply went to Alex's office on impulse, not knowing that it would be the best decision she ever made. She realized that she could fall in love with those baby blue eyes and the way Alex cared for the victims. She couldn't help but want to know more about her after that encounter.

Suddenly the room felt too small. The memories of them came flooding back too fast. Their dates… them moving in together… the night Alex proposed…

She needed to get some air. She ran out of the room, down the hallway, and down the stairs – she couldn't be bothered waiting for the elevator. Finally, she made it outside but the fresh air didn't seem to help.

Olivia was filled with an overwhelming feeling of anger. Anger for that drunk idiot who hit Alex. Anger at the doctors for not doing more to wake her up. Lastly, anger at herself for not being able to do more to help the love of her life. She felt the anger and adrenaline in her blood hit her all at once. She saw red and swung a punch at the brick wall, and another and another, until she could feel her knuckles give out. She looked down at her hands but couldn't make out anything other than they were bloody due to the tears obstructing her vision.

She was suddenly enveloped in a bear hug and supported by a pair of strong arms. Her partner's voice soon filled her ears, "She'll be ok Liv. She's gonna make it. We both know how stubborn Alex is and she's not going to let this beat her. She's going to wake up and you two are going to get married and be happy together." He spoke to her in that voice that usually lets victims know that they're safe and he can be trusted.

His voice should have comforted her but instead she just broke down into sobs and repeating "I can't lose her" over and over. For the second time in her life the strong Detective Benson was scared (the first being when she thought she had accidentally killed her mother). She just wanted Alex to hold her and tell her that everything would be ok. At the same time, she felt selfish. Alex was in there fighting for her life and she was out here crying – a thought that only led her to break down into tears once more.

Twenty minutes later Olivia's sobs had subsided. She got up, "I better go home and get a change of clothes. I should probably get a shower too."

"Yeah and make sure you get something to eat too. I'll stay here with her."

"Call me if anything changes."

"Of course." Elliot said.

He watched Olivia wistfully look towards the hospital entrance and walk away with hunched shoulders.

He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He glanced at the caller ID: it was Cragen. "Stabler"

"Elliot, how is she?"

"She's not looking too good cap. She went home but I'm worried about her. Alex is her rock, I can't imagine what she's going through." He said as he thought back to his own wife and how devastated he would be if he was in Olivia's position.

The Captain sighed over the line, "Yeah. It's gotta be tough. She needs to know that we're there for her."

"Yeah, Liz went home as well. I'm gonna stay with Alex until Liv comes back."

"Take all the time you need. Be there for Oliva and call me if there's an update." the captain said before he hung up.

AN: We've come to the end of another chapter! Reviews are always welcome - it's nice to know people are actually reading the story.

I'm experimenting with writing the story in different povs. Do you prefer the story to be written in present or with switching povs between Alex and Olivia? Let me know.

To reviewer BabouTunt: That pun was not intended but after reading your review I laughed for a good 5 minutes. Thank you for making my day.

Again, I don't know when the next update will be. It could be sometime in the middle of the week if I get the inspiration for the next chapter or it might not be until the next weekend :( such is the life of a busy college student.

Anyways, hope you guys enjoyed it and until next time!