Author's Notes for 21-30:
Nothing specific. :).
As always, feedback is lurve. :)
And, as always, I own nuthin.
Moments in Time 21-30:
Life
The sidewalks craw with people. Zig to avoid the sharp dressed man; zag to miss the woman with the pink scarf.
The air also teems. Rising stories above are businessmen making million dollar deals and wives having affairs in penthouse apartments.
The underground is alive as well. Tired commuters, school kids, couples heading to a show, excited tourists. They all intermingle in the subways.
Finding life in the City is easy. It's everywhere.
Having a life, on the other hand... that she'd have to work for.
Olivia looked at her phone, considered her options. Then punched 2 on her speed-dial.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One Week
The time off had been secured. The tickets had been bought. The hotel room had been reserved. And now it was Friday, 5:00. Nothing stood between them and their vacation, and they couldn't help but revel in it.
"One week."
"One glorious week."
"No criminals."
"No courtrooms."
"No 'Benson! In my office. NOW!'"
"No, 'One more step and you're in contempt, Ms. Cabot!'"
"No DD5s."
"No grand jury indictments."
"No witnesses to interview."
"No defendants to cross-examine."
"No badges."
"No briefcases."
"No handcuffs."
Alex raised a questioning eyebrow at that.
Olivia smiled slowly in return, "Okay. Yes handcuffs."
Alex nodded.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
NOTE: this one and the next are really riffs on the same idea. I couldn't decide which I liked best so I just put them both in.
Not Ready Yet
After Casey had left the squad room on the heels of another cold dismissal by his partner, Elliot stated quietly, "She really doesn't deserve it, you know."
Olivia didn't respond, pretending to be suddenly engrossed in paperwork.
But Elliot wouldn't let it go, "You act like you hate her."
"No, I don't."
"Yeah, you do."
Olivia went silent again.
Elliot tried a slightly different tact, "Why don't you try to get to know her?"
"Maybe I don't want to."
"Olivia."
She looked up at him, at his understanding yet uncompromising expression. "I just need a little more time," she whispered.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Easier
"So, Elliot tells my you treat my replacement like crap."
Olivia turned from the window. "Elliot has a big mouth. And, no I don't."
Alex lip twitched, "Yeah he does, but in this instance I think I believe him."
Olivia turned back to the hotel window.
"Why don't you like her?"
"Who said I didn't like her?"
"Then why do you treat her poorly?"
"I don't."
"Why do you treat her poorly, Olivia?" Alex insisted.
Olivia's answer, when it finally came, was barely above a whisper, "Maybe it's easier than getting close again."
Alex's voice caught, "I've missed you, too."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Last Night
"You didn't come home last night."
Olivia wouldn't meet Alex's eyes, "We were processing the scene."
"You didn't answer your cell, either."
"We were busy."
"Elliot answered his… from home." Alex let the accusation hang.
Olivia looked at her feet for long seconds before answering quietly but honestly, "It was a bad one, Alex. I felt like hurting someone. I didn't want it to be you."
"And did you hurt someone, Detective?"
Olivia was immediately put on the defensive by the prosecutor's tone, "Of course not!"
"Of course not," Alex repeated softly, her point made. "So come home next time."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Shot Down
"So, was it really that big a mistake?" he asked when they arrived at her apartment.
Alex frowned, confused.
He continued, "Saying 'yes' when I asked you out tonight."
Those who didn't know Alex well would say 'she smiled brightly'. Those that did know her well, however, would just say, 'uh-oh'.
"You know," she said, "As a defense attorney, you of all people should know better."
It was his turn to frown.
She quickly cleared up any confusion, "Don't ask the question, if you don't really want to know the answer." She gave him one last smile, "Good night, Trevor."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
This Dance
After Elliot and Fin had left to get another round, Olivia turned back to the one person left at their booth.
"So," Alex pinned Olivia with a look, "How much longer are we going to do this dance?"
Olivia's expression turned into that of a deer caught in the headlights. "What dance?" she asked though she knew what Alex was talking about: the looks that last too long, the veiled flirting, the after work drinks but only with chaperones...
Alex nodded minutely at Olivia's non-answer, "Okay. A little longer it is, then. But don't make me wait too long, Detective."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Manny
The gas fire was still going strong but the bottle of wine they were sharing was almost empty. She enjoyed his company well enough; he was pleasant to talk to, pleasant to look at. And she was lonely.
Just as they were leaning in, just as their lips were to meet for the first time, a large ball of fur seemed to shoot between them, startling them.
"Manny!" she admonished.
Her date chuckled, "You named your cat 'Manny'?"
She nodded. He tried to lean back in but, overwhelmed with sudden and unexpected emotion, Emily backed away, "It's short for Manhattan."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Admission
Huang got to the door a second after she did, slamming shut the inches she'd managed to open it. "I'm tired of your bullshit, Olivia." He hoped the harsh words would get her attention.
"No one asked you to come here," he continued, "You came to me on your own. Twice now. You're not running away this time. So sit down and tell me what you wanted to talk about."
Defeated, Olivia dropped herself onto the doctor's couch, and dropped her head into her hands.
Finally, she breathed out a single name.
Well, well, Huang thought, it's about damn time
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
You Can Say That Again
Basking in the afterglow of their first time, they laid silently next to each other, coming down from their highs and catching their breaths. After several minutes of contented and contemplative silence had passed, Olivia began to chuckle.
Alex rolled over and perched herself on an elbow so she could look down at the brunette, "What's so funny."
Olivia, still smiling, reached a hand up and brushed a piece of blond hair from Alex's eyes, "I was just thinking, 'So that's what chemistry feels like!'"
Alex broke into a smile of her own and agreed, "You can say that again."