Author's Notes for 31-40:
Thanks to everyone who has left comments! I do very much appreciate them. And for those speculating about/hoping maybe some of these being expanded to something longer, well, the encouragement is nice, and you never know. The muse works in mysterious ways. ;) But in the mean time, 10 more.
As always, feedback is lurve and I own nuthin.
Moments in Time 31-40:
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Continuing On
"He ordered you here because he knows you well enough to know that this could shatter your faith."
"Shatter my faith, doctor? As she would have said, he's assuming facts not in evidence."
"You don't think you had any faith to begin with?"
"Why would he think I did?"
"He knows no one fights as hard as you do unless they believe in something."
Olivia regarded Skoda for several long moments before responding. "I believed I could make a difference."
"You still can."
Olivia shook her head, "She believed she could, too."
"She was right."
"She's gone."
"But you're not."
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Ready To Proceed
When her case was called, Alex Cabot stepped up to the podium, placing her notes and a law book in front of her.
The judge raised an eyebrow, "Are you ready to proceed?"
Alex took a deep breath. Her life may be a mere shadow of its former self, but there was no way she was going to pay the municipality of Duluth, Minnesota $75 for jaywalking! And this poor traffic court judge was about to hear every single argument and every single bit of case law on why she shouldn't have to, "I am, your honor," Emily Thompson replied.
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Suspicions Confirmed
"Cabot speaking," Alex answered her phone crisply.
"It's Cragen. I wanted to give you a heads up before you heard about it on the news."
Alex didn't like the sound of this, "Heard what?"
"It's fine. Everything's going to be okay."
"Captain, what happened?"
"There was a shooting. Olivia was hit."
Alex shot out of her chair, "What hospital?"
"She's fine, Counselor."
"What hospital?"
"You don't need to come."
"What hospital, damn it!?"
Never having heard officially but having suspected the relationship existed nevertheless, Cragen finally relented, "I already have a squad car waiting outside your office. They'll bring you."
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Lockup
Olivia strode into lockup with her best intimidate-the-perp walk, shield clipped to her belt, leather coat open to show off the gun on her hip. Stopping at the third cell she crossed her arms and glared at the cell's occupant.
The prisoner stared back with defiance.
Finally Olivia spoke, "This is the second time in three months. And $2000 this time? I'm not made of money, you know." Olivia motioned the guard to open the cell door.
Gracefully picking up her briefcase, Alex exited the cell and replied with a private smile, "You know I'm good for it."
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Solitary Confinement
He killed a guard. The man that had tried to kill Alex. It landed him in solitary confinement.
Solitary confinement.
A world where the only thing you hear is the breaking of your will. A world where if you feel anything, you feel pain. A world with as little hope as there is light.
Some say it's a cruel and unusual world. They're right.
But since he helped force Alex out of my life and into hiding, that world? It's my world.
So ask me if I care. I don't.
It's only fair he's suffering as much as I am.
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Just Dinner
"You keep a change of clothes here in your office, don't you?"
"Exactly why are you asking?"
Olivia shrugged.
"Are you implying I might need them? Maybe even need them tomorrow?"
Olivia shrugged again.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Detective. Tonight is just dinner; I'm not going home with you. I'm not that easy and you're not nearly as charming as you think you are."
Olivia unexpectedly closed the distance between them, bringing her lips within millimeters of Alex's; just hovering there, not touching. When she pulled away, Alex was left breathless and wanting. Olivia smirked, "Whatever you say, Counselor."
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Welcome Back
"Your Honor, The People do not appreciate this change in venue!" Alex's petulant and annoyed tone was just as Petrovsky remembered it.
"Ms Cabot, do you think I've singled out this arraignment for a venue change to night court specifically to spoil your triumphant return to a New York courtroom or do you think perhaps I've got some legitimate judicial reason for the move?"
"Is that a rhetorical question, your honor, or shall I answer it?"
Petrovsky didn't know whether to laugh in delight or throw Alex in a cell. So she settled simply on a heartfelt, "Welcome back, Alexandra."
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And It's Easy To Take Care Of, Too
Alex arrived home late and tired. Calling out to tell Olivia she was home, she started flipping through the day's mail so didn't immediately notice when Olivia stepped into the room.
When Alex did look up, the vision she saw struck her dumb.
Olivia, clad only in boxers and a tank, self-consciously ran her hand through her newly chopped hair, "I know. It's shorter than I had expected, too."
Alex just continued to gape.
Olivia became more self-conscious, "Is it really that bad?"
Alex launched herself at the detective, her tiredness forgotten, only one thought in her brain, "Bedroom. Now."
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Annual Performance Review
Alex tried her best to nod and smile appropriately. "...your co-workers find you very competent, Emily..." Whatever. "...the department lead also finds your work to be stellar..."
But her mind kept wandering back to past reviews. "...you intimidate the hell out of the junior ADAs..." "...don't think the DA isn't aware of some of the stunts you pull..." Now those were good times.
She was brought back to the present when her boss was pleased to inform her of her raise. Reaching to shake his proffered hand, she tried to keep the ache in her shoulder from reaching her face.
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Fire
Awakening to the screaming of a smoke alarm and the smell of smoke, Olivia sprinted from bed, looking for the source.
She found it in the kitchen: Alex.
The blonde was frantically waiving a dishtowel at the offending noisemaker, pleading with it to shush. When she finally cleared the air enough to silence the alarm she launched into a defense, "That toaster," Alex said pointing, "Is broken. Or possessed. Or something!"
Olivia looked at Alex dressed only in her nightshirt and glasses and talking of a possessed toaster and responded, "You're so adorable when you set the kitchen on fire."
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