It has been one week and two days since Alex had seen her detective, and she was starting to get the feeling that the brunette was purposely avoiding her. The two women had gotten together on Sunday; the take made a complete 180 from the day before. They made breakfast together after a less intense run in the park. After breakfast was clean, the two just enjoyed spending time together. Eventually, they ordered Thai food before retiring to the bedroom before 10 p.m. for another type of workout. Unfortunately, their night together was cut short when Olivia was called out about 3 a.m. Monday morning. Neither woman brought up the l word the entire time they were together. And this fact weighed heavily on Alex's mind as she sent Olivia another instant message. The ones she sent earlier in the afternoon went unanswered, but Alex could tell that Olivia was back at her computer, so she opted to try again.. The detective had cancelled lunch together, much to Alex's dismay, and she had yet to reach out to the blonde to offer a rain check.

I really miss you. Can we do lunch tomorrow?

I miss you too babe; I'm not sure this case… you know.

Olivia, I haven't seen you in over a week.

I know. I'm sorry

Are you really?

What does that mean?

Nothing. Stay safe and call me tomorrow.

No response. "Really Olivia?" She said to the room as she waited for a reply to come.

"Mommy?"

"Hey Amy G, I thought I tucked you in to bed."

"You did, but I don't feel very good."

Alex got up from the computer chair and walked over to her daughter; leaning down to kiss her forehead, Alex was surprise to find that her little one appeared to be running a fever.

"What's wrong?"

"My nose is really stuffy, and I have a really bad headache."

Alex picked up Amy, and walked her back into her bedroom. She placed her daughter on the bed while she went to find the thermometer and some Motrin. When she returned she found her little girl curled up in a ball with her arms wrapped around Alex's pillow.

"Ok, baby girl, sit up so I can take your temperature."

Amy did as Alex put the thermometer in her ear.

"99.9, well, that's not good." She put the thermometer on the night stand before pouring the Motrin into the measuring cup. "Here, Amy G, take this."

The miniature blonde swallowed before making a face, while the medicine wasn't the worst in the world, it also wasn't the best. Sticking her tongue out, she shut her eyes willing the taste to fade out of her mouth.

"Mommy?"

"Yes, baby?"

"Can I sleep in here tonight?"

"Yes, baby. Let me get ready for bed, why don't you get under the covers."

Alex took her pajamas into the bathroom and she went about her nightly routine. She started making a mental check list of things she had to do in the next day:

-Call mom to ask if she can come take Amy.

-Call Jason and let him know Amy is sick.

-Call the school to let them know Amy is sick.

-Get to court before 10 to avoid contempt charges.

-Get home before 4 so that her mom can get to Wednesday night choir practice.

-Talk to Olivia

The blonde needed to talk with the detective; she needed to understand why Olivia couldn't take five minutes to see her during the day. And she didn't get why every time she went to the squad room over the last week Olivia was out. At first, she attributed it to bad luck, but as a few days turned into a week, she was starting to believe it was something more. Sunday had been great, why in the world was Olivia avoiding her now?

Alex walked back into her room to find her daughter snuggled under the covers. Smiling at her child, she turned down the covers before she too climbed into bed pulling her daughter close. Amy buried herself into her mother as much as possible, and it was the moments like this that Alex wished she and Jason had been able to make it work. She loved cuddling her daughter, but she always wished in these moments there was someone else to hold onto so she didn't have to be so strong all the time. Olivia had allowed her to waver and still didn't judge her, and maybe she had overestimated the brunette. Alex now found herself thinking about at time in which the blonde had been the detective's rock. And her mind was blank. She couldn't recall one time in which she let Olivia lean on her in her time of need. Alex felt guilty, this relationship was starting to appear it was all about her. She didn't tell Olivia about her daughter to protect herself. She begged Olivia to stay to talk so Alex could clear her conscience. It was Alex who didn't want Olivia to leave after she finally came clean, and Olivia came over the next day just so the blonde would know that her friend wasn't running away. Everything about their relationship was about Alex, and maybe that's why Olivia was avoiding her.

Alex looked down at her daughter, and saw that she was asleep. Very carefully she extricated herself from the bed, and headed back into her office.

Olivia had replied to her last instant message:

We caught a break. Fin and Stabler are going to check it out. Cragen sent me home for the night. I will give you call once we close this case.

Great, Alex thought, who knows when she will see Olivia. Maybe she should go by the squad room after court in the morning. She needed to talk to Olivia in person, and the detective was not likely to blow her off if she was standing right in front of her at the 1-6, because then she would have to explain herself to everyone. Alex walked back into her room, and crawled back into bed with her daughter. Amelia turned to snuggle into her mother's embrace. Eventually, Alex drifted off to sleep still trying to figure out how to get her relationship back on track.

Olivia walked into her apartment, dead on her feet. This case was really taking it out of her. Four African-American girls raped and murdered. On top of that the media is running amuck accusing the department of limiting resources, and not caring. Then Fin's connection and frustration with the case. Then to top all of it off, she hadn't seen Alex, and the blonde wasn't being very understanding. Olivia barely had the energy to brush her teeth and throw a tank top and shorts on before collapsing into her bed. She knew that she was avoiding the blonde, but it wasn't that she wanted to not see Alex. It was just that she was busy with work, and feeling a little smothered by the attorney's needy tendencies. And while their day together last Sunday was much better than their encounter Saturday, Olivia was still hurt by all the information she had learned that weekend. As Olivia drifted off into unconsciousness, she decided that as soon as this case was over she would make time for her girlfriend, and they could talk again.

The next day in court, Alex was annoyed. The defense was trying to claim that the defendant was mentally incompetent and at Alex's bequest had agreed to a psych exam with the state's psychistrist. Alex knew this was a Hail Mary, and now she was wishing she had agreed to work out a plea. However, this is where they were now, and she just had to except it. As she was walking out of the Court room she had the misfortune of running into Elizabeth Donnelly, and while Alex held nothing personal against her boss, she was not in the mood to tango. Amelia had woken up twice to throw up and the second time she couldn't get back to sleep. Since Alex hadn't gotten to bed until nearly 1 in the morning anyway, she actually slept for less than two hours. And because she kept turning her relationship with Olivia over in her mind, the little sleep she did get was fitful.

"Alex?"

"Hey." She responded as she left out the breath she had apparently been holding in.

"You look horrible."

"It's nice to see you too."

"Sorry, I was going to ask you about a case, but I think it would be better for you to head home and get some rest. Do you have court this afternoon?"

"No, I was just going to go by the precinct, and then head home anyway."

"Alex, take care of yourself."

"Bye, Liz." Alex said as the elevator arrived and she stepped in. She finally made it to the parking garage and into her car. She was exhausted, but she knew she wasn't going to be able to sleep well until she was able to talk to Olivia.

When she arrived at the 1-6 she climbed out of her car, and was about to walk up the steps when Olivia was coming out of the building.

"Alex, what are you doing here?"

"I came by to talk to you. Where are you going?"

"Home, we collared the son of a bitch, and Captain sent us all home."

"Oh, would you like a ride?"

"Uh, yeah."

Alex smiled as she turned and headed back to her car; Olivia followed close behind. Both women climbed into the car and looked at each other. The detective reach up and pulled Alex close to her smashing her lips against the blondes. She swiped her tongue across Alex's bottom lip, and her girlfriend moaned as she opened her mouth granting the brunette access. The kiss was passionate as the two tongues dueled in each other's mouths. When air became necessary, Olivia pulled away slightly leaning against the attorney's forehead.

"Alex, I missed you so much."

"I know Liv; I missed you too…. And I'm sorry for not being more understanding. I know that your job requires a lot, and your dedication to that job is one of your many very attractive attributes."

Olivia smiled at the attorney's word choice. Relieved to hear Alex admit that she needed to be more understanding. That was a conversation Olivia really rather not have to have with the blonde.

"It's ok. I forgive you."

Alex smiled before turning away from the detective and starting the engine. For most of the ride to Olivia's apartment to two sat in comfortable silence. As they turned down the detective's street Alex asked, "So this week Amelia is with me, but maybe on Saturday around lunch time we could get together?"

"I would love to, but I'm catching this weekend."

"Oh… can I come over after I drop my daughter off and be with you until you have to leave?"

Olivia looked over at her companion realizing that Alex needed her.

"Yeah, I would like that. And how about we go to lunch tomorrow?"

"Can I call you in the morning and confirm?"

Olivia looked puzzled.

"Amy is sick, and I'm not sure what tomorrow will look like for me because I don't have court. Depending on how she's feeling, I might be the one she traps at home. She loves my mom, but when she gets really sick she's all about me. At least that is how she has been. It has been a while since she been sick at all."

"Of course Alex. Just give me a call, and please, let me know if you or she needs anything."

"Thanks Liv." She leaned over to place another kiss on the detective's lips. The two engaged in another heated kiss, before Olivia broke away gasping for air.

"Wow," The brunette said in a hushed tone.

"Yeah, wow."

"See you soon?" Alex asked as her girlfriend climbed out of the car.

"You bet." Olivia said before shutting the door and heading up to her apartment for some much needed rest and relaxation.