TITLE: Law & Order – Stolen Moments

AUTHOR: D M Harper.

SUMMARY: First meetings often go horribly awry, leaving bad impressions. A/U

RATING: Rated MA for sexual content

PAIRINGS: ADA Abbie Carmichael & OFC; Detective Olivia Benson & ADA Alexandra Cabot.

DISCLAIMER: This story is the work of an over imaginative mind and the basic wish of many gay women who watch and enjoy certain television shows, to see a little v-vroom between two female characters. I like to dabble with the subtext and do so for fun and not for profit. There is no intent to infringe on the copyright of NBC Universal Television or Dick Wolf. This entertainment does feature consensual sexual interaction between two females, so if you are underage or unable to view due to restrictions in your part of the world, be gone with you and take my sympathy with you. If you find such material offensive, too bad, so sad, you chose to enter this web site of your own free will, hence you have no one to whine to expect yourself - now bugger off!

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Please take the time to review; it's what feeds to the Muse and keeps the stories coming!


Chapter 4

Stephanie walked into the Squadroom wearing a dark blue pants suit, black shirt and a black overcoat. Taking off the coat, she hung it up on the rack beside the door entrance. Glancing around, she wasn't surprised to find the place empty. The watch wasn't due to begin for another hour, but after an early morning workout, she was eager to start the day.

By seven thirty, she had completed her DD5s on the three cases she and Lennie had closed out on Friday. Gathering the three folders together, she dropped them into Lieutenant Van Buren's office. Putting on her coat, she went to the coffee shop around the corner and bought a bag of ground coffee beans, a large orange juice and a selection of muffins and doughnuts.

Armed with her purchases, she returned to the Squadroom and placed them on the counter beside the refrigerator. Filling the coffee machine with the fresh granules and topping up the water, the room was filled with the aroma of the fresh brew.

Anita Van Buren entered the bullpen and sniffed, "Good morning Detective Richards, something sure does smell good in here."

"I've just started the coffee and there are muffins and doughnuts."

The smiling Lieutenant neared her, "Detective Richards, you are going to score big points with the Squad and my husband Donald is going to complain about the extra junk in my trunk if I eat any of that."

Stephanie grinned warmly, "The ones on the left are low calorie."

"Oh, then that's a whole different story." Van Buren leaned in and picked up a cinnamon and apple muffin. "I will come back for a mug of coffee when it has finished brewing."

"The Phillips, Wilson and Becker files are on your desk Lieutenant," said Stephanie as her boss approached her office door.

"Excellent work Detective."

Stephanie's attention was drawn to the six foot three, good-looking African American man with the goatee walking into the room. From her previous conversations with Lennie, she knew him to be Ed Green and had been Lennie's partner for the past two years. He had replaced Detective Rey Curtis when he took early retirement to care for his wife Deborah who had been struck down with Multiple Sclerosis. Curtis had to take on the responsibility of raising his three daughters and continuing his career as a cop was not an option. The family had moved to California some time ago where the weather better suited Deborah.

Van Buren stopped and introduced the detectives, "Detective Ed Green, this is Detective Adamson's new partner Detective Stephanie Richards from the three-four."

Green hung up his beige overcoat and shook Stephanie's hand, "Welcome aboard and who is responsible for that wonderful aroma?"

"I am Detective. I got tired of listening to Lennie complain all last week about how awful the coffee that's supplied by the department was," replied Stephanie.

Ed took a closer look at the counter, "And muffins too, man you have won me over."

The two women laughed before the Lieutenant went into her office.

Ed picked up a chocolate muffin, "Hey, you're not the Stephanie Lennie is always talking about?"

"That's me."

"Well, I feel like I already know you, the man adores you."

"Likewise and Lennie has a lot of respect for you Detective," countered an upfront Stephanie.

"It's mutual, so how was last week?"

"We ended up catching four cases and closed out all the paperwork this morning. The perps left enough evidence behind that even Blind Freddy could have found them."

Ed chuckled, "We don't get too many of those. Did you enjoy your time with Vice?"

"I did, but I was tired of dressing up as a hooker every other week."

"I'm sure the Squad will miss that," joked Ed.

Lennie walked in with Eric Adamson, thirty five, five foot eight with a black crew cut. Eric introduced himself before thanking Stephanie for the coffee.

Lieutenant Van Buren joined them and poured herself a mug while Lennie answered the ringing phone on his desk.

Moments later he announced, "Come on Ed, we've got a homicide over at Murray Hill. Some jerk has literally been found holding the smoking gun after shooting his roommate."

-0-

At ten thirty three, Stephanie in company with Eric and Van Buren was standing in the Observation Room watching the interview unfold between Lennie, Ed and the holder of the smoking gun, Steven Barrett.

The twenty four year old with brown hair was explaining why he shot and killed twenty three year old Juan Alvarez. "He was supposed to be my best friend and he was doing my girlfriend behind my back. He laughed at me and said Rachel came onto him." Barrett dropped his head into the palms of his hands and cried, "I just couldn't stand hearing him laugh, so I went and grabbed my gun out of the bedroom closet and shut him up for good."

Stephanie groaned, "Jesus, this is what is so wrong with putting guns in the hands of morons. Why didn't they slug it out like the good old days? We really need to take guns off these people."

"Just what I didn't want to hear at the start the New Year," said a deep husky Texas drawl from the side doorway.

"Ahh shit, let me guess, it's another gun control opposer," muttered Stephanie despondently. She turned around to see a black skirt suited beauty with gorgeous dark brown eyes and jet black hair. The suit emphasised the perfect 34B-24-34 physique and the long legs seemed to go on forever. The scowl on her chiselled face told Stephanie she had hit a nerve and the two women just glared at one another.

Van Buren broke the stalemate, "Detective Stephanie Richards, meet Senior Assistant District Attorney Abbie Carmichael."

The introduction was interrupted by Lennie on the intercom asking loudly, "So where did you get the gun from Einstein?"

Barrett looked up, "It was a birthday gift from Rachel."

Stephanie threw her hands up in the air, "Idiots and guns just don't mix and nothing says "I love you" more than the gift that keeps on killing, I rest my case." She turned heel and walked towards the door.

Abbie watched the stunning blonde with the angry dark blue eyes leave the room and couldn't help herself, "Something I said?"

"It's what you didn't say Counsellor," replied Stephanie as she soundly closed the door.

"That went well," noted Abbie deprecatorily. "I seem to have made myself a new friend."

Van Buren and Eric remained silent, both unwilling to get into it with the ADA. The Lieutenant had only just finished reading Stephanie's service file and understood the detective's point of view regard guns. Eric, on the other hand, had witnessed the striking ADA in full anger mode before and wanted to avoid a repeat performance, besides he agreed with her new partner.

Abbie was more than willing and prepared to engage and mix it up a little with the new detective. She had just spent the morning in court being berated publicly in front of Judge Ellis by defence Attorney Bernard Wilkinson. Wilkinson had implied she had a personal vendetta against his client and brought her ethics into disrepute. Judge Ellis had finally dismissed the defence's motion to suppress the defendant's confession and set down the trial to commence on January twenty eighth at nine am. Abbie was pissed at Wilkinson and the defendant Patrick Owens and the anger hadn't dissipated during the trip to over the two-seven.

Owens had willingly confessed during the police interview to killing his neighbour over a dispute involving the neighbour splicing Owens' cable feed. Owens had beaten the man to death and the forensics evidence was strong against him. There were also two reliable eye witnesses ensuring the case was a slam dunk, but at the last minute Owens recanted his confession and wanted to go to trial.

Abbie had offered to take the death penalty off the table in return for an amended guilty plea, but it had been rejected. The decision meant more work for the already overworked ADA. Executive ADA Jack McCoy and the DA Nora Lewin had not been impressed with the outcome and Abbie had ended up having a new one torn. She had left the DA's Office by asking what she was supposed to do. She had answered her own question sarcastically by suggesting she hog tie both Wilkinson and Owens and beat them into submission. Storming out of the building, she arrived at the two-seven with her antagonism still smouldering. The blonde detective's comments had only added fuel to her infuriation and she wasn't about to back down. She stood there in the Observation Room quietly seething until Ed asked Barrett his last question.

Opening the door, she slammed a legal pad on the table and directed the offender, "Write it all down and I'll consider not pressing for the death penalty."

Barrett looked up at her and picked up the ballpoint pen with a shaking hand.

Abbie wasn't finished, "Make sure you put down every moronic detail."

The two detectives looked at each other surprisingly, but knew better than to say anything to the Texas wildcat.

Once the confession had been signed, Barrett was escorted to Central for booking by two unis and Ed turned to Abbie.

"Are you okay?" he asked.

"Yeah I'm fine, just a bad start to the day then your new detective pissed me off."

Lennie looked scornfully at the young woman, "Pardon?"

Abbie answered sharply, "She had a crack about gun control."

"Oh and let me guess how that went." said Ed. "You gave her your view on the subject?"

"Something like that," answered Abbie abruptly.

Putting his hands up in the air in mock surrender, Lennie added, "No comment."

"What is that supposed to mean?" responded Abbie indignantly.

"Jesus Counsellor, you need to get yourself laid and let go of that rage," wise cracked Ed.

"And you need to mind your own fucking business," snapped Abbie before storming out of the room.

Lennie shook his head, "I'm with you partner, Carmichael needs to get laid before she implodes."

Van Buren turned to Eric, "This is not good. I better go smooth it over before it escalates further."

Abbie entered the Squadroom and saw the blonde sitting at her desk in the corner. She appeared to be upset and Abbie suddenly realised she needed to cool off and apologise. Ed was right; she hadn't had time for a date the past four months let alone the opportunity to develop a relationship or seek companionship. Abbie was beyond frustrated and was fully aware she had overreacted to the Detective's point of view.

As she neared Stephanie's desk, Van Buren, Ed, Lennie and Eric entered the bullpen. Stephanie looked up and spotted the ADA. Taken aback at how hurt she had been by the women's comments, the detective stood up and started to move away in an attempt to avoid any further confrontation.

The Assistant District Attorney reached out and gripped the fleeing women's right forearm.

Stephanie looked down at the strong hand and evenly stated, "Take your hand off me and get out of my way."

Bowled over by the remark, Abbie instantly removed her hand, "We need to talk."

"I think we understand each other. Stay out of my way and I'll gladly do the same for you."

The sting of the words caused Abbie's temper to flare again, "That sounds perfectly fair to me Miss Bleeding Heart."

With pursed lips, Stephanie spun around and glared at the ADA. "You don't know the first thing about me or my views." She caught sight of the other detectives and said, "Come on Detective Adamson, we have a break in the Sorenson case."

Abbie wasn't done yet and didn't feel like being dismissed so quickly, "Your views are transparent."

"What is your problem, just move out of the way?" Stephanie's hands formed into fists and her jaw clenched. "Take the broom out of your ass and step aside please."

"Who the hell do you think you are?" demanded Abbie.

"I am the one who is going to knock you on your red neck ass if you don't get out of my face."

"Are you threatening me Detective?"

Van Buren had witnessed enough and stepped in, "Counsellor that will do. Detective Richards, go chase down your lead."

Abbie stepped to the side and Stephanie walked past her with tears in her eyes.

"Cry baby," uttered Abbie, unable to help herself.

"Fucking southern trailer trash," mumbled Stephanie coolly as she picked up her coat.

Abbie went to pursue the detective, but Van Buren intervened, "My office now Counsellor!"

Looking around at the stunned faces, Abbie apologised, "I'm really sorry about my behaviour; that was extremely unprofessional of me." She followed Van Buren into her office with her tail between her legs.

"You want to explain to me what just happened out there?" asked the bewildered Lieutenant.

Abbie frowned, "I don't rightly know, I apologise Lieutenant."

"Abbie, I have never seen you act like that before, what is going on?"

"I'm tired Anita. I didn't relax at all over the holidays and I'm exhausted. McCoy has me working twenty cases, I have no social life and I reacted badly to Detective Richards' comments."

"Abbie, Detective Richards has been here a week. She is a damn good investigator and was settling in nicely and you managed to piss her off after one sentence of conversation."

"I'll speak to her and smooth it over," offered Abbie.

"Be sure you do, because you need to work with her not against her and for goodness stakes, tell McCoy to give you some slack before you burn out."

"Thanks for the reality check Anita."

"You are welcome and Richards has a lot to offer this Squad, so I suggest you make your peace."

"I will," promised the ADA.

-0-

Lennie sat across from Stephanie in the diner and asked, "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine; Carmichael just hit a raw nerve."

"I know Kiddo, but you will have to sort it out with her."

"Yeah, I was kind of nasty to her," admitted Stephanie.

"You gave as good as you got and if it's any consolation, the Lieutenant spoke to her."

Stephanie laughed at the situation, "She is a hell cat that's for sure."

"She's a brilliant Attorney and we have never seen her so worked up before. Ed reckons she needs a date."

"I find it hard to believe a woman that beautiful has trouble in that area."

"McCoy has got her fairly well jammed up with work at the moment and speaking of dates, how did Friday night go?"

Stephanie smirked, "It was a good night."

"I'm sure it was," commented Lennie as he reached over and raised the collar on Stephanie's shirt.

She blushed brightly, "Oh, I thought it was covered."

"No Kiddo, it's not, so anything serious?"

Having always had an open relationship with Lennie, Stephanie answered honestly, "No, it's just a physical arrangement that suits both of us at this particular point in time."

Lennie taunted her, "You are getting to be as bad as your brother."

"I'm nothing like him. I want to settle down and raise a couple of kids with the right person."

Lennie's brows arched in question, "Really?"

"Yes really, don't look so surprised."

"I'm sure you will find them. We better get back to the house so you can interview your suspect."

"No worries and I appreciate the chat."

"You are welcome Kiddo."

The two detectives walked back to the Precinct to find ADA Rothwell speaking with Eric.

"Where's Carmichael?" inquired Lennie.

"Court," replied Peter. "She is there for the rest of the week."

"Excellent," retorted Stephanie, happy to bypass the woman for the time being.

-0-

Stephanie opened her apartment door to find her thirty year old, blond, six foot brother. She embraced him and kissed his cheek, "Welcome home J.J."

Replying, he kissed her on the crown, "It's good to be home, but I had a great time and the weather was awesome."

The siblings separated and Jeffrey pointed to her neck, "What's with the hickey?"

"It's a souvenir from Friday night."

"Did you go to the club with Jake?"

"Yep, it was a good end to a busy week."

"Well, I better grab my boy and head for home."

"He is on my bed sleeping."

"You know, it takes him a week to get over his visits with you."

"What can I say, I love him and he's excellent company."

"Yes and the only male allowed to stay overnight in your bed," joked Jeffrey.

Stephanie laughed, "You know me, my bed is my sanctuary and off limits."

"Yeah I seem to recall your golden rule."

The pair walked into the bedroom and found Brewster curled up on a pillow.

Stephanie picked him up, snuggled him to her chest and explained, "Sorry buddy, time to go home with daddy." She passed him to her brother, "Don't forget the family get together on Saturday."

"I won't and I even remembered Aunt Jessica's birthday this year."

"Wow, you are getting better."

"Thanks again for looking after the boy and next time I need a cat sitter it's mom's turn."

Stephanie walked them to the door, "It was my pleasure and it good to share him around. I'll see you Saturday."

Jeffery kissed her on the cheek, "Goodnight."

"Bye." Stephanie closed the door and reached for her cell phone.

The other end rang three times before being answered, "Hello Steph."

"Hi, can I come over?"

"Yes you can, I was just about to call you."

"I'll see you soon."

-0-

Chapter 5 posted!