DISCLAIMER: The copyrighted characters of any TV program, movie, or published work of fiction are the property of their owners/creators. In this case, Law and Order SVU and Dick Wolfe. No copyright infringement is intended and nothing is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.
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OUT OF NEW YORK
CHAPTER 4: FIRST LAP
She locked her apartment door behind him. She couldn't move. Leaning her head against the cool wooden door, Alex began to doubt herself. She hadn't felt that way since her first days in WITSEC. Alone, desperate for a familiar voice, sight anything. Just not complete silence and emptiness.
"Once again you have done it to yourself. When will you learn?" She told herself out loud. She shook her head no and felt the inlays from the door begin to crease her forehead. Turning around she was quickly reminded how barren her home was now. Boxes neatly stacked along the living room wall. Her couch the only piece of furniture left in the room. No pictures on the wall or tokens on shelves. Just an empty room filled with memories and ghosts. She laid down on the couch and allowed the pity to flow through her.
"So if you could, please check my apartment from time to time." Olivia held out her key to her neighbor, Jason Hearde.
"Do you need me to get your mail too?" Jason asked trying to suppress his enthusiasm. Finally he got to say more then a 'Hello' to his gorgeous neighbor.
"No, I am having it held and will have it forwarded to my new address." Olivia said matter of factly. She was already done with this conversation, but he was doing her a favor. "There really is not much to look after. A couple of plants and check to make sure the fridge and the water are still operating. That's about it."
"Okay." He replied. "How long will you be gone?"
"I'm not sure, but I'll keep in touch to see what's going on." She was really ready to go now.
"Can I call you?" He was showing his desperation to continue the conversation. "I mean in case something goes wrong?"
"Tell you what, when I get to DC, I will call you with my contact number and then you will have it. Okay?" She smiled. "I really appreciate this Jason."
"Hey no problem. Looking forward to your return." Olivia smiled and turned towards her own door, unlocking it and entering before he can say anything else. He watched her enter her apartment, looked at the key she had placed in his hand, clutched it tightly and smiled. She watched him from the peephole.
"Oh brother. I should have asked Elliot." She pushed herself from the door and headed towards the kitchen. Opening the fridge, she pulled out a beer, some cheese, a tomato and a red onion. She grabbed the bread from on top of the cabinet and a frying pan from the hanging rack. She placed the pan on the stove and light the burner. Next, she carefully sliced the cheese into long, thin slices. Next the tomato and lastly the onion placing each on the bread in nice neat stacks. She had learned from Alex that cutting the onion last was the right thing to do.
"Keeps the onion taste from taking over everything." Alex said. They were hungry. It was late. Ten hours of work and still not much progress on the day. They had decided to leave the precinct and collaborate over dinner. Unfortunately it was 11:00 and all the restaurants had closed for the night. They settled for potluck at Olivia's apartment.
"I have never seen someone with so many varieties of cheese and.." Alex picked up a few cartons and opened them. She gave a disgusted look at the content. "Mushu Pork?"
"Yeah. I get a taste for something and I just have to have it all the time." Olivia said flipping the grilled cheese sandwich on a plate. She handed it to Alex. "I do have beer in there too."
"Yep about six different tastes." Alex reached in and grabbed an Amber Boc. "Napkins, silverware and chips?"
"On the table, the drawer to the left and in the pantry." She flipped her own sandwich on a plate and cut it in half with the spatula. She opened the fridge and reached all the way in the back. Behind the Chinese food cartons, mayo jar and grabbed her beer. Alex just exited the pantry when Olivia stood up.
"Modelo Negro. Wow I didn't see that in there."
"It's all I drink, so I hide it from company." Olivia said prying off the cap.
"So you don't like to share?" Alex said with a slight pout.
"Not my beer, not my lunch and not my girl friend." Olivia said matter of factly. She waited to see Alex's reaction. Alex turned and headed towards the kitchen table. She took the seat near the window. Olivia sat across from her watching. Alex took a small bite of her sandwich and then another. She put it down, took a long, slow sip of her beer.
"I get the lunch and the girlfriend, but the beer, now that's cold." She smiled. Olivia laughed choking a little on her beer.
"So, I may share my lunch with the right person, but my beer now that will have to take a commitment." Olivia said still holding her beer in her hand.
Alex reached across the table and stoled a chip off of Olivia's plate.
"So, I guess that answers a few questions." Olivia said. "Wanna bite of my sandwich?"
She opened the trashcan and threw the now carbon form sandwich in it. She left the frying pan in the sink and headed for her bedroom. She stopped at the door. She hadn't slept in her bed since Alex decided to leave. She really didn't have the strength to lie down and relive all of those memories. With a deep sigh she walked across the room to her closet. She pulled her suitcase down from the top shelf and began filling it with her things. Shirts, sweaters, pants she just throw whatever her hand touched. Until she reached it. The little black dress that Alex always kept in her closet.
"Just in case." Alex said when she hung it there.
"I don't think she'll need it in the Congo." Olivia said moving it to the side so she could reach her winter coat. She chuckled at the irony of it.
"BUUUUUZZZZ. BUZZZZZZZ."
"What the heck!" Alex said half asleep.
"BUUUUUUZZZZ. BUUUUZZZ."
One eye open she looked at the clock above the mantle. "SHIT!" She said leaping from the couch. She had spent the night on the couch it was now 6 am. She ran over to the intercom.
"Yes, I am running a little late. I'll be done is 30 minutes." She began taking off the last night's clothes.
"No problem. I'll wait in the car, Mam." The drive said thankfully. He had a hot cup of coffee and the Times to get through.
Alex frantically raced around the apartment. She turned the shower on and while waiting for it to warm; she began collecting the last minute things she had intended on putting in her suitcase the night before. A few toiletries, extra pair of 'comfortable' heels, she grabbed the frame from her side of the bed. It was her favorite photo. The two of them at the Trevi Fountain. The best trip of her life.
"What the hell am I doing?" Se said still holding the frame. She traced the outline of Olivia's face. "The best of my life and I'm leaving. Abbie is right I am an idiot." She placed the photo in her briefcase instead. Closing her suitcase she glanced at her watch and scurried to the shower.
In out and ready in 15 minutes she told herself looking in the mirror. Grabbing her suitcase and briefcase she rushed to the door, afraid she would stop and not go on this adventure. One last look and she was gone.
"Jet Blue flight 305 to Washington Dulles is ready for boarding at gate 17. All ticketed passengers should be on board now."
Olivia ran to the ticket counter flashed her badge, weapon and walked down the gateway to the plane. She ignored the looks she was getting from already seated passengers. Seat 8B, the aisle. She sat, seat belted and then placed her backpack under the seat. She waited until the plane pulled away before falling asleep.
Alex checked her watch for the 15th time since she boarded the plane. She hated commuter flights. There is never a first class section. She at least got the window seat. Less closterphobic.
"You know looking at your watch every 5 seconds will not make the plane go any faster." The handsome gentleman said next to her. "Hate flying?"
"No I hate flying coach." She said. They both had a laugh. A little loud for the quiet plane.
"Sam Herrington." He introduced himself.
"Alex Cabot." She replied.
Olivia stirred. She opened her eyes for a moment. "Now I am imagining things." She adjusted herself once again in her seat and fell back asleep.
The flight was short. Too short for Sam. He was enjoying the beautiful blonde next to him and talking about anything but shop. Alex was happy to have someone to talk to that didn't ask too many questions nor tried to hit on her. He had three kids and was devoted to his partner. Has they gathered their things; Sam reached in his pocket and pulled out his business card.
"Here. This is a confusing town. If you need anything, just call." Alex took the card.
"State Department." She said under her breath.
"Well we are on the same team." She told him. "So I guess I'll see you around the office."
"Yeah. Sounds great." He let her in front of him and they waited to walked towards the planes exit.
Olivia sat in her seat. Trying to get the fuzzy brain in gear. She heard it again. Turning around in her seat, she spotted a blonde speaking to a good -looking guy. Her blonde. She knew every last curl and curve. She just froze in disbelief.
"Miss?" The gentleman who sat next to her on the plane said softly in her ear.
"Huh? What?" she said pulling herself out of the trance. She saw the isle had opened and the remaining passengers were waiting for her to stand and get in line to disembark. "Sorry." She said standing. Her old seatmate climbed out behind her. The line came to a halt while the gate manager helped an elderly passenger to an awaiting wheelchair.
"Did you see a ghost?" He seat mate said just over her shoulder.
"If you only knew." She said taking the final step off the plane. She rushed from the gate. Determined not to have Alex see her. She wanted no part of the blonde. Olivia took her phone from her hip, turned it on and impatiently waited for the phone to come alive. She dialed just has she hit the door. A blast of warm air hit her in the face, yet she felt cold.
"Where are you?" She barked.
"Just com'n round the bend one more time. You know they don't let you wait by the curb." Abbie said entering the "passenger pick up" area. "I see ya."
Abbie pulled up just as Alex reached the sliding doors to the outside. She was distracted looking for the prearranged car that was to take her to her new job.
Olivia and Abbie arrived at the back of the car. Olivia placed her luggage in the already opened trunk and shut if firmly.
Alex looked in the direction of the loud bang. What she saw was unexpected. The air was sucked from her lungs, she was frozen.
With Angie's new show starting in the US, I had to throw Abbie in there. She always made a good pause for Olivia.