-CHAPTER 3-

Elliot had been waiting outside the room the whole time and Olivia told him everything she had found out right away, when a woman in a business suit, whom they both didn't know, showed up and started asking them about the case.

"We are not authorized to talk about ongoing investigations, sorry", Detective Stabler responded quickly.

"Well, you'll talk to me anyway. May I introduce myself...my name is Casey Novak and I'm replacing former Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot", she offered her hand to Olivia and Elliot, but neither of them shook it.

"There is nothing to talk about yet and right now you are just keeping us from doing our job", Olivia announced, her voice trembling, "And you'll never be able to replace Alexandra Cabot."
-

Olivia had stormed out of the hospital right after snapping at the new A.D.A. 'cause if she hadn't she might have lost control.
At least over her emotions.
And there was no way she would let anybody see her cry.

The detective was aware of the fact that Elizabeth Donnelly would have to hire somebody new to "fill" the hole the 'death' of Alexandra Cabot had caused at some point, but it was way too early for that.
Olivia was nowhere near ready to accept a new Assistant District Attorney and maybe she never would be.
-

After the bad start with Casey Novak Olivia tried practically everything to avoid the, for her taste a little too enthusiastic, woman whenever possible, but since they still had the case of Melissa Walker running it wasn't as easy as the detective might have wished for.

A whole week of investigating and sleepless nights had led nowhere and Olivia Benson felt the exhaustion bringing her down more and more.
She knew she needed a break, but truth be told, Olivia wasn't able to sleep, not even to close her eyes 'cause whenever she tried to get some rest she saw Alex.
She was brought back to the day of the shooting, where she had knelt right next to her wounded friend, fighting for Alex' life with her blood - covered hands.

Would that nightmare ever come to an end?
Would Alex come back one day?

"Why do we still have no clue where Melissa's father is?"

The sound of the familiar, but yet not really welcome voice pulled Olivia out of her thoughts within a second.

"It's not that easy, Counselor. Melissa's mother died when she was eleven and her dad is abroad for business. We tried to reach him at his hotel, but he is on a trip to a vineyard and can't be talked to at the moment. We left him a message that he should contact us immediately, but no reaction 'til now", Olivia tried to explain.

"Any other living relatives, who could take care of the girl?"
Casey Novak looked at the detective expectantly.

"Unfortunately not."

"I see. Any news about the delinquent?" the A.D.A. wanted to know.

"No. No matches on the DNA sample, which was found under Melissa's fingernails."
Olivia felt helpless 'cause they were stuck on the case and the girl wasn't able to describe the man, who had attacked and kidnapped her. Who had tortured and raped her for days. Simply 'cause he had been wearing a mask.
But talking to Casey Novak, admitting that there still was not even a hint of success, made the detective feel even worse.
Not that she gave a damn about what the new Assistant District Attorney would think about her and Elliot or if she would question their qualification and abilities, but Casey Novak clearly was lacking the sensitivity, which was necessary for this job and its victims.

Alex would have tried to comfort her, to encourage her. The blonde would have told Olivia that she believed in her and that they wouldn't give up until the guy, who did this to Melissa, would find himself a new home behind bars.

But that was the point.
Alexandra Cabot had been passionate about every single case, she had been ambitious. She hadn't hesitated to bend the law, to cross some lines in order to serve justice. She had always fought for what she had believed in.
And although they had had their differences, she had always made Olivia and Elliot feel that their opinion was important to her, that she counted on them, that they had her trust. That she respected them.

Casey Novak on the other hand would never be anything like that.
She would never be Alex.
Not that Olivia wanted her to be.