Author's note: thanks for all of your reviews over the last few months its been great reading your suggestions and comments. I wrote this chapter tonight and I've tried something different so let me know what you think. Once again I apologise for any inconsistencies within the story. Thank you all for reading.

The parts written in italics are written in flashback. After this chapter Alex and Liv can start putting their plan into action…

Jaxx37

Careful Aim – Chapter 4.

Olivia felt an even greater sense of duty to her friend after talking to Jacob. It was now clear that whatever her plan was going to be it would have to be done soon, there was no way she could allow Abbie to live in such isolation any longer. She cursed herself for not having done something sooner, why had it taken her so long to react to her best friend's obvious distress? You were too busy with Alex the voice in her head reminded her. She immediately felt an intense and uncomfortable guilt washing over her. How could she have allowed herself to do this? If it wasn't for Abbie she and Alex would never have gotten together in the first place! The memories of that fateful night stopped her internal monologue as she revelled in their warmth.

6 months earlier:

Olivia and Abbie stood outside the restaurant waiting patiently. The night was clear and there wasn't a cloud in the sky, not that you could see any stars New York traffic and streetlights made that an impossibility Abbie groaned to her friend – it was clear she was feeling homesick from the way she kept bemoaning every little thing about the city. Still tonight was the first night that neither woman had had to work late in at least two months and it felt good to finally be doing something other than paper work or catching the bad guys. Olivia was feeling apprehensive, nervous, her best friend had something planned here and she had no idea what it was. All she knew was that she had to wait and see.

'Can't you at least tell me who we're waiting for?'

'Where's the fun in that? Don't you trust me Benson?'

Olivia rolled her eyes at that. Abbie Carmichael had been her best friend for years and she trusted her with her life… but that didn't mean she trusted her surprises. The last few times Abbie had set her up on a 'blind date' had been awful. The women involved too needy or simply too ordinary to catch her attention. Sure some of them had been fun, hell some of them had been beautiful but none could live up to her expectations… her true desires and eventually Abbie had given up trying. Now it seemed she was ready to try again. The difference was that this time it would start out as a double date – Abbie with Juliet and Olivia with… whoever Abbie was trying to hook her up with this time. Abbie had tried to get Olivia to meet her blind date alone but this time Olivia point blank refused. There was no way she was texting Eliot to bail her out again.

'Will you tell me what she looks like so I know her when I see her?'

'You'll know her the moment you see her Liv'

Somehow that particular statement filled her with even more apprehension – it had to be someone she knew. That was never going to be a good thing; it was probably some new cop to the area that Abbie had met during one of her numerous cases. Someone they both saw every day. Olivia let out a sigh and glared at her best friend. It wouldn't matter if this woman was stunning, it wouldn't matter if she was articulate, charming or graceful. She would never be enough. She would never be what Olivia wanted because she could never have her heart. There was only one woman capable of capturing Olivia Benson's imagination… of igniting a fire within her very soul and she would never know it. She would never know it because Olivia Benson Detective of the Special Victims Unit a hero to the victims she protected every day was a coward. Pure and simple.

'You still with me Liv?' came Abbie's teasing tone

'I can't believe you're doing this Abbie. Not after what I told you last night'

Abbie simply pointed to a nearby cab as it pulled up next to them.

'There's been a change of plan since last night Liv. Get in the cab ok?'

'What?'

'Get in the cab.'

'I don't understand…'

'You will. Tomorrow I want you to call me and thank me, but for now you have to get going. i'll explain later'

Olivia stared at Abbie. Her friend had clearly lost her mind while they'd been standing there, and yet she felt compelled to follow her instructions. Reaching for the door of the cab she turned back one last time, checking to make sure it wasn't a joke. The look on her best friend's face assured her it was no joke and she opened the door and climbed into the cab. Closing the door behind her it occurred to her that she had no idea where she was supposed to be going when she noticed someone next to her. The confident tone rhyming off an address that Olivia knew by heart.

'Alex?'

'Liv... why didn't you tell me?'

With those words Alex Cabot, the only woman capable of possessing Olivia's heart leaned closer to the stunned detective kissing her gently, yet with passion. When they parted all of Olivia's apprehension had disappeared. Instead she relaxed as Alex held her hand throughout the cab journey. Abbie Carmichael was one smooth operator and one day she'd have to ask how she managed to pull this stunt. At the moment however she wasn't about to complain. For the first time in her life she was exactly where she wanted to be and it felt right.

Olivia shook herself from the pleasantness of the memory and instead focused on the issue at hand. She went in search of Alex and quickly apprised her of the situation. It was clear from her girlfriend's reaction that she was in agreement – something had to be done. Unlike Olivia however Alex seemed to formulate a plan almost instantly and it would all start with a flight to New York. There Alex was determined she knew just the woman who could get under Abbie's skin and make her forget she had ever heard the name Juliet. The woman in question was everything Abbie needed and just her type. She was also Alex Cabot's best friend.