A/N: I got this idea after watching "Justice" in season 3. In comparison to the episode before to this one, "Guilt", it seems like this might be "the haircut" that Mariska Hargitay talks about when her hair dresser made that one small wrong move and cut her hair shorter than she wanted it. The one that "almost got her fired"... It's really short in "Justice" and I thought I'd have a little fun with a one-shot for when Alex and Olivia were first dating. This is about 4 months into their relationship. They had already made love and were already into an intimate routine.

"Justice" is the episode right after "Guilt", so I bring in reference to the Sam Cavanaugh case in this one—the one that really affected Alex. The haircut happens in the afternoon and then Olivia is called to the hospital the next morning, which is where "Justice" picks up.

Enjoy.

Scissor Happy

Olivia sat at the stop light and raised her torso up to look at her hair in the rear view mirror for, perhaps, the fiftieth time since she left the salon ten minutes prior.

"Shit…" she whispered, raking her fingers through it, trying to press a little down here and there, smooth a little off to the side, feeling the close-cut style that she hadn't been prepared for in the slightest.

She had wanted a trim, she told Lance, her stylist of over three years. Just a trim. But, he got to talking, going on and on about his cocker spaniel, Mitzi, and before Olivia could get a word in edge-wise, the damage had been done.

She tried not to look completely shocked when he had finally turned the chair around, revealing an even more masculine hairstyle than she had ever had in her life—it was the shortest it had ever been. But she was sure that the angst and horror was written all over her face. Lance apologized profusely and assured her over and over again that it would grow back and wouldn't we just laugh about this in a couple of months?

But Olivia wasn't laughing.

The car behind her honked and she quickly put her foot to the gas, the car propelling backward unnecessarily. Her cell rang on the seat next to her. She reached over, eyes still on the road, and flipped it open.

"Benson…" she looked left and right as she took a right on 2nd Avenue, headed back to her apartment for the evening. She had used the UC car to make a home visit with Elliot right before their day was over, and had decided to just drop her partner off at the station before she went for her hair appointment, and was now driving the burgundy Caprice home.

"Hey, Benson…" she could hear Alex smiling through the phone, "…it's Cabot…"

Olivia smiled, pulling up to another stoplight. She brought her left hand to her hair again, resting her elbow on the window ledge of the door, and letting her fingers run through the shortness, releasing out a yawn. "What's up, Al?"

"You hungry?"

"Starving, actually. Are you?"

"Well, Detective, it is seven-thirty and you and I have been eating closer to six lately so, yes, I am hungry. Want me to pick something up? I'm just leaving the office now."

"That'd be great. I'm five minutes away from pulling up to my building…"

"Thai?"

Olivia smiled. "Thai sounds wonderful, Al…see you in a few?"

"Definitely…see you soon…"

Olivia flipped her phone closed and tossed it on the seat as she pulled the large, boat-like car into a parallel spot right in front of the lobby doors.

She didn't know what Alex would think of her new 'do. But, with the Sam Cavanaugh case still fresh on her mind and still weighing on her heart, the blonde might not notice. Hopefully, if she did realize the cut, which was virtually impossible to miss, she would like it and not be too turned off by it. Olivia would just have to wait and see.

AAA

"Hey, Liv…do we want chopsticks or forks tonight?" Alex called, opening the utensil drawer. "I'm so tired, I don't think I'd get much food in my mouth with chopsticks…" she said loudly. Alex furrowed her brow and looked toward the hallway, noting Olivia's bedroom light was on. "Olivia? Everything OK?" She knew that the brunette was taking a quick shower, but she had been in there a while.

Finally, Olivia's voice was heard coming down the hallway. "Yeah, Al…just…"

The detective appeared now, entering the dining area, her hair wrapped in a towel on top of her head, dark jeans on, white T-shirt and, from what Alex could see, she was braless. Alex moaned and smiled, looking down at the forks and taking two, shaking her head at the sight.

"I think you read my mind. Forks are better tonight…" Olivia smiled and moved into the kitchen behind the blonde, grabbing her waist and clutching firmly, before planting a kiss on the side of her neck.

"Everything's on the table. All ready…" Alex turned and held a fork in each hand. "Have a preference?" she giggled, her eyes going to the white towel on her girlfriend's head. She furrowed her brow and cocked her head to the side. "You gonna take that off for dinner or will I get to look at Elizabeth Taylor all evening?"

Olivia smiled, "Elizabeth Taylor?"

"Yeah…in that White Diamonds campaign…she wore a white towel on her head, but…" Alex leaned closer and pressed her lips to the brunette's, "…you're much more beautiful than she is…"

"Check mate, Al…nice…let's eat, OK?"

They rounded the counter and moved to the kitchen table, Alex still eyeing Olivia's towel.

"Really, Liv…I want to see your hair, Babe…you know I love your hair…"

They both sat themselves at the table and Alex put her napkin on her lap, eyes still on the detective's, who seemed to be so very obviously ignoring her repeated requests.

Olivia took a deep breath and then looked at Alex, putting her hands on top of the table. "I got a…a trim today…and I think…no, I know…he cut off way too much. I don't think you're gonna like it, Alex…"

Alex smiled sweetly. Olivia was so cute. She was afraid that she wouldn't like it. "Olivia Benson…even if you were bald, you would be beautiful, Babe…you have the face for baldness…"

Olivia's smile grew in broadness and she shook her head. "I think that's a complement…but, really, Alex…it's short, like Tom Cruise in Top Gun short…"

Alex couldn't help but giggle as she forked a spoonful of pad Thai into her mouth. She chewed and swallowed and then wiped her mouth with her napkin before standing and moving around the table to her girlfriend. She leaned over her. "Let me see it…" Her eyes dipped down to Olivia's mouth before moving her gaze back into her eyes.

"It's really short, Al…" Olivia looked apprehensive. "Not much to grab on to…"

Alex smirked. "I can grab other things, then…you have many other things to grab onto…" Alex reached up and placed her hands on the crease of the towel wrap. Olivia's hands covering her own. "Come on, Liv…"

Olivia took her hands away now and looked into her eyes as the blonde gently loosened the towel and took it off slowly. She took her hand to the still-damp locks. They were touchably soft, silky beneath the pads of her fingertips.

"It's adorable, Babe…I love it." Alex continued to rake her fingernails through it.

Olivia's eyes closed, a smile forming on her face. "Mmmm…you sure you like it?"

"Hey…" Alex said softly, leaning closer.

Olivia opened her eyes now. "Yeah?"

"…it's gorgeous…" Alex pressed her mouth to the brunette's, "…I love it…" Alex stood erect and held out her arms.

Olivia took them and stood as they wrapped their arms around each other, swaying softly,

Alex began giggling. "I want to test out your new haircut in the bedroom…prove that I can still grab onto it…and other things, if I need to…" Alex pulled away and winked at Olivia.

Olivia's broad smile gleamed with enthusiasm. Alex moved her hands to the sides of Olivia's head and clutched the short, satiny hair there, pulling her head backward, causing the brunette's neck to be exposed. Alex took the opportunity to place her mouth there, sucking firmly.

"Uhhh, Al…" Olivia moaned.

"I wanna show you now…" Alex husked.

"OK…" Olivia's voice was weak, the brunette already having fallen under the spell of sex.

Within moments, they were back in the bedroom, naked, Alex on top of Olivia, hands in her hair, messing it up, pulling it every which way, showing the brunette just how much she liked her new cut as she straddled her, Olivia stimulating the blonde as she rode her fingers and Alex pleasuring Olivia beneath her, behind her, both panting and continued thrusting fingers into each other until they each peaked their release and collapsed on top of each other.

"All the food's still on the table," Alex moaned into Olivia's shoulder, feeling herself drool a little, her body relaxed and oozing with pleasure. "It's probably so disgusting by now..." Alex chuckled softly.

The sun was coming in through the parting of the vertical patio blinds, telling the blonde that it was, at least, six a.m. They had made love the night prior and had fallen asleep, satiated, in each others' arms.

Olivia giggled and kissed Alex's temple softly. "Well, my hunger has been satisfied…"

Alex smiled. "Mine, too, Liv…" She moaned and lifted herself up slightly, propping her upper body on her elbows next to Olivia. "I really do love it, Liv…it's so sexy on you…"

Olivia smiled and opened her eyes now, looking at the blonde and taking her hands to her cheeks. "Thank you…"

"For what, Liv?"

"Making me feel better…" Olivia giggled again, "…in more ways than one…"

"Mmmm…" Alex plopped herself back on the pillow next to her girlfriend, "…no problem, at all, Liv…any time…"

Olivia's cell phone rang on the bedside table and she leaned over and answered it. "Detective Benson…" She looked at Alex now, still smiling. But her smile began to fade as she continued listening. "OK…on her way to Bellevue?...I'll be there in ten. Get a rape kit started before she goes in to the OR. It's vital that you get that first. Got it? Please get the rape kit started before it's too late." Olivia flipped her phone closed and ran her hand through her short hair, messing it slightly.

Alex couldn't help but smile. "Gotta go?"

Olivia nodded, moving to lean over Alex, placing her hands on either side of her hips and kissing her softly. "Yeah…rape victim. I gotta go now…"

"Go, Liv…I'll be here…" Alex leaned back onto the pillows and watched the brunette run around.

Olivia dressed hastily in a white T-shirt, red V-neck sweater, and olive corduroy jeans, duty belt and badge, as well—all put on at record speed. She moved into the restroom and Alex watched as she brushed her teeth hastily and then threw some water on her hair and brushed it down to tame it after their frolic time in bed.

Olivia flipped the switch off in the bathroom and approached the bed, once more, where Alex was still reclined, watching her. "I'll see you later, OK?"

Alex nodded. This woman drove her insane with desire and made her so happy. She could only smile and nod. "Be safe…"

Olivia smiled, "Always…" She leaned over her and kissed her lips gently before kissing her cheek softly. "Get some sleep…" She pulled away and winked, grabbed her jacket from the back of the large puffy chair, and placed it on. "Bye…"

Alex wiggled her fingers at the brunette as she left the room, heading out to solve another crime and help another victim.