A/N: I know there's been a delay in my updating of all my stories but life decided to step in and uproot all my plans. I know this is a short chapter but I needed it as a lead in.

Alex smiled as she performed a lap dance for a customer as she watched Olivia, who was arguing with Liz and Lena, from across the room. It had been over three months since that fateful night that seemed to change everything. Any time that Alex would approach Olivia it seemed as if she was terrified of saying or doing the wrong thing and would make their conversation as short as possible. Alex truly missed the Olivia that always snuck sexual innuendos into their conversation not the Olivia that seemed to watch every word that came out of her mouth or how she acted around her.

The one constant that remained with Olivia though was her protective nature and there had been several times that Alex was thankful for it. One time a customer had became a little too handsy and before she could even signal for someone Olivia was by her side escorting the gentleman out. Another when she was walking into to work and ran into a regular customer on the street that began to follow her and proposition her. She had never been so thankful to bump into Olivia as she was leaving the bodega down from the club as she was that morning. Most recently, and what had helped them gain their friendship back, was the past week with Casey out with the flu.

"What are you doing?" Olivia asked walking out from behind the stage in time to see Alex walking toward the door to leave.

Alex looked at her in confusion. She wasn't exactly sure what she was asking her or why she was asking her.

"Are you leaving?" Olivia asked as she approached the blonde but still kept some distance between them.

"Yeah" Alex said shaking her head and exhaling the breath she realized she was holding. "I'm finished for the night."

Olivia looked around the empty room and then back to Alex "I know you're not about to walk out of here by yourself? Alex, I have a rule about dancers leaving alone. I will not bend on that rule.."

"I'm the only one left so…" Alex started to answer but quickly stopped when she saw a look come across Olivia's eyes.

Without thinking Olivia advanced upon Alex until she had her backed against the wall. She lowered her head down till she could feel Alex's short rapid breaths on her lips. It was taking every ounce of strength she had not to take Alex where she stood. "There is a reason why I do not allow dancers to leave by themselves. Do not ever let me catch you trying to walk out of here alone again."

"I didn't want to bother you" Alex almost moaned out as she fought the urge to clench her thighs together to stop the sudden throbbing that appeared between her legs. It looked as if any minute Olivia was going to take her against the wall and personally she couldn't wait to have her legs wrapped around her waist.

"Bother me, please bother me." Olivia whispered as she reached up and cupped Alex's face and gently ran her thumb below her eye and stepped even closer to her till her body was almost completely pressed against hers "I would never forgive myself if something happened to you."

Alex closed her eyes and started to lean into her touch. The thought of having Olivia's weight pushing her into the wall was almost more than she could handle. She pushed her hand up Olivia's torso until her hand's was resting on her shoulders. Just as she went to wrap her arms around her neck and pull her body flush against hers when she felt Olivia jerk her hand away as if it was on fire and take a step away from her.

"I'm so sorry" Olivia whispered as she ran her hand over her face "Alex, I'm sorry." Olivia turned away from the blonde and started to step away "I'll get Fin to walk you home."

"I want you" Alex whispered as she reached out and grabbed the brunette by the wrist pulling her back toward her "I want you to walk me home, not Fin."

"Alex I shouldn't" Olivia started to say but was stopped when Alex placed her finger over her lips.

"I respect what you are doing and have been doing Olivia" Alex said as she lowered her hand "As much as it has aggravated me and pissed me off, I miss the old Olivia. I'm tired of seeing the fear in your eyes that you are overstepping your boundaries. You're constantly tense and it's putting a strain not only on our working relationship but everyone's as else. So, I want you to walk me home tonight and for us to talk. We have to find an agreeable end to this and we are going to find that tonight."

"Ok" Olivia answered with what resembled a small smile on her face "Just let me grab my jacket."

The walk to her apartment had started out as a very quiet and awkward experience until Alex had pulled her into a local café she always passed by. Over a cup of coffee they had finally reached a mutual agreement and by the time Olivia had escorted her to her apartment door she was laughing at the jokes Alex was telling her.

"Hey Alex have you seen Olivia?" Abbie asked pulling her from her thoughts as she made her way through the room on auto pilot.

"She was arguing with Liz and Lena a few minutes ago that's the last I saw of her." Alex stated looking around for the brunette as well.

"Shit" Abbie growled as she ran her fingers through her hair.

"Abbie is everything ok?" Alex asked stepping forward and placing a hand on the woman's biceps. She could tell that something had her frustrated and upset.

Abbie glanced at the blonde and could see the concern in the blonde's eyes "Yeah everything is fine I promise. I just need to be able to talk to her for a few minutes and I was hoping to do that on my break but it looks like I will have to catch her before I leave tonight."

"If I you need anything just let me know" Alex said as the stage lights went dark.

"Ladies and Gentlemen" The announcer said as a beat began to play in the back ground "We have a wonderful treat for you all tonight that I'm sure you will love. It has been a while since this beauty has graced our stage but there is no doubt in my mind that she will quickly become a favorite once again. Ladies and Gentlemen let's hear it for Ms. Risky Business."

Alex leaned against the wall as she waited for the lights to come on. She couldn't help but wonder who the new dancer was that was about to perform. There had been another woman in earlier that day asking about a job as a dancer and figured they had hired her. Her jaw dropped open and she inhaled sharply when the stage lights suddenly turned on and she stood there staring at a leather clad Olivia Benson, who was about to perform.