21
At nine-thirty on Monday morning, the day after they got back, Olivia shuffled down the hallway, tying her robe ties, trying to get her bearings, and approached the kitchen, her feet feeling like lead against the hardwood floor.
They had traveled from seven in the morning until ten in the evening on the previous day and had gotten home around midnight. Olivia brought her hands to her face and rubbed it vigorously, eyes still closed, as she entered the kitchen and then opened them. Looking around, Alex was no where in sight. A flash of bright orange from her peripheral to her right before looking to the big, plastic pumpkin filled to the brim with candy sitting atop the coffee table—Olivia had lugged it on the plane with them, placing it at her feet for the duration of the trip, almost like a third passenger. Olivia folded her arms and smiled before yawning and walking closer to the counter, looking for a clue to her wife's whereabouts. There was a note on the counter.
Olivia smiled as she picked up the folded, powder blue paper and opened it. It had a silver Greek key at the top—a purchase made at a souvenir shop in Greece.
Before she had a chance to begin reading the note, the front door opened, revealing the beautiful blonde's smile, "Hey, Liv…" she breathed, a canvas bag over her shoulder. She was wearing black Capri leggings and a light blue, fitted, zip up hoodie, her hair in a loose, messy bun.
"Good morning, Babe…" Olivia smiled. Knowing her wife was here now relaxed her, and she walked to the kettle to turn on the element and fill it with water.
Alex walked closer, leaning on the counter, "I fed Hillary, went to the corner store for milk and eggs, and ran into Landon and Charles…they say 'hi', by the way…would like to do dinner this Thursday, if we can…" Alex rounded the counter and slithered her arms around Olivia's waist from behind, hot breath raising the tiny hairs on her nape, plush lips barely grazing her skin. Olivia closed her eyes, smiling.
Olivia reached behind her to the back of the blonde's neck and lightly tickled the smooth skin just below her hairline, "Sounds good." Olivia turned now, clasping her hands behind Alex's waist, the build up of the boil on the stovetop beginning its ascent. "I'm glad to be back, Al…I love our home…I love just coexisting with you…" Olivia leaned in and kissed the attorney gently.
Alex's hands went to Olivia's hips now, pressing her forehead to the brunette's, taking a deep breath, and closing her eyes. They stayed like that for a few moments before Alex pulled away, her face serious. "I know…me, too…"
Olivia's cell rang on the counter and Alex reached over, handing it to the brunette, smiling before kissing her gently and then moving to the bag she had set on the island. Olivia removed the squealing kettle from the element and the turned it off.
"It's Dr. Bensaro…" Olivia said as she slid her finger across the screen, "Hello? Olivia Benson speaking…"
Olivia smiled at Alex who was now reaching up into the cabinet, taking a glass bowl down, her hoodie rising, revealing her toned belly. Olivia's eyes glazed over as she listened to the doctor. "OK…that sounds wonderful. Can we make it earlier, like eleven or twelve? I think I'm gonna take that day off…"
Alex began unzipping her hoodie, revealing a white spaghetti-strapped sports bra beneath. Olivia smiled again. "OK, noon sounds great…OK…I am…should I still stick with two a day or go down to one?"
Alex began cracking eggs into the clear glass bowl, smiling impishly, obviously aware that her wife was watching her.
"Sounds good…see you then, doctor…" Olivia disconnected the call and put her phone back on the counter, walking up to Alex who was now bent over, head inside the now normal-stocked refrigerator, the blonde most likely searching for bread.
Olivia reached for the attorney's backside, Alex raising up to stand and hitting her head on the shelf, knocking two lemons from the top shelf down, the citrus quickly toppling onto the same spot on her wife's head...
"Ow…Jeez…Olivia!" She smiled, rubbing her head.
"Oh, Baby…I'm sorry…I couldn't resist a grab…you OK?" Olivia put her hand on the spot Alex was rubbing. Olivia giggled and leaned in and kissed Alex's head, not able to keep her body from shaking with laughter. The look on Alex's face was adorable—wincing and grimacing simultaneously, yet still smiling, rubbing her head.
"Next Wednesday, November 11th…" Olivia smiled.
Alex placed her hand on the brunette's cheek, "I can feel good things this time, Liv…" she smiled before placing a gentle, loving kiss on the brunette.
Olivia nodded, eyes still closed. "I think you're right, Al…I've been taking care of myself, taking my vitamins…" Olivia's hands reached for Alex's hips, placing them firmly there, looking the blonde's face over, "My body feels different…like it's ready to receive…?"
Olivia could tell Alex was stifling a laugh as she leaned her forehead to Olivia's shoulder, body shaking.
It did sound funny.
Alex's laughs turned into cackles, throwing her head back. "Ready to receive…" she laughed.
Olivia smiled, taking the opportunity to kiss the soft column of her wife's milky neck, Alex moaning into it. "See how I don't get mad when you laugh at me?" Olivia whispered, placing light kisses along the blonde's neck.
"Uh, huh…" Alex tried, eyes closed. "I see…"
"What's the plan for today, Al?" Olivia's hands slithered around and down, firmly gripping two perfect globes of perfection.
"Breakfast…" she tried, "…you wanted to get your hair done…groceries, laundry…uh…"
Olivia's tongue found its way underneath Alex's sports bra and was encircling a pebbled, pink nipple.
"I want a slight trim and style…I'm thinking a long, shoulder-length angled bob…what do you think?"
"I think…" Alex moaned, Olivia making her way down the attorney's belly, "anything would look good on you…I've always loved your hairstyles, Liv…just so it's long enough that I can grab onto it and run my fingers through it…" Alex smiled.
Olivia knelt down, hooking her fingers into Alex's leggings and pulling them downward to her ankles. She proceeded to do the same with her panties. The brunette's mouth went for the tight bundle of nerves, enveloping her clit and lips, sucking, tongue sliding along folds and flicking the tiny protrusion. Olivia felt Alex's hands in her hair, fingers running through it, tugging gently, moans coming from the aroused blonde. Olivia looked up, still continuing her motions, to see Alex's hands now behind her as she braced herself on the counter, eyes closed, tortured pleasure on her pink-hued face.
"Keep going, Baby…" Alex panted. "I'm almost there…" Her breathing came in gasps, her hips pressing into Olivia's working mouth. "Huh! Uh…uh!" Alex squeaked, releasing in a torrent of jerking, moaning with each pulsation and contraction as her body came down.
Once Alex had finished, Olivia stood, placing her hands on the blonde's hips and kissing her neck softly, Alex's eyes still closed, a definite smile on her face. She slowly opened her eyes, those blue pools, and looked right into Olivia's soul, no words needed. Olivia took Alex in her arms and held her, the two rocking, warm bodies pressed together as one.
… … … … … …
AAA
Alex dipped the wooden spoon into the tomato basil soup she had just made and tasted it as the "Female Songwriter" Sirius station played the acoustic version of Lisa Loeb's Stay. The flavor of the creamy soup was pretty good but needed a little more salt, and a little more time to simmer. She added a pinch more salt, stirred, replaced the lid, and turned the temperature down to simmer before wiping her hands on her apron and licking the remnants from her lips.
The rain had started around eleven that morning and now the mid-afternoon was still dreary, with overcast skies and light drizzle expected all day. Alex thought it the perfect evening for a bowl of soup and four cheese, arugula, and avocado paninis. The blonde had showered earlier and changed into a loose pair of navy lounge pants and a red, thin-strapped, fitted camisole, sorted the laundry, and already put a couple of loads in, and had just finished the soup.
She and Olivia had spoken on their flights back and had both agreed that they would start the whole Meatless Monday routine like the rest of the environmentally-conscious world. They had also decided that they would take turns and try a different menu every Monday, given they both had the energy and time to make something. Tonight, the first time to honor this new tradition, and it was Alex's opportunity to show her culinary prowess.
The front door opened, revealing her beautiful wife, brown and gold aviators atop her head, sporting her new, sleek hairstyle, a brown, paper grocery bag in her arms.
"I like…" Alex said slowly. "I like a lot…" She brought her apron over her head and laid it over a kitchen chair as Olivia set the bag on the counter.
"She cut three inches off…not too short, is it?"
"No, Babe…it's still at your shoulders…I can still run my fingers through it and, with your natural waves, it can still be wild and sexy like the lioness that you are…" Alex leaned in and kissed the smiling brunette.
"I'm gonna change and then we can put a load of laundry in…"
"Already ahead of you, Liv…one's in the dryer, one in the washer…"
"So organized, Al...I love it…" Olivia smiled, smirking, and then turned, heading down the hallway to change.
… … … … … …
As Olivia returned from changing, walking down the hallway holding her camera in her hands, she was looking at the digital screen and smiling. "We got some great ones, Al…here's your left ear and the moose…" Olivia began laughing. "Oh, and your left eye and the moose…you're scowl and the moose…"
Alex smiled, bringing a basket of fresh laundry to the sofa and beginning to fold a pair of jeans. "Did you get him peeing, too?"
Olivia was quiet for a moment, the blonde listening as her wife beeped through other photos. "Yep…right here…a nice steady stream of yellow…" Olivia began laughing as she set the camera down on the kitchen table and moved to join Alex in helping her fold.
Olivia picked up a thermal shirt and shook it out, "I wish we could have gotten the mountain goat, though…" her body shook, "…that would have been funny…"
"Mountain goat? I thought it was a Billy goat," Alex offered.
"I was looking at the website for Montana wildlife earlier and what we saw was a mountain goat, Babe…"
Alex looked up at the ceiling, folding a pair of socks into a nice little ball. "Oh…"
"We were pretty lucky, you know…"
"Why is that, Liv?" Alex shook out Olivia's flannel shirt and laid it over the back of the sofa and then picked up her own.
"Because…" Olivia seemed hesitant.
"Because what, Olivia?"
"I love when you say my name like that…"
Alex threw the detective an impatient look.
"Because I also read that the area we were in had lynx, wolverines, wolves, and mountain lions…especially in that wildlife refuge where we camped."
"Jesus, Liv…we could have been killed…" Alex stopped folding a t-shirt, holding it against her stomach and staring at Olivia, pondering.
"But we weren't, Babe…" Olivia walked up to the blonde and kissed her cheek quickly. "Al?"
Alex smiled but faltered at seeing Olivia's expression, the brunette staring at her shoulder.
"What's that? Did you get bitten by something?" Olivia stepped closer, inspecting Alex's shoulder, touching it gently with her fingertips.
Alex looked down and saw a tiny bluish blister bite, surrounded by a ring with a reddish hue, about one inch larger in circumference. She touched it lightly before running the pads of her fingers over it lightly.
"Does it hurt?"
Alex shook her head, "It didn't but…now that you mention it…a little…" She looked into the brunette's eyes before looking back at her upper arm, in between her shoulder and bicep. "It looks like a tick bite, Liv…or a spider…"
"Come here…let's come into the light…" Olivia pulled Alex by the hand into the kitchen, switching the bright overhead lights on, now examining the bite closer, underneath the harsher lights that they rarely illuminated. "It's swollen, Al…" Olivia placed a flat palm over the bite, looking into Alex's eyes, "…and it's hot, warm to the touch."
Alex tried to remain calm, Olivia now looking closer, inspecting it.
"I think we should be safe…" Olivia finally said. "There was probably something in our bags…"
"Shit…" Alex whispered.
"You were unpacking the bags and there was probably something hiding in there…"
Alex must have look mortified because Olivia took her into her arms, cradling the back of her head with one hand, the other holding her tightly.
"Let's go get it checked out, Babe…let me go get a pair of jeans on…" Olivia pulled away, looking at her wife. "OK?"
Alex nodded, "Me, too…I have to change.
Olivia wrapped her arm around the blonde and they walked back into the bedroom, Alex flipping on the lamp on the dresser and digging for a pair of jeans for herself and Olivia. She handed the brunette a folded pair, fresh and clean from the drawer.
"Thanks, Babe…" Olivia removed her off white lounge pants, letting them fall to the ground. "Let me go to the restroom first. Are you ready to go, Babe?" Olivia switched the light in the bathroom on. "Aha!"
"What is it?" Alex asked, sticking her left and then right legs through her jeans and then pulling them up. Alex stepped closer, zipping and buttoning, watching Olivia watch something on the floor of the bathroom. She witnessed the brunette grab the cylindrical cap of a hairspray bottle and kneel down, "There you are…you bastard…" She reached forward. "Gotcha!"
Alex crept towards her, "What is it, Liv?"
"I need a thin piece of cardboard or a sturdy, thin piece of plastic…"
"Where do I get that, Liv?"
"Get the back cover of a magazine…"
Alex went to the bedside table and retrieved the latest issue of In Style Magazine, tearing the back page off as directed. She walked back to the bathroom and handed it to Olivia. "Here, Liv…"
Olivia reached back, blindly, and took the proffered paper and Alex watched as she slid it carefully beneath the plastic cylinder and then turned the whole thing over, standing slowly, her brown eyes never leaving the clear plastic. "This is what bit you, Baby…"
Alex squinted looking closely at the brown object through the transparent trap—a brown spider almost two inches long, housed beneath the dome.
"Let's take it with us to show them."
Alex nodded. "There's a small jar here…" Alex squatted down and retrieved an empty jar from the cabinet beneath the sink and began unscrewing the cap. "How are we gonna transfer it?" She asked, her eye not leaving the spider.
Olivia smiled. "I don't know…"
"Here…" Alex began, holding the opened jar upside down, hovering above the paper, "…I'll put this here…" She put the opened jar directly above the hairspray cap, the magazine page in between. "We'll remove the paper and flip it over."
Olivia smiled, "Great idea, Al…on the count of three…one…two…three…"
As they slid the paper out, Alex let out the cutest scream, jumping up and down and squealing at the same time. Olivia started laughing, her arms threatening to drop the two containers, now housed together.
"Liv!" Alex continued shaking her hands, her feet doing a little dance, Olivia now laughing harder.
"Alex!" Olivia sat on the closed lid, still laughing, trying to keep hold of the containers and keep them together. Her eyes were watering now, her mouth open in a smiling laugh. She threw her head back, loud guffaws coming out.
"Olivia, don't you dare drop that!"
Once Olivia found her composure, she blinked a few times, a tear rolling down her cheek, and took a deep breath. "OK…on the count of three…and you have to be quick…I'll remove the hairspray cap and you put the jar lid on…OK?"
Alex nodded, stanced and ready, feeling Olivia's smile on her.
Olivia giggled again, "OK…fast, Al…one…two…two and a half…"
"Olivia…" Alex warned.
"Ready?"
Alex nodded again, lid ready.
"Three!"
Working in tandem and with lightning precision, Olivia removed the cap and Alex placed the lid on it.
Alex closed her eyes, hands on hips and took a deep breath.
"Good job, Babe…let's go get that bite checked out…"
… … … … … …
OOO
It was later when they got back, nine o' clock, and it turned out that the bite and the specimen caught were something called a Hobo spider, often confused with a brown recluse, but less harmful because toxins weren't released when they bit and the bite took less time to heal with no necrosis involved. Hobo spiders were common in Montana and in the wooded and mountain regions, and it was absolutely nothing to be alarmed about. Ice, elevation and Ibuprofen were the only remedies and both women were immensely relieved to find out that it was nothing serious.
Having changed back into their comfortable clothes for dinner, their soup and Paninis eaten, the two relaxed on the sofa, now almost eleven-thirty, kitchen cleaned and ready for going back to work the following day. Olivia sat with her feet on the coffee table, Alex's head on her lap, the brunette holding the ice pack to the blonde's right shoulder as Alex watched an old episode of The Golden Girls and Olivia read a few documents Fin had emailed her to read for the following day.
"NYU has had a series of attacks in the Alpha Kappa Delta Phi sorority—a predominantly Asian—but not exclusively Asian—sorority at NYU." Olivia focused on the information about the sorority, itself. "Their motto is the making of successful leaders by assisting and challenging our members to reach their maximum potential. They strive to maintain the highest levels of integrity and innovation in the promotion of sisterhood, philanthropy, scholastic excellence, and Asian-Awareness in the community while creating lifelong relationships."
Alex began moving her arm, straightening it and bending it at the elbow. "Sounds like a good sorority with the right intentions…driven, dedicated, performing services for the community. How many girls have been assaulted?"
"Three so far…does your arm hurt?"
Alex shook her head, "A little stiff, that's all." Alex looked up at the brunette and smiled. "It's fine, Babe…"
Olivia leaned over and kissed the blonde gently. "For a brief moment earlier, I was afraid it was something really bad…like they might have to cut your arm off…that beautiful arm…" Olivia smiled, fingers tracing soft lines on the blonde's bicep below the bite.
"You like my arm, Liv?"
"I love everything about you, Alex…from the crown of your head to the soles of your feet, Babe…" Olivia let out a yawn, covering her mouth and keeping her eyes closed.
"Let's go to bed, Baby…" Alex sat up, Olivia now opening her eyes. "We have to get up early. Alex turned the TV off and Olivia set the papers on the kitchen table before turning off the lights and setting the alarm.
Alex stood at the beginning of the hallway, turning and smiling at her wife and Olivia followed, placing her hands on the blonde's hips as they walked down the hallway, Olivia pressed up against Alex as they made their way to the bedroom.
… … … … … …
Olivia was fuming. She had just gotten of the phone with the director of student services at NYU, the woman not cooperating in the slightest. She told Olivia that the situation had been resolved—that the girls recanted their attacks and that all had been solved. The papers reported the third rape that morning and, as of five o'clock, this Tuesday evening, all had been swept underneath the rug, so to speak.
"Damn it!" Olivia whispered before steepling her forefingers beneath her nose, staring ahead at nothing in particular. She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath, willing her blood pressure to lower on its own.
The three girls had been hysterical when she had interviewed them that day, all three with the same story—walking home from studying at the library and then being attacked, pulled behind some bushes, gagged, knives at their necks, and raped by a man with a black ski mask.
Yet, according to the chancellor and human resources, nothing ever happened.
"You OK, Liv?" Fin asked, hanging up his phone, tossing a pen down, and leaning back, folding his hands.
"No, Fin…I'm not…I'm so sick of the cover ups on campuses. The 'this would never happen here' game. Makes me sick…" she hissed, closing her eyes, leaning back in her chair and rubbing her face.
"Let's go get a drink, Liv…it's on me…"
"Aw, Fin…I gotta get home…"
"One drink, Liv…then I'll drive you home. You need a drink. I can see it in your face. One beer. Come on…"
He flashed that charming Fin smile, a twinkle in his eye.
"OK, Odafin Tutuola, for you…I'll do it…only because you throw a mean bachelorette party."
"You know I do, Baby Girl…" He began putting his coat on before helping Olivia with her own.
Olivia tidied up her desk and turned off her lamp, reached into her drawer and took out her purse before shutting the drawer.
"Ready?"
"Yep…let's go!" Olivia linked arms with her partner and they set off for O' Malley's for one drink.
… … … … … …
For a Tuesday evening, O'Mally's was uncharacteristically busy, virtually every booth filled, all stools occupied by tipsy patrons. The music was eighties pop and they were currently playing Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer, a group of people dancing near the jukebox.
"Draught?" Fin asked, pointing at the brunette detective.
"Yeah, Shiner Boch…thanks, Fin…"
Olivia looked around. It was a big turn out tonight. She pulled her cell from her pocket and texted Alex: At O'Mally's. Come for a drink. Fin and I are here.
She looked up from the phone, noticing a group of college aged men and women dancing by the music, their bodies swaying, grinding, and moving to the beat.
She looked back at her phone. A text back from Alex: I'll be there in fifteen.
Fin came back with a pitcher of dark amber brew and two glasses, setting them on the counter behind where Olivia was standing, not able to find a seat.
"Alex is coming."
Fin poured two glasses and then requested one more from the bartender.
"Good. How's Cabot doing these days?"
"She got a spider bite and we had to go to the hospital last night but she's fine." Olivia smiled.
Fin held up his glass, "To you being back home, Liv, and to the best partner I could have asked for…"
They clinked glasses and swigged, Olivia trying to swallow half the glass as Fin did, the brunette always being impressed that men had this capability.
She failed miserably after only one fourth of the glass. "How do guys do that?"
"You gotta relax the back of your throat, just let it glide down, like you're opening the flood gates. Don't think about swallowing, just pouring." He demonstrated again, this time, emptying the remainder of the glass.
Olivia watched, in awe. She picked up her glass and gave it a try, relaxing the muscles in her neck and throat. The rest of the glass went down with ease and she slammed the glass on the counter. "Always wanted to learn to do that!" she smiled.
She turned with her back to the crowd and poured Fin and herself another glass.
"Excuse me…" Olivia turned around to find a handsome, fit, man with dark brown hair and brown eyes standing in front of her.
"Would you like to dance?"
Olivia looked at Fin who was smiling at her. Olivia took the glass and swigged three-fourths of it in the same fashion, now feeling the floor wobble slightly. She turned to the man.
"Sure…"
He held out his hands and she took them as he led her to the spot where the others were dancing. The song now playing was Talk Dirty to Me by Poison. They began dancing to the fast beat, moving to the beat, holding one hand and Olivia smiling, the man watching Olivia dance. Olivia could feel the beer. She began moving her hips, swinging them to the rhythm as the guy got closer, pressing himself to her and wrapping his arm around her, pressing his hands to her lower waist, the two continuing to dance. Soon, Olivia found herself turned around, the back of her head on the guy's shoulder, his hands on her belly, moving upwards…waist…ribcage…fingertips just beneath her breasts in her black silk blouse, lingering lightly, barely grazing the bottoms of her breasts. She smiled and then suddenly felt a warm wetness on her neck, now realizing that he had his mouth pressed there. She pulled her head away, still smiling, and turned around, placing her hands on his waist and shaking her head, indicating that that particular move wasn't OK. She held up her ring finger.
"Aw, damn," he said.
The song ended and he thanked her for the dance and Olivia began walking back to the counter. She stopped in her tracks when she saw Alex sitting on a stool, glass of beer in hand, looking sexy in a black pencil skirt and red silk blouse, her expression almost icy.
"Hey, Babe…" Olivia leaned in for a kiss and Alex pulled slightly away, her eyes steely.
"Al?" Olivia narrowed her eyes at her wife and then reached for her face. "What is it, Babe?"
A barely there smile adorned the blonde's face, her expression unwavering, eyes focused, as a light laugh escaped her. "Really, Olivia?"
… … … … … …