Content Warning: Things get a bit racy later on in this chunky chapter, so if you're not into lady lovin', or are not the appropriate age, don't read it.

If you don't like lady lovin', why are you here?

Thanks.

Chapter 21: Honesty is Policy

It took 15 minutes to clear the diner of all the occupants, staff included. The Manager had been reluctant at first until Suzy volunteered to stay and lock up once 'this particular circus had rolled out of town'. She had also promised to stay in the kitchen. She was currently leaning at the end of the counter nearest the kitchen door, deep in conversation with one of the Tact agents who was busy examining her multi-shot rifle appreciatively.

Olivia and Porter were ironically seated at the same booth as before only the third occupant wasn't a beautiful, tall blonde. Elliot sat beside Olivia, they watched Porter apply medical wipes to his bleeding shoulder, grudgingly provided by Alex. Olivia had taken Alex aside and asked her to wait in the kitchen with Suzy. She had refused, naturally. Olivia explained if this went to trial and they were called as witnesses, the ADA's testimony would be the most damning of all but only if she remained impartial to the police interrogation of their suspect, Porter. Alex had considered arguing with Olivia, if it was back at the precinct she would already be toe to toe in a heated discussion with the brunette detective, but this wasn't the precinct. This was some random family diner in the middle of hicks-ville USA and she relented.

Connors was sitting in the back seat of Porter's SUV. An armed agent either side of the cuffed captive. He was trying to see in the diner but every time he moved the agent on his left moved to block his view. After several failed attempts, he gave up.

"I hate to rush you fella's, you're doing a grand job an' all but if I don't talk to my brother soon, he'll come looking for me and he's not as understanding a fellow as me," he said cockily.

Nobody acknowledged him.

They had stripped him of his possessions and had given them to Luker and Stabler, including his cellphone. His car had also been searched but had contained no clues as to where he had come from and they hadn't found any explosive devices either.

He had been bluffing.

Suzy opened the kitchen door and spotted Alex sitting on a nearby stool, she was deep in thought. Suzy coughed to make her presence known so as not to startle the younger blonde, she eased up beside her and placed an arm round her comfortingly.

"I want to know what's going on out there, I feel helpless sitting in here," Alex said dejectedly.

Suzy sighed, "I know honey, but there's a reason she asked you to wait in here. You know she's trying to protect you from that piece of garbage," she said referring to Porter, not Connors.

Alex smiled at her, knowing she was right. As they had watched the scene unfold in the darkened parking lot, Alex had told Suzy the whole sordid story. She had laughed out loud when Suzy informed her she was glad she had told her the truth after she'd shot Porter. Alex had been confused until Suzy clarified it by telling her, "despite winning the County shooting championship, four years in a row, my eyesight isn't what it used to be, especially when it comes to shootin' varmin."

Suzy squeezed her shoulder, shaking her from her reverie, "How'd you like to help me cook some gingerbread?" she said cheerily.

Alex smiled, "Why not, our last box got lost in the parking lot," she said, remembering the white box being kicked across the concrete by fleeing patrons.

Suzy beamed, "Atta girl. Now...first ingredient," she said and moved to the refrigerator and retrieved a bottle.

Alex did a double take as she noticed the label, "Oh my God, you're secret ingredient is white wine," she said incredulously and laughed.

Suzy shook her head, "What? Hell no, that's for drinking while we're making 'em," she paused and reached for two soda glasses, "Cook's secret supply, keeps him going on the 14 hour shift, ssshh, don't tell him, " she said conspiratorially.

Alex only laughed harder.

There would be no good cop, bad coop routine this time. This would be a straight forward question and answer session, Olivia decided. Se looked at Porter as he buttoned his shirt back up, having temporarily patched up his own wounds. He had a toned physique with well defined muscles in his arms. Once upon a time she had entertained the idea of a romantic relationship with Porter. Looking at him now, she was glad she hadn't. She took in his swollen eye, the numbness and tightness in her left hand was worth it, his face looked sore. 'Good,' she thought.

Porter took a sip of water from the glass in front of him and addressed Olivia, "We were supposed to be there 2 hours ago, if Sean doesn't contact Liam soon this is going to blow up in your face, " he stated.

Elliot shook his head in disbelief, "Our faces? Listen pal, you'rethe one that's going down for this. Why d'you meet Sean at Riverside park?" he asked, Stabler style, straight to the point.

Porter continued to address the brunette seated across from him, refusing to acknowledge Stabler's presence, "Sean Connors has been providing intel on the Mexicans and the Afghans, he's been double crossing them and feeding information from both parties to us. This morning he called me to arrange an emergency meet. When I got there, he told me he had a job,some family business to take care of and would be in touch. I told him that wasn't going to happen."

Olivia held his eyes but remained silent.

"Nah, that ain't gonna fly Porter. So what, it was a coincidence you called Brennan?" he said frowning.

"Sean didn't tell me wha-, whothe job was. I only pieced that together after Cragen called me. When he told me about the threat to Alex, that Sean Connors was the hired gun," he paused, "I knew this was the job he he was doing for his brother," he replied.

"How could you possibly know he was doing this for Liam, you didn't even know he was in this Country," Olivia asked.

Porter leaned for wad, closer to her, "He only has two brothers and one of them is a Priest, in Ireland. What other family business could it have been? He was making good money playing the Mexicans and the Afghans, enjoying his status as an FBI informant but he dropped them the instant some 'family business'came up. Don't you get it? Are you too blinded by the obvious," he said, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

Both detectives were quiet as they absorbed the information.

"Why did Cragen call you?" Olivia finally asked.

"Cragen told me there was a situation involving you, thought I should be aware of it," he answered and smiled at her.

Olivia shook her head, "Don't flatter yourself, I know the Captain better than you, he was probably looking for any port in a storm and was trying to get information out of you," she sneered, "which we did."

Elliot cut in, "The photograph of Sean at the Mexican border, you sent it to us knowing he wouldn't show face until Alex was caught. You sent us that so we wouldn't look for anyone else."

"You're wrong Stabler, Brennan was supposed to get Cabot from the building and put her in an SUV outside, Sean Connors was waiting for her. He was going to drive her upstate and deliver her to his big brother."

"How do you know that, how do you even know Liam Connors is 30 miles up the road. Sean could have been playing you, same way you're playing him," Olivia observed.

"Does that matter? I know Liam Connors is less than thirty minutes away, why can't youjust believe me!" he snapped in Olivia's direction.

Olivia was struggling to stay calm, "Why did you call Brennan, when did you call Brennan?" she demanded, tone rising.

Porter breathed heavily through his nose, "Once Cragen told me what was happening, I tapped into video surveillance of the buildi-"

Elliot cut him off, "Sonofabitch, You cut the feed from the building?" he asked as realization dawned.

"I had to. I signed out the SUV, " he pointed out the window, "I raced to the DA's building, I was going to go in and get Cabot and you out," he motioned to Olivia, "I couldn't risk being caught on tape, it would have blown my chance at finding Liam if Sean found out I was playing him." He said and reached for Olivia's hand.

Olivia pulled her hands out of reach and shook her head for what felt like the tenth time that might, "Why. Did. You. Call. Brennan?" she said loudly, enunciating every word.

Porter looked at her, "I was tracking comms between the first team and the Command Post. Sean once bragged to me he had people everywhere. I rang a friend at the Bureau and called in a favor, he found out that David Brennan grew up in the same small town in Ireland as Connors. I knew it was too big a coincidence. I called him to confront him and offer him a deal. He said no, Sean was paying him good money, that he was going 'freelance' and joining up with the brothers."

Elliot turned to his partner, "Can you believe this guy? How much bullshit we heard over the years Liv?" he turned back to Porter, "You take the biscuit pal, you're in a league of your own with a story like that," Elliot said, not believing a word Porter had said.

Porter shrugged, "It's the truth Stabler. Brennan told me he was handing Cabot off to Sean in an unmarked SUV that was waiting outside. Tact Team had the building covered, there was no way I could get in so I waited across the street from where the SUV was parked. When Sean drove off I knew something was wrong, I followed him but he didn't go far. I watched him and another figure ambush the protective detail's convoy. When the ambulance stopped and the shooting started I watched, when Connors shot his partner, I saw a chance to get him and his brother. So, I called him pretended I'd heard it on the radio and asked if he needed any help. He told me to pick you both up and meet him 30 miles north of here at a cabin in the woods," he stopped to take a long sip of water and let his words sink in.

Olivia was the first to speak, "So, you just called Sean Connors up out of the blue and said, 'hey, need a hand kidnapping a detective and an ADA?', Give us some credit," she said sarcastically.

Porter put the glass back on the table but said nothing.

Elliot took up the slack, "What was your plan when you got them to Liam? You're flying solo, you got no back up and you only got one weapon with two spare clips. You're full of shit Porter. You know it and we know it."

Olivia ran through the events of the last 8 hours. Reluctantly, everything Porter said made sense. Despite her better judgment, she believed him. She didn't know if it was the tiredness, the ache in her side, the dull pain in her head or the adrenalin but she actually believed him.

"What were you going to do?" she asked.

"I was going to use Sean as leverage, tell Liam that his brother had ratted him out to the Feds then I was going to put a bullet in him," Porter said calmly.

Elliot looked at him, "You should have called it in, should have let us know what you were doing, we coulda worked this together and saved all of this," he said, waving his arms in a sweeping motion.

Porter saw that they were beginning to believe his story, "I ignored my SAC and I stayed off the air because there really is another leak in Goldie's unit," he said.

"Who?" they asked at the same time.

"I don't know," he said worriedly.

Olivia stood up, "I'm going to go check on Alex, you going to talk to Connors?" she said to Elliot.

"Yeah." He looked over to agent Luker, standing at the counter, "Hey Luker, can you sit with Porter while I go talk to our little leprechaun?" he said.

The agent nodded affirmatively.

Porter stood up but Elliot's iron grip on his wounded shoulder 'encouraged' him to sit back down. He looked at him, rage blazing in his eyes, "We're wasting time, we can still salvage this." he said.

Elliot waited until Olivia had reached the end of the counter and was out of earshot, "You think I'm gonna let you take her and Cabot into some cosy cabin in the woods with an escaped killer? You're an even bigger prickthan I thought you were," he said shaply.

Without looking up Porter replied, "We can use Sean to get to Liam, he'll deal. I know he will, he's desperate and he doesn't want to die."

Elliot ignored him, as he passed Luker he whispered loudly, "He moves, shoot to kill."

Olivia paused at he kitchen door, took a deep cleansing breath and forced a smile on her face. As she entered the cooking area a wonderful aroma of fragrant baking assaulted her tired senses. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes, savoring the sweet smell. When she opened her eyes, Suzy was standing in front of her.

"Jesus, Suzy. You scared the crap outta me," she rushed out.

Suzy smiled, "From what I hear it takes more than a waitress armed with a dish rag to scare you, Detective," she sad affectionately.

Olivia nodded, "Alex filled you in," she said, knowing the answer.

"And then some, she's a keeper by the way, great in the kitchen," she said and winked.

Olivia was momentarily stunned, "Speaking of which, where is she?" she said, refusing to panic. Liam Connors couldn't get to them in here, could he?

Suzy saw the emotion cross Olivia's face and patted her arm comfortingly, "Relax honey, she's in the back getting changed. I gave her some of young Lucy's clothes to put on."

At Olivia's confused look she clarified, "Lucy works after school, three nights a week. She works weekends too but goes out afterward so she always keeps a change of clothes in her locker. Wouldn't be surprised if that girl doesn't have halfher closet in there," she explained. She looked Olivia up and down, "I bet she's got a shirt in there that'll fit you. Why don't you go see, I'll make sure you don't get disturbed," she said, propelling Olivia to a small door in the back of the room.

As Olivia walked away, Suzy watched and smiled to herself, 'Damn that swagger of hers,' and opened the oven to check on the gingerbread.

Olivia entered the small changing room quietly, not wanting to frighten Alex. Lockers lined two of the walls, a long bench sat against the far wall and a doorway to her left led to another room. Olivia heard running water and moved towards the open door.

She opened her mouth to announce her presence but was struck dumb at the sight that met her tired eyes. She knew she should look away, turn her back, avert her gaze at the very least but she couldn't tear her eyes from the expanse of smooth, creamy, flesh on display before her.

Alex was standing in front of a sink counter clad only in her underwear. Olivia heard water running and looked to her left, a small stone shower stall with an old fashioned privacy door lay open, apparently waiting for Alex.

The detective took in the expanse of skin before her. Long, lean and seemingly endless legs were well toned from years of jogging, her back was strong and straight and her ass was taut and inviting encased beneath a small slip of silk.

As an oblivious Alex reached her hands around to unhook her bra, Olivia's face flushed and her stomach tightened in anticipation. Before her brain could stop her mouth it was blurting out, "Wait!"

The noise startled Alex, she had been lost in her thoughts and hadn't noticed Olivia enter the wash room. She spun automatically at the sound.

They both ignored the bra as it fell soundlessly to the floor.

They stood staring into each others eyes, both sets wide with surprise.

'Must not look down,must not look down, must not look down', Olivia's brain repeated over and over again, wiling her disobeying eyes to heed the urgent warning. Her eyes shifted to Alex's mouth which was smiling and she began the mantra again in earnest.

"Liv...You do realize you're saying that out loud," Alex said quietly.

Olivia felt her face burn with embarrassment and arousal, she quickly turned her back to Alex stuttering out an apology as she spun.

Alex retrieved the fallen material from the floor and placed it on the counter. She couldn't wipe the smile off her face at Olivia's reaction to her almost nakedness. Alex had never been shy, sorority girls never were and she contemplated teasing the detective further. She was comfortable with her body and enjoyed the boost her ego just received and wanted more. 'Later', she thought, She moved instead to the enclosed shower, closing the swing door behind her. She removed her silk panties and sat them on the small shelf out of the water's spray.

"You can turn round now Liv, " she announced, her voice echoing in the confines of the small shower stall.

Olivia turned round and rubbed her hands over her face trying to wash away the flushed heat. It wasn't working.

"Come over here and tell me what that bastard had to say for himself," Alex shouted.

Olivia stood on the other side of the shower wall, not trusting herself to face her directly. She began to recount the interview to Alex, deliberately omitting any mention of Liam Connors. She had meant what she had said to Porter, 'Alex didn't need to know, not yet'.

When the blonde asked her to come closer, saying she couldn't hear her. Olivia stepped slowly round the corner, eyes closed.

When she came into view, Alex smiled at the detective's apparent shyness and reached a hand over the wooden door to touch her face.

"Liv, sweetie. It's okay, I don't mind you looking at me. I could have turned round too," she confessed softly, stroking the heated skin under her finger tips.

Olivia opened her eyes and leaned into the touch, relishing the contact. She looked down at the door separating them. Due to Alex's height, it only covered from her knees to her collarbone. Olivia gulped audibly, "I know we have a lot to talk about, I know we've hurt each other in the past and need to start again but Alex," she reached up and moved the hand on her cheek to her lips and placed an open mouthed kiss on her palm, "I want nothing more than to take you to dinner, drown in your eyes in the cnadlelight and romance you, be with you, make love with you but God," she blew out a shaky breath trying to steady her soaring arousal, "What I wouldn't give to get in that shower with you right now. Liam Connors be damned."

"Sean," Alex corrected.

At Olivia's silence and tensing body, Alex knew there had been no mistake.

'Liam Connors'. She was about to ask Olivia what she was talking about when the brunette stepped away from her and removed the windbreaker. Alex watched transfixed as she unbuttoned her shirt, not sure what she was doing. She had been enthralled at the scene the detective had just set, had been enflamed with undeniable want at the thought of being with her, in every way. Now she was confused at the distance Olivia had suddenly put between them.

"Liv, what are you doing?"

"Olivia didn't meet her eyes, "I'm just going to check my side and then put a fresh shirt on, Suzy said there was one in here that would fit," she said distantly.

Alex looked at her, fumbling with the gauze and recognized what Olivia was doing, 'Cop mode', she thought. Remove the emotion, don't let it cloud your judgment.

"Olivia, what has Liam Connors got to do with this? He's in Ireland," she said, adopting the familiar tone she reserved for court.

Olivia stopped all motion and looked at her, "He's here. Porter was going to take us to him," she said quietly.

"You missed that part out of your interrogation summation detective, " Alex commented snidely.

"I don't want you to get hurt, I didn't tell you because I'll take care of it, I'll take care of you. We don't even know if Porter is telling the truth!" she shouted in frustration.

"I'm a big girl detective or didn't you get a good enough look," she sneered, it was below the belt and they both knew it. "I can take care of myself. God knows I've had to do it often enough," she snapped, referring to her time in Witness Protection. "I don't need you hiding things from me, you can't wrap me in a bubble and hope I don't find out. I'm not the weak woman you clearly think I am," she finished, anger evident in her voice.

Olivia pushed off the counter she was leaning on and stormed over to the shower stall, "Goddammit Alex, what about me?! The night you died and disappeared I died too, can't you see that? That's why I went undercover for the Feds, I wanted to be anyone but me. I never thought I'd see you again," she choked out, desperately trying to contain her rising emotions, "and now, Liam Connors may be 30 miles up ahead waiting for you and I am notlosing you aga-"

Alex flung open the stall door, grabbed her by the shirt collar and crushed their mouths together in a ferocious clash of teeth and tongues. Olivia pushed her into the back of the stall away from the spray of water and reached blindly behind her to turn the water off. Alex frantically pulled the shirt down her arms, her need rising. Olivia moved her hands to Alex's gloriously naked backside and ground their bodies togehter, swallowing the moan Alex let slip. She tore her mouth away, breathing hard and leaned back slightly to look into her eyes. Alex's lips were parted and she was panting, her lips glistened. Olivia lowered her nouth and lapped the water droplets at her throat, sucking gently. As she trailed a hot tongue along a delicate damp neck Alex raised a hand to her back and with a quick flick of her wrist, the bra was undone. She lowered the material down Olivia's arms and let it sink to the sodden floor.

Olivia stopped suckling on a sensitive spot underneath her ear and raised her head to look hungrily at Alex.

"Surprised?" panted Alex.

"Impressed." Olivia replied and pressed their mouths together wildly once more.

The feel of their naked breasts sliding against each other for the first time was indescribable and both women moaned into each others mouths wantonly.

A voice floated into the wash room, halting all movement, "I hope you're decent, there's a blue eyed hunk of muscle out here wants a word with you both," Suzy shouted loudly.

They both blew out a frustrated breath and smiled at the same time as they deliberately raked their eyes over each others body.

"This isn't how I imagined this would happen," Olivia said as she looked adoringly at Alex.

"You've thought about it?" Alex said smugly.

Olivia grinned, "And you haven't?" she teased, daring her to deny it.

"Finish this at the Cabot Cabin?"

"Finish this at the Cabot Cabin," Olivia agreed as she placed a final soft, wet kiss on the swollen lips before her.

"Tease," Alex whispered as Olivia exited the stall. She lifted a towel from the counter beside the sink and held it open for her.

Alex smiled and wrapped the towel around her body as Olivia lifted another one and began drying herself.

Suzy stepped into the wash room a few minutes later, she looked at their flushed faces and damp hair and chuckled as she handed over two sets of clothing, "You forgot to lift these, when you were in here getting... washed, " she said knowingly, looking at Olivia's damp trousers and laughing out loud.

Olivia grinned at the waitress as she turned and left the room. She looked over at Alex, "Can we keep her? I wanna take her home with us," she said and pouted as Alex threw her towel at her.

All those in favor of the Cabot Cabin, please raise your hand....

Thanks, as always, for reading and reviewing.