Back the Hard Way
*Title: Back the Hard Way
*Author: Farwalk
*Fandom: Law & Order: SVU
*Pairing: Eventually Olivia and Alex
Disclaimer: Don't own them. Law and Order SVU and characters belong to Dick Wolf.
TWENTY-ONE
"Please just give me a reason." Cragen said toe to toe with Agent Hammond.
"Not on your life." Hammond said through clinched teeth.
"Gentlemen." Elliot said stepping between them. The two FBI agents just smiled in the corner. "Can we just get on with what we are here for, please?" Elliot still had his hands on each of the men's shoulders to calm them.
Without taking his eyes off Hammond Cragen replied, "Its Alex."
The coffee mugs crashed to the floor. All eyes moved to the door. Olivia just stood there. Her legs refused to move forward. Her mind swimming in fear. Nobody moved. The room seemed to hold its breath. Fin and Munch watched from a distance. They knew, but could not tell them until they met with Cragen. Munch rose from his seat, gently set down his coffee and moved towards the now fragile figure. He stepped closely to her back and softly took hold of her arm. Without a word he pulled her backwards to the awaiting chair. Quietly he whispered into her ear.
"Olivia. She is okay. She needs our help now." He bent at her side and took her hand in his.
Movement began in Cragen's office. Elliot ran from the room to get a broom to clean the glass.
Hammond and Cragen cancelled their staring contest. The two FBI agents rummaged through the donut box looking for a sugary distraction.
"I don't think she is going to be of much help." Hammond broke the silence.
"She is the best help we have with this Agent." Cragen stated. "Her ties to the case are quite valuable."
"So it's true." Agent Baker said.
"What's true?" Elliot replied afraid that Olivia was about to become even more vulnerable.
"Detective Benson has been working o this case in her own time."
"We all have." Cragen said. "Alex Cabot was not only a part of the justice system she was a part of this
family. We don't let family down." Cragen left the office to check on Olivia.
"Perhaps they are right." Olivia said through a weak voice. "Perhaps I am too close to this."
"That's why we need you." Hammond said from behind Cragen. Much to everyone's surprise and all
turned to look at him. "You are possibly the only one that can get her to stay put and out of the light."
"I am not sure that anyone can keep her out of the light." Elliot said putting the remain glass pieces in
the trash. "She will stand her ground and force them to come to her."
"True, but we have to do our best for that not to happen." Cragen said agreeing with Hammond.
"Seems to me the logically thing to do is just that, let her out in the open…" Agent Douglas began to put his two senses in.
"Are you flipp'n crazy?" Fin said pointing at his head. "She was a magnet when this started. We ain't
gonna let her be one again. We otta put a gun to your head and parade your ass around town."
Fin made a double barrel with his fingers and pointed them at Douglas's head.
"What do you suggest them MR. Tough guy?" Agent Baker asked. Her chest a bit inflated as if to stick up
for her partner.
"Seems to me we have no choice." Hammond said.
"It's not our choice." Fin finally chimed in. "She is the only one that should decide what she does. We
just have to have her back."
"What happened to get this started anyway?" Elliot asked. "I mean why are we talking about this?"
"There was a shooting. She was in the mix." Hammond paused and let the information sink in a bit. His
eyes stayed squarely on Olivia. "She was not injured, but well…" Olivia looked straight at him. "Her
"friend" was killed." Olivia's heart broke just a little. Alex was having to deal with loss and she was not
there to help. Elliot handed the broom he was holding to Agent Baker. "Here you may need a ride
home." He made his way to his partner's side. She stood from her seat and waited for the rest of the
information. She and the rest of the squad stood unified, crossed armed and waited for Hammond's
remainder of the story.
"It appears that the shooters were really after their lunch date. Ernesto Valero. He is the cousin of
Cabot's friend and a drug boss in Mexico." Hammond said without looking at his notes.
"The drug boss linked with Velez." Came from a voice behind the team. The voice was familiar. "All too
coincidental if you ask me." Special Agent Dana Lewis walked up to the group and wedged herself
between Munch and Olivia. Munch smiled. She was one of the good guys. And she smelled good too.
"So which side are you working these days Agent Lewis?" Agent Douglas asked.
"Always for the people. Yourself?" She shot him a look. No answer from the young agents.
"So what steps do we take now?" Baker said.
"One's with purpose." Olivia said. Her hip vibrated and she walked with a purpose out of the squad room.
"Ladies and gentlemen please make sure your seatbelts are securely fastened. Your tray tables are
secure, seatbacks are upright, and all our electronics are turned off and stow away for your protection."
Parker hit send, waited a few seconds for the verification. Shut down, turn off and stowed.
He turned to Sam. "Remember what I told you." He pulled her chin so that she was looking right at him.
"Do exactly what I told you."
"How long do I wait?" she asked.
"Till I call you." He said.
"If you don't call?" She was reassuring herself.
"I will." He told her. "I got you this far."
"But…"
"But you know what to do." He paused "Who to call."
Sam's hands clenched the arm rest as the plane touched down. It was not the anxiety of the landing or
being back in New York . It was not out of fear of her fellow passengers. It was the thought that nothing
would be on the other end of the line when she did call the number she had stored away in her head.
We have now landed in NYC, does this mean Liv and Alex are close?