Author's comments: Now, I know I'm taking it slow with these two lovebirds, but I just kinda figured, that after 12 years of working together, and two years of being apart, and the way these characters are, they just wouldn't jump into each other's arms right away, ya know? Especially after what happened to Benson.

Twenty-four

Chapter Twenty-Five

Part 1.

Olivia startled awake to the sound of sliding drawers and a jingling belt as Elliot got ready for work. She lay still, fighting sleep, as the bed slumped where Elliot sat on the edge of it. Giddiness kept her awake, as she relived what had happened last night. What he had said to her, the kiss, the back rub, it was like her everything she had ever dreamed of was coming true.

And yet, a part of her wouldn't shut up, telling her that she was a fool to believe that any man would stay with her now, the way things were. Although Elliot was one of the few guys out there who didn't let his dick rule his brain, how could he stay with her when she couldn't give him the one thing that kept passion alive?

And what if she went to prison—how much more damaged would she be after that? But she brushed those thoughts aside, and tried to focus on the present. He was here now, and she might as well enjoy it.

He bent down and kissed her on the cheek, and she opened her eyes, rubbing the sleep out of them. He stroked her hair and said, "I'm going now."

Sitting straight up in bed, she said, "Wait." Grabbing his arm, she waited for him to take her cue and sit down, facing her. Meeting his eyes with hers, she said, "I just want to say . . . thank you. What you said last night—it helped a lot."

He whispered, "You're welcome," and waited to see if she had anything else to get off her chest.

Her mouth dropped open as she tried to say more, but she realized there were no words that could convey how she felt in this moment. So instead, she leaned forward and planted her mouth firmly on his, sliding one hand behind his back to hold him in place. At first he tensed, and then he relaxed into the kiss, eagerly opening his mouth to her insistent lips.

As the kiss lingered, a tingle traveled down her spine, and she felt sensations reawaken in her for the first time since before her assault. The driving urge frightened her though, and reluctantly she pulled away and gasped. She opened her eyes to see him smiling boyishly, as if it was his first kiss ever.

He rubbed her arm, and then leaned in and kissed her once more, and she gave in, despite her fears. Then he backed off and said, "Save that thought," and grinned deviously as he stood for work.

She smiled back at him, not wanting to voice her reservations just yet. "Okay," she said, gazing up at his longing eyes. He ran one finger over her cheek, and then left her there to dream and obsess and worry.

Part 2.

As soon as he was gone, Olivia returned to her compulsive checking of the locks and the closets, and glanced out the window for any signs of danger. She kept reminding herself that Lewis was not in a position to hurt her anymore, but the residual terror kept rising to the surface, causing her to forget again.

Not too long passed before her hyper vigilance was interrupted by a buzzing at the door. "Hello?" she said into the intercom, ready to pick up the landline and call nine-one-one at the first sign of danger.

A familiar voice said, "It's me, Alex."

"Alex!" Olivia said, buzzing her in almost immediately.

Olivia opened the door and smiled brightly before stepping aside to let her in. But as soon as their eyes met, Alex leaned forward and wrapped an arm around her, embracing her in a tight hug. Olivia closed her eyes and soaked it in.

Alex pulled back and said, "I'm sorry I haven't stopped by sooner, Olivia. I went away on a month-long vacation to Europe, and I come back to hear that this awful thing happened? My god, Liv," she said, shaking her head. "I'm so sorry."

Olivia's head dropped, and she shrugged. Alex continued, saying, "But you look like you're feeling pretty good, for someone who just went through hell."

A smile crept onto Olivia's lips, despite her best efforts. "I am," she said. "For now."

Alex examined her face, eyebrows lowered, and said, "You're practically glowing. Almost like . . . you're in love. Olivia?"

Olivia's face flushed as she said, "Possibly."

Alex did a double take and said, "Elliot?"

Olivia didn't say a word, but she knew Alex got it by her grin. Olivia tried to change the subject by saying, "But you're not here to hear about my personal life, right?"

Alex's lips formed a thin line. "Well, look. Officially, I'm just checking in on a friend. Off the record . . . I want to talk to you about your case."

Olivia sighed. "Alex—"

"Just hear me out," said Alex. "I know it's against the rules to talk to you, but I can't stand by and watch you go to prison, Liv."

They sat down, and Alex said, "They're putting together a case for the grand jury right now. You'll be indicted by the end of the week. Unfortunately, because Lewis's case is for more serious charges, his trial will be after yours. That means that you won't be able to show your jury that he's a convicted murderer."

"I realize that," said Olivia.

"Well then you know that you're going to have to prove your case against him at your trial, which means you have to testify twice—once at your own trial, and then again at his."

Olivia puckered her lips and nodded. Lines formed on Alex's forehead as she realized that what she was saying wasn't having the impact she had hoped. "Olivia, from what I understand about this guy, he's going to make you look like an over-reactive, vengeful sex crimes cop jaded by too many years on the job."

"He raped and tortured me for twelve hours, Alex."

"You and I know that, but you have to not only convince the jury of that, but also convince them that you weren't in your right mind when you went after him, that you were so afraid of imminent danger that you had to go after him right then, that you weren't just seeking out revenge."

"So what are you saying?" said Olivia, her chest tightening. "That I should just give up and take the time they're offering?" Alex met her desperate words with a blank stare, and Olivia knew that was exactly what she was saying. Olivia's gaze dropped, and she contemplated Alex's words for a minute before saying, "I can't do it, Alex. I know what I did was wrong, but he put me through hell, and I stopped him from ever doing the same thing to another woman."

Alex didn't respond, and Olivia shook her head, saying, "I'm not going to jail, I can't—"

Alex put a hand on Olivia's knee and said, "You may not have a choice, Liv. And you may go away for a long time if you go through with this."

Olivia stood and turned away. "No, Alex. I do have a choice, and I choose to take my chances with the jury."