Please drop me a review if you get a chance. I have a thing for constructive critisism.

The visit was unprecedented. No, make that completely unexpected. She had – almost – come to accept the life of Emily Jennings at face value. But when she opened the door and saw Agent Hammond and Captain Cragen standing in the driveway, she nearly fainted. Had something happened to Olivia? Was that what they were coming to tell her? And it didn't even occur to her that it might be good news when she bit out, "What happened?"

It wasn't good news, but nevertheless, she shouldn't have been so quick to judge. They asked if they could come in, and Alex was too stunned to even consider saying no. She opened the door fully and led them into the living room. She sat down opposite them on the couch, trying not to tremble in trepidation. She was going to be strong. She had to be.

She couldn't be. She wrapped her arms around herself to keep from shivering. "What is it?" she asked again, trying not to let her voice betray her fear.

Captain Cragen raised an eyebrow. "It's nice to see you, too."

If it hadn't been such a serious situation and if she hadn't lost half of her wit and all of her good humor, she would have answered with a snappy retort. But she was too tired, too anxious, and frankly, too fearful. "Is it – is it Olivia? Is she all right?"

"She's fine," said the captain quickly. "She misses you. So does Joshua."

Alex managed a small smile, although she knew that this wasn't the time for nostalgia. "It's his birthday tomorrow."

Apparently, Hammond agreed with her, because he cut right to the chase. "We found the man who shot you." He handed her the grainy photograph of Liam Connors.

She involuntarily began to tremble when she saw the picture, but she tried to keep her voice strong. "So this is what he looks like." She hesitated and took a moment to compose herself. "Every time a stranger glanced at me, I thought, 'Did he find me? Is he going to kill me?' And now I know." She sighed. "I would like nothing more than to see Liam Connors pay for what she did to me. But it goes against every principle I had as a lawyer to try a man for a crime he didn't commit." Saying those words still pierced her heart like a knife. And then it occurred to her. Could she even dare to hope that she would be allowed to go back now, back to her Olivia?

"You understand, I didn't have a choice," said Captain Cragen apologetically.

Alex didn't bother trying to discern the possible double meaning of his words. "I know you can't commit perjury. You're going to have to tell the court that I'm still alive."

"I'm just sorry that the bastard won't have to answer for what he did to you."

This was her chance. With a hint of that old spark igniting in her eyes, she said hotly, "Oh, he will. I want him charged with my attempted murder."

With something that sounded remarkably like concern lacing his tone, Hammond said, "No. You'd have to go back to testify. That's stepping right into the crosshairs."

With a determination that she hadn't felt in months, Alex said, "For years, I convinced victims to face their attackers. Now it's time for me to step up."

"Your testimony won't help the case!" said the captain. "You can't ID Connors as your shooter."

"If I don't go back, the defense will issue a missing witness charge and you will lose your case," said Alex, as if she was explaining things to a small child.

"But we still got Connors on four counts of murder," pointed out Hammond.

She hid her smile. Had they forgotten that she was Alex Cabot, and when she made up her mind to do something, no one and nothing was going to get in her way?

She almost gasped. That was right. She was Alex Cabot. Not Emily Jennings. Alex Cabot.

She covered it up with a quick retort. "Because an eight-year-old boy has the guts to testify. After being shot – twice."

"Alex, if you go back, they will try to kill you again," said Captain Cragen.

Alex took a deep breath and made a decision. "I have lost my home, my job, my friends . . . my mother died and I couldn't go to the funeral. Liam Connors is not going to take my conscience too." Or my Olivia, she silently added.


The moment the plane touched down in New York, Alex was so overcome with emotion that she burst into tears, not even caring that Captain Cragen and Hammond were beside her, looking on uncomfortably. She'd missed this city so fucking much. She inhaled the pungent fumes of diesel exhaust – the city – and she thought that this was bliss.

She didn't stop crying as they got into a cab and started off for the DA's office. She made a conscious effort to compose herself as they neared the building. She had to be strong for Olivia. She remembered their last meeting, when Olivia had nearly fallen apart. Alex couldn't do that to her again.

The captain led her to her replacement – Casey Novak's – office. The office that had used to be hers. She tried to push away the pang of envy that enveloped her at the thought. She was going to see Olivia again. That was all that mattered.

Captain Cragen opened the door and there was Olivia, with Elliot and the new ADA. But Alex only had eyes for Olivia. Her hair had grown out a little, her face was a bit more creased, she'd lost a few pounds, but she was still Olivia.

She stood there for a moment, her mouth hanging open in shock at the sight of Alex. "Alex . . ." was all she could push past her lips.

Elliot, being the overprotective partner her was, rescued her from having to say anything more. "You didn't have to come back."

Alex managed a small smile. "I know, but who else is gonna get you out of trouble?"

Casey cleared her throat, and Alex wanted to smack her for ruining their moment, but then she understood how uncomfortable the other attorney must be feeling right now and forgave her when she said, "Before everyone gets reacquainted, they're waiting for us in court."

Elliot started to follow her, but Alex couldn't tear her eyes from Olivia. Her Olivia. She hardly dared to breathe. She couldn't believe that she was here, with Olivia.

The moment everyone had left, and it was just the two of them, Olivia's face spread into a wide grin. The smile looked unfamiliar on her face, like her muscles weren't used to pulling that way anymore. Alex's heart wrenched at the sight, but Olivia's smile did for her what rain does for the desert, and suddenly everything was okay as she ran to Olivia and she felt her girlfriend's arms wrap around her. Here, in Olivia's embrace, she felt safer than she'd felt in . . . forever. It had been so long and yet it felt so good.

"I love you," she murmured, kissing Olivia, hard and soft at the same time, passionate and calming, long and all too short, and she thought that it felt almost like dying. Or at least, the way she'd felt when she was shot. So close, yet so far.

Olivia squeezed her tightly and she felt a salty tear land on the crown of her head as Olivia kissed her again. "Oh, my God, Alex – I can't believe it's really you!" And then she really was crying as she said, "I thought I was never going to see you again!" She wiped her eyes when she realized what she was doing, but she begged, "Please don't ever leave me again."

"I won't," pledged Alex. She couldn't bear to let go of her lost – now found – love. "Oh, Liv." She inhaled the subtle scent of Olivia's shampoo – coconuts still. It was the most comforting smell in the world. "I love you so much." Then she pulled back, composing herself, because she feared that if she didn't, she would collapse in Olivia's arms and never be able to get back up. She took a deep breath. "We have an arraignment to get to."

Olivia did the same, wiping her eyes to disguise the fact that she'd been crying. "Right." But she grabbed onto Alex's hand and the two of them walked side by side to the courtroom.

Review for chapter twenty-nine!