Set after Season 12, Episode 5 "Wet"
The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.*
Thanks to all who read my previous story Stepping Time. This is a new A/O story and there will not be an OFC love interest coming between Alex and Olivia, however there will be some drama, angst and obstacles as they trudge the road to happy destiny.
I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback. Thanks for reading and the reviews so far! Happy New Year all!
"Talk, Ask, Listen" Chapter 29
"Morning gorgeous," Olivia smiled, wrapping her arms around Alex from behind and kissing her softly on the neck. "How long have you been up?"
"Just long enough to make this coffee," Alex sighed, leaning back into Olivia's embrace. "I slept very well. Did you?"
"I did…I love you Alex Cabot."
"I love you too, but where did that come from?" Alex said, pouring a cup of coffee for Olivia and turning to hand it to her.
"Are you tired of hearing it already?" Olivia smirked.
"Never…not a chance babe. It was just the way you said it and you haven't even had a sip of coffee yet," Alex laughed.
"It was just so nice waking up in your bed again…"
"Our bed," Alex interrupted, giving Olivia a quick, soft kiss.
"Yes our bed," Olivia grinned. "I just woke up thinking that maybe now we can…I'm just glad that we don't have to worry about Josh Reckell anymore."
"A very nice thought," Alex smiled, sliding her hands under Olivia's sweatshirt and behind her back while pulling her into a deep kiss.
"Ouch," Olivia moaned, breaking the kiss and reaching down to rub her exposed calf. "Damn Sadie, you need to get those nails trimmed."
"I'm guessing she probably needs to go out," Alex chuckled, looking at the small dog wagging her tail at their feet. "I'll take her. I was thinking of going down the street to get some bagels anyway."
"What are you going to do with Sadie?"
"She's small and cute. I'll just bring her in Eddy's with me," Alex countered.
"Let me go throw some sweats on to protect my legs from Sadie and the cold and I'll go with you."
"But you look so good in those shorts," Alex purred.
"In or out?" Olivia winked while walking to the bedroom.
#-#
"George," Alex called enthusiastically as she Olivia and Sadie neared the entrance to her building.
"Miss….Alex, Olivia," George corrected himself, smiling. "So good to see you both. And who is the little one."
"Sadie," Alex smiled. "We have Sadie and her owner with us for a few days."
"So are…are you two doing okay?" George stammered slightly. "I'm glad that detective shot him."
"So are we," Olivia sighed. "The detective who shot him is my partner."
"I thought he looked familiar," George said. "They showed him on the news last night, but it was real quick, but then I saw his picture in the paper this morning."
"Lord, I'm out of it," Alex smirked. "I put my newspaper delivery on hold when we left. And didn't even think of it while we were out walking Sadie."
"I didn't either. I'll go get copies of each of the mornings quick. Sonya is probably going to want to read 'em too," Olivia said.
"Thanks babe. I'll wait for you inside. I want to talk to George anyway."
"You weren't here yesterday George," Alex commented as George opened the door for her as they entered the building. "Everything okay?"
"All good now," George said. "My wife had some doctors' appointments and I wanted to be there with her. But she's doing fine. Just some adjustments to some of her medications."
"Good to hear," Alex smiled.
"I want to let you know too Alex, that Sydney and Maggie and Sydney's parents will be arriving later this afternoon," George said quietly. "There will be movers coming as well. I think mostly tomorrow and Friday."
"Thank you George," Alex sighed. "I appreciate the heads-up. Olivia and I have no issues with Sydney. We even talked to her on the phone the other day. And certainly not with Maggie…poor kid."
"I agree," George said.
"They're getting here pretty quickly," Alex murmured, running a hand through her hair. "I mean it was just yesterday afternoon that Josh died."
"Ironically," George smirked. "They had already booked their plane tickets on Monday evening, Sydney said when I talked to her. Needed to meet with her divorce attorney and since she left in such a hurry before…"
"Yeah, makes sense," Alex replied. "And I imagine now, there will be at least some sort of service for Josh."
"Hey, why so serious?" Olivia questioned softly.
"George was just telling me that Sydney, her parents and Maggie will be coming in this afternoon for a few days. And some movers too," Alex replied.
"They were renting right?" Olivia queried.
"Yes, and there's still a pretty good waiting list for two bedroom, two bath apartments in this building," George said. "I'll check to see who the top few are."
"Well I'm sure the Reckell's application looked sparkling too," Alex smirked.
"Alex if I or anyone here would have…" George started.
"No, George. I'm sorry. Hell, I just thought Josh was an arrogant asshole. There would have been no way based on a public intoxication charge years ago to predict what Josh Reckell was capable of."
"And 99 percent of the residents/tenants of this building are good people," George added.
"They are," Alex smiled.
"Are you okay with being here while they are here?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, yes I think so…I would like to see Maggie. And hell it will probably be more awkward for Sydney and her parents than us…If you're okay with it."
"I'm fine with it. I don't blame Sydney and I would like to see her and Maggie," Olivia replied. "We need to tell Sonya though. She was Josh's last victim…I'm not sure how she'll feel about it."
"Good point," Alex mumbled. "I know I don't want to go into that apartment…and certainly won't be going to any funeral service."
"I'd be happy to do the cremation and then pour Josh's ashes down a sewer drain though," Olivia cracked.
#-#
"Morning Sonya," Alex said seeing Sonya in the kitchen as they entered the apartment.
"Morning," Sonya grumbled as cheerfully as she could manage. "Thank God you are back."
"What's the matter?" Alex asked, rushing to the kitchen.
"Nothing too bad Cabot…ease down," Sonya chuckled sarcastically. "I took the last cup of coffee so I was trying to be a decent guest and make some more…but first I had try to figure out from the eight different kind of coffee beans which you preferred…finally said fuck it…French Roast."
"I'm loving this," Olivia laughed, gloating.
"Shut up Liv…it's not that hard…" Alex started and received a glare from Sonya. "Ok…ok once you use it once or twice it's not that hard.
"You just put the beans in the top here," Alex said pointing.
"I got that far…even found the grind button…but then there's eight fucking options there…it's such an uppity coffeemaker," Sonya smirked.
"It is Alex. When an ADA and detective can't figure it out it is needlessly uppity. Hell, it has more buttons and apps than my iPhone."
"I'll tell you what smartass," Alex said, turning her head towards Olivia and smiling. "I don't want you to ever feel incompetent in anything, so until you have become proficient with the coffeemaker, you can be the one to make it each morning."
"Nice closing argument counselor," Sonya laughed. "But please tell me the shower in the guest bathroom is less complicated."
"Yes, it is. When are you leaving again?" Alex smirked pressing a few buttons to start the coffee brewing.
"Nice one Cabot, but I'll learn to make the coffee if you save me from Edna for another day."
"Your mom is a riot," Olivia countered.
"You've had her for twenty minutes…me a lifetime. But I do love her dearly…just in scheduled doses."
"How is your thigh feeling?" Alex queried.
"Damn, I don't remember the last time a gorgeous blonde…well hell, blonde, brunette or redhead asked me that," Sonya said sipping her coffee casually.
"You're incorrigible," Alex blushed. "And definitely your mother's daughter."
"Might get a tinge of my sarcasm from her. But seriously, thanks for asking. It's sore, but not hurting as bad as I expected."
"When we were downstairs Sonya…oh and we have bagels by the way and a normal toaster," Olivia quipped. "Anyway, George the doorman told," Olivia nodded to Alex.
"Sydney Reckell, her parents and her daughter Maggie are coming in today. They'll be packing up the apartment and I assume Sydney will be involved with making arrangements."
"Well not really up for a game of Scrabble or anything with 'em, but look I met Sydney and she's a victim in all of this too. And what…Maggie isn't even five. Hell Reckell's side of the family. I mean we all know what a class guy Phillip is and Josh's mom…I talked to her several times and his dad once."
"That's pretty much the same view we have on it," Alex sighed.
"And if Phillip comes over to see Sydney and Maggie, we could probably finally thank him right?" Olivia questioned.
"I don't see why not," Sonya said. "By the way, are you going to talk to Stabler today?"
"I was going to call him. Why?" Olivia questioned.
"I need to talk to him and we need to bring closure to this and move on. He's a great cop. He made a mistake…hell we all do," Sonya said softly.
"That's big of you Sonya. It was a few mistakes and pretty big ones," Alex countered, drawing a glare from Olivia. "Liv, I really like El and I think he's a great cop too…but he did fuck up."
"He did and he knows it," Olivia said tersely. "And I know he will never make those mistakes again."
"I know that Liv," Alex sighed.
"Sonya, what kind of bagel do you want?" Olivia asked rummaging through the bag.
"I'll take an onion one please," Alex said sarcastically.
"Can I have the onion one please?" Sonya asked sincerely. "I shouldn't have brought that up."
"It's fine Sonya...and there's two onion bagels," Alex quipped.
