A/N: Yes, I know I'm cranking these out quickly. I did quite a bit of writing and outlining the next few chapters on the plane yesterday. You can probably expect at least one more chapter today, if not more. I'm just as anxious as you are for what is coming. Thanks for the reviews and reading. I love hearing what you like and don't like.
Next chapter will be big, and include the return of Alex's sister and Jessica (or the Skank, as one of you lovingly referred to her).
BETWEEN THE SCENES: 5.24 POISON
It had been nearly seven months since Alex left SVU. She was more than settled into the role at White Collar, even if she found the work boring compared to SVU. She appreciated the less grueling hours, though she spent less time in the courtroom and more time making deals to Wall Street hotshots than she preferred.
The first few months were blissful with Olivia. She had more time to spend at home, and Olivia had been making every effort to take advantage of that, working less when she could and spending the time with Alex.
That was until a few months ago. Alex couldn't remember exactly when, but slowly Olivia slipped back into her old workaholic habits. At first, Alex didn't notice or even mind. She tried to remember what it was like when they both had the crazy schedules. However, the more time she spent at home - alone - the more frustrated she became, and the more she forgot just how busy the SVU squad was. Her white collar detectives certainly didn't work that hard.
Olivia hadn't noticed either. She had done what she had always done - pursued a case until she got justice. She expected that Alex understood.
Of course, Alex's schedule wasn't anything to bat an eye. Working white collars meant a lot more business dinners or evenings at events. Liz had also been pressuring her to push her career forward. That meant more schmoozing that Alex liked to do.
"I can't believe Casey went after Judge Taft like that," Olivia said after they had finished up a trial where a mother had attempted to kill her child by poison, only to later murder the child after being acquitted of attempted murder by Taft.
"Yeah, that was ballsy," Alex commented. She was glad to see someone so passionate in SVU, but it did make her a little jealous now that Olivia and Elliot had formed a bond with Casey. Especially after she listened to Olivia bitch about Casey the first several months she was on the job.
Of course, the fact that they spent extra time on this case for Casey, investigating an old case on their free time - as if they had any - did annoy Alex a little. She understood it, but when it meant she didn't see her girlfriend for two weeks, including weekends, it was hard not to be upset and a little jealous. Not of Casey, but of Olivia's job and how much it took away from them.
"Maybe we can go away this weekend. You're not on-call, right?" Alex suggested. They desperately need time away to spend with each other.
"Oh, I can't Alex," Olivia said. "I promised Casey that I would go over testimony on Saturday because the week has been and is going to be crazy busy. Then Sunday we're supposed to go to Elliot's for a BBQ."
Alex sighed. Casey. Casey. Casey. She missed the days when Olivia was her detective and would do special favors for her, even when they weren't convenient.
"I didn't know anything about going to Elliot's," Alex said. "You didn't mention it."
"Oh, I must have forgotten to tell you," Olivia said. "They just invited the SVU squad over. He said he hoped you could make it."
"Okay," Alex said. "What about next weekend?"
"What?" Olivia said. "No, the BBQ is this weekend."
"No, I mean, what if we go away next weekend," Alex said. "Just the two of us. No phones. No work. Just you and me."
"Alex, you know I can't go without my phone, even if I'm off," Olivia said. "Which, I'm not. El and I are catching next weekend."
"Well, switch with Munch or Fin," Alex said, exasperated. "You're constantly switching for them."
"Alex, work is just really busy right now. You know how it is," Olivia said. "What about next month?"
Alex did know how it was, but she had forgotten.
"Okay, next month," Alex said. "And I'm going to hold you to that."
Olivia leaned over and kissed Alex. "I know you will," Olivia said. "And I'm looking forward to it. Anywhere you want to go."
#
Sunday afternoon everyone from SVU showed up for Elliott's BBQ, including Casey. Alex had talked to Casey a number of times, but always professionally. They often spoke in the beginning about their pending cases, seeing as how they basically swapped jobs. Socially, they didn't have much of an opportunity to see each other. Casey would go out for a drink with the SVU squad, but with her transfer, Alex began to get left out of the post-trial celebratory drinks. Instead, she'd wait at home for Olivia or call her sister up for dinner. That relationship, while not completely healed or repaired, was doing better.
"Alex," Casey said when she saw Olivia and Alex come in. "It's good to see you. You know, away from the DA's office."
Alex smiled. "You, too," Alex said politely. It wasn't that she didn't like Casey. She did, and she liked hearing how much more involved and passionate Casey was becoming in the SVU cases. But it was hard watching someone step in and take over your job, a job that you had given so much of yourself to in the past.
"I have to ask, was Olivia and Elliot as difficult with you at first as they were for me?" Casey said. She was laughing, but she wasn't joking.
The comment made Alex laugh.
"You have no idea," Alex said. "Especially this one." She turned and gave a head nod toward Olivia.
"Oh, I've heard about some of your fights," Casey said. "In fact, I heard about those before I even knew about the two of you, but when I did find out, it all made sense. I mean, the epic fights, and then you requesting a transfer from a job that you were damn good at."
"I'd say some of the detectives may be a little biased," Alex replied, smiling at Olivia.
"Who, me?" Olivia said. "Maybe just a little. Hey, I'm going to head outside to talk to Elliot. I wanted to talk to him about the case we caught Friday."
Alex nodded, and Olivia left to go talk to Elliot.
"Those two never stop working, do they?" Casey asked.
"Nope," Alex replied.
"It must have been a culture shock to you, moving to white collar," Casey said. "I mean, I know you put in a ton of hours over there, but they usually don't involve the middle of the night phone calls like SVU. I know I wasn't prepared for that."
"Yeah, it's been a change for me," Alex said. "But I'm starting to get used to it."
"It must be hard though, with the weird hours Olivia puts in," Casey said. "I'm sure it wasn't easy when you were in SVU, but at least you both had a reason to be up."
"You know, at first, I thought it would be easier," Alex said. "I mean, that one of us would get to sleep through the night without worrying about a phone call. Of course, that doesn't happen because every time her phone goes off, or she's awake tossing and turning, or coming home in the middle of the night, it wakes me up."
"Being on that side of it must be tough," Casey said.
Alex just nodded. It was tough, but she knew why Olivia did it. It was part of the reason she loved her. She just didn't expect it to be so hard.
Shortly after everyone had a chance to eat, Alex watched as Cragen answered his phone and disappeared. He came back with a familiar look on his face. Alex knew that look. She even missed that look sometimes.
Cragen went over and began to talk to Elliot and Olivia, who were standing next to Kathy as they put the food away. Alex also knew the look on Elliot's face as he looked at Kathy. The disappointed, I'm sorry, babe, but I have to go, look. Alex knew it well. Within a few seconds, Alex got the same look from Olivia, who found her and made eye contact.
Alex just nodded and sighed. When she left Elliot's place a little while later, she went home.
Alone, again.
A/N: Before you ask, this is not a Casey/Olivia story, nor will it be. So, save the hate mail :-)