A/N: This is my first-ever Cabenson work that is more than just a one-shot drabble. I hope you like it. I plan to add to it as ideas strike me. The overall feel I'm going for is a memory-by-memory look at how Cabenson would have went if it had started right when Alex came to SVU.

Rating: Varies by chapter from T to MA, part one is T
Spoilers: None for part I
Trigger warnings: None for part I

Evocations: I

College was the last time that Alex could remember stopping short when crossing a room, after seeing a woman who made her heart pound. She was doing it again, except she was years older, and quite a bit wiser today, in the second floor corridor of the courthouse.

Her weakness for Butch brunettes was legendary in College, and it was one of the things that had never changed. This one in particular had sent her heart into her throat, mouth watering with the want to kiss her. She was quiet, but not unapproachable, leaned against the wall in dark colors looking pensive. Her jawline looked like it doubled as a throne for the woman's lucky lovers. She was hot as sin.

She was a cop, Alex noticed, her badge clipped to the front of her dress pants. Alex calculated on the fly, subtly crossing the corridor to the same side. Pulling herself up to her full height in her heels, she walked in the brunette's direction, and as she passed, nudged a file in her hand so that it fell to the floor.

Alex got about three steps beyond that when she heard the woman's husky voice: "Excuse me? You dropped this … "

Alex turned and faced her, taking the file back. "Thanks. Sorry about that." She gave the woman a toothy smile, trying not to melt from the double whammy of her dark eyes and deep voice.

"I - have I seen you, here, before?"

"Uh, maybe," Alex chuckled. "I just started in this jurisdiction not long ago; they haven't quite decided where they want to stick me yet, so I've been all over." She held out a hand. "I'm Alexandra Cabot."

"Detective Olivia Benson," she returned, shaking hands. "I work in SVU."

"Special Victims," Alex echoed, "that's ambitious work." Olivia didn't pass comment on this one way or the other, but kept her dark eyes on Alex's blue ones. "Perhaps we'll have the pleasure of working together."

"Maybe we will," Benson grinned and it sent a rush of goosebumps up the blonde's arms. "Nice to meet you, Ms. Cabot."

"Likewise, Detective." Alexandra turned away slowly, acutely aware of Olivia's gaze trailing her down the corridor.

Back in her office, Alex tossed the stack of files onto her desk and picked up the phone. "Jack," she said when she got McCoy on the line. "Who's the ADA for Manhattan SVU these days? I might have an interest."