The first person that Olivia saw when she walked into the only operating precinct was Finn. She immediately went to him, throwing her arms around him. Though she had just seen him the day before at his apartment, it was still a relief to see him again.
"Liv, you didn't have to come in," he told her as they broke their embrace.
The precinct was bustling with activity, power supplied by a generator and many taking advantage. Many detectives and officers Olivia recognized, but some she did not. People were talking over each other, there were people arguing. It seemed to be utter chaos.
"I couldn't just sit home."
Finn starts walking her towards the open office door, where he knocks and enters. "Sergeant Hart, this is Sergeant Olivia Benson. I'll leave you two to talk."
The older man behind the desk rises and extends his hand, which Olivia takes. She had heard the name come before her in the past but never met the man.
"Miss Benson, thank you for coming. We appreciate all the help we can get right now." He motions for Olivia to sit.
She nods. "Whatever I can do. Do you have any information? What we're looking at?"
"Governor announced this morning that electricity will be resorted within the next couple of days to certain areas. Three hours a day is what we get right now, at different times in different areas. They are working around the clock for total restoration but at this time don't know when or if that will be possible due to the solar disruptions. Phone lines continue to be down, as do cell towers. Obviously we are not getting any calls. 911 services are basically non-existent. I'm assigning areas to be patrolled. We are expecting looting to continue to more stores run their generators out and close and as panic rises. We are expecting violent crimes to increase. We are also expecting home invasions to increase, as more and more people run low on supplies and become desperate. All we can do right now is patrol and help as needed until we have a more stable system in place, if that happens."
Olivia tries to take in all the information. Within two days everything has fallen apart. They've been thrown into basically an apocalyptic scenario with no warning.
"Our concern right now is fuel. Many gas stations are already low, some out. Fuel deliveries are not expected due to extreme flooding. Tsunamis are still happening, flooding reaching areas it was never expected to. For now we have to plan on not being able to refuel."
Olivia sighs. In other words, chaos will continue to reign supreme and things may get worse before they get better, if they get better.
He shuffles some paperwork around. "Let me look at what area I can put you in. I'm assuming you want to stay close to home?"
Olivia nods. "I have my son and girlfriend to look out for. They are safe right now, and I have a friend there who I'm confident could take care of anything that may come up. But I don't want to be too far."
He tells Olivia he will get with her as soon as he has an assignment for her. Olivia goes back out onto the precinct where Finn is waiting for her with a cup of coffee. She takes it gratefully.
"Someone else is here I'm sure you'll be happy to see," he tells her. He motions for her to follow him, and he leads her to the break room where Olivia immediately sees Amanda sitting on the couch, her girls on each side of her.
"Amanda," Olivia says, her expression turning into a smile. She feels relief go through her. She had thought Amanda and her girls were gone.
Amanda turns her head and immediately smiles at Olivia. She hands the tablet to her oldest girl. "You girls keep watching the movie, I'm going to talk to my friend, okay?"
She gets up and hugs Olivia right, her southern drawl seeming to get thicker as her voice is full of emotion. "I'm glad you're okay. Is Alex with you? Noah?"
"They are both okay. They are at home. Casey is actually with us too." She looks around. It would appear that they had slept here the night before. "Do you need a place to stay? We have the room."
"I really appreciate the offer, but we're going to head out with Finn once he gets his plan together. I don't want to stay in the city with my girls. Things are already getting worse. Our apartment is gone; we have no clothes, nothing. I'm going to see what I can get today."
"There are places still open but you need to go while you can," Olivia says. "We have food and a lot of supplies. I can give you some. I'm afraid we don't have any clothes that will fit your girls though."
Olivia smiles. "Thank you, Liv. I'm going to take care of it today. We do what we can, right? I just wanted to spend some time with them before I get out there in the madness."
"Alex and Casey are at home; if you need them to watch the girls I'm sure it wouldn't be a problem. The house is safe - for now - and Casey does have a gun in case…" she trails off.
Amanda nods. Olivia doesn't have to finish. She knows what she's about to say.
"I'll reach out if needed. Thank you, Liv, and I'm really thankful you guys are safe."
They hug again and Olivia finds herself letting tears fall from her eyes as she exits the break room again with Finn. She grabs a nearby box of tissues and wipes her eyes.
"Has Elliot come by?" she asks, looking around.
"He hasn't. But I'm sure he's fine, Liv."
"I saw him yesterday. The family is accounted for. But I thought I might see him here today."
Finn takes Olivia's shoulders and leads her to a place where they can talk in private. "Liv, I think you and Alex should go get married."
Her head immediately shots up as fear goes through her. Is there something Finn knows? Is this going to be the actual end of the world?
Finn can sense Olivia's confusion and explains himself. "They are talking about food distribution to families. Married people will be entitled to more. They are talking about forcibly relocating folks if things get worse; married people can stay together. There's no guarantees if you aren't a 'family'. It may just be in your best interest."
Alex and Olivia have discussed marriage - many times. Both have agreed it is something they want. But they wanted a big ceremony with their friends and families. Months of planning and excitement. Getting married now means going to city hall and making it very impersonal.
She knows she has a lot to think about - and a lot to discuss with Alex when she gets home.
2.
The electricity came on mid afternoon.
Noah planted himself in front of his XBox as soon as it came on while Alex rushed to do laundry.
"Noah," Casey calls, popping her head into his bedroom. "What do you want to eat?"
She figures she will use the opportunity to cook on the stove.
Noah turns and grins at her. "Can you make spaghetti?"
She grins back. "That's my favorite. I'd love to."
She quickly rummages through the kitchen to find all the supplies. She doesn't know how long they will have power, so she moves quickly. She's just turning on the burpkner when Alex comes into the kitchen carrying a stack of clothes.
"Spaghetti okay?" Casey asks without even turning around.
"That's fine. I went through our closet and got you some clothes. Most is Olivia's. I don't know if you can wear any of our jeans but here's some to try." She puts the clothes down on the kitchen table. "Do you want your phone plugged in?"
Casey knows she can't wear Alex's pants, but she may be able to wear Olivia's, but even so she appreciates the gesture.
Casey turns around from the pan after she turns the burner on to boil the water. "I don't even know where my phone is, honestly. Do you have a signal yet?"
Alex shakes her head. "Olivia didn't either before she left this morning."
"I'm going to get as much laundry done as possible before we lose power again." She hesitates, looking at the pan on the stove. "Thanks for cooking."
"You're welcome, and thank you for the clothes."
Casey had just added the noodles to the pan when Noah comes into the kitchen. She regards him with a smile. "Can we watch a movie while we eat?"
"That's fine, Noah," Casey says. "But I don't think the internet is working so we can't stream anything."
"I have a disc player in my Xbox." He hauls it out and is hooking it up to the TV in the living room within minutes. He reads off the titles of a bunch of different movies to Casey, and she tells him to pick whatever he wants.
Once the spaghetti is ready Casey makes a plate for Noah, not trusting him to spoon his own sauce on. She calls to Alex that dinner is ready and takes Noah his plate with a juice box.
"What did you decide, little man?"
"X-Men of course."
Casey is about to go back to the kitchen to make her plate when Alex appears out of nowhere behind her, arms crossed in front of her chest.
"What are you doing?" she demands. She looks past her at Noah. "Noah, you know better than to eat in the living room."
"Casey said I could!" is his defense.
"Well Casey has no say in the matter. Table - now."
Noan groans and comes to the table, sitting down with a defeated sigh.
Casey makes a sympathetic face at him. "I'm sorry, Noah." She looks back at Alex. "I'm sorry. That was my fault. I should have asked."
"Yes it was, and yes you should have," Alex says, her tone unforgiving. "Just because you are staying here doesn't mean you have any say regarding anything about Noah."
"I realize that. I wasn't trying to overstep. I'm sorry. I think he just wanted to watch a movie before the power goes out again."
"Well we can watch a movie after dinner." Alex looks at the spaghetti on the stove. "I appreciate you cooking, but please don't interfere with Noah again."
Casey can't help but roll her eyes at Alex. All she is trying to do is help and Alex treats her like she is incompetent.
"I'm sorry that I gave a little boy permission to watch a movie while he ate, during the end of the world."
Alex is immediately angry. "It is not the end of the world and I do not appreciate you saying that in front of Noah! You have no right to come in here and act like you're in charge of anything."
Once Alex starts in on her, Casey can't hold back. "You need to face reality, Alex. About everything. I don't think I'm in charge of anything. Olivia wants me here when she isn't for protection. You think I like it?"
"I don't need a babysitter. Especially you."
"And I don't need to be treated this way when all I am trying to do is help. You aren't my boss right now. We are humans, equals. It's best you don't forget that. Once I get things figured out, you can bet I'll be out of here quick."
"Good," Alex throws in as her parting line.
Casey scoffs and makes herself a plate of food, intending to eat in the guest room. "Enjoy the food that I made," Casey throws over her shoulder as she storms off down the hall.
Alex just shakes her head. She notices Noah looking at her sadly, and she manages a smile at him and sits down, smoothing his hair back.
"You asked me to be nice to her. Why aren't you?" he asks, looking up from his food.
The question catches Alex off guard. A child is calling her out on her hypocrisy. How low can she get?
"I'm sorry, Noah. You're right. I will apologize to her later," she says, not intending to follow through.
He takes another bite. "The spaghetti is good. You should have some."
Alex smiles again and gets up. She makes herself a small plate and sits back down at the table with Noah. The first bite and she realizes that Noah is right; it's excellent.
But Alex will never admit that to Casey.
3.
By the time Olivia gets home the electricity is back out and has been for a few hours. It's after eleven and the house is quiet. Olivia uses her phone flashlight to maneuver the dark house to her bedroom.
Alex is in bed when she enters the room, but is not asleep. She rolls over and sits up, and in the light of the flashlight Olivia can see her features ease into relief. She gets up and puts her arms around the detective.
"I expected you home sooner," Alex says, giving her a kiss. She holds her wrists tightly and Olivia tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I had to put Noah to bed while he was worried. And I was too."
"I'm so sorry, baby. There's no way to call right now."
"I know, Liv. But you can't leave us worrying all night about you." Alex releases Olivia's wrists and holds the flashlight so Olivia can get into her pajamas in the dark. Once changed into them, Olivia slips into bed with Alex and Alex takes her usual position curled into the brunette with her head tucked into her chest.
Olivia reaches under the tee Alex is wearing to bed and draws circles on Alex's back. "It wasn't good, Alex. Everything is complete chaos, is falling apart quickly. They have us patrolling, trying to stop people from looting and robbing others. We don't have enough fuel to patrol through the rest of the month; we have to work part time to make it even that far. That means most time no one will even be out there. Until fuel trucks can come, which no one knows when that will be, things will continue to get worse. I broke up three car jackings today; three. People trying to steal other people's vehicles because they have gas. People are driving away from the pumps that still have fuel without paying. We can't waste our time with that. People are stealing from stores, from each other...and all too soon they won't be anyone out there to stop it. It's like this everywhere, Alex. In just a short amount of time it's gotten this bad."
Alex holds her breath. She has a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach thinking about what Olivia said. She buries her head deeper into Olivia's chest.
"I wish you wouldn't go out there, Liv. You have no way to contact us, we have no way to contact you. If by some chance you can't get home when you say you will, all we will do is worry. I know it's important for you to have semblance of order. Trust me, I know too well. It isn't easy for me to sit back and listen about the lawlessness that's about to descend on us. I fought for justice and law everyday, and now there's nothing I can do. Nothing."
Olivia frowns. "I know, baby. I know it's hard for you too. I really believe that in the months ahead things will be figured out. You will be back to your job before you know it, in some form."
Alex wishes she could believe her. But she knows human nature all too well and knows that changes are not easily adapted to by the masses.
"I don't want you out there, Liv. Please. Noah needs you; I do, too. I was here for him today, but he needed his mother. He's scared, even though he doesn't show it." Alex sits up, and a second later Olivia does too. "Please, Liv. I'm begging you. Your heart is in the right place, but it belongs here with us."
Olivia doesn't respond at first. She's always worked; she can't remember a time when she didn't, since she was a young teenager. She's never been one to sit idle, especially if she has the means to help out. But Noah and Alex...they are more important. More important than a job and more important than thinking she can help a helpless situation.
Tears fill Olivia's eyes, even though Alex can't see them. She picks up the blonde's hand. "Okay, sweetheart. I won't go in anymore. I'm sorry I left today."
Alex hugs her again, clinging to her like a baby koala clinging to its mother. Olivia kisses the side of her head, and decides now is the moment to talk to her about what's been on her mind all day.
"Listen, Alex," she clears her throat. "Finn was there today. He told me some things. Oh, and Amanda too; she and the girls are all right."
Alex sighs in relief at that news.
"He says he has heard from some pretty reputable sources that if things don't improve, going forward there are going to be more open doors to families. Things they will qualify for that singles won't, and a guarantee to stay together if things get worse. I stopped by city hall on my way home. They are still operating for now but don't know for how long. A marriage license would take a little longer to get now, but - "
Alex sits up, effectively cutting Olivia off. "Yes," she says.
Olivia blinks, her heart racing. "Yes what?"
"Yes, I'll marry you."
Olivia starts to cry. It was the most unromantic way to get engaged ever, and the last way she would have chosen it. Becoming engaged is supposed to be a happy, magical time. Filled with lowers, loved ones, and a ring.
They have none of that.
But as they lay in bed holding each other they realize they have love. And for right now - at this moment - it's enough.
Next chapter will be REALLY intense. Stay tuned