A/N: Thanks for the reviews MeWannabe, SVUlover17, SVU Chicky, and Pitaqueen
On to part 3
Like Father, Like Mother, Like Me.
3.
The ride from the station was a silent one. Both Olivia and Elliot were lost in thought.
Elliot pulled up to the front of her building, breaking the silence.
"You okay to make it to your door?"
"Yeah, thanks, you better get back," Olivia said numbly.
"Okay, I'll talk to you later."
Olivia nodded and slunk out of the car. Elliot watched for her to get into the building before pulling away from the curb. He chuckled to himself what would Novak think of Alexandra Cabot. He pulled out his cell phone when he got stuck in the Manhattan traffic. HE phoned ahead with a pizza order to a little local place.
He walked into the squad room 40 minutes later with a nice hot extra large, extra cheese, half everything, half pepperoni pizza from Uncle Tony's Pizza. He set the pizza on the break table and went to gather his colleagues. Soon they were all enjoying the cheesy heaven.
Casey Novak joined them a few minutes later, biting into a large pepperoni piece.
"I got a message that you wanted to see me?"
Captain Cragen stepped forward. "Yeah, we just got some news."
"Okay"
"ADA Alex Cabot was not killed she was in Witness Protection… she is returning to New York the day after tomorrow."
"Oh, wow, I feel like I should be worried. I actually get to meet ADA Cabot, to whom I would never live up to in the eyes of the squad."
"Casey, you know we respect you."
"Respect and acceptance are different sides of it, Detective Stabler."
"to be honest with you Casey, she would have liked you. We do accept you, no your not Alex, but we do accept you."
"What about Olivia?"
"She accepts you too, she is just afraid if she showed it then Alex was really gone for ever. That and she and Alex fought horrible on cases and they were best friends."
Casey nodded, understanding a little. She was interested to meet this Alexandra Cabot. She must be one hell of a lawyer because even now her name gets brought up in stories every now and then around the ADA's office.
/Same time Olivia's Apartment/
Olivia dropped her bag onto the floor and locked the door.
Tears immediately started running down her face.
The emotions of the day just crashing down on her. The dreams, conversations, and recent cases just putting pressure against the emotional dam. It had a large leak, George had helped mend it, but its weak now.
George was right she was attacking herself when she hit the mirror. She touched the bandaged hand, tears still streaming and walked to the living room, falling into a large chair.
She placed her forehead in the palm of her left hand and continued to cry. George's words echoed in her thoughts. Yes, she should get some rest, but she didn't want to sleep. Her body is so exhausted. She knows if she goes to sleep the dreams will return. She had not been completely honest when she had been talking to Huang this morning. It was more than just the dreams and the mirror episode that was the cause of her not okay status this morning.
She had been dealing with nightmares and depression on a regular basis for months now. The night of the assault in her building was a fluke in the sleep department.
Sometimes in the dreams she was working a hopeless case. Sometimes she herself was the victim, playing off when she was stalked. Sometimes she was the aggressor, playing off when she was in college. Sometimes it was about Alex. What if Alex was killed and she never was able to find out? What if Alex never came back? Sometimes the dreams were just horrible images. The things she sees at work area enough in themselves to give you nightmares.
She sat there in the chair, slowly calming down, drifting off to sleep.
&&&
Knock Knock Knock
Olivia threw herself awake, breathing hard, shaking. She had been dreaming. She couldn't remember it, but it must have been a nightmare again. She sat there for a second trying to calm the shaking and steady her breathing. She noticed it was dark and raining.
Knock Knock Knock
The door, she registered, some one was at the door.
She stumbled through the living room and fiddled with the locks. She braced her eyes for the light in the hall. She cracked the door, stretching the chain, and squinted out in to the light. She shut the door and pulled back the chain. She twisted the knob and flipped on the entry light that illuminated, in a soft tolerable glow, the living room. She stumbled back to her chair and rubbed her neck, it was stiff, and she had a headache… this was never a good sign.
&&&
George Huang waited before knocking again. Knowing Olivia she had not taken the pills yet so she was probably able to get the door.
After the second round of knocking he heard noise and locks being managed. He saw the tired eyes look out at him. He wasn't sure he would be let in. He knew she was grateful for his words earlier, but he could also tell she was hiding things. Most likely she knew he knew, she was intelligent.
He was unsure of what to do when the door creaked open; it seemed on its own. A light was on now at least.
He gingerly opened the door and stepped into the apartment. He carefully set his bag on top of his coat on the table next to the door. He shut the door, chaining it but not locking it. He didn't want to make her feel trapped.
He could see Olivia from here. She had resumed her position in the chair. She was still dressed in the sweats and hooded sweatshirt she had on this morning when he talked to her.
He walked toward her speaking softly.
"Olivia, I came to check on you."
Olivia moved slightly, nodding her head.
"I had a feeling you wouldn't take the meds I gave you. It's okay they will just help you get a good sleep. It's easier to face your demons if you are well rested. It's going to take more than one good sleep. Your going to have to relax and talk, talking really does help. Your body also needs to rest and heal, the stress is not good for your mind or your body."
"I don't want to sleep." Olivia finally spoke. She rubbed her head and neck. She was starting to feel achy. She felt kinda off at the station, but had cast it aside.
"Why not?" He knelt beside her chair.
"My dreams, they are too much. They come back. They keep coming back." She was feeling cold, deep in her bones.
"How long Olivia? How long have you been having the nightmares?"
"I've had nightmares my whole life, it comes from my childhood and the job."
"We all have nightmares, but how long have you been having then like you did this morning?"
"On and off for a couple years. More so and more intensely the last two months." She was tired, her bones ached, and she was so tired.
"Why didn't you come to me?" He asked looking at her searching for answers.
"You were busy…. I thought I could handle it…at work I can."
"What about at home?"
"At home…. Here… here is where loneliness lives." Tears streaked her face. She was sweating now.
She shut her eyes. George touched her hand that was over the edge of the arm. He noticed it felt clammy.
"Are you feeling Okay?" he asked concern in his voice.
"I had a scratchy…th..throat yyyesterday. I felt kind of bbbad this morning, but thought it was the dream."
"You don't look so good Olivia."
"I'm cold…tired…achy…"
"Hmm"
He felt her forehead it was hot. He didn't want to go rummaging through her stuff, he remembered that he kept a thermometer in his bag. He hurried over and snatched her bag and hurried back. He opened it on the coffee table. Locating the device, he stuck in under her tongue and waited for the beep.
It read 102.5; yup Olivia had the flu.
"Olivia?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you have the pills I gave you earlier."
She dug into her pocket in slow motion and dropped the pills into his waiting hand. He took one pill, splitting the pair. He dug into his bag again and pulled out two extra strength pain killer/ fever reducers and handed the trio back to her.
"Kitchen?"
She managed a sloppy pointing motion and he took off. He grabbed a bottle of water out of the fridge. Returning to her side.
"You should probably get in bed before you take the medicine."
"Ok." She couldn't protest it took too much energy.
Olivia slumped out of the chair and shuffled down the hall.
"Do you want me to call anyone to stay with you?" George followed with the water.
"No…I'd rather be a..alone… thanks."
George got to the bed before her and drew down the bedding. She slipped in and popped the pills into her mouth. He handed her the water. She swallowed with a grimice. She handed the bottle back to him. He set it on the night stand.
She nestled into the pillows. Shutting her eyes.
"Thanks."
"Your welcome. I'll see you later, feel better."
"Take the key to lock up… please, the key is there… just slip it…. Into the mail slot downstairs." She said fadingly.
"Okay" he smiled, even a cop on her sick bed.
He walked back out into the living room to gather his things. He took 1 days worth of the sleeping pills and placed them in an envelope with the name and instructions on it. He took that and the bottle of painkillers and set them on her counter island along with a business card for a colleague of his, Dr. Angie Mays.
He gathered his back and coat. He saw the key she meant it was just a single key with a box number on it. He took it and glanced at it quizzically and shrugged, it was non-of his business what his colleagues did. He shut the door and locked it, and threw the key in the slit on the indicated box.
&&&
/The Next Day/
Where Am I? Olivia thought to herself as she slowly came into conscience.
She lay there for a minute feeling miserable.
Her fever was lower, but she was still clammy feeling.
She had to use the bathroom. She eased herself out of bed. Her head felt detached, so she took the short trip gingerly. She hated being sick.
Since she was already in the bathroom she decided to take a shower. She didn't feel like making the extra trip later and a shower would feel great right now.
She turned on the water. Carefully extracted herself from her clothes and stepped in. She let the hot water soak into her sore body. She washed up a little, but it was hard, her body ached and her head spun. She turned off the water and wrapped in a big towel. Returning to her room she located some sweats and a tank. She crawled back in bed, covering up and went back to sleep.
&&&
A few hours later she woke up again. This time she was very thirsty. She again eased out of bed. The water next to her bed had gotten too warm. She staggered into the kitchen.
Her eyes fell upon the goodies left by Huang.
She vaguely remembered him being there last night. She grabbed the bottle of painkillers and trudged to the fridge.
After getting a fresh cold bottle of water she glanced at the couch. Not wanting to make the journey back to the bedroom just yet, she dropped herself into the couch, wrapping herself into a down blanket, and took some medicine.
She let sleep take over. It was already evening. She really hatted being sick.
&&&
/the next day at the station/
Elliot sat working on paper work at his desk. It was nine in the morning, he'd been there for an hour, but it felt more like three.
He glanced at his partner's desk. It sat empty. He wondered how she was doing. Huang had stopped in early yesterday to fill them in on her health status.
He had thought about checking on her on his lunch break yesterday or calling her. Then he decided she should get some uninterrupted rest. With the flu she probably wouldn't be awake anyway. He would have her checked on later today he guessed.
He refocused himself to his work. As he placed another file into his outbox he heard someone enter. He looked up to see a blonde haired woman.
Alex Cabot stood framed in the doorway dressed in jeans and a sweater she had her coat over her arm. She looked like she was made for this entrance. She gathered herself then finished entering the squad room.
Elliot had a huge grin on his face. He scooted around the desk and wrapped the former ADA in a gigantic hug. She accepted the warm hug with a smile of her own. It felt wonderful to be back.
"Where is everyone?" She asked not seeing any of her former colleagues.
"Well let's see Cragen is in his office. Munch and Fin should be back any second now, they were on a call early this morning." He paused for a moment.
"Where is Olivia?" She asked with a hint of worry.
"She took a leave of absence, Health reasons, it started the day we found out you were coming home."
"What happened?" She questioned, she hoped Olivia was not seriously ill.
"She has been under too much stress and it broke her down. Huang was with her for a while that morning, that's all I really know. However she also ended up with a pretty bad flu."
"Oh no. Maybe I should go see her."
Just then Cragen slammed out of his office.
"Elliot, Munch and Fin are on their way back, they think they have the perp. Novak is on her way over she is pissed."
Cragen's eyes softened as he took in Alex's presence.
"Alex, I didn't realize you were here yet."
"Just got here cap," she used the name his detectives use. "Elliot was just filling me in on where everyone was."
"Yes, we have been…."
He was cut off by an angry ADA storming into the room. Alex stepped back she was king of amused.
"Where are they?" Casey flew into the room.
"They will be here in a minute."
"They just couldn't wait could they. I told them there was probably not enough for the warrant and to hold off searching, but they just couldn't wait. We are not going to be able to keep him the search was not permissible."
She threw her brief case on the floor with a thud, her red hair seemed almost ablaze.
"Further more, why even bother asking me to get the warrant if you're not going to wait for it. By the way it was denied. I don't know how I handle you people some days." She seethed.
"I asked myself the same question some days." A voice spoke out startling the ADA.
She turned around and saw the blonde, sizing her up in her mind.
"Detectives they always want, what they want, when they want it," She laughed, "Alexandra Cabot." She stuck her hand out.
Casey accepted the hand, "Casey Novak."
"It will work out, trust me, you'll just have to do some dancing."
Munch and Fin walked in.
"Thank you." She smiled and nodded. Then followed them into the next room to begin interrogation, of both detectives and suspect.
"Welcome home Alex," Cragen hugged her.
"Thank you captain. Tell Munch and Fin I'll be visit with them later. I am going to go check on Olivia."
"Alright, that might be a good idea. Let us know if she needs anything."
"I will, Its great to see you guys again."
&&&
/Same time Olivia's/
Olivia woke in a sweat. Another nightmare. She lay there trying to catch her breath. She didn't remember much of it, but the parts she did remember made her think it for the best.
She was sweaty so she crawled off the couch and carefully made her way into the bathroom. She took another long hot shower and donned another pair of sweats. She was still sore and her head was still spinny, she vowed to never get sick again. She had grabbed the thermometer out of the bathroom on her way out ad nestled back into the couch. She re-tested her temp. It was 100.1, better but still fever. It had broke yesterday for a while. She got a great sleep for about 6 hours, but it seemed to have risen again and she was still exhausted. She turned on the TV and flipped for a while finally deciding on a rerun of Looney Toons, not a lot of thought went into it. After a few segments she drifted into sleep.
Knock Knock Knock
"Urg" Olivia groaned at the sound of the door. She secretly hoped it wasn't George, he meant well, but she put her guard down around him enough for one week, hell a year. She turned off the TV.
Knock Knock
"Hrg" she grunted at the door as she dragged herself, still wrapped in the blanket, to the door
She stumbled with the locks, not even bothering to use the security chain. It was probably one of the guys checking on her anyway. She nudged open the door.
Lifting her head to see who it was backing up a little she fell to the ground tears spilling down her face, causing a coughing fit.
&&&
Alex made it to Olivia's door. She thought she heard the TV softly on the other side.
At least she wouldn't have to travel from the bedroom.
She knocked and waited then knocked gain.
She heard the locks being opened and braced her self, unsure of what she was going to face. How did Olivia look? Will she be happy to see me?
The door opened.
Alex took in the tousled short brown reddish hair attached to a blanket that greeted her. Sad, sick brown eyes soon looked up to meet hers. Emotions flashed across Olivia's face at full speed, Alex couldn't read them. She hated to see her friends hurting and sick, especially Olivia, she was so strong, Alex was a bit taken back by the state of her. As Olivia stepped back and fell, crying and coughing, her heart broke.
She entered the home, locking the door behind her, she would be here for a while. She knelt quickly beside Olivia, wrapping her arms around her friend. Rubbing her back as she cried, soothing her so her cough would settle, rocking softly.
After a few minutes Olivia calmed.
"I'm s..so s..ssor..ry." Olivia choked out.
"Shhh, you don't half to apologize." Alex whispered, continuing to sooth her friend.
Alex slowly got up, carefully brining Olivia with her. They made their way back to the couch. Olivia was still crying slightly.
"Shh, everything is okay, everything will be okay," Alex whispered.
Olivia drifted off to sleep with Alex softly rubbing her back. After a few minutes of quiet Alex also drifted off, the trip to NY catching up to her. Thrashing awakened her.
Olivia was squirming around the couch, fighting an unseen battle. Alex eased herself away and off the couch and knelt by Olivia's head.
"Olivia," she spoke gently, wiping the hair away from her damp forehead.
"Olivia you need to wake up."
Olivia slowly came around. And looked around for a second before making eye contact with her friend, who was looking at her questioningly.
"Nightmare." Olivia stated tiredly. Being sick took way too much out of her, she thought.
Alex nodded. "Often?"
Olivia nodded.
Alex let it drop, she knew that Olivia would talk when she was ready. That didn't stop her from worrying for her friend.
"When was the last time you ate something?"
"I don't remember." Olivia said sitting up.
"I'll make you some soup."
Alex went into the kitchen and after a few minutes and a microwave beep she emerged with a bowl of condensed chicken noodle and a glass of juice.
Olivia took it and ate slowly, finishing most of it. Alex took the dishes back to the kitchen and placed them in the sink. She returned to her friend.
"It's so good to see you." Olivia said when she returned to the couch.
"It's great to be back." Alex replied.
"I just wish I was feeling better."
"Elliot said you were on leave, do you want to talk about it."
"I…I just let things get out of control."
"What things."
"Life, nightmares, work. I really don't want to talk about it right now, I've talked to Huang and he left me a card. Did you like the place you were in."
"It was alright but I'll always be a city girl. They had me in a small town in Colorado. It was nice but not New York. I was teaching advanced public justice at the college there. That was interesting, but I missed practicing it. It was weird because I ran across one of the cases that I worked on my first year, it was referenced in a list not huge but 'Cabot' was listed in the attorneys working on the case. I was mentioned in the textbook there and couldn't tell anyone, it was weird. It was hard at times because I would have been able to give them so much more if I was able to refer to myself as Alex Cabot."
She paused for a moment.
"I made the decision to tell my students once I was able to come back. It was the last day of class, they didn't believe me at first. I told them to look up a case I did here, I gave them every last detail. After they had done that they were to come to my office the next day, I would be grading papers. A few came back, the serious students, they were impressed. One is coming to NY for Law School and asked to meet with me here. I told her yes. She will be an incredible attorney. Maybe I should try teaching a course or two here." Alex laughed.
"Sounds like you should." Olivia smiled at her.
Olivia yawned.
"Why don't you lie down again. You still look a little pale."
Olivia laid down on the couch, curling up. Alex put her feet up on the coffee table and offered her lap with a pillow on it to Olivia. She placed her head onto the pillow and closed her eyes.
Alex placed her hand on Olivia's head, it still felt warm but she wasn't as clammy. She stroked her hand through Olivia's short hair. Olivia slowly drifted into a true peaceful sleep the first in a long time. Alex leaned down and kissed her forehead.
"I'll help you Olivia. I'm back now." She whispered quietly and rested her head back against the back of the couch. Letting sleep take her away, she continued to stroke the short hair on the head resting on her.
The End.
A/N: These were long sections. I knew however if I didn't do it like this the story would never be done. Yay this is the second story of mine that has made it to completion. I don't know if I'll do a continuation or sequel, probably not. I hope you enjoyed it. Please, Please Review, it helps. I'm very curious to hear what you have to say about it.