Alex inhaled deeply and held it. "We... went to law school together. We were in One-L moot court together a few times. He asked me out but... I wasn't interested in dating at the time; I was too busy trying to keep up with my classes and everything. He didn't take too well to me saying no; I think he took it as a personal rejection, which it wasn't... at least not at the time. He asked me a second time, and I... turned him down again. He really didn't like that." Alex tried to smile wryly at Olivia, but the serious look on the detective's face told her that she was not going to be able to joke her way through this story.

Taking a sip of her water, Alex continued. "He had come up to my dorm room to ask me out the second time. I don't know; maybe he thought if it was more... in private... I might say yes; he just didn't get it that I needed all my time for my classes." Alex let out a shaky breath and forced back the tears. "He... I didn't invite him in; just let him ask me at the door, and told him no at the door. I told him I had a Tariffs test to study for, and I started to shut my door but... he forced his way in."

Alex could feel the tears welling up behind her eyes. She could not do this; she could not let herself cry. Not here. Not about this.

"Anyway, it was a long time ago."

"You never told anyone."

Alex steadily and stubbornly held Olivia's gaze.

"That's why he can still hold it over your head, Alex; don't you get it?"

"He can't hold it over my head; I'm not letting him."

"He's still using it to control you. Even if it doesn't get him what he wants in court, he's still controlling you emotionally. That's what he wants, Alex. You can't let him do this to you."

"I don't have much of a choice, Olivia. If people knew... my career would be over. I'd never work Special Victim's cases again."

Olivia was silent. The waitress came with Olivia's chicken stir fry and Alex's salad. Olivia began eating immediately, but Alex fiddled with her napkin on her lap, and then just poked at her lettuce with her fork.

After a couple of bites, Olivia looked at the A.D.A. thoughtfully. "That's why you haven't dated since you've come here, isn't it?"

Alex shrugged. She hated admitting that one man could keep her from ever letting anyone get close again.

Olivia nodded. "People have wondered, you know. If something happened or..." she stopped abruptly and took another bite.

Alex rolled her eyes. She knew the rest of Olivia's thought. She had heard the talk, but had let it blow over her head. She knew people were going to say and think whatever they wanted to, regardless of what she had to say on her own behalf. She took a bite of her salad and a sip of her water.

A couple of minutes of silence passed as Olivia ate and Alex continued to push lettuce and spinach and tomatoes around in the dressing on her plate.

"What did Munch say to you tonight?"

Alex jerked her head up. "What do you mean?" she asked quickly. She could feel her face beginning to feel warm.

Olivia smirked. "You know exactly what I mean. Does he like you?"

"I... don't know. I haven't honestly thought about it."

"Well, has he been flirting with you?"

Alex paused as she thought back over the past couple of weeks. "Yeah," she said, sounding almost incredulous. "I guess he has."

Olivia grinned. "You'd be good for him, Alex. He needs someone who can keep his feet firmly on the ground."

The blush in Alex's cheeks deepened. "His feet are firmly on the ground. Besides..." she tried to think of a reason to dismiss him. "He's too old for me," she finally said. It was the only excuse she could come up with, other than the obvious.

"Is that the best you can do?" Olivia asked with a mischievous purse of her lips.