Alex took a deep breath as she heaved open the door to the precinct. All business, she entered the building and went down the short hall and few steps that led her to the open office. Munch, Benson, and Stabler were at their desks, Munch engrossed in a report on his computer screen, Benson on the phone trying to calm someone down, Stabler crouched over several layers of papers with a pen in one hand. A glance at Cragen's closed door told Alex where Tutuola probably was.

Alex softly cleared her throat. Ideally, she wanted to get Olivia's attention and no one else's, but in this office, that would have been nothing short of a miracle, especially since Olivia was the one on the phone.

Normally, the mere entrance of a person into the precinct would not be nearly enough to draw Munch's attention from his computer. But when it came to Alex, it seemed like he had an extra sense. His gaze was halfway to hers before she even finished clearing her throat. Stabler finished reading the paragraph he was on before looking up, and Olivia did not even acknowledge that she knew Alex was there. Both reactions were typical of detectives in their field and positions; Munch's reaction was non-typical of both his personality and his vocational position.

Alex had to consciously keep herself from reacting to the fact that Munch's attention had shifted so completely to her. She looked at Elliot, whose face told her that he was trying to figure out why she was pointedly ignoring Munch while he intently watched her. Alex swallowed and stepped forward, making a beeline to Benson's desk.

Olivia mercifully hung up the phone before Alex reached her desk. Turning her chair, the detective smiled sweetly at Alex with a mischievous look in her eyes. Afraid she would make a comment, Alex plunged into the point of her presence at the station.

"I need you to question a possible witness in the Haley case."

Benson nodded as she chewed on her lip. She not-so-discreetly glanced over Alex's shoulder, and when her eyes returned to meet the A.D.A.'s, Alex could tell that she was trying to hold in a grin.

"Shouldn't be a problem. Had Munch yet?"

Alex gasped. Had Olivia just said that out loud?

"What did you say?"

Olivia raised one eyebrow and tilted her head slightly as if she were about to ask what drugs Alex was taking. "I said, have you had lunch yet? I thought we could go grab something and discuss your witness."

Alex's head was spinning. Maybe she should be taking drugs. Probably some sleep at night would not hurt either. "Sorry. No I haven't had lunch yet. Let's hit the Corner Cup." Benson nodded and grabbed her jacket from the back of her chair without taking her eyes off of Alex.

Once outside, the detective dared to speak. "Are you doing okay, Alex?"

Alex turned her head abruptly, as if Olivia's voice had startled her. "Yeah, sorry. I'm just really tired, that's all."

"Are you sure that's all? Because you're acting kind of weird."

Go ahead. Tell her you can't stop thinking about one of her co-workers. Yeah. Right.

"Yeah, I'm sure."

They were seated in the back booth at the cafe and Olivia had ordered before either of them spoke again.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

Alex sighed. She had known Olivia would get on her case. "I just don't have an appetite lately. Maybe it's the stress of my case load right now; I don't know."

"Uh huh."

Alex took a drink of her ice water, hiding behind the frosty glass. "Well..." But she could not come up with a credible response to what she knew Olivia was thinking.

"Come on, your case load might be a little heavier than usual, but it's not the heaviest it's ever been."

Alex nodded ruefully. "Yeah, I know. I just keep telling myself that that's all it could be."

Olivia slowly shook her head.

"What?"

"Well... it's just that, it's so obvious to me. So why are you wasting the energy denying the truth to yourself?"

"I'm hoping that it's just a phase that will pass with time. Very little time. Especially if I ignore it."

"I don't think so."

"I'm starting to realize that I don't think so, either."

"Good."

"What? Why are you so interested?"

Olivia shrugged. "What can I say? I just think the two of you would make a perfect couple."

Alex raised an eyebrow.

"I'm serious. You know why his other marriages failed, don't you?"

"I'm sure you'll be happy to enlighten me."

"Those women didn't even come close to matching him in brains, wits, or strength."

"He is very strong, isn't he, in his own quiet way..." Alex let her voice trail off as she grew pensive.

"Seriously, I think you have just the right personality and character traits to mix with his perfectly. You're strong and bold, but not over-powering. You're incredibly intelligent, practical, and know exactly where you stand on virtually every issue known to mankind. He needs someone who can stand on her own two feet, not someone who has to depend on him to tell her how to think. But you are also sensitive and thoughtful, even if it doesn't show in court." Olivia watched her for a reaction, which she got when Alex frowned disapprovingly at the comment. "Well, you know that you can't let it show, or you would be taken advantage of. Munch knows it, too; don't worry."

"Who said anything about being worried?"

Olivia chuckled. "So if he asked you out, you would say yes. Right?"

Alex looked over Olivia's shoulder for a moment, a thoughtful look drowning her delicate features. "Maybe."