Author's Note: I didn't say it before since I didn't want to give it away, but I have not seen "Ghost". I know that Alex really doesn't work in Atlantic City, but where would the fun be in fan fiction if people stuck to the facts? Sigh…Read, review, it's all good.

Chapter Two

"I'm sorry," Alex lied as she felt her cheeks burning red. She was back to looking down and avoiding eye contact. She could not bear to see Olivia's face as she lied to her. "My contact slipped again. Someone will be out to help you in a second," she lied as she walked towards the back quickly.

Casey yawned again. "What was that about?" she asked as she rested her head against the check-in counter.

"You didn't recognize her?" Olivia asked back. She was still stunned by the fact that Alex was just there and she had said no more than a few words to her. Nothing even along the lines of how she had been doing. It was just business. As soon as Alex realized who she was, she bolted.

Casey shook her head. "Am I supposed to?" she asked. She yawned again. "I'm sorry, Liv. I'm just really tired right now. Maybe if you put some caffeine in me…"

"No, that's ok," Olivia responded. "Once we get our room, you can go to sleep. I'd actually like to talk to her in private first."

Casey nodded weakly. "Am I supposed to recognize her?" she asked again.

Olivia sighed. When Alex left, the only people who knew she was alive were Olivia and Elliot. Everyone else was under the assumption that she was dead. Casey Novak was in her life because Alex Cabot was dead. She did not know if she could actually explain it to Casey without jeopardizing Alex's life and safety. "No," she said finally. "It's just someone from my past. She left once you said my name."

"Oh," Casey said as it made some bit of sense in her mind. Whatever it was, it sounded complicated, and she did not need to know further. If Olivia wanted to talk to her about it, she knew she could. If not, that was fine, too.

Another hotel worker emerged from the back where Alex had retreated. "I apologize for Miranda," he said as he walked up to the computer. "How may I help you?"

"Um, we had a reservation under Olivia Benson," Olivia answered.

The hotel worker nodded and hit some buttons. He grabbed some blank keys and programmed them to go to Olivia and Casey's room. He handed each of them a key. "Enjoy your stay," he told them. "You're in room 703."

"Thank you," Olivia said politely as she took the keys. She watched as the man sat down on a chair. "Um, do you know if there is any way for me to find Miranda?" she asked curiously as Casey began making her way towards the elevator. "It's just I knew her a few years ago, and I'd really like to just sit down and talk to her again. Please."

The man thought about it for a moment. "I'll see what I can do," he responded. "I'm not making any promises," he added.

"Thank you," Olivia responded as she looked at him. She then walked over to the elevators and hit the 'up' button. Casey must already be in the elevators if not already in the room, Olivia noted. A small part of her felt guilty for that. She had promised that this trip would have no interruptions, but the two of them were already separated.

The elevator doors opened, and Olivia walked inside. She was not alone. The woman from behind the counter was in there with her. Alex was in there with her. "Alex?" Olivia asked. "Alex, is it really you?"

Alex nodded slightly. "It is," she admitted in a whisper. "Olivia, I am so sorry," she added. "I wanted to talk to you, but I couldn't. Not there. Not in front of…"

"Casey," Olivia filled in. "Casey Novak. She's the woman they hired after you…left."

"I see," Alex said softly. "Replacing me in more ways than one."

Olivia shook her head. "Now that's not fair. She couldn't replace you. No one could." She could feel the tears coming to her eyes. She had been waiting for this moment ever since that night when she last saw Alex driving away in that car. She thought about Alex every day. "You have to know that I think about you every day," she said.

"As did I with you," Alex said. "You were so close. It's only like a three and a half hour drive to New York, but I couldn't see you. I couldn't call." She sighed. "Valez may have ruined my life, but I wouldn't want him to ruin yours. I'm glad to see you've found someone."

"I still love you, Alex," Olivia admitted. "To some extent, even Casey knows that. I mean, I love her, too. Don't get me wrong, but you…"

Alex smiled. "You don't have to explain it to me. I get it, Liv. It's a different kind of love."

Olivia nodded. "I miss you."

"I miss you, too," Alex whispered. "And this won't be permanent. Hopefully he'll die or stop being a threat before I go. Then I'll be back."

Olivia chuckled. "With a hell of a lot of explaining to do."

Alex shrugged. "True, but it'll be worth it." She glanced over and realized that the elevator had in fact stopped moving. It was open on Olivia's floor. "How is everyone in the SVU?" she asked as she walked out of the elevator.

"They're good," Olivia answered simply as she followed Alex. She smiled at Alex. "So, Miranda, huh?"

Alex nodded. "The right to remain silent," she explained. The two women stopped in front of Olivia's room. They looked at the door, then back at each other. Alex smiled as she hugged Olivia. "We part only to meet again."