A/N: I'm going to be perfectly honest, I've been lacking some motivation regarding this story, and I'm not sure why. When I think about it, I have so many ideas and am excited about continuing it, but when I get ready to sit down and write I feel like I have nothing. I'm hoping this will pass, as it has before. I'm sorry for the delay. I hope you all enjoy!

Chapter 57

Hearing

Olivia and Alex left separately, Olivia to her makeshift home at Fin's and Alex to their shared apartment. They were both conflicted, but both felt better about where their relationship was as a whole. At least they had talked about things, and Olivia had told Alex that she wanted to be with her. But, no one was necessarily happy—there was work to be done, and they both knew it.

Alex's mind wandered from the traffic in front of her back to the conversation at the restaurant. To be honest, she didn't know how to feel about everything: she understood Olivia apologizing, although she didn't think it was necessary, and if the conversation would have ended there, she probably wouldn't be as conflicted. Then again, nothing happened between Olivia and Hope so she wasn't really upset about that. But, the fact that Olivia felt the need to contact Hope to see if she wanted to meet was troubling her.

How did Olivia not know that Alex loved her? She understood that her answer at the press conference somewhat betrayed their relationship, but hadn't Alex shown Olivia that she loved her throughout their relationship? The attorney thought about that as she made her way up to the apartment. A few minutes later, Alex had changed into her pajamas and gotten into bed. She couldn't keep herself from thinking about Olivia, and without taking the time by herself that she had suggested to Olivia, she knew what she wanted—but she had to take her time.

Friday morning came and went. Alex awoke around 6:15 and got in the shower, chose her outfit, and was out the door by 7:45. She made it into work about a half hour later to find a cup of hot coffee waiting on her, sitting atop a handwritten note. She made her way around the room, dropping her purse and briefcase in their usual positions on the floor next to her desk. She sat down and picked up the cup, sheepishly expecting to see Olivia's handwriting, but the scribbled note wasn't familiar. Confused, she picked up the cup of coffee, cautiously taking a sip. She took the note into her hand and read.

Alex,

I couldn't remember your coffee order. Sorry! But trust me: you're going to need this today. Miranda requested an emergency hearing in court for Conrad. Find whatever you can on him, besides what we already know. Pretty sure it's about his bail-Miranda wants it done before the weekend. See you at 12.

Casey

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Olivia woke up around 10AM and was surprised she had slept that late. She got out of bed and wandered into the kitchen, where she found a note Fin left.

Didn't want to wake you up. Let me know if you need anything. See you later.

The detective smiled a bit as this note, thinking how nice it was for Fin to do such a thing. She stood next to the kitchen sink for a few moments, contemplating her next move. Slowly, she turned her phone over in her right hand, unlocking it with a swipe of her finger. The text message almost wrote itself, she noticed.

Hey George. Was wondering if you had any time open for me to come in today. I wanted to talk to you about a few things. If not, it's no big deal.

She locked her phone back and walked down the hallway, tossing it onto the bed in the guest room before she headed toward the bathroom, stripping clothes from her body as she did so. Moments later, Olivia felt the water cascading down her body: it was the first shower she had taken since her surgery and nothing felt better. The detective ran her right hand through her short hair and had almost forgotten that she had cut it. She silently thanked the shampoo gods that she now only had to use a small amount of shampoo and conditioner with her one hand. She stood under the showerhead, allowing the cleanser to run down her neck, over her back, and down the drain.

After a few moments she looked down and realized that her only soap choices were Fin's strongly fragranced shower gels. With a playful roll of her eyes, she picked up the one that smelled the least masculine and poured it into her hand, creating a soapy foam. She couldn't help but think of Alex: she remembered the feel of her soft bare hands all over her body and sighed at the memory.

Ten minutes later, Olivia was dressed and fixing her hair in the mirror. She took a small amount of pomade into her hand and ran it through her short hair, pulling some pieces up, some out, and some over to the side. She washed her hand off and cracked open the plastic cast on her left hand. She was surprised to see that her was almost bone dry—there were just a few places by her wrist that she towel dried.

Olivia examined the long stitched scar down her pinky and noticed the redness and bruising had deteriorated. She clasped the cast back onto her hand and forearm and heard her phone ding in the other room, signaling a new text message.

Hey Liv. I've got time today. Just stop in whenever.

With that, Olivia was on her way to the precinct. Before she got on the subway, she composed one more text message to Donald Cragen—she wasn't completely sure she was ready, but she moved forward nonetheless.

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"But, bail was revoked. She remanded him, Casey." Alex was offended, her voice rising to her conflict-laden courtroom arguing tone. She didn't understand what was going on. It was 11:55 and judge Donnelley was already seated at the bench, reviewing papers. This was highly unusual and it made Alex even more unnerved.

"I know. I'm not 100% sure that's where they're going with this." Around 12:03 the door opened and Samuel Conrad limped through, flanked by two corrections officers. His arm was in a sling and his face was bruised worse than Olivia's. Alex was somewhat shocked when she saw his injuries-she didn't remember seeing him that injured before. He wore a suit, not the usual prison garb defendants usually wear in court.

Casey narrowed her eyes toward Conrad and his defense team consisting of Miranda Pond, and now, seated next to her, Trevor Langan. Miranda started, "our apologies for being a bit late, your honor. It took Mr. Conrad a fair amount of time to change his clothes with the assistance of the facility nurse." She was laying it on thick, and Donnelley noticed.

"Thank you, Ms. Pond, but we're not here to talk about Mr. Conrad's clothes." She paused while Casey and Alex sat motionless. "Looks like we've got a few things to discuss, so we'll start with your defense council changes." She waved her hand toward the defense table as Miranda Pond began speaking.

"Yes, your honor. Mr. Conrad has requested that Mr. Langan be added to the defense team." She nodded towards Trevor, who stood and awaited Donnelley's response, but to no avail.

"Noted." The judge made a note on her pad at the bench. Trevor sat down, questioningly glancing at his colleague, the defendant silent between them.

Pond cleared her throat and continued to her next point. "Your honor, we move to dismiss the felony charge of assault that has been levied against our client." Casey scoffed audibly and Alex sat in silent disbelief.

"Just to make sure I understand..." Donnelley's voice had a small tone of annoyance, but Alex could tell she was trying to remain calm. "Your client is charged with 3 counts of assault with a deadly weapon, and 1 count of assault on a police officer, along with 3 counts of breaking and entering and 3 counts of rape. Which one of the four assault charges are we discussing?"

Miranda Pond took a breath and prepared to make her case. "We believe that the charge of assault of a police officer should be dismissed." Casey reached under the prosecution table and squeezed Alex's leg near her knee. She knew Alex was probably going to have a reaction, and she wanted to minimize that—it seemed to work.

A look of surprise passed over Donnelley's face. "On what grounds?"

"There are conflicting accounts of what actually transpired, and considering my client's injuries, I think it's obvious that he was not the aggressor. If anything, I would hope to see an investigation on this officer for excessive force." This time, Casey couldn't control herself.

"Your honor! This is completely unfounded. There hasn't been one member of this 'stellar new defense team' that has reached out to the officer, the precinct, or IAB about this speculation." Casey took a breath and continued, over mumblings from the defense table. "On top of this careless assumption, no one has even bothered to pick up a phone and do an ounce of research!" Alex was surprised at how fervently Casey was defending this notion in just a pre-trial hearing. At the same time, Alex was floored that the defense team was trying to pass this on as an actual legal notion. As she was considering these things, Trevor Langan's voice rang in her ears.

"With all due respect, your honor, Ms. Novak can not possibly know what we have or haven't done. Obviously we've looked into a few things to know that stories don't match up. In fact," Langan paused to looked down towards Miranda before continuing, "we've researched enough to move for an investigation into detective Benson's actions, because we've unearthed a few pieces of information that, we believe, make it somewhat precarious for detective Benson to continue working with suspects—for the suspect's well being."

Donnelley stopped him. "Mr. Langan, you're not going to sit there and smear a decorated officer in front of me with unclear, ominous anecdotes. I won't stand for it." She paused. "I will not dismiss this assault charge right now." Casey and Alex breathed a sigh of relief that was no sooner off their lips than it was swallowed by a surprised gasp at her next statement. "However, we can conduct a hearing on this charge alone." She sounded reticent, and she begrudgingly continued speaking. "I wouldn't, and none of you would, be doing our jobs if we didn't investigate the cause of this allegation before fully submersing ourselves and potential jurors into the confusion of a trial where all of the information isn't completely investigated and presented clearly to them."

"But, you honor—" Casey started to speak but was interrupted by Donnelley.

"Ms. Novak, I've made my decision." Casey sat down and looked at Alex, bewildered. "Now, is there anything else that needs to be addressed at this time?"

"One more thing, your honor." Casey and Alex braced for whatever it was that Miranda Pond had up her sleeve, as Donnelley nodded for her to continue. "Because of these developments, the trial date will likely get pushed back farther." She paused and at once Alex knew where she was going. "My client has not only had to deal with numerous false allegations, but has had to try to rehab his injuries during this time while he has had access to only sub-standard care, rather than the medical attention he would usually rely on. Also, with not even so much as an inquiry into detective Benson's conduct, which I argue had a large role in playing your decision to reman-."

Donnelley squinted her eyes as Miranda Pond spoke, trying to understand. She couldn't remain quiet anymore, so she interrupted the attorney, asking a question that she turned over in her head for a moment before asking. "So, just to make sure I understand what you're claiming, your client hasn't had access to a doctor to help facilitate treatment for his injuries? Because if not, that's something we definitely need to investigate."

"Well, yes, your honor, he has. But, it's not the same manner of care-."

"I don't really care who his normal physician is or how often he has access to him on a regular basis. He spent two days in a hospital and was released to a facility that has a staff of five nurses and one rotating physician. Preference of medical personnel is not something to take into consideration regarding bail." She paused as Pond's head shot up from her notes, where she had been reading her prepared statements. "Well, that's where you were going with this, right?" There was no response to Donnelley from the defense team. "Nice try. Remand continued." She pounded the gavel and stood up from the bench, exiting the courtroom through the door behind the bench.

Moments later, Conrad stood up and limped out of the courtroom as Miranda Pond and Trevor Langan gathered their notes off of the table. Casey and Alex began to walk down the courtroom hallway when Alex turned around and looked at Trevor.

"Really? Really Trevor?" He blinked at her, awaiting an explanation. "Going after Olivia like this? That's your best defense? I guess I just never thought you'd stoop so low." They maintained eye contact for a minute before Trevor moved out of the way to let Miranda through. He leaned in toward Alex, bridging the gap between them over the courtroom hallway, and lowered his voice significantly so that only the two of them heard what he said next.

"It's my job. Besides, the way I hear it, I don't think I'm the only one that's been—how'd you put it…? —'Going after' Olivia." He smiled a bit when he said it, but the implication was clear. Alex stared at him for a moment before marching down the hallway and out the door. Casey stood waiting for her and they walked to Alex's office together in complete silence.