Chapter 9
"Only do what your heart tells you." - Princess Diana
It's 7 AM when Olivia wakes up a little disorientated and sleepy she opens one eye and sees that she's in the guestroom of Alex's cabin. She closes her eye again and slowly realizes that she is feeling hot and that someone is lying half on top of her with their arm around her waist and their head on her chest, smelling like strawberry shampoo and a vague smell of perfume, smelling like Alex. The Detective vaguely remembers that she had nightmare during the night and that Alex came into her room and got into her bed and comforted her. Wait. Again Olivia opens one eye briefly and closes it again.
'Alright. Blonde hair and smells like Alex. Seems like Alex is laying half on top of me,' Olivia thinks and then two brown eyes shut open widely and suddenly the Detective is wide awake.
'Holy shit, Alex is laying on top of me. Alexandra Cabot is laying on top of ME. Oh my god, what do I do now? Think Benson!'
Olivia now lays frozen and wide awake in bed and doesn't dare to move not even one muscle. The Detective tries to get her breathing back under control and her heart rate down hoping that Alex won't wake up. But Alex has been lying down on Olivia's heart half the night after she got Olivia calm again and asleep. The blonde fell asleep next to Olivia and in her sleep, she snuggled up against the Detective with her head on Olivia's chest. Somehow she woke up when the Detective's heartbeat went up.
"Good morning, Liv. Did you sleep ok?" Alex asks sleepy, her voice huskier than normal because she just woke up.
As she speaks Alex realizes that she's lying half on top of Olivia and immediately let go of the Detective and sits up straight. Both women look at each in shock. And then burst out into laughter after seeing their equal reaction to their current situation. When they both calmed down a bit and they are able to talk again Olivia winks at Alex.
"You know Lex, if you want to cuddle you can just ask me. No need to snuggle up with me secretly when I'm asleep and scare the hell out of me when I wake up," Olivia smiles.
"I'm sorry Liv. I fell asleep next to you and apparently I snuggled up against you when I was asleep," Alex says blushingly.
"Excuses, excuses, Counselor. Just admit that you are a mushy goofball when it comes to me," Olivia says waggling with her eyebrows.
"Alright, you got me. Just keep it to yourself I've got a reputation to protect," Alex smiles.
"Don't worry about that I'd like to keep that and you to myself for a while. Speaking of that rep of yours how about we get up and get ready and have breakfast before you prep yourself to be my hard ass attorney? We need to leave at 9.15 AM at the latest if we want to get back to the City in time," Olivia asks.
"Sounds like a good idea to me. I do need to take a good look at your wounds and clean them, Liv. I know you don't like it but it's necessary, I went easy on you yesterday with looking briefly at them. After that, we can wash you to get that hospital smell of you if you want it," Alex answers.
Olivia looks downwards as she hears Alex saying that she needs to look at her wounds thoroughly. She knows the blonde is right but she hates it. It makes her feel weak and vulnerable and there is nothing she hates more than that.
"I know you have to do it and I'm glad that it's you who's doing it and not someone else but I still hate it, Alex. After you took care of my wounds can we do it the same way did it yesterday? You standing behind me. I can take care of my intimate parts myself, I need some help with the rest though," Olivia asks softly.
Alex looks at Olivia and gently lays one finger under Olivia's chin and pushes the Detective's head up so she can look into her eyes.
"You don't have to be ashamed or embarrassed Olivia. I know you think of yourself as weak and vulnerable and that you hate it but that's not how I see you. To me, you are the same strong and tough person as you were before. But I want you to be as comfortable as you can be, so how about I take care of your wounds and then stand behind you to help you undress? You can wash the parts you can do yourself and I do your back and the parts you can't take care of. I even can turn around with my back to yours if that will help you," Alex says softly.
"That's alright. But you don't have to turn your back to mine Alex. Thank you for understanding me and being thoughtful," Olivia answers.
"No need to thank me Liv. Now let's go and get over with it," Alex says.
Both women get off the bed and do the things they need to do and when they are done they have a nice breakfast. While Alex prepares herself Olivia lays down on the couch in the living room and reads a book till it's time for them to leave the cabin and go back to NY. They are lucky with the traffic and are able to get a nice cup of coffee before they go inside 1 Hogan. They go to Liz's office first where Alex will stay till Olivia comes to get her. After being inside for a couple of minutes Liz's secretary calls her via the intercom to tell her that Petersen and the rest of the men are here and waiting for them the appointed room. Liz and Olivia stand up to walk outside the older blonde's office. Alex squeezes Olivia's right shoulder softly for encouragement and the Detective smiles softly at the ADA before leaving the room behind Liz. They stand still in front of the room and Liz turns to Olivia.
"Ready Detective?" Liz asks.
"As ready as I can be. So let's go," Olivia answers.
Liz nods at Olivia and opens the door. She walks inside before Olivia who closes the door behind her and turns around. Petersen, Collins, and Vain stand up and wait for Liz and Olivia to sit down before they sit down again.
"Alright gentlemen, let's start immediately shall we? You asked for this meeting in order to talk about the possibilities of a deal with Detective Benson. So talk," Liz says sternly.
"Straight to business? Alright. I'm Rick Petersen, I'm the hospital's and Dr. Vain's attorney. Next to me on the left is Derrick Collins, CEO of the hospital and on my right is Dr. Danny Vain, the surgeon at Mercy Hospital," Petersen introduces the three men.
"First I would like to offer our sincere apologies to you, Ms. Benson. I know it doesn't change a thing but it's the least I can do," Petersen says.
"It's Detective Benson. And you are right it doesn't change a damn thing," Olivia says coldly.
"Sorry Detective Benson. Alright as requested this is the deal we're offering. The nurses, Ms. Gena Denning and Ms. Carry Thompson, will be suspended for a month without paying, Dr. Vain will be suspended for two months without paying and you will get a claim of 250.000 dollars," Petersen says.
Olivia manages to keep her face straight, all the years of being a Detective for SVU are paying off. The offer is an indication of what is possible and the brunette is sure that Alex can get way more out of this. In fact, the offer is almost offending and Olivia would have reacted wouldn't it have a negative result in the end. Olivia looks at the men and then at Liz before she answers.
"Gentlemen, Ms. Donnelly, if you would all excuse me, I would like to talk about this with my attorney. It only will take a couple of minutes. Let's say around 5 minutes," Olivia says almost sweetly.
Petersen and the two others look confused.
"Excuse me, your attorney? Isn't Ms. Donnelly here for that?" Petersen asks.
"I have my own attorney, Mr. Petersen. I'm sure you know how it works. As I said it won't take long, my attorney is waiting for me," Olivia answers.
"Yes, of course, I know it. Do you mean that your attorney is here, in this building? Because if he is why don't you get him in here? It will save us all time and will be easier to talk," Petersen says.
"Yes, SHE is in the building. If that's what you want I'm happy to go and get her back inside with me, after we talked about your offer that is. Now if you all excuse me, I'll be right back." Olivia says.
Olivia stands up immediately and walks out of the room, not waiting for an answer and giving Petersen the opportunity to react and ask her who it is. Petersen frowns at the back of Olivia. Wondering what female lawyer could be the Detective's attorney. He looks at Liz for an answer but Liz just shrugs her shoulders and keeps quiet. Olivia walks into Liz's office where Alex is pacing a hole in the carpet. She stops pacing when she sees Olivia.
"Ready to get this show on the road, Counselor? They won't know what hit them. Petersen asked to get him in there. I told him that I would get HER and left him wondering who it could be," Olivia smiles.
"Of course I'm ready. What's the offer?" Alex asks, smiling at Olivia.
"1 month suspension without paying for Gena and Carry, two months for that asshole and a claim of 250.000 dollars. I would have laughed in his face or something if that couldn't bite me back in the ass in the end," Olivia scowls.
"Are they nut? Who do they think they are dealing with, some dumb ass junkie? It's a joke and insulting if they are thinking that you or we would take that offer seriously. Alright, let's go kick some asses, Detective. This is gonna be fun," Alex says.
Olivia smiles knowingly at Alex.
"Alright, Ms. I – can – kick – everyone's ass- Cabot, let's go," Olivia says.
"Smart ass," Alex says.
They smile at each other before putting their game face on again and walk out of Liz's office. Olivia knocks on the door before she opens it and walks inside with Alex following right behind the Detective closing the door behind her. As soon as Petersen sees Alex his jaw hits the floor. He knows immediately that they are screwed.
"Mr. Petersen, I'm sure you know my attorney. Mr. Collins, Dr. Vain this is my attorney Alexandra Cabot. Alex this is Mr. Petersen, who I'm sure you know, on his left Mr. Derrick Collins, CEO of Mercy hospital and on his right Dr. Danny Vain, the surgeon who performed the hysterectomy," Olivia introduces Alex to the men, with a small smile on her face.
"Yes... of course, I know... Ms. Cabot, Petersen stutters.
Petersen looks at Alex who gives him a glare and then quickly looks at Olivia. The Detective smiles, no laughs inside herself, Petersen is already peeing in his pants and Alex hasn't said a word yet. Once again Alex's reputation got ahead before her.
"I have discussed your offer with Ms. Cabot and she will handle things from now on for me. She knows what I will agree to or won't agree and has a free hand to negotiate an acceptable deal for me. She's more than capable of doing it without me sitting next to her, so again, if you all will excuse me. I'll wait in Ms. Donnelly's office for the outcome of this meeting," Olivia says.
As Olivia is turning around to leave again Petersen mutters "we're screwed" under his breath. The other two men didn't hear him but Liz, Alex, and Olivia certainly did. The Detective turns back to look at Petersen.
"I'm sorry Mr. Petersen, you were saying?" Olivia asks.
"Nothing Detective Benson. Nothing at all," Petersen answers.
"Alright. I thought I heard something but it must have been my imagination then," Olivia says sarcastically as she turns around and walks out of the room.
When Olivia has closed the door behind her she hears Alex asking with an ice cold voice if the offer that was made was serious because if it was that would be insulting. Smiling to herself, despite being nervous as hell, Olivia walks to Liz's office and gets inside. Waiting for Alex and Liz to come back with hopefully a killer deal. In the next half an hour Olivia drinks 4 cups of coffee to calm down her nerves. Because even though Alex will make the best deal she can, get and Olivia has all the faith she can have in the blonde ADA if Petersen, Collins and Dr. Vain don't accept the deal Olivia knows she still needs to go to the courtroom the next day. It is doubtful but still, there's always a chance even if it is a very small one. Just when she wants to get up to get her fifth cup of coffee Alex and Liz are walking into Liz's office. As soon as Alex closed the door behind her Olivia walks to the younger blonde.
"And what do you got?" Olivia asks nervously.
Alex looks at Liz and then smiles at Olivia.
"A pissed off attorney and probably two grown men almost crying for their mothers," Alex smirks.