Hey everyone, here's a sort of FILLER chapter. Before we jump into court cases, and AO's relationship. For those of you, EO fans, I'm sorry! While I myself am an EO fan, I wanted to try something new! So Alex and Olivia Pairing, is this stories basis. Sorry/Not sorry.
I hope you all Enjoy.
Chapter Five: Due Diligence
Olivia was walking through the court house, Carisi to her side, as they spoke about their most recent case, Kim Rollins, and the doctor who was Illegally prescribing opioids, and other narcotics.
With this case, came even more personal life drama. On one hand, not only was Amanda's sister involved. But so was her father, in some aspect. And on the other hand, so was the Bureau Chief, Vanessa Hadid. Who had some sort of personal, familial connection to the doctor. Which made this case, just that much harder.
Olivia was about to leave, when she saw just who she'd been needing to talk to, Elizabeth Donnelly. The woman in charge of Kathleen Stablers case.
Olivia approached the older woman, whom she also hadn't seen in years. Which was why she was actually surprised to see her now. Olivia thought Donnelly had retired years ago, but much to her pleasant surprise, she hadn't. The woman was not only a good judge, but one hell of a lawyer.
"Elizabeth." Olivia spoke, approaching the woman.
Donnelly smiled, quickly realizing who the brunette approaching her was.
"Well I'll be damned, Olivia Benson. How's it going, detective?" She asked, completely oblivious of Olivia's promotions over the last few years.
Olivia smiled, "Well it's Captain now, if that answers the question." She explained, light heartedly.
"Oh wow. Congrats Olivia. You really deserve it! But knowing you, you're not here for a reunion, so what can I do for you?" She was cut and dry. Something Olivia always personally liked about the woman.
"Well, now that you mention it, I'm working on the Stabler case… I'm trying to get the charges against, Kathleen dropped. But, I have nearly nothing to go off of." Olivia admitted.
It was a long shot, but she'd try anything.
"Ahh yes. I suppose I should've expected to see you at some point, Captain. You and Elliot Stabler were always thick and thieves. Well, let's go to my office, and we can talk. I have most of the case still open on my desk, actually." She offered, to which Olivia accepted, graciously.
Olivia arrived outside of the DA's office, and wandered inside. According to the address this was Homicides DA's. She raised a brow. Why would a Homicide Attorney be defending Kathleen? Her charges weren't murder.
Olivia headed directly to Donnelly's office. Surprised to see Kathy already sitting inside the office. "Kathy." Olivia greeted.
This caused the blonde to turn around, and earned Olivia a weird look.
"Liv. Hey." She said, with an awkward smile.
"I'm just here to go over Kathleen's case. Try and tie up some loose ends." She explained. Hoping the woman would catch on, and explain why she was sitting inside Donnelly's office right after a case.
"Oh. I'm here because SOMEONE is trying to get the department to drop all charges against my daughter." She said.
"Yeah, that'd be me. I did that. I'm trying to get them to even out the playing field a bit. They've got her on some wild charges." Olivia explained. The DA listened as Kathy and Olivia spoke. But no one was ready for what came out of the mother's mouth next.
"They're not bogus, Olivia. Those charges are all real, and she did do the crimes… But she didn't disclose until after she was arrested, about the rape. So… My lawsuit against the NYPD may be looked over. Because she failed to disclose." Kathy said truthfully.
Olivia looked confused. "I'm sorry? She didn't disclose until after? So she did steal, and assault an officer? Those weren't bogus?" Olivia asked.
"Nope. None of them were…. It's just that… She wasn't in the right headspace. And she wasn't taking her meds. And she snapped when they tried to restrain her." Kathy looked disappointed.
"I see. So why did you contact Alex? If you're already talking to Donnelly?" She asked, suspiciously. Something wasn't being said.
"Alexandra Cabot?" Donnelly finally chimed in. She looked surprised. And a bit offended truthfully.
"Yeah, Cabot." Olivia confirmed.
"When did she get back to New York?"
"A few days ago…." Olivia replied.
All eyes were on Kathy now. And she knew it, she sighed, irritated.
"Look… I just wanted to make sure we could have all the charges dropped. Okay? It wasn't anything too serious. I have Liz handling 3 charges, and Alex handling another 3."
Now while it wasn't illegal to have more than one right of counsel, or even two attorney's, it was rare for two to share a case. Unless enough money was involved. And something told Olivia and Donnelly, Kathy definitely couldn't afford both, even with Elliot's retirement.
"How?" Was the only thing Donnelly asked. Olivia stared at Kathy intently.
"I just want the charges dropped against my daughter, so I took out a third mortgage on the house. You don't understand, my daughters being falsely accused and charged. I just want to help my daughter!" She pleaded. "It wouldn't be the first time we've mortgaged the house anyways." She said snidely to Olivia. Refrencing to the time Olivia herself, was charged with murder, and Elliot bailed her out, therefore having to mortgaged thier home.
Olivia nodded, of course she understood. But Kathy had just thrown her entire family into insurmountable debt. Unfortunately before she was able to say anything, her phone rang.
Looking down she saw Rollins' name lighting up her screen. "What's up Amanda?" She asked, with a very aggravated edge to her voice.
"Hey Captain. Sorry to bother you, we've got more information on that Doctor. I don't think Vanessa is telling the whole truth." She said, into the phone.
"Can it wait?" Olivia asked.
"No captain, we need your assistance."
With a sigh Olivia made her way back to the station. She'd definitely need to have a talk with Elliot.
After the case was solved, and the perp was put away Olivia made her way home, she and Noah had to get ready to go to Alex's for dinner.
Olivia was nervous. It had been YEARS since she'd gone out with the woman, romantically or otherwise.
She watched as Noah danced around the apartment with her. As they got ready, to go out. She thought to herself, just how much she was risking if she went behind everyone at 1PP's back for this case.
Olivia watched as Noah excitedly bounced around the living room. When she had told him they were going out, he became ecstatic. Questions flying everywhere.
"Are you on call?" He asked, a sad look returning on his face.
"No sweet boy, not this time!" She responded, gleefully.
Noah's only response was a quick nod, and beaming grin. Which of course made Olivia smile.
"Make sure you grab a couple of things, toys, and maybe a puzzle." She told him, she knew he'd probably get bored, at Alex's. Considering she was a grown up, who never had children in her life.
And soon enough, they were out the door.
As Olivia drove, she watched the sun set behind the buildings of New York. As the sky got darker, Noah began to fall asleep.
It should be noted that at this moment Olivia noticed something odd.
There were hardly any cars on the street.
"Hmm.." She hummed, to herself.
In all of her life in the big city, she'd never ONCE seen the roads clear. And now, they were so clear, she could cut lanes, back and forth 3 times over, and she wouldn't hit anything.
Though she wasn't really in a position to complain, because she arrived at Alex's brownstone, in just under 30 minutes. Which would have been a record, with normal traffic.
Olivia pulled up in front of the building. And looked back at her son, asleep in the back seat. And for a moment, something in her told her to run. Not to go inside, with Noah. Because in the back of her mind, she knew Alex would leave again. And she also knew Noah would love Alex, and in which case, her leaving again would hurt him. She didn't need another Barba situation. Her son was SO heartbroken, when his Uncle Rafa left. But Olivia was quickly pulled out of her head, by her son.
"Mommy are we at your friends house?" He asked, with a yawn.
Olivia only nodded, and tried her best to smile.
"What's wrong mom?" He asked, unbuckling himself.
"Nothing Sweet boy, not a thing." She reassured him, as she also reminded herself, Alex had promised she wasn't going to leave again, and she had to trust that. And so she did.
Olivia walked up to the door, Noah's hand in one of hers, and the other holding a bottle of wine, and a large bag, containing Noah's toys and games.
The door swung open, to reveal the Counselor, in a nice soft red coloured blouse, and black skinny jeans. She was smiling, widely.
"Hey Liv!" She exclaimed. And then she looked down at Noah, "Hey there, you must be Mr. Noah." She said to the young boy. In return he nodded, with a smile.
"Just Noah, works too." He said, sarcastically. Olivia shot him a soft look. But she too, had a soft grin on her face.
"Okay Just Noah, well why don't you both come on in?" She asked. Accepting the bottle from Olivia, and taking their coats at the door.
When the mother, son, duo made it inside the brownstone, they were both pleasantly surprised. Alex had a coffee table that was just like Olivia's. This made Noah happy, because he could play his nintendo there, or do a puzzle.
They both also noticed, Alex had a few new toys in the corner of the room. One being a squirt gun, and a few other games. And this not only made Noah, grin, it made Olivia tear up. She had NOT expected Alex to go that far.
"Wow, Ale. You didn't have to do all this…" She said, pointing at the toys.
"Not a big deal. I figured he'd get bored, with just us here." She said, with a smile. "Go ahead, and open them." Alex told him.
Noah nodded, and ran towards them. "Thank you! I really like this action figure! And Ohhh mom! Look, a squirt gun!" He said excitedly.
Olivia smiled at him, as he held the gun up and pointed it at the wall pretending to check it's "Scope." And as nice a moment as it was, an old memory resurfaced in Olivia's mind.
Olivia was startled out of her sleep, by someone standing over her, pointing something at her, when she finally realized it was a gun, she flew up into a sitting position,
"Calvin! Don't ever point a gun at a cop." She chastised gently. "Or anyone else for that matter, Okay?" She told him.
"Chillax, I thought It'd be funny." The boy defended.
"It's not." Olivia said, honestly. Still trying to catch her breath. "But this is." She said moments after, holding up her own squirt gun and squirting water at him.
"OOOH! Stop, Liv. Stop!" He giggled, running through the apartment. As she chased him, sharing the laughter.
Olivia was pulled out of her thoughts, by Alex, who had put a hand on her arm.
"You okay, Liv?" She asked.
Olivia nodded, and gave her a forced smile. She hadn't expected that either. That memory, and for just a moment, it broke her heart. It had been nearly 8 Years, since she'd been able to see Calvin. How was he? She wondered briefly. But after taking another look at her son playing in the living room, she could only shake the thoughts away.
But she did make a mental note, to somehow contact Calvin Arliss, when she had the chance.
The night went on though, and Olivia found herself laughing and smiling, with two of her favourite people in the world.
"Alex, do you work with my mom?" Noah asked, as he twirled the spaghetti noodles on his fork.
Olivia and Alex shared a look, as Alex silently asked for her permission to explain. When Olivia nodded, Alex spoke.
"Well Noah, I used to. You see, I'm a Lawyer. And my job years ago was to help your mom put the bad guys away." She explained, as easily as she could.
"Oh so you're the one at the other table than the bad guy?" He asked, trying to piece it all together. "Like Uncle Rafa used too? And Like Uncle Carisi does?" He asked.
Olivia gave a soft nod to her son. "That's right Noah."
"Cool. I want to be like you guys someday." He answered simply, as he continued stuffing the sauce covered noodles into his mouth.
Olivia and Alex both smiled, and then continued on in their comfortable small talk, until Olivia excused Noah, to go play. Which of course he did, gladly.
"So, Thank you, for all of this." Olivia said, with a smile.
"Oh no problem! Noah, he's a bright kid. He's very observative." She said, kindly. This only made Olivia's smile grow wider.
"Thank you. He's very interested in the law, and what we all do these days. He's fascinated by it all." She explained.
Alex nodded, "I get it, you're Olivia frickin' Benson, you're a badass. He wants to be just like you. Who can blame him? You're amazing, Liv." She said, honestly.
Olivia felt herself blush, but turned away briefly. "Well, you're not so bad yourself, Counselor." She flirted back, a smirk now very apparent on the Captain's features.
"Ohh. Well thank you, Captain. I'm flattered." Alex replied, a soft red tone had taken over her cheeks as well.
"Oh yeah? I'm glad I could be of service." Olivia said, slyly.
They both scooted closer, the heat between them, was still there, like it had been all those years ago. Both women leaned in, the built up tension of the last 4-5 years, catching up to them, their heads spinning. Alex leaned in, centimeters away from Olivia's lips, she could feel her breath.
"Mom Look!" Noah said, running into the kitchen, holding up an action figure Alex had bought for him. "He's got a cool sword!" Noah explained excitedly.
Olivia and Alex pulled away quickly, awkward looks on both of their faces, before Olivia quickly smiled, and jumped up. "Wow, Sweetboy, would you look at that? How cool. Hey, why don't you go pack up your bag, huh?" She asked him, patting his back. He nodded, and skipped out of the room, making sounds of a sword unsheathing.
"So… It's late. And I think I should get Noah home, and to bed." Olivia said, quickly, cleaning hers and Noah's plates. "Thank you, for all of this Alex." She said, grabbing her purse.
"Oh yeah, of course… You guys be safe. Text me when you get home Liv." She said, sadly. Knowing that moment, would likely never be tempted again.
"Yeah of course. Thanks again Ale. Noah, what do you say?" She asked her son.
Noah looked up at the blonde, and smiled happily. "Thank you, Alex. For dinner and my toys. I really like them." He said. But he quickly let go of his mother's hand, and ran to give Alex a hug. Which in return, she smiled and hugged him back. Her heart momentarily felt fuller, than it had in years.
"Thank you, Noah. You take care of your mommy okay?" she told him.
"I will. We'll see you soon!" He said, optimistically.
Alex could only hope he was right.
I hope you all, enjoyed this chapter! I'm working on Chapter six, as this one uploads. Anyways, until next time.
P.s. THANK YOU, so MUCH to all of the reviewers, I appreciate your love and feedback.
-Dun Dun.