OMG! I'm SO sorry! For whatever freaking reason, I'm no longer getting your guys' reviews in my e-mail account so I totally just stopped writing because I thought this story sucked and you guys didn't like it and that's why you weren't reviewing (that is a huge hint that people don't like your story: no reviews lol). But then I got a PM and was told to keep writing, so I was like okay, if I have at least one reader, I'll keep writing. So I started to write and then I just decided to look at my story because I was curious about readers and if my story really did suck, and I saw I was still getting a lot of views so I'm like wtf, are people just ditching out on the reviews? that's pooey. So I go and look, and then I see I have like 8 (or whatever amount) reviews! So I've like torn up my hotmail account searching for like my emails showing me the reviews but I'm not getting them anymore! I checked my blocked list but it doesn't show FF on the blocked list. Has FF stopped sending emails for reviews? Am I the only one having this problem? Now I feel super guilty for blaming you guys when it was my fault!

Anyways, I literally scrambled all day today to produce this chapter because I feel so insanely bad that you have waited a whole month (I honestly hate it when people write and don't update for like months, and I feel so bad that I inadvertently turned into one of those people). Also, I apologise for assuming no one reviewed! This chapter goes out to NewJustice, Eljh55, tuesboomer, litafan82, Cmoni, GSRCSILVR25, Kikilia14, hereisaheart, .spirit, and bristow1965 for being so awesome and reviewing, and waiting patiently for me. This is my apology chapter for you guys! Hope you like it. I made it extra awesome for you. I hope you think so too. Please forgive any confusions or mistakes. I did, after all, write this in one day. I re-read it twice to try and clear things up and make sure I made sense, but I probably missed things because it is 11pm now and I'm tired lol.

Anyways, this goes up tonight. Again, so sorry! if anyone has had similar problems, please let me know how to fix it if you know!


Alex looked out the window and watched the trees and houses fly by as Olivia drove them wherever she was driving them. Alex had no idea where they were going, but she didn't care. She just wanted to get away, and she knew she was safe with the detective. She closed her eyes and hugged herself tight, trying to clear her mind. It was only when she felt the car pull to a stop that she opened her eyes again.

"I didn't know where to take you, so I brought you to my place. Is that okay?"

Alex nodded and got out of the car. She followed Olivia into the building, stopping only when the woman opened doors for her. Once they were in the apartment, Alex felt herself breathe a small sigh of relief. She looked around the cozy apartment and knew she was safe. However, that didn't make her body any less tense.

"Do you want anything? Would you like anything?"

Alex rubbed her arm as she thought about it. She really wanted to shower and get into pyjamas. Then, she wanted to curl up under a blanket until she was safe and warm, and wish the world away. And cry. That was what she wanted.

"Alex?"

The blonde pulled herself from her thoughts. She decided to just go with what was most logical.

"I'd like to shower but… I don't have any clothes with me."

Olivia gave her a warm smile and led her to her bedroom.

"I'll lend you a pair of my pjs."

She pulled out a pair of her nicer pyjamas and handed them to Alex.

"I'll show you how to work the shower."

She led the blonde to the bathroom and pulled a towel from the linen closet. She then leaned into the shower and turned on the water.

"Just let the water run for a minute because it takes some time for the hot water to kick in. After it's hot, just turn the dial right until it's at the right temperature. Right for colder, left for hotter. There's shampoo and soap and stuff. Feel free to use whatever you want. Do you need anything else?"

Alex shook her head.

"Okay. I'll be in the living room when you're done okay?"

"Okay."

Olivia gave her one last look before leaving. Had Alex not been so in control of herself, she'd have been shaking like a leaf. However, she didn't want to let on to the woman how upset she really was so she forced herself to keep her composure. She knew once the brunette left and she stepped into the shower, she'd be able to lose it completely and no one would know.

The brunette closed the door and made her way to the living room. She sat down on the couch and started to replay the evening, not sure what to make of the tonight. She still didn't know exactly what had happened to Alex and the blonde wasn't divulging anything. Olivia had done what she normally does: ask if the person wanted to talk, and if they didn't, she waited for them to open up. However, Alex had yet to say anything about what happened. Olivia would be lying if she said she wasn't dying to know everything. She knew Alex would have to give an official testimony very soon (they had only delayed it as a favour), but she wanted to hear it from Alex herself, and not under formal circumstances.

The brunette sighed and got up. She made her way to the bedroom and changed into something more comfortable than her work clothes. As she passed by the bathroom on her way to the living room, she quietly pressed her ear to the door to see if she could hear Alex. She wasn't trying to be inappropriate, but she wanted to make sure that she was okay.

She couldn't hear anything, so she just made her way back to the living room. She grabbed a blanket, plopped down on the couch, and turned on the tv. She wasn't fooling herself though, she knew she'd never be able to concentrate enough to be able to watch anything.

Olivia wasn't sure how much time had passed when she finally heard the shower stop. She was nervous about having Alex come out and join her, because she wasn't sure how the blonde was feeling and she wasn't sure what she'd say to her. She sat on the couch and waited for the blonde to emerge.

After a few minutes, she finally saw Alex quietly walk into the living room. The blonde looked down nervously at the floor before slowly shifting her gaze to meet Olivia's. Alex felt her throat get dry when the two women's eyes finally met.

The blonde walked over and sat down facing Olivia, leaning the side of her body on the couch.

"Hey." Olivia managed to say.

"Hi."

"How was the shower?"

"Good. Thanks."

Olivia nodded, unsure of what to say next. She looked over Alex, trying to gage how the woman was feeling.

Although Alex looked beautiful as always, especially in the detective's pyjamas, Olivia noticed that the woman looked tired and tense. The brunette wanted nothing more than to wrap her arms around her and hold her close, but she knew she shouldn't. She couldn't tell how she was really feeling though because, as always, Alex was hiding her real feelings.

"Do you want to talk?"

Alex shrugged.

"What is there to say?"

"Don't be like that Alex. Not with me."

Alex kept her gaze for a minute before sighing. She ran her fingers into her hair and shook her head.

"If I talk, I'll just cry…" she whispered.

"That's okay with me." Olivia said back, gently.

Alex shook her head as she wiped angrily at her eyes.

"I don't like this. I don't want to be seen as a victim. I'm not weak. I don't want to keep crying."

Olivia moved closer and rested her hand on the woman's bicep.

"No Alex. You're not. Anything you tell me, and anything you do, like cry, won't make me think you're weak. You're one of the strongest and most intelligent women I know. I have a lot of respect and admiration for you Alex. You showing some vulnerability won't make me think any less of you."

Alex held her gaze for another moment before breaking down.

"I was so scared…" she started, before she broke down in heart-wrenching sobs.

Olivia felt her heart break as the blonde buried her head in her hands and sobbed. She reached over and pulled the woman into her lap. Alex went willingly. She had wanted to be held by Olivia ever since the brunette had first shown up to her door, but circumstance and the blonde herself had kept that from happening. But now, with those caring words and Alex's own feelings, she could no longer resist. She wanted to be comforted, so she went willingly when Olivia reached for her.

She felt Olivia's hand rubbing her back as sob after sob racked her body. She hugged Olivia tighter, and the woman responded by gripping her body tighter too. It made Alex feel better to feel the detective's grip tighten, but she still ached so much. She felt so hurt and violated, and she'd been so scared. She had wanted Olivia then, but she was relieved to at least have her now.

She didn't know how long it took to calm herself down, but eventually Alex managed to stop crying. Embarrassed, she shyly accepted a Kleenex from Olivia and wiped her eyes and nose.

"I must look awful." Alex said, wiping her eyes.

"You look just as beautiful as always."

Alex felt herself give a tiny smile. Even at times like this, Olivia managed to make her smile.

"Thanks…"

Olivia smiled at her, moving a piece of fallen hair from her face. Alex made no motion to move from her lap, and Olivia had no intention of letting the blonde go. They sat quietly for a moment before Alex started to talk.

"I should have looked at who it was before I opened the door. I just… I don't know. I guess I wasn't thinking."

Olivia took calm breaths, forcing herself not to jump in and ask a dozen questions. She had to remind herself to give Alex time to tell her story. She was so relieved that the blonde was finally talking and she didn't want to do anything to scare her into silence.

"I opened the door, and before I even knew… He just came in and was yelling, asking me if I was Alexandra Cabot. Ranting about his brother. I tried to calm him down, I tried to get to a phone…"

Alex began shaking, so Olivia gently rested a hand on her lower back. Alex took a deep breath and continued.

"He was beyond talking to. I knew I had to get out, but when I made a move to get to the door, he grabbed me and… he forced me to the wall. He called me all sorts of names and said I should have left his brother alone and that his brother wasn't guilty."

She swallowed hard.

"And that's when he started to… hit me and touch me and just… say these awful things."

Alex was shaking, and Olivia would have been too (from anger) had she not had such a command over her emotions. She forced herself to remain calm, and listen to Alex, even though she wanted to destroy all the furniture in her house and go after the man who had touched Alex. She was pulled from her thoughts as the blonde continued.

"He didn't get um, far, before you came to the door."

Alex looked up at Olivia for the first time since she had begun talking.

"I've never wanted you more than I did in those moments. I knew I'd be okay if you were there. When you came I… I knew I'd be okay. I knew you'd know. I knew you'd figure out something was wrong. I prayed the whole time… and it worked. You came."

Alex felt her cheeks flush, so she looked away. Olivia felt her heart swell, and had this been a different situation, she would have said something back. But this wasn't the time or place, so she nodded her head and, with a dry mouth, said, "you're right."

"About what?"

"I knew."

Alex nodded.

"I was so relieved, Olivia. You saved me."

Olivia shook her head.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there earlier, Alex. I feel so-"

Before Olivia could continue, Alex covered her mouth with a finger.

"You didn't know Liv. It could have been so much worse, but you came and you figured it out. Thank you."

Alex wrapped her arms around the brunette.

"I've always felt so safe around you. I've never wanted anyone as much as I wanted you in that moment. I don't know why… but you were the only person I could think of. It just…it really hit me then."

"What?"

Alex pulled back to look at her.

"How safe I feel with you. How much I need you. How much I look forward to being around you."

Olivia gave a small smile. She felt so many emotions, but this was not the right time to have this conversation. So, she stuck to a safe answer.

"I want you to feel those things Alex. I only ever want to make you feel safe and happy. I just wish I could have been there earlier. If only I had gone right to your apartment instead of going to your office…"

Alex shook her head.

"You'll kill yourself over the what ifs, Liv. You showed up when you did, and you stopped it. That's all that matters."

Olivia gave a deep sigh, but said nothing else.

"If you come with me, I'll give my statement to the guys tomorrow. I'll feel better if you're there."

"Of course."

Olivia reached for the blonde's hand and squeezed it gently. Alex gave a small smile.

"Thanks… for giving me the night to recover."

Alex needed the night to deal with her feelings before she could give a statement. Most people would do better giving their version of the events right away while it was fresh in their minds, but not Alex. She knew she'd give a better statement with a night to deal with what happened.

"Anything you need Alex…"

The blonde nodded.

"I appreciate it." She said softly.

The women sat in silence. Olivia's right hand was still on Alex's lower back, and her left was still holding Alex's. The blonde finally gave a deep sigh and leaned sideways, resting her head and body on the brunette. She had been fighting the urge all night, but she could no longer hold it in. She wanted to be comforted, so she finally allowed herself to give in.

She could feel the tension dissipate as their bodies melted together. Olivia let go of her hand and wrapped her arms around the counselor. Alex nuzzled her nose in Olivia's neck and slipped her hands around the brunette's back. Olivia smiled to herself, even though she felt a twinge of guilt for enjoying the contact. She rubbed Alex's back soothingly, feeling her breathing deepen as she really began to relax for the first time that evening. Alex felt tears running down her cheeks, but she felt so much calmer. She still hurt, and she still felt violated and hurt, but she felt so much better now that she was here in Olivia's arms. The brunette was her rock, the reason she was even still whole right now. And now, she was her saviour. Alex had never been so relieved to see Olivia, and she just was so grateful that she had come to her apartment and protected her.

She tightened her grip on Olivia's waist, enjoying the safety and comfort of the woman's embrace. The women sat quietly, each enjoying the other's soft and warm body until Alex unsuccessfully tried to muffle a yawn.

"Getting tired?"

"No." The blonde lied.

"Liar. Why don't you go lay down? I'll take the couch tonight. My bed is really comfortable."

Alex pulled back and rubbed her eyes. She sat quietly for a moment before starting.

"Would you mind coming with me? I…I'd just feel better if you slept in there with me. I don't want to be alone tonight."

Olivia felt her stomach drop at the thought. Spend the night in bed with this beautiful woman? At any other time, she'd jump at the opportunity, but she wasn't sure if it was such a good idea now. Olivia knew she was attracted to the blonde, and she didn't want to risk accidentally touching her while she (Olivia) was asleep. She couldn't control her actions while sleeping, and that made her nervous.

Alex could tell the woman was hesitating.

"What's wrong?"

"I just… I'm afraid of touching you by accident if I do sleep next to you."

"You won't. But if you do, that's okay. You won't scare me."

"But-"

"Please Liv?"

The brunette couldn't deny those beautiful blue eyes. Finally she nodded.

"Okay."

The blonde smiled at her, relieved. She really didn't want to sleep alone tonight. She wasn't sure she'd sleep at all if she were.

Olivia on the other hand, was apprehensive. An entire night of sleeping beside the woman she was falling for (or had already fallen for) and needing to keep her distance? She wasn't sure she could do it.

She didn't have much more time to reflect on it because Alex got up and held out her hand for Olivia to take. The brunette obliged, and the women made their way to the bedroom. When the blonde entered the room, she turned to face Olivia.

"It's okay if you touch me by accident, or on purpose. I might enjoy your touches."

Even though the comment was completely innocent and meant to tell Olivia that it was okay to comfort her while lying in bed, the blonde smirked when the brunette's mouth opened slightly but no sound came out.

Olivia, blinking, ignored the heat between her legs and quietly joined Alex in bed.