A/N The italicized parts will be the scene where Stephanie and Mariska are playing Alex and Olivia.
Chapter 3 : Moment of Truth?
Alex and Olivia stood in front of the coffee shop called Around the Corner, ready to go inside.
"Relax Lex, everything will be alright. I won't let anything happen to you," Olivia said, as she leaned forward against the blonde ADA and whispered in her ear.
Alex shivered, feeling Olivia as she leaned against her own body, the Detective's breath warm on her neck.
"I know you won't let anything happen to me, that you'll protect me, Liv. You always do," Alex said softly.
Alex had turned her head to look 'her' Detective in the eyes. Technically Olivia wasn't her Detective of course, they weren't in a relationship, but to the blonde attorney it felt like the beautiful, powerful brunette was her Detective, sort of. Maybe after this undercover op was over and the case was closed Alex would finally get the nerves to tell Olivia how she really felt, that she was in love with her. That she had been attracted to the strong Detective the moment she walked into the squad room.
Olivia felt Alex shivering and instinctively knew that the younger blonde was reacting to her leaning against the blonde's body and her breath tickling the attorney's neck, and not because she was cold. After all, it was a warm late spring morning. Feeling Alex shivering against her own body made the Detective get a warm feeling on the inside. Maybe Alex did feel something for her. Maybe she did feel the same about her as she felt about the blonde ADA. At that moment Olivia decided that when this case was over she was going to talk with Alex. Take the leap and tell her that she was in love with the beautiful blonde.
"Ready to go inside?" Olivia asked.
"Yes, let's do this," Alex answered.
Olivia opened the door and stepped inside the coffee shop. Holding the door open for Alex to enter too. Once Alex was inside, Olivia put her hand on the small of Alex's back and guided the blonde ADA to the back of the coffee shop. When they got to the back, Olivia motioned for Alex to take a seat in the booth first and patiently waited until she was seated before the Detective sat down, herself, next to the attorney. The Detective took her hand and laced their fingers together. Soon a waitress showed up and took their order. Both women ordered a cappuccino with whipped cream.
After sitting in the coffee shop for about 20 minutes the waitress came back to ask if they wanted something else to drink while flirting with Alex. They were prepared for this to happen to either one of them and Olivia, in a friendly manner, made a comment to the waitress trying to make clear that the blonde next to her was taken. The waitress ignored the comment and flirted again. Suddenly it hit Olivia that this could happen, Alex getting hit on, often, and that, one of those times, Alex might actually respond to it.
Olivia decided there and then that she would make sure that this wasn't going to happen and before she actually knew what she was doing, she glared at the waitress. The waitress left quickly after being at the other end of Olivia's death glare.
The blonde attorney turned her face to look at Olivia and before the brunette knew it, she kissed Alex on her lips. Olivia stiffened and wanted to pull back. Alex noticed and, after getting over the shock of Olivia kissing her, the blonde quickly pulled up her hand and softly grabbed the back of Olivia's head and extended their kiss for a couple of seconds longer before she allowed the Detective to pull back. Brown eyes locked with cerulean ones and for about 3 seconds they just stared in each others' eyes.
For a second or two both Stephanie and Mariska lost their focus caused by the kiss. Both their body's were on fire due to one single kiss. Quickly they snapped out of it and continued. To the others it seemed like they were still playing their role, not knowing that for a couple of seconds the women weren't actually playing their roles at all.
"I guess we have to talk when this case is over huh?" Olivia whispered.
Alex answered after she nodded at Olivia. " I think so, too." Alex whispered back.
Olivia stood up and held out her hand for Alex to take.
"It's time to go." Olivia said.
Alex took Olivia's hand and let the brunette Detective help her up. They walked to the bar and Olivia paid for their coffee. Then they turned around and Olivia placed her hand on the small of Alex's back again and the two women walked through the coffee shop to the door. Olivia opened the door and let Alex walk trough it first and closed the door behind her after stepping outside too. They walked around the corner through an alley, knowing that Fin was in her squad car looking at the alley and Munch was at the end of the alley also in a car. While walking relaxed through the alley with Alex, Olivia was in full cop mode. About half way through the alley she heard footsteps behind them coming closer. She not only heard that someone was right behind them, but the Detective felt it too and as quick as lightning Olivia let go of Alex's hand and shoved the blonde ADA behind her as she turned around, all in one motion, wanting to protect the attorney at all costs. As soon as she turned around she recognized their perp. He was a Caucasian man, 6'1" tall, in his early thirties with brown eyes and blonde hair. The man lunged forward with his left fist, trying to hit the Detective in her face. Olivia blocked the blow and hit the man with her own left fist right in his stomach, hard. The man doubled over for a moment and attacked Olivia again hitting her in her stomach. Seemingly out of nowhere the man pulled a knife and tried to stab the Detective, Olivia jumped backwards crashing into Alex's body. She quickly recovered and with one hand, pushed Alex who was still looking at the man. Alex stepped backwards a few feet so she wouldn't be in Olivia's way again and stayed there, silently hoping that Munch or Fin would be there.
Olivia stood in a fighting position and waited for the man to try to stab her again. When he did try it again she grabbed his hand and turned in around in a hand lock, causing the man to drop the knife. Then she yanked at his hand turning him around and pulled his hand behind his back with her left hand. With her right hand she reached behind her on her belt and took of her handcuffs. Then she slipped one of the cuffs around his wrist tightly and grabbed his other hand and cuffed it too. She grabbed him with one hand on his shoulder and held the other one on the cuffs while she shoved him in front of her and walked with him to the end of the alley where Munch had jumped out of his car and ran towards the two woman and the perp. Olivia read him his rights while she and Munch walked the man back to the car and Munch opened the door for Olivia. The female Detective pushed the man into the car and slammed the door once he was inside. In the mean time Fin had reached the trio, too.
"Take that asshole to the station, John. Fin, you go back with Munch. We'll go back together. We're alright," Olivia delegated.
"Are you sure you're not injured, Baby girl?" Fin asked.
Olivia nodded.
"I'm fine, really. He only hit me once in my stomach. I've been hit harder than that. Go... we're fine," Olivia answered.
Both men nodded and got into the car and took off. Olivia turned around to look at Alex. Once she had checked out that Alex wasn't hurt she looked up to face the blonde ADA.
"You're alright, Lex?" Olivia asked, the Detective wanted to be sure that Alex was really alright.
"Yes Liv, I'm ok. Really. He didn't attack me and you didn't hurt me either. Are you really alright, Detective?" Alex asked, raising one perfect eyebrow at Olivia.
"I'm fine. I already said that to the guys. Now let's go back to the precinct to interrogate that bastard and throw his ass in lock up," Olivia answered.
Alex smiled at Olivia and shook her head. Olivia shrugged with her shoulders and the two women started to walk to the Detective's car and go back to the precinct themselves.
Gary raised his hand with his thumb and two fingers up and silently counted back to zero.
"Cut," Gary said.
Most of the supers left the set and walked to the general dressing room. Stephanie and Mariska and the other cast members walked towards Gary, including Stephen, the guy that played Nichols the perp in the episode they just filmed. When Stephanie and Mariska got to Gary, the producer shook his head.
"How is it possible that every time I think I can't get surprised by the two of you anymore, you manage to surprise me again? That improvisation was brilliant from both of you. Kissing each other I mean," Gary asked.
"Just something that came to my mind at that moment," Mariska answered, shrugging with her shoulders.
"I only reacted to Mariska. Nothing more," Stephanie added.
By now the others had reached the trio.
"Damn Ms. Hargitay. You look like a woman, obviously, but you certainly not hit like one," Stephen joked, rubbing his stomach.
As Mariska wanted to react to Stephen, everyone around her laughed. Causing the normally rather stoic brunette to blush and smile sheepishly.
"Did you forget you were playing a role and protected the blonde bombshell here too much, huh Hargitay?" Craig asked between laughter.
One look at Mariska told Stephanie that the brunette was this close to, literally, kicking Craig's ass. Outwardly it seemed that Mariska was her usual calm self but Stephanie could tell by the way her hands were in her pockets that it wouldn't take much for the older brunette to explode.
"You know Craig, at least Mariska is protecting me. All you are doing is hitting on me and drooling. Now correct me if I'm wrong, but I fail to see how that is going to protect me," Stephanie said calmly.
Mariska took a deep breath and calmed down, at least a bit.
"Leave it, Steph. He's just jealous," Mariska said.
"Jealous about what? Don't make me laugh," Craig scolded.
"Not about what, on who, Craigy boy. You were turned down by Stephanie the first day you saw her and even though it was acting, I did today what you've wanted to do and never will do, kiss her," Mariska answered.
Mariska's comment made everyone laugh again and, of course, Craig wasn't pleased. He had been made fun of.
"He man, take it easy. I was only joking," Stephen said.
"Yeah, you're right. They're just chicks. She probably got the role because of her looks, not her brains. And it's a woman who protected her. How hard can they hit, right?" Craig laughed.
It didn't take much to see that Mariska was pissed off now. Stephanie grabbed the brunette's upper arm softly and Mariska looked at Stephanie for a few seconds, letting her know, now that she was pissed off, she was alright. Then she turned her attention back to Craig.
"I don't think you want to find out how hard I can or cannot hit Craig," Mariska warned.
"Oh really? You think I'm afraid of a woman. Hell no. You want to go a few rounds, Hargitay?" Craig sneered.
"Fine. It's your choice. If you want to get beaten up, be my guest. The gym it is?" Mariska asked.
"Fine the gym, you and me, now! Get ready to get your ass kicked!" Craig growled.
Everyone was standing trying to understand how things got out of hand so fast. Mariska walked away a few steps and then turned around. She knew that Craig did Krav Maga. But what Craig didn't know was that the brunette did it too. And she was pretty sure he wasn't on the same level as she was because he hadn't practiced it as long as she had. Actually she was one of the very few civilians that had gotten to the level that she was on.
"Hey, Craig...you study a fight sport, right? Krav Maga is it?" Mariska asked smiling.
"Yes that's right. That's why I'm gonna beat your ass!" Craig said smugly.
Gary decided that it was enough, he didn't want anyone get hurt. He was going to let them fight with protection and end it if things went too far, but this the producer couldn't let that happen.
"No, you aren't. You're not..." Gary started.
"It's alright Gary. I don't think he'll want to fight anymore once I'm finished saying what I've got to say," Mariska said.
"Fine, I'll let you talk, but there will be no fighting! Not now, not any time later." Gary said sternly.
"There won't be a fight. You see, Craig, I study Krav Maga too. I happen to know that you have been studying it for 4 months. So you're probably on a P. level. I'm a E4. Still wanna fight, Craig?" Mariska asked.
As soon as Craig heard what level Mariska was on with Krav Maga, all the color left his face and he slowly shook his head, not able to speak.
"That's what I thought." Mariska said smugly.
She turned to face Stephanie.
"C'mon March. Let's go home. I've had enough of this day, haven't you?" Mariska asked, as she turned back and walked away.
"Hell yeah," Stephanie answered.
The blonde quickly walked to where Mariska was and the two women left, leaving the rest to wonder why Craig suddenly got so white and didn't want to fight anymore.
On their way home Mariska and Stephanie made some small talk. When they were close to their homes, Mariska turned to look at Stephanie as they had stopped at a traffic light.
"Do you want me to drop you off at home, or are you coming with me to my place for dinner and a bit of talking?" Mariska asked softly.
"After today I could use some good company so I'd be more than happy to accept your offer," Stephanie answered softly back.
"Alright, my place it is," Mariska said, as she pulled forward once the light turned green.
10 minutes later the two women were in the brunette's apartment, standing in the kitchen.
"Let's see what I have," Mariska said, as she looked in the fridge.
"Oh.. I could make Empanada's if you like them? It's not that much work if you use puff-paste. Gives us some time to relax while they are in the oven," Mariska asked enthusiastically.
"That would be so... great. I love Empanada's," Stephanie answered, her mouth already watering at the thought of them.
"Alright, Empanada's it is," Mariska said, as she pulled out the ingredients to make them.
One and a half hours later Stephanie and Mariska were sitting, relaxing on the brunette's couch with a bottle of beer. Dinner was delicious and the dishes were done. Now they had the whole evening in front of them.
"I'm glad this day is over, especially with those guys and Britt," Mariska said.
"Yeah, Britt, are you sure she was hitting on you?" Stephanie asked.
"No, I'm not. I don't have any experience with that. But I think she was. Why?" Mariska asked.
"I know you said you wouldn't act on it, but what if she did hit on you?" Stephanie asked softly.
The blonde didn't know if she would like the answer but for some reason she needed to know.
"Well, if she did it again, I would say the same as you did on your first day with Craig," Mariska smiled.
"I see. So tell me Detective, does that go for everyone on our team, or is just Britt?" Stephanie asked, partly joking.
"Wouldn't you like to find that out, Counselor?" Mariska countered with a smile, using the same sentence.
Mariska's expression turned serious. "Stephanie, I really appreciate that you did that scene with me. It means a lot to me," Mariska said, blushing a bit.
"You're welcome, Mariska. I actually felt comfortable doing that scene with you," Stephanie answered, and then took a deep breath. "Especially with a woman as smart and beautiful as you are," Stephanie admitted shyly.
Mariska turned on the couch, pulling her legs under herself and looking at Stephanie for a second or two, and then looked down. Stephanie looked at Mariska, as well, and also pulled her legs under herself, after turning on the couch. Mariska took a deep breath and looked up and into the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen in her life.
"I have to admit something myself, too. Nothing bad I think, I hope," Mariska said softly.
"You can tell me anything, I would never judge you," Stephanie answered.
"When...When I kissed you, well more like pecked, it wasn't a real kiss. Let me start over again...when I kissed you on the set... Steph, I never felt like that before," Mariska almost whispered, looking down after she finished.
"Me neither," Stephanie whispered.
Mariska's head shot up.
"What?"Mariska asked, surprised and a bit hopeful.
"I never felt the way I did when you kissed me... or when I kissed you back," Stephanie answered softly.
"I've never been in love with a woman," Mariska said.
"I haven't been in love with a woman neither," Stephanie answered.
Slowly Mariska began to lean forward.
"You're a very intelligent, caring, and beautiful woman, Stephanie. I could fall in love with you," Mariska whispered.
"Then we might have a problem because I think I'm already in love with you," Stephanie whispered back as she leaned forward herself.
"We don't have a problem...I'm in love with you too," Mariska answered, now knowing that Stephanie felt the same.
Mariska leaned in further, closing the last space between them, grabbed the blonde's face softly, and kissed Stephanie.
