Olivia didn't know how she got into Alex Cabot's car.
It wasn't the first time that the blond had made her forget what she was doing, but never before had she actually drifted off so entirely. Yes, she oftentimes found herself losing track of her environment when the object of her affections strode into the room. This was a common reaction to the pale-skinned, slight attorney. It was also true that she had lost her train of thought more than once in Alex's presence…but Olivia Benson did not have a record of awakening from her reveries in strange vehicles, and it alarmed her.
"Are we…?"
Her words fell sloppily out of her mouth, and she realized slowly that the reason she wasn't at her best attention may not have just been Alex's fault: she was so tired that she could barely keep her eyes open, and her mouth was clumsy. Alex put the keys in the ignition, and the rumble of the smooth car engine was like a lullaby to the detective.
"Hmm?"
Olivia barely heard the attorney's hummed response, head heavier than the amount of paperwork she'd left unfinished on her desk, and she struggled for words to describe her confusion.
"Where are we going?"
Her stomach leapt slightly as Alex's hands glanced over her stomach, pulling her seatbelt down over her body and maneuvering it into the lock with a little click.
"I'd like to take you home, detective…"
For a moment Olivia tensed in surprise, and her eyes flew open against the strong folds of drowsiness.
"So, are you awake enough to give directions?"
Heart sinking as the cold pain of reality sunk in, Olivia slumped imperceptibly in her seat, pouting. For a moment, it had sounded as if Alex had wanted to…but no. Just as formal and polite as ever, the blue-blooded attorney had meant nothing by the poorly phrased statement.
"Olivia? Are you falling asleep?"
Suddenly an idea struck the detective at Alex's questioning, and she stopped battling her desire to doze off immediately. Sure, Cabot hadn't meant anything outside of being courteous… but why not take advantage of her hospitality? After all, you couldn't get directions from somebody who was unconscious.
Just as she'd hoped, the ride began without another word from the composed blonde, comfortable quiet settling over them both. Olivia's ear pressed against her right shoulder, and instead of sleeping, all she could think about was the woman sitting next to her. She imagined those powder blue eyes in her mind, saw the boldly framed glasses perched on a noble nose that Alex had undoubtedly inherited from some rich and impressive ancestor. Then she thought of the way the pretty attorney's face was hardly ever relaxed, and immediately remembered the time that she had made Alexandra Cabot, the impenetrable ice queen, smile.
It had been a little thing, small an unnoticed by all except those directly involved. Benson and the boys had been crouched over their desks, noses stuck to the documents they were working on, and the clock on the wall was ticking so loudly that it was slowly beginning to drive Olivia insane.
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
Tick.
She'd wanted to misuse her firearm so badly that her fingers kept twitching towards the gun on her desk, but she'd managed to control herself by thinking of the horrendous noise it would make. Plus, she'd probably have to buy the precinct a new clock, and the irony in that would be simply sickening.
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
Tick.
The door opened right as Olivia's hand had closed contemplatively over the grip of her gun, and all heads looked up to see Alex Cabot, wearing her usual black and blue attire. The attorney had gazed curiously at all of them for a moment, sharp features ablaze with a child-like interest, and then she locked eyes with the detective. Life went on around them, but neither woman would let go. It was strange, staring into that blue abyss so openly, but Olivia Benson had been unable to look away. Slowly the clock ticked on, counting the seconds, and they rang louder than ever in Olivia's absent thoughts:
Tick
Tock
Tick
Tock
Tick.
"How's it going, Cabot?"
And Alex had melted, pleasure glowing like fairy dust behind the sparkle of her periwinkle eyes. In that moment, everything had been clear between them: they made sense to each other, and that sense made them both sparkle with the radiance of their understanding. Alex had smiled, and Olivia…Olivia had witnessed it with wide brown eyes, giving the attorney a lopsided grin of her own that had only seemed to deepen Alexandra's happiness.
"We're here, Olivia."
Just as Alex said it, the car crunched into a parking space and halted abruptly, the engine switching off with a breath of relief issuing forth. Silence surrounded them for a moment, and Olivia felt uniquely content about the situation. For just a few seconds more, she allowed herself the privilege of not knowing. Not knowing where she was, not knowing what she was supposed to do, not knowing what Alex thought of things. Not knowing anything at all but the warmth of her body, the cool window pane she leaned on, and the buzz of the outside world. Then, Alex's soft fingers rubbed her shoulder gently, and she wanted to know everything at once.
"Where's here?"
Opening doe brown eyes that shone dully in the dark, the detective squinted out the window and saw unfamiliar sidewalk, a tall building towering before them.
"My apartment."
Finally, Olivia looked upon the porcelain face of the person she'd spent the entire car ride picturing. Alex's pale eyebrows tilted back in an expression of concern, and the sweetest tinge of pink rode gently atop her high cheekbones. Realizing that this was so much better than ignorance, the brunette leaned her head against her seat, inhaled slowly, and smiled. Alexandra Cabot was taking her home, and the situation was…well, beautiful.