A/N: Notes below at end.

Timeline: 16 months later; February 2005

Word Count: ~1,650 Rating: MATURE

GHOST

"Liv? You gonna be ok?"

Ever since the words had been uttered Olivia has been split between a daze and determination. Elliot knew the gamut of emotions his partner must be feeling.

The murder of Alexandra Cabot.

Olivia blinked her eyes, snapping out of it and looked across her desk to Elliot. "Yeah, but I want to nail this bastard."

"We will," Elliot said. "We'll get him this time."

A bullet from a murder case they were working had matched an old case in the system – the bullet that ripped Alex out of Olivia's life 16 months ago.

It had been a long 16 months, too. Olivia had cried for days, weeks maybe. Sure, she was happy Alex was alive, and she knew that is what was important – Alex was alive and safe. But having been so close to their future and having it snatched away took a toll on her. There was no future; there wasn't even closure.

Eventually, Olivia returned to the real world and tried her best to move on. She had no idea if or when Alex would ever come back; each day killed her hope of a reunion just a little.

But now? Now all that hope returned in one single instant.

#

The next couple of days took a dangerous twist when Casey Novak, their new ADA, called for Connors arrest for the murder of Alex – in the middle of open court. Olivia and Elliot had no choice, in their opinion, than to arrest him. They couldn't even hint they knew Alex was alive – it would put her life in jeopardy.

What were you thinking?!

Cragen shouted at them. He was angry. He understood, but he told them he wasn't sure if he could save them from this.

Then there was Casey.

You should have trusted me.

They should have, but again, Olivia, and by default, Elliot, wasn't going to do anything that could risk Alex's life again – no matter the cost.

When Alex walked into Casey's office that day, smirk on her face, Olivia was both ecstatic and terrified for Alex's life.

Who else is going to get you out of this mess?

Finally, the moment Olivia had been waiting on for 16 months. She entered the hotel room knowing she had all night alone with Alex. All night to sort through the mess of everything and hopefully, their future.

Elliot made himself scarce and Olivia, unsure of where she and Alex stood, proceeded with caution.

It wasn't everything Olivia had hoped for, especially when Alex told her about the man she had been seeing in Wisconsin. Olivia wasn't expecting that. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but it wasn't that.

It's not like she hadn't been on dates – she had, but mostly out of necessity. She never really tried with any of them. But "dating" someone was different – maybe Alex had moved on.

They retreated to the couch finally, a chance to talk about everything going on after Alex looked through the casefile Olivia wasn't supposed to give her.

"Casey was pretty mad, huh?" Alex asked.

"To say the least," Olivia said. "But, we'll fix it. She's become a good friend."

Alex nodded. "I'm sorry … for all of this."

"Alex, no. This isn't your fault. None of it is," Olivia said. "I'm just happy to have you here next to me, alive and well." She reached down and put her hand on Alex's. The last time she touched Alex it was to stop the bleeding from her shoulder, blood running through her fingers. This time, it was different, and nothing made Olivia happier.

Alex smiled. "How have you been?"

"I've been …" Olivia paused. She wasn't really sure she had felt much of anything since Alex left. "I missed you, Alex." Her hand grazed Alex's face, brushing her hair back and tucking it behind her hears. Alex's hair had gotten longer and her bangs were gone.

"I've missed you, Liv," Alex said, putting her hand on top of Olivia's. "And I don't know what is going to happen after this. I can't make any promises."

"I don't need any," Olivia said. "I'm just happy you're here right now."

"We have tonight," Alex said. She pulled the palm of Olivia's hand to her mouth and kissed it.

"Are you sure?" Olivia asked. She knew Alex had a long day ahead of her, and then there was the man in Wisconsin.

Alex didn't say anything. She merely got up, reached her hand down for Olivia and led her over to the bed.

They stood in silence, slowly undressing each other, slowly savoring every moment, every touch, and every sight.

Alex's scar. Olivia gently traced it with her finger tips, something Alex never let her Wisconsin boyfriend do. Olivia kissed it, then moved her lips up to Alex's lips. So full. So soft. She tasted exactly like Olivia remembered.

They got into bed and wasted no time wrapping their arms around each other and pressing their bodies together.

"God, Liv, I've missed you," Alex said before kissing the detective again. "I've needed you so badly."

It was all Olivia needed to hear before she kissed Alex back, deeper and more passionately than before. The charge going through her body wasn't going to last forever – just the touch of Alex and the sound of her voice made Olivia feel more than she had felt since the last time they were together; when they were full of hope of Alex getting a new job and them finally being together, openly.

Alex rolled Olivia on her back. She wanted to take charge. Being with a man, who was very traditional in bed, she rarely had the chance and she wanted to show Olivia how much she missed her – in case she never got the chance again.

Her lips trailed down Olivia's neck; her hands on the brunette's inner thigh. Olivia shifted her legs apart and let the blonde stroke her as Alex worked her mouth down her body.

"Alex, please, I need you," Olivia moaned. She was ready for Alex, had been ready for Alex.

Alex kissed her again as she slid her fingers down and entered Olivia, feeling the warmth and throbbing from the detective. Olivia hadn't been touched like that in so long, so gently, so lovingly. Someone who need every inch of her body inside and out, and especially inside.

Olivia's hands slid down Alex's back, breathing deepening with every thrust, every graze of her clit. She dug her fingers into Alex's back, sliding one hand down to grip Alex's ass. "Fuck, Alex. No one makes me feel like you do," Olivia rasped.

The sweat began to form on their bodies as Olivia increasing squirmed below Alex, hips thrusting up and back arching as she felt the waves through her body grow larger.

Alex stopped momentarily, and Olivia whimpered until she felt Alex move down her body, her mouth moving right toward Olivia's core. She cried out when Alex's tongue flickered over her clit, tossing her had back and gripping the sheets on the side of the bed.

"Oh, God, Al … just like … that…"

Alex looked up to see Olivia, smiling when she was her eyes rolling back and looking over the length of her body. Her taut torso. Her perfect breasts. Her luscious neck. Those dark chocolate eyes glazed over.

Then she felt it, Olivia's hips shot up, thighs began to shake, and the moaning grew louder. Alex knew she was holding back so the protective detail outside didn't hear them, but Alex didn't care. She curled her fingers up inside Olivia, and doubled down with her tongue.

"Al…Al…Allllllex! Fuck…yes….please…don't….stop…."

Alex didn't stop. Not until she felt every single bit of energy rip through Olivia's body and fall completely limp below her and saw the brunette's skin covered in goosebumps. Even then, she waited a moment before she removed her hands and mouth, not wanting to startle Olivia. When she did, she did so slowly and kissed Olivia's center once more before joining her at the top of the bed. She laid her had on Olivia's chest and listened as her breathing and heartbeat eventually slowed. She always loved knowing what kind of effect she could have on her detective – and what effect Olivia could have on her, which she looked forward to once Olivia reclaimed some energy.

While Olivia caught her breath, Alex – one again – drew circles on her stomach as she had the last time they were together. When Olivia spoke, Alex raised up and pushed Olivia's sweaty hair from her face.

"Wow," Olivia said. "I have missed that."

"Me, too," Alex said. "And I've missed you."

"Ditto," Olivia said, causing both of them to smile and but also grow sad, the future unknown.

"Liv …" Alex said, then took a breath. "I love you."

"I love you, Alex," Olivia said. "I always have."

"I still don't know what will happen after tomorrow," Alex said, nearly in tears. Olivia wiped them away and kissed Alex's cheek where the tears had been.

"I know," she said. "But, we'll figure it out."

#

She asked me to say goodbye.

Hammond's words would haunt Olivia forever. Alex was gone – again. And this time, she didn't even say goodbye herself, she sent someone else to do it for her.

That, to Olivia, was the worst part of it. She could understand Alex's life was still in danger – as long as Velez was alive, it would be – but for Alex to not say goodbye? Olivia couldn't understand that.

And she couldn't understand how the woman who told her she loved her just last night, could up again leave her again without so much as even a note this time.

Alex was gone; and so was Olivia's hope for their future.

A/N: I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. But, I will have a new chapter tonight. Expect a time jump. There won't be any chapters without Alex. But, we're turning a corner to happy.

As always, your reviews are appreciated. Love it, hate it, have ideas? Let me know with a comment or on twitter -rileyclocks!