Name: KittyGetAwayFromTheBlanket
Title: Melting Under Your Gaze
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, their background lives, or nay aspect of the SVU legacy. I just am writing my take on the relationships that should have been.
Fandom: Law & Order SVU
Pairing: Alex/Olivia
Rating: Pg 13-18
Summary: Working on

Chapter 5

Alex's Saturday had gone down quite differently than she had anticipated. She had at least expected a default or some kind of lengthy jury deliberation – but no, she was in and out of there in under an hour and had the rest of the Saturday to herself. For most people having an entire Saturday free would be a blessing – but to Alex it was a curse, it meant she was to either: sit in her office re-assessing cases or going home and re-assess cases. She didn't have the luxury of spending time with a loved one – even though she yearned for it every day. From 8am to her departure, from the first moment Olivia's frame comes into her view the vision never escapes her.

Alex shuffled the last bits of open case files into an awaiting folder, weaving the elastic band around it effectively disposing it into her Black Leather tote. She dug her heels into the dense carpet under her desk and rolled her chair outward, sitting up and groaning as her muscles flexed underneath the single blouse she wore – having removed her jacket after the trial.
Alex stretched impulsively as her limbs received the freedom to move – a low guttural groan followed the movement, and muting the intake of breath that came from across the room. Alex was so immersed in her own world she didn't see the Auburn eyes drinking her in entirely.

A subtle cough awoke the attorney from her monotonous tidying up. Half bent over her desk to retrieve her casually tossed jacket to look over her shoulder, catching the briefest glimpse of a crooked grin as she smirked sheepishly.

"Oh." She worded singularly. Standing up she straightened out the invisible wrinkle. "Hello Detective," she nodded curtly, forcing the warmth in her chest to subside.

Olivia took this as an invitation to enter fully and walked toward the chair opposite of Alex's desk, sinking into the back of it casually.

Alex a little bemused kept her eyes on Olivia, taking her usual stance by reclining her weight on the ledge of her desk, one leg sweeping in front of the other and crossing lightly near the ankles, her arms naturally crossing her chest. Alex stood there in silence for a moment and raised an eyebrow at her guest in waiting, hearing nothing she cleared her throat.

"Is there something … you wanted to discuss, Detective Benson?" Alex loved using 'Detective' to precede her name; it gave it a sense of sexy authority, all of which encompassed Olivia.

Olivia however was not quite her usual self, she looked slightly panic stricken as large expressive eyes looked anywhere but Alex's. Olivia's mind was reeling back to this week, and a conversation between herself and the Blonde Attorney.

"-Olivia, I can't just toss out the entire legal system based on some "feeling" and subpoena a 7 year old onto the witness stand!"

Olivia threw her hands up in the air, stalking around her desk – ignoring Elliot's fist pump for retaliation. "Why is everything such a damn problem with you? Alex, you are OUR attorney, OUR ADA – not the city's or even the defendants. You work for u-"

Alex stepped forward, matching Olivia's pace and met her toe to toe – their eyes locked and their chests heaving in unison as anger boiled over between the two and rippled throughout the entire precinct; each bit of rage radiating through the walls as both women's anger rivaled the others for dominance.

"-No, Olivia, You work for ME – I try the cases I am handed, you want Bernie to go down? Well find me something more than a slip of evidence – maybe a whole shoe, with some prints – not a single shoelace!" She practically spat, her fine Blonde hair falling to the wayside in an untidy manner. Her body became rigid as Olivia's arms twitched, aching to put her hands on the attorney. Whether it was to be physical separation – or something more, neither could tell as they were in the heat of the moment.

Elliot stood up from his chair, reaching for his jacket and casually tossing it over his shoulder as he stalked towards his partner, placing his large hand on her shoulder. Olivia shook it off instantly, her nerves shot as Alex's lips were pursed, a single pink tongue running around them – moistening them as the air between the two became dry; a single electric correlation of emotions.

Calmly Elliot spoke over his partners shoulder, "Come on, Liv – let's go. If she wants more evidence, we'll do it for her" Elliot remarked, putting emphasis on "doing (the job) for her". Olivia's shoulder remained tense and he squeezed it lightly, taking her out of an unusual trance.

Stepping back Olivia nodded silently, turning away from Alex whose expression she missed – it was a mixture of anger, relief, helplessness and a twinge of sadness.

Elliot stalked away with his partner, muttering on how Alex, "… was just putting in her time to get to where she wants to go – the hell out of SVU …" thinking he was putting Olivia at ease, when in reality he was only aiding in burying the quelling feelings that were bubbling within. He was tossing the match to the flame – if only he knew as much as Olivia the burning she felt, why she felt it and why only Alex could relinquish it. If only.

Meanwhile, Olivia had become uncomfortably silent and Alex was worried, she prepared to repeat her earlier question of what Olivia wanted when she jerked awake once more and interjected before Alex could speak.

"Alex – you're, amazing," she muddled together, blurting out instantly. Hesitating slightly as the Detective saw Alex's mouth shaping into a building question or rebuttal she spoke, "-The case, what you figured out – that was, amazing. "Olivia finished, earning still a questionable glance. "Okay." Olivia inhaled, lifting her eyes to meet Alex's fully as she mustered up her wording. "I have a confession to make. "

At this Alex was feeling a slight tugging at her throat; she was itching to relieve the pressured feeling by loosening the proverbial tie around her neck but simply settled for a nod "Okay," she complied singularly.

"Alex. When you first came to the precinct I thought you were – frankly, " she paused, shaking her head at her own internal stupidity, "just another bitch attorney looking to get their cases in and out, swing each defendant through the political revolving doors then burn rubber as your career takes off and leave us detectives in your smoke." Coming out quite bluntly Olivia groaned, and instinctively ran her hand through her short locks, failing to notice trained eyes that followed the movement.

Olivia waved her free hand, disrupting any potential protest as the Attorney opened her lips to speak. "No Alex, this is why I have to say this." She backed the chair from its place and stood up, pacing, her back to the Attorney.

"You have been completely everything opposite to what we all – I had thought. I know in the beginning you were nervous – I knew you covered this with solitude and arrogance, but after today's case… as silly as this might be, I could see it – in your eyes, the fire of justification – of rights for those children and the determination of your mind as you, single handedly send that sick-o to jail, "Your eyes reflected mine every time I look at you, she added. "Alex I just want to apologize… for today – for all the rough times, where I doubted your intentions and played the political card. "Olivia turned, her eyes catching Alex's which were wide in shock, her face pale with a slight tint of red adorning her high cheek bones. Alex looked flushed – sick maybe? Embarrassed?

Alex stood there like a guppy before clearing her throat, nodding her head as is replaying the entire conversation in her head. Looking up she met Olivia's eyes which were focused solely on her – half squinting to catch her expression, half wide in anticipation. "Thank you, De- … Olivia." She uncrossed her legs, then re crossing them in opposite as she looked up. "I know I may have been a bit – well, a bitch, but you don't need to apologize for having a passionate job, Olivia you are the heart and body of New York's Special Victims Unit,"

Olivia too took a turn in being cut off as Alex continued, "-Really, Liv," informalities thrown out the window now. "I don't think I would push myself so much if it weren't for you, you really inspire me to – to be a better person, for the hundreds of victims out there. I" – Think I really do love you, "Appreciate your friendship, and I have had something on my mind for a really long time." Alex paused, "Olivia would you go out to dinner with me? " Seeing the confused expression across from her she hastily added, "To make up for our fight, for all our fights, a kind of truce?"

Olivia stood transfixed, almost statuesque as she metabolized the information for what it was. Alex? Did Alex Cabot just ask me for dinner, or a 'quote – on –quote dinner'? Jesus Christ, Liv, how pathetic – you come in here to ask HER for a make-up dinner, fall apart and you get chivalry table turned in the process. Well, hot damn – don't just stand there staring, she looks like she's about to faint.

"I would love to, Alex. " Olivia breathed the name outward, as if her life depended on phrasing it as often as possible.

Alex swallowed down her initial fears as her confidence rose with her blood (recently dropping in anticipation). "Okay, it's a da-"Alex caught her slip instantly, "dinner date," lamely she added. "6:00pm Sunday night at Locanda Verde, is that alright?"

Olivia nodded; her body began to feel a slight trembling from her toes her to head. "Sounds great, I'll see you at 6." Unconsciously she winked at Alex before closing the door, her silhouette wavering out of the Attorney's vision from the other side of the smoked glass.

Alex stood there transfixed where Olivia just stood. "Did she just wink at me?"

Olivia was reaching into the depths of her pockets as her nerves ate her mobility, she pushed her hands in deeper trying to relinquish her nervousness at what just happened, replaying the situation in her mind. 'Did I just wink at her?'

***TBC

(Hope that chapter was okay. I wanted to throw in some more background to the case in the last chapter and a little more Olivia/Alex interaction as requested. Again thanks for reading.. I have a biology test in.. 7 hours.. I should probably sleep..Instead of dedicating study time I was thinking about this chapter..lol.. Oh boy).