I needed to add a Cabot chapter because she is amazing

Barba wasn't sure how long he allowed himself to be held, to be comforted, but when he heard Liv's phone ring he became acutely aware of where he was and what was happening. He felt Olivia shift beside him and he moved away, creating a gap between them on the couch. He wiped his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He had lost it, he had lost the very thin grip he had had on himself, but now it was time to get it back.

So he focused himself, much in the same way he would before court, and he listened to Liv's side of the phone conversation. She didn't say much, but he could sense from her tone that something had happened. Barba let himself hope for just a fraction of a second that Rollins and Munch had found something before catching himself and pushing the hope aside.

"Wait for backup," Benson said emphatically before hanging up.

Barba looked over at her, his face set in stone, refusing to allow the hope that had momentarily overtaken him to return. "What did they find?" He asked.

"They identified an officer who was within the vicinity of Rollins and Carisi when they spoke. Amanda looked him up and he has a sister in Rikers."

Barba nodded, slow and controlled, "what's next."

"They're meeting up with state police to bring him in. I need to call Alex."

Barba stood and began to pace again, this time to clear his mind, to allow himself to think. He continued until Benson hung up and put her phone away for the second time.

"Miranda will be released within the hour," she said with a nod, "Alex is working on getting Veronica out as well."

"You should be there," Barba told her.

"I'm staying where I'm at."

"You've got another ADA to protect, Liv."

"I've got that covered," she promised, "nothing is going to happen to either of you."

XXX

Alex sat on the hard bench she had been shown to over four hours ago. Her legs were crossed and her black heels moved as she tapped her foot in the air. The corrections officers that had met her at the door when she had arrived that afternoon had told her to come back in the morning, he nearly pushed her out of the door when the warden had come and informed him she could stay.

So she sat on the hard bench staring at the blank wall and listening to the faraway sounds of jail life. She had spent time on her phone, calling judges and DAs, trying to pull strings, but was told the same thing over and over again, she would have to wait.

So instead she had reviewed the files Liv had given her and started to organize her case. But two hours in her mind had begun to wander. The dull and flickering lights above were starting to give her a headache.

She had been in Rikers countless times before, most often to make deals with defendants. This place had a feeling, one she was usually able to push aside when she had a job to do, but right now it seemed to encase her. It was a feeling of hopelessness. It pulled her in.

She remembered the last time she had felt like this. When she had gotten into that SUV, sure that it was the last time she would see Olivia or Elliot. When they drove away leaving the lights of New York behind. When what was supposed to be her safehouse became her prison.

Footsteps to her right jolted her back into the present and she looked up, alarmed to see that one of the guards she had spoken to earlier had stopped by her side.

"Got your prisoner for you," he growled. His hair was cut short and his stomach hung over his belt. He sounded like a heavy smoker, which was confirmed when Alex stood and was met with the stale smell of cigarettes. She picked up her bag from where it had been resting beside her and turned to face him.

"You know," he took a step forward that forced Alex back toward the wall, "if you knew what was good for you you'd keep that bitch in jail where she belongs."

"Is that a threat?" Alex asked with a tilt of her head and a narrowing of her eyes.

"Just some friendly advice. Wouldn't want anything happening to you, you're too pretty for that."

"You need to take me to Miranda now," she sidestepped the large man and began to walk down the hall. She kept her steps paced, she didn't want him to see the rush of adrenaline that was coursing through her body.

But when she felt his meaty hand on her shoulder, squeezing it, she froze. And in that moment a million thoughts ran through her head.

The hall was abandoned.

They were surrounded by corrections officers, god knew how many were involved in this.

Liv wasn't expecting her back any time soon.

"I guess you'll need some convincing." The grip on her shoulder tightened and when Alex tried to pull away he grabbed her by the hair and pulled her back with enough force to rip the hair from her scalp.

Alex fought, but his hands were too big and too strong. He gripped her wrists and began to pull her down the hall. She screamed and pulled back. Fought with everything she had to get away.

"Ain't nobody coming for you, baby," he laughed.

He pulled her fighting body toward a door on the right side of the hall, and when he turned his head Alex brought the heel on her shoe down into his foot with as much force as she could muster. She barely heard his yelp as her wrists were released and she ran down the hall. She pulled out her phone and tried to get Liv's number right, but her fingers fumbled, hitting wrong buttons. She rounded the corner and chanced a look back. He wasn't there.

"Alex!" A familiar voice called to her.

Alex looked forward just in time to avoid running into Stabler.

He put out his arms and steadied her. Her breathing was quick and her eyes were wide and frantic.

"What happened?"

She looked back again, the hall still clear. She ran her hand through her hair, trying to take that moment to collect herself. "We need to get Miranda out of here," she said, "now."

"Okay," Stabler nodded, "let's go."

They continued down the hall. Alex's breaths were still short as she tried to process what had just happened. "How'd you get here?" She glanced at Elliot beside her.

"Liv called," he said in a voice that was so familiar to Cabot but somehow so far in her past, "and I managed to keep a friend or two over the years that got me in here without a badge."

"I'm glad you're here," she said, looking down to see her blood smeared on her hand, "but I should warn you, these guys aren't messing around."

"Liv gave me the rundown. I'm a little short on details, but my best guess is that we took a step into Munch's mind and found ourselves in the middle of a conspiracy."

"It does sound like that, doesn't it..." Alex trailed off as they approached the processing area of the jail. The same man she had spoken to over four hours ago was still sitting there, magazine in hand and feet propped up on his desk.

"Officer Turner," she said.

He made sure to lazily flip through a few pages before finally looking up at her, "what?"

"What's the status on Miranda Frances."

"Like I said, you'll have to wait."

"No," Alex said, she stepped up to his desk and pulled the magazine from his hand, "you'll go find her now, and when you get your ass back here she better be with you."

He glared at her but didn't move.

"You really wanna piss off an assistant district attorney?" She asked, her own eyes narrowing, "because I'll make sure you never get a job in law enforcement again."

His face morphed, as though he was trying to determine whether or not she had that power. Ultimately he stood, but he was languid in his motions. "I'll be back," he muttered.

When he was finally gone Alex let out a sigh. She was only allowed a moment of peace before her phone rang, echoing through the long halls. She answered and it was Benson on the other line. She glanced up at Stabler as she spoke on the phone, her face falling. When she finally hung up she tightened her eyes shut for just a moment before opening them and nodding.

"We have to get someone else out," she said, feeling the impossibility of their new task weighing on her, "Veronica McNey, her brother is NYPD."