Alex stays away for three days and then it's the weekend. I try to call her, but she doesn't answer her phone. I know she's angry and she has the right to be. But I'm worried about her and I miss her. So much.

I spend the weekend moping and worrying about Alex, wishing she was by my side right now. I call her every other hour, but her cell phone is off.

Monday morning, I decide I can't take it anymore. I call Captain Cragen and tell him I'm going to be late for work. Instead of going directly to the precinct, I take a cab to the DA's office. I march down to Alex's office and knock on the door.

"Who is it?" calls a slightly shaky voice.

It makes me pause a moment, but then I call back, "It's Liv. Can I come in?"

"Hold on." I hear her footsteps advancing toward the door and she clicks the lock before opening it. Taking a deep breath, she says, "Hi."

Although her hair and makeup are immaculate as ever, the dark bags under her eyes tell me that something's wrong. "Hey," I say as gently as I can. "How's it going?"

The look on her face scares me for a moment, and I think she might slam the door in my face, but she doesn't. "Why don't we talk about this later?"

"Okay," I agree quickly, just glad she's talking to me again. "My place. After work."

She nods. "I'll see you then."


I'm filled with nervous anticipation the entire day. All I can think – and worry – about is Alex. What's wrong? But at least she's talking to me again. And she's coming over after work. And we can talk.

I'm pacing around my apartment at 9:00 when I hear the knock on the door. I got home two hours ago and I'm thinking she's probably not going to come, but I fling it open and there stands Alex Cabot. Breathing a sigh of relief, I step aside so she can come in.

Pushing a few magazines from the couch to the coffee table, she sits down gingerly, wrapping her arms around herself. I sit down beside her and don't say anything.

Without looking at me, Alex says quietly, "There was traffic."

"That's okay," I tell her. "I'm just glad you came."

She plays with a fiber of her shirt, staring at it as if the most interesting thing in the world right now. Still, she doesn't say a word. To my astonishment, I see that she's fighting back tears.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" I ask as gently as I can, aware that she's not going to make this easy for me, but it's in both of our best interests for her to tell me what's bothering her.

She still doesn't say anything, but to my surprise she leans back and rests her head on my shoulder. My heart melts in that one action and I know she doesn't want me to push her, but still, I have to know.

"Did he do something, Alex? Did he hurt you?"

She knows who I mean, but shakes her head. However, we both know she's not being honest.

"It can only hurt you when you keep it inside," I murmur, stroking her hair. "If you let it out, you're taking control of it, and it can't hurt you anymore. If you stay silent, he wins."

She looks up at me, her blue eyes bottomless orbs of sadness. "He was calling me. He said – he said we should get together again."

"And what did you say?" I ask quietly, continuing to run my fingers through her hair.

"I told him to leave me alone. But he said he we needed to stay in touch. The implication was there." She looks at her hands, and her next words make her seem more vulnerable than I've ever seen her before. "I'm not a child anymore, but still – I don't know if I'd be able to stop it." She sighs. "It's not supposed to be like this."

"I'm not going to let him hurt you," I assure Alex, holding her tightly. "And what happened doesn't make you weak. You're brave, Alex, and we're going to get through this."

She looks at me again. "We?"

"Yeah. You and me. We."

She smiles a bit, leaning her head on my shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault."

"No, for getting upset with you after . . . you know. I know you were only trying to help."

I hold her in my arms, rocking her gently like she's a small child until her breathing evens out and I know she's asleep.

Pressing a soft kiss to her temple, I murmur, "I love you," even though I know she can't hear me. Maybe it isn't something she needs to hear, but it's something that I need to say. Because I do love her. More than anything.

How about that? Review for chapter eleven!