AN: I apologize for the lack of updates going on with this! Living the life of a musician has it's tolls, and now that it's fall rehearsals are starting to pick up and I'm finding I have less time to myself, thus leaving me even less time for writing. Here's a small update, I'm hoping to have another one up in a week or so :)

It had been a week. Eight days, actually, if Alex was remembering correctly. As the Special Victim's Unit had gained quite a few new and chaotic cases which led to the successful capture of a serial rapist and murderer, but left everyone with little time for small talk and even less for personal thoughts. And for Alex Cabot, it was just what she needed to momentarily forget her careless actions involving Olivia Benson and seek the safe confines of her office where she assumed the role of impenetrable. A true force to be reckoned with. Nobody could break her down or see through her. It was only when she assumed this persona that she felt safe. Confident. Cut off from the rest of the world. Emotionless. Here to do her job, nothing more nothing less. That's what she always did. Until she came along and got under her skin, somewhere along the lines. Alex wasn't sure of where.

Secrets are easy to keep when you don't have friends. Nobody to connect with on a different level to give you that overwhelming urge to share. Alex learned this early on in college and had adopted a non-stop air of professionalism early on in her career. When she first started working with SVU, that professionalism was easy. By that time, it was second nature. Olivia was changing that, whether she was aware of it or not. Alex was quick to crumble under the detective's passionate and intent stares that always fell on her. Be it a search warrant or a trivial reason to hold someone until they could find proper evidence, Alex always gave Olivia what she wanted. She could never stop herself. As their work relationship continued, Alex found herself continually amazed by the detective. She was drawn to her. And in her admiration for Olivia and the way she worked, she soon began to admire other things about her. Things she hadn't bothered to notice before. Her admiration led to an undeniable attraction to Olivia and as they became closer outside of work, she was finding her secret more difficult to hide.

Though, she couldn't really consider it a secret anymore now that she'd gone an outed herself to the object of her affections. Her own lack of discretion astounded and embarrassed her, and she had been infinitely grateful to find the first interaction between her and the detective regarding the first case that had dropped in their laps to be nothing less than professional. She didn't know why she expected otherwise. Olivia had called her multiple times the day after their occurrence. A voicemail pleading for Alex to answer her phone. Another stating that they needed to talk. She had taken an effort to make it clear that she didn't hate her. Alex had planned to return the phone calls, really. She just... got caught up with work. At least, that's what she told herself. It wasn't anything personal towards Olivia. The feelings Alex had before she foolishly made her move had not changed. But she buried them deep, hiding them away for the time being just as she had in the beginning. The ADA knew it was only a matter of time until they found their way to the top again, causing her to do something else to further her embarrassment. Distance. That was the key.

For Olivia, distance was becoming the problem.

The time that passed only caused her to become frustrated. Almost intolerable. Eight days of virtually no contact – none that she would have liked, at least – and she had become so irritable nobody wanted to deal with her. Cragen had actually threatened to send her home if she didn't tone it down. Getting a scolding from dad was the last thing that she needed, sending her into a silent fury. She sat at her desk, obviously irritated, antsy for something to come her way and take her mind off of things.

Almost out of habit, she found herself reaching for her phone and pressing the call button once Alex's name was highlighted on the screen. It didn't surprise her when it was sent to voicemail after a few rings. It only frustrated her more. She groaned and threw her phone on her desk, silently scolding herself for calling her again, eliciting a likewise groan from Elliot who looked up at his partner.

"Alright, what's goin' on?" he asked more out of annoyance than concern.

"Just... mind your own business, El. Okay?" Olivia replied, putting her hand up as she spoke before letting it fall onto her desk, next to her phone.

"That's what I've been doing for the past week," he began, getting up from his desk to walk over to Olivia's. "But when it start's affecting the job and my partner, it becomes my problem too." His eyes burned into Olivia. She knew what he was doing. Trying to read her. The same thing she did while talking to suspects or a victim that she felt was hiding something.

"C'mon, Liv. Talk," he pushed further. He was a damn good detective and was even better when it came to his partner. He sat back as a silent observer until he saw his moment to swoop in and get Olivia to open up to him and talk it out. Being around her as much as he was, it didn't take long for him to catch on to what was wrong, but assumptions never sat well with Olivia when she was involved; that he found out fast. He would just sit back and let her talk, just as he always did.

There were a few long moments of silence between them filled with various chatter and ringing phones before Olivia sighed, now with defeat.

"I seem to be in the doghouse with the work wife," she said before her mind could even register it. It was perfect to describe her situation with Alex without giving anything too personal away, and when she saw Elliot's amused look she couldn't help but laugh.

"Well I sure as hell know how that is," he told her earnestly.

Olivia looked at Elliot, trying to convey the seriousness of the situation and all that had happened with just a look. And although Elliot couldn't say that he understood exactly what was going on between them, he could sense that it was serious. It was taking an obvious toll on his partner and she had enough on her plate daily the way it was with all the horrible things they were forced to process each day.

"Go," Elliot finally said with a nod of his head. Olivia responded with a laugh.

"Go where, El?" she asked, sitting back in her chair.

"Listen, I don't know what exactly happened between you two and I know that's not my business, but it doesn't look too good. So, go talk to her. I'll cover 'til you get back," he told her, leaning in and lowering his voice simply out of respect for the other detective's personal affairs; whatever they may be.

She looked doubtful for a moment, but her features softened when she realized that he was giving her a perfect opportunity to do what she had been wanting to for the past week. If she found Alex in her office, she'd have her cornered and she would have to talk. Olivia was certain that she didn't deserve the ADA's attention after the way she had acted, and part of her didn't blame Alex for ignoring her the way she was, but they had to talk about it and the time seemed to have come. She offered Elliot a small smile before swiping her phone off the desk and standing.

"Thanks," she said quietly, hovering for a moment.

"Go," Elliot told her again, louder and stronger this time.

"Alright, I'm going!" she shot back, left no other choice but to begin her short travel to the ADA's office.
–

Olivia nervously rapped her knuckles against the glass of the door before her that read "ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALEXANDRA CABOT." Even her name on the door seemed intimidating. There was a rustle of papers. She heard Alex clear her throat. Her hand hovered before the doorknob and in those few moments she felt the familiar urge to turn and walk away as fast as she could. The ADA had the uncanny ability to unnerve her without any effort. And there it was, before she even had the chance to retract her hand.

"Come in."

Alex's eyes were fixated on the door and when Olivia entered her eyes gave way to her surprise and maybe even discomfort that her presence was causing. Olivia always read Alex through her eyes. Though she quickly composed herself, straightening up in her chair, her glasses perched on her nose. Perfect. As always.

"Detective, what can I do for you?" she asked coolly. As Olivia ventured further into her office, she nodded towards one of the chairs in front of her desk. Olivia took the vacant seat and silence fell over them, utter silence, in which their eyes became locked and Alex got lost. Olivia's gaze was always intense. Just something that came along with the package. But this time it was different. There was something else there. Something new.

"You can stop ignoring me, for starters."

Alex sighed. Laughed. Shook her head as if she didn't understand. "Detective you're currently sitting in my office and unless I'm mistaken we're currently speaking, so I'm not quite sure what you mean by ignoring you," she spoke, her voice strong and certain with just that little hint of condescending amusement that caused so many people to write Alex off without giving her a chance.

"So what, your phone just decides to shut off each time I call? Y'know, I don't blame you for ignoring me the first few times but if you'd have just answered the damn phone you would have known that I've actually been trying to apologize, Alex." Her eyes bore into Alex as she dove into the dreaded subject of that night. She refused to look away or back down. That was not who she was, which made her question why she had reacted the way she did even more. "I don't know why I did what I did, but I do know that you didn't deserve that. I just... God, Alex. I'm so sorry. And it would mean the world if you could forgive me."

Unexpected was the only word Alex could think of to describe the speech that Olivia had just made. The only thing she could do was to sit and stare. If she wasn't already feeling bad for ignoring the detective for the past few days, she definitely was now. The silence that had fallen between them was deafening. It was her turn to speak, Olivia had made that perfectly clear. And for once, she was rendered speechless. And in a moment that so desperately needed some comic relief, Olivia was quick to pick up on the other woman's silence.

"Alexandra Cabot at a loss for words... this is one for the history books."

Alex sat there for a moment, her mouth slightly agape. It slowly transformed into a small smile and with another moment she had released a quiet laugh. This elicited a smile and a laugh from Olivia as well as she leaned back in her chair, finally relaxing. The tension had been broken with laughter that they both so desperately needed after the week they had gone through and as it died down, Olivia sucked her bottom lip into her mouth, her head slightly tilted, looking at Alex with a smile in her eyes.

"Does that mean you forgive me?" she asked, feeling the need for confirmation that they were okay. As far as she was concerned, the conversation was far from over – they had just begun to dive into the subject – but what was most important was that she gained Alex's forgiveness. To know that Alex wasn't mad at her for what she did.

"Yes. Of course," Alex finally replied as if it was the most ridiculous question that she had heard.

"So... are you gonna tell me why you've been ignoring me or am I going to have to force it out of you?" Olivia asked curiously, adding the last bit on in hopes to ease Alex into the situation.

That was not the effect, however. And for a brief moment Alex retreated to a place in her mind that held a familiar scenario that was so hot, the blonde instantly felt her cheeks flush. Another moment of uncomfortable silence was enough to allow Olivia to register what, exactly, she had said. No time like the present, Olivia thought.

"Counselor, are you attracted to me?"

"Yes."