DISCLAIMER: The copyrighted characters of any TV program, movie, or published work of fiction are the property of their owners/creators. In this case, Law and Order SVU and Dick Wolfe. No copyright infringement is intended and nothing is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.
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Could Have Been Colder
Chapter Nine
The air was warm. Just enough breeze to move her hair. Olivia walked towards the park bench that faced the Hudson. Christina watched the birds pitch and dodge one another. Flight is so peaceful.
Olivia sat gently on the bench next to the woman she had grown to love like a mother over the last three years. There is a language between the two that needs no verbal communication. Months of sitting in waiting rooms, planning and settling affairs, their relationship was as close as one could be without being truly blood related.
They both stared a few moments at the water and watched the sun begin to sink towards the horizon. After taking a deep breath Christina broke the silence.
"Shall we go?" She stood and slowly turned towards Olivia. Reluctantly Olivia stood. She waited a few seconds for Christina to reach her side before starting on her path back towards home. Olivia turned and took one last look at the panorama.
"We came here a lot. It is quiet and serine. Time seemed to pass very slow here." She was not revealing anything new to Christina. She said this almost every time they met here. Every Tuesday. Christina is silent. She likes this time, even if it is short. Olivia reached out her hand to help the older woman walk up the slight incline. Christina tucked her arm into Olivia's. When they reached street level, a black limo pulled up and stopped just in front of them. The driver got out and started around the rear of the car, but Olivia stopped him.
"Samuel, I have it thank you." She smiled has she reached out and pulled the handle. She helped Christina in the car and then followed. Christina waited till they pulled away from the curb before she gave her request.
"Samuel, can you take us around the park once, please."
"Yes,Mam." He said looking at the pair through the rear view mirror. He was already heading in that direction. This too was a Tuesday ritual. He smiled slightly at them. It was good to see Mrs. Cabot have someone she could lean on. Someone with the same mind set. She had been through so much. They both had.
"So, what will it be tonight?" Olivia asked.
"How about a little Grateful Dead?" Christina said with a smile. Olivia chuckled. She opened Pandora on her IPHONE and placed it in the stand between them.
"In the attics of my life, full of cloudy dreams unreal.
Full of tastes no tongue can know, and lights no eyes can see.
When there was no ear to hear, you sang to me."
"Awh 'Attics of My Life'." Olivia said.
"I think you cheat." Christina said. "You always get the first one."
"That's because I am a born listener." Olivia said with a smile.
"Find me out awalkin'…."
"Creedence!" Christina shouted. "I loved this song. Reminds me of my father."
Olivia looked at her puzzled. Christina looked out the car window as if to see her father standing on the corner. "When he was very young, he was forced to go out and earn money for the family. I believe he was 11 when he got his first job." She paused to remember the rest of the story. "He sold rags, shoe paste and ladies perfume. He did well, for the time."
"So, that's how the family business got started." Olivia said.
"Yes, he started in Yonkers. Won't he be proud now to see that we are in almost every state in the USA." She said with pride.
"Ladies, we are here." Samuel said from the front seat. Both women were brought back to the present. Christina reached out and grabbed Olivia's hand and squeezed it tightly. Bracing them for things to come.
The room was set in traditional style. Large conference table with leather backed chairs pushed tightly under the table's edge. In front of each chair was a folder, pen and water glass. The view was of the park. Central park. Alex's favorite place to get lost in a book. But not too lost once she started working for SVU. Much, too much violence happened in the park at times. It was a beautiful green postage stamp among the granite and steel that guarded it.
The glass wall that faced the outer office space was slightly etched with the logo for ACCO. A beautiful hand scripted AC that matched Alex's handwriting. Olivia had insisted that they use that touch. It made the place more real.
A large framed photo of Alex hung on the wall to the left. It was not stoic like many photos of corporate heads. It was of her sitting in the grass, legs tucked under her, blonde hair shining form the sunlight cast upon it. Her face was light by a smile made only brighter by the twinkle in her blue eyes.
Olivia and Christina were greeted at the door by Jack McCoy.
"Ladies. We were waiting for you." Jack said hugging them both.
"Sorry we are late, hard to get through town these days." Christina offered has she and Olivia walked around the room shaking hands with other board members. Each member taking their seat once they had greeted the pair.
Jack opened his folder, "Shall we begin?" He did not wait for a verbal answer. "Tonight's affair should prove to be very profitable for the organization."
"Yes, we have received a very large donation from Trump." Steve Michaels the organization's Treasurer.
"That's nice." Christina said. "What last minute items need to be attended too?"
Jack continued. "We are all set. We need to make sure that you and Olivia are near the stage when the live auction begins. Arthur Branch will begin the auction with bidding on the box seats at all three races of the triple crown."
Olivia lost interest in the discussion once they started directing her were to be. She knew Christina would make sure she was where she needed to be and when. Where she sat, where she always sat, was just to the left of Christina who sat at the head of the table. She could look out at the New York Skyline has the building began to light the night's sky. She could also stare at Alex's picture without being obvious. 'Good she was beautiful.' She said in her head. She said it every time she sat in that room.
"All right then. All is set." Jack McCoy stood up and looked in Christina's direction. "I will see beautiful ladies in about…" He looked at his watch. "Two hours." He bent to give Christina a kiss on the cheek and then to Olivia. Olivia took a deep breath; placing both hands on the table she pushed herself to a stand.
She hated charity events.
Twenty minutes later outside Olivia's Manhattan Apartment
"Olivia, dear, it will be fun." Christina patted her hand. They were parked in front of Olivia's apartment. An apartment that at first Olivia refused to live in, but Christina and Evan insisted. It was a gift from them. But she in the end she gave in, once she saw the view.
"I know. It's just…" Olivia hesitated.
"Do your best, Olivia." Christina let go of her hand. They shared a smile and then Olivia existed the limo.
"Evening Ms. Benson."
"Evening, Ben. How are things?"
"Great. Thanks for asking."
Olivia ducked into the door and headed for the elevators. She looked at her watch. "6:30." She had just enough time to shower, dress and get the rest of the team together. The elevator arrived and she entered, put her key next to number 16, turned the key and waited till she arrived at her floor. Her floor. The whole floor. The elevator opened, she stepped out into her front foyer. Music was playing and every light was on in the place. "For the love of God!" She went room to room turning off lights. She stopped at the study. She looked at the portrait above the mantle. ', wonderful Alex.' She continued on her journey towards her bedroom. When she reached her bedroom, she kicked her shoes off and sat on her bed. She turned her head towards the bathroom. She could see the mirror from where she sat. She just looked. She traced her outline. She watched her chest rise and fall with each breath. Her shoulders drooped just a little more these days. She hesitated. This always happened just before she got ready.
Olivia walked towards the bathroom. She stopped at the mirror. She looked at the reflection. A single tear began to escape from her eye. She gently wrapped her arms around Alex. Both still looking at their reflection. Olivia gave the towel a soft tug and it fell to the ground. Alex instantly placed her hands over her chest. Olivia placed hers over Alex's and gently pulled them away.
"You are beautiful. I Love you." Olivia whispered in her ear. "Your body does not define who you are. Your heart does." Alex leaned back into Olivia. Olivia placed a simple kiss upon Alex's neck. The pair stared just a moment longer at their reflection and smiled.
Would I really let Alex die?