Chapter 11: Jealousy
The hunt for Stuckey was still on. They heard rumors that he had gone down to Philly to lie low for a while.
They formed a task force with NYPD and the Philly PD They were looking for the best way to take him down.
"We need him alive," Van Buren stressed. "He's not the boss, and we need to find out who the boss is."
"Hopefully, we get this goon this weekend." Lupo and Green headed to Philly. They had a hustler to catch.
They kept Alex informed of the case. She wanted the protective detail to end, but she wanted to have Cassie with her and it was nice having Olivia over, when she wasn't on the verge of tears. It hadn't been the movie that made her cry, it was the memories of being in the program and pining for Olivia, that's what made her cry.
No crying right now! I have work to do.
Casey stared at the clock. Olivia was often late, so this was no surprise, but she was starting to get nervous. What if she and Alex start to fall for each other again?
When Olivia did show up, she brought with her Chinese food and wine.
Right away, Casey felt guilty for her previous thoughts. "Oh you shouldn't have!"
Olivia kissed her. "Anything for my Pet."
They got the bottle open and started eating.
"So what's Alex's apartment like?"
"It's what you'd expect of her. Large, two bedrooms, everything in it seems new. She has a piano in there now."
"A piano?"
"Cassie likes to sing, so Alex plays along on the piano."
"She got a piano because her four year old wanted one?"
"It's not like she's in need of money."
"Oh right. What do you do there?"
"I play with Cassie. We eat dinner and then watch Disney movies until Cassie falls asleep. Alex usually reads after dinner, so I just watch sports on her tv."
"I know I'm prying, but it is strange to think that she sees you way more than I ever do."
"I wish it were you," Olivia said, "not that I want you in danger but …"
"I know what you mean. She sure attracts trouble."
"She must be a magnet." Last time, she refused to back down to Valez. This time, she just happened to catch the weirdest case.
They had another one of John's famous pizzas. This time, Alex made a salad to go with it.
"I can make some things."
"You didn't have to cook it," Trevor told her.
"Shut up McDonald's boy!"
They continued their banter to the piano where Alex started to play Be Our Guest. Trevor was Luminaire and John was Chip.
Cassie was happy that her family was coming together, but she wanted Olivia to be apart of it too.
She would have to wait for another day. Today, she got A Whole New World, Cruella Deville, I Just Can't Wait to be King and other Disney favorites before she fell asleep.
John couldn't get drunk since he was on duty, which meant more tequila for Alex and Trevor.
"So any girls on the horizon, Trev?"
He shook his head. "I feel a bit too old to be looking for Mrs. Right Now, and Mrs. Right is elusive to me. What about you?"
Alex shook her head. "And the saddest part is, I don't even miss sex anymore."
Trevor's eyes widened.
"I mean I like sex, don't get me wrong, but my libido went to hell in the program. I had insomnia, so they tried to give me medication for it, and that fucked up my hormones. When I was over the insomnia, I got diagnosed with depression, and after that they thought I could have PTSD, but I left South Dakota before anyone knew for sure.
I was too messed up to process how messed up I was, and I had a son to raise. I just forgot about sex. It wasn't that important at the time."
"Have you seen anyone since you've been back?"
Alex shook her head. "I probably should. I don't even know anymore. I think therapy is bullshit."
Alex fell asleep at her own kitchen table. John got her into bed, and Trevor departed for the night. He hated that Alex had gone through so much, and she had to face her demons alone. She was too headstrong to let anyone fight with her.
Olivia had to get to Alex's apartment at 6AM. When she got there, Munch explained, "she got a bit tanked last night and is still asleep."
"You got her drunk?"
"Not me. She had another friend over, and they had tequila time. Anyway, she probably will feel like hell when she wakes up."
Awesome, drunk duty!
Alex didn't get up until around 9:30. Cassie had already woken up, and she came to hug Alex.
"Hi Mama."
"Hi Cassie. Did you eat breakfast?"
"Yes. Livia made pancakes."
"Did you thank her?"
"Yes Mama."
"Did you want to go swimming today?"
"Yeah."
"Let's get you in your bathing suit."
Even hungover, Alex moved swiftly.
"Will you go swimming with us?"
"I don't have a bathing suit."
"Check that box." Alex pointed to the corner.
Olivia looked and realized, "this is mine." It was from three years ago. Olivia thought she had gotten all her stuff, but she must not have.
"I meant to mail it to you, but I never got around to it."
Sure enough, there was a bikini in there, and Olivia got it on before they went to the pool.
Of course, it was the dark green bikini that Alex loved to see her in. Damn it!
Cassie got into the shallow end. Olivia joined her and Alex went to sleep in the pool chair.
"Why isn't Mama swimming with us?"
"Mama's still sleepy," Olivia told her.
"Oh."
Olivia didn't know Alex to be that much of a drinker. She hoped that the Bureau Chief wasn't developing a problem.
Alex woke up when her daughter shook water on her.
"Hey Cassie."
"Mama!" Alex looked lovely in her sky blue bikini.
"How was your swim?"
"It was fun. We played Marco Polo!"
"Ready to head in?"
"Yeah."
Olivia was dripping wet. It should be illegal to look that good.
"Do you mind if I use your shower?" Olivia questioned.
"Go ahead."
Olivia went into the master bathroom, which had a smart shower. You could program the temperature and pressure.
I missed this shower Olivia grumbled as she thought back to the times Alex would wash her in there.
Flashback: April 2003
A strong pulse of water hit the detective's back as she stood in the shower. The water moved all around, somehow finding every knot.
Long delicate fingers teased her front, starting with her collar bone and moving all around her erogenous zones.
"Turn around," Alex whispered, directing the water to Olivia's front as she massaged her back.
Suddenly, the water cut off. The loss of heat made Olivia's nipples harder than they already were. Alex covered her in soap and put cool water on, shocking the detective's taut skin.
Alex proceeded to warm the detective with her mouth and fingertips, kissing and touching all over.
Present
Olivia's fingers found themselves inside of her wetness, moving in the same pattern Alex had used with her four years before.
She let out a shrill that she hoped no one else heard as she came hard, having to grip the shower bar to stay standing.
How does she still have a hold on me?
She dried off and got dressed. When she came out to the living room, Alex was on the phone.
"I'm looking forward to it."
"…"
"See you soon."
Olivia wondered if she had a date. She felt her blood boiling.
Alex turned to Olivia. "Lisa's coming over with her daughter."
"Lisa?"
"My sister in law."
"Oh right," Olivia's jealousy faded.
Alex made a phone call to Liz to get her cookie recipe.
"Since when do you bake?"
"Lisa and Ace are coming over."
"And you didn't invite me?"
"I …"
"I'm just teasing, Alex. I do have a life you know, but I will bring over a batch of cookies."
"You're the best."
A few hours later, Liz was standing in Alex's apartment with a platter of chocolate chunk cookies.
"Cassie, I want you to meet someone."
The little girl had been coloring with Olivia when she heard her name being called. She ran to the front.
"Cassie, this is my Aunt Liz. Liz, meet Cassie Walker."
Liz learned from Jack that Alex had the little heiress, but she wasn't ready for the girl to look just like Alex. "Aren't you a cutie?"
"Hi," Cassie was a little nervous.
"Liz made us cookies."
"Yay!"
"What do you say Cassie?"
"Thank you Aunt Liz."
"She's too cute," Liz told Alex of the girl. "Where's your bodyguard?"
Alex looked up and Olivia wasn't there.
The judge intimidated the detective.
"Detective Benson, come out, come out wherever you are."
Alex knew exactly what Donnelly was doing. "Liz, why are you tormenting her?"
"Because I can," she said haughtily.
Olivia sheepishly came out. "Hello your Honor."
"I'm not on the bench right now. I'm just Liz." She turned to Alex. "When is Lisa getting here?"
"She got in a cab right before you got here."
Liz turned to the girl who was hugging Olivia's leg. "What did you do today?"
"Livia and I swam while Mama slept in a chair. Then, I took a bath, and we had lunch and then we colored with my crayons."
"Do you want to show Aunt Liz your dolls?"
Cassie went to go get one. She came back with her business Barbie. "This one looks like Mama."
Liz went to go play with Cassie. She gave Alex a look over her shoulder.
Sneaky
"I figured you could use the reprieve," Alex told Olivia.
Thank you, she mouthed.
20 minutes later, the doorbell rang. Olivia checked the door before letting Lisa and little Alex into the apartment.
"Olivia, it's good to see you," she said warmly. She was about 5'5, brown hair and eyes with a slender build.
"You too," Lisa was one of the nicer Cabots. "Who's this cutie?"
"This is Alexandra Caroline Ellsworth Cabot."
"Does she go by Alex?"
"We call her Lexi."
"Hi Lexi." Olivia crouched down to say hi to the small girl.
Lexi poked her head out from behind her mother's leg.
Alex came out of her bedroom and smiled. "Lisa!"
"Alex!" Lisa handed little Alex to Olivia and gave her sister in law a hug.
"Where's my niece?"
Olivia put the girl down.
"Hi Ace." Alex scooped her up.
"Hi Auntie."
Alex called out to her daughter. "Cassie, Liz, we have guests."
Cassie ran out to see two new people in the apartment.
"This is your Aunt Lisa, and your cousin Ace."
"Hi!"
The two girls looked at each other.
"Wanna play!"
"Yeah!"
The two girls ran off together.
"Cassie looks just like you," Lisa told her. "She could pass for a Cabot better than Lexi."
"Oh Ace is too cute. It's good that she looks more like you than Graham."
"There's so much to talk about. I don't even know where to start."
"I think we should start with coffee," Alex said as she went to start pouring mugs.
The two women started chatting about the Cabots and the foundation.
This left Olivia with Aunt Liz, uncomfortably so.
"I'm not going to bite you," Liz told her bluntly.
"Sorry," Olivia said. "I'm a bit nervous."
"A bit might be an understatement. What are you so nervous about?"
"You're Alex's family, and I'm the ex, and I …"
"Screwed the pooch."
Olivia bowed her head down.
"There's nothing wrong with making mistakes," Liz told her. "I know I've made plenty in my lifetime. The question is, are you going to give up or are you going to put up a fight?"
Olivia didn't have an answer for the question.