Author's Notes: Damn you guys got lucky. I got up this morning and it was sunny so I went for my morning run and walked my dog before deciding it was too hot to be outside so I came inside. Got bored and figured hell it was time to get a bit deeper into this. Now I'm sure there is going to be some anger or at least some sort of why the hell did you have to go and ruin this by adding a OC? Well to be honest I needed someone who knew what was going on and I saw no way around adding her in. Julia is based very roughly off a woman I met a long time ago in the BDSM scene. She was lovely and cold and I liked the way she handled things. She read people easily and I always admired that. Of course humans aren't perfect and I tried to make Julia as human as possible by not making her this all knowing all perfect character. That would be boring right? If she does seem to perfect or something let me know and I'll try to tweak her a bit more to make her a bit more human. Unfortunately like I said I needed her for this. Don't worry though. She won't interfere in the A/O loving. That is a must for this thing. Nor will she be with any of the other SVU characters from the show. She's only there to help them with the case. So onward to the story and don't forget to review yeah?

Chapter 3:

By: Isabella

Two weeks went by with no leads or breaks in the case whatsoever. The detectives had decided it was going to run cold and began to focus on other cases when Alex made her way into the squad room early that morning. It was beginning to sleet outside. The snow and rain clinging to Alex's slender form and beautiful blonde hair gave it a slight sheen even in the harsh fluorescent lights of the precinct. Olivia couldn't help but admire how beautiful she actually looked as she took her coat off folding it over her arm as she moved towards her desk.

"Hey Counselor. What can we do for you today?" Elliot asked as Olivia smiled at her.

"I think you two need to come with me. There's someone I want you to meet." Alex murmured keeping her voice low.

"What's this concerning Cabot?" Elliot glanced at Olivia who arched a brow and looked back at the beautiful blonde attorney.

"Your Jane Doe."

"You found out who she is?" Olivia asked her brow knitting as she studied Alex's hauntingly beautiful face.

"No. I don't have any idea how to find that out but I know someone that may be able to shed some light on what's going on here. If you two will come with me I'll take you to them."

Olivia looked at Elliot who shrugged and stood up putting his coat on. Olivia followed suit pulling on her well-worn brown leather jacket and following behind Elliot strode out of the station house with Alex. The three made their way down the main stairs and out into the sleet.

"We can either take a cab or you can drive. Which do you prefer?" Alex asked.

"I can drive Cabot as soon as you tell us what's going on." Elliot folded his arms looking over at Alex.

The beauty sighed softly looking at them. "It's not something I'm proud of but my connection may break this case for you and frankly that's all I'm thinking about at the moment."

Olivia stared at Alex. Witness protection really had changed her quite a bit. She was no longer the arrogant politically driven lawyer she once had been. Instead she was merely concerned for the victims and even though this obviously shamed her quite a bit she was concerned enough to step forward with it to help break the case. Olivia had to admire that about Alex. Even though during their time working together, the two had been merely work friends, once she'd moved past the arrogant façade the blonde threw up, they'd never been particularly close. Towards the end of Alex's third year with them, a few months before the whole Livia Sandavol incident they were getting closer but it was nowhere near the level Olivia had wanted them too. Then Alex had been taken away and even though Olivia was resentful of the time they'd spent apart she found herself liking this Alex much better than the one she'd only just begun to get to know.

Elliot sighed and nodded, "All right. Let's just take the Crown Vic it'll save us time instead of trying to flag down a cab. Where exactly are we heading to?"

"The Skyline Hotel. "

Elliot glanced at Olivia who shrugged and nodded, "Okay. Skyline it is."

When the three reached the elegant luxury hotel the two detectives looked to Alex. "So where is this person?" Olivia asked seeing Alex glance around as well.

"In the pool up on the penthouse floor." Alex responded knowing exactly where the person she was looking for was.

"Excuse me? Can I help you with something?" A young man dressed in a very nice suit came out from behind the desk looking over the detectives before his eyes settled on what he assumed was the one with the most money in the group, Alex Cabot.

"Yes, we're the police." Elliot smiled flashing his badge. "We need to go up to your pool. Will that be a problem?"

The young man stuttered and shook his head, "No sir. Would you like me to escort you up there?"

"That won't be necessary." Olivia smiled at the nervous looking young man. "Just take the elevator up right?"

"Yes ma'am; penthouse floor. If you need anything please don't hesitate to let us know." He returned to the front desk still looking a bit flustered.

Alex moved towards the elevator and pushed the button removing her long wool coat as she waited for the elevator to ding signaling its arrival. Elliot and Olivia kept their jackets on which truly wasn't surprising. It seemed especially Olivia used her coat as a shield. At least to Alex that's how it appeared. Alex shifted and took a deep breath letting it out slowly. She was nervous as hell and it showed in the gold gilded doors that boxed them in. When the door dinged letting them out on the penthouse floor she felt her stomach drop as the Detectives made their way to the clear glass doors and opened them revealing exactly what she knew they would find. In the pool in front of them was a woman. She stepped out of the water as soon as she others standing in the large indoor room. The sleet beat down on the windows and skylights all around. In a room full of white and brows, Alex's former mistress was the only splash of color in her light blue bathing suit with her long red hair that was soaked from the water pushed back behind her ears. It had been a long time since they'd last looked upon each other. She still looked as beautiful as she remembered.

"Hello Alexandra." Julia greeted as she stepped from the pool water dripping off her frame. She squeezed it out of her long red hair moving to grab a soft fluffy towel from a nearby chair. "What brings you here today?" She asked her blue eyes softening with kindness at her former pet.

Alex took a breath, "I need your help. Can you please answer the questions of the Detectives?" She asked her stomach twisting painfully.

Julia smiled softly toweling water out of her face. "I suppose so. But it depends on what I'm being asked as to whether or not I'll give the answers you seem to think I have."

She pushed her wet hair back and sat down on the reclining chair smiling at both Detectives. Elliot stepped forward glancing at Olivia as the woman wrapped the towel around her frame. She wasn't fat per se rather she had a full frame. She was also quite tall. She wasn't as pretty as Alex or Olivia per se but she was pretty in her own right.

"Ma'am I'm Detective Stabler, this is my partner Detective Benson." Elliot motioned towards Olivia and then turned his own blue eyes back to the meet the woman's. They were same color as his he noticed. She smiled and he noted a small scar across her upper lip that caused one of side of her mouth to dip lower than the other part. He wondered where she'd gotten such a scar. Truly it was only a hairline scar barely noticeable to anyone but it was noticeable to him because he paid close attention to any sort of defining facial features.

"Julia." She answered easily but Elliot noticed she didn't give a last name. "What can I do for you today Detectives?"

"Ma'am." Olivia said softly stepping in to the questioning.

"You can call me Julia. It won't bother me. No need to stand on such archaic terms of politeness. We're all friends here. At least I assume that's why Alexandra has brought you here anyways." She interrupted.

Olivia nodded not remarking on her words, "Julia, my partner and I are investigating a homicide; a rape homicide to be exact. Do you know anything about that?"

Julia blinked cocking her head slightly. Olivia noticed she always kept it a little twisted to the right but now it was even more prominent with her movements. Water continued to drip from her hair and onto her slightly freckled white skin. She shook her head with a smile. "I'm sure I couldn't tell you anything about that. I just got back into town from a trip abroad."

"Ma'am, Julia," Elliot corrected himself. "Do you know anything about a mark? A mark scalded into the skin. A mask."

For a moment Julia continued to sit there before she rose to her feet collecting her shoes from under the chair.

"Julia please tell them what you know." Alex begged softly. Both detectives looked at her startled by her voice interrupting their questioning.

Julia paused and turned her eyes no longer warm. Her mouth was set in deep frown making her look older than she actually appeared to be. "That's not something I can discuss Detectives. I'm sorry. I cannot help you. If you'll excuse me."

"Lady we're not done yet." Elliot moved towards her.

"Yes Detective we are. Good day." With that the woman made her way from the room heading to what appeared to be a locker room.

"What does she know Alex?" Olivia asked looking at the ADA who was staring after the woman with a hurt expression on her face.

"I don't know. But I've seen that mark before. She was the one who told me to stay away from the person with it; although it was different back then."

"What do you mean?" Elliot twisted on his heel facing the ADA now as well.

"It was a tattoo; a mask that was done in green, purple, and gold. Not a burn mark like that but it was the same shape."

Alex was sitting in her office late that very same day trying not to think about the conversation she'd been a part of with her former mistress. She was forcing herself to work on her opening arguments for a case that was being presented next week and though she was loath to admit it she was having a terrible time concentrating on what she was doing. She put her pen down pulling her glasses off and setting them aside as she took a breath closing her eyes and laying her head back on the chair. It was almost eight o'clock most of the other people in the building had gone home including her assistant. She was alone with her work but a knock at her door pulled her from those thoughts. "Come in." She called.

The door pushed open and standing in her doorway was Julia. "Hello Alexandra."

"Julia." Alex rose to her feet staring at the woman in front of her. Julia made no move to step into the room keeping her hold on the doorway. When her hand shifted Alex noticed the scars.

"Where did those come from?" She couldn't help but ask.

Julia smiled. "I fell through the floor in an abandoned building. Remember how I used to love to go and photograph them when we were together? How much you used to hate going?"

"I was afraid something like that would happen."

Julia nodded, "Well it did. May I come in?"

"Of course but I know why you're here."

"Do you?" Julia asked as she moved into the room sitting not on the chairs in front of Alex's desk but instead on the small couch that sat off to one side near the bookshelf full of law books.

"You're angry with me for earlier." Alex stated as she moved towards the couch.

Julia smiled softly, "I'm not mad. I'm not upset. I'm not agitated or annoyed. I'm nothing of that sort. I'm…worried."

"Worried?" Alex queried as she moved to sit down beside her.

Julia nodded her long hair moving only slightly as she shifted. Her black jeans brushed Alex's bare lower thigh. Julia crossed her legs her wedged heels shifting slightly as she shook her foot. It was a habit she'd had as long as Alex could remember.

Julia sighed softly, "Do you remember when you brought that girl around? What was her name? Betty?"

"Betsy." Alex supplied knowing exactly who Julia was thinking of.

"Betsy yes that was it. Betsy. My memory is going in my old age." Julia sighed, "She had the mask on her shoulder. And I told you to stay away from her. That the mask represented something you shouldn't get involved in. Do you remember?"

"Yes but you never explained why."

"You were my pet; I didn't have to explain anything to you. I kept it from you because I knew how curious you were. I did it for your own safety. I am surprised though. If one of theirs turned up dead, they normally wouldn't let it be so easily found."

"How can you talk about someone like she's nothing but an object?" Alex asked a bit outraged. She stood from the couch looking down at Julia.

Julia for her part remained calm. "It was that temper of yours that often got you punished Alexandra. I thought I trained you to control it much better than that?"

Alex gritted her teeth. Julia never called her Alex as everyone else did. It was always Alexandra. She always said it was more elegant than Alex. Alex made her think of something common. Alexandra was something extraordinary. At the time Alex had loved the sentiment. She loved the fact that the woman she'd admired looked at her as something extraordinary. Now it was just something else that was making her angry at the woman sitting in front of her.

"I'm sorry." Alex apologized even though she knew she shouldn't. She wasn't the one in the wrong.

Julia sighed, "I'm sorry as well. You're not my pet anymore and I'm much colder about everything than I should be. I should consider your feelings before I go and say things like that. I'm sure she was lovely and I'm sure she didn't deserve to die. No one does in that situation. But it's happened and it will happen again if it was them. They've gotten much more vicious over the years. They never used to be like that. It was a different world when I was a part of it."

"You were a part of it?" Alex asked softly moving to sit back down beside her.

"Of course I was. How else do you think I got the scar on my face?" Julia asked smiling at Alex.

"The scar on your lip…you never would tell me…" Alex trailed off.

Julia nodded, "Came from them. But it was an accident. I wasn't supposed to scar but facial cuts are a bit harder to heal since the skin is so much thinner on the face than anywhere else." Julia shrugged. "It doesn't upset me. And you shouldn't worry about it."

"How can you defend them if you know what they've done not only to you but to that girl?"

"Because I know what you're trying to get yourself into." Julia shot back just as easily. She sighed softly. "Listen to me I haven't been around you in a long time. But I still like to think I know you pretty well even though I know you've changed a lot. You tend to stand up for what's a lost cause that will end up getting you hurt or killed and those you care for hurt. That dark eyed detective. Benson right?"

Alex straightened up staring at Julia. "What about her?" She asked feeling her heart begin to pound in her chest.

"She cares for you. Quite a bit I'd say. I saw it in her eyes when I spoke to you; she tensed and took a step towards you. She stopped when she noticed I saw but you and the other Detective were looking at me and didn't notice. She wanted to protect you from what she thought was a viable threat given by someone she didn't know. And you, you care for her too."

"That's absurd…" Even as Alex denied it she knew it was true.

"Is it? You jump to deflect it very quickly which tells me it's true. You never were able to lie to me Alexandra. The rest of the world yes, even yourself but never me. Consider her if you can't consider yourself and the consequences you could bring down on her." Julia stood up smiling softly at Alex. "It was good to see you again. You look as beautiful as I remember but for your sake I hope we don't see each other again."

Alex opened her mouth to say something but no words came out. Julia just kept smiling her eyes crinkling in the corners as she moved past Alex and out the door.

Author's Ending Notes: Again with the awkward ending place. Geez. Well now we know a bit more of what is going on or at least we have someone who can shed some light on the situation. Like I asked before please let me know if you think she's too perfect or whatever and I'll try to tweak her to make her seem more human. She is supposed to be cold and no she has no romantic feelings for Alex anymore. Nor does Alex feel them for her. It's more they still have a level of trust that these relationships establish. I have it with a former lover so I do know it exists. Errr...yeah let me know what you think. If I get bored I may work on the next chapter. Who the hell knows? I'll have to see what's going on when my wife gets home and all that. Also let me know if you think the idea is just proving to be too twisted or whatever and I'll try and tone it down or up depending on what others say.