Disclaimer: I own nothing. Except Tate and Tyler
Abbie strolled into the lounge room and came up short at the sight in front of her. One delicate dark eyebrow arched high and a smile spread across her face as she took in the two women on the couch. Alex sat rather awkwardly at one end, head tipped back, mouth open and breathing deeply.
Olivia lay along the length of the couch, her head on a pillow on Alex's lap, also fast asleep, Alex's hand entwined in hers. She sighed softly, moments like these she wished she had a camera, or that she hadn't left her phone upstairs.
She moved quietly forward, glad she chose to leave her boots off. Olivia resembled a sleeping racoon, obviously she was lacking for some sleep. She figured, knowing her friend as she did, that she didn't get a lot of sleep last night, undoubtedly stressing. Taking a quick glance at her watch and noting the time as just shy of 7.30am she realised Olivia probably got up a good hour ago.
Crouching in front of her two good friends she decided to wake Alex with a gentle shake. Alex blinked her eyes open on a soft moan, uttering Tate's name. Abbie grinned.
"Sorry to disappoint there Al, just me and sleeping beauty" Abbie whispered then nodded down at Olivia. Alex looked down at Olivia and winced, raising a hand to rub the back of her neck. Abbie chuckled quietly "Stiff neck there Lex? I aint surprised the way you were sleeping"
Alex shot her a famous Cabot glare but Abbie had received many over the years and was unfazed by them. Putting aside her teasing for now she asked
"Everything OK?"
Alex looked down at her friend who was currently using her as a pillow, saw the dark circles around her eyes, the evidence of tear tracks and wanted to kill Elliot
"Elliot being an ass" Alex stated "He's pissed that Olivia is getting a life, one that will have her leaving New York"
"Will, not might?" Abbie asked intrigued. Well, well, things were finally looking up
"She never actually said but she certainly implied to him. She told me that she told Tyler she loved her last night and wants to be part of her life"
"That's a no brainer" Abbie drawled "No doubt Tyler feels the same way. So Olivia is thinking of leaving New York?"
"Apparently. She is over big city Policing and she loves Montana" Alex shrugged and used her free hand to gently stroke Olivia's hair and calm her when she stirred in her sleep.
"It would be weird, New York without Detective Olivia Benson, but I'd rather see Liv happy than stay in New York just cause Stabler deems it should be. I think Tyler is good for her, will keep her on her toes. I can't see Olivia getting bored with her or this place and she could easily do a course and transfer to Montana Police" Abbie considered her own words for a while and the more she thought about it the more she considered it right for Olivia.
"What about you Blondie?" Abbie asked next and watched a far away stunned expression creep over Alex's face
"Tate loves me" Alex whispered still awed that the incredible young woman was in love with her and wondered how incredibly lucky she was.
"Yep, and you love Tate, again a no brainer" Abbie chuckled then paused at the look of shock that crossed Alex's face "Cabot" Abbie growled "Please tell me you told Tate that too" and groaned when a guilty flush spread across Alex's face "Alex!"
"I've never been in love before" Alex defended herself softly but vehemently
"Before?" Abbie asked
"I think maybe I am" Alex admitted shyly "But I have been so programmed to ignore my feelings and do my duty that I don't know what to do"
"Ever try 'be happy'?" Abbie asked seriously and Alex looked down and away from Abbie
"I haven't been happy in so long I have forgotten how" Alex sighed
"Ok, let me ask you this. When was the last time you were happy?' Abbie asked as she moved to sit Indian style on the floor. Alex thought about it for a long time before quietly admitting
"Before I was shot, when Liv and I were friends and did things together, despite my family saying I wasn't upholding the Cabot image" she sighed as she remembered many arguments she had with her mother at how her friendship with a commoner may hurt her DA prospects. It had been the only time she stood up to her mother.
"OK and now, being with Liv again?" Abbie asked
"It's still rather new but I think of her as my best friend, the sister I never had" Alex smiled tenderly down at her friend "We want to spend some time to try and redevelop that old friendship we had. Beside's all the turmoil we are reconnecting"
"Ok and what about being out here, no New York, no hustle and bustle"
"No noise but the nature, no pollution, usually little crime, unfortunately we have seemed to bring that with us" Alex finished Abbie's sentence for her "I like it here, I can do my job from anywhere with a few trips to New York or Washington"
"Finally there is Tate"
Alex sat quietly contemplating her feelings, the comfort she felt in Tate's presence, the security she found in her arms, the pleasure she found in and out of her bed, the tenderness, the kindness and the love. Spiritual, emotional and physical. No one had ever shown her more love in her life. She'd only known Tate a few short days, plus 6 months back 5 years ago. It had to be too soon surely?
Then she looked down at her friend still sleeping soundly on her lap and realised that Olivia had only known Tyler for an extra couple of days, without any previous knowledge from 5 years prior.
Suddenly she was hit with an absolute epiphany, she loved Tate. OMG. She didn't know whether to laugh, cry or have a panic attack. She was 36! Tate was only 23. Tate was, Tate was
"Hey"
OMG Tate was standing in the door to the lounge room watching over them. Had she heard them talking? What was she thinking if she did, did she think she didn't love her?
"Calm down" Abbie whispered and she turned to her friend who was watching her with amusement while she panicked. It brought her back down to earth with a thump and she glared. Abbie laughed. Tate came forward and ignoring everyone else leant down to capture Alex's lips with her own in a fiery kiss that had Alex's head spinning before she finally pulled back.
"Hey beautiful" she grinned
"H...h...hi" Alex could only manage still dumbstruck. Wow, now who was stammering?
Tate looked down at Olivia, noticed the dark rings around her eyes with concern
"Olivia OK?" she asked
"A bit emotionally wrought, Elliot being an ass about her prospectively leaving New York" Abbie supplied while Alex was still occupied with staring adoringly at her partner.
"Really? Tyler would love that, I've never seen her so in love" Tate grinned "I think she would move to New York herself to be with Olivia. It would break her heart to leave Montana but it would kill her not to be with Liv now I think"
"Would you guys stop talking about me like I'm not here" Olivia groused grumpily drawing everyone's attention as she fluttered open her eyes.
"Hey you" Alex smiled "Nice nap?"
"Yeah, had a comfy pillow" Olivia grinned cheekily before sitting up, letting Alex's hand go with a last squeeze.
"Glad to be of assistance" Alex chuckled watching her friend finger comb her hair and stretch "I think maybe you need to go back up to bed my friend"
Olivia shook her head, she doubted she would get to sleep now anyway.
"How about I start breakfast for everyone, I think I can handle pancakes or something. Not as good as Tate but edible" she grinned and looked at Abbie pointedly "Come help Carmichael, you can make the coffee"
Olivia stood and stretched again, nodding her head at the kitchen and glaring at Abbie. Abbie, a smart girl, got the hint and clamoured to her feet.
Once in the kitchen Abbie shook her head and rolled her eyes at Olivia
"Well that was subtle Benson"
"Shut it" Olivia growled "Alex needs to talk to Tate, this is the perfect opportunity"
"Olivia Benson, matchmaker" Abbie laughed earning a smack on the arm before Olivia started searching the fridge for ingredients to make some breakfast.
In the lounge room Tate was watching Alex expectantly as she paced back and forth in front of the couch she was sitting on. Poor Alex was thrown, Olivia's less than subtle attempt to leave them alone had the normally cool blonde all flustered.
"Alex will you relax" she caught her lovers hand and pulled her down onto her lap. Alex sighed and snuggled in to her embrace. "Is this about me telling you I love you?" Tate sighed and Alex stiffened slightly in her arms. Tate felt her heart start to race in panic while outwardly she tried to remain calm, rubbing Alex's back "If you want we can just forget I said anything"
"No" Alex's reply was adamant as she sat up straight and cupped Tate's face "Never apologise for loving me or for saying it. Tate having you love me is one of the best things to have happened to me, I will treasure it and you always"
"Then what's wrong?" Tate asked truly confused and Alex sighed. She was such a chicken. Why couldn't she say it?
She opened her mouth just to blurt it out when suddenly her phone rang
"Fuck!" she screamed in frustration and dropped her head back onto Tate's shoulder, feeling the tension build in her again before scrambling to answer her phone. It was Elliot. After what she'd heard him say to Olivia she was very tempted not to answer but knew she needed to.
"Cabot" she snapped
"Wentworth has slipped through the net." Elliot was blunt and to the point "Fed's lost him sometime late last night or early this morning. We think he had an extra car or his hit man waiting"
Alex felt the blood drain from her face and the ringing started in her ears as she heard Tate's panicked voice, heard her yelling and the next second Olivia and Abbie were there. She felt someone trying to prise the phone from her hand and let it go.
Tate pulled her into her strong embrace and Alex closed her eyes, wanting to feel safe. She did, but it was with the underlying knowledge that Jonathon was somewhere out there, with his fucking assassin, and no one knew where.
"Who is this?" Olivia growled into Alex's phone, furious at whoever had upset her sister
"It's me Liv" Elliot replied
"What the hell did you say to her, you've practically made her catatonic" Olivia looked over at the blonde who was being lovingly cradled in her lover's arms
"I warned her that Wentworth has given the FBI the slip, they don't know where he is." Elliot sounded furious "We always did know they were incompetent asses Liv"
"Yeah we did" Olivia had to smile, then sighed "So what happened?"
"Best we can figure he must have had another car or had someone waiting at his hotel. The Feds were watching the car he hired at the airport. When it hadn't moved at 7am they made enquiries with the hotel. Found out he had a 4am wake up call." Elliot sighed and Olivia knew he was pacing. She could also hear a lot of angry voices in the background. The Feds hustling to find the shit and blaming each other
"So any idea on where he could be?" she asked and heard Elliot sighed again
"Well given the time frame I guess he could be anywhere in Calling by now, even heading out towards the ranch if he knows where it is"
"Fucking fantastic" Olivia hissed and rubbed her temple "Just do what you can on that end Elliot, Tyler and I will keep everyone safe here"
"Yeah sure, I'll try and clean up their mess" Elliot joked "Just be safe"
"You too" Olivia returned and there was a long pause
"Liv, about this morning, I'm sorry, I was a prick"
"Yeah you were" Olivia smiled sadly and Elliot chuckled nervously
"I'm glad you're happy and if you want to stay in Montana I'll support you 100%, as long as you come visit and let us take an annual family holiday here"
"I'd like that Elliot, let's discuss it once Wentworth and that arse Chase are finally dealt with OK"
"Ok, I had better go and help. Talk to you soon"
"Be safe El" she reminded him and they hung up.
She turned to find Abbie and Tate watching her expectantly and sighed
"Wentworth is in the wind, he gave the Fed's the slip" she sighed and Tate immediately cuddled Alex closer. Olivia inspected her friend, ignoring Abbie's swearing and mutters that she'd have their badges, and realised she had fallen back asleep again. Poor Lex, she just wanted this over with so she get on with her life with Tate.
"I'm going to go wake Tyler, we need to tell Callum and warn the men" she handed Alex's phone to Tate "Take care of her"
"With my life" Tate nodded solemnly and looking into serious green eyes Olivia knew she meant it. Nodding she turned to Abbie who looked like she wanted to commit murder. Raising a hand she squeezed Abbie's shoulder and nodded back towards the kitchen, indicating to go rescue their breakfast and leave Tate and Alex alone again.
She left the lounge then, hurrying up the stairs to wake up her lover and let her know what was going on.