"Double Time" Sequel to "Stepping Time" (Highly recommend you read Stepping Time before reading this sequel)

The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.

Author's Note (Especially for laurel hardy) Characters guide-Primary SVU Characters Olivia Benson, Alex Cabot Primary Original Female Characters Army Lt. Col. Erin Mathison, Attorney Angie Secondary SVU and L&O Characters Elliot Stabler, Casey Novak, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn Secondary Original Characters Jeff Stockton, Amelia Stockton, Dylan Mathison, Petraeus (Erin's Chihuahua), Senator Rushing, TJ McCoy

Thanks for reading and the reviews for the first 29 chapters. Love and appreciate the reviews and it means so much that so many are reading this sequel.

#### New Community created by Rach5 (Olivia/OFC Stories) featuring stories with Olivia and original female characters or Olivia with female characters from other shows. Thanks Rach5 for creating and please let us know if we are missing some that you like. #####

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"Double Time" Chapter 30

Olivia glanced at her watch as she heard the key in the lock. It was just about 11:30 p.m. and she was sitting on the couch, a small blanket covering her feet and legs. Her laptop was open on the coffee table and a case file sat under it. Her attempt to bury herself in work, her usual standard operating procedure for escaping, denying, ignoring her own emotions hadn't worked…not at all.

She had flipped channels on the TV, checked her iPhone numerous times for text messages, even though it hadn't once signaled the receipt of one. She finally settled on one of the music channels after the news on CNN just brought word of more U.S. soldiers killed in Afghanistan.

"Hey," Erin said softly as she closed and locked the door behind her. "I'm glad you're still up."

"I'm glad you're home," Olivia said sincerely as she watched Erin hang up her coat and then put her keys and billfold back in her purse. "There's water for tea on the stove if you want some," Olivia added.

"Thanks, I'm just getting some cold water. Do you need more tea?" Erin asked, relieved that Olivia was not only up, but seemingly in a similar conciliatory frame of mind.

"I need you," Olivia said contritely.

"I need you to Liv," Erin said softly as she filled her glass with ice. "I'm sorry I stormed out of here. The softball gang says hello. I told them you were working a case."

"Thank you," Olivia chuckled slightly. "I tried to do a 'lil work, but wasn't successful."

Erin took a seat in the middle of the couch. She snagged the remote from the coffee table and hit the "Guide" button. "Soft rock channel," she smirked.

"Been flipping between that and adult contemporary," Olivia said with a bit of a lopsided grin.

"It was a karaoke contest tonight. I guess like an ongoing American Idol type deal. So there's nine finalists left and tonight they had to pick 80's or 90's ballads to sing," Erin said turning her head towards Olivia and smiling. "I didn't stay for all nine, just six of 'em, 'cause Tonya was number six."

"Were they good?" Olivia questioned sliding her hand over Erin's knee. "What did Tonya sing?"

"Yeah," Erin nodded. "They were all good, but Tonya and this other woman who sang Faith Hill's Breathe were exceptional. And the guy who went fourth, good ole handsome cowboy, he sang I Swear and he sounded just as good as John Michael Montgomery."

"Who's that? I know the song, I like the song, but I thought it was a group," Olivia asked curiously.

"Montgomery is country. He made it a country hit first I think and then All 4 One covered it and it became a huge pop and R&B hit," Erin said covering Olivia's hand on her thigh with her own. "Then Tonya sang Get Here and that was like a two-by-four to the head that I needed, I wanted to get back here."

Olivia chuckled slightly before leaning forward and pressing a soft kiss to Erin's lips.

"I grabbed the box of Kleenex somewhere between McCartney's Maybe I'm Amazed and a live version of Elton John's Your Song," Olivia said as she leaned back into the couch cushion.

"I shouldn't have left, but it really hit me in the cab on the way home that I was only looking at this from my point of view…I've always been with women and I've always had to lie, pretend or hide and soon I don't have to," Erin said. "I wasn't seeing that it would be a huge step for you…and that it would be scary. And I wasn't thinking about how so soon after we got together you introduced me, us as a couple to the most important people in your life."

"You're the most important person in my life," Olivia said standing up and extending her hand as a new slow song started to play. "Dance with me?" she asked softly.

"Of course," Erin smiled, lacing her fingers with Olivia's as she stood up. Olivia led them around the coffee table into the middle of the mostly darkened living room. Olivia draped her arms and hands around Erin's waist and Erin entwined her fingers around her neck. "Liv, you're the most important person in my life too."

Olivia locked eyes with Erin and then pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead. She exhaled softly as she gazed back into Erin's eyes.

"I want you…I need you to know and believe that being your partner, being on your arm makes me nothing but happy and proud," Olivia said sincerely as they began softly swaying to the music. "I could never be ashamed of that and I am so sorry you…that I made you think that…feel that."

"I didn't really think that, I guess," Erin admitted. "It was just after what my dad said to me, it really hurt…And my mind then just kind of ran with what you said from there."

Olivia sighed and shot Erin a lopsided grin. "I kind of ran with what your dad said to you and a few other things you said. And I didn't want you to leave tonight…but after you did it made me get honest with all my fears…and even if all the worst case scenarios I dreamt up in my head were to happen…they're nothing in comparison to what losing you would be like," Olivia stammered a bit nervously. "Do you want to sit back down?"

"I'm liking dancing with you. Having your arms wrapped around me again," Erin whispered as she trailed kisses along Olivia's neck. "So tell me these worst case scenarios."

"God Erin some of them even sound dumb to me now," Olivia sighed in frustration with herself.

"Please," Erin said simply. "I can't even really try to alleviate them if I don't know what they are."

"Okay," Olivia said taking a deep breath. "As I thought about it more it's not really any stories on us. Not saying I want to hire a publicist or become an activist," Olivia grinned. "But I am proud of you and you being selected for this position. And as you said the people who do count in my life are all behind me, behind us or dragging up the rear in Elliot's case."

"I won't seek any stories on us and will do what I can to try and steer the powers that be from any," Erin nodded.

"I appreciate that, but ironically," Olivia grinned, "I also want it well known that you are very much taken."

"I am very happily completely and totally taken by Detective Olivia Benson," Erin smiled as she slid her hands along Olivia's shoulders. "So what else babe?"

Olivia dropped her head slightly before she answered Erin's question.

"I took when you said that I wouldn't want to come down the weekend your family might be up, combined with the crap your dad told you…" Olivia paused. "And I came up with if your dad can't be proud of you already he's certainly not going to approve of me. And what Dylan and Katie will think of me…It snowballed from there in my head to Rushing thinking I'm not good enough for you, the people you'll be working with and for at the Pentagon. I mean everybody in our Humphrey's gang knows that I am a product of my mother's rape and that mother was an alcoholic who died like she did. They don't judge me because of it."

"But you're afraid that others will," Erin replied.

"Yeah," Olivia sighed and shrugged her shoulders. "And I feel like a bit of a hypocrite on it. When I tell rape victims they shouldn't blame themselves, I mean it. But after Sealview I did put some blame on myself…that because I was a cop I somehow could have prevented what happened. And of course in my years I've met victims impregnated by their rapist and I've met teens and adults like me. And I don't want them to feel shame, and I don't believe they should."

"But somehow we still manage to hold ourselves to a different standard, don't we?" Erin whispered in Olivia's ear. "Even though we shouldn't, I understand."

"I always end up feeling better when I finally spit out what I'm thinking. I'm just still not used to doing it even though I trust you and you either totally get it or relate," Olivia muttered.

"I do too, babe. I trust you, but we both have a tendency to try and deal and fix things on our own. And yes I am referring to not totally spilling to you about those two weeks in Taliban land until we read Cassie's letter," Erin affirmed.

"I wish you would have told me sooner, but I do understand and now I am just glad you told me."

"Me too. It helped a lot," Erin smiled, lacing her fingers with Olivia's and walking back to the couch. "I don't like this song and I could use a drink of water."

"You didn't get shitfaced," Olivia laughed.

"No," Erin smiled. "Not even close. One beer, one soda, and a chocolate shake to go from the diner next to Madison's while I was waiting for the cab. I kind of knew already on the cab ride up that I really just wanted to come back home, but I had already texted Tracey that I was coming."

Olivia started speaking again as Erin took a drink of her water after they sat back on the couch.

"And I also imagined all those wives you told me neither of us would enjoy spending time with and them judging me," Olivia sighed. "But then when you were gone it struck me not only how selfish I was being on that…but what a fuckin' wimp too. I mean you are going to be labeled by some as the lesbian colonel the minute you walk in the Pentagon," Olivia gasped at her words as Erin broke into laughter.

"I do like when your blunt detective," Erin smiled. "But yes you're right. And I have to admit as it gets closer it does make me a bit nervous. The smartass side of me would love to get it over with by reporting with Abbie's Do Ask, Do Tell t-shirt on."

"I'm sorry," Olivia grinned shyly, clutching Erin's hand. "I shouldn't have phrased it that way."

"I'm glad you did. It is true. I've dealt with some assholes in my career, but for the most part once I demonstrated my competency as an officer my assignments have been good, with a lot of good people," Erin replied. "And Liv I certainly can't say that I haven't been stung, hurt by gossip, but most of the time I realize that if someone is going out of their way to try and tear me down it's more about what they've got or don't have going on themselves.

"I know that too," Olivia sighed, snuggling into Erin's shoulder. "And I've been able to deal with it professionally for years with some people outside of our core SVU group. I'm just going to have to learn to deal with it on a personal level."

"As I've told you I prefer to avoid as many official and unofficial functions as I possibly can, so maybe…" Erin stopped as Olivia pressed a finger to her lips.

"I don't want to be signed up for Bridge Club or bake sales, but the functions we should attend I will be there with you."

"I love you so much," Erin said as she met Olivia's lips with her own. Olivia quickly deepened the kiss, sliding her tongue between Erin's slightly parted lips. She threw her left leg over Erin's hips straddling her lap as her hands began making quick work of the buttons on her blouse.

"Baby wait," Erin murmured as she broke the kiss.

"Huh?" Olivia questioned. "I thought we were at make-up sex."

"Just make-up sex or mind-blowing make-up sex?" Erin smirked sliding her hands under Olivia's sweatshirt and caressing her lower back.

"I was going for pretty fuckin' amazing, but you stopped me…"

"Because I have an idea, and if it sucks or if you like it we can…I want to still definitely pick up where we left off," Erin smiled.

"Well out with it babe," Olivia said rocking back slightly on her knees.

"I was thinking that since Rushing rescheduled our dinner, maybe you could change that day off you requested on the 4th, and take it next Friday instead and we could fly to San Antonio and I can introduce you to my family," Erin said hurriedly. "And if we can't tolerate them for more than a few hours we can spend a day and a half or so down on the coast. It's only like a two and a half hour drive to Corpus Christi."

"You're sure you are ready for your family to meet me?" Olivia asked softly.

"Yes I want them to meet the amazing woman I'm in love with, my partner," Erin said adamantly. "And I want you to see for yourself that my dad will adore you. Besides that as you already know he thinks you're hot, he likes that you're a detective. I can't tell you how Dylan will be, but if it is tense it will be because of his issues with me and his issues with dad."

"If I can't get the Friday, but can take the Monday off would that work too?" Olivia queried as she kissed along Erin's jawline.

"Yes," Erin moaned as Olivia's hand slipped under her shirt and cupped her breast. "So you'll go?"

"Can we go to the coast for a little bit even if they like me?" Olivia said with a lopsided grin. "I've never been to the Gulf."

"Hmmmm," Erin smirked as she lifted Olivia's sweatshirt and watched her lover toss it on the floor. "Making love to you by the beach. Yeah, I think that can be arranged," Erin moaned as she peppered kisses between Olivia's breasts. "Any other requests detective?"

"Yeah baby," Olivia purred as she finished unbuttoning Erin's blouse and began working on her belt. "Tell me what you want…what you want me to do to you or for you now to make it mind-blowing."