"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 32 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. #####
#-#
"Double Time" Chapter 33
Erin checked her purse again for the box containing Olivia's ring as she sat in the back of the cab. She had picked up the ring from Tiffany's earlier that afternoon and she Olivia, Alex and Angie were scheduled to meet for drinks and dinner at 5:30. Angie and Erin had agreed to meet at 4:30 so Angie could see the ring and they could talk privately prior to Olivia's arrival. However, 5:30 quickly was pushed to six and then seven, Olivia and Alex both stuck at the precinct working on a case that had consumed their time since early Monday morning.
At 7:30 Alex had called apologetically, hopeful she could be home within the next couple of hours. Olivia and Elliot were still interrogating the suspect, and although Alex and the detectives were confident they had their rapist the lack of physical evidence made getting a confession crucial if not vital to securing a conviction if the case went to trial.
It was just about 10 p.m. when Erin finally heard the key in the lock. She got up from the couch and headed towards the door to greet Olivia.
"Hey gorgeous," Olivia said with enthusiasm as she wrapped her arms around Erin's waist and pulled her in for a sensual kiss. Erin pleasantly surprised by Olivia's mood after a nearly 16-hour day deepened the kiss before they both pulled away for air.
"So you got the confession," Erin smiled running her fingers through Olivia's hair.
"We did," Olivia smiled. "Total team effort. Alex was great and things seem back to normal between El and I."
"That's good. So how did you finally break him?" Erin asked as Olivia moved to the refrigerator and grabbed a beer. "There's two pieces of pizza and some lasagna in there from the restaurant," Erin added.
"Thanks babe," Olivia said snatching the carton with the lasagna and putting it in the microwave. "It'll be a better story when you can hear it from Alex and Elliot as well…next time we all go to Humphrey's. But we knew he went after her because his ex-wife had dated her, so we did a little role playing," Olivia smirked.
"Really?" Erin queried. "Can I just get the condensed version now at least?"
Olivia hung up her jacket and then walked to the bedroom to put her gun and badge away as her food heated in the microwave. "Well babe we gave our perp…pretty much led by Alex…the impression that Alex and Elliot were separated. That Alex had left Elliot for me, but that Elliot wanted Alex back."
Erin brought the lasagna from the microwave and some silverware to the small dining room table where Olivia was now seated. She began massaging Olivia's shoulders as she ate.
"Is that it of the condensed version?" Erin laughed.
"I might give you a little more after I get done eating. I haven't eaten since this morning," Olivia said in between bites looking up towards Erin. "Thank you for getting me lasagna…God your hands feel good."
"I'm glad you're home. Angie and I had a nice time, but of course we missed you and Alex."
"We would have loved to have been there. But good news, I don't have to be in until 9:00 tomorrow," Olivia added. "If we get a new case, Munch and Fin take it so hopefully I'll be home well before six. Alex was thinking maybe we could try dinner tomorrow night though."
"That sounds good. You want me to run a bath for you?" Erin asked as she pressed a kiss to the top of Olivia's head.
"Are you being romantic or trying to tell me something?" Olivia laughed. "Actually I just want to take a quick shower and crawl into bed…preferably with you."
"Well I hope with me," Erin chuckled.
"Shut up," Olivia shot back playfully. "It's not even 10:30. Didn't know if you'd want to go to bed so early."
"I do and I'll give you a good massage. Your shoulders are tight as hell," Erin commented as Olivia stood up and turned towards her.
"If you give me a massage I'll be asleep in 10 minutes," Olivia grinned pressing a kiss to Erin's lips. "I've missed your hands and mouth more in other places."
"Ummm, me too baby, I just thought you might be too tired with this case the past three days," Erin muttered.
"Not saying I have enough energy for one of our marathon sessions…"
"Definitely not complaining," Erin interrupted with a wide smile. "Go take your shower. I'll be waiting for you."
#-#
Olivia paced in front of Alex's desk anxious for her to conclude her phone call. Alex smiled at Olivia nodding her head as she tried to end the phone conversation.
"I think I'm ready for a vacation already too," Alex said after hanging up the phone and grabbing her coat.
"That bad?" Olivia questioned.
"My third call with Trevor in the past two hours…need I say more?" Alex smiled elbowing Olivia. "Let's go get the ring," she added grabbing her attaché and turning off her office lights.
"Quiet day in our parts so maybe you'll at least have an easy Friday," Olivia suggested.
"Well considering we're actually walking out of here just before four today, I'm optimistic," Alex agreed. "We should even have time for a drink or two before we meet Angie and Erin at the restaurant."
Olivia whistled for a cab as they hit the sidewalk. For a late January day it was actually pretty mild and the sun was shining brightly.
"So any new details of your plans you want to share?" Alex asked as they slid into the back of the taxi. Olivia shouted the Tiffany's address to the driver as she pulled the door closed.
"Erin said she wants us to go to a nice seafood restaurant on the beach Saturday night, so that works well," Olivia smiled. "And I checked the weather forecast, highs in the upper 60s, lows in the mid-50s in Corpus Saturday and Sunday."
"That will seem warm to you two, but it is cold enough that you should have a pretty empty beach for the proposal," Alex said eagerly. "You need to at least send me a text, if not a photo between proposal acceptance and sex."
"I'm glad you're so confident she will say yes," Olivia chuckled.
"C'mon Liv, you know she will say yes," Alex countered.
"I am pretty confident of that," Olivia admitted, "but now that it is only like 48 hours away I'm a bit nervous."
Alex reached into her purse to grab money for the taxi as they pulled up in front of Tiffany's, thankful that Erin had picked up Olivia's ring the day before. Even with being busy at work, it had been hard for Alex not to inadvertently slip up in the few times she had separately spoken to Erin and Olivia since they had first shared with her their individual proposal plans. Olivia tried to hand the driver the fare, but Alex blocked her hand with her arm.
"Remember I know how much the ring costs," Alex grinned. "I can handle the fare."
Olivia walked briskly to the salesperson she had placed the order with while Alex browsed leisurely around the store. Alex walked over to Olivia once she saw the saleslady with the box and the ring. Olivia slid the platinum ring with the Lucida diamond onto her finger.
"It's beautiful Liv," Alex gasped. "I think you're right that Erin will prefer the platinum band over gold."
Olivia took the ring off her finger and handed it to Alex. Alex slid the ring on and smiled. "Just in case Angie doesn't know I'm a size six."
"Maybe we should have that double wedding," Olivia laughed.
The saleslady looked at Alex and Olivia slightly perplexed.
"You okay?" Alex asked her smiling.
"Yes," the lady nodded. "I…I just thought for a moment the ring was too big…and then…"
"She had me, but she dumped me," Alex giggled drawing an elbow from Olivia.
"Oh," the saleslady responded uncomfortably.
"It's okay," Alex teased. "I think I'll at least be a bridesmaid if not her maid of honor."
"Why did I bring you with?" Olivia blushed.
"Oh you got yours engraved too," Alex said holding the ring up to the light.
"Too?" Olivia questioned.
"Huh," Alex downplayed. "I'm trying to read the engraving. I think I need my glasses," she lied setting the ring on the glass counter.
"Engravings are pretty popular. Just had a woman in here yesterday…"
"I imagine they are," Alex interrupted, glaring at the sales lady who retreated with Olivia's credit card to finish the purchase.
"It's Fearlessness," Olivia said softly as Alex eyed the engraving. "Double meaning for us. I love you too, so we could say it or write it while she was deployed."
"I remember you telling me that. She's going to love the ring and the engraving Liv. Now sign your next 20 or so paychecks away and I'll buy the drinks," Alex smiled. "I'll go shag us a cab."
#-#
"I'll buy dinner if you show me the ring," Angie grinned wrapping her arms around Olivia's shoulders as she and Alex sat at the bar in the restaurant.
Olivia turned her head and smiled at Angie. "No need to buy dinner, but you need to look really quick. Erin should be here in less than five minutes."
"Then hand it over," Angie demanded with a smile.
"Let's go in the bathroom," Olivia said sliding off her bar stool. "Just to be safe."
"And when you come back you can buy your gorgeous girlfriend whom you haven't even acknowledged dinner," Alex quipped at Angie.
"Love you sexy," Angie winked at Alex. "We'll be right back."
#-#
"Sorry I'm late," Erin said greeting the threesome at the bar. "I was actually outside for the last ten minutes on the phone with my dad."
"Everything okay with him?" Olivia asked squeezing Erin's hand.
"With him yes," Erin laughed, "I don't know about us though," she added as she ordered a beer.
The hostess approached Alex and then led the foursome to their table for dinner.
"So what's up with us and your dad?" Olivia asked curiously as soon as they were seated.
"It's for a good cause…"
"That's almost always a disclaimer warning when you start with that," Angie interjected laughing.
"Actually, I think it will be all right. We just have to get up really early Saturday morning too," Erin said patting Olivia's thigh. "I have to. You don't if you don't want to, but dad kind of volunteered you already."
"What are we doing?" Olivia asked impatiently.
"Helping with the pancake and sausage fundraising breakfast at dad's VFW post," Erin grinned. "It's to benefit some local families of wounded soldiers, so a really good cause. We're working from six to 9:30."
"Liv in an apron and hairnet," Alex laughed. "You must take pictures."
"I'm hoping we can get away with ball caps and ponytails or bus tables and take out trash," Erin countered.
"Hey," Olivia objected loudly. "Alex you had already left when I went undercover at that awful meat packaging place as a cleaning lady. I pulled that little white cleaning uniform off…but yeah would rather serve pancakes in a ball cap."
"You ever go undercover as a maid?" Erin questioned.
"Oh please tell me that is not one of…" Olivia hesitated. "I'll just say I love you but it ain't happening darling."
"Don't knock it 'til you try it Liv," Angie laughed.
"Really?" Erin questioned Angie.
"No, I just like seeing Olivia blush," Angie retorted.
"Keep it up Ang and when your steak arrives I'll just start talking about all the pleasant things I saw at Donna Rosa's Meats," Olivia countered.
"And Liv, Munch showed me some pictures from that assignment. You can rock a bandana, but the cleaning uniform was pretty hideous," Alex smiled, shaking her head.
"And okay I'll behave," Angie smiled. "By the way I now have another short trip to D.C. at the end of March. Just a Wednesday through Friday. I sent Abbie and Serena an e-mail. Maybe the four of us can get together for dinner," Angie continued, looking at Erin.
"That would be great," Erin said.
Olivia and Erin were back at the apartment by 8:30 after finishing dinner. Olivia still had to finish packing and they had to get up early for the 8 a.m. flight.
#-#
"You okay?" Erin asked Olivia softly as their plane pushed back from the gate.
"Yeah," Olivia sighed.
"Is that why you suddenly have a death grip on the arm rest?" Erin asked placing her hand over Olivia's.
"I just hate taking off," Olivia mumbled, "then I'm usually fine."
"Why didn't you tell me you didn't like to fly?" Erin queried.
"Not like we could have driven to San Antonio," Olivia quipped. "I'll be fine babe. One we get in the air and I can have a Bloody Mary and watch a movie…I'll relax."
"I'll upgrade us to first class on the flight back so we can drink before take-off," Erin smiled. "But why didn't you tell me before?"
"I…I just figured since you survived a crash and you aren't nervous…"
"Liv, you should have told me. Look flying doesn't make me nervous, but a few years back I took scuba lessons. Did all fine when we were in the dive tank and a pretty deep lake dive," Erin sighed remembering. "Then went on a dive off the Cayman Islands and I freaked."
"I have no interest in going scuba diving so you're safe there…but I'm not sure how that story is supposed to help," Olivia smirked.
"Okay…I'm trying," Erin cocked her head and leaned closer to Olivia. "I could talk dirty to you."
"Nice," Olivia chuckled, "but then I would have that tension too for the next four hours or so…because really…airplane bathrooms don't appeal to me."
Erin and Olivia sat quietly for a moment as they listened to the co-pilot make pre-flight announcements. Olivia relaxed slightly when he said they anticipated a smooth flight all the way to San Antonio, but tensed again when he said they were now third in line for takeoff.
Erin squeezed Olivia's hand and then laced their fingers. "I'll order a Bloody Mary too and you can have most of mine."
"I'm sure they'll let me have two or three. It's a long flight," Olivia grinned. "Don't worry I'm not going to get sloshed before meeting your family for the first time."
"I'm not," Erin reassured. "Besides we'll be at the hotel for a little while before going to see dad anyway, and Dylan and Katie not 'til dinner."
"Okay maybe four drinks then," Olivia said softly, closing her eyes and leaning in towards Erin.