"Double Time" Sequel to "Stepping Time" (Highly recommend you read Stepping Time before starting this sequel but including a brief synopsis of where Stepping Time ended below chapter one)
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 #1 (Especially for laurelhardy) 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
(So sorry for the long delay between chapters again. I'm really trying to find more time to write. I miss having the time to do it, but am trying to do so as I can so I can wrap this story up and hopefully properly. Thank you so much for your patience and continuing to read!)
"Double Time" Chapter 44
2030, Monday, April 4, 2011-Camp Phoenix, Kabul, Afghanistan
Erin stepped into her old office and once again took the chair on the opposite side of the desk. Lt. Col. Edwards finished her conversation just inside the entrance to her office before shutting the door and walking briskly to her desk.
"More coffee or a soda?" the petite blond asked.
"Good with my water," Erin smiled holding up her unopened water bottle. "Thank you though. Thank you for everything this week. Many a commander would not have liked this."
"If I may be frank," Edwards started and Erin nodded with a smile. "If we were stateside this type of situation would have ruffled my feathers, but here I wish we would have been able to meet months ago."
"You've done an exemplary job Cheryl. And if there is any way you think I might be able to assist you going forward please don't hesitate," Erin said sincerely.
"You selected superb troops," Cheryl replied earnestly as she settled in her chair after fixing her coffee.
"I didn't select all of 'em, but from sergeant major all the way down all I've heard this week is incredibly positive."
"C'mon colonel," Cheryl smiled. "We've both been in long enough you had to hear something not so positive."
"Okay yeah," Erin chuckled. "I might have heard that you suck at football."
"I do, but I'm one helluva golfer. And I might add that I haven't been injured falling over sandbags in a futile attempt to catch an odd-shaped ball."
"Touché," Erin laughed. "And if you want to kick my ass on the links when you get back it's on me."
"Only 213 and a wake up left," Cheryl grinned. "Then back to Germany for six months and then finally to Belvoir."
"But who's counting right?" Erin smiled slightly and then turned serious. "These are tough enough, but it's hard for me to imagine how much more difficult when you have kids."
"I won't lie. It is tough, but I have a wonderful husband. And you know our kids go to school on post so many of their friends have or have had a parent deployed. I was supposed to go to Iraq in 05 and then found out I was pregnant," Cheryl replied. "So in my mind, despite the very much unexpected and improbable gift of a second child, I still kind of felt that I owed the Army one in terms of another deployment."
#-#
"Come in," Alex huffed closing the file folder in front of her on her desk.
"That bad?" Olivia asked tentatively.
"Grafton and his lawyer. The manipulative bastard. I don't normally believe in torture, but if we could torture the truth out of him for the victims' families I swear I would do it myself," Alex ranted.
"I'm sorry that you are still having to deal with his case," Olivia said sincerely as she plopped onto the couch in Alex's office.
"You want to go grab some lunch?" Alex asked pushing her chair back from the desk and straightening her skirt and jacket almost instinctively as she stood.
"I came over here to rescue you from case files for a while," Olivia smirked. "Figured you could use a break."
"I could use a rum and coke," Alex said as she slid her arms into her coat. "How's your day going?"
"Just DD-5s. How's Angie feeling?"
"We threw out the just jet lag hopes about 3 a.m. this morning," Alex said as they approached the elevator. "She's got some sort of bug. Slight fever, chills and can't keep anything down, poor thing. You hear from Erin yet today?"
"Just a real quick e-mail, but still sounded really good," Olivia smiled.
"She's almost home Liv," Alex said wrapping her arm around the brunette's back and squeezing her shoulder.
"Less than 12 hours 'til her plane is scheduled to leave for Germany. What time are you in court this afternoon?"
"Three," Alex said as they exited the elevator and headed outside. "Then I am going to take my shitload of work home and try to take care of my don't baby me girlfriend."
"Isn't that better than a woe is me I have the flu girlfriend?" Olivia asked with a smirk.
"Are you saying Erin is needy when she's sick?" Alex laughed.
"No…hell I don't know," Olivia shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "We've only been around each other injured, haven't hit the flu milestone yet."
"Think she'll be just like you, grumpy but not needy," Alex said as they entered the deli.
"You've only ever seen me at the office sick," Olivia challenged.
"That's true, but that's how you've been at work when you're sick. Are you arguing that you are both grumpy and needy?" Alex smiled as she perused the menu as they stood in line.
"No, I'm not needy, but who the hell is cheerful when they're sick?"
"Certainly not me…but I like being pampered a bit when I'm sick," Alex admitted.
"So you want her to allow you to pamper her while she's sick so…"
"Well not just that," Alex said cocking her head slightly and chuckling. "I do love her…and you know she was gone for a few weeks. We've had much more romantic reunions."
#-#
"Thanks Liv. I appreciate you letting me vent," Alex said sincerely as they finished their sandwiches.
"I do want to go with you the next time you meet with Grafton and his attorney," Olivia said firmly.
"If you're not out working a case I'll take you up on that," Alex said glancing at her watch. "I can't believe we actually managed an uninterrupted lunch."
"When are you and Ang going to get a break together?" Olivia asked as they exited the deli.
"Like a true vacation?" Alex smirked. "Away from both of our jobs? I haven't even been back here six months yet."
"But you said before that you negotiated some vacation upon coming back," Olivia countered.
"Is this your not so subtle way of saying I need a vacation?" Alex asked somewhat defensively.
"No more or no less than me. I just had an idea," Olivia said calmly. "But I need to know when you and Angie can get away for at least seven days?"
"She didn't send you that brochure about the swingers resort, did she?" Alex questioned seriously stopping Olivia in her tracks.
"What? Are you telling me…?" Olivia started before Alex finally broke into laughter. Olivia slapped Alex playfully on the shoulder. "You fucker."
"Sorry," Alex grinned. "It is fun to tease you. So tell me your idea?"
"I'm rescinding it," Olivia bantered back. "Besides you didn't even answer…"
"We're looking at the last week of September or first week of October," Alex interjected sincerely.
"Last week of September and come with us on our cruise," Olivia said enthusiastically, now stopping Alex dead in her tracks.
"You want us to go with you on your honeymoon?" Alex asked incredulously. "Angie will…Wait are you even being serious?"
"I'm not saying sharing rooms, but yes I am very serious. You and Angie and Abs and Serena, and I would say Jeff and Casey too, but it is a women's only cruise," Olivia rambled. "I mean why not? You all are my closest friends and the majority of the time we have all been together has been facilitated at least partially by something bad happening. I want us all together celebrating."
"Have you thrown this idea off Erin?"
"Not yet, but I am almost 100% sure she will love it," Olivia replied confidently. "And I can tell it sounds pretty appealing to you."
"It does Liv, but the fact that you would want us all there means the most whether it actually materializes or not," Alex said pulling Olivia into a firm hug. "Just do me a favor and don't tell Erin you threw this idea off of me first."
"I really think she'll agree with me though," Olivia said as they broke their embrace and continued walking. "Do you think Angie will want to?"
"I do, even though she will tease you mercilessly about asking her to go with you on your honeymoon," Alex laughed. "But I'm not mentioning it to her unless Erin really wants us all along too. And Liv she might have some things planned already…so if not this time we could always all go on another cruise together."
"Did she come to you about honeymoon planning too?" Olivia probed.
"I'm sure she doesn't need any tips there," Alex laughed. "But no she hasn't about anything since the proposal planning."
#-#
Olivia awoke from a deep sleep just hours after finally falling asleep to the incoming direct message beeps of her iPhone. She glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand which read just past 4 a.m. as she reached for her phone.
On friendly soil in Germany Missed military flight to Dover though so prob not flying home til tmrw. Will call you in a few hours. LYB & always!
So happy! Let the wedding planning begin. Love you so much Erin Mathison. I'm awake if you can call.
That's Erin Mathison-Benson. Working on flight. Go back to sleep sexy.
#-#
2234, Friday, April 8, Alexandria, Virginia
"So what do you think of our place?" Erin asked curiously as they walked out of the master bedroom with Petraeus trailing behind.
"It's nice babe. A lot bigger then it looked in pictures," Olivia said.
"But?" Erin smiled handing Olivia a beer.
"Well it could use maybe a little bit more of you. You don't hardly have any of the pictures or paintings that you had in your house hung," Olivia said somewhat sheepishly.
"Serena jokes that I'm actually living in the model apartment of the complex…that they give me a kickback on rent to show it while I'm not home," Erin laughed.
"I love you Erin…but Serena has a point. Although I would have expected Abbie to be the one giving you shit about it," Olivia smirked as they sat on the couch.
"Oh she would have but she knew from the beginning that I want this to be our first place, even though it's modest and temporary. I want it to have some of your touches as well."
Olivia squeezed Erin's hand and intertwined their fingers. "Only about six weeks now 'til we get six months together at our place."
"So I'm figuring we can do just a little decorating and some wedding planning while you're here this time," Erin said softly and then pressed her lips to Olivia's.
"God babe…I'm so glad you are home safe," Olivia said after deepening the kiss and then finally breaking away for air.
"You too. You're out there day in and day out. I've just been…"
"Don't you dare try and diminish what you've seen, what you've done and what you've been through," Olivia said thoughtfully but with firmness.
"I'm not. And trust me I'm thrilled to be home, but ironically I'm glad I got sent back…it helped bring some closure on a few things," Erin said as Petraeus propped his front paws on her lower leg and barked twice. "I do miss having a backyard and a doggie door at our temporary new place."
#-#
"It's Abbie's fault. She's spoiled and babied him," Erin protested as she heard Olivia laugh behind her. "He used to take his pill and vitamin…it just didn't involve two treats and cheering."
"You're adorable," Olivia smiled as Erin stood up and began washing her hands in the kitchen sink.
"And you," Erin started as she turned her head and saw her freshly showered lover dressed only in a form fitting white tank and black boy shorts. "Damn I'm a lucky woman."
"You like what you see?" Olivia prodded confidently.
"I love and lust what I see," Erin grinned as Olivia strode closer. "And it has been way too long."
"Forty-four days without kissing you, touching you, being inside you, and tasting and watching you as you come," Olivia whispered as her lips skimmed over Erin's neck and her fingers worked on the buttons of her blouse.
"I got myself off again this morning imagining you," Erin purred as she slid her hands down Olivia's back, cupping her ass and pulling her closer.
"What was I doing to you baby?" Olivia husked as she slid Erin's blouse off her shoulders and down her arms.
"You were buried deep inside me. Rolling your hips and thrusting into me just perfectly…And my hands were all over your gorgeous tits and my legs wrapped around the back of yours as you made love to me."
"Did you come hard baby?" Olivia questioned as she unhooked Erin's bra and tossed it on a kitchen counter. "Did you call my name?" Olivia continued as she guided Erin towards the bedroom with her hands as her lips peppered kisses to newly exposed skin.
"Yes and yes," Erin gasped as Olivia pushed the bedroom door closed behind them.
"What did you use?" Olivia whispered as she unbuttoned and unzipped Erin's jeans.
"God Liv, I'm going to come before you're even inside me. You've got me so wet," Erin said as she wiggled out of her jeans.
"I like that. I like that a lot," Olivia hummed, pressing a quick kiss to Erin's cheek before stepping over to the nightstand and opening the bottom drawer. "Did you use this baby?" Olivia asked holding up a deep purple dildo.
"That's the one I imagined you using. I used the vibrator," Erin smiled as she dropped her panties to the floor and slid her hands under the waistband of Olivia's shorts, pulling them off. Olivia tossed the dildo and the harness on the bed and fished through the drawer once more, quickly securing the vibrator and handing it to Erin.
"It seems," Olivia said between kisses, "that we have been having very similar thoughts. Except in my fantasy I was able to get here early to find you on the bed pleasuring yourself and calling my name. Would you do that baby?"
Erin moaned as she lifted Olivia's tank and ran her tongue around a taut nipple. "I suppose if I'm sucking on your gorgeous tits while I'm fucking myself you won't have the view you imagined."
"We're just getting started," Olivia husked guiding Erin onto the bed.
"Fuck Liv…and I was worried you'd be too tired."
"Not a chance baby."
#-#
"Erin…God…you're so beautiful," Olivia gasped as Erin bent her legs at her knees and spread her legs wider. Erin slid the vibrator through her folds and over and around her swollen clit before thrusting it inside herself once again.
Erin opened her eyes to see Olivia tightening the straps on the harness. "Liv please," she panted. "I need you."
"I need you too," Olivia husked as she moved onto the foot of the bed and began trailing kisses along Erin's inner thigh. She grasped Erin's hand and removed the vibrator, stroking through Erin's drenched folds with her tongue. "Delicious," Olivia purred as her mouth continued its trek higher. Olivia settled her hips between Erin's legs, guiding the head of the toy with her hand to her drenched entrance. Erin arched eagerly into the contact and Olivia responded by sliding slowly but deeply into her.
"Oh God Liv," Erin's voice rasped.
"So beautiful Erin," Olivia husked. "You feel amazing."
"Good enough to get you off?"
"You know that gorgeous."
Erin palmed and then squeezed Olivia's ample breasts glancing at the muscles in her lover's toned arms keeping her upper body slightly above her, her hips thrusting the toy repeatedly and deeply into her. Erin pinched a taut dark nipple between her thumb and forefinger eliciting a moan from Olivia.
"So good Liv," Erin moaned locking eyes with her lover. "You're so good and so God damn sexy."
"Mmmmm," Olivia purred bringing her lips to Erin's. "Always yours," Olivia whispered hotly as she moved her mouth to Erin's neck and circled her hips.
"Oh fuck Liv," Erin cried, her fingers tightening their grip on Olivia's breasts and her legs wrapping around the backs of hers.
"Like this baby?" Olivia panted as she repeated her motions.
"Yes, yes, yes," Erin chanted.
"Come with me baby," Olivia nearly pleaded as she felt her own release overtaking her.
#-#
"Holy fuck you're amazing," Erin almost giggled as another shiver traveled nearly the length of her body.
"I think we're amazing," Olivia smiled lovingly from her perch on Erin's upper chest as they snuggled closer.
"I love you Liv."
"I love you too," Olivia replied as she peppered tender kisses along Erin's chest. "So tell me babe more about getting closure."
"You really want to talk about this now? I at least wasn't done with you yet," Erin smirked.
"I was just looking at this as a very pleasant intermission. And I enjoy our naked talks," Olivia grinned as she removed the harness and slid up alongside Erin.
"I'm really not rushing this just because I really want to go down on you," Erin began, drawing a laugh and playful slap on the arm from Olivia.
"Professionally I can't be bribed, but personally that's just not playing fair."
"I was just voicing the desired intentions of my lips and tongue," Erin smiled as she moved on top of Olivia. "You pretty much know already, since we talked frequently while I was there," Erin said seriously. "But just being able to really talk to sergeant major and my former troops…seeing that they were in very good hands under Lieutenant Colonel Edwards. I was able to answer some questions for Edwards, see how everybody was doing and I guess say a proper goodbye."
"Think that's similar to closing a case," Olivia said sincerely, stroking a hand through Erin's hair.
"Yeah…I'll be staying in touch with sergeant major and a few others, but more out of friendship now…not the guilt I felt about leaving before, even though I knew I shouldn't feel it."
"No, you probably shouldn't have felt guilty, but I probably shouldn't have felt guilty about missing work for so long after being shot chasing a purse snatcher," Olivia countered.
"Ummmm, I do believe you were shot pursuing a murderer whom you saw snatch a purse," Erin objected.
"I could have just let him go and called uniforms."
"No you couldn't have," Erin smiled as she began placing kisses along Olivia's jawline and neck. "Don't try to bullshit me Olivia Benson."
"Ok," Olivia grinned. "Given a similar scenario again I would still pursue…"
"Just shoot 'em," Erin grinned as she took a hardening nipple between her lips and began stroking it with her tongue. "And I say this intermission is over."