Chapter 3
Inside Olivia bedroom it looks like a bomb had just exploded. Clothes are lying through the whole bedroom and on the Detective's bed. There is not a single piece in Olivia's closet except for her dress uniform and the three dresses she owns. The only things she is wearing so far are a silk lace bra and color matching tight men's boxer short. Olivia looks at the alarm clock on her night stand and pulls her hand through her just trimmed hair.
"Great in an hour I need to pick up Alex and for some strange reason I don't know what to wear. It's just dinner with Alex for heaven's sake. Make up your mind, Benson!" Olivia says to herself.
Across town in a luxurious apartment on the top floor of the building the same situation is happening. Alex finished showering half an hour ago and is now the blonde ADA is pacing inside her walk-in-closet. Her bedroom is an exact match to a certain Detective's bedroom. Half of the clothes Alex have are laying across her bedroom and king sized bed. The other half is still in her closet and three quarter of them are her business suits. Walking back into her bedroom Alex looks at the clock at the wall and curses.
"Damn it Cabot, you only have 1 hour left before Olivia is due to pick you up!" Alex chastises herself.
Alex walks back into her closet and looks around desperately when her eye falls on a blue dress that matches the color of her eyes. When she sees the dress she remembers what Olivia once said about it, how it brings up the color of her eyes and that it looked great on the blonde ADA. Alex decides that she's gonna wear the dress. After Alex is done she walks to the large mirror in her walk-in-closet. Looking into the mirror Alex is content with what she sees. She hopes that what she is wearing will be alright for where Olivia is taking her. The brunette had said that she could wear what she wanted but nothing formal. It was just dinner to make up the ass chewing. Nothing fancy but also not at one of the deli's they usually go to with the guys. That's all the Detective would say.
At exactly 7 pm there was a knock on Alex's front door. Alex walks to the door and looks through peep hole even though she already knows who's on the other side of the door. She would recognize that knock everywhere and Alex knew that outside their jobs the Detective would never let her wait. Seeing that it is indeed Olivia she unlocks the door and opens it. Both women look at each other for a moment before they can react.
"You look beautiful Alex. I almost feel sorry for the guy who's taking you out on a date and you're dressed to the nines. He won't know what hits him." Olivia says.
Alex blushes and looks at Olivia. The Detective is wearing a formfitting white pants with a tight fitting white shirt and black blouse, to complete the outfit she is wearing the black leather jacket that Alex loves so much.
"You're not looking so bad yourself too, Detective." Alex answers.
The blonde is waiting for her compliment to be dismissed but to her surprise Olivia just blushes like she did and nods.
"Ready to go, Lex?" Olivia asks.
"Yes" Alex answers picking up her purse from the small table in the hallway.
Alex closes the door behind her and locks it. Olivia waits patiently for Alex to be ready. When the blonde is ready Olivia holds out her arm to Alex and the attorney links their arms. They walk to the elevator and go downstairs. When they step outside the elevator George, the doorman, smiles.
"Have a nice evening Detective Benson and Ms. Cabot." George says holding open the door.
"Thank you, George." Alex says.
"Thanks. I'm sure it will be." Olivia answers.
When they arrive at Olivia's car the Detective opens the passenger door for Alex before she walks around the car and steps inside herself. As they drive away Alex looks aside at Olivia.
"Are you going to tell me where we are going now?" Alex asks.
Olivia looks at Alex for a moment and just smiles before she looks back at the road.
"You'll find it out soon enough Counselor." Olivia answers.
"I guess that's a no than." Alex says.
"You guessed that right. You just have to wait and be patient." Olivia smiles.
Alex shakes her head and looks outside the front window. The ADA knows she's not getting more out of the Detective than this. After the short drive to the restaurant Olivia kills the engine and steps outside her car and walks around it to open the door for Alex and holds out her hand. Alex accepts it and steps out the car.
"Who says that cavalry is dead?" Alex teases.
Olivia shrugs with shoulders and locks the car before she turns around to lead Alex to the restaurant. Olivia opens the door to the restaurant and Alex smiles walking inside. As soon as Olivia is standing next to Alex a waiter walks to them.
"Detective Benson, it's good to see again. Who's this beautiful lady at your side?" Juan Pedro asks.
"JP meet my best friend and co worker ADA Alexandra Cabot, Alex meet Juan Pedro also called JP." Olivia introduces them.
"Nice to meet you Ms. Cabot. You may call me JP everyone else does." Juan Pedro says as he shakes hands with Alex.
"Nice to meet you too." Alex answers.
After they exchanged pleasantries JP told Olivia that her usual table was ready for them and leads them to it. Olivia places her hand on the small of Alex's back as she leads her through the restaurant. When both women are seated JP asked what they wanted to drink and said that he would be back shortly to take there orders. After JP was back with their drinks and Olivia and Alex had ordered JP leaves them alone. Alex looks around the restaurant before she turns her attention back to Olivia.
"This is a beautiful place, Olivia. How many dates have you brought here?" Alex ask teasingly.
Olivia looks Alex straight in her eyes as she answers the blonde's question.
"None, this is the first time I'm taking someone to this place and you are the only one that I'll take here." Olivia answers.
Alex looks shocked at Olivia and sees the sincerity in the brown eyes.
"Care to explain that to me?" Alex asks surprised.
Olivia takes a deep breath and starts to explain it to the younger blonde.
"I've come to this place for several years actually. After you were shot and whisked away into Witsec I was broken, devastated. All the places we used to go to would remember me of you and I couldn't handle it. I missed you so much. So I went looking for a place we would have go to together. A place that would remind me of you but without the memories of us going to it. A place where I could eat when I missed you too much and somehow could feel close to you. Then I found this place and I knew as soon as I saw this that it was The place. It was something just for me that nobody would never know about. Not even you. Not after you came back to us from Witsec and not after you came back from the Congo." Olivia answers softly.
Alex's heart breaks when she hears why Olivia searched for and found this restaurant. She knew that Olivia was hurt when she went into Witsec and she knew that although the Detective never mentioned it she was hurt when she left for the Congo. What the blonde attorney didn't know was that it hurt and affected the strong brunette this much.
"I'm sorry, Liv. I didn't know it hurt you this much. If you don't want to answer it that's alright but what made you change your mind? Why did you take me here tonight?" Alex softly asks.
"Something Rollins said when we were fighting. But I don't want to talk about it now. It's supposed to be night out of fun." Olivia answers.
"Alright, just promise me we will talk about it some other time when you are ready for it." Alex says.
"I promise. We will talk about it some time just not today or tomorrow." Olivia says.
They have some small talk till JP comes with their food. Alex and Olivia had decided to take the mixed grill menu for two persons, 3 different kinds of meat with a salad and French fries. After JP stalled everything out on their table he left. They start to eat in a comfortable silence for a couple of minutes.
"After I talked with Cragen he told me that I'm free till tomorrow morning 10 am. So now that I'm not on the call would you like to grab a drink or two with me after we finished dinner?" Olivia asks.
"Sure, I would like to spend the evening with you. So a drink or two would be nice." Alex answers smiling.
"Great let's do that. I'd like to spend the evening with you too Counselor." Olivia smiles back.
The rest of their dinner was relaxed and they talked about a lot of things. But there was something differently tonight. They kept looking at each other when they thought the other didn't notice it. Neither of the women mentioned it but something had changed between them last night. Alex and Olivia both thought it was their own imagination that made them think that the other was looking at her. Little did they both know.
When they had finished their dinner Olivia paid the check and the walked outside. Since they were going to grab a drink they had decided to bring Olivia's car to Alex apartment building and take a cab. Olivia had been drinking OJ since she needed to drive and she would never drink when she drives. Waiting outside Alex's apartment building for the cab Alex turns to Olivia.
"Where do you want to go?" Alex asks.
"We could go to Miracle if you want to." Olivia answers.
"I think that's a great idea. No chance we're running into someone we know. If you behave yourself I might ask you to dance with me." Alex winks.
"Fat chance that will happen Counselor, I need more than a drink or two for that to happen. I might be off duty tonight but I'm still on the call tomorrow. And I certainly need more alcohol in my system before I will dance at all not just with you." Olivia smirks.
"We'll see about that, Detective." Alex smiles.
Just when Olivia wants to react the cab arrives. They get into the cab and Olivia gives the driver the address from Miracle. They saw it once when they were on their way to a crime scene and decided to check the place out the next evening when they would go out with just the two of them. It turned out to be a bar with a small dance floor. It wasn't a place where neither of their colleagues would go to and they decided that if they want to go out and not run into anyone they know they would go there. Through the years they would come there about once per month.
Alex and Olivia were sitting at the bar having a good time together when a tall guy approached them.
"Would you like something to drink from me?" The man asks Alex.
"No thank you I already have one." Alex answers pointing at the glass in front of her.
"How about a dance?" He asks.
"No thank you. I'm here with someone." Alex answers.
Alex knows where this is going to and she knows that Olivia knows it to. Without having to look at the brunette she can feel the anger starting build up in the Detective. Not that the asshole notice it.
"Who, her? I'm sure your friend won't mind if we have one or two dances. It's just a dance, c'mon." The guy answers putting his hand on Alex arm.
"It doesn't matter to you. I said no." Alex answers.
Olivia stood up as soon as the guy putted his hand on Alex's arm.
"I think the lady made it clear that she doesn't want your drinks or dance with you." Olivia says trough her teeth.
"Buzz off bozo. I'm talking with her not you." The guy says pulling at Alex arm.
Alex looks at Olivia and she is surprised at the look in the Detective eyes. Besides anger there is something else. It looks like... no that can't be. It looks like the Detective is jealous. Alex tries to pull her arm back but the guy won't let it go. Then the look in Olivia's eyes changes. Without knowing it herself Olivia looks at the guy like she is silently saying 'she is mine'. Alex recognizes the look. She has seen it often enough a very long time ago. But not in Olivia's eyes. Alex is doing a happy dance on the inside. She knows now that she has a chance, she just has to play it right. Although that will be hard enough. The blonde ADA decides to let Olivia handle the situation. Daniel, the bartender, looks at Alex but the blonde shakes her head. A knowing smile is forming on the bartender's mouth.
"I suggest you let go of her arm before I have your ass arrested for harassing an officer of the court." Olivia growls.
The guy let Alex go and turns to Olivia. As soon as he let Alex go Olivia steps between him and Alex raising to her full hight. Protecting Alex with her own body.
"How do ya think you're gonna do that, bitch?" The guy growls.
Olivia pulls her leather jacket aside so that she's showing her badge.
"Like this, bitch." Olivia says with a cold voice.
The guy backs off seeing Olivia's golden badge.
"Damn cop." The guy spats at Olivia.
"That's damn Detective for you. Now leave slime ball!" Olivia snaps back.
The guy turns around and walks out of the bar. Olivia keeps shooting daggers at his back till the guy is gone before she turns to Alex.
"Are you alright, Alex? He didn't hurt you did he?" Olivia asks.
"I'm fine. He didn't hurt me. You protected me just fine, like you always will." Alex answers.
"Ok. How about we finish our drinks and go back to your place? I think we need talk about something don't you think?" Olivia asks shyly.
"I think you are right. And this is not the place to do that. So let's finish our drinks and go back to my place." Alex answers.
They finish their drinks and Olivia calls Daniel to pay for their drinks.
"How much do get from me, Daniel?" Olivia asks.
"Nothing Detective. This one is on the house. You handled that little situation pretty good. For a moment I thought you would kick his ass. Not that I would have mind and I wouldn't have stopped you. The guy was asking for it." Daniel answers.
"It was nothing. The guy just didn't take no for answer." Olivia shrugs it of.
"You did what you had to do and protected Alex here. Not everyone would have done what you did, badge or no badge." Daniel says.
"Everyone in their right mind would have. Anyway if you're sure that I don't have to pay, we just leave now than." Olivia says.
"Yes I'm sure. Consider it a thank you for what you did. See you two in a month or so." Daniel smiles.
Olivia thanks the bartender and walks Alex out of the bar and holds a cab. Just before they step into the cab Olivia turns to Alex.
"If you behave yourself Counselor maybe, just maybe, you will get your dance tonight." Olivia winks before she lightly pushes Alex into the cab.