Olivia took a deep breath when she heard the knock at the door. She silently prayed that Abby wasn't going to be her usual self outside of the office. Most people who knew her outside the office was shocked at the difference between the two sides they saw. At work she was all business and probably the most professional person one would ever met. Outside of work she put on a whole new definition of letting her hair down.
"If it isn't Detective Olivia Benson." Abby said with a smile on her face when Olivia opened the door. "I heard you were here but I didn't believe it."
"Protective detail." Olivia answered as she stepped back to allow Abby in. "How have you been?"
"Me, I've been doing good but let's talk about you. I hear you have been shot twice by the same person. The first time we almost lost you."
"Yeah" Olivia said glancing over her shoulder at the stairs "I took one to the chest and suffered a slight brain injury that I have been recovering from. Then when this last incident occurred I took one to the abdomen and reinjured my brain."
"If you ask me the abs are still looking good." Abby said with a devious grin on her face as she reached for Olivia's shirt.
"Abby no" Olivia said as she tried to step away from her.
"Actually if you ask me they seem more defined." Abby said ignoring Olivia and raising her shirt "Damn that is a six pack you have now. I can only imagine what contracting those muscles can do now. I mean before it was amazing but now. "
"What would you call it now?" Alex asked as she walked down the stairs.
"I'd say beyond amazing." Abby answered trying to run her hands over Olivia's abs despite Olivia's attempts to swat her hands away.
"Jesus Abby you are here to do business." Olivia growled as she glanced at Alex with pleading eyes "Act like the top notch prosecutor you are."
"You used to know how to let loose in private as well." Abby answered back glancing between the two women "But then again you were single those times. No one told me."
"It's something that we're working on." Olivia said as she motioned for everyone to follow her to the table. "I'd say you're successful since rumor is that you now live here. I only have one question how did you manage that Alex?"
"I don't live here." Olivia said turning to face Abby "After I was first shot and my head injury I was under protective detail as well. Also with my recovery I couldn't be left alone. So Alex was kind enough to let me stay here and assist with my recovery. Once I am fully released I will be moving back to my apartment."
"Something tells me you will be staying here." Abby said as she glanced at Alex's face and noticed how she seemed to become slightly withdrawn when Olivia mentioned moving out. "Alex are you ready to get started?"
"As ready as I'll ever be."
"Start with telling me how you met the defendant." Abby said as she pulled her legal pad from her briefcase and prepared to take notes.
"Umm I met her at a club one night." Alex said looking down as if she was afraid to look Abby in the eyes.
"Had you ever seen the defendant before that night?"
"No I haven't." Alex answered playing with the shirt she was wearing "Listen I don't make it a habit to go to pick women up at clubs and I didn't take her home that night either."
"Alex I could care less if you picked a different woman up every night at the club and since the charges involve sexual abuse the rape shield law will cover the defense from bringing up your past sexual experiences."
"Ok." Alex mumbled as she nodded her head.
"After that first night when did you two make contact with each other again?"
"Maybe a week later, she called and we met for coffee."
"From there you two started a relationship?" Abby asked even though she knew the answer.
"Yes."
"How was the relationship?"
"It was good, great actually."
"Alex you're not on the stand here." Abby said laughing "You can expand on your answers without being asked to."
"Sorry."
"Its ok so it was great?"
"Yeah it was I mean she's the woman every lesbian dreams about. She held the door open for me, pulled my chairs out, held my coat open for me. She would send me flowers for no reason or a card to simply say she was thinking about me. There were often times I would wake up to a text saying I want you to know I'm thinking about you and I hope you have a wonderful day at work. You know little things like that."
"I do." Abby almost whispered as she glanced at Olivia and locked eyes with her. Granted they were more like friends with benefits than anything else but when they were *together* Olivia would do those things for her. She would be the first to admit that they were better as friends than as lovers but she did love that side of Olivia.
"Would you two like a moment?" Alex asked as she stared between the two women. She was trying to keep her emotions in control and knew they had been lovers before but seeing Abby look at Olivia there was nothing more she wanted than to lay her out.
"No" Olivia said with a little more force than she meant to as she quickly turned to face Alex "There's no need for that."
"I was wondering." Alex said motioning between to two women.
"Sorry Alex." Abby said as she faced Alex "can we please continue?"
"If you two are done?"
"We are and have been for a while now." Abby answered understanding the double meaning of the question "Nothing to worry about here."
Alex nodded in understanding.
"Good so tell me when the abuse started?"
"About seven months in. She had apparently came to work to surprise me and saw me with another co-worker and misinterpreted what she saw. When I came home I thought she was there to surprise me but instead smacked me. I kicked her out but later she came back crying and begging for forgiveness and like the idiot I am I did."
"Alex you're not an idiot for forgiving her" Abby said sitting her pen on her notepad and making sure she had Alex's attention before continuing "You did what every other woman out there would do. You prayed it was a one time thing and forgave her. You found what you hoped was your prince charming and in our life that is next to impossible to do. Believe me I understand ok."
"ok."
"Good. Now when did the abuse start back?"
"About a month later that was when the sexual abuse started. It was the first night she raped me. She had choked me till I passed out and when I came to she said she was going to teach me to hate dick. It continued all night long."
"Alex I need you to tell me about some of the other sexual abuse you suffered."
Alex looked between Olivia and Abby before staring at the table. How could she tell Abby everything with Olivia sitting there? There was no way Olivia would ever want to look at her again much less talk to her if she knew everything that had happened.
"You know I'm a little tired" Olivia said understanding Alex's hesitation in answering Abby's question "I'm going to head on up and take a shower before hitting the bed. If you ladies need anything come and get me."
"Liv wait" Abby said stopping her in her tracks "Alex I need you to know and understand if you don't tell Olivia here then she will find out at court. Do you understand that?"
"I won't find out anything she doesn't want me to" Olivia said as she quickly made her way to Alex's side "I will sit in the hallway if need be and you will not push her into telling me anything she's not ready to reveal to me."
"Olivia you need to know before trial to avoid any surprises." Abby said standing.
"No I don't" Olivia growled as she closed the distance between them "So help me god if you force her to tell me I will put you straight through that wall do you understand me."
"You can threaten me all you want" Abby said not phased by Olivia's actions "You need to know this and you two need to face this together. Now is as good as any."
"I guess you didn't understand me" Olivia growled as she grabbed Abby by the collar and shoved her into the wall lifting her off her feet and holding her there "You push her, you force her to tell me something before she is ready it will be the last thing you will ever do, do you understand me?"
"Olivia…" Abby started to say but was stopped by Olivia.
"Don't Olivia me DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" Olivia asked lifting Abby higher off the floor "If you push her or force her to tell me before she is ready I will kill you."
"I got it." Abby said shocked at seeing this side of Olivia. She had never once seen her lose her temper with anyone. Not even some of the perps she interviewed but the anger she felt and saw in her eyes was something new that terrified her.
"Say it again." Olivia growled tightening her grip on Abby's collar.
"Put her down." Alex whispered as she walked over to them and placed her hand on Olivia's shoulder. It took all she had not to pull back in fear when she felt the tension and anger that was vibrating through Olivia's body. "its ok."
"She needs to understand she will not force you." Olivia said slightly lessening her hold on Abby's collar but never breaking eye contact with her.
"She does I promise you." Alex whispered turning Olivia's face so she could focus on her instead of Abby "She's not going to hurt me or force me. Please put her down and let her go. Will you do that for me?"
Olivia nodded as she released Abby and let her fall to the floor catching her before she completely lost her balance. She took a step back to allow Abby to move around her before fully turning to focus on Alex.
"Take a deep breath and try to relax." Alex said with a smile on her face "I'm ok see. Not a mark or scratch on me and she has caused me no pain in any other or form either."
Olivia nodded as she swallowed hard. She hadn't felt that much anger come over her since her first injury and to think she could be back there again scared her. Without saying a word to Alex she turned and started walking toward the stairs stopping long enough to stare at Abby for a few seconds.
"She doesn't tell me anything one second before she's ready not one thing."
"I understand." Abby answered scared of what she may encounter if she said anything else.
"Thank you." Olivia whispered before she continued to her room.
A/N: I'm the writer here and I say there's nothing hotter than Olivia becoming protective of Alex. LOL.