Still working on my other fics, and using this one as a pallet cleanser. I'm hoping to have it wrapped up in another chapter or so. Thank you to all of you reading and reviewing and, of course, another big thank you for those who've been reading and waiting since the beginning!
Window
Chapter 11: Sleeper Hold
"Lemme take another crack at him, I know I can get this guy!" Eliot paced back and forth in the bullpen, shirtsleeves rolled up past the elbow, tie looser than it had been that morning.
"You've had an hour and Newsome hasn't even broken a sweat." Cragen shook his head and swiped his hand across a furrowed brow. "We need new tactics."
George Hwang casually rose from his perch at the edge of Detective Benson's desk. "It's clear that Newsome isn't phased by another alpha male presence. Eliot threw his weight around in interrogation and Newsome didn't even bat an eye. His ego is far more pronounced than I had initially anticipated."
"So what's our next move?" the Captain crossed his arms over a rumpled white shirt which had, at some point, hours ago, been starched and pressed.
"Send in Olivia." Hwang tossed off. "It's been established that Newsome has a problem with women, especially those who tell him no. Let's put him up against Liv and see how he handles himself."
At this moment, the ADA chose to jump into the conversation, "You said Newsome's dangerous, especially if he experiences rejection.
"I did," the psychiatrist answered casually.
"So you want to throw Liv in there to get a rise out of him, knowing he's dangerous."
Hwang looked to Eliot out of the corner of his eyes.
"C'mon Cabot, you know Liv can handle herself," the detective was quick to respond, "We're in a house fulla cops and this guy's got nothing. And you know she's raring to take a bite out of Newsome."
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of detective." Alex uncrossed her arms and rose from her seat behind Eliot's desk, smoothing the lines of her cobalt pencil skirt. " I know Detective Benson can take care of herself, but you can't deny, she's too close to this. She hasn't gone home in three days! George!"
The ADA turned to Dr. Hwang, pleading for support. He stood, stalwart, arms crossed over his collared sweater before crossing to Alex and lowering his voice. She craned her neck down to hear as they both turned from the other officers in the bullpen
"Alex, I know how much you care about Olivia," he raised his eyebrow, instantly causing all protestations to die on the blonde's tongue. "I also know how much you want to win this case and I honestly think that this is our best bet. We can monitor the situation, and we'll all be there to support her. She'll need you, Counselor."
Alex settled back into her hips, pushing her glasses back up the bridge of her nose. She knew George was right. Newsome's profile dictated susceptibility to female influence and historically, Olivia had a flawless track record when it came to getting what she wanted from perps of this particular stripe. The blonde pushed her hair back from her forehead and sighed, mostly for dramatic effect.
"Fine. I'll go prep her." The ADA crossed away from the three men and made her way toward the crib. She found Olivia on the bunk in the corner furthest from the door. Her left arm hung over the edge of the cot and Alex allowed herself a smile at the sight of Olivia's chunky watch hanging from the detective's wrist, knowing that Olivia must've been truly exhausted if she neglected to remove it before sleeping.
Alex relished knowing small things about the sleeping detective, little habits and mannerisms that she could call up as a sort of receipt of their friendship. She found such insignificant truths incredibly calming, comforting. She was able to reflect upon her collection of gathered habits, poking and pushing them together until they resembled the woman with whom she found herself completely taken.
She settled down on the edge of the bed and brushed back the cropped hair form the detective's face before lightly squeezing her shoulder.
"Liv, hey." The detective stirred slightly, squeezing her eyes shut and drawing her arm back into the bed, snuggling deeper into herself.
"Nope."
Alex laughed, light and throaty all at once. "C'mon Liv, it's time to rises and shine. There's a bad guy in interrogation just waiting to be taken apart."
"Tempting." A muffled voice rose from the groggy detective. "But I had something else in mind." Without warning, the detective's arms shot out, encircling the ADA, pulling her down onto the cot. The two women lay face to face, Alex hyper-aware of the strong arms around her. She snaked her arms up and cupped Olivia's face in her hands.
"This is not what I had in mind when I offered to come and prep you for interrogation." Alex leaned in slightly and placed a chaste kiss on Olivia's waiting lips. "But I can't say I'm complaining." She brushed her thumb lightly along Olivia's rosy bottom lip.
Olivia held her gaze for one, two, three, charged seconds before capturing her lips once more. Alex pushed her hands into Oliva's short hair, letting it knot around her fingers as she pulled the detective closer, deepening the kiss. She felt Olivia nip at her bottom lip and invited her in, breaking apart briefly, before tangling tongues in passion neither could seem to quell.
"This is," Olivia gasped as Alex kissed the corner of her mouth, trailing kisses along her jaw before nipping at her pulse-point, "the best interrogation prep I've had.
"You ain't seen nothing yet," Alex answered back, almost guttural as she dragged her mouth to the hollow at Olivia's sternum and her hands found their way back down, untucking the detective's plain white shirt, raking her nails along the small of Olivia's back.
"We should really stop," Alex almost moaned against the detectives lips as a strong arm reached around, pulling her thigh to drape over Oliva's hip. "Someone could walk in and I really did have a legitimate reason for waking you up." Alex's breath hitched as wandering fingers ran the length of her thigh. "Newsome's waiting." The finger's stalled.
"Damn." The detective cursed, pulling away slightly. "For a second I forgot about Newsome."
"Ah yes, I have that effect on women." Alex covered Olivia's hand with her own and pulled herself up, settling at the head of the small cot.
"Women. Huh?" Oliva pinched at Alex's side, earning another laugh.
"Woman, one. Singular." Alex sighed.
"Good." Olivia pushed herself up as well and swung her legs over the side of the cot careful to keep contact with Alex's hand, fingers still laced tightly. The two women sat in silence for a few seconds, shoulder to shoulder, hand in hand.
"I should probably tell you," Alex almost winced, "Lucy kissed me in the hotel the other night,"she almost hissed out. "I panicked. I was on the phone with Hwang half the night." Alex's eyes traced the planes of the detective's face for any sign of upset. Olivia's eyes remained soft, warm.
"I bet he told you that it was a displaced reaction. Lucy responding to your kindness." Brown eyes met blue and Olivia shrugged, "It happens."
"Yeah," Alex continued, "And Lucy was the one who told me that the reason I kissed her back was because I was afraid of losing you the way she lost Tawny." She explained in a rush, "that I might be trying to do something stupid to push you away, so it would hurt less if something ever happened."
"Ah," Olivia smiled, almost laughing, and Alex thought that was a strangely cool response.
"Ah?" The counselor's face twisted, incredulous, "That's it?"
"Yup. That's it." Olivia shifted to face Alex and took her other hand as well. "Listen Alex, We've both been thrown under the proverbial bus with this case and decided to add our own lethal cocktail of love, anxiety, and uncertainty. Something happened. You told me about it and we both understand why it happened. I'm fine, you're fine." The ADA dropped her chin to her chest and Olivia gently raised it back up, forcing Alex to meet her eyes once more. "You tell me you don't want it to hurt if something happens to me. I hear you. And in between those rash actions and words of worry, I can't help but feel how much you care."
"I do." Alex raised a pale hand and traced the detective's jawline with her lithe fingers. "I adore you, but I know I can't protect you and don't ever want to hurt like Lucy does."
Olivia drew her hand to cover Alex's and pressed her cheek into their cupped hands. "You know the risks of my job – better than most – and I can't promise that I'll never cause you pain like that. But I can do everything to keep myself safe." The detective allowed a smile to tug at eh corner of her mouth, "and I can love you like hell in the meantime."
"I suppose I might be amenable to these terms, detective."
"I thought you might be." Olivia drew close to the counselor and treated her to a sweet, lingering kiss. "Now, let's go sort out this scumbag." Olivia shifted and rose from the cot and Alex followed suit.
"After you, detective." Alex smiled, in spite of her self, as she watched Olivia shrug into her cobalt blue sweater and head out of the room. She had no idea how she had ended up with such an understanding woman, but she wasn't one to dwell. She decided, in that moment, that doubt was unnecessary. She resolved to just relax into this new found comfort and try to build something lasting with the woman she loved. But first they had a creep to break, and Alex had the sneaking suspicion that it wouldn't be easy or pleasant for anyone involved.