When Alex went into her office the next morning she certainly didn't expect to see the DA sat waiting for her. Alex was just in the door when he started speaking.

"You're off the rape case Alex, it seems there is a conflict of interests", she was confused. Everything was fine last night. Maybe the DA had found out about her relationship with Olivia but surely that wouldnt cause such a severe reaction.

"What interests are those sir?", Alex was angry she hated being in the dark.

"I heard from an SVU detective that you're dating a suspect", he certainly seemed awkward when he spoke about her private life.

"I was unaware that I was dating a suspect, considering I was with the person I am seeing when the crime occurred", she was stunned. Why hadn't anyone come to her?

"Then you're an alibi for a suspect and definitely can't be involved in prosecuting on this case", he stood to leave clearly he had finished his bit. She couldn't argue with him, he was right and her boss after all.

When he had left she didn't know what to do with herself. She had other cases that she needed to work on but this had really put her in a foul mood. She abandoned her briefcase and headed out, she was going to get to the bottom of this.

Her anger carried her quickly to the precinct where luckily Elliot was the only one there. The second he saw her coming he tended up.

"What the hell has happened Elliot? Why is George your main suspect and why didn't you tell me?", she struggled to keep her voice down. He was clearly ready for her barrage of questions.

"He came up in our enquiries and we are bringing him in to ask some questions", Alex was still pissed; his answers hadnt relieved her annoyance in any way.

"You're bringing him in? He didn't do this he was with me the night the woman was attacked", she was extremely aggravated now but she suddenly realised where Olivia was.

"You sent Olivia to pick him up, why would you do that?", he started to look annoyed himself and stood up out of his chair.

"Why shouldn't I send Olivia she is a police officer, this is her job", Alex realised he probably didn't understand why she was angry and standing here arguing wasn't going to get her anywhere.

"So I'm getting shut out of the case just like that?", she had resigned defeat now but she wasn't quite finished ranting.

" it's not up to me alex. Besides this is for the best. Ill need you to make a statement confirming his alibi", he handed her a pad of paper and a pen before offering her his desk.

She had been writing for twenty minutes when she heard Olivia returning, she looked up and her anger returned when she saw George with her. Luckily he was oblivious to her presence and Olivia quickly ushered him into an interrogation room.

Alex watched as Elliot and Olivia exchanged quiet words, a few times the pair looked in her direction and she appeared busy. Alex breathed a sigh of relief when they decided Elliot was going to do the questioning and headed into the room.

Alex finished her statement and then headed over to Olivia who seemed to be hanging around unnecessarily. She thrust it in her direction in the hope of making a quick exit. Olivia grabbed her arm halting her departure.

" do you want to watch?", Olivia was hard to read as she spoke and Alex couldn't determine her motives but at the same time she had to be there for George. She nodded and then joined Olivia in the cramped observation room.

"I'm sorry Alex", Olivia was nearly whispering.

"What for Olivia?", Alex concentrated on the scene inside the interrogation room as Elliot began asking questions.

"Well for bringing your... Boyfriend", Alex didn't miss Olivia's hesitation in speaking.

"Why were you the one to go pick him up?", George seemed to be doing okay so she could spare some time for Olivia.

"Well to be honest I wanted to see what he was like"

"Why?", Alex was intrigued now.

"Well I consider him the competition really", Alex was quite surprised by Olivia's statement. She turned towards her now and saw Olivia had relaxed against the one way glass clearly she didn't want to argue.

"Four months ago there would have been no competition between you two but now is an entirely different story", for the first time Alex didn't get angry when they talked about the past. Maybe she was beginning to warm to Olivia again.

Olivia stood up straight off the glass and took a few steps towards Alex she then leant forward to speak. They were too close for Alex's liking, to be honest she didn't quite trust herself around Olivia considering what happened yesterday.

"Just so you know I am not going to give up but I will give you all the space and time you need", Olivia had a soft smile as she spoke and Alex couldn't stop herself being drawn in.

They were really close and Alex knew she should remove herself from the situation but couldn't get her feet to move. Olivia wasn't trying anything but the atmosphere was getting very intense.

Suddenly the interrogation room door opened and Alex and Olivia looked over from their seemingly compromised position. Alex could tell this didn't look good for her by the expression on George's face. Elliot ushered him out and Alex pushed Olivia gently back from her whilst she gathered herself. She definitely didn't want to just leave without saying anything, Olivia had been honest with her.

"I feel like I need to get to know you again. Maybe in time we could get back to where we were", Olivia nodded she didn't appear to be disappointed by anything Alex had said so their conversation seemed to have been a success so far. "Now I have to go and rectify that situation", she gestured towards where George had left before following in his direction. She passed Elliot on the way and he seemed to imply that George was very bothered by what he had seen.

She finally caught up with him on the sidewalk where he seemed to be waiting for her. She smiled trying to test the water but he just clung to her arm and ushered her to a cab, Alex didn't enjoy being manhandled but she gave him the benefit of the doubt due to the day he had been having. He didn't say a word to her till they reached her apartment and were behind closed doors.

Alex walked in and removed her coat ready for an argument, when George was suddenly in her face. He had taken on an entirely different facade as he pinned her in a corner.

"You embarrassed me today, it will not happen again. Tell that detective to stay away from you, understand?", Alex had never even heard him raise his voice before. She was actually scared, this man was an entirely different animal than the sweet kind man she had got to know. He stared her down for a few minutes before heading for the kitchen. She remained still, frightened to move. She heard him clattering around and couldn't decide whether to apologise or leave.

Reluctantly she headed into the kitchen, he was glugging on a beer.

"I am sorry George. I had no idea they were going to drag you in for questioning", he carried on drinking; he was still visibly red in the face with anger.

"How would you know I was their prime suspect when you were too busy throwing yourself at some woman", he was still clearly pissed but now Alex was getting annoyed.

"She is my friend George and I was not throwing myself at her", Alex had to react fast when she finished talking as George hurled his bottle at her head. She was showered with beer and glass. Alex was just about to go on the offensive when he stormed out.

She brushed the glass from her jacket, a particularly large peice buried itself deep in her hand. The blood started seeping fast and the glass was stuck. The numbness in her fingers told her it would be a mistake to pull it out. Instead she wrapped it tight in a dishcloth and went in search of her phone.

If this was four months ago she would have called Olivia but after everything she would have to trust Elliot with this. He would want an explanation but she couldn't say anything about George considering he was the prime suspect in a violent rape.

The dishcloth was stained red now and she was getting dizzy. The door rang and she slowly made her way there. Alex opened the door and saw that Elliot wasn't alone. She really didn't have the energy to lie to both elliot and a now rather concerned looking Olivia.

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