They had both only been back at work for a week when Alex found out the district attorney was sending her away on a conference. It was going to be four days of watching old men give talks on human rights and dealing with living victims. She knew it was necessary but she definitely felt like she was being slowly introduced back into work.
She made her way home with a sense of reluctance, Olivia and her had been having a truly wonderful time together. They were properly happy and making up for lost time. It was very short notice, she had to get up and catch a plane to Chicago first thing in the morning. She only had 12 more hours with Olivia.
She found Olivia in her own apartment, there was fresh takeout on the coffee table and Olivia was struggling with a bottle of wine.
"Hey", Alex stood in the doorway as Olivia hadnt noticed her yet. For a few moments before she spoke up she watched Olivia and couldn't help but smile. She looked content even though she was wrestling with the corkscrew. After Olivia realised she was there she abandoned the wine and came over to her. Olivia took Alex's briefcase and placed it on the side table before pulling her into a tight hug.
"I missed you today", Alex smiled but felt guilty as Olivia admitted she had been thinking of her.
"Well you're going to have to get used to it", Olivia stepped back and frowned but still held Alex by the shoulders.
"What do you mean?", Olivia seemed concerned.
"I have to go to a conference for four days", Alex winced and peeked through one eye; she was scared about how Olivia would react.
"Hey don't look so worried, it's fine. When do you leave?", Olivia seemed happy for her to go.
" tomorrow morning, 6am", Olivia seemed saddened slightly by this but perked up almost instantly.
"That gives us another 12 hours together before you have to leave", Alex was really enjoying Olivia's new found optimism.
"What did you have planned?", Alex gestured towards the take out and wine.
"Well just dinner, wine and maybe an early night", Olivia winked as she spoke. "But that was before I found out I wasn't going to be seeing you for four days so now I think we should skip the dinner and the wine and just go straight to bed". Alex nodded and allowed herself to be led towards the bedroom by Olivia.
Alex didn't catch a wink of sleep on the plane so by the time she checked into the hotel she was exhausted, having not got much sleep the previous night. She just wanted to go straight to her room and get a few hours sleep before she had to be down in the conference rooms for a tedious meet and greet.
The hotel wasn't too bad but at this point the fact it had a bed made it Alex's favourite place to be in the world. She didn't even bother to undress as she threw herself down and fell asleep almost instantly.
She woke up in a panic, her alarm hadnt gone off and she was meant to be downstairs right now. Alex frantically ran around the room hunting in her bags for hairbrushes and make up. It was some kind of record that it only took her five minutes to make her way out of the the room.
The introductory speaker was in full flow by the time she retrieved her name badge and found an available seat at the back of the hall. She was relieved she had managed to get to her seat without disturbing anyone.
Ten minutes later and Alex bored out of her mind. She felt her eye lids getting heavy but just before she nodded off the door slammed behind her and a few hundred people turned round to see what was going on. It was another latecomer and, to Alex's surprise, a woman like herself.
The only empty seat was right next to Alex and the woman quickly slid into it, trying not to make eye contact with everyone else in the room. Alex returned her attention to the speaker but soon enough she felt herself nodding off.
Next thing she knew someone was gently shaking her shoulder. Alex opened her eyes and realised the other lawyers in the hall were gradually filing out to attend the drinks part of the evening. Alex looked around and realised the person waking her up was the same woman who arrived late.
"Hi, sorry to wake you but it's happy hour", Alex smiled politely at the woman and went to gather her possessions. "Are you going to this drinks thing?", the woman seemed friendly so Alex decided to Give her a chance.
"I think so, nothing better to do around here", Olivia followed the woman out of the hall behind the steady stream of traffic which was making its way towards the hotel bar.
"My names Alex Cabot by the way", they made it to the bar and took a few seats.
"Casey Novak, nice to meet you", Alex shook the woman's outstretched hand and then went about ordering a round of drinks.
A few hours later the two women were getting progressively more tipsy. Alex discovered they had a great deal in common, both assistant district attorneys and of a similar age. They had the same sense of humour and spent most of the time laughing at each others court room embarrassments. Alex definitely felt an affinity for this woman.
Before she knew it they were alone in the bar and the staff were placing chairs on top of tables.
"I think it's time to go casey", Alex gulped down the last of her drink and went to stand. Casey was finding it more difficult to coordinate herself.
"What do you want to do now?", casey finally composed herself and began tottering out of the bar. Alex followed closely behind to support her if she needed it.
"Well I think we should get a bottle of wine and head upstairs", the words were out of Alex's mouth before she realised she had said them. She immediately felt the need to correct herself, "or you know, get to bed". She panicked when she realised that just made things worse.
Casey turned and gave her a curious look, "okay, but I don't usually do this kind of thing on a first date". Alex knew she had to set the record straight before she carried on down this road.
"This isn't a date, I have a girlfriend", her statement was met with laughter from casey.
"I was joking, I'm straight", casey ordered a bottle of wine to be sent up to Alex's room whilst still laughing hysterically. Alex couldn't help but start to laugh considering how foolish she had been.
Somehow they both made it to Alex's room and casey quickly collapsed on the bed. The wine followed shortly and Alex poured them generously full glasses. She just sat down to enjoy it when her cell buzzed in her pocket. Alex fumbled to remove it and saw Olivia was calling her. She stood and gestured towards the phone, casey seemed pretty out of it so Alex stood out in the hall before answering.
"Liv, I miss you", Alex steadied herself on the wall as she drew out the last part. It was probably obvious she was intoxicated.
"Hi Alex, how's the conference?", Olivia sounded tired.
"It's okay so far, just got back from the bar"
"Oh really? I thought you sounded odd", Alex smiled at how well Olivia knew her.
"You should catch a plane and come see me", Alex heard Olivia chuckle at her ludicrous request.
"I can't I have a case. Come home and ill treat you to a repeat performance of last night", Alex nearly groaned at the prospect.
"You know it's not nice to tease a girl", Olivia laughed warmly again and Alex heard her yawn hard into the phone. Suddenly the hotel door burst open and casey pulled herself up using the door frame.
"Alex, aren't you coming to bed?", she nearly cursed at casey's poor timing. This probably sounded quite bad on the other side of the line. Alex shooed her away but it was a while before she got the hint and skulked back inside. It was a few moments before Olivia spoke again.
"Who was that?", Alex couldn't miss how serious Olivia sounded now.
"That was a very drunk friend I made today. She's an ADA like me", Alex knew Olivia was probably not convinced by her explanation.
"What is she doing asking you to come to bed?"
"Well we are up in my hotel room with a bottle of wine", Alex put her hand over her eyes; she felt like she was incriminating herself further but she wasn't going to lie.
"Oh right well have a nice night", Olivia sounded pissed off and Alex didn't want to leave it like this.
"Olivia I told her I have a girlfriend and she's straight", Alex heard Olivia hum in response. "You trust me don't you?", Alex was annoyed to be honest; did Alex think she would cheat on her or something?
"I trust you. I've got to go. Have a nice night", Alex didn't miss the sarcasm in her statement but didn't get time to call Olivia out on it before she hung up. Alex remained in the hall for a few minutes debating wether to call Olivia back. She decided against it, she would probably end up shouting.
Alex found casey asleep in her bed, she decided the sofa would be best so she got herself comfortable and eventually nodded off into a troubled sleep.
The following two days were filled with talks and brunches, Olivia didn't call again and neither did Alex; she wanted to make it clear she was pissed off. Alex also didn't avoid casey the two were pretty inseparable as the conference progressed. They spent the days entertaining each other during boring lectures and accompanying each other to dinner every night. By the penultimate day they were like old friends.
It was their last night in Chicago and as usual they were at dinner together.
"You should call your girlfriend", casey spoke as they were half say through their respective salads.
"No, she was in the wrong and I want her to know she's not getting away with it", casey nodded but Alex could tell she wasn't finished.
"Wouldn't you prefer to have this whole thing finished with before you see her tomorrow?", Alex realised casey had a point maybe she was doing more damage not calling her. She sighed and retrieved her phone, casey smiled knowing she was right.
Alex dialled a familiar number and sat outside the hotel lobby. The phone rang longer than usual and Alex guessed it was probably because Olivia was deciding wether or not to answer. Thankfully she did after a minute or so.
"Hello Alex", Olivia sounded wary.
"Olivia, how are you?", Alex wanted to test the waters before she got down to business.
"Okay i suppose. I'm sorry I didn't call", Alex was still unsure how Olivia felt.
"Me too. Are you mad at me?", Alex felt stupid asking but she had to get to the bottom of things.
"No, I thought you would be pissed off at me for being an ass the other night", Alex was relieved.
"Well I was mad at first. You sounded like you believed I would cheat on you", Alex felt hurt at the very thought.
"I know, I'm sorry. I went temporarily insane there is no other explanation", Alex smiled now; she couldn't wait to get home now.
After the phone call ended Alex returned to the restaurant. Where casey was waiting.
"I can see it went well", casey said immediately; clearly the smile on Alex's face gave it away.
"Yeah, she apologized for being an ass", Alex went back to her salad.
"There's something I should probably tell you", Alex frowned as casey spoke.
"Go on"
"I've just got a job in New York", Alex was actually quite excited about this.
"Wonderful, in what department?"
"It's a surprise but I think we will be seeing a lot of each other", Alex didn't like the mystery but she was definitely lookin forward to working with someone as bright as casey.
The evening ended soon after and they parted ways, the goodbye wasn't as difficult seeing as they would probably be seeing each other soon and Alex could not wait to get home.
She left early the next morning catching a cab to the airport. This time she slept on the flight and before she knew it she was retrieving her bag from baggage claim.
She was heading to the exit when she caught sight of her name written on a board amongst the crowd she moved towards it and soon realised the person holding the sign was a smiling Olivia.
Alex promptly rushed towards her and threw her arms around Olivia's neck. They shared a passionate kiss in the middle of the airport.
"It's good to see you too", Olivia joked as they pulled away. Olivia relieved Alex of her bag and held her close as they made theolor way to the car.
"I missed you so much", Alex admitted once they were on the way home.
"I missed you too. I'm sorry for being a jealous idiot", Alex held Olivia's hand. Alex wasn't sure wether to tell Olivia about casey, she decided to leave it and just hope Olivia would be okay with it. Sadly Alex was sceptical, she had a feeling this wasn't going to be the last she heard of this.
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