Warren Cabot offered to go on a business trip to New York, so he would have an excuse to visit his sister. He had meetings all day Thursday, but he got out on Friday at noon.

"Hey Alex, it's Warren. I'm in New York for a couple of days and I was wondering if we could meet up?"

"…"

"I'm busy on Thursday, but how about I take you to lunch on Friday."

"…"

"I'll pick you up at 12:30."

He wanted to know if she was really okay with having Liv and Casey at all of the family events. She said it was fine, but he couldn't see her face. Her tells were all visual ones.

Vivian thought that Warren should just take Alex's word for it. "She hardly seemed like a timid girl. If she and Olivia weren't on good terms, I think she would have told us."

Warren kissed her nose. "Normally, I'd agree with you, but Alex has always wanted to be on dad's good side. She knows how fond he is of them, and she might just say she's fine to avoid rocking the boat."

"Try not to get yourself into any trouble," his fiancée told him before he went to catch his train to New York.

"I will, but trouble finds me; it's not my fault."

"Sure it isn't."

Ultimately, Brian Peluso decided to go to rehab. It was unclear how long he would be gone, but it would be at least a month.

The team threw him a going away party. They were sad to see him go. He was a likable guy; he just had demons that he tried to drown in alcohol and pills.

Alex asked for a word before he left.

Back into the lion's den … he was scared.

She told him to take a seat. "I know that I haven't been your boss that long, and we don't know each other really well. I just wanted to say that I hope you get past this, and I'm rooting for you." Addiction was not an easy thing to handle. Some people never got over it.

"I got the impression you wanted me out of here."

"I did, but it's not because you're a bad person, or even a bad ADA (when you're sober). It's because you need help, and your health is more important than this job.

The law is a stressful environment. One out of every five lawyers in the US has a drinking problem. Too many lawyers have drunken their livers away or gotten disbarred because of mistakes they made for their clients. They should have taken the hiatus until they got better, but they just drank themselves into oblivion instead.

I don't want that for you Brian. I want you to get better and then worry about your job. The law will still be here when you are ready for it, and if there isn't a job opening here, I'd gladly right you a recommendation for one somewhere else."

"Really?"

She nodded. "Good luck Brian."

"Thanks Chief." It felt good knowing that he didn't totally burn this bridge.

He left the office and said, "It's been a great ride everyone, but it's time that I start taking care of myself."

Brian took his bow and then he was gone.

Finn cried when he left.

Alex knew she had done the right thing, but it still felt lousy. Unsure of what else she could have done, she decided to ask a boss that she held in high regard.

When Don heard knocking on his door, he said, "Come in."

He did not expect Alex Cabot to walk through the door. "Is this a bad time?"

"Oh no, take a seat."

She sat down, moving elegantly as always. "Could I ask you something, boss to boss?"

"Sure?"

"What would you do if you found out that one of your detectives had a drinking problem, and it was impacting his or her work?"

His eyes got big. "Please tell me this is a hypothetical."

"Oh sorry, yes. As far as I know, none of your detectives drink excessively."

Cragen sighed in relief. "Well, I would pull him aside, point out the signs of drinking that I saw and encourage him to go to rehab."

"And if he refused to go, then what?"

"If it was really affecting his work, I guess I'd have to send him home until he changed his mind. What's this about?"

She explained how she had an ADA whose behavior had been erratic, but she had no solid proof of what the problem was. It wasn't until he showed up to court hungover that she knew he was an alcoholic, and the men upstairs were furious when they learned of it.

"I confronted him, but he was in denial. I couldn't ignore it, and I didn't know what else to do, so I told him to go to rehab or else I'd recommend he be fired. He ultimately went to rehab and took medical leave, but everyone in the office really liked him, and I feel like the Grinch Who Stole Christmas. I don't know what else I could have done."

"Here's the thing about being the boss Alex; you want them to like you, but you have to be ready to make the calls that will infuriate them. I have had a showdown with every detective who has ever served under me. Work with them long enough, and it's inevitable."

"But your detectives love you."

He laughed. "They didn't always." He showed her a bottle of Scotch. "I've been a recovering alcoholic for 18 years now. This was the last bottle I bought before I decided to quit, and when I was at my worst, my boss asked me what meant more, my life and my job, or this fucking bottle."

Alex got the message. She nodded and turned to go back to work. She had a team to lead. They may not always like what she has to say, but her job isn't a fucking popularity contest.

Olivia and Casey had a much different work environment than Alex. They were both apart of the 1-6 family. Casey was sitting on Olivia's desk as they worked.

Elliot told them to keep it PG, while Munch encouraged them to not do that. Olivia flipped both of them off.

They started cracking up, but once they heard Alex's famous heel clicking, they froze like they had been caught in the cookie jar.

"Don't tell me you're scared of me still," Alex teased.

Munch grinned. "We were just frozen by your beauty."

"You're a charmer John. How is the squad going? Are you all giving Casey a hard time?"

"No," Fin insisted. "We're perfect angels, aren't we Casey?"

"I wouldn't say perfect, but they mostly behave themselves," Casey looked at Liv, "except this one."

"HEY!" Olivia feigned offense.

"You can just withhold sex if she doesn't behave," Alex deadpanned. The others all gasped. "It always worked for me. See you around boys." Alex went back to work.

Casey started cracking up. "The look on your face when she said that … oh that's priceless."

Liv frowned. "That was mean." She never withheld sex!

Casey kissed her cheek.

Elliot was curious now. "How often did she withhold sex from you? You never behaved."

Olivia threw a box of tissues at him. Everyone started laughing.

The Bureau Chief had forgotten all about her brother's impending visit. With Brian gone, they were a man down until McCoy got them a temporary ADA. Until that happened, Alex had to help pick up the extra slack, which may mean she would be going back to the courtroom.

She was working on the schedule when her secretary called.

"Cabot."

"It's Eleanor. A Warren Cabot is waiting for you."

"Send him in." Lunch, shit!

He waltzed into her office. "Two windows, aren't you fancy?"

"Well, unlike you I don't have a minibar in my office."

"Phish! I got a full bar in there now."

Alex hugged him. "It's good to see you Warren."

"Let's get some food."

Warren was down for anything but sandwiches. They loved serving sandwiches at conferences.

"How about Spanish food?"

"Awesome."

They went to a Spanish wine bar that was known for its paella.

"Hello, have you been to Roja's before."

Alex had but of course Warren had not.

"Might I suggest the lobster paella? It is a favorite here."

Alex had it before and it was very good, "but can I get the New Orleans paella with a lobster tail on the side?"

"Excellent, and you sir?"

"I'll go with the lobster paella."

"Excellent, will you be needing any stronger drinks?"

They shook their heads. Alex had to work, and Warren didn't want to be the only lush.

The waiter took the wine menu and was on his way.

"How's Vivian?"

"She's great."

"Even though she has to put up with you?"

"Haha. Fall's her favorite season, so she's quite happy right now."

"As she should be. Boston is prettiest in the fall."

"That's what she said."

"And fall fashion is the best."

"She said that too."

"She sounds very smart."

Warren rolled his eyes. "Anyone on the horizon for you?"

Alex blushed, "actually there is …" Now what do I say?

"Tell me about her."

"Well, there are two ladies who have my eye."

"Gigalo!"

"Oh hush. One of them is a fellow prosecutor. She's smart, sweet and a little bashful. The other is a detective, brave, cocky, but she has a heart of gold."

"How are you going to pick?"

"I'm not."

"What?"

The waiter brought their bread.

"I'm seeing them both."

"Do they know about each other?"

"Oh yes. They're quite close actually."

"And they're both okay with this?"

"All three of us are quite content."

"But someday you're going to have to choose. They won't want to just be girls you are dating forever."

"What would you think if that day never came?"

"What do you mean?"

"Let's say that the three of us pursued one relationship and eventually we all lived together, had one commitment ceremony, and raised any children we had collectively."

"It sounds like a headache. One woman is hard enough to handle."

"Well, my experience has been much more blissful."

"Wait a minute? You are in a relationship with two women at the same time, like not just dating."

"Yes, and if things go well, I'll be bringing both of them home for Christmas."

Warren's jaw dropped. "You mean to tell me Christmas dinner is going to be you, me and Viv, dad, Olivia and Casey, and two of your girlfriends." What the hell is dad going to say? Is there going to be a fight between Alex's girlfriends and Olivia/Casey?

"No."

Warren was really confused and somewhat irritated. What the fuck is Alex saying?

Before he could ask more questions, the food came and Alex started eating her paella. This is amazing! It had a gumbo like feel to it.

"What are you trying to say?"

"Olivia, Casey, and I are all in one relationship. I'm with Olivia. Olivia is with Casey, and I am also with Casey."

Warren's jaw dropped. He babbled for a bit and then waved down the waiter, requesting a tall glass of Scotch. "Let me get this right. I spent all of this time worrying that somehow having you, Olivia, and Casey all at my wedding would be a hot mess, and you're screwing both of them?"

"I told you not to worry."

"Why didn't you just tell me over the phone?"

"We just started dating and we decided to keep it to ourselves until we felt ready to tell people."

"And now you feel ready?"

"Not exactly." Alex explained the Abbie and Serena debacle. "You're the third person to know."

"And what about Dad?"

"He's always supported me before. I hope he just gives this a chance. He already likes Olivia and Casey."

"He does," Warren agreed, "and he's a liberal guy, but this is pretty nuts."

"It was my idea," Alex bragged.

Warren responded by trying to steal her lobster tail.

"Don't be greedy!"

"You should talk!"

Eventually, the serious part of the situation came.

"Warren, are you okay with this?"

"Alex … it's not for me to be okay with. This is your life, and if you're happy, and your women are good to you, then all that matters."

"Thanks Warren."

"Just try to keep it down during Christmas. We don't need you giving Dad a heart attack."

Alex rolled her eyes, although they would have to tone it down. None of them were quiet.

Warren would have had dinner with the trio, but he told his wife he'd be home by dinner.

He did, however, get a chance to stop by Casey's office before he left to the station.

"Warren! How are you?"

The two shared a hug.

"I'm great. I came for work and of course to bother Lexi."

"Are you in town long?"

He shook his head. "I have a 2:30PM train out of here."

This was his only chance to give Alex's girl the talk. He never gave the talk to Olivia because she's armed.

"What are your intentions … with my sister?" He had a stern look on his face.

"What?" Does he know?

He tried to keep a straight face, but then he started laughing. "You looked so scared; it was hilarious."

She rolled her eyes. "Very cute, Warren."

"I know I am, but I'm taken. Just take good care of Alex; she needs it, even if she would deny it."

"I will."

Warren headed for Penn Station. Vivian's not going to believe this!