12 Months...
Chapter Five
Captain Donald Cragen was the first one to know about it, as he was the Captain. He stared at the FBI Agent sitting in his office unable to ascertain how he should react.
�You can tell your Unit at your discretion but if you don�t mind I would like to talk to Detective Benson myself.� Gina requested.
�For personal reasons.� She added.
Cragen walked to his window and peered outside where his Unit�s detectives went about their daily routine oblivious to the news he had just heard.
�Last couple of weeks had been very hectic. We had a serial rapist at large and Olivia and Fin were running against time to catch him before the next victim. We got the perp only two days ago. After that I told both Fin and Olivia to take it easy. So, she is not in yet. You can stay here and wait. I�ll send her in as soon as she comes.� Donald Cragen said. �I know Alex and Olivia were close.� He added almost demanding from the Agent why she should be the one to tell her. After all, news like that was best to be said by a friend.
�Detective Benson and I went to Academy together. We are hardly strangers Captain.� Gina used her former affiliation once again understanding the older man�s implication.
�I see her coming. I�ll send her in.� He said walking outside.
When Captain walked out of his office and told her that someone was waiting for her inside, she hadn�t even for the life of her imagined it to be Gina. The same Gina with whom she had gone to Academy with. The same Gina who had completely severed their friendship because she didn�t break up with girlfriend. That same Gina was the one waiting for her when she walked in.
�Gina Ramsey.� She said it aloud making sure that it was actually her that she was looking at.
�Yes. That�s me all right. Benson, or should I say Detective Benson?� Gina said and spread her arms gesturing her to come and hug her. �So, can�t an old friend get a hug?�
�Definitely.� Olivia replied giving her a quick hesitant hug. �So, what brings you here?�
�Alex.� Gina did not believe in wasting time especially since Olivia did not seem ecstatic about seeing her. �I know you know that she was in Witness Protection Program.�
Olivia remained silent without betraying any reaction. Gina flipped her wallet and showed her FBI ID.
�So, that is why you quit Police Force.�
�Yep, they recruited me for the Witness Protection Program. The reason I know about Alex is because I used to be her Contact.�
�What do you mean by used to be?� Olivia asked as soon as she heard the past tense. She didn�t care about reacting now.
�Olivia please sit down. I need to tell you what happened first.� Gina said but Olivia didn�t budge. �Her case was 740 from the beginning. Which meant that people who were after her were not convinced that she was dead. So, I took all the necessary precautions. Cruised around for couple of weeks before I set her up. Everything was going fine, but they found her. And they found me.�
Gina took a breather but Olivia�s entire attention was on her words.
�For someone to find the real life of a secret agent is the breach of security in the highest level. When they found me, it set off alarm that scared everyone. We needed to do something and we needed to do it quick. That is when they asked her to be the bait. And she said yes.�
�What happened to her?� Olivia demanded.
�She volunteered and she was living with us. With Chris and her little girl Sarah and me. Sarah is only eight you know, and she acts like she is everyone�s mother. She has ex-boyfriends and all��
�G�� Olivia wasn�t interested in hearing about Chris� kid or the world news at that moment. �What happened to Alex?� Olivia demanded once again.
�The plan worked. They attacked her right in our home. Except they were more prepared than we thought.� Gina said recalling the failure of the CAU.
Olivia did not need to hear no more. Her heart was drowning in her own tears that refused to come out. Every sense in her body gave away as she held on to the desk to keep her from falling. That wasn�t the first time she felt such piercing pain. She had felt the same way the first time she was told that Alex was dead. But this time it was worse. It was way worse than ever.
�Olivia��
She heard her name but nothing warranted response. She remained like a statue when she heard her name again. Then she turned. She turned because it wasn�t Gina who was calling her. It was someone else�s voice. It was Alex�s voice.
ADA Alexander Cabot was standing right in front of her. Few steps away but right in front of her. And in her sense of no sense Olivia covered that few steps and took Alex in her arms and captured her lips. Before she even realized what had made her do so, Alex was equally in-captivating her lips.
�Well� like I was saying.� Gina said pretending to turn away from the two women who were kissing each other. �The CAU failed and it put Alex in hospital but she is fine now.�
She peeped but they were still kissing.
�Anyway� then I put my career on line, to bring her back here. If anyone cares to thank me.� Gina said as she looked up at the ceiling of Cragen�s office.
As much as Gina had hoped for Alex�s happiness, this she wasn�t prepared for. Even as the two women let off their guards and welcomed each other the real question is, were they prepared for each other?