Chapter One
Manhattan, NY
Hours had passed yet she refused to close her eyes. With the fatigue that was invading her body, drifting into a slumber would have been a heavenly gift but she knew that was one thing she could not do. She would not let herself be asleep just incase she decided to come back. And when she came, she would be awake waiting for her in that chair, to ask, no beg, for forgiveness. She would wait for her, yes she would wait for her.
Her eyes were still open when the phone rang. Even though she got up as quickly as it was possible for her numb body to do so and hurried towards the phone, the answering machine clicked in before she could reach it. Her heart desperately hoped that it was her and she would not hang up. But her panicked heart beat stood still as she heard a familiar male voice talking to her machine. Disappointed and saddened she looked at the watch that reminded her that even though it was already morning, she hadn�t come back. She walked towards the bathroom and washed away her tears as words of last night started to echo in her ears.
�Get OUT.�
It was she who had screamed those words, yet right then it was she herself who was wishing and hoping that she would forget what she said and would have come back. May be it was just too early, may be she would come back later in the day, she tried to console herself. May be she could take the day off from work and wait, but she knew that if not for anything else, for her sanity she needed to get out of the house.
Washington DC
The office was filled with piles of files that hadn�t been touched for months. There were papers in the desk waiting for much needed attention which was all given to a crumbled up one that was aimed at an imaginary hoop on a wall about few meters away. Taking his time, he finally made the shot when the door opened.
�Scully!� He exclaimed as his partner made her way into what had become their office.
�How was New York?� He asked without noticing her wary face and swollen eyes, he added, �Weren�t you supposed to be back tomorrow though?�
�She told me to get lost.� She stated as a matter of fact. �And I don�t want to talk about it. So, please tell me you have finished the reports you were suppose to catch up on while I was gone.� She said eyeing at the untouched files.
�I was going to do it today, since you were not supposed to be here. You know, it doesn�t take me that long to finish it.� He said settling in his chair and pulling up a file.
�Mulder, I was gone for two weeks, please don�t tell me all you did was play with paper balls.� She said with a tired voice.
�Well, I have certainly done more than just play with balls. I have done research on our next case. Now, whenever you are ready we are all set to go.� Mulder said as he walked passed Scully to get a file.
�What case?� Scully asked with almost no interest.
Mulder walked toward the projector like an excited boy who got to show off his toy and switched it on. Scully stared at it barely hearing a word her partner was saying as she thought that even though the two words, �Get OUT� had made her feel as though her world had ended last night, this morning nothing had really changed. No matter how hard your heart breaks the sun still comes up and life still goes on and for no apparent reason, you are out.
Manhattan, NY
�Hey Liv wait up.� Elliot said as he ran to the vendor where Olivia was buying her coffee. �Where had you been? I have been trying to reach you all week. I even left you couple of messages.� Elliot said as he asked for his regular coffee.
�I told you I was on a vacation. No calls.� Olivia smiled masking the pain in her heart.
�Oh! I know but you got to answer your phone, what if it was an emergency.� Elliot asked once again a little pissed at Olivia�s abandonment.
�Well, I am here. What is it?� Olivia asked with no excitement.
Elliot was a little discouraged by Olivia�s lack of interest but he knew his news would cheer her up so he said it anyway, �Alex is back.�
Olivia who was in a process of taking a sip of coffee chocked as she heard Elliot�s words register in her brain cells. �What?� She asked.
�Yes, Alex is back, the Fed caught the mob family that was after her and she came back almost a week ago, that�s why I kept calling you but you just didn�t answer.� Elliot finished his good news.
Olivia smiled and said, �Yeah that is great.� and followed her partner inside the building.
The news certainly had brought a smile on Olivia�s face as she was glad that Alex was no longer in danger and she didn�t have to hide or run away from anyone. She was also very happy that she was back but as she walked up the stairs she prayed a little that she didn�t have to see her right away, because she just didn�t know how to react or act. May be that is the reason why she walked as slowly as she could but Elliot who was as excited as a little boy just pulled her to hurry up.
Alexander Cabot, the ADA with whom she had fallen head over heals in love with just before she was abruptly taken into hiding by the Federal government for witness protection; the woman for whom she had cried and waited for as long as she could was back. She was back on the morning after the night she had just dried her tears for another woman she had fallen in love with and apparently lost, FBI Agent Dana Scully. What that meant detective Detective Olivia Benson certainly didn�t know, and what she was to do, she wasn�t sure.
As soon as Olivia reached their department she rushed to her desk and sat down hoping that she could somehow hide, but that was in vain. It was only moments later that Alex walked out of Cragen�s office and the whole department got up to give her a standing ovation as a welcome back. She smiled politely at everyone but looked only at Olivia. Olivia smiled back and clapped as well. She walked towards her former colleagues shaking few of their hands and thanking them as she walked closer and closer to Detective Benson. Olivia tried to find a reason to run away, get out of there but Elliot was standing right next to her, blocking her way. So, she stayed put as the ADA came right to her and stretched her hand. Olivia gave her hand in response but Alex just pulled her into a hug and discreetly whispered, �Meet me in Cragen�s office.� Alex pulled away before Olivia could answer yes or no. Alex took her time to thank most of the officers and then quickly disappeared inside Cragen�s office while Cragen himself went out for some meeting. Olivia waited for awhile. She tried to compute if it was wise for her to go or not, but Alex would be waiting so she just had to go. She waited few more minutes then walked to the door and opened it.
There she was sitting in the Chief�s chair with a pen in her mouth pondering over some papers. Olivia took a moment to look at her then she immediately remembered the reason why she was there. She walked up to the desk and threw the file right in front of the ADA.
�What do you mean by 'this case is thrown out?" Olivia demanded of the beautiful ADA.
�You didn�t follow the procedure, so it was thrown out.� Alex replied with no apology.
�Do you know what that son of bitch did? Do you know how long it took us to catch him?� Olivia asked once again yelling at the blond ADA.
�Yes, I know what he did, and how long it took, but if you didn�t follow procedure��
�I followed my instinct.� Olivia cut the ADA from giving her explanation.
�I can�t put instinct on the witness stand.� Alex said as she gathered the file that was thrown at her and calmly walked towards the detective.
�You are a lawyer, what do you care.� Olivia said once Alex was right on her face.
Olivia turned to walk away but Alex's hand on her arm stopped her.
�I do care, and I have already filed an appeal with another judge.� Alex looked right at Olivia as she answered. �I am on your side, whether you want to believe it or not.�
They both stared at each other, daring the other to say another word but none was spoken, and rather like a magnet, their lips had found themselves drawn towards one another. Before they even realized what was happening, their lips had already united and their mouths were welcoming each other.
�Hey� Alex said a little loud seeing that Olivia had stopped in her tracks and was lost in thought.
�Detective, coming IN?� Alex invited her former lover.
Olivia waited for a moment as she shook off the replay of their past that had just run through her head, and looked at the now standing in front of the desk, Alexandria Cabot, and walked in.