Holiday Short - Star Wars Day
Title: Holiday Short - Star Wars Day
Fandom: Law & Order: SVU
Pairing: Alex/Olivia
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me. No infringement intended and no profit will be made from their use.
Spoilers: Slight spoiler for “Guilt” from Season 3
Author’s Note: I’m not overly thrilled with this one, but GGF assures me it’s post-worthy, so many thanks to her for the beta and advice. Happy Star Wars Day - May the 4th be with you…
The congratulatory group of detectives dispersed, leaving Alex and Olivia standing near Olivia’s desk still smiling.
“Really, Alex, great job,” Olivia said, repeating her earlier commendation when the ADA had come to the squad room to deliver the news of her court victory against a serial rapist.
“Thanks,” Alex responded. “But, as I said, it’s a team effort. My job is made much easier by having great detectives to work with.”
Olivia’s smile widened with Alex’s praise and her eyes locked with the ADA’s. Clear blue eyes with a hint of curiosity seemed to twinkle in delight as the two women stood face to face in the middle of their own little mutual admiration society.
They stood like that for a moment longer and Olivia finally said, “Meet me for a drink later. To celebrate.”
A graceful eyebrow began to arch almost imperceptibly over one blue eye. Alex seemed to ponder the request for a moment before nodding in agreement. “OK. Maloney’s?” she asked, referring to the bar the detectives frequented across from the precinct.
Olivia shook her head. “Mmmm, no. How about Ming’s, and we make it dinner instead?”
This time, the eyebrow arched in an obvious manner. Before Alex could answer, Olivia quickly added, “I know it’s not fancy, but the food’s good, and we probably won’t be bothered by prying eyes.”
Alex knew the restaurant well. It was a small Chinese place where Olivia had taken her during the Cavanaugh case. She had been distraught when the teenaged Sam Cavanaugh had taken an overdose shortly after their prep for the trial against a man who had repeatedly molested him. The case had almost been Alex’s downfall, but thanks to her savvy, albeit slightly unethical maneuverings, justice had been served. During her lowest point, Olivia had introduced Alex to Ming’s, where she had drowned her sorrows in Tsingtao beer and moo shu pork. And, it was where she had discovered a true friend in Olivia.
Seeing a ghost of a memory cross Alex’s face, Olivia suddenly remembered their history at the small Chinese diner. “Oh, wait, bad memories there?”
The ADA shook her head. “No. Good ones, believe it or not.”
Olivia smiled again. “OK, then.”
Alex had to admit she was a little curious why Olivia was concerned about ‘prying eyes’, but she found herself nodding again. “Ming’s it is. Seven o’clock?”
Olivia continued to smile. “Perfect.”
Alex couldn’t seem to bring herself to break eye contact with the warm, brown eyes looking back at her. Olivia couldn’t possibly be thinking of moving beyond friendship, could she? Alex backed away slowly. “See you then,” she said as she finally turned and made her way to the door of the squad room.
***
Alex walked into Ming’s at five after seven. She immediately spied Olivia sitting in a booth toward the back of the diner, two bottles of Tsingtao on the table in front of her. The waitress smiled and gave a small nod to Alex as she passed by. Ming’s served freshly made Chinese fare, but looked like a standard American diner with Formica table tops and booths lining both sides of the establishment. She had no idea how Olivia had found it originally, but she had been a frequent customer ever since the detective first brought her there a year earlier. Alex considered it comfort food. She wasn’t sure if it was the food itself or the circumstances by which she had been introduced to it, but it always seemed to make her feel better when she ate here or got take-out.
Olivia smiled as Alex approached. “Counselor.”
“Detective.” Alex returned the greeting with her own smile as she slid into the opposite side of the small booth.
Olivia gestured to the bottles, just beginning to show signs of condensation. “I took the liberty. I hope that’s OK.”
Alex nodded. “Perfect,” she said, echoing Olivia’s earlier sentiment, as she picked up the bottle and made a toasting gesture.
Olivia picked up her bottle and tapped it to the side of Alex’s and they both took a sip without breaking eye contact.
The waitress came by and took their orders, breaking the slight tension that had suddenly begun to form. Alex and Olivia lapsed into a light conversation about their respective days as they waited for and then enjoyed their meal, with Olivia once again praising Alex for a job well done in court.
“I guess I really should have taken you to a fancy restaurant to celebrate,” Olivia said sheepishly.
Finishing the last bite of her moo shu pork, Alex wiped her mouth with her napkin and said, “Olivia, this place is special to me, so you couldn’t have picked a place I like better.”
“Really? Ming’s is special to you?”
Alex nodded. “Do you remember the first time you brought me here?”
Olivia nodded in return. “During the Cavanaugh case. I was really worried about you.”
“I know, and that really meant a lot to me, even if I didn’t act like it at the time.” She hesitated for just a moment before continuing quietly. “I had always admired you as a good detective and colleague, but I felt like our personal friendship really began right here at Ming’s.”
Olivia looked slightly surprised, but pleased. “When I suggested this place earlier today, I had no idea you felt that way.”
Alex nodded again, but looked down at her empty plate, as if she were unsure what to say next. As if on cue, the waitress came with two fresh bottles of beer. She then removed their empties and their dinner plates, leaving two fortune cookies in the middle of the table.
Olivia cleared her throat as the waitress walked away. She fidgeted nervously in her seat as she looked at Alex and said, “Well, then, I guess this is an appropriate place to ask you what I’m about to ask you.”
Alex gripped her beer bottle and looked up to meet Olivia’s gaze. “Olivia, don’t,” was all she said.
Olivia blinked and looked a little surprised. “Don’t what?”
Alex sighed and shook her head slightly. “Don’t say what I think you’re about to say. We can’t go there.”
Olivia frowned slightly. “Alex, I don’t think I’m crazy. I can’t be the only one feeling like this. Not the way you’ve been looking at me lately.”
Alex shook her head again and smiled ruefully. “You’re not crazy, Liv, but we can’t.”
“Why not?” Olivia asked as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Because of who we are and what we do. It would never work. It would be used against us the first time anyone found out.”
“Then no one has to find out.”
Alex’s gaze softened. “Liv, as much as I would like to explore something beyond just friendship with you, do you really think we could do that? Sneak around and hope nobody sees us? Not be able to go out to dinner together or show up places together?”
“We’re out to dinner right now.” She looked around. “I don’t see anyone snapping photos or even showing any interest in us.”
“But they would. You know they would if they thought they could use it to help their case or hurt ours. Right now, we’re just work colleagues meeting for bite to eat. But, if anyone got wind of this being a more personal relationship… I just don’t think we can risk it.”
Olivia looked at their hands, each gripping their beer bottles in front of them on the table. She slid her bottle closer to Alex’s and extended her index finger so the back of it was touching the backs of Alex’s fingers. She gently moved her finger up and down in sort of a backwards caress of Alex’s fingers. Looking up at Alex, with dark lidded eyes, she said softly, “Some things may be worth the risk.”
Alex took in a ragged breath and moved her hand away. “Let’s not make this any harder than it already is.” She looked at Olivia. “Please.”
“If it’s so hard, why fight it?”
“Because we have to. It could jeopardize our careers and any case that we work on. And, for that matter, probably any cases that we’ve ever worked on. Can you live with that on your conscience?”
Olivia sighed. “I think you’re being a little overly dramatic. But, Alex, now that we’ve acknowledged it, I’m not sure I can just ignore it.”
“We have to, Liv.”
“Can you?”
It was Alex’s turn to sigh. “I’m certainly going to try.”
Olivia thought for a moment and then said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Alex frowned. “Now you’re quoting Confucius?”
Olivia shook her head. “No.”
“Who then?”
“Yoda.”
Alex rolled her eyes. “OK, the first step to trying is to stop talking about it.” She picked up a wrapped fortune cookie and pushed the other toward Olivia. “Here, maybe the cookie will offer some good advice.”
Olivia picked up the cookie and tore open the wrapper as Alex did the same. They broke open the cookies simultaneously and withdrew their fortunes.
Alex looked at Olivia who had a wry smile on her face. “Well?”
“You first,” Olivia said.
Alex read from the tiny slip of paper that held her fortune. “You are a force to be reckoned with.”
Olivia chuckled. “Well that’s certainly accurate.”
“What does yours say?” Alex asked, ignoring Olivia’s sarcasm.
“May the force be with you,” Olivia deadpanned.
“It does not!” She plucked the little paper from Olivia’s hand.
“Close enough,” Olivia said, almost under her breath.
Alex read Olivia’s fortune out loud. “Now’s the time to take action.”
Alex looked across the table at Olivia, as if waiting for a reply. The detective relaxed against the seatback and offered a slight shrug. “What do you want me to say? I’m not sure the action I’d like to take would be welcomed.”
Arching the eyebrow again, Alex said, “Which is…?”
“I thought you didn’t want to talk about it.”
Alex shifted in her seat. “Maybe talking it out is a better plan. Do or do not, remember?”
“Oh, I remember.”
“So… what action would you like to take?”
“If you must know, I would like to reach across this table, pull you to me… and kiss you senseless.” She saw Alex’s eyes widen as she visibly swallowed. “Then, I’d like to take you home and do so much more than just kiss you.”
“Oh…”
Olivia tried not to smirk at the look on Alex’s face. The ADA’s resolve to not cross the line she had drawn in the sand seemed to be wavering a bit. “Is that action-enough for you?”
“You do put up a convincing argument toward ‘do’ rather than ‘do not’.”
Olivia sat forward again. “How convincing?”
Alex held her hands up in a defensive posture. “Don’t come across the table just yet.”
Olivia smiled. “I suppose you’re going to argue the ‘do not’ side now?”
Alex faltered. “I should. I really should.”
“But…?” Olivia drew out the word.
“Oh, hell,” Alex said as she signaled the waitress for the check. “Take me home, Olivia.”
“Does that mean what I hope it means?” Olivia asked, hoping she didn’t sound too eager, because Alex could just be tired of the conversation.
Alex looked at her and began to smile. “May the force be with you…”
Fandom: Law & Order: SVU
Pairing: Alex/Olivia
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: These characters do not belong to me. No infringement intended and no profit will be made from their use.
Spoilers: Slight spoiler for “Guilt” from Season 3
Author’s Note: I’m not overly thrilled with this one, but GGF assures me it’s post-worthy, so many thanks to her for the beta and advice. Happy Star Wars Day - May the 4th be with you…
The congratulatory group of detectives dispersed, leaving Alex and Olivia standing near Olivia’s desk still smiling.
“Really, Alex, great job,” Olivia said, repeating her earlier commendation when the ADA had come to the squad room to deliver the news of her court victory against a serial rapist.
“Thanks,” Alex responded. “But, as I said, it’s a team effort. My job is made much easier by having great detectives to work with.”
Olivia’s smile widened with Alex’s praise and her eyes locked with the ADA’s. Clear blue eyes with a hint of curiosity seemed to twinkle in delight as the two women stood face to face in the middle of their own little mutual admiration society.
They stood like that for a moment longer and Olivia finally said, “Meet me for a drink later. To celebrate.”
A graceful eyebrow began to arch almost imperceptibly over one blue eye. Alex seemed to ponder the request for a moment before nodding in agreement. “OK. Maloney’s?” she asked, referring to the bar the detectives frequented across from the precinct.
Olivia shook her head. “Mmmm, no. How about Ming’s, and we make it dinner instead?”
This time, the eyebrow arched in an obvious manner. Before Alex could answer, Olivia quickly added, “I know it’s not fancy, but the food’s good, and we probably won’t be bothered by prying eyes.”
Alex knew the restaurant well. It was a small Chinese place where Olivia had taken her during the Cavanaugh case. She had been distraught when the teenaged Sam Cavanaugh had taken an overdose shortly after their prep for the trial against a man who had repeatedly molested him. The case had almost been Alex’s downfall, but thanks to her savvy, albeit slightly unethical maneuverings, justice had been served. During her lowest point, Olivia had introduced Alex to Ming’s, where she had drowned her sorrows in Tsingtao beer and moo shu pork. And, it was where she had discovered a true friend in Olivia.
Seeing a ghost of a memory cross Alex’s face, Olivia suddenly remembered their history at the small Chinese diner. “Oh, wait, bad memories there?”
The ADA shook her head. “No. Good ones, believe it or not.”
Olivia smiled again. “OK, then.”
Alex had to admit she was a little curious why Olivia was concerned about ‘prying eyes’, but she found herself nodding again. “Ming’s it is. Seven o’clock?”
Olivia continued to smile. “Perfect.”
Alex couldn’t seem to bring herself to break eye contact with the warm, brown eyes looking back at her. Olivia couldn’t possibly be thinking of moving beyond friendship, could she? Alex backed away slowly. “See you then,” she said as she finally turned and made her way to the door of the squad room.
***
Alex walked into Ming’s at five after seven. She immediately spied Olivia sitting in a booth toward the back of the diner, two bottles of Tsingtao on the table in front of her. The waitress smiled and gave a small nod to Alex as she passed by. Ming’s served freshly made Chinese fare, but looked like a standard American diner with Formica table tops and booths lining both sides of the establishment. She had no idea how Olivia had found it originally, but she had been a frequent customer ever since the detective first brought her there a year earlier. Alex considered it comfort food. She wasn’t sure if it was the food itself or the circumstances by which she had been introduced to it, but it always seemed to make her feel better when she ate here or got take-out.
Olivia smiled as Alex approached. “Counselor.”
“Detective.” Alex returned the greeting with her own smile as she slid into the opposite side of the small booth.
Olivia gestured to the bottles, just beginning to show signs of condensation. “I took the liberty. I hope that’s OK.”
Alex nodded. “Perfect,” she said, echoing Olivia’s earlier sentiment, as she picked up the bottle and made a toasting gesture.
Olivia picked up her bottle and tapped it to the side of Alex’s and they both took a sip without breaking eye contact.
The waitress came by and took their orders, breaking the slight tension that had suddenly begun to form. Alex and Olivia lapsed into a light conversation about their respective days as they waited for and then enjoyed their meal, with Olivia once again praising Alex for a job well done in court.
“I guess I really should have taken you to a fancy restaurant to celebrate,” Olivia said sheepishly.
Finishing the last bite of her moo shu pork, Alex wiped her mouth with her napkin and said, “Olivia, this place is special to me, so you couldn’t have picked a place I like better.”
“Really? Ming’s is special to you?”
Alex nodded. “Do you remember the first time you brought me here?”
Olivia nodded in return. “During the Cavanaugh case. I was really worried about you.”
“I know, and that really meant a lot to me, even if I didn’t act like it at the time.” She hesitated for just a moment before continuing quietly. “I had always admired you as a good detective and colleague, but I felt like our personal friendship really began right here at Ming’s.”
Olivia looked slightly surprised, but pleased. “When I suggested this place earlier today, I had no idea you felt that way.”
Alex nodded again, but looked down at her empty plate, as if she were unsure what to say next. As if on cue, the waitress came with two fresh bottles of beer. She then removed their empties and their dinner plates, leaving two fortune cookies in the middle of the table.
Olivia cleared her throat as the waitress walked away. She fidgeted nervously in her seat as she looked at Alex and said, “Well, then, I guess this is an appropriate place to ask you what I’m about to ask you.”
Alex gripped her beer bottle and looked up to meet Olivia’s gaze. “Olivia, don’t,” was all she said.
Olivia blinked and looked a little surprised. “Don’t what?”
Alex sighed and shook her head slightly. “Don’t say what I think you’re about to say. We can’t go there.”
Olivia frowned slightly. “Alex, I don’t think I’m crazy. I can’t be the only one feeling like this. Not the way you’ve been looking at me lately.”
Alex shook her head again and smiled ruefully. “You’re not crazy, Liv, but we can’t.”
“Why not?” Olivia asked as if she couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Because of who we are and what we do. It would never work. It would be used against us the first time anyone found out.”
“Then no one has to find out.”
Alex’s gaze softened. “Liv, as much as I would like to explore something beyond just friendship with you, do you really think we could do that? Sneak around and hope nobody sees us? Not be able to go out to dinner together or show up places together?”
“We’re out to dinner right now.” She looked around. “I don’t see anyone snapping photos or even showing any interest in us.”
“But they would. You know they would if they thought they could use it to help their case or hurt ours. Right now, we’re just work colleagues meeting for bite to eat. But, if anyone got wind of this being a more personal relationship… I just don’t think we can risk it.”
Olivia looked at their hands, each gripping their beer bottles in front of them on the table. She slid her bottle closer to Alex’s and extended her index finger so the back of it was touching the backs of Alex’s fingers. She gently moved her finger up and down in sort of a backwards caress of Alex’s fingers. Looking up at Alex, with dark lidded eyes, she said softly, “Some things may be worth the risk.”
Alex took in a ragged breath and moved her hand away. “Let’s not make this any harder than it already is.” She looked at Olivia. “Please.”
“If it’s so hard, why fight it?”
“Because we have to. It could jeopardize our careers and any case that we work on. And, for that matter, probably any cases that we’ve ever worked on. Can you live with that on your conscience?”
Olivia sighed. “I think you’re being a little overly dramatic. But, Alex, now that we’ve acknowledged it, I’m not sure I can just ignore it.”
“We have to, Liv.”
“Can you?”
It was Alex’s turn to sigh. “I’m certainly going to try.”
Olivia thought for a moment and then said, “Do or do not. There is no try.”
Alex frowned. “Now you’re quoting Confucius?”
Olivia shook her head. “No.”
“Who then?”
“Yoda.”
Alex rolled her eyes. “OK, the first step to trying is to stop talking about it.” She picked up a wrapped fortune cookie and pushed the other toward Olivia. “Here, maybe the cookie will offer some good advice.”
Olivia picked up the cookie and tore open the wrapper as Alex did the same. They broke open the cookies simultaneously and withdrew their fortunes.
Alex looked at Olivia who had a wry smile on her face. “Well?”
“You first,” Olivia said.
Alex read from the tiny slip of paper that held her fortune. “You are a force to be reckoned with.”
Olivia chuckled. “Well that’s certainly accurate.”
“What does yours say?” Alex asked, ignoring Olivia’s sarcasm.
“May the force be with you,” Olivia deadpanned.
“It does not!” She plucked the little paper from Olivia’s hand.
“Close enough,” Olivia said, almost under her breath.
Alex read Olivia’s fortune out loud. “Now’s the time to take action.”
Alex looked across the table at Olivia, as if waiting for a reply. The detective relaxed against the seatback and offered a slight shrug. “What do you want me to say? I’m not sure the action I’d like to take would be welcomed.”
Arching the eyebrow again, Alex said, “Which is…?”
“I thought you didn’t want to talk about it.”
Alex shifted in her seat. “Maybe talking it out is a better plan. Do or do not, remember?”
“Oh, I remember.”
“So… what action would you like to take?”
“If you must know, I would like to reach across this table, pull you to me… and kiss you senseless.” She saw Alex’s eyes widen as she visibly swallowed. “Then, I’d like to take you home and do so much more than just kiss you.”
“Oh…”
Olivia tried not to smirk at the look on Alex’s face. The ADA’s resolve to not cross the line she had drawn in the sand seemed to be wavering a bit. “Is that action-enough for you?”
“You do put up a convincing argument toward ‘do’ rather than ‘do not’.”
Olivia sat forward again. “How convincing?”
Alex held her hands up in a defensive posture. “Don’t come across the table just yet.”
Olivia smiled. “I suppose you’re going to argue the ‘do not’ side now?”
Alex faltered. “I should. I really should.”
“But…?” Olivia drew out the word.
“Oh, hell,” Alex said as she signaled the waitress for the check. “Take me home, Olivia.”
“Does that mean what I hope it means?” Olivia asked, hoping she didn’t sound too eager, because Alex could just be tired of the conversation.
Alex looked at her and began to smile. “May the force be with you…”