Content to Just Be - Chapter 2
The sunlight streams through the window. Olivia stirs and wonders why the sun is so bright. She looks at the clock and almost falls out of bed when she sees it is 10am. Alex isn’t next to her, so she runs out into the kitchen. Alex is sitting at the kitchen counter, drinking a glass of orange juice and reading the paper. When Alex hears the feet pattering into the kitchen, she looks up and sees the panicked look on Olivia’s face. “You’re off today, remember?” she states as if it is the most obvious thing in the world.
Olivia visibly relaxes and says, “Thank god for small miracles.” She sits down next to Alex and steals a sip of her orange juice. Alex peers at her through her black-rimmed glasses. That look alone is enough to make Olivia shiver. She is perfectly content just to stare at the woman who has given her everything in the world.
“Is there something on my face or am I just that pretty to look at?” Alex finally asks. Olivia pretends to wipe a smudge off the side of Alex’s face and grins, “nah, you’re just that pretty to look at. You know you make me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I dunno why I picked today to tell you all of this. I suppose I’m just feeling sort of truthsome. I love you so much, Alex. I don’t know what I’d do without you to pick me up when I’m down.”
Alex gazes into Olivia’s chocolate-brown eyes with all the love and adoration she can muster. “Olivia, you have changed me so much. I don’t know what I would do without you either. I can’t tell you how content I am to fall asleep next to you and have you be the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning. I feel so safe and calm when I am around you.”
They watch each other for a moment longer until Liv decides to get up and fix herself breakfast. Liv is halfway through her toast and orange juice when the shrill sound of a cell phone ringing startles both of them. Liv jogs back to the bedroom and realizes it is her phone that has interrupted her leisurely morning. She looks at the caller ID and sees Elliot’s name. She groans inwardly.
“Benson.”
“Liv, it’s me.”
“What’s up? It must be pretty important for you to call me on my day off.”
“We caught a case and we need you.”
“What happened?”
“Triple homicide. Dad drowned his kids in a hotel bathroom.”
“How old?”
“Two, four, and six.”
“Christ. Ok, I’ll be at the house in 20.
“Thanks Liv. I owe you one. Tell Cabot I said hi.”
“K. Will do. See you soon.”
Olivia snaps her phone shut, curses, and heads back down the hall into the kitchen. “Hey, sweetie. That was El. We apparently caught a case and they need me down at the house.”
“Do you have to go? It’s your day off,” Alex whines.
“Unfortunately, I do. It’s a triple homicide involving kids.”
Alex lets out a slow breath and says, “Alrighty. Call me when you get a chance. Will I see you tonight?”
“I hope so. Are you going back to your apartment tonight?”
“Yeah, I think so. Tell you what. Whenever you finish tonight, just come by. I can’t guarantee that I’ll be awake, but at least you won’t have to sleep alone tonight.”
“Ok. I’ll try. I give you a ring when I get a chance.” Olivia pads back down the hall to change into her work attire. She clips her holster and gun to her hip and grabs her badge off the nightstand. She checks the battery on her phone and shoves it into her pocket.
“Love you!” she tosses at Alex on her way out.
“Love you more,” Alex tosses back. And with the click of the door, Olivia is on her way.
Olivia visibly relaxes and says, “Thank god for small miracles.” She sits down next to Alex and steals a sip of her orange juice. Alex peers at her through her black-rimmed glasses. That look alone is enough to make Olivia shiver. She is perfectly content just to stare at the woman who has given her everything in the world.
“Is there something on my face or am I just that pretty to look at?” Alex finally asks. Olivia pretends to wipe a smudge off the side of Alex’s face and grins, “nah, you’re just that pretty to look at. You know you make me happier than I’ve ever been in my life. I dunno why I picked today to tell you all of this. I suppose I’m just feeling sort of truthsome. I love you so much, Alex. I don’t know what I’d do without you to pick me up when I’m down.”
Alex gazes into Olivia’s chocolate-brown eyes with all the love and adoration she can muster. “Olivia, you have changed me so much. I don’t know what I would do without you either. I can’t tell you how content I am to fall asleep next to you and have you be the first thing I see when I wake up in the morning. I feel so safe and calm when I am around you.”
They watch each other for a moment longer until Liv decides to get up and fix herself breakfast. Liv is halfway through her toast and orange juice when the shrill sound of a cell phone ringing startles both of them. Liv jogs back to the bedroom and realizes it is her phone that has interrupted her leisurely morning. She looks at the caller ID and sees Elliot’s name. She groans inwardly.
“Benson.”
“Liv, it’s me.”
“What’s up? It must be pretty important for you to call me on my day off.”
“We caught a case and we need you.”
“What happened?”
“Triple homicide. Dad drowned his kids in a hotel bathroom.”
“How old?”
“Two, four, and six.”
“Christ. Ok, I’ll be at the house in 20.
“Thanks Liv. I owe you one. Tell Cabot I said hi.”
“K. Will do. See you soon.”
Olivia snaps her phone shut, curses, and heads back down the hall into the kitchen. “Hey, sweetie. That was El. We apparently caught a case and they need me down at the house.”
“Do you have to go? It’s your day off,” Alex whines.
“Unfortunately, I do. It’s a triple homicide involving kids.”
Alex lets out a slow breath and says, “Alrighty. Call me when you get a chance. Will I see you tonight?”
“I hope so. Are you going back to your apartment tonight?”
“Yeah, I think so. Tell you what. Whenever you finish tonight, just come by. I can’t guarantee that I’ll be awake, but at least you won’t have to sleep alone tonight.”
“Ok. I’ll try. I give you a ring when I get a chance.” Olivia pads back down the hall to change into her work attire. She clips her holster and gun to her hip and grabs her badge off the nightstand. She checks the battery on her phone and shoves it into her pocket.
“Love you!” she tosses at Alex on her way out.
“Love you more,” Alex tosses back. And with the click of the door, Olivia is on her way.