Love and Litigation - An Alex Cabot/Law and Order SVU fanfiction

Chapter 22

As soon as she returned to her office, Alex shut the door and collapsed against it. Her heart was thumping hard in her chest, and it took concentration to catch her breath. 

She'd had sex last night. With Luke Dawson. She struggled to connect the dots on how they'd gotten to this point. Why was she suddenly so attracted to a man she'd known for well over ten years? In the back of her subconscious, she knew why. He was different, and not in a bad way. No, this was a good different. 

When they'd first started working together in the late nineties, Luke hadn't been at Special Victims long before Alex started. He had been the first one to introduce himself and make her feel welcome. Her first week had been a monster, so much so that she barely had time to stop to eat. Lo and behold, Luke stepped into her office one night with takeout from the Coral Dragon. And the rest was history. 

There was a familiarity when she was with him. Like coming home after a long day to something safe and comfortable. And, somehow, he had changed but very much so stayed the same. He was still the man whom she had long considered her best friend, but he had blossomed into something more. While he had been somewhat of a hot head years earlier, he had since grown in maturity and wisdom. He traded his nights out for nights in and spent more time at the gym than at bars.

And there was one other glaring difference. He was single this time around. Women had always gravitated towards Luke, and it wasn't hard to see why. But, these days, he seemed more content to focus on himself than chasing tail. And that was attractive to Alex. Well, that and the ten plus pounds of muscle he'd put on since they'd last worked together. 

While still pressed against the door there was a knock, startling her. When she opened it, Olivia was on the other side. 

"Are you alright? You looked flushed." 

Alex could feel the heat rising in her cheeks. 

"What? I'm fine. What's up?" 

"I wanted to run some things by you about Luke's case. I can come by later--" 

"No, that's no necessary. Have a seat." 

The ladies talked for awhile, hammering out the details of what would be brought to trial. After Liv left, Alex was mentally spent and ready to head home. 

On her way out of the precinct, she poured her stale coffee down the sink drain and slipped on her coat. As she passed by the squad room, a single familiar face was sitting at a desk in the center of the room.