Juliet and Juliet?

Chapter 7

Elliot and Lieutenant Goldie were inside the mobile command post discussing options.

"How the Hell can a building this important have only one stairwell and no other emergency exits? Have they learned nothing from the past decade?" said Elliot, frustration evident. "Liv's heading for the roof, we get them off, then storm the building...right?" He looked to Goldie for confirmation.

Goldie shook his head. "Stabler," he stopped the tirade he was about to deliver and decided to start again, "Look, once they make it to '12' and are en route to the roof, we can send in the whole damn team and flush him out. We.." he motioned between the two of them, "..have a real chance here to apprehend, dead or alive, a terrorist," he paused, "It's not just Benson and Cabot's lives we're trying to preserve here, it's the future lives of hundreds."

Elliot just looked at him, he didn't care about everyone else. Not today, anyway. He checked his watch, Liv should be heading for the roof, "Is the chopper team in position?" he asked, knowing it probably was.

Goldie nodded his head. We have a 'go' team in the lobby awaiting the signal. Once Benson confirms her position, they'll ascend directly to '9', the rest of the team will secure the stairwell and sweep each floor. Connors is going nowhere Stabler, have some faith."

The comment got Elliot's back up and he was about to reply when an agent broke in, "Sir, feed's back, we have visual." He motioned to the bank of monitors all now displaying live images from within the building.

"Get me '9'" demanded Goldie. The static cameras were in the same position on each floor, none of the office's had cameras. The stairwell camera was located above the fire door, angled downwards at 45 degrees.

All eyes watched as the two cameras covering the 9th floor showed an empty hallway filmed from opposite ends. The first camera was above the elevators and the second at the corner of the 'L' shaped corridor. They watched for any sign of movement, seconds ticked by. Nothing, no movement, no sign of life. Both men anxiously watched the monitors for the floors between '9' and '12'.

Nothing.

"There!" Elliot jumped forward.

A hooded figure dressed in black fatigues was on the stairwell about to open a fire door.

"Which floor is this?" demanded Goldie urgently, "Is this '10'?"

The agent turned, "No sir, '11'" he confirmed.

"Shit." Elliot pulled out his cellphone and hit speed dial, "C'mon Liv...,c'mon... pick up," he urged with quiet desperation.

Olivia was leaning against the wall outside the bathroom when Alex re-emerged. She looked at the Detective suspiciously, "Were you listening?" she asked with mock seriousness.

Olivia choked, "Eeww, Alex that's gross. You think I get my kicks outta listening to lawyer's pee?" she shuddered, "Boy, you need to get out more."

Alex smiled, "Maybe I do Detective, you offering?" there was no mistaking the flirtatious tone in her voice.

Olivia looked at her, shook her head and walked away.

Alex watched her confused, 'What did I say? It was only banter, she didn't mind earlier.' She walked after Olivia and reached for her arm. Olivia turned round and looked at the hand on her arm intimidatingly.

Alex instantly let her go, "What did I say Liv? I...I, I don't understand, " she searched Olivia's face trying to read her expression.

Olivia counted to ten and then did it again, deliberately trying to calm herself. She studied the face of the beautiful blond and tried to keep her tone even, "You want me to take you out sometime?" she clarified.

Alex smiled broadly and nodded her head.

"But you didn't want to return my calls or reply to my emails?" She felt herself losing her composure.

The smile on Alex's face faded, "Liv-"

"No" she stopped her.

Olivia closed her eyes, "You don't get to explain, it's too late Alex. You were out of witness protection for three fucking years and you couldn't pick up the phone, not once. You couldn't be bothered, you moved on. Good for you Alex, I'm pleased you got your life back and realized what you did and didn't need in it!" She turned to step away but a hand gripped her arm tightly and forced her to stay still.

Alex rose to her full height and looked directly at Olivia, "You have no idea what I've been through, how dare you try and make me feel guilty when you're the one who disconnected her phone service and moved apartment. Don't worry Liv, I got the message loud and clear, " she dropped the arm. They both stood staring.

Olivia was looking at her with a confused expression, "What are you talking abut?"

"September 2006"

Olivia frowned trying to think what she was doing in September 2006, nothing out of the ordinary sprang to mind.

Alex watched her trying to find the significance in the date, "Please Liv, don't go through the motions for my benefit," she moved towards the large, reinforced window and looked out, "I was out of protection two weeks, I was undergoing psychiatric evaluation for any signs of post traumatic stress disorder, I tried your home number and your cellphone. I even went to your apartment but was told you didn't live there any more. I called the precinct and was told you no longer worked there. I may not be a detective Olivia but it didn't take a genius to work out that you didn't want to be found," she finished, bitterness lacing her words.

Olivia moved slowly towards her, "Who did you speak to at the precinct?" She had an idea but needed confirmation.

Alex inhaled and blew the breath out sharply, "I think the name was Beck," she said and turned, surprised at Olivia's close proximity.

Realization dawned on Olivia and she smiled, "I was working undercover for the Feds in late 2006. Danni Beck was Elliot's new partner, she answered the phone. I was on a deep cover op, nobody knew where I was, not Elliot, not the Captain, nobody. If I knew you were back Alex," she stopped and reached for her hand, "I would have been the first to welcome you home with open arms," she said, hoping Alex believed the sincerity in her tone.

Alex stepped closer, squeezing the hand she held, "Undercover?"

Olivia nodded, "I never knew you were back, the only person who knew my location was Agent Dean Porter, my FBI handler."

They stood unmoving looking into each other's eyes both thinking the same thing, 'We've wasted so much time.' They both thought about the times they had spent together before that fateful night. The dinner invitations after work, the late night phone calls after a particularly tough case and the charged arguments in the squad room.

Alex was the first to speak, "Can I ask you a personal question?" she looked deeply into Olivia's molten brown eyes.

Olivia lifted her free hand and curled it around Alex's neck drawing her forward, she paused briefly to look into Alex's bright blue eyes and dipped her head. There was no mistaking her intention.

They were breathing the same air, lips almost touching, Olivia moved to close the final distance and taste the lips she had sought for so long when she felt her pocket vibrate.

Due to their proximity Alex felt it too and looked down resting their foreheads together, "You better answer it," she breathed out in frustration.

Olivia pulled back slightly, she kept her hand curled around Alex's neck but released her other hand to reach for her cellphone. Without breaking the heated gaze she answered it, "This better be good!" she answered abruptly.

"Liv?" said Elliot surprised at his partner's tone.

"Yeah?"

"Connors just entered your floor!"