Juliet and Juliet?

Chapter 13

Olivia lay restlessly on her back, the hole in her side frustrating her more than the actual physical pain it induced. The throbbing in her head had subsided and the fogginess had begun to fade. After everything she had gone through in the last few hours, she was stunned that it was still light outside. She felt as though she hadn't stopped for days. She heard Alex's raised voice in defiance outside and lifted her head to look out the open doors of the ambulance. She snorted at the familiar, 'I'm not backing down.' pose frequently favored by the ADA.

'Poor El,' she mused as she listened to Alex insist on accompanying her to the hospital.

She smiled at memories of heated discussions over cases, over suspects, over warrants, over dinner. She thought about lingering looks, stolen glances, accidental touches and the feelings she struggled to suppress the night Alex went into Witness Protection. She had regretted not having the courage to tell her how much she cared for her. She had deliberately blocked out the intimidating presence of the hovering Agent Hammond and stepped into Alex's personal space to ask, "How long?" Alex had somberly shrugged and swallowed hard. Olivia had seen the pain in her eyes and the unspoken regret at what could have been and what might never be.

She thought about how Alex must have felt when she came out of WPP. How Alex had called her, tried looking for her only to be told she was gone. She felt a deep ache in her chest at the lost time that would never be recovered. If they hadn't been pushed together in this current mess, they would still be oblivious to each others feelings.

'Everything happens for a reason,' she thought as she watched the rumpled, blood stained figure climb up the two steps, sit down and sigh wearily on the small bench adjacent to the gurney.

Olivia tilted her head to the left to get a better view. She watched as Alex removed her glasses, rubbed her eyes then brushed the same hand through her long blonde hair before re-settling the frames on her face. She smiled as Alex attempted to smooth out her creased and dirty slacks.

Once Alex was settled she looked over at Olivia, puzzled at the smile gracing her features, "What are you smiling at?"

"You."

"Me?" she asked in confusion as she leaned a little closer.

"You." Olivia's smile morphed smoothly into a familiar lop sided grin.

"Well, you, owe me a new suit and blouse Detective," she teased, indicating the once creamy white silk blouse now stained with patches of dark red.

Olivia took in the figure beside her, she indicated for Alex to come even closer with a subtle shift of her head. Alex leaned directly over Olivia. She placed one hand on her left shoulder and the other on the rail of the gurney on the other side. The move brought them face to face, inches apart.

"And new underwear," whispered Olivia.

Alex frowned at her in confusion until she noticed the, not so subtle glance cast down her open blouse. She followed the heated gaze downwards. Three buttons undone on her blouse exposed her silk camisole which was clearly saturated with Olivia's blood. Alex was aware Olivia had a clear view down the gap in her cami and blushed hard as realization set in. She leaned in further and watched Olivia's face start to flush. She moved her hand from the gurney rail and brought it up to rest against Olivia's face, she placed her other hand on the opposite cheek and cupped Olivia's face gently. She absorbed the warmth and refused to break the eye contact.

"We have a lot to talk about," she whispered softly, her eyes moving to the full lips of the Detective. She subconsciously licked her lower lip, leaving her mouth glistening and inviting.

Olivia had never seen anything so erotic in her entire life. She felt her heart begin to race and warmth spread throughout her battered body. The hands on her face moved slightly to gently caress the hyper sensitive flesh below her ears. The sensation was electrifyingly intimate. She stole another glance down the front of her blouse and closed her eyes in an effort to control her soaring libido.

Warm lips covered her own.

A gentle pressure, tentative at first as they gently brushed against each other in small lingering kisses until Olivia could stand it no more. She lifted her right hand to the base of Alex's neck. She pulled her in, parting the lips that enveloped her own and deepened the kiss. Alex moaned into Olivia's mouth and felt herself sag into the warm body beneath her.

At the sound of a throat clearing Alex pulled back slightly, she waited a few seconds before she opened her eyes wanting to fully savor the moment and her new favorite flavor, Olivia Benson.

Olivia watched her as she pulled away and sat back on the bench. She wished for Connors to be caught so that they could have another... 'talk'...without an audience.

The paramedic smiled shyly as he handed Alex her long forgotten briefcase and placed a Kevlar Vest beside her on the bench. She looked at him questioningly.

"One of the 'men in black' asked me to give you this," he said indicating the briefcase. He pointed to the Kevlar, "and the Detective told me not to move until you agreed to put this on."

She shook her head as he leaned past her to the small door that led to the drivers cab and rapped lightly twice, indicating for them to move. He checked the temporary dressings that had been applied to Olivia and moved back to replensih his the supply station.

Alex leaned forward and lifted Olivia's bloody left hand, carefully examining each finger. After a few seconds she spoke softly, "This one's my favourite," lifting Olivia's index finger, after much scrutiny of each digit.

Olivia frowned in confusion, "Why?" she aske quietly.

"Because this trigger finger saved my life, " she whispered as she kissed the tip before moving her lips and placing an open mouthed kiss on her palm.

Olivia groaned at the sensations the act induced causing the paramedic to turn around.

"Are you in pain Detective?" he asked with concern.

She shot Alex a glare as she released her hand, "No, just moved the wrong way," she lied, hoping he believed her.

He moved over and checked her pulse, "Your heart rate is elevated, do you feel faint?"

Olivia blushed furiously, growling out an embarrassed, "No!"

Alex busied herself with her briefcase, ignoring the murderous glares being cast her way, 'Cabot 2 Benson 0' she smirked.

The vehicle began to slow down, Alex nervously looked at Olivia, trying not to panic. The paramedic sensed this and explained it was probably traffic lights.

"We've only just started moving, there aren't any traffic lights at the plaza," replied an increasingly worried Alex.

As they rolled to a gentle stop, an explosion in front lifted the ambulance into the air, propelling it backwards. It landed heavily, bouncing from side to side, threatening to topple over. After a few seconds it stopped.

Olivia was catapulted from her gurney and landed heavily on the floor beside a shaken Alex.

The paramedic had struck the supply shelves and was bleeding profusely from a deep laceration in his forehead. Olivia shakily got to her feet buttoning the bottom half of her shirt and touched the shoulder of the wounded man asking if he was okay. He looked at her and nodded his head affirmatively.

"Put the vest on, " she instructed Alex.

Alex grabbed the vest and fastened it, she looked expectantly at Olivia.

"What about Peter?" asked the paramedic, referring to his partner driving the ambulance.

Olivia carefully opened the cabin door and flinched at the sight of the driver lying dead across the front seat. His head had fatally struck the wheel and the back wall of the cabin. Olivia noted the sickening angle his head lay at and knew his neck was broken. She looked out the windscreen at the carnage before her.

A chunk of twisted metal that was clearly once a black SUV was upturned on the road up ahead. Its two remaining wheels spinning in mid air. Three more vehicles were haphazardly strewn across the road.

Two armed figures in black with masks were running towards the SUV.

Without turning Olivia spoke, "We need to get out of here..." she paused as the two men stopped at the SUV and opened fire.