Conviction – Days of Future Past – 102

            Alexandra Cabot looked at the clock; it was just edging past six pm.  She took off her glasses and rubbed her eyes.  Exhaustion tugged at her, but she refused to let it get the best of her.  Time had come for her to take the final step back into her life.  Picking up the phone, and dialing a phone number she knew all to well.

            “Benson,” came the familiar and comforting voice at the other end of the phone.  Alex felt a smile crawling onto her lips.  It felt good to finally smile.

            “Still answering your home phone as if it were your work phone?  I should say, ‘It’s Cabot’, then?” 

            “Oh my god, Alex!  Hi.”

            Alex smiled at the joyous tone in her voice, “Hungry?”

            “Always.  How about Mesa Grill, I know someone who works there, I can get us in,” eluded Olivia.

            “Mmmmmm…,” Alex licked her lips, “an hour?  I have something to wrap up.”

            “You’d better not stand me up, Alex,” laughed Olivia. 

            “Never,” stated Alex, the phone line going dead and Alex hurriedly finished up her work.

~*Conviction*~

            Alex looked around the restaurant, smiling at the young woman who was about to seat her, “Olivia Benson?” 

            “Right this way, Ma’am,” the sexy dark haired woman gently took her elbow, and led her to one of the more secluded tables.  Alex saw Olivia, her hair darker and still short.  A smile spreading over her pretty features, Alex took a deep breath, finally feeling at home in New York again.

            “Well if it isn’t the late, great Alexandra Cabot,” said Olivia, and for a moment, Alex thought she was angry with her for not having contacted her sooner.  But, Olivia stood, hugging Alex.

            “Not late and certainly not great.  I told you, I’m on time,” stated Alex, holding her hands up and pulling out the chair.  The two women sat down, an awkward silence followed.  “Why does this feel weird?”  Alex asked, pursed lips betraying her feelings.

            “Because you’ve been out of hiding for, oh… five months and haven’t called me?  Guilty?  Not weird,” Olivia sipped the glass of water.  Alex picked up the menu, and then put it back down.