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i-believe-in-melinda-may · 3 years

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My New Cabeson story, find the first chapter below:

Chapter 1:

AN: After the final of SVU and Organized crime I felt the need to write a story. I knew it would focus on Alex as she is my favorite, and I realized that I wanted to include the Stabler who we know the lease about, Elizabeth. So, she is going to be a big part of this story. This story will be A/O but will not diminish the importance of the relationship Liv and Elliot share. It will also include friendship between Alex and Barba as I'm a sucker for the head cannon that they went to law school together.

I will also be addressing plotlines that SVU dropped such as Antonio Montoya and the effect the shooting and being in WITSEC had on Alex. I may or may not be ignoring Conviction, I haven't decided.

April 30 th 2018

Thirteen days ago, Alexandra 'Alex' Cabot, former Ice Queen and ADA, once again walked away from Lieutenant Olivia Benson. While it was not the first time the Lawyer walked away from the Detective it does not mean it was easy. In fact, other than when she was getting in the car to be taken away by the martials, it was the hardest time.

For eighteen years Alex Cabot has been not so secretively in love with the brunette detective. It took Alex a long time accept her feelings, and by then she was sure that everyone other than the Detective herself knew. For Alex she was able to accept her feelings, but she was never able, and is still not able, to admit them to anyone other than her herself.

It has been six years since the last time Alex saw Olivia and the second, she saw her in that carpark all the feelings she has been pushed down came racing back. As the two of them talked, and fought, and drank together it felt like the old days; something Alex has deeply missed.

While Alex still believes that what she has been doing is the right thing, she also knows that it might not be right for all situations; something Olivia made her realize. So, for the last thirteen days Alex has been using her connections, family money, and experience to set up Vita Nova, an organization, a hope for suffers of domestic abuse.

Even though it is a Sunday morning Alex is the office space she has rented setting up things she is going to need. While it is just her for the moment she intends to get help eventually. As she works on setting up what will be her office Alex hears the elevator dig and as she is not expecting anyone she feels a flash of fear rise up inside of her; a side effect of two years in WITSEC that she can't quiet shake.

Walking out of her office Alex sees a young woman, who cannot be any older than about twenty-five, walking towards her. After so many years of helping victims Alex automatically looks her up and down searching for signs of injuries. When she does not see any Alex feels relieved, but also more confused.

"Can I help you?" Alex asks, the confusion she is feeling all too clear in her voice.

"You don't recognize me. I'm not surprised, it has been a while," the woman says, in a tone of voice which says she expects Alex to know who she is.

"I'm sorry? Who are you?" Alex asks, her confusion only growing.

"Liz Stabler," She introduces. "I'm…" Liz starts to say.

"Elliot's youngest daughter," Alex says amazed. "The last time I saw you you were ten chasing your brother around at the Squad picnic we were at," Alex says, not sure how rectify that little girl she used to know with the grown women standing before her, as while she saw Dickie at sixteen she never saw Elizabeth.

"And when I couldn't catch him you told me that I didn't have to be faster or stronger to beat him, I just had to be smarter," Liz remembers.

"You remember that?" Alex asks surprised.

"I never forgot," Liz admits, and Alex is incredibly touched by that.

"It's really good to see you, Elizabeth, but I don't know why you are here, or how you know about this place," Alex admits, not being able to help but be incredibly curious about how Liz found out about what she is doing.

"Call me Liz," Liz requests as only her parents, and Dickie, call her Elizabeth, everyone else, including her sisters and Eli, call her Liz, just like her siblings and parents are the only people who call Richard Dickie. "My boss told me about this place, said you might need some help, I'm here to offer my service," Liz explains.

"Your Boss?" Alex asks confused, as she gestures to two of the seats that are unpacked so they can both sit down.

"I'm a social worker I have been since 2014 when I graduated Columbia early," Liz explains, like it's no big deal.

"Congratulations," Alex says, feeling proud of her. "That's a difficult profession to choose," Alex admits.

"It never really felt like a choice, more like a calling," Liz admits, and Alex gives her an interested look. "You know Dad was a part of SVU my whole life, until I was eighteen. My whole life I watched Dad be a cop, fight for victims and to get the bad people and even though he and Mum tried to hide it I know the cases he worked, and I realized that I wanted to help people before it ever became something Dad had to handle, and that's why I became a social worker," Liz admits. "But in the last four years I have seen that the system is so broken and I knew I wanted to do more, so I applied to law school, got early admission to Columbia for the fall, and it's also why I'm here," Liz admits. "Ms Cabot, I remember you from when I was a kid. I remember how you would fight for victims, and I know about the people you've helped since leaving SVU," Liz reveals as she has worked with some of the women. "When my boss told me you were starting this place, and looking into hiring a social worker to help I knew I wanted to be a part of it too, that's why I'm here," Liz reveals.

"Call me Alex," Alex requests, and because of the look on Alex's face Liz finds it really hard to figure out what she is thinking. "If you know what I've been doing since leaving SVU then I need you to know that if I need to do that you will not be a part of that, I won't do that to you," Alex tells her, knowing that if Liz starts to work with her she will do everything in her power to keep her away from that and make sure nothing falls back on her. "But if you're sure that you want to be a part of Vita Nova then I will be thrilled to have you. You'll help me build this place into what I hope it can be, be a social worker, and once you've started Law School some paralegal work if you'd like," Alex offers.

"I'd love that," Liz says as she is pretty sure that there is no one better to learn from than Alex Cabot.

"Then welcome to Vita Nova Liz Stabler," Alex says, sticking out her hand for Liz to shake.

"Thank you, Alex," Liz says, with a grin as while she is sure that this is going to be hard work it is also work, she wants to be a part of.

March 21 st 2020

Almost two years have passed since Liz Stabler and Alex Cabot started working together at Vita Nova. In the two years Alex has become a mentor to Liz, and the two of them have become friends, but as she hasn't been sure how to tell him during their weekly phone calls, or even when she visited her parents and brother in Rome, Liz hasn't told her father who she is working with and Alex hasn't asked about Elliot; it seems that both of them feel that it is a subject better left unsaid.

Since founding Vita Nova Alex and Liz have been working hard and have managed to help a lot of victims of domestic violence, but there have also been victims that they were unfortunately not able to help for a wide variety of reasons. While they have causal and part time employees, which occasionally includes Kathleen Stabler who has become a psychologist focusing on Bi Polar Disorder, Alex and Liz are the only permanent, fulltime, employees, and everything Vita Nova is was built by the two of them.

In a manner of weeks, the world has completely changed, and not for the better. As she stands in her office and looks out at the bullpen full of masked Offices Captain Olivia Benson feels afraid about what is going to happen next.

For most of New York a stay at home order has been ordered, but that does not include Oliva and her team, and Olivia also suspects she knows someone else who will not follow the order; Alexandra Caroline Cabot. It has been almost two years since Olivia talked to the blonde Lawyer, turned vigilante, but so many times she has thought about her, wondered if she is safe, or if the partner of one of the women she has been helping have hurt her. Even with everything that is going on Olivia knows that if there is a woman, or children, in danger then there is no way Alex will stay home.

"You okay Captain?" Rollins asks as she has noticed that Olivia has been staring out to space for the last five minutes.

"I don't know," Olivia admits.

"Yeah, I don't think any of us are," Amanda admits. "All I know is that I'm gonna hold my girls extra close," Amanda explains.

"I'm going to do the same with Noah," Olivia admits, and she hears the sounds of heels walking along the floor, and just for second Olivia expects to see Alex, and is even a little disappointed when she doesn't.

"Liv?" Amanda asks concerned.

"I need to make a phone call," Olivia says, causing Amanda to be incredibly confused, as Olivia heads back into her office.

Before she has a chance to second guess herself Olivia picks up her cell and calls the number that Alex gave her the last time the two of them talked. Not even sure if the number is active Oliva waits as it rings until finally the line picks up, but it is silent.

"Alex?" Olivia asks, feeling her concern grow.

"Liv?" Alex's surprised voice asks, and Olivia feels relief.

"Yeah, it's me," Olivia confirms.

"It's been two years," Alex says, sounding surprised, but also glad.

"I know," Olivia confirms, feeling a little guilty about that but she also knows that Alex hasn't reached out either. "How are you?" Olivia asks.

"Healthy," Alex answers. "Right now, that's all I can ask for," Alex admits. "How are you?" Alex asks, having no idea what else to ask.

"I'm healthy too, so is Noah," Olivia explains, knowing that Alex learnt about her son the last time they talked.

"I'm really glad to hear that," Alex admits. "Liv I'm always happy to hear from you, but did you need something?" Alex asks curious.

"No…. I just wanted to check in," Olivia admits.

"Well I'm glad you did," Alex admits. "I've missed you," Alex admits, knowing that the fact that she has barely slept for the past week would have played a part in her being so honest.

"I've missed you too," Olivia admits, finding it easier to say it because she heard Alex say it first. "Alex…." Oliva says, and then trails of.

"Liv?"

"Stay safe, okay," Olivia requests.

"You're not going to tell me to stop what I'm doing?" Alex asks, both knowing what she is talking about.

"I know you well enough to know you won't stop," Olivia admits. "But I just need to know that you're at least being safe, especially now," Olivia admits.

"I'm doing my best," Alex admits. "I hope you're being safe too, Captain," Alex admits.

"You heard about that," Olivia says, not being able to explain why, but feeling glad that Alex seems to at least know about what is going on in her professional life.

"I keep informed," Alex admits.

"You know, that sounds a little stalkery Counsellor," Olivia comments, there being a level of amusement to her voice.

"Whatever you say Captain," Alex says, sounding amused, and as she does Olivia sees Fin walking towards her office.

"Hey Alex, I've got to go, Fin's coming my way and he's got the look on his face that tells me we've got work to do," Olivia admits.

"It never ends," Alex says. "Liv, call again sometimes okay, it's been nice to talk again," Alex admits.

"Phones work two ways counselor," Olivia reminds her.

"I'll remember that," Alex responds. "Bye Liv,"

"Bye Alex," Oliva says, before hanging up and gesturing for Fin to come into her office.

After hanging up with Olivia Alex just stares at her phone, feeling shocked that she actually talked to Olivia Benson again.

The next morning after another night of little sleep, though this time it was because she was thinking about the call she exchanges with Olivia, Alex is walking into the Vita Nova offices. Getting off the elevator Alex takes off her mask and as she walks towards her office, she sees the same sight that has greeted her basically every day for the past two years, Liz Stabler sitting at her desk.

"I told you that you didn't have to come in," Alex says as she walks towards the young woman.

"If you're here, I'm here," Liz informs her. "And I needed to be here," Liz says, slightly quieter, and because she knows Liz Alex can tell that there is something off about her voice.

"Liz, what's going on?" Alex asks concerned as she pulls up a chair, but makes sure to keep a reasonable distance away, and right away she notices that Liz looks hesitant to talk. "You know you can always talk to me, no matter what," Alex tells the young woman. In the two years that the two of them have been working together Alex has been a mentor to Liz, a sounding board, given advice, guidance, and support when needed, and been there for Liz when she needs it. In a lot of ways Alex has been a parental figure to Liz, but neither have voiced what they both know.

"I know Alex, I've known since you picked me up from the bar when I was drunk and heartbroken and had no idea who else to call," Liz admits, as why that night is foggy she knows that she knew she didn't want to call her siblings and it felt natural to call Alex. "It's my parents, and my brother Eli," Liz reveals.

"Are they okay? Has something happened?" Alex asks concerned, being very aware that this is the first time either of them have mentioned Elliot.

"They're in Rome," Liz reveals, as Alex feels her heart sink and realizes why Liz is acting the way she is. "After Dad left SVU they went to Europe, and he's been working in Rome for… years," Liz reveals. "I'm sorry I never told you," Liz says, looking a little guilty for that.

"It's okay, you don't have to apologize," Alex assures her. "I've thought about asking about your parents, your Dad, but I never knew how," Alex admits.

"Just like I never knew how to mention them," Liz admits, then sighs. "I'm scared for them, Alex, things are so bad there," Liz reveals, fear in her voice. "Eli's not even thirteen and he didn't grow up the same way the rest of us did, he doesn't know how careful he has to be," Liz explains. "Dad's still working and even as they stay home as much as possible Mom and Eli will have to leave the apartment occasionally," Liz explains, and Alex recognizes the signs of her spiraling. "If something happens, they're so far away, and we're not going to be able to help," Liz says, revealing all her fears, and Alex wants to reach out and comfort her, but giving the current situation she can't.

"Liz, I want to tell you that everything will be okay, and I hate that I can't," Alex admits. "I'm scared too, I'm scared for all the people who are quarantining with their abuses, I'm scared for Antonio because he hated being on Lockdown when we were in WITSEC so I have no idea how he's going to handle this, I'm scared for my old squad who are on the front line, and their families, I'm scared for my oldest friend who is in Iowa dealing with corrupt politicians surrounded by people who don't even believe the pandemic is real," Alex explains, and while Liz knows about Alex's time in Witsec, and is friends with Antonio Montoya, she also knows it's rare for Alex, or Antonio for that matter, to talk about that time. "We're living in frightening times, Liz, we've just got to take it one day at a time," Alex explains. "It's not going to be easy, but that's what we've got to do," Alex tells her. "Videocall your parents, and your brother, see for yourself that they are okay; it's only a little but it will help," Alex tells her.

"Yeah, I think I might do that," Liz admits. "Thanks Alex," Liz says.

"You never have to thank me, Liz. I'm always here to listen, and help when I can," Alex assures her, standing up.

"You are going on a coffee run?" Liz asks curious, knowing that Alex basically lives on coffee.

"No, I'm going to take my own advice," Alex says, heading into her office, and Liz gives her a curious look as she goes.

Walking into her office Alex, after closing the door behind her, puts her bag on her desk, sits down in her chair and pulls her phone and places a video call to Olivia.

Feeling a little nervous as she isn't sure that Olivia is going to be able to answer her Alex is very glad when Olivia actually does answer, even though it takes a little while.

"Twice in two days, this is a habit I could get used to," Olivia says, sounding glad and due to the fact that they are on video call Olivia can't help but take notice of every little detail of Alex Cabot; trying to pin point any differences.

"Me too," Alex answers.

"Where are you?" Olivia asks, as she doesn't recognize anything that is in Alex's background.

"My office," Alex reveals.

"Ah Vita Nova; New Life, good choice in names their Counsellor," Olivia comments as when she learnt what Alex called her organization she looked up what the name meant.

"It seemed appropriate," Alex admits. "And I see I'm not the only one who he's been keeping informed," Alex says, looking amused.

"What can I say, I'm a detective," Olivia responds. While she has looked into what Alex has been doing, she hasn't realized that Alex is working with Elizabeth Stabler.

"A good one at that," Alex responds, with a slightly flirty tone of voice.

"I've heard people say that" Olivia responds, and Alex just rolls her eyes in an amused way. "This is nice," Olivia admits, as even with all the horrible things that are going on, all the horrible things she has been through over the past few months, it is nice to talk to Alex again.

"It is," Alex confirms. "Things are so bad right now, I think we need to find the good where we can," Alex says, saying something remarkably similar to what she just told Liz.

"Are you saying that talking to me is a good thing, Al?" Olivia asks curious.

"It's a very good thing," Alex admits, and as she does she sees Liz walking towards her office. "And as much as I would very much like to keep talking to you, I've got to go," Alex admits. "Talk again soon?" Alex asks.

"Definitely," Olivia responds. "Bye Alex," Olivia says.

"Bye Olivia," Alex says, before hanging up, and once she hangs up she gestures to Liz to walk in. "How are they?" Alex asks curious, as Liz walks over and sits down across from her.

"Eli's annoyed that he can't see his friends, Mom's scared, Dad's dad, but they're all okay," Liz admits, looking relieved, as while it was only a quick call it was beyond good and exactly what she needed.

"That's good," Alex says.

"Yeah, I feel like a weight is off my chest," Liz admits. "I know they might not stay okay, but just to know they in this very moment they are… it's everything," Liz says, looking thrilled.

"That's great Liz," Alex tells her with a smile, and as she does her phone goes off with a message, which wipes the smile off her face. "And while I hate to put a damper on the good, we've got to talk about Brianne Harrison," Alex reveals.

"Has a hearing been scheduled?" Liz asks, looking interested.

"Not yet," Alex admits. "Her husband just breached the restraining order. She's at her doctors," Alex explains looking concerned.

"How bad?" Liz asks concerned.

"Bad," Alex says, standing up.

"The kids?" Liz asks concerned, knowing that Brianne has two kids. A son who is four, and a six-month-old daughter.

"With her," Alex explains. "I'm going to go talk to her, I need you to find out what happened, and get started on the paperwork," Alex explains.

"You've got it," Liz responds.

"Liz don't leave the offices. We'll figure out a plan for how we're going to adapt to this situation when I get back," Alex tells her.

"Okay," Liz responds, and once she does Alex heads out of the office, putting on her mask as she goes.

#Alex Cabot #Olivia Benson #Elizabeth Stabler #Cabenson #fanfiction

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