Author's Note: AO Femslash What happens when our favorite detective and ADA set out on an extradition and things don't go quite according to plan? This is a how we might bring Alex and Liv together pretty fluffy piece. It takes place sort of out of canon but I imagine it happening in season 3. It is rated M for adult themes and adult situations. The characters of the Law & Order franchise are the property of Dick Wolf. I write for fun not profit. No infringement, harm or foul is intended. As always, I appreciate any and all feedback. There is also a poll posted to my profile page. Take a look and let me know your opinions. Enjoy!

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"So, Mr. Dempsey, if I were you, I'd follow Katja's instructions to the letter for the remainder of the flight. I'd hate to have to come back here again." And with that Detective Olivia Benson strode back up the aisle to her seat next to Assistant DA Alexandra Cabot.

"Have fun saving the day, detective?" Alex looked up from the legal pad she'd been scribbling notes on. "No marshal on board, I guess?"

The brunette shrugged. "Always, counselor." She grinned. "Seems like we're in for some turbulence coming in to Cincinnati. You might want to put that away for now and buckle up." Olivia gestured to Alex's ever-present legal pad and seatbelt.

"Turbulence?" Alex's normally steely features paled momentarily as the fasten seat belt sign illuminated and Katja's smoothly Slavic accent advised of the expected turbulence.

"Yeah. It's no big deal. Just some weather up ahead." Olivia saw Alex pale and placed her hand on her arm. "Alex?"

"Yes?" She exhaled forcefully.

"You ok?" Liv's brow knit with concern.

"Sure. Flying isn't my favorite thing to start with and when the plane I'm on starts jumping around..." She closed her eyes and tried to steady her nerves.

"Ah. We're safe as houses up here, Alex. Don't worry." She patted the arm under her hand assuringly.

"Detective Benson?" Olivia looked up to see the tall raven-haired woman with the thick accent standing next to her. Olivia hadn't placed the accent, but the woman worked it well. She was the picture of flight attendant perfection. Immaculately put together head to toe. Her green eyes lit up when they met Olivia's warm brown ones and she smiled coyly at the detective.

"Olivia, please, Katja." Olivia smiled back.

Alex rolled her eyes. What was it about Olivia Benson's softly dark features and warm brown eyes that made women feel safe and made men take an extra step back?

"Olivia." Her named rolled off the Slavic tongue in a particularly exotic allocution. "I just wanted to thank you again for your help with that passenger."

"My pleasure, Katja. Glad I was here to help." Olivia nodded warmly.

"Is there anything I can get for you? Or for your...companion? Anything at all?" Katja leaned in and placed her delicate hand on Olivia's strong shoulder.

"I, uh, can't think of anything. Alex? Is there anything you need?" Olivia turned her head toward Alex.

Alex smiled winningly in to the warm brown eyes and then in to the green eyes of the flight attendant. She removed her glasses and steepled her fingers. "I don't know. How about a drink for our champion detective?" She placed her hand on top of Olivia's that was still touching her arm and squeezed it.

Katja flinched almost imperceptibly. "Of course. What would you like?"

Olivia looked at her watch. It was still pretty early to drink, but it might help settle Alex's nerves and make Katja feel a bit better about having needed her assistance. "Split a Bloody Mary with me, Alex?"

Alex nodded as they hit the first of the turbulence.

Katja squeezed Olivia's shoulder. "I'll be right back, ladies."

Olivia felt Alex tense considerably as they experienced the gentle turbulence. "Easy, Alex...I'll need to have back at some point." She indicated her arm.

A steady blush crept across Alex's pale face. "Sorry." She started to pull her hands back.

"I didn't mean you had to pull away this second." Olivia extended her hand to Alex. "Seriously, take my hand or arm if you need it. I don't mind." Olivia truly didn't mind helping her friend out. She actually really enjoyed it when the strong woman showed her more vulnerable side to her. It made her feel closer to Alex. And being closer to Alex Cabot was something that appealed to Olivia on many levels.

Alex only nodded, the blush still creeping warmly across her patrician features.

Olivia leaned in and whispered, "If it's any consolation, I am deathly afraid of frogs." She smiled hoping to lighten the moment for her friend.

"Well, if we're ever in a situation where we are extraditing a prisoner from the swamp, I'll be sure and protect you." Alex began putting away her paperwork and placed her glasses back on.

"Here you go, ladies." Katja presented them with a tray that contained two plastic cups with ice, a nip of vodka and two small cans of Bloody Mary mix. She reached in to her pocket and took out several bags of pretzels and peanuts. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

"No, thank you. You should probably get yourself strapped in, shouldn't you?" Olivia's face creased with genuine concern.

Katja's smile showed appreciation for the detective's concern. "Yes, but I have to make sure all my passengers are taken care of first, Det...uh...Olivia."

"Then we won't keep you." Alex added popping open the cans of mix and preparing the drinks for them. "Thanks again."

"No, no. It is I who thank Olivia. Just hit this button if you need me." Katja leaned her hip against Olivia's shoulder as she indicated the button, turned and headed back down the cabin.

"Wonder what that accent is exactly?" Olivia muttered under her breath.

"Mmmm. Don't know. Cheers to the conquering heroic savior of flight attendants, Detective Benson." Alex handed Olivia a glass.

"Cheers." Olivia took the glass and tapped it against Alex's. The plastic made a faint tink, but not like the chinking of fine crystal.

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A half hour later, the plane had finally screeched to a halt on a snow and ice covered runway. Olivia softly nudged Alex. "Hey." Her voice a gentle whisper.

Alex had both hands wrapped in a white-knuckle grip around Olivia's substantial bicep. Her legs were curled up on the seat and she was huddled against the other woman with her eyes squeezed shut.

"Alex? Sweetie? We've landed. We're ok." Olivia reached around with her other hand and gave Alex a squeeze. "Alex. You ok?"

Alex's eyes blinked open. She saw Olivia staring down in to her face with genuine concern plastered over her dark features. "Sorry, Olivia." She began the slow process of unfurling herself from Olivia.

"I'm in no rush if you need a minute, Alex. I just wanted you to know we were on the ground and that you were safe." She looked in to the glacier blue eyes that were clouded over slightly from a mixture of fear and Bloody Mary.

"This is pretty embarrassing, Olivia." Alex released some of the pressure with which she was squeezing Olivia's arm. She did feel very safe though. Olivia had that effect on her...among other things.

"Don't be. I'd be in your position if we were in that swamp scenario you mentioned earlier." Olivia's face was kind and warm. Alex saw no trace of judgment there.

"Thank you."

"The good news is that I doubt we'll be on another flight for at least the next 24 hours. The weather has gone to hell in a fast car. According to Katja, we're the last plane they're letting land today."

"I'm afraid we differ greatly on our definition of 'good news', Olivia. Being stranded in Cincinnati in a winter storm of nondescript intensity with an extradition deadline to meet isn't 'good' by my definition."

"Wow. Zero to ADA in less than sixty seconds." Olivia offered her half smirk.

"Uh huh. Zero to wise ass in less than thirty for you." Alex returned the smirk. She was beginning to feel a little more like herself even if their circumstances were a bit undesirable.

"And she's back, folks." Olivia shook her head.

"Ladies and gentlemen." Katja's voice echoed through the cabin. "We welcome you to Cincinnati where the local time is 1:23pm. We appreciate your patience with us on this flight. Due to severe weather, we regret that the FAA has ordered no further flights out of the area today. Please check in at the service desk for information on your connecting flights. Thank you for choosing Cross Continental Air and we hope to see you again on a future flight."

"So, now what?" Alex said straightening her clothes and gathering up her carry-on items.

"Well, I can go to the service desk and flash my badge around. See what I can do to get us on priority status out of here. Do you need to call Dexter about the extradition delay?" Olivia pulled her bag out from under the seat in front of her.

"Yes, I'll give them a call and also check in with Tamara. Maybe there's something they can leverage on their end from our office to help us out."

"Sounds like we have a game plan. Let's get going and then we can think about some food." Olivia stood up and then allowed Alex to step out in front of her as she guided her with a hand on the small of her back.

"Olivia." The voice behind Olivia practically purred.

She stopped and turned around. "Katja. Thank you for the drinks."

"You are quite welcome, Olivia. If you ever find yourself in Miami, give me a call. I can buy you a real drink." The woman held out a graceful hand with a card she offered the almost blushing detective. "Your girlfriend is waiting for you."

"Ah, yeah. Sure. It was really no big deal. Serving and protecting is what I do." She took the card and stuffed it in her back jeans pocket. "Miami, huh? Is that where your crew is based?" She barely caught the last part. "Oh, wah...girlfriend? No, she's a colleague."

"Yes. I'm not there often, but when I am I like to enjoy myself." Katja smiled widely. "Enjoy the rest of your trip, detective. Travel safely. Lucky colleague." She winked at Olivia.

Olivia full on blushed now. "Thanks, Katja. Bye for now." She scratched the back of her neck nervously as she approached Alex at the end of the gangway.

"So, you getting lucky later?" Alex arched both eyebrows at Olivia curiously.

"Cut it out." Olivia took a deep breath.

"Badge bunnies come in all shapes and sizes, huh?" Alex wasn't letting up.

"Badge bunnies? Please stop. She was just grateful is all."

"Uh huh." Alex paused for a moment considering whether she should push the issue or let her travel companion off the hook. "Seemed pretty clear to me just how 'grateful' the thickly accented and quite lovely Katja was."

"I'm going to go over to the service desk. Maybe Katja has a cousin or a sister or something and I can get us out of here." Olivia stomped off.

"Guess I hit a nerve." Alex and Olivia had never spoken much of their personal lives, let alone their sexual proclivities. Rumors that Olivia was an equal opportunity lover had abounded since before Alex joined SVU. She'd even chokingly overhead a rumor involving herself and Olivia around the water cooler. Alex had assumed Olivia was straight. Even though she'd seen enough women flirt with her, Olivia never seemed to flirt back or flirt back with the zeal with which she was flirted with. Since Olivia had stumbled on Alex having dinner with Trevor Langan, she knew Olivia made the same assumption about her. Rumors about Alex being an Ice Queen and lesbian had rumbled here and there her whole career. Strong women must be lesbians, right? "Hmph." She dug out her cell phone.

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