Title: A Rare Opportunity

Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: Criminal Intent, Dick Wolf and NBC-USA do.

Author's Note: Couldn't help but write a companion piece after reading Ernie628's "Could've Been Me".

Beta'd by: Ernie628

Chapter 1: Realization

Alex thought she had made the right choice when she married Brad, and with little Rob to chase around and cuddle, her life was finally starting to feel complete.

However, her contentment was short-lived. After their move to California, Brad became distant, distracted and withdrawn.

At first Alex just brushed it off because they were settling into a new milieu. She thought once they got more used to their new life, he'd return to normal. She was also missing her best friend back home, so she decided to push it aside.

Nevertheless, after two years in Anaheim, she knew something was wrong. Brad, who used to be so attentive and caring, was the opposite. He was never there for her anymore and it was as if she was no longer important to him.

Little did Alex know, she was about to find out why.

After dropping off Rob for a sleepover at her friend, Mary's, house, Alex headed home to get ready for an anniversary date night with Brad. She wanted them to reconnect and have a night all to themselves, what she got instead was a rude surprise.

Alex hummed a little song as she opened the door, toed off her shoes, and headed to their bathroom to get ready. She wanted to look gorgeous as her anniversary gift to him, hoping it would rekindle the spark that their marriage had been lacking.

Just when she reached the bathroom door, she heard moaning and groaning coming from the guest bedroom. Confused and fearful of what she might see she headed towards the guest bedroom. The door was open a tiny crack and she was stunned at the sight before her. Brad, her dear husband of five years, was in bed screwing another woman.

"BRAD!" Alex screamed at the top of her lungs, startling the occupants.

"Alex, baby, I can explain, I…" said Brad as he covered himself.

"How dare you do this to me? After all this time you were there for me and I was there for you, this is how you repay me? You son-of-a-bitch!"

Alex, with tears in her eyes, slammed the door shut and then ran to her room. She packed a bag of clothes for herself and then went to Rob's room and packed a few toys and clothes for him. She couldn't stay in that house. She had to get out of there, away from her cheating husband.

Brad stood by the door, trying to grab a hold of Alex's arm as she left, but she moved out of his reach.

"Stay away from you jerk! I thought you cared about me," she screamed, tears brimming in her eyes.

"I did but…" began Brad.

"But what?"

"I could tell you were still in love with your best friend."

Alex was fuming and retorted, "So this is why you are doing this? Now I know what you have been up to all this time, you've been with another woman behind my back! Of all days to bring that woman here, you choose today. Do you even know what today is?"

Brad looked confused, it was clear he had no idea why today was so important. Alex answered for him, incensed, "It's our wedding anniversary. It was five years ago today that you promised to love me forever and forsake all others until we are separated by death. Now I catch you breaking our vows with screwing someone else. I see that you even have your wedding band off…I should have known…you are scum just like the rest of them. Here you can have this back."

With that she took off the wedding band she had considered sacred and threw it at Brad. He said nothing as she picked up her bags, slipped on her shoes, and ran to the car. She sobbed as she headed back to Mary's house, hoping Rob was sleeping as she did not want her son to see her crying like this.

Thus began quick divorce proceedings. She had thought he would try to pull stunts and take full custody for Rob. But somehow it never happened, probably because she caught Brad red-handed. They agreed that he would stay away if she didn't seek alimony or child support which was fine by her.

Barely a day after everything was finalized, Brad married the other woman, a rich girl by the name of Adrienne. Alex and Rob stayed with Mary for a while, but it wasn't long before Alex decided it was time to say goodbye to California.

Mary drove them to the airport and they both shed some tears as they said goodbye, but Alex knew it would be for the best.

Right before she boarded flight Rob looked up from his toy and asked, "Mommy where are we going?"

Alex's heart melted for her son and first-born (and Bobby's, but only she knew) and answered, "Well sweetie, how would you like it if we went to New York to visit Gram and Gramps?"

"And visit with all my cousins, aunties and uncles?"

"Yes."

"Are we coming back here?"

"Probably not sweetie."

"Okay then."

Rob turned back to his toys and played happily until their flight began boarding. Alex took a deep breath; this was it, time for a new start. She got up, picked up Rob in her arms and with their two luggage bags, boarded the plan without looking back.

Their flight was uneventful and Rob had stayed quiet during most of the journey. Six hours later, the plane landed at La Guardia.

After they deplaned, the first person Alex saw at the luggage pick up area was none other than her dad, retired Sergeant John Eames waiting for them. She had called him right before the flight to let him know they were coming home. He had heard of the problems and what happened but had kept it from his wife, Andrea, as she had just suffered another stroke and he thought it was a bad idea to say anything to her.

When Rob saw his grandfather he looked at Alex and when she nodded and smiled, he let go of her hand and ran towards his grandfather.

After reaching her dad, John looked at Alex and saw a mixture of happiness and sadness. He knew it would be best not to broach the sore subject unless she was ready.

"Ready to go home Lexie?" asked John as he wrapped his arms around his eldest daughter."

"Yes dad I am."

A/N 2: Thanks for reading the first chapter of "A Rare Opportunity". More to come and as always reviews are appreciated!