A/N- This is a series of Cabenson scenes before, during, and after Alex had to go into witness protection. This pairing will always be my first and favorite female pairing, truly the grandmother of all femslash, and holding a special place in my heart. Title from the song 'Girl in a truck' by Kevin Fowler.

...

Alex fucking Cabot owns a pickup truck. It was the only thought that Olivia could process as she watched the blonde's progress from the parking lot into the bar. Alex had just been released from witness protection. She was safe, she could come home, and all Olivia could think about was the car that she was driving.

When the hell had Alex bought a truck?

Before she was 'killed' Alex drove a Lexus, sleek and silver, it fit everything that was expected from the icy ADA. The lawyer's entrance into the bar was met with uproarious cheers. It was a cop bar, and though she had been tough on most every cop she worked with, Alex cared and she got convictions, this was her welcome home party.

She did the rounds, smiling, hugging, and shaking hands with the city's finest until she was able to make her way to the bar, she leant against it beside Olivia, Fin, Munch and Elliot, "Can I buy your next round, Detectives?"

"Don't be ridiculous, you're drinking on us tonight." Elliot declined, signalling to the bartender, "What're you having?"

The blonde blew out a contemplative breath. Olivia waited for the lawyer's usual scotch on the rocks, and was surprised when Alex smiled and said, "A beer, whatever you're having."

"That's a sweet new ride you've got." Munch complemented, and Olivia was glad she didn't have to be the one who brought it up.

Alex smiled, soft and wistful, "A Lexus wasn't exactly inconspicuous or practical in Wisconsin."

Just like that, the illusion was shattered. This little fantasy that maybe the last three years were a dream, maybe Alex has been here all along. For everyone aside from Olivia, the world keeps spinning.

"I never would have guessed a truck was your style." Elliot teased.

"It grew on me."

"Hey you know Kathy and I were planning a barbecue this weekend, and Kathy bought this new washer dryer combo and deliver cost is gonna be a bitch-" Elliot started.

"Really? Cabot's been undead for less than six hours and you're already exploiting her for her truck?" Fin interrupted laughing.

"I'll compensate you with the best damn burger you ever had and a few cold ones?" Stabler offered with a winning smile.

Alex let him sit a moment before giving in, "You had me at burger."

"You're the best, Cabot." He grinned, "The rest of you slumps are invited too, by the way."

Munch leans in seriously, "What brand of cold ones are we talking?"

Olivia watched Alex mingle, she saw the way Alex's eyes were constantly shifting, bouncing all around the room, monitoring who was where. She saw the way Alex held her one beer, sipping from it slowly, making it last all evening. It's been nearly six hours, six hours since Alex strolled into the bullpen of the precinct like it was any normal Tuesday and still they hadn't had a chance to talk privately.

Olivia watched Alex all evening. Her truck had Wisconsin license plates.

…

"Have you got anything smaller?"

The saleswoman looked at her with a disinterested expression, "Darlin', if you want a truck smaller'n this you might as well drive an SUV."

Alex appraised the truck once more. She really would rather be purchasing a SUV, but Agent Riley had been specific- get a truck, plain color like silver or black nothing too flashy that will draw attention, nobody drives cars where you'll be, not to mention your house is on some land, it'll just look weird if you pull up in anything else.

Heaven forbid Alex do anything that look weird right now.

She ran her fingers along the glossy finish of the driver side door, "You're right. Show me the biggest truck you've got."

The saleswoman nodded approvingly, "That's a girl!" She led Alex toward the back of the lot, "What did you say your name was again, sugar?"

"Emily, Emily Anderson."

The name still felt foreign to her, but it was better than the last three she had been given. She almost wanted to make this placement work for fear that the next name that WITSEC came up with for her would be terrible. She followed the introduction with what she hoped was a convincing smile. The truck she ended up buying was ridiculous, large and showy, it had a push bar on the front, and a rack of flood lights mounted to the top of the cab. It was electric blue and when she drove it to the safehouse where she was temporarily housed and Agent Riley saw it, Alex couldn't contain her laughter.

"I got a truck."

"I see that."

"Think I'll fit in?"

The agent shook his head, "Oh yeah, you'll fit in perfectly."

…

Olivia was excited. It was an inappropriate feeling given, a nine year old girl had been kidnapped and raped, but she had escaped. They were working the case, but there was no victim on the line. By all accounts it appeared that the detectives would be able to get out of the precinct early.

She opened her cell phone, dialing the number she knew well, "Hey, are we still on for dinner?"

Out of the corner of her eye, Olivia could see Munch watching her with a smirk on his face, "Yeah, I think I'll be able to get off early."

Despite the older detective watching her, Olivia couldn't help the smile on her face, "Yeah, I'll see you soon."

"How's Mr. Right?" Munch asked once she hung up.

"Great." She replied. She felt bad lying to the other detectives, but it was none of their business that her mister right was actually miss right. It was also none of their business exactly who it was that she had been seeing. Besides, they were detectives, if they couldn't figure out that one of their own had been hooking up with their ADA for the last two months, well that certainly wasn't her problem.

The four detectives loaded into the elevator, smiles all around. The doors were nearly closed when Cragen stuck his hands in, "Nobody's leaving. Another girl was taken."

Olivia's face fell, she followed Finn out of the elevator and pulled her phone back out to cancel on Alex. Again.

They had been together for just over two months, what started as an impulsive kiss at the usual cop bar after a big court win and one too many celebratory drinks had quickly morphed into shared lunches and sleep overs more often than not. If she were being honest, it was the happiest she had been in a long time.

They worked the case hard, they had a timeline and they knew they only had three days until the girl would likely be killed. It was closing in on hour thirty six of straight work, Olivia hit a dead end. She had ordered a ton of back files and had chased down all the leads they had, now she was just waiting. Elliot was on hold, his tie undone, the top buttons of his shirt hanging open, he scan one look over his equally disheveled partner, "Go hit the crib, Liv." He advised.

"No, I can help."

"Liv, you're just waiting for files. One of us should at least get some sleep."

The fight dissipated from Olivia, far be it from her to fight against a little rest, "Okay, come grab me when the files get here."

She fell asleep the instant her head hit the pillow in the crib. Her break was short lived and less than a half hour later Elliot was waking her up, teasing her about her beauty sleep being cut short and telling her that the files had come in.

Olivia rolled out of the bunk, rubbing her eyes and trying to force some life back into her exhausted body. On her way out of the crib, she laid eyes on an unexpected surprise, "Alex."

The blonde was wearing a pair of jeans and a soft blue sweater, "Hey, I know you guys caught a big case so I brought provisions." She smiled, holding up two brown paper bags, "One's got sandwiches and some other food for everyone and the other has a clean shirt, toothbrush, essentials for you."

For a moment, Olivia just stood in awe, "You are without a doubt the best girlfriend ever." She finally said.

Alex laughed, "I don't like the idea of you running around this city sleep deprived, hungry, and wearing yesterday's clothes."

"Yeah?"

Alex nodded, "No girlfriend of mine will be looking ragged."

The brunette got a sly smile, leading Alex into a nook of the hallway, "Really now?"

Alex's throat got a little drier than she would like to admit, reveling in the closeness with the detective. Her voice dropped lower, "I like to take care of what's mine." She reached out and ran her hands through the detective's short hair in an attempt to give it some order. The spiky locks were sticking up comically, the look softened the normally hard edged detective, making her appear younger.

Olivia allowed the fussing. She knew that the lawyer had a possessive streak a mile wide, and yeah, maybe she took joy in stroking it. She smirked, shooting a quick look around the hallway before leaning up to connect their lips in a chaste kiss.

"Get out there, and catch the bad guy." Alex instructed, stepping back to allow Olivia to go back to the squad room.

They were surprised by Elliot and Munch walking out into the hall, "Alex, what are you doing here? It's three AM." Stabler asked.

"I'm on call from the DA's office, and I've got Judge Petrovsky on speed dial. The second you need a warrant we'll have it to you before the ink dries." She answered smoothly.

Munch nodded, "So all it takes is a kidnapped seven year old to grease the squeaky wheels of democracy."

Alex resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but only barely, "I stopped by with some provisions." She nodded at the bags in Olivia's hands, "Wouldn't want New York's finest running on fumes."

Elliot's smile was radiant, leave it to him to be easily placated by food, "You're a lifesaver, Cabot!"

The lawyer bid the detectives good luck, sending Olivia a special smile before she left.

…

Alexandra Cabot did not cry. That's why Olivia knew that something big must have happened when the attorney's eyes shone with tears listening to the pleas of a mother whose daughter had been abused by her therapist. The mother was begging for justice and Alex did something she never did, she promised it.

Olivia followed the lawyer out of the precinct with a simple, "Got to do something." thrown over her shoulder. She caught up to Alex, walking beside her all the way to the ADA's office. Alex didn't say anything until her door was shut securely.

"That fucking bitch." The blonde swore, stalking over to her sofa and dropping angrily onto it.

Olivia was surprised by the sudden change in attitude, but tried not to show it.

"That girl trusted her, and she abused that trust, twisted her like a puppet when she was most vulnerable." Alex continued, her eyes blazing. Olivia sat on the couch across from the blonde.

"Is there something personal going on here?" She asked gently, using the voice she reserved for victims.

"When I was at Harvard, I started seeing a therapist." Alex began, her eyes on her hands, "I wasn't sleeping, I was anxious all the time, I wasn't eating."

"Oh, Alex." The brunette breathed, reaching out and covering Alex's hands with her own.

"The woman I talked with was amazing, I couldn't have asked for better, but when I went in for those sessions I was so vulnerable. I've never been so open with anyone in my entire life. I guess I just identified with that girl, and to think that someone violated her trust like that, it just sort of hits home."

...

A/N- This is the first in a four chapter series, let me know what you thought :)