Disclaimer: Nobody's mine. Dick Wolf's. Sad, sad, sad.

Here's a . . . double drabble? Anyway, it takes place between Loss and Ghost. Enjoy!

"Benson, Stabler, I'll have Alex get the warrant and meet you at the crime scene."

Olivia stops mid-stride and stares at her captain for a moment. The name, the simple word, four letters that haven't been uttered in the present tense within the past year. Tears rush to Olivia's eyes, but she blinks them back, refusing to let herself be this vulnerable. No. Olivia Benson isn't vulnerable.

It's unclear whether or not Captain Cragen realizes his error, because he doesn't correct it, just goes back into his office.

"Novak," mutters Olivia, then says it again, "Novak. Novak will get the warrant and meet us at the crime scene. Novak."

If she's trying to break herself of the habit, and the pain, it isn't working.


"Alex!"

She forces herself not to turn around. It's not for her. She's not Alex anymore. She's Emily. She's Emily. Alex died exactly three hundred and twenty-four days ago. No one's calling her name.

And yet, that voice. It sounds so much like Olivia . . . Could it be? Dare she hope?

She takes a deep breath and snaps her head around. But the woman who's standing a few feet away is definitely not Olivia. She's too short, too blonde, too pale.

And then she has to blink back the tears brimming in her eyes. She's forgotten the sound of Olivia's voice.

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