Release

Alex finished changing and cinched tight the belt of her long, black coat. Her clothes were neatly folded in a brown paper bag in the corner of the women's restroom. She stood just inside the door and waited for Olivia to make the call.

"Hello, Detective Goren? It's Olivia Benson ... I'm fine, thank you for asking. Listen, we were thinking that perhaps you'd be more comfortable in a -- a holding cell. It sounds horrible, but there's a bed and running water ..." She was silent for a while. "You're right, it is effecting us, but it's not your faul -- Alex? She's in the ladies room. Well, how do you think she's doing? This is killing her ... You know what I meant, Detective Goren ... All right; Bobby." Alex heard her sigh. "Yes, we're all going to leave the building, and once you get to your new room ... okay, cell, you call and we'll come back in. Yes, when you leave the room you're in, go left, then right. There's a heavy metal door. Go through it and we've made up the last cell on the right for you. It's not exactly home, but ... No, I haven't seen your apartment," she said with a laugh. The laugh trailed off and died. "I -- I suppose I would ... Now stop that, Bobby. You're not going to die. We're really close on this--" Alex eased the door open a bit further and leaned out. As she watched, Olivia reached up and wiped a tear off her cheek with the back of her hand. "--It shouldn't be much longer at all ... Yeah, you caught me again. Must be why they made you a detective ... Yeah. Five minutes. Bye." She hung up the phone. The room was completely silent.

"All right everybody," Alex said as she stepped out of the bathroom, "outside. We don't need an incident here." She'd noticed that the more upset she got, the more like a hard-ass she sounded. Tonight was no exception. She was the last to file out, casting one lingering look around the room while Captain Cragen held the door for her.