Yelena Belova had always been good at finding people.
It was one of the things the Red Room had taught her.
Find the target.
Follow the trail.
Don't stop until the target is dead—or captured.
She had spent years becoming very, very good at it.
But she'd never had to find someone who meant everything to her.
Until now.
---
The warehouse had been chaos.
Smoke.
Sirens.
People running in every direction.
Yelena had been fighting her way toward the criminal they'd been tracking for weeks when she heard the sound that stopped her completely.
Your voice.
"Yelena!"
She turned.
For one horrible second, she saw you standing across the warehouse.
Then the lights went out.
When they came back on, you were gone.
Yelena froze.
"No."
She ran to the place where you'd been standing.
Nothing.
Only an abandoned phone lying on the floor.
Your phone.
She picked it up with shaking hands.
"No, no, no, no..."
She looked around wildly.
"Where is she?"
Nobody answered.
Yelena's breathing became uneven.
"WHERE IS SHE?"
Bucky grabbed her shoulder.
"Yelena."
She shoved him away.
"Don't."
"Yelena—"
"I said don't!"
Her eyes were already scanning the room.
Doors.
Windows.
Footprints.
Cameras.
Anything.
Everything.
But there was nothing.
You had vanished.
And Yelena couldn't stop thinking about one thing.
I was supposed to protect her.
---
For the next several days, Yelena barely slept.
When she did, it was only for minutes.
She'd wake up suddenly, convinced she'd heard your voice.
Then she'd remember.
You were still missing.
She barely ate.
Alexei tried.
He'd shown up at her apartment with enough food to feed a small army.
Yelena stared at it.
"I'm not hungry."
"You have eaten nothing."
"I had coffee."
"Coffee is not food."
"It has calories."
Alexei stared at her.
"That is not how this works."
Yelena ignored him.
She was already looking at another set of files.
Another lead.
Another dead end.
She had searched abandoned buildings.
Safe houses.
Old Red Room contacts.
Criminal organizations.
Underground networks.
She had called in every favor she had.
Every person she'd ever met.
Every person who owed her anything.
Nothing.
Every lead ended the same way.
Nowhere.
And every time it happened, Yelena blamed herself a little more.
---
Bucky noticed.
Of course he did.
He'd spent enough years carrying guilt to recognize it in someone else.
He found Yelena sitting alone in the common room one night.
The lights were off.
A laptop illuminated her face.
She looked exhausted.
Bucky leaned against the doorway.
"You need to sleep."
"I'm busy."
"You need to eat."
"I'm busy."
"You need to stop."
Yelena finally looked at him.
"No."
"Yelena."
"No."
Bucky walked over and sat across from her.
"You've been doing this for days."
"I know."
"You're running yourself into the ground."
"I know."
"Then why are you still doing it?"
Yelena's jaw tightened.
"Because she's out there."
"I know."
"And I'm sitting here."
"I know."
"And every second I'm not looking for her..."
Her voice cracked.
She looked away.
Bucky was quiet for a moment.
Then he said something Yelena desperately didn't want to hear.
"You can't save her by destroying yourself."
Yelena stared at him.
"You don't understand."
Bucky gave her a tired look.
"I understand more than you think."
Silence.
"You think if you stop moving, even for five minutes, you're failing her."
Yelena swallowed.
Bucky continued.
"But you're not."
He leaned forward.
"You're trying to carry this by yourself because that's what you've always done."
Yelena looked down.
"People get hurt when I trust them."
"So do people when they don't."
That hit harder than she'd expected.
Bucky's voice softened.
"You have people, Yelena."
She shook her head.
"No."
"Yes."
"Who?"
Bucky almost smiled.
"You really want me to make a list?"
She didn't answer.
"Alexei."
Yelena sighed.
"Unfortunately."
"John."
"Unfortunately."
"Ava."
She looked slightly less annoyed.
"Kate."
That one made her expression soften.
"And me."
Yelena looked at him.
Bucky's expression was completely serious.
"You don't have to do this alone."
Yelena's eyes filled with tears.
"I don't know how."
Bucky nodded.
"I know."
He stood.
"That's why you let us help."
Yelena looked at the laptop.
Then at him.
For the first time in days, she stopped typing.
"Okay."
Bucky nodded.
"Okay."
---
The next morning, Yelena did something she hated doing.
She asked for help.
Kate arrived first.
"Okay," Kate said, dropping her bag onto the table. "Tell me everything."
Ava followed.
Then John.
Then Alexei, who loudly announced that he had arrived because his daughter had apparently forgotten that teamwork was "the foundation of successful heroics."
Yelena stared at him.
"Nobody asked you to make a speech."
"I am making a speech anyway."
Bucky walked in behind him.
"Ignore him."
"I am standing right here."
"We know."
Kate looked around the room.
"So, what's the plan?"
Yelena placed several photographs on the table.
"We know who took her."
Everyone became serious.
"The organization has been moving people through abandoned industrial properties. Most locations are decoys."
Ava studied the photographs.
"But one isn't."
Yelena nodded.
"Exactly."
Bucky looked at her.
"How certain?"
"Seventy-eight percent."
Kate raised an eyebrow.
"That's... oddly specific."
"I calculated."
"Of course you did."
Yelena pointed to the map.
"If we are wrong, we lose the trail."
Bucky nodded.
"Then we make sure we're not wrong."
---
The operation was fast.
Controlled.
Nobody went in alone.
That was Bucky's rule.
Yelena hated the rule.
She followed it anyway.
They found the building.
They found the guards.
And then they found you.
Alive.
Yelena saw you through the doorway.
Everything inside her stopped.
You looked exhausted.
Scared.
But alive.
"Y/N."
Your head snapped toward the sound.
Your eyes widened.
"Yelena?"
She couldn't move.
For once in her life, the trained assassin didn't know what to do.
Then you ran toward her.
Yelena caught you immediately.
Her arms wrapped around you so tightly that you almost disappeared against her.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
You shook your head.
"Yelena..."
"I'm sorry."
She buried her face against your shoulder.
"I should have been there."
"You came."
"I should have found you sooner."
"You came."
"I looked everywhere."
"I know."
"I thought..."
Her voice broke.
You pulled back just enough to look at her.
"You found me."
Yelena's eyes were filled with tears.
"I couldn't lose you."
"You didn't."
She gently touched your face, as though she needed to make sure you were really there.
"You are real?"
You gave her a tiny smile.
"I'm real."
Yelena let out a shaky laugh.
"Good."
She hugged you again.
This time, she didn't care who was watching.
Not Bucky.
Not Kate.
Not Alexei.
Nobody.
For once, Yelena didn't care about keeping her private life separate from the rest of the world.
Because you were alive.
That was all that mattered.
---
Later, after everything was over, Yelena sat beside you in the quiet.
Your hand was intertwined with hers.
Bucky passed the doorway and stopped.
"You okay?"
Yelena looked at you.
Then back at him.
"Yes."
Bucky smiled slightly.
"Good."
He walked away.
You rested your head against Yelena's shoulder.
"You know," you whispered, "you don't have to protect me from everything."
Yelena looked down at you.
"I know."
"And you don't have to do everything alone."
She sighed.
"I know."
A pause.
"Still learning."
You smiled.
"That's okay."
Yelena squeezed your hand.
For years, she'd been taught that attachment was weakness.
That caring about someone gave enemies something to use against you.
That love was something that could be taken away.
But sitting there with you beside her, Yelena realized something Natasha had tried to teach her long ago.
Having someone to lose didn't make her weak.
It gave her something worth fighting for.
And this time, she wasn't going to fight alone.
She leaned her head against yours.
"I love you."
You smiled.
"I love you too."
Yelena closed her eyes.
For the first time in days, she finally allowed herself to rest.
Casey Novak x Female Detective Reader x Alexandra Cabot
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Fluff/Romance
The first thing you learned about the Special Victims Unit was that nobody had time to make a good first impression.
The second thing you learned was that if Captain Benson—formerly Detective Benson, though everyone still occasionally slipped—trusted you enough to put you on the squad, you had probably earned your place before you'd even walked through the door.
And the third thing?
You learned that two Assistant District Attorneys could apparently turn a five-week case into a competition over who could make you smile first.
It started innocently enough.
You'd been assigned to Manhattan SVU less than a week when a complicated case landed on the squad's desks.5
A young woman had reported an assault, but the suspect was connected to a prominent family with enough money and influence to make the case complicated from the beginning.
Captain Benson put you and Fin on the investigation.
"Take your time," Benson told you. "Don't let the pressure rush you."
You nodded.
"Yes, Captain."
Fin gave you a small approving nod.
"She's got it."
Across the bullpen, Casey Novak looked up from the file she'd been reading.
She'd been assigned as lead ADA.
And she'd been watching you.
Not in an obvious way.
At least, she probably thought it wasn't obvious.
You caught her looking at you twice before lunch.
The third time, she smiled.
You smiled back.
Casey immediately looked down at her paperwork.
Fin noticed.
Of course he noticed.
He leaned toward you.
"Don't."
You blinked.
"Don't what?"
"Whatever that is."
You frowned.
"What?"
Fin simply shook his head.
"Nothing."
---
The next morning, you arrived at the precinct carrying two coffees.
One was yours.
The other was supposed to be for Benson.
Except you stopped when you saw Casey standing beside your desk.
"Morning, Detective."
"Morning, Casey."
Casey's eyebrow lifted slightly.
"You remembered my name."
You laughed.
"You're the ADA assigned to my case. I'd be worried if I didn't."
"Good answer."
She placed a coffee on your desk.
You stared at it.
"I brought you one."
You looked at the cup.
Then at Casey.
"You didn't have to do that."
"I know."
Before you could answer, another voice came from behind you.
"Casey."
You turned.
Alex Cabot stood there, perfectly composed, a file tucked beneath one arm.
She looked at the coffee.
Then at Casey.
Then at you.
"Good morning."
"Morning, Alex."
Alex smiled.
"I heard you were assigned to the investigation."
"I was."
"Good."
She stepped closer and handed you a folder.
"I reviewed some of the supplemental reports last night. There's something you should see."
You opened the folder.
Inside were several pages of notes.
"You went through all of this?"
Alex gave you a knowing smile.
"I don't like surprises."
Casey folded her arms.
"Neither do I."
Alex looked at her.
"I wasn't talking about you."
You tried not to laugh.
Casey narrowed her eyes.
And that was the moment you realized something.
Something very strange was happening.
---
Over the next week, it became obvious.
Casey would show up with coffee.
Alex would bring lunch.
Casey would compliment your investigative instincts.
Alex would compliment your questioning technique.
Casey would offer to go over your testimony with you.
Alex would somehow find a reason to review the same testimony.
It was subtle.
At first.
Then it wasn't.
"You know," you said one afternoon, standing between them in the squad room, "I can read my own reports."
Casey smiled.
"Of course you can."
Alex nodded.
"Absolutely."
You looked between them.
"Then why are both of you standing here?"
Silence.
Casey glanced at Alex.
Alex glanced at Casey.
"We're prosecutors," Casey said.
"We're thorough," Alex added.
Fin, sitting nearby, muttered:
"Sure."
You laughed.
Casey smiled at the sound.
Alex noticed.
And Casey noticed Alex noticing.
The competition officially began.
---
By the third week, it had become ridiculous.
Casey beat Alex to the precinct one morning just to leave a bagel on your desk.
Alex retaliated by bringing you lunch from a restaurant you'd casually mentioned liking.
Casey remembered that you preferred tea over coffee.
Alex remembered that you liked lemon in it.
Casey started saving you the chair beside her during meetings.
Alex started bringing an extra chair into her office whenever you needed to discuss the case.
And somehow, every compliment became a competition.
"You handled that interview well," Casey told you.
Alex looked up from her file.
"Very well."
Casey glanced at her.
"I was speaking."
"I know."
"You don't have to improve everything I say."
"I'm not."
"You just did."
You covered your mouth to hide your laugh.
Both women looked at you.
"What?" Casey asked.
"Nothing."
Alex smiled.
"She thinks we're ridiculous."
"She didn't say that."
"You were thinking it."
You laughed again.
"I might have been."
Casey shook her head.
"Traitor."
Alex smiled.
"Smart woman."
---
By week four, you'd stopped pretending you didn't notice.
The case had become demanding.
Long interviews.
Late nights.
Court preparation.
Evidence reviews.
Witness meetings.
The pressure was constant.
But somehow, Casey and Alex always made the days a little easier.
Casey was direct with you.
If you made a mistake, she'd tell you.
If you did something well, she'd tell you that too.
She respected your instincts.
Alex was different.
She challenged you.
Asked questions.
Made you think.
She had a way of looking at you that made you feel like she'd already figured out exactly what you were thinking.
And somewhere along the way, you realized you liked them.
Both of them.
That realization terrified you.
Because you weren't sure what to do with it.
---
The night before trial, you were sitting alone in the precinct going over your notes.
Casey walked over.
"You should go home."
You looked up.
"So should you."
"I'm the ADA."
"And I'm the detective."
"Exactly."
You smiled.
Casey pulled out the chair beside you.
"You nervous?"
"A little."
"Good."
You frowned.
"Good?"
"Means you care."
She paused.
"You're ready."
You looked at her.
"Thank you."
Casey's expression softened.
"You've done good work."
Before either of you could say anything else, Alex appeared.
"Am I interrupting?"
Casey sighed.
"Yes."
Alex smiled.
"Good."
You laughed.
Alex sat across from you.
"You ready for tomorrow?"
"I think so."
"You'll be fine."
Casey nodded.
"She will."
You looked between them.
"You two are really incapable of agreeing on anything, aren't you?"
Alex smiled.
"Not true."
Casey raised an eyebrow.
"We agree that you're good at your job."
Alex nodded.
"Very good."
You smiled.
For a moment, neither woman spoke.
Then Casey looked at Alex.
"We need to talk."
Alex sighed.
"About time."
---
They found you the next morning outside the courtroom.
Both women were unusually quiet.
You looked between them.
"What's going on?"
Casey exchanged a glance with Alex.
"We've been competing."
You blinked.
"Competing?"
Alex nodded.
"For your attention."
Your mouth fell open slightly.
Casey looked almost embarrassed.
Which, somehow, made it even more adorable.
"We're not exactly subtle," Casey admitted.
"No," you said. "You really aren't."
Alex laughed softly.
"We've both developed feelings for you."
You didn't know what to say.
Casey stepped forward.
"We're not asking you to choose."
Alex nodded.
"In fact, we've decided something."
Casey looked at you.
"We're ending the competition."
You smiled.
"You're giving up?"
"Absolutely not," Casey said.
Alex smiled.
"We're changing the rules."
You raised an eyebrow.
"What rules?"
Casey glanced at Alex.
Then back at you.
"After we win this case..."
Alex continued.
"...we'd like to take you out."
"Together."
You stared at them.
"Both of you?"
Casey smiled.
"If you're interested."
Alex added, "A proper date. No case files. No courtroom. No competition."
You smiled.
"I think I'd like that."
Casey's smile immediately widened.
Alex looked genuinely pleased.
Then the courtroom doors opened.
The bailiff called everyone inside.
Casey straightened her jacket.
"That's our cue."
Alex picked up her files.
"Wish us luck."
You smiled.
"You don't need it."
Casey looked at you.
"Still nice to hear."
---
Five weeks after the case began, the verdict came in.
Guilty.
The courtroom erupted into relieved whispers.
Casey closed her eyes for half a second before exhaling.
Alex smiled.
You stood beside the detectives as the tension finally left your shoulders.
Outside the courtroom, Casey approached you first.
"Detective."
"ADA."
She smiled.
"We won."
"We did."
Alex joined them.
"She means we won."
Casey looked at her.
"I was speaking."
"I know."
You laughed.
Some things apparently never changed.
Alex turned toward you.
"So."
"So?"
"Dinner?"
Casey nodded.
"Dinner."
You looked at both women.
"Tonight?"
Casey smiled.
"If you're free."
You pretended to think about it.
"I suppose I could make time."
Alex laughed.
"She's enjoying this."
"Definitely," Casey said.
You smiled.
"Maybe a little."
Casey offered you her arm.
Alex offered you hers.
You looked at them both.
Then slipped one arm through Casey's and the other through Alex's.
"All right."
They both smiled.
"But," you added, "one rule."
Casey raised an eyebrow.
"What?"
"No talking about the case."
Alex nodded.
"Agreed."
"And no competing."
Casey and Alex exchanged a look.
Casey sighed.
"Fine."
Alex smiled.
"Fine."
You grinned.
"Good."
The three of you walked down the courthouse steps together.
For once, nobody was chasing evidence.
Nobody was preparing a witness.
Nobody was arguing over courtroom strategy.
And for the first time in five weeks, Casey Novak and Alexandra Cabot weren't competing for your attention.