"I was beginning to think she was gestating an elephant it's been that long."
"It's been nine months, John. That's pretty average..." and then realising she had relatively little knowledge on the subject Detective Amanda Rollins shrugged casually, "... or so I'm told."
"Did we hear anything yet?" asked Detective Odafin Tutuola, visibly tense. His usual laconic gate had been replaced by an uneasy shuffle over to his desk as busied himself organizing paperwork and refused his colleagues eye contact.
"I think the idea of Liv in a compromising position on the delivery ward is making Detective Tutuola a little uncomfortable." Came the wry observation from Detective John Munch as he leant back in his chair and braced his hands behind his head, pumping his elbows lightly as his heavily lined face grinned at Finn's discomfort.
"How soon do you reckon it'll be before she's back at work?" asked Detective Rollins as she raked wispy blonde hair with her fingertips and scraped it back into a loose bun.
"Well judging from the way David had to haul her up from behind her desk and frog march her out of the precinct for enforced maternity leave..." pouring himself a coffee and joining the conversation Detective Nick Amaro smiled warmly, "... do we give her a week? Two tops?"
"I'm not so sure..." ventured Munch broodingly.
"No, no you're right, you're first kid is different..." recalling his own desperation never to leave his firstborn alone, even for a second, Amaro added sugar to his cup and nodded, "... we'll give her a month at least."
"I don't know, you know? It's been a long and winding road to motherhood for Liv. I'm not so sure she'll ever come back to work now she's finally got her fairytale happy family with the dashing Executive ADA." Tipping his head from side to side, as though weighing up the situation in his mid, Munch dropped his hands forward and leaned toward his partner. "Where's your money at, twitchy?"
"It's her life."
"Finn..." frowned Rollins curiously, as Dt. Tutuola made an inelegant exit to stage left and unnecessarily ferried an armful of case files in the direction of the Captain's office, "... what's with him? He's had a face like friggin' thunder since first thing this morning."
"I guess the Dubrowski case got to him..." shrugged Amaro, settling into the role of rational peacemaker among the group for once, "... it was a long haul flight for all of us but he was one to tell the family there was insufficient evidence. It can't have been easy after all these months."
"That isn't it." Said Munch with a steady, even calm. Knowing his partner all too well he was confident that this was more than the professional turning personal for Finn. His unsettling ran deeper than any case and though he had no tangible evidence to support his gut feeling it was as certain as the perplexed concern on Amanda Rollins' open face.
"Well whatever it is that's eatin' Finn I sure as heck know that it's lack of sleep that's gittin' to me. I think I'm gonna call it a night..." leaning heavily against the desk Rollins hauled herself upright and slid a tan leather jacket from the back of her chair with a yawn, "... anyone else?"
"No, no I'm gonna stay and write up the Dubrowski notes with Finn..." replied Munch with a weary resolution, before gesturing his hand in a brushing motion toward Amaro, "... but you should both go home. No sense in us all wallowing in our combinedl inadequacies as bringers of justice."
"Before you two head out?" came the resonating call of their patriarch as Captain Donald Cragen stepped out of his office, the apples of his cheeks rounded and lightly flushed with glowing pride.
"Captain?" pushed Rollins, exhaustion giving way to curiosity.
"I just got off the phone with Hayden..." as Amaro and Rollins waited with anticipation Munch's eyes were drawn to a stony faced Finn lurking in Cragen's shadow, "... and he's proud to announce the safe arrival of Baby Girl Benson, weighing in at a healthy 8lbs 2oz."
"How's Liv doing?" asked Nick Amaro, a rushing desire to call his wife overseas sweeping over him.
"Exhausted but ecstatic were the exact words used." Feeling almost like a proud father himself Donald Cragen radiated joy as he stood before his assembled troops. There was something deeply comforting to him that finally, after all these years his lost soul had finally found solace. Olivia Benson finally had the family she had so longed for.
"Finn?" said Munch, openly questioning of his partner's faraway expression as Amaro and Rollins basked in the afterglow of the news around Benson's empty desk.
"Dubrowski notes." Replied Finn blankly, lifting his dark eyes to meet with Munch's penetrating gaze.
"Everything okay?" asked Munch, unaware that as they spoke Finn's left thumb was pressing firmly over the 'send' button on his cell phone.
"Sure, sure I'm good." Shrugged the heavy set shoulders of Odafin Tutuola as his words ventured out of the quad room, across cyber space, and into a hospital delivery suite.
"I love you but this is messed up, Liv. You gotta tell El the truth. Call me."