Hey,guys. I know it's been propably a lifetime since I wrote a new chapter on my other fic,but please bear with me. This is just a little something I had in my mind since the end of "Beast's Obsession". Set during "Post Mortem Blues" so it may contain possible spoilers.

Read,enjoy & review!

She walked out of the court room feeling confident. It had been a while since she had this feeling radiating from every cell of her. Her trial had been a cruel process. She had never thought that she would be in this position again after her conviction four years ago. Back then she was found guilty of a murder she had never committed and this time she heard the "not guilty" verdict for a felony she had indeed committed: perjury. She could have been convicted up to five years but instead her lawyer had managed to get her free for two thousands bail.

She felt uncomfortable sitting on the defendant's chair,so when the verdict was reached she shook hands with Counselor Rita Calhoun and hurried out of the room.

Her heels were echoing through the empty hallway as she walked to the exit doors. Her heart rate increased immediately as she thought of what she would face at the other side. Her squad was waiting for her. She didn't want them to be in the courtroom the moment she would be found guilty and guided out of the room. It would be too humiliating to see her getting cuffed on her way to jail. So she had asked them to wait outside. Right now it seemed stupid. She realised that they had seen her at her worse while being dragged out of the beach house where he had taken her. Or when they got her out of the granary with blood all over her face.

Her mind went back to him. Lewis had one goal in his life: to make sure she would never forget,to make sure that he would haunt her for her rest of her life. He had partially succeed. She would never forget,she couldn't. She had lost her sleep,her appetite, her ability to trust people,her dignity,her pride. But she had had enough. "You survived not once or twice,Olivia but three times in his clutches. The ordeal had changed you. It's up to you to decide if that change would be for the better or for the worse." And he was right. Dr Lindstrom helped her realize the inevitable of the situation. She had changed. She couldn't get back to her old self. That Olivia Benson had died last May. Now it was high time she rebuilt her new life,her new self.

She straightened her grey pencil skirt,took a deep breath and pushed the court room doors open. She was temporarily blinded by the sun light and put her sunglasses on to both protect her eyes from the sun and hide the black circles that not even the best make-up artist could mask.

She scanned her perimeter and easily spotted her squad. Nick,Fin,Amanda,Rafael even Lt. Murphy were gathered in a circle at the top stairs anxiously waiting for the verdict. She smiled brightly and walked faster to them. The first one who spotted her was the blonde Detective. Amanda pushed her partner and all four people turned their gaze at where she looked. Their anxious faces turned into delighted ones in mere seconds when they saw Sergeant Olivia Benson walking to their direction.

Surprisingly Murphy was the first one to close the little distance between them and her. He met her halfway and pulled her into a tight hug. She hugged him back hesitantly while he spoke with his warm raspy voice:"It's nice to have you back,Sergeant"

She pulled back and smiled genuinely at him. "It's good to be back"

"Hey,Lt. don't be selfish. Let us see our Sergeant" Fin got in the way and before Olivia could protest she was wrapped in his arms.

"I missed you,baby girl"he said rather loudly. Lt. Murphy couldn't suppress a light laughter at the nick name he used. Olivia whispered something back to him and he released her.

"I heard you laughing Lieutenant" Fin said with a warning yet playful look on his face. Then Amanda,Rafael and Nick took their turn to hug Olivia. She accepted their hugs and tender words and felt so grateful for the support they offered even if she had never asked any. When the hugs and laughter were over Rita Calhoun approached the group.

"You did good,Counselor" Barba said shaking her hand.

"Well,she wasn't you but she indeed worked her magic in there"Olivia said smiling thankfully at her.

"I know,I know I am phenomenal"Rafael said jokingly and they all burst into laughter for once more. Counselor said her good byes as the team of six headed for the stairs getting themselves ready to face the media frenzy taking place at sidewalk.

That's when she spotted him leaning slightly at the pile looking intently at her. Her breath hitched at her throat and she looked back at him,her brown eyes meeting his blue ones. Nick was the first one to spot him and unconsciously put a protective arm around his partner. Fin saw him,too. Murphy on the other hand had no clue about the man staring at his team. "Do we know him?"he asked no one in particular.

Before anyone had the chance to answer Olivia turned around violently facing them.

"I'll catch you up at the precinct"she announced in a matter of fact way.

"No need to,Benson. You have the day off. Expecting you back tomorrow morning at 8 a.m." Murphy said back. She thanked him and made her excuses while she watched them walking down the stairs the reporters blocking their way.

Before she realized it he was right beside her. He smiled hesitantly at her and she surprised both of them by giving him a light kiss on his cheek. They stared at each other not saying a word,taking in each others presence. It's been both a short and a long time since they've seen each other,yet it felt like not a second had passed. They momentarily forgot about how they had left things and linked their hands together holding on each other for dear life. Their foreheads touched and they fell into a comfortable silence.

"I am sorry it took me so long to get to you. I booked the first flight from Chicago as soon as I heard about what happened" he whispered softly as he caressed her hair.

"You didn't have to. I am fine"she said a little more harshly than she intended. He tensed at her words and immediately regretted his actions. She was right. He didn't have to. They had taken different roads in their lives and maybe he had no right to show up like that. But he couldn't stop himself from coming to find her,he wanted to know what had happened,why she had almost died. He needed so badly to see her beautiful face,look at her big chocolate eyes. He took his hand away from her hair and detached his other hand from hers as he tried to create a distance between them.

She immediately cursed under her breath. She shouldn't have been so hard. He was here because he wanted to. He still cared. She still cared deeply for him,too. After everything they've through she couldn't help but have strong feelings for him.

"Do you wanna talk somewhere more private?"she asked hopefully. He looked at her and a light smile appeared on his face.

"That would be nice. What about our usual place?"

"It's better if we head at my apartment"she said while linking her hand with his and guiding him to the stairs. They walked through the swarm of reporters and he put a hand around her as if trying to protect her from the million questions. They made it to the sidewalk,got into a taxi and blocked their surroundings as they slammed the door shut heading to her place.

So,what do you think? It's propably obvious who he is but I am still messing with you, just a little bit. Lol Don't worry the blue eyed man will be identified on the next chapter.

Till then...read and let me know what you think.

~JoyfulRiri xxx