Disclaimer: Don't own.
A/N: I apologize for not updating, but fanfiction has been a butt lately. Better late than never, here's the next chapter!
A few hours later, Alex had arrived at the Benson residence. They were all around the dining room table. The women had just finished going over their testimonies. Alex had watched the interaction between the two felt something was going on.
"So? Did you guys know each other before this incident?" Leslie looked at Alex and then back at Olivia. She raised an eyebrow towards Olivia.
Olivia looked down and said quietly, "Alex, Les is my girlfriend." Alex eyes went wide at the news. She couldn't believe what Olivia had told her.
"When did this start?"
"About 4 years ago," Olivia said.
"4 years! And you're just telling me this now? Liv, I thought we were friends! You could've trusted me with this!"
Leslie cut in, "It wasn't Olivia who wanted to hide it. It was me. I didn't want her to get into trouble, but then the attack happened and everyone is finding out now. Don't be mad at Olivia for something she didn't do." Alex was taken aback.
"I'm sorry for yelling. It was…just…a big shock, for me." Olivia nodded.
"I understand. Alex, I would've told you, but I wanted to respect Les' wishes. She didn't want anyone to know, but the captain, and Elliot found out when he caught us coming to pick me up one night."
"So, am I the last to know?" Olivia nodded reluctantly.
"I'm sorry for hiding this Alex."
"It's okay. I understand. How did Munch and Fin find out before me?"
Olivia grinned sheepishly as did Leslie, "They walked in on me and Les in full lip-lock." Alex busted out with laughter. Olivia and Leslie laughed too. They were all so glad to have that moment behind them.
The next day everyone met in the courtroom lobby. Elliot was with Karmen and Olivia was with Leslie. They were all talking when Leslie's name was called. She and Olivia got up and went into the courtroom. Elliot took Karmen's hand.
"Are you going to be okay?" Karmen nodded. "I'm just nervous."
"Keep your eyes on me and you will do fine." She nodded.
Leslie was on the witness stand. Alex had already asked her the questions she believed useful to win her case. Now, she was being cross-examined by defense ADA Trevor Langan.
"Miss Nichols, what is your relationship with the detective assigned to your case, Olivia Benson?"
"Objection! Relevance?"
Judge Michael Willis pondered a moment when Langan interjected, "Goes to the witness' character."
"I'll allow it. The witness will answer," replied the judge.
Leslie looked at Olivia. She nodded.
Sighing, Leslie replied, "Detective Benson is…my friend."
"Just a friend?" Leslie blushed.
Locking eyes with Olivia again she said, "She's my girlfriend."
"Uh huh, and did your girlfriend tell you what to say in court today?"
Alex shot up and said, "Objection!"
"Withdrawn. Nothing further."
The judge looked at Leslie and said, "You may step down, Miss Nichols." Leslie got up slowly and walked to where Olivia was sitting and sat down.
Olivia took Leslie's hand in hers and whispered, "You did great." Leslie smiled at her.
Outside the courtroom, nerves were beginning to affect Karmen's resolve.
"Elliot," she said quietly, "I don't know if I can do this. I'm scared he will try something."
Elliot took her hand into his, "Karmen, I will be there as will the bailiff and the court officers, he won't be able to get near you."
Karmen sighed, "I know, but I'm still scared."
"I know sweetheart, but keep your eyes on me and you will do fine." Karmen smiled at him and nodded.
The bailiff came out and shouted, "Karmen Fredrickson!"
Elliot looked at Karmen, "Are you ready?" She nodded her head.
Elliot got up and pushed Karmen in her wheelchair. He set the brakes after arriving at the witness stand and nodded at her. Karmen flashed a little smile. Elliot took his seat next to Olivia and Leslie as Alex began asking Karmen the most difficult and invasive questions. Karmen kept her eyes on Elliot the entire time. She refused to look anywhere else. Alex had noticed this, but said nothing about it. It would have to wait. She had a case to win for this poor woman and for her friend's love.
After 15 more minutes of the questions from the prosecution and the defense, the jury was dismissed for deliberation. Alex had walked out and met the others in the lobby.
"I sure hope the jury won't take long," said Alex, concerned.
Elliot put a hand on his friend's shoulder and said, "You did great. I think we've got him."
Karmen twisted in her wheelchair to look at Elliot.
Elliot noticed this and bent down next to her, "Are you okay?"
Karmen nodded and said, "I'm just anxious and nervous." Elliot kissed her forehead and stood up.
It was a bold move and he knew he shouldn't have done it, but he wanted to comfort her. Alex looked at him and her as the pieces fell into the place. She looked at Olivia who also watched the interaction shocked by Elliot's move.
"I'm not going to be the last to know with this one, am I?" Olivia looked at the blonde and blushed.
"I thought not." Elliot looked sideways at Alex and gave his most devious grin. She couldn't help but chuckle at him. After a couple more minutes Alex's phone rang. The jury was back.
"That was fast," she said worriedly.
Olivia led the way back to court with Leslie walking with her, Alex walked behind them, and Elliot and Karmen behind her. Once everyone was settled, the bailiff took the paper from the jury foreman and handed it to the judge. The judge opened it, read it, closed it, and gave it back to the bailiff to return to the jury foreman.
"Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"We have, your honor."
"Will the defendant please rise?"
Darryl and Langan stood. Darryl had a smug look on his face.
"On the count of rape in the first degree, how do you find?"
"Guilty."
"On the count of assault in the first degree, how do you find?"
"Guilty."
"And on the count of battery in the first degree, how do you find?"
"Guilty."
The judge looked at the defendant whose smirk was long gone and a look of fury replaced it.
"Sentencing will be in a week," said the judge as he was going to adjourn the case, but the defense attorney interjected, "Sir, my client would like his sentencing now."
The judge looked at the attorney and the defendant.
"Very well. 15 years to life without the possibility of parole." Darryl lunged at the judge, but was quickly subdued by the court officers.
He then turned his gaze on the victims and shouted, "YOU BITCHES! YOU KNOW YOU LIKED IT!"
"Get that man out of my courtroom!" shouted the judge, "Court is adjourned!"
He banged the gavel. Karmen and Leslie had both shrunk back at Darryl yelling at them. Karmen was crying softly as was Leslie. They were both being held by their significant others. Alex turned to them.
"It's over. He will never get out."
Leslie and Karmen looked at Alex and said in unison, "Thank you."
Alex nodded to the two of them.
Later at the Stabler apartment, Elliot and Karmen arrived home. Elliot pushed Karmen next to the couch and the lifted her onto it.
He stood up, "Are you hungry or thirsty?" Karmen was still worn out from the trial and the pain she was in didn't help matters.
"I'm okay. Will you hold me?" she asked him with tears in her eyes.
Elliot nodded and got onto the couch with her. He wrapped his muscular arms around her and she leaned into him. She felt so safe in his arms.
"You know, it's over, but the trauma can stay with you. Do you want to talk about it?"
Karmen looked up at him, "Elliot, I'm not crying because of the trauma, I'm crying because I'm happy it's over. That means you and I can get together officially."
Elliot smiled down at her. Embracing her tighter, he bent down and kissed her passionately.
Karmen looked at him after the kiss and said, "How about some Chinese?"
Elliot chuckled and pulled out his phone to call for take-out.
At the Benson residence, Olivia and Leslie were on the couch just enjoying the fact that the whole ordeal that Leslie had endured was finally concluded. Leslie leaned on Olivia. Olivia put her head on Leslie's and wove an arm around her waist, pulling her closer. Olivia and Leslie both sighed and laughed. Olivia kissed Leslie's forehead.
"I'm so glad this is over," said Leslie.
"Me too baby. Me too." Olivia kissed her partner again. Leslie returned it.
"Care to celebrate," asked Leslie seductively.
Olivia hesitated, "You know what the doctor said."
Leslie looked at Olivia and said in all seriousness, "I don't care. I want you!"
With that, Olivia and Leslie made their way into the bedroom, shedding their clothing along the way.
Elliot and Karmen had just finished dinner when there was a knock on the door. Elliot went to answer it. He pulled the door open to find his captain standing there. His captain looked at him and then past him at the young woman on his couch, who he knew to be the victim. Cragen's eyes widened.
"Uh…hi."
"Elliot, do you have something you want to explain? You know the rules about fraternizing with the victims!"
Elliot nodded, he complexion going as red as a fire engine.
"Um…come in and Karmen and I will explain everything as best we can." Cragen looked warily at one of his best detectives and stepped into the apartment. Elliot shut the door and indicated to the captain to take a seat, which he did.
Elliot went over and sat next to Karmen, taking her hand into his.
He looked at the captain, cleared his throat, and said, "Well, uh, we met in the hospital when Liv and I went to interview her. She told us of her attack and how she had recalled a voice telling her to keep holding on. I asked her a question and she answered me with one of her own. She asked if I was an angel because she heard my voice that morning, although I was nowhere near her. We were both confused, but after a while we both realized that we were meant to be together. I told her the rule and we had held off on our relationship until the case was finished. She had no one to care for her at her own home, so I offered to help. She and I came back here and then the case was closed the next day, today."
The captain looked at his detective, amused at him and the young woman he was holding tightly to him. He could see that Elliot didn't want him to take her away. He didn't want him to disapprove either.
The captain thought a minute and then spoke, "Seeing as how you technically didn't start the relationship until the case was closed, there is nothing more I can say on the matter. I wish you the best of luck. I only came by to see if you were up for a celebratory drink, but you seem occupied. I'll leave you."
Elliot grinned at his captain and replied, "Thank you sir. We were going to celebrate with some Chinese. You are more than welcome to join us."
The captain deliberated for a moment, but declined.
"You take care. "
Elliot nodded and walked his superior out. Upon returning, Karmen had nodded off on the couch. Elliot grinned to himself. He picked her up gently and carried her to the bedroom and laid with her until another knock disturbed him. This time it was their celebratory dinner. He took the bag and paid the man. He had set down the items when a gut-wrenching scream emitted from the bedroom. He ran in to find Karmen whimpering and crying.
He reached over to her and rubbed her shoulder and back, "Baby? Karmen, you're safe. Dinner's here. Let's eat."
Karmen opened her green eyes. She felt Elliot's hand rubbing her back and shoulders. Her stomach growled. She sighed and giggled. Elliot smiled at her and then carried her into the living room. Karmen was on the couch and Elliot was in the chair and both dug into the long awaited dinner they had wanted to share.
A/N: I hope you guys liked it! The next chapter will be the last one, so I hope you guys have enjoyed reading it!
