Set after Season 11, Episode 24 "Shattered"
The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I am not sure how many chapters this fan fiction story will be. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.
"Stepping Time" Chapter 36 of ?
#-#
Olivia slid the key card in the hotel room door, turned the handle while juggling the drinks and pastries and pushed the door open with her hip. Erin was frantically putting her hair up in the bathroom.
"McCoy just called," she yelled. "He's already downstairs."
"I know," Olivia said. "He approached me at the Starbucks and I just finished talking with him." She set Erin's Frappuccino on the counter in the bathroom.
"Fuck," Erin shouted. "I can't believe Senator Rushing would fly me all the way back here just to end my career. I have four jammed pack days of meetings on that fucking itinerary," she fumed. "That doesn't make sense."
She grabbed her ACU jacket hanging on the hook of the bathroom door. "Maybe somebody saw us at the airport when we kissed," she said out loud, but mostly to herself as her mind worked frantically for what she considered a rational explanation of this trip to D.C. and the private meeting with the senator.
"Erin," Olivia said, her voice slightly trembling as she ran a nervous hand through her hair. "I didn't say anything to confirm our relationship, but they know about us. They know about Sheila, -and they know about me and Alex," she said looking down at the tiled bathroom floored.
"Well now might be a great fucking time for you to give me a quick briefing on you and Alex," she snapped angrily. "What were you fuckin' her in Times Square?"
"No," Olivia said firmly, her eyes still studying the tiles on the floor. "Yes, Alex and I have spent some time together. Yes we have slept together," she said her voice cracking. "And I love her, but I'm not in love with her anymore," she said finally looking up at Erin. "I'm in love with you and I want us and just us."
"Hell Liv I may be unemployed in an hour or two," she said brushing past the detective and grabbing her black beret and work bag. She reached for the door handle and then paused and turned her head towards Olivia. "Do you really want a future with me?" she sighed. "Don't lie to me on this or partial truth me, or I'll never forgive you."
"I do and I know it without a doubt," Olivia said sincerely.
"I want that too," Erin said quietly placing a chaste kiss on Olivia's forehead. "I'll call as soon as I can," she said turning the door handle and walking out the door.
#-#
"Colonel Mathison, it's a pleasure to meet you," TJ McCoy said extending a hand to shake Erin's.
"I hope I will feel the same," Erin said briefly shaking the press secretary's hand.
He smiled and said, "I'm not sure what Detective Benson has told you of our discussion earlier, but I assured her we have only your best career and personal interests in mind."
"I believe I have been able and am still fully capable of making the best decisions for myself both professionally and personally," she said sternly.
"Why don't we head over to the senator's office now," he said stepping towards the lobby. "I'm confident once you meet with Senator Rushing you will see that I am telling you the truth." As they passed through the revolving door and stepped to the sidewalk he turned his head slightly and looked towards Erin.
"Congratulations on your upcoming promotion," he said trying to ease the tension between them. "You are definitely deserving of being promoted ahead of the majority of your peers."
"Exactly how long have you been so interested in my career and my personal life?" Erin responded unyielding, as they walked towards the Hart Senate Building.
"About five months now," he responded. "I understand that you might be feeling a bit ambushed here…"
"Really Mr. McCoy," Erin interrupted. "I think it would be more accurate to say a pawn in a political chess game waiting to be fucked."
"No," he smirked, "more like a smart and agile knight protected by a loyal and lethal queen."
Erin couldn't help but to release a brief chuckle with the stress and anger that was tingling through her body.
"Let's save further conversation until we reach Senator Rushing's office," he said opening a door to the Hart Senate Building.
#-#
McCoy ushered Erin to a plush chair in the secretary's office and reception area just outside the senator's private office.
"The senator will be with you in just a few moments," he said handing Erin a brown folder marked "Classified." "You can review this file if you'd like while you wait," he added as he opened the door to the senator's office.
"Colonel Mathison would you like some fresh coffee or bottled water?" the middle-aged, short-haired blonde secretary asked approaching Erin.
"A bottled water would be great. Thank you," Erin said opening the folder from McCoy. She accepted the water from the secretary and began reading the detailed professional and personal report of her adult life. The depth and accuracy of the file caused her to smirk, wondering why if such intelligence could be assembled on her why they couldn't get better intelligence from Washington on the Taliban in Afghanistan.
In assessing the report internally Erin realized it was actually a glowing evaluation of her professionally and personally, if she were straight, could only be viewed as positive as well. Erin reflected on McCoy's description of the senator as a loyal and lethal queen, and she as a smart and agile knight.
"You're fucked if you don't play the senator's game," Erin thought to herself.
#-#
Erin stood up as she heard the door to the senator's office begin to open. Out stepped Senator Rushing. Erin was quite familiar with the senator and her career, but now standing before her, Erin was surprised how petite the 61 year-old senator was. She guessed that without the black Prada peep-toe pumps the senator stood maybe 5'1". She was impeccably dressed in what Erin surmised was a Prada red blazer and skirt and white blouse. Erin noticed the American flag and yellow ribbon pins on her lapel and the modest diamond stud earrings that punctuated her short (colored) black hair, deep green eyes, slender face and high cheek bones.
"Good morning Senator," Erin said calmly extending her right hand to greet the senator.
"Good morning and thank you for coming Colonel Mathison," the senator said shaking Erin's hand firmly before releasing and gesturing towards her office. The senator's office was neat and organized, but comfortable and almost homey with her desk and three bookcases accentuated by carefully placed framed photos.
The senator asked Erin to sit pointing towards University of Michigan blue leather stationary chairs with a small round maple table separating them. The senator walked to her desk and retrieved her coffee mug. She placed it on the round table and took a seat in the other blue chair, pleasantly surprising Erin with her seating choice.
The senator smiled slightly at Erin.
"First I would like you to extend an apology on my behalf to Detective Benson for TJ's actions this morning. He was completely out of line and I assure you any future contact with my press secretary will be much more pleasant," the senator said as a matter- of-fact.
"Yes Senator," Erin nodded.
"Did you have a chance to read the file which TJ gave to you?" she asked.
"Yes Senator," Erin replied stoically.
The senator smiled. "You don't have to address me as senator every time here in my office. We're just going to have an informal off the record conversation."
"Okay then," Erin said. "What do you want from me and why me?"
"Erin, can I call you Erin?" the senator asked. Erin nodded in agreement knowing it wasn't really her choice how the senator chose to address her. "I want you to do exactly what you were going to do before I asked for this meeting. You are a distinguished officer and you are doing a fine job over in Kabul. I have read every report you have submitted since you have been at Camp Phoenix and so have most members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee."
The senator took a sip of her coffee and then deliberately turned the cup when setting it back on the table so Erin could read "Michigan Pride 2010" and see the rainbow flag which decorated the mug.
"Erin there are only four people who have read this file," she said grabbing it from the table. "You, me, TJ, and my cousin who wrote it-a retired gay FBI agent. You have my word that you will not be outed by me, TJ or my cousin."
"But someone else will and you will be there tout me as the latest DADT distinguished poster child?" she said, unable to hold back a bit of a sarcastic tone.
"No, there are a lot of hypocrites in this town, but I'm not one of them," the senator said sternly. "As I said this is an informal off the record conversation," she paused and relaxed back in the chair.
"My oldest grandchild is entering her sophomore year at West Point and she came out to me when she was 14. I want her to serve where she doesn't have to lie and hide, and if she chooses and can meet the same standards as the men, lead an infantry platoon as a lieutenant."
Erin finally cracked a smile, touched by the passion in the senator's voice and the fire in her eyes.
"I want that for her too," Erin said.
"Ok," the senator said. "You know it takes a committee with five subcommittees to change the texture of a combat boot shoelace over at the DOD. Even if we take a beating in the mid-term elections it is still highly likely that the repeal of DADT will occur."
Erin nodded at the senator, now eager to hear where the senator was leading.
"There will be a full-bird colonel PAO position beginning in April or May dedicated to the integration of openly gay and lesbian service members. I believe you are the ultimate choice for this position if you are interested. And if you are, you will return from Afghanistan in March when you are promoted and can enjoy some leave before reporting to the Pentagon."
Erin exhaled deeply, literally feeling all the stress and anxiety of the last two or so hours escaping her body.
"And hence TJ's concern with the status of my current relationship," she smiled.
"I knew you were a very savvy public affairs officer," the senator grinned. "I want you in the position because of your intelligence, your accomplishments, your two tours in Afghanistan, one in Iraq and one in Somalia, but you know very well that your personality and physical attributes will be assets as well. And if your story includes a committed relationship with a very attractive decorated NYPD detective…, well," the senator cocked an eyebrow and smiled.
"Thank you," Erin said, blushing slightly. "But what if DADT isn't repealed?"
"Then you come back from Kabul in June as currently scheduled and finish your assignment at Fort Hamilton," the senator said and then paused. "And if you so choose continue with your plans to retire. Personally, I would hate to see you retire and not further utilize your experience and skills to help improve our military for all who choose to serve."
"As I assume you are aware I haven't yet officially submitted my retirement paperwork," Erin said with a smirk. "How long would the Pentagon assignment be?"
"So I'll take that to mean you are interested," the senator replied. "I thought you might be. It will probably be between 12 and 18 months. And by that time you will be well known and well established in media circles so if you wanted to pursue options with the networks as a retired military expert I am confident they would be available as well as many speaking opportunities."
"I understand why you called this off the record meeting now and now," she emphasized the word, "I am very pleased and honored, but why the last minute scheduling of it?"
The senator laughed, puzzling Erin. "Well believe it or not TJ actually has a fiancé, and her flight from London was delayed last night," she said drawing a smile from Erin. "He assured me that was the only reason he will still at the Dulles airport outside of the IAB when you arrived."
"And he saw Olivia and I briefly kiss," Erin said.
"Yes. He is very loyal to me and one of his greatest strengths is that he is able to quickly envision almost every possible outcome of any scenario, but sometimes he focuses too much on what could possibly happen, worst case scenario, then what actually is," she said. "That being said I know you know how careful and discreet you have to be while this ludicrous policy is still in place."
"Yes, I do," Erin said.
"I was going to pull you aside this afternoon during the 45 minute break on your itinerary, but TJ rescheduled a meeting I had this morning so I could meet with you," the senator said looking at her watch. "I do have an 8:30 meeting though, so come with me and I'll kick TJ out of his office for a few minutes so you can call Detective Benson if you'd like."
"I appreciate that," Erin said gratefully.
"Erin," the senator said standing up and Erin instinctively stood as well. "You can tell her about your career options, but not anything about my granddaughter please."
"I understand and respect that," Erin said sincerely. "Thank you Senator," she said shaking the senator's hand once again.
Senator Rushing led Erin out of her office.
"Josie," she said to her secretary. "I need the number to the florist we use." Josie quickly produced the florist's business card which the senator snapped up as she walked towards TJ's office door knocking only to alert him as she opened the door and entered with Erin.
"TJ, Colonel Mathison needs your office for 10 minutes. While she is in here," she continued, handing TJ the business card, "call the florist and with a personal credit card send Detective Benson a nice mixed bouquet with a note of apology."
"Yes Senator," he said.
"Colonel Mathison, TJ will need to take you to the conference room at 8:40. There's a restroom on the way there. And if you think of any more questions from our meeting, I can speak with you privately again during the afternoon break."
"Thank you Senator Rushing," Erin said as the senator and TJ exited the office, with TJ closing the door behind him.
Erin quickly grabbed her cell phone and dialed Olivia's number.
"Hey," Olivia answered almost immediately.
"It's good Liv," Erin said excitedly. "It's actually really good."
"Thank God," Olivia almost shouted. "What happened?"
"Oh, before I forget don't freak out when you get a floral arrangement from TJ, the senator was not happy with his treatment of you," Erin laughed.
"Really," Olivia replied.
"I only have a couple of minutes, but she wants me to take a position as the PAO handling the integration of openly, or those who choose to be open I guess, gay and lesbian service members after DADT is repealed - assuming it is. It's not like she can cut the orders, but she obviously has the power and influence to make it happen if I want it."
"And do you want it?" Olivia asked sincerely.
"I'm intrigued, very intrigued. And if DADT is repealed and I accept it, it would bring me back from Kabul in March instead of June, and I would have at least a few weeks of leave before starting it," Erin said quickly, trying to tell Olivia as much as possible before TJ called for her. "The negative is that it would be at the Pentagon, -but only like 12 to 18 months and then I could retire and come back to New York."
"I definitely love the idea of you getting out of Afghanistan as soon as possible," Olivia said.
"I know it is a lot to process and we need to discuss and I really need to process it yet myself. I may be just more excited that I still have a career period," Erin said, hearing a knock at the door.
"I have to go. I'm sorry for what I said this morning in the hotel," she said. "I love you."
"I love you too and I'm proud of you Erin," Olivia said.
"Thanks babe," Erin said ending the call and opening the office door.