When they take their seats Elliot sits next to Olivia on instinct. Eli sits on her other side followed by Kathleen. Behind them sit the rest of the Stabler children. Olivia looks at Elliot with concern. She doesn't know what Wheatley will bring up from their past, together and not. She hasn't told him about Lewis, she isn't quite sure how to tell him about the attack. She just knows his reaction won't be appropriate for court. She wants to know about his life in Italy and what happened after he left.
He looks back at her and takes her hand again. It's starting to become his comfort. His stability, as long as she's there, he'll be okay. There is slowly starting to be something more in the little things. The gray is mixing better than he could imagine. Them laying together on the couch, cooking, watching movies, walking in the park. She's here with him. She's here. They stop staring to look and see Richard walking into the courtroom in handcuffs.
"Ah, Captain Benson, still gorgeous. I still need an answer for our date." He says, giving her a wink. Judge Frank hits her gavel for silence in the room.
"Not another outburst from your client counselor." She says sternly. She turns her attention to the rest of the courtroom. "We are here on the charges of murder in the first degree of Kathleen Stabler and Manfredi Sinatra. Counselor Jones call your first witness." She finishes taking a seat and the rest of the room follows suit sitting down with their eyes forward except Olivia who just stares at Eli. His eyes are stormy, his hand is shaking. She reaches over and takes his hand in hers. He looks at her and lets a tear slip from his eye. Olivia lets go of Elliot's hand and wipes Eli's tear away. She smiles at him to let him know it's going to be okay. He lays his head on her shoulder as she takes Elliot's hand back. She is both of their comforts and she loves it. Though now she feels as though Eli should have gone with Fin and Noah. That maybe sitting in the courtroom was too much for the 14 year old.
"The people call Sargent Ayanna Bell to the stand." Abby Jones words echo throughout the courtroom.
He can feel Richard's eyes on them. Not necessarily on him but on Liv. Elliot turns his head and sees something that makes his heart stop, skip, and restart all at once. Eli's head laying on Liv's shoulder. His comfort. Holding her hand and knowing she's there. All Elliot had ever wanted. Her, being there, being the kids' comfort. The kids, he started referring to them that way about 3 weeks ago. When he and Liv had fallen asleep together on the couch and he woke up to Livs head on his chest entangled in each other. So simply but incredibly needed. Elliot can get lost in her eyes the way he did 10 years ago, only this time he doesn't have an anchor to keep him from diving deep down. He can still feel Wheatley's eyes on him as Bell sits on the stand. Elliot looks over to Wheatley who winks at Olivia who is also staring at the man. She turns to look at Elliot as Jones starts her questioning.
"Sargent Bell, how long have you been studying Richard Wheatley?" She asks.
"Roughly 2 years." She responds
"And in that time had he ever called a hit on another human?"
"Yes, 6 from my count. All of them are dead for various reasons but mainly having to do with his business."
"Does this include Kathy Stabler?"
"No. But it does include his son, Rafiq."
"His own son? Wow. No further questions your honor." Jones finishes shaking her head.
"Sargent, how did these alleged hits happen?" His lawyer asks.
"Typical with a single gunshot wound to the head. Right between the eyes." Ayanna said, knowing what his rebuttal would be.
"And how did Kathy Stabler die?"
"A car bomb."
"We'll that doesn't fit my clients MO, does it?"
"No." Ayanna sighed as Wheatley's lawyer grins.
"No further questions your honor." He says as he sits down already feeling victorious. Ayanna steps down from the stand and gives Elliot a look of regret. He just looks down and back up at Olivia. The next witness is a bomb specialist that discusses the use of the bomb and it's international ties. It is time for the first 10 minute recess after his never ending testimony. Elliot and Olivia leave the courtroom to stretch their legs, the kids stay behind in a daze.
"I think Eli should go with Carisi and Noah. Angela Wheatley's testimony is next and I just don't know if he can take it." Olivia is leaning against the wall as Elliot gets water from the machine.
"I saw his head on your shoulder." He grins at her.
"He cried before the first question was asked. So I wiped a tear away. He held my hand the entire time we were in the El."
"I know. You're what we need."
"Guys the 10 minutes are up." Maureen says coming out of the courtroom. They both nod and follow the eldest Stabler child into the courtroom.
"Who we need." Elliot says as they sit down. She looks at him, that look, the look.
"The people call Angela Wheatley to the stand." Jones says before the whole courtroom turns to look at the woman who beat death twice. She tries to hide it, the way she looks at Elliot, she's not good at it. Elliot stays looking at Olivia as the woman walks, slowing her pace when she makes it to the Stablers. Elliot turns to look at her. She stops, nods, and continues walking. Olivia shoots him a look, what was that? He just shrugs it off, but, as the all look forwards a video starts playing on the screen next to the stand. Elliot knows the video. He was there. On her terrace, kissing her. It felt as if the air in the room was taken. And all he could do is turn to Olivia and watch as she broke on the inside.