Sophia called 911 first, out of instinct, but just as quickly, she called Olivia, too, and within fifteen minutes, the area was beset with paramedics, the police officers who had been on duty in that area of the park, and of course, Olivia's people.

"Mom," Sophia said to Olivia, after she'd given her statement to a uniformed officer. "I don't understand—who is that?"

"Her name is Elizabeth, and I've known her since she was only six. She's one of Elliot's kids, and she has a twin brother named Richard." explained Olivia. "One of the reasons Kathleen came to see me is she said that Elizabeth was last seen in the area was where Gunner was last seen."

"My world is getting smaller by the hour." Sophia shivered. "I should call Kathleen."

"I will, so don't you worry. I'm also going to ride with Elizabeth to the hospital."

"What about going home?"

"We still will, but we're just going to be waylaid for an hour, or so. You already gave your statement, right?"

"Uh-huh."

"Good girl."

Olivia flagged Amanda down as she walked past them.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" she asked.

"Please take Sophia to an ambulance and then bring her to the hospital. I have a feeling that we won't be there long, and we're going home soon, so I want her near me."

"Okay. I'll take it from here." Amanda told her. "Go be with Elizabeth."

Olivia thanked her and hurried off.

Turning to Amanda, Sophia said, "Why do I need to go to the ambulance? Olivia already deduced that I'm not in any kind of shock."

Amanda pointed Sophia's hands. "You've got Elizabeth's blood on you—just to help things along, we're going to also make sure they collect a blood sample."

Sophia glanced at the blood and then quickly away again. "Ugh."

Amanda steered her friend in the direction of the nearest ambulance. "Does blood make you squeamish?"

"It didn't until I had Melissa…"

"I know the name of that tune—a lot of my own personal quirks changed after I had Jesse." Amanda patted Sophia on the shoulder. "Come on, I've got you."


MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL

INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

365 WEST 32nd STREET

MANHATTAN


In a very strong sense of déja vù, Olivia was back at the ICU in the hospital, but this time at the bedside of Elizabeth Stabler. According to the doctor, so swollen was Elizabeth's leg, they were going to have to keep her overnight to fully assess the damage. She was being kept on powerful knockout drugs because while she had been awake, she had been sobbing in pain. Letting her sleep was doing her a favor.

Olivia had called Kathleen, and unsurprisingly, she changed lanes immediately, and was on her way with Maureen, Richard, Eli, DJ, Jaxon, and little Olivia. Out in the hallway, the rest of the squad and Sophia were camped out, waiting for them. Olivia also had no choice but to call Captain Danforth from the Queens Narcotics Unit by this point, and after a very colorful discussion about turf and jurisdiction that Olivia had won with patience, a firmer tone, and rank, the captain decided to come check things out for herself. She also agreed to send for Elliot and Yardley.

"Lieutenant?"

"Hm?"

Olivia looked up from watching Elizabeth sleep to see that, as loyal as ever, Amanda was the one in the doorway.

"The Stabler children and company are here."

"Thanks."

Olivia stood and didn't have to go far into the hallway to see them.

Richard spoke first, cutting straight to the chase. "Olivia, how is Elizabeth?"

"Roughed up, and she has a broken leg."

"Why isn't she awake?"

"The pain is too hard for her to take, otherwise."

Maureen stepped in quickly, noticing that Richard was about to lose his cool. "How long does Elizabeth have to be here?"

"Until the swelling goes down, but that could be any time between late tonight and some time tomorrow morning."

"Who found her?"

My daughter, Sophia."

Olivia motioned in her daughter's direction, but then got distracted by a sight at the end of the hallway: coming towards them was a tall, beautiful Asian woman dressed in a black party dress, whom Olivia deduced to be Yardley Chung. Walking beside her, dressed in a very dapper tuxedo, was Elliot.

The younger Stablers immediately scattered.

Fin, meanwhile, muttered, "Oh, no…" before holding Amanda and Carisi back, telling them to trust him.

Yardley spoke first, although to Elliot. "You never said that your old partner was Olivia Benson."

The woman in question arched an eyebrow. "So I have a reputation that proceeds me, do I, Yardley?"

Startled that Olivia knew her name, Yardley just nodded.

As Olivia surveyed the younger woman, she noticed that she was young yet, and that she was visibly pregnant.

"Y-yes, you do," Yardley finally answered. "And so does Elliot, but I'm sure you know full well of that."

"Then I'm sure you also know that he and I have tempers that just about cancel each other out."

Yardley nodded and immediately moved to the side. "I am not about to get in the way of those."

"Good idea. Now if you'll excuse us…"

Without another word, Olivia seized Elliot by the wrist and dragged him by the wrist to an empty room across the hallway and closed the door behind them.

"Elizabeth was hurt, but we don't know if she was raped. At the moment, she's on knockout drugs because her leg is broken and she's beyond miserable when she's awake." Olivia said quickly. "You can take the rest up with her doctor, but what the hell, Elliot?"

"What the hell, what, Olivia?

She gave him a shove in the chest. "You! Leaving without telling me goodbye after the Anette Fox case, and after what Jenna did to Sister Peg and those other people!"

"It had all become too much, and I burned out in a way that even you never saw before."

"So bad that you couldn't even answer me when I called?"

"Once I realized how wrong it was to do that to you, I began feeling ashamed of myself and I couldn't face it or you. I'm sorry."

"I called you often for over six months, and yes, Elliot, I know about your marriage ending! I also know about Diane, and that you don't even live at the house in Queens anymore!"

Elliot was taken aback. "How did you know?"

"Kathleen talks!"

Elliot sighed. "She shouldn't have told you."

"She came to me because she needed help looking for Elizabeth, who, as I understand it, has a history of running off! Kathleen came to me because she was desperate and scared!" Olivia cried. "I've known her since she was ten, so it's not like I was going to tell her to go away!"

"I could have handled this, myself."

"Yeah, right. Kathleen already knew that your captain wasn't going to be much help because she isn't fond of Elizabeth, and because she knew that you were undercover with Yardley. I'm very sorry that Elizabeth was hurt, but at least in Manhattan, or somewhere else."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because we suspect that the person who hurt her in the perp in the case we have open right now, but that's all I can say until I have a chat with your captain."

Elliot looked at his old partner with scrutiny, trying to figure something out. "Were you promoted?"

"Yes, and twice: Cragen and Munch retired, so that helped moved me up to lieutenant! You would know if you would have picked up your damn phone!" Olivia shoved Elliot again. "But no! You stayed away while I picked up the pieces by myself and had to train a new partner! He's gone, too, but at least he had the decency to let know and to say goodbye!"

"What the hell happened to you that made you so bitter?"

"You really do live under a rock, don't you?" she said in disbelief. "Besides dealing with feelings of abandonment, there was the Delia Wilson scandal right after, and it almost brought us down. Then there was me getting abducted and tortured by a madman. He tortured me by getting me drunk, beating me, and then burning me, Elliot, and by the time he was done, I couldn't leave that damn house without assistance. I beat him silly with a bed rod, but he didn't even die until another showdown when he actually came back looking for me so he could finish what he started."

Even after all the history between Elliot and Olivia, he had never seen her so mad before. But he knew better than to interrupt her, so he let her keep going.

"Elliot, I became so traumatized that my PTSD physically manifested in a way that was completely different than after what had happened at Sealview—this time around, I ended up cutting my hair short because it felt like it was the only thing I had any control over, and my hair was pretty long, too. I also went to therapy for a long time."

"Olivia, there is nothing wrong with therapy."

"This from the guy who always dragged his heels through the mud about it." she said sardonically. "At least… at at least I found my saving grace."

"In what?" he asked, secretly breathing a sigh of relief when she softened up.

"The story is long and complicated, but two years ago, I met this little guy when he was a baby, and now I'm his mama."

Olivia showed Elliot a picture on her phone.

"This is my boy, Noah James. He's two, and he's a sweetheart."

"He's beautiful." Elliot complimented.

Olivia smiled briefly as she pocketed her phone. "Thanks, Elliot… and I'm sorry for freaking out and shoving you."

"Don't be sorry, Olivia. I would've been freaked out if you'd taken this calmly."

"You showing up has opened up some old wounds, but maybe after we finish this case, we can go out for a drink?"

Elliot nodded. "That sounds good to me. Any other updates in Olivialand you want to share?"

"Oh, so many. Alex and Casey are both back, and for good… and Alex and I are newly together."

"Good for you, Olivia. I always thought you two would end up together."

Unable to stop herself, Olivia blushed. "Really?"

Elliot nodded. "Really. I'm glad that you and Alex are getting your happy ending."

"Thanks." Olivia said honestly. "I have to ask: are you and Yardley…?"

"No, not at all—I'm done with relationships after how badly Kathy burned me. Yardley is also married, moving to Washington State soon, and she's twenty-three."

"Oh." Olivia laughed nervously.

"Plus, Yardley is gay."

"Well, alright, then."

Elliot smiled. "One last question: who found Elizabeth?"

Olivia gave another nervous laugh. "My daughter, Sophia."

"Since when do you have another kid? Why didn't you ever say anything?"

"Because by the time I was in a good place to tell you about the baby I'd given up for adoption, I found out that I wasn't able to have kids anymore."

"I'm sorry. Was it the frozen embryo case?"

"Yeah. I only ever told Alex, and that was because I was drunk and feeling sad. Casey knows about her now, and so does the rest of the squad."

"I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Sophia is connected to the case, but you can't share the particulars yet because you outrank me now?"

"Yes. Are you mad I never said anything about her?"

"No." he said honestly. "It was your secret to keep or share, and there's always been a bond between you and Alex that I know I'll never be able to touch. If you only wanted to tell Alex, then that's your has your daughter been this whole time?"

"Living her own life: she's twenty-five now, and she is a mother. Yesterday, she turned up out of the blue, looking for Alex and Casey, and after a lone morning, I was brought to her, and we reunited."

"Is she here?"

Olivia nodded and pointed out the room window, to the row of chairs directly opposite them. "She's there, next to Fin. She met Kathleen earlier, and now they're friends."

"I'm glad." Olivia glanced at Sophia and then did a double take. "She's your clone."

"She already unintentionally spooked Fin, Rollins, and Carisi when they saw the strong resemblance between us."

Elliot laughed and then said, "Are we good, or at least as good as we can be?"

"Yes." she decided.

"Good, and I really am sorry, Olivia."

"Thank you, Elliot. I appreciate that."

"I—oh, no…"

"What?"

Elliot had suddenly noticed that at the same time Sophia had chosen to get up and walk away, presumably to stretch her legs, his children and grandchildren had scattered, prompted by the arrival of a new person.

"Captain Danforth is here." Elliot groaned. "Let's go, but please play nice."

Olivia put her game face on. "I'll do my best."