A week later Amanda looked up from the report she was reading as newly minted Lieutenant Ayanna Bell came in with Elliot following his phone in hand. Her and Elliot had met up a couple times throughout the week trying to get to know each other.
"Lieutenant " Olivia said with a smile as Elliot automatically stood by her side, some habits dying hard.
"Captain, our cases seemed to have collided." Ayanna said.
"Yes El said as much."
"I was thinking I'll loan you my sergeant for this case."
"I guess we could use the help." Olivia said with a smirk.
"Good he's your problem." Ayanna said with a laugh, handing Olivia the paperwork before she left. Elliot looked around and dropped his bag in the empty desk next to Amanda's.
"You okay?" Olivia asked leaning in close to him so only the two of them and Amanda could hear what they were saying they were mindful of the newest detective that McGrath had transferred in since Velasco hasn't done what he wanted.
"Yeah, just a little eerie." Elliot said Olivia squeezed his hand before she walked into her office.
"So newbie I'll give you the lay of the land." The new detective said, walking toward Elliot. The other detectives were trying to not crack up laughing.
"Son I was getting the lay of the land so to speak long before you were born. Who do you think gave this speech to your captain."
That afternoon Amanda looked up as she heard feet running into the bullpen. She smiled as she saw Jessie running in with Carisi not far behind.
"This is a surprise!" Amanda said hugging Jessie
Then standing to greet Sonny with a quick kiss.
"There's been a change in the Sanchez case and the school called when I was on my way here. She has a fever so they won't let her stay. When I checked it it's like half a point and she says she feels fine." Sonny said with a roll of his eyes as Olivia joined them. The four parents are familiar with the rules that the school system has.
"Why didn't they call me ?" Amanda asked not upset , just curious.
"They said your phone was off."
"Shit I'm sorry Sonny I forgot to turn it back on after interrogation." Amanda said she smiled as Jessie climbed in Elliot's lap. Both girls had been enjoying getting to know Elliot. Amanda smiled at the look on Olivia's face as she watched Elliot and Jessie. Amanda wondered not for the first time just how many kids Elliot and Olivia would have if he had come Home sooner.
"Miss Janeezz said that I gots to read my book" Jessie said as Elliot helped her free her book from her backpack.
"Ya know Noah has been reading this same one!" Elliot said as she opened the book he was so focused on Jessie that he didn't notice the way Olivia, Amanda and Sonny were looking at him or the confused expression on the new guy's face.
"Really?"
"Really, what part are you at?"
"Where bear gets his family." Jessie said as they opened the book. A few minutes later the new guy Sanchez walked over to where the 4 of them had been discussing the case while Jessie sit in Elliot's lap with earbuds in reading away.
"Jacobs you're with me." Olivia said motioning to Elliot.
"Okay little chicka I gotta go with aunt Liv you can be a sergeant for the day boss uncle Fin around." Elliot said, standing up and leaving Jessie at his desk. Elliot, Sanchez and Olivia made their way out to Olivia's SUV, she automatically handed her keys over to Elliot.
"Captain, where are we going shouldn't you have told us?" Sanchez asked.
"The captain doesn't have to tell you everything." Elliot said with a glare as they got in.
They drove for a while until Olivia's phone broke their silence.
"Benson…..I'm not sure buddy hang on he's right here." Olivia said, pulling her phone away and putting whoever it was on speaker phone.
"It's your son." Olivia said with a smile.
"Hey Noah!"
"Dad! Can Carlos and Jake come over? They want to play games with me and Eli but it has to be at your house!"
"Sure buddy but your sister will be your charphone and you will listen to her. Understood?"
"Yes sir." Noah said as they hung up.
"Thank you." He said quietly.
"Thank you for being his daddy," she said quietly as they kept driving.
"So Sanchez, where were you before SVU?" Elliot asked, trying to get a feel of this new detective. While SVU was no longer his unit he still felt attached to it and wanted to make sure there were good people backing Olivia up.
"I worked homicide and cold case before landing here. I guess no one wants to deal with the craziness.
"Let's get some things straight. Special Victims is one of the hardest but most rewarding units there is. You see these victims on their worst days but you also see them at what could be the strongest." Elliot said
"You got that from one day?" He asked, causing them to laugh.
"I was in the unit for 20 years, who do you think taught your captain here everything she knows." He said with a smirk.
"And now you're back?"
"I'm just on loan for right now." Elliot said.