*A few weeks and a several dates later…*
Fin watched from his desk as his friend and captain worked, looking exhausted. She never stopped, his Olivia. Captain Benson. It really was fitting, and he knew he would stay by her side for as long as she was in that chair. Fighting for justice, for the victims, for anyone that needed her. So when she paused and looked at her phone and practically glowed, he smiled to himself. It really was good to see her happy, truly happy. He just hoped it would last. And if he was right, and it was Stabler making her smile? He'd kick the man's ass and no one would ever find the body if he ever hurt her again.
*Later that day...*
Sergeant Ayanna Bell couldn't get over the change in her new Detective. Where he had started as a moody, brooding quiet man, his demeanor had changed. Softened. More relaxed, always smiling at his phone as his fingers flew over the keys. He looked like an eager teenager trying to get the girl. She hoped he had, because her detective had as of late become more…whole. More at peace. She watched him as he smiled, his whole face lighting up at the incoming message. She glanced back down at her morning coffee, already lukewarm. If she hadn't been covertly watching him, she wouldn't have noticed when his face changed from pure delight to one of horror and disbelief. It was like he was suddenly broken in pieces, and he started to shake. Startled, and more than a little worried she ran over to his side, glancing at his phone to try and assess what had him in such a state. "Stabler?! Stabler what is it?! What's wrong? Breathe…in and out, there we go." She took his phone from his limp hand and looked through it. He had his texts open but she skipped that, not wanting to invade his privacy. He also had a news article open from todays news. It was some story on the worst serial predators in the last 10 years, but she didn't understand why it would have upset him so much. Skimming the article, she didn't recognize any names except…there was one about a man…an animal really who…oh no. She remembered this story well. It had her sick for days just hearing about it. The woman he had abducted was a cop, a captain now. Captain Benson…it was a name she's heard in reverence. In awe. In respect. She was both a hero and a victim, a warrior and a priest all in one. She had been at SVU for years, as long as she could remember, and…crap. SVU was Stabler's former precinct. He knew her. And he hadn't known about her attack and subsequent abduction, that much was clear by his face. Taking a deep breath she faced her detective, kneeling next to him on the floor. "Stabler…she's okay. Captain Benson…she's fierce and she's alive and she's breathing. I'm sure you're worried about your friend but she is okay now. She made it through hell." His eyes tracked her face wildly, only uttering one word. "Liv.", he breathed. Bell nodded. "I'm going to call her. But you need to come lay down. My office. She won't want to see you like this right?" Begrudgingly he got to his feet and shuffled to her office where she closed the blinds. "Lay down. I'll get her here. You two can talk." He did so wordlessly as she dialed. Across town, Liv turned white and walked quickly out of her office, on her way over. She had been planning to tell him herself but now it was time. She had to tell Elliot. And she prayed it wouldn't break him.