***********
He arrived at Olivia's apartment and buzzed her on the intercomm at 8:30. Her voice came through with a bleary, "Who is it?"
"It's me. Elliot," he clarified.
"Jesus," she said, buzzing him up. When he got to the door and knocked, she called out for him to wait a second. She opened the door minutes later, still in her pyjamas. Her eyes were full and her pupils were dilated from the dark apartment. Her skin was slightly pale and she looked generally awful. She ushered him in and he sat at her desk while she had a shower and got dressed. She came out and pulled up a chair across from him.
"So," he began, "Where do we start?"
"I suppose we could take a look in the classifieds," she said. He didn't get it.
"Huh?"
"Help Wanted, experience in law enforcement required, no ethics necessary...." Elliot was surprised.
"You really think we'll get the boot?"
"It's my third major investigation by I.A.B., your second investigation as far as I know. What am I supposed to think?" He wanted to shake her. She wasn't supposed to be discouraged, it was unlike her. They'd get through this. They had to.
"We didn't do anything wrong. Now, we just have to prove it," he said finally.
"Okay," she exhaled, "Then let's start with who else had that information. You, me, maybe a nurse or an officer at the scene heard the story.".
"Let's go down to the paper. Maybe we can scare them into giving up a source," he said.
"You don't think journalists know their rights?," she said incredulously.
"We're not on police business," he said, knowing it probably didn't make a difference.
"Worth a try, I guess."
**********
"You must think I'm some kind of idiot," exclaimed Peter McCauley, the internet editor of The Post.
"Why is that?" Elliot asked, leaning back in the guest chair of McCauley's office as if he had all the time in the world to listen to the explanation.
"I don't have to divulge my sources. Priveledge of the Fourth Estate. And you should really keep up with your friends. I might have enough for an article of the inefficiencies of the NYPD."
"What do you mean?" Elliot inquired.
"Two guys were here from IAB this morning. I told them who the source was, but that's 'cause they had a subpoena and they assured me it was only for inter-departmental affairs," McCauley insisted.
"Mr. McCauley, do you know we can charge you with obstruction?" Olivia lied through her teeth.
"You won't get me on that, Detective......what did you say your name was?"
"Olivia Benson," she stated. He stared at her.
"Can I see I.D?" He asked. She handed him her driver's liscense in absence of her badge, shaking her head at his tactics for stalling. "Yes, I told them it was you," he said, handing back the card.
"What do you mean?" Olivia asked.
"And I want to thank you for standing up for freedom of the press. I don't believe the NYPD should be able to cover its tracks whenever it wants." Elliot held up a hand.
"What are you saying?" Peter McCauley glanced at Elliot, then turned back to Olivia.
"You were my source, but you sounded way different on the phone."
***********
She couldn't understand it. She had never talked to McCauley in her life. Her head was swimming in confusion. She felt a hand on her shoulder pulling her back and she gasped.
"Damnit, Olivia! You nearly walked right into traffic," Elliot said, not letting her go. She looked down and realized her foot was on the very edge of the curb. He turned her to face him.
"I didn't do it," she said, shaking. He wrapped his arms around her instinctively.
"I know. I'm on your side," he said. She hugged him back, closing her eyes. After a minute, she pulled away and forced a smile.
"I'm okay," she lied. He nodded.
"Low blood sugar, probably. Let's go for lunch."
*********
The union representative called Elliot while he was in the car, picking up some things from his home to drop off at the precinct. Olivia had gone to the gym to de-stress but was supposed to meet him later again. The Rep introduced him.
"Murray Coell. I've been apprised of your case," he began.
"Yes? What do you think?"
"I'd like to meet with you later to discuss it. How's seven o'clock?" He said.
"Well, I'm meeting Olivia at seven, so I know she's free," he said. There was a long pause.
"Olivia Benson?" Another pause. "I'm not representing her, and I would advise that you avoid contact with her until this is sorted out."
"What?!"
"Detective Benson's ship is sinking. You know, they've connected her with the leaks definitely. All that's left is for them to prove that she called the paper on her phone," Murray Coell explained. Elliot grew defensive.
"They won't find that. She didn't leak it. And as far as not contacting her, I won't do it," he insisted.
"With all due respect, Elliot, either you jump into a lifeboat now, or you're headed up the creek without a paddle," Coell explained.
"Hmm. Well I'll see you at seven at my precinct. Looks like I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place." He hung up angrily.
Kathy was waiting for him.
"Hi, Sweetie," she greeted. He kissed her dutifully on the ckeek and her smile faded.
"I'm just picking up some folders to bring back to the office," he said.
"Oh, so when will you be back?"
"I'm meeting with my union rep at seven, then I'm meeting Olivia again. Maybe I'll just stay in the city tonight." She nodded cursorily. He didn't speak to her further as he got the files. He only waved goodbye as he pulled out of the driveway.
Kathy thought about it for a while after he left. She eventually decided that Olivia was a bigger threat to their relationship than his job. She was sure she could tolerate his being away all day if she knew he wasn't away all day with her.
********
"Olivia? It's me," he began.
"Oh. Hi."
"Listen, can we meet later? I have to meet with my union rep at seven. I can come over as soon as I'm done."
"Sure. Do you know why we have different union reps?" It was a loaded question, and he didn't know how to answer it.
"No idea." She didn't say anything. "I'm not going to hop a lifeboat," he added.
"Huh?"
"Nothing. See you later."
*********
She brought her files in to the precinct at seven, since Elliot was busy. She hadn't realized he'd be there with his union rep, but when she glanced to the interview room, she saw them. Elliot's back was to her, but Coell gave her a glare that startled her. She turned to Munch and Fin and tried to avoid the sight of her empty desk. They tried to distract her by pretending nothing was wrong.
"We had this girl in here today. Remember Lynne Stevens?" Munch said.
"Wow. Yeah. What brings her back?" Olivia asked, eyes straying back to the interview room.
"She was raped. Again," Fin stated.
"I thought we arrested her boyfriend and he got ten to twenty-five."
"Different perp," Fin explained.
"What are the chances?" She mused. Suddenly she felt like crying. She wanted to find out what the chances were, to catch this new perp. She had spent her whole life learning to be a cop. Munch saw her face and added, "She was upset that you weren't here. When you come back, you can have the case."
"You'll probably solve it before that happens," she forced out.
"You didn't do anything. I don't care what they dig up, there's gotta be an explanation," Fin reassured. She smiled weakly.
"Thanks, guys."
"We're done for tonight. Want to go get a drink?" Munch offered.
"Sure, but I'm supposed to meet Elliot," she said.
"We'll wait for him," Fin said. So they sat down and chatted about trivial matters, Olivia with her back to the interview room.
**********
Murray Coell laid it all out for Elliot. Chances were, they wouldn't put him back on the job until they could prove that he wasn't involved, but it was looking like Olivia had done it without his help.
"They found it, you know," Coell said.
"They found what?" Elliot asked.
"They pulled her phone logs. She's been calling the press a few times a week," he stated, somewhat happily.
"No, that means someone has been calling the press from her phone," Elliot insisted. It looked pretty bad, though.
"That's up to her representative to prove. Did you know they're looking at a criminal charge?" Coell said off-handedly.
"For what? Negligence?" Elliot asked, apprehensive.
"Manslaughter."
Elliot stood up from the table, stating "We're done here."
"Sit down," Coell demanded.
"No. I intend to request a different representative," Elliot informed.
"Good luck." He opened the door of the interview room and stormed past the other detectives. Elliot followed, rubbing his eyes. He saw came up behind Olivia and put his hands on her shoulders. Munch raised his eyebrows.
"Hey," she said.
"Hey. I didn't know you were here."
"Yeah. We're going out for a drink. Wanna come?" She broached.
"Sure."
***********