Title: Next of Kin
Author: SVUFanatic611
Rating: PG
A/n: The next chapter after this one I think will be the last one in this story. So read and review!
Disclaimer: SVU and its associated characters are not mine.
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The night before the custody hearing, Olivia and Corrine stayed up the entire night eating, watching movies, talking, remembering Corrine's father and just being together. Although Alex had prepped them, both of them thought it could go either way and didn't want to lose their possibly last night together.
"Corrine, are you scared?" Olivia asked.
"A little, yeah."
"Of what?"
"Not being able to stay with you . When I left that first message on your machine about the will, I had no idea how this was going to work out, but now…I don't want to leave."
"I don't want you to leave either."
"Tell me the truth. Did you really want me to live with you when you first met me?"
"Yeah, I did. You reminded me of your father completely and I loved that."
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For everything. Thank you for taking me in, caring for me, even going to a parent meeting with my principal. Thank you for fighting to keep me. Just…thank you."
"Well…no problem."
Olivia and Corrine only got three hours of sleep that night and woke up early to go to breakfast. They were in the middle of eating when Elliot walked in.
"Elliot, what are you doing here?" Olivia asked, surprised that he came at all.
"Well, you did say once that a partner always knows where their partner eats. And I figured I'd come support you."
"You didn't have to do that."
"Yes, I did. You're my partner. Plus, Kathleen wanted to come for Corrine."
Corrine just stared at them while they talked. She couldn't get over the fact of how comfortable they were with each other. She couldn't help but think how perfect they were for each other.
The hearing began at 12:30 and they arrived at noon. As they walked into the courthouse, Corrine made eye contact with Anna and Joe. She couldn't believe what they had done. They betrayed her. They were so manipulative and distrusting. She didn't want anything to do with them. And she wasn't afraid to tell any judge that.
Olivia and Corrine walked into the courtroom. Olivia took her seat next to Alex at the defendant's table and Corrine sat behind her. Elliot and Kathleen took their seats next to Corrine. Olivia noticed this and was so pleased with the fact that they got along.
"All rise for the Honorable Jessica Marks." said the bailiff.
"Here we go." Corrine and Olivia thought simultaneously.
"Alright, Mr. and Mrs. Hendel, I believe you are suing Detective Olivia Benson for custody of Corrine Johnson. You believe she is in imminent danger in Detective Benson's care. Is that correct?"
"Yes, your Honor, it is." they said in unison.
"And Detective Benson, you are fighting to keep her. Is that correct?"
"Yes, it is." she stammered.
"Alright, Ms. Cabot, who are you calling to the stand?"
"We call Detective Olivia Benson."
Olivia had butterflies in her stomach. She knew that she had to tell the complete truth and if she did, she would be in good shape, but she was still scared.
"Detective Benson" Alex began "on March 1, 2004, you became the official guardian of Corrine Johnson, is that correct?"
"Yes, it is."
"Were you happy to have Corrine living with you?"
"Yes, I was. I knew her father for a long time and although I was a bit shocked when I found out that he wanted me to watch after her, I was happy to have her live with me."
"Detective, what happened on the afternoon of March 6, 2004?"
She tried to remember everything Alex had told her to say when she asked her this question. "Well, I had gone out that morning and when I came back, I found Corrine being held at gunpoint by two mob men. Corrine and I had fought with them, but Corrine ended getting shot in the leg."
"Do you know why two mob men would even consider coming to your apartment?"
"Corrine's father was murdered in California by what looked like the mob. I had decided to investigate due to lack of investigation by the detectives in California. They had found out and came to get revenge."
"So, this incident, was a result of your investigation of a case outside of sex crimes, not by investigating Special Victims' cases?"
"Your right. This incident had nothing to do with my job as a Special Victim's Unit detective."
"Last question, detective: Do you love Corrine and would you do anything to make sure that she was well taken care of?"
"Yes. Absolutely."
"Thank you, Detective. No more further questions."
Mr. Duncan, the Hendel's attorney, got up for his cross-examination. "Detective Benson, you just stated that the investigation you conducted on the mob was not directly linked to your job."
"Yes, I did."
"Now, Detective, the incident with the two men was a result of your investigation, correct?"
"Yes."
"But isn't your job to investigate sexually based crimes?"
"Yes."
"I'm confused. You stated that the incident happened because of your investigation. But it is not directly linked to your job. But, yet, your job is to investigate. Please elaborate, Detective Benson."
"Well, the investigation that was linked to the incident exclusively involved a homicide. I investigate sexually based crimes. And, I never had mob men waiting for me when I came home while investigating sexually based crimes."
"But, you can't predict the future. How can you be so sure that some deranged man you're investigating won't come to your home to threaten you?"
"I can't, but I can assure you that she will be well protected on the off-chance that that might happen."
"Who will protect her?"
"I will. I am a certified detective. I can protect myself as well as Corrine."
"But, last time, Detective Stabler saved you and Corrine. Not yourself."
"I didn't have my gun—
"No further questions your Honor."
Olivia couldn't believe how conniving he was. She felt like hurting him badly. He sat down, giving her a sinister smile.
Alex then spoke up. "Your Honor, we call Corrine Johnson."
"Detective Benson, thank you for your testimony. You are dismissed. Corrine Johnson, please come forward."
Corrine stood up and tried to prepare herself for Mr. Duncan's cross-examination. She wanted to punch him after what he had done to Olivia.
"Please state your full name for the record."
"Corrine Olivia Johnson."
"Corrine, when you first discovered that you had to live with Olivia, what were your thoughts?" Alex asked, sweetly.
"I was a little confused. I hadn't seen Olivia in a long time, but I was happy. She seemed really nice and we got along really well. She was everything my dad said she was – caring, loving, and friendly."
"Were your dad and Detective Benson friends?"
"Yes. He got along quite well with her and he told me that the biggest regret in his life was losing touch with her."
"Did your dad know that Olivia was a detective?"
"Yes, they were actually in the Academy together. He decided to become a prosecutor, but, yes, he knew."
"Yet, he still put her as next of kin?"
"Yes, he said that even though that there might be a slight chance of danger, she could protect me and he completely trusted her and her judgment."
"I noticed earlier when you stated your name for the record that your middle name was Olivia. Did your dad pick that name out?"
"Yes."
"Did he take that name from Detective Benson?"
"Yes. He said that part of my name should have the name of the person he cared the most about."
"So your father really wanted you to live with Detective Benson, despite the fact that she was a cop? I mean, he even picked out her name as your middle one."
"Yes, he did."
"One more question: do you like living with Detective Benson?"
"Yes, very much so."
"Thank you Corrine. No further questions."
Mr. Duncan stood up. "Corrine, when you got shot, did you ever, maybe even secretly, blame Detective Benson for what happened?"
"No, I never felt as if she was at fault."
"Who was at fault, then?"
"The two men. They broke into Olivia's apartment and tried to hurt us." Alex was so proud of Corrine. She answered with dignity, yet with tact.
"When you went into the hospital, how many times did Detective Benson visit you?"
"Everyday. She spent her days and nights with me until I fell asleep." Mr. Duncan was screwed. He had no more ammo. He had done well bringing down Olivia, but he couldn't' break this girl. But then, something came to him.
"Corrine, do you know why Ms. Benson was out that morning?"
She could lie and say no. To not even bring up the argument. But she couldn't commit perjury. "We had gotten into an argument the night before. I went out and didn't come back that morning. She was out looking for me."
"What was this argument about?"
"I had just found out that she was investigating the mob. I didn't want her to. I got mad and walked out."
"Did she stop investigating?"
"Well, considering that the incident happened the next morning, I don't think she had much time to actually stop, but when I came home I noticed the case folders in the trash. That kind of said something."
Mr. Duncan was screwed. He decided to just give up. "Alright, thank you Corrine. No further questions."
Joe and Anna were brought up to the stand and gave crazy stories of how Walter never really wanted Corrine to live with Olivia. But, the judge didn't seem to buy it. Every one who needed to be called up was called up and everyone was seated, waiting for the judge's next move.
The judged looked directly at Corrine. "Ms. Johnson, before I begin to make a decision, would you like to say anything? Seeing, this is actually your custody hearing."
Corrine shook her head and stood up. All of her fears and worries were gone because what she was about to say was the truth and telling the truth never hurt her. "Your Honor, Detective Benson played a large role in my father's life. In the time that I have lived with her, she has proved to be caring, compassionate, and very accepting. I never got to know her like my father did. And if you make me live with Anna and Joe, I never will. Please don't take that opportunity away from me. I beg you. Although I have known Anna and Joe longer, they have acted very manipulative and conniving and I can't trust them now. And I can't live with people who I don't trust. I want to live with Olivia. She's not putting me in danger. If anything, she's protecting me." Corrine sat down and Elliot put her arm around her trying to dissuade her from crying. It was too late for Olivia. She started crying almost as soon as Corrine started speaking.
"Alright, thank you for your input, Ms. Johnson. I will be in my chambers and I will rule today at 4:00pm. Until then, all are dismissed." the judge banged her gavel and made her way to chambers. Whatever happened happened. No turning back now.