Author's note: I see after all the responses that I should have put this
before the first chapter. I know Olivia's mother is dead and she never knew
her father, but this story is a slight AU. I wanted to write an angle on if
she did know her father and her mother was still alive. Sorry, I'll know to
put this first the next time. Thanks for the constructive criticism. It may
not look like I have listened to it at times but I have. It will definitely
help me in future stories. My editor is grinding her teeth, as my dialogue
is one of her pet peeves, lol.
99
The silence was deafening. You could hear a pin drop. Cragen was horrified that one of his best detectives could even know such a pitiful human being. Casey's confidence of the case was deflated in seconds. Tutuola and Munch were perplexed. Stabler was hit the hardest. He's worked with her for years and they have no secrets between each other. Why wouldn't she mention this one, important detail from her life?
Everyone looked at each other and waited for the next move. Jacob knew he had the upper hand and he was going to push it. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get Olivia! We have a lot to talk about." His evil smiled radiated throughout the whole room.
Stabler burst through the door. "How do you know Detective Benson?"
Jacob checked his fingernails for dirt and took his time answering. "We have something in common. I want to bring it to her attention since I'm in a bind."
Stabler's face was getting more red by the minute. "What do you have in common? Tell me!" he demanded furiously. He lunged towards him and Tutuola pulled him back.
Jacob backed up looking scared. "You need to calm down. You wouldn't want me to get hurt in your custody. I'd have to tell Olivia and have something done about it. You should do something about that temper."
He had everyone right where he wanted them. He controlled their every move. "Hurry, now. Get Olivia. We have lots to reminisce about."
Casey did as she was told and left Jacob to gloat about the recent turn of events. She met the others in the room and she was livid. "It would have been nice to have a heads up on this little factor," Casey muttered.
"Believe me! I had no idea she knew this scum," Cragen replied.
Tutuola scratched his chin. "It makes no sense. She knew who we were after and yet she said nothing. Why wouldn't give us a clue?"
"Maybe she doesn't know him," Munch said pensively. "Maybe he's heard her name in passing and is using her against us to buy him some time."
Tutuola was still bemused. "It doesn't add up," he sighed stubbornly.
They all stared at Cragen for the next move but he was at a loss for words. He had no idea about the next move now and Jacob knew it. He was slowly slipping through their hands and taking Olivia with him.
"I guess we have to bring her in to talk to him," Cragen grumbled.
Casey shook her head disgustingly. "I said yes, but had I known..."
Stabler broke her off in mid sentence. "I'll go get her," he fumed. "One way or another, I will find out the truth."
He grabbed his keys off of the table and headed for the door. He slammed it shut behind him so hard, it shook the walls.
"This could get ugly," Casey noted.
99
Stabler drove as fast as he could. He didn't care he was going way over the speed limit. He has questions and he demands that they be answered. The thought that Olivia knows this guy made his blood boil. How could she put them in a situation like this? She should have told him—her partner. He was beginning to wonder if he knew her at all.
He arrived at her home and sat in his car for a few seconds to cool off. He hasn't been this mad in a long time. He especially doesn't like being this furious at Benson. They were a team. They have always been there for each other. These things happen to other people, not them. They sheltered each other from the atrocities that they have witnessed. His nerves felt like the exposed ends of an electric wire—frayed and torn.
He pushed the unsettling thoughts aside and got out of his car. The sidewalk seemed endless. He hesitated at the door. He rapped lightly on the door. Part of him was hoping she wasn't home. He wouldn't have to find out the truth. He didn't want to know the truth. He wanted to run and not look back. He wanted to leave things as they were. Yet, he had to know the truth. He wouldn't be satisfied until he did.
Olivia opened the door and smiled warmly. "Hello, Elliot. What brings you here?"
"I have to talk to you," Stabler murmured.
"Come in. I have some stew simmering in a pot if you want some," she responded.
"No, thanks. We have to talk." His stomach was in knots. He could barely breathe.
"OK, but it's the best I've made." She didn't detect the coldness in his voice. "I'm so glad Cragen gave me this time off to clear the cobwebs so I could handle this case. I went to visit my mom. I needed to do that. I feel so much better but I didn't tell her all the details..."
"You haven't told me all the details," he said accusingly.
She was going to speak but he continued. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have handled it. Everyone was shocked when they found out. They felt betrayed—hurt. We have been so sympathetic to you when the whole time you knew...you just don't hide something like this!" he screeched.
"What am I supposed to know?" Olivia queried. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't act stupid. You let us go on these chases like fools! You knew your father was innocent but you kept your mouth shut. How could you do this to us—to me? We've done everything to protect you. Who are you protecting?" he shouted.
"Before you accuse me of something, you better have your facts straight!" Olivia fumed. "I had no idea my father was innocent. You observed how upset I was. Do you honestly think I could fake that? I haven't deceived anyone. I'm in the dark about this whole matter also."
Stabler wasn't convinced. "How do you know him? Did you date him? Just tell me the truth. Don't insult my intelligence."
"Until you can tell me what you are talking about, you had better leave before we both say things we don't mean. I've had it with the accusations," Olivia snapped spitefully.
She opened the door for him to leave and he slammed it shut. "You're not going to tell me, are you? Do you think this is a joke? I bet the two of you are having a big laugh at our expense," he snarled.
Olivia pleaded, "Elliot, what is going on? Please tell me!"
He recoiled as she reached out to touch him. It felt like a slap in the face to her. "Don't touch me, Olivia. I can't look at you right now. I didn't know you could be this cruel."
"Why are you saying these things to me?" she inquired, sounding hurt. "Why are you saying these things to me? What have I done? Don't I deserve to know?"
Tears started to pour out her eyes. He could never stand to see her cry ad he felt even more ashamed that he caused it. "I'm begging you, Olivia. Tell me how you know him. They are going to find out and you will be in even more trouble."
"Know who?? Who am I supposed to know? You come here and insult me and get me upset and you won't tell me why? I'm not the cruel one here—you are! Maybe you are the stranger. Maybe I don't know you after all these years!" she blasted.
"You have to come down to the station and talk to someone. You can carry on your little scheme—or whatever it is there. I can't make you tell me. I thought you trusted me more than that but I guess not. Cragen is waiting for you," he said, finally defeated.
Olivia felt like she was falling and couldn't stop. She could feel herself slipping away from him. Her mind was in a blur. She needed answers as much as he did. She grasped his arm. "Please let me in on what I'm walking into. I know you don't believe me but I don't want to be blindsided again," she implored desperately.
Stabler responded, "Jacob Taylor took the plea, but he wanted to talk to someone first," he paused painfully. "He wants to talk to you."
Olivia gasped, "Why me?"
"He says he knows you. He says you have some things in common," he muttered.
Olivia put her hand on the wall to balance herself. "I don't know this man. I don't know who he is."
"Olivia, he said your name like you were old buddies. He never hesitated. Just how close were you?" he asked.
"Do you honestly think I would have dated a murder suspect in the past and not tell you?" She waited for a response. "Well?"
"You did take time off which you never do. You wouldn't have to face him if you weren't working on the case. I guess that depends on how close you were," Stabler said harshly making a point to look right at her this time.
"What you are telling me is that you can believe a rapist and possible killer, but not me? You are some friend, Elliot."
"You are the one holding out, Olivia. You are the one who is turning your back. I came here alone to get the truth," he pointed out.
She moved so close to him that he could feel her breath on his face. "Do you honestly think I could associate, even sleep, with a known rapist? Have you forgotten how I arrived in this world? Do you really think I could do that to my mother?" she asked revolted at such a thought.
"You might have dated him at one time and didn't know he was like that. Now, it's coming back to haunt you. I could understand your shame and embarrassment," he urged.
"Fine, since you don't believe me, I'll go down there and talk to this man." She gave him an icy stare. "I guess for me it's, 'Guilty until proven innocent."
He opened his mouth to say something, but she wanted nothing to do with him. "You've done some shady things in your life and I never condemned you for them. I always stood by you—no questions asked. I never judged you because I know what it's like to be chained to a desk, never seeing the outside world. I've overlooked several discrepancies you've committed in the last few years." She paused. "I guess the same doesn't apply to me. I'm automatically a liar. I'm harboring some deep, dark secret. You can't believe in me. I'm not deserving of it."
Stabler lowered his head in shame. She has helped him get out of tight spots. She has kept her mouth shut sever times and this is how he repays her? Suddenly, he didn't feel worthy of her friendship.
She talked in an unyielding voice. "Let's go to the station so I can get an angle on this guy and prove my innocence." She gazed coldly at him. "When I do prove my innocence, I don't want anything more to do with you. We work together. That is it. I'll always be a professional because it's my job and duty. But as far as our friendship is concerned, we are finished. You bailed on me when I really needed you. If you don't know me by now, you never will."
She walked out the door leaving him a broken man. He could do nothing but follow her. He lost a great deal that day and it had nothing to do with the case. He lost his best friend.
99
The silence was deafening. You could hear a pin drop. Cragen was horrified that one of his best detectives could even know such a pitiful human being. Casey's confidence of the case was deflated in seconds. Tutuola and Munch were perplexed. Stabler was hit the hardest. He's worked with her for years and they have no secrets between each other. Why wouldn't she mention this one, important detail from her life?
Everyone looked at each other and waited for the next move. Jacob knew he had the upper hand and he was going to push it. "Well, what are you waiting for? Get Olivia! We have a lot to talk about." His evil smiled radiated throughout the whole room.
Stabler burst through the door. "How do you know Detective Benson?"
Jacob checked his fingernails for dirt and took his time answering. "We have something in common. I want to bring it to her attention since I'm in a bind."
Stabler's face was getting more red by the minute. "What do you have in common? Tell me!" he demanded furiously. He lunged towards him and Tutuola pulled him back.
Jacob backed up looking scared. "You need to calm down. You wouldn't want me to get hurt in your custody. I'd have to tell Olivia and have something done about it. You should do something about that temper."
He had everyone right where he wanted them. He controlled their every move. "Hurry, now. Get Olivia. We have lots to reminisce about."
Casey did as she was told and left Jacob to gloat about the recent turn of events. She met the others in the room and she was livid. "It would have been nice to have a heads up on this little factor," Casey muttered.
"Believe me! I had no idea she knew this scum," Cragen replied.
Tutuola scratched his chin. "It makes no sense. She knew who we were after and yet she said nothing. Why wouldn't give us a clue?"
"Maybe she doesn't know him," Munch said pensively. "Maybe he's heard her name in passing and is using her against us to buy him some time."
Tutuola was still bemused. "It doesn't add up," he sighed stubbornly.
They all stared at Cragen for the next move but he was at a loss for words. He had no idea about the next move now and Jacob knew it. He was slowly slipping through their hands and taking Olivia with him.
"I guess we have to bring her in to talk to him," Cragen grumbled.
Casey shook her head disgustingly. "I said yes, but had I known..."
Stabler broke her off in mid sentence. "I'll go get her," he fumed. "One way or another, I will find out the truth."
He grabbed his keys off of the table and headed for the door. He slammed it shut behind him so hard, it shook the walls.
"This could get ugly," Casey noted.
99
Stabler drove as fast as he could. He didn't care he was going way over the speed limit. He has questions and he demands that they be answered. The thought that Olivia knows this guy made his blood boil. How could she put them in a situation like this? She should have told him—her partner. He was beginning to wonder if he knew her at all.
He arrived at her home and sat in his car for a few seconds to cool off. He hasn't been this mad in a long time. He especially doesn't like being this furious at Benson. They were a team. They have always been there for each other. These things happen to other people, not them. They sheltered each other from the atrocities that they have witnessed. His nerves felt like the exposed ends of an electric wire—frayed and torn.
He pushed the unsettling thoughts aside and got out of his car. The sidewalk seemed endless. He hesitated at the door. He rapped lightly on the door. Part of him was hoping she wasn't home. He wouldn't have to find out the truth. He didn't want to know the truth. He wanted to run and not look back. He wanted to leave things as they were. Yet, he had to know the truth. He wouldn't be satisfied until he did.
Olivia opened the door and smiled warmly. "Hello, Elliot. What brings you here?"
"I have to talk to you," Stabler murmured.
"Come in. I have some stew simmering in a pot if you want some," she responded.
"No, thanks. We have to talk." His stomach was in knots. He could barely breathe.
"OK, but it's the best I've made." She didn't detect the coldness in his voice. "I'm so glad Cragen gave me this time off to clear the cobwebs so I could handle this case. I went to visit my mom. I needed to do that. I feel so much better but I didn't tell her all the details..."
"You haven't told me all the details," he said accusingly.
She was going to speak but he continued. "Why didn't you tell me? I could have handled it. Everyone was shocked when they found out. They felt betrayed—hurt. We have been so sympathetic to you when the whole time you knew...you just don't hide something like this!" he screeched.
"What am I supposed to know?" Olivia queried. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't act stupid. You let us go on these chases like fools! You knew your father was innocent but you kept your mouth shut. How could you do this to us—to me? We've done everything to protect you. Who are you protecting?" he shouted.
"Before you accuse me of something, you better have your facts straight!" Olivia fumed. "I had no idea my father was innocent. You observed how upset I was. Do you honestly think I could fake that? I haven't deceived anyone. I'm in the dark about this whole matter also."
Stabler wasn't convinced. "How do you know him? Did you date him? Just tell me the truth. Don't insult my intelligence."
"Until you can tell me what you are talking about, you had better leave before we both say things we don't mean. I've had it with the accusations," Olivia snapped spitefully.
She opened the door for him to leave and he slammed it shut. "You're not going to tell me, are you? Do you think this is a joke? I bet the two of you are having a big laugh at our expense," he snarled.
Olivia pleaded, "Elliot, what is going on? Please tell me!"
He recoiled as she reached out to touch him. It felt like a slap in the face to her. "Don't touch me, Olivia. I can't look at you right now. I didn't know you could be this cruel."
"Why are you saying these things to me?" she inquired, sounding hurt. "Why are you saying these things to me? What have I done? Don't I deserve to know?"
Tears started to pour out her eyes. He could never stand to see her cry ad he felt even more ashamed that he caused it. "I'm begging you, Olivia. Tell me how you know him. They are going to find out and you will be in even more trouble."
"Know who?? Who am I supposed to know? You come here and insult me and get me upset and you won't tell me why? I'm not the cruel one here—you are! Maybe you are the stranger. Maybe I don't know you after all these years!" she blasted.
"You have to come down to the station and talk to someone. You can carry on your little scheme—or whatever it is there. I can't make you tell me. I thought you trusted me more than that but I guess not. Cragen is waiting for you," he said, finally defeated.
Olivia felt like she was falling and couldn't stop. She could feel herself slipping away from him. Her mind was in a blur. She needed answers as much as he did. She grasped his arm. "Please let me in on what I'm walking into. I know you don't believe me but I don't want to be blindsided again," she implored desperately.
Stabler responded, "Jacob Taylor took the plea, but he wanted to talk to someone first," he paused painfully. "He wants to talk to you."
Olivia gasped, "Why me?"
"He says he knows you. He says you have some things in common," he muttered.
Olivia put her hand on the wall to balance herself. "I don't know this man. I don't know who he is."
"Olivia, he said your name like you were old buddies. He never hesitated. Just how close were you?" he asked.
"Do you honestly think I would have dated a murder suspect in the past and not tell you?" She waited for a response. "Well?"
"You did take time off which you never do. You wouldn't have to face him if you weren't working on the case. I guess that depends on how close you were," Stabler said harshly making a point to look right at her this time.
"What you are telling me is that you can believe a rapist and possible killer, but not me? You are some friend, Elliot."
"You are the one holding out, Olivia. You are the one who is turning your back. I came here alone to get the truth," he pointed out.
She moved so close to him that he could feel her breath on his face. "Do you honestly think I could associate, even sleep, with a known rapist? Have you forgotten how I arrived in this world? Do you really think I could do that to my mother?" she asked revolted at such a thought.
"You might have dated him at one time and didn't know he was like that. Now, it's coming back to haunt you. I could understand your shame and embarrassment," he urged.
"Fine, since you don't believe me, I'll go down there and talk to this man." She gave him an icy stare. "I guess for me it's, 'Guilty until proven innocent."
He opened his mouth to say something, but she wanted nothing to do with him. "You've done some shady things in your life and I never condemned you for them. I always stood by you—no questions asked. I never judged you because I know what it's like to be chained to a desk, never seeing the outside world. I've overlooked several discrepancies you've committed in the last few years." She paused. "I guess the same doesn't apply to me. I'm automatically a liar. I'm harboring some deep, dark secret. You can't believe in me. I'm not deserving of it."
Stabler lowered his head in shame. She has helped him get out of tight spots. She has kept her mouth shut sever times and this is how he repays her? Suddenly, he didn't feel worthy of her friendship.
She talked in an unyielding voice. "Let's go to the station so I can get an angle on this guy and prove my innocence." She gazed coldly at him. "When I do prove my innocence, I don't want anything more to do with you. We work together. That is it. I'll always be a professional because it's my job and duty. But as far as our friendship is concerned, we are finished. You bailed on me when I really needed you. If you don't know me by now, you never will."
She walked out the door leaving him a broken man. He could do nothing but follow her. He lost a great deal that day and it had nothing to do with the case. He lost his best friend.