Lost
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: See chapter 1
A/N: The next few chapters are going to be heavy in the court room. (I'm taking Forensics, and Criminal Justice, I just can't get away from this stuff, so I wrote about it!)
TheProsecution Rests
Olivia was back in court the next morning. She was sitting behind the defendants table again, but today, she would get a chance to speak her mind.
"The first witness the Prosecution calls to the stand is Detective Olivia Benson." Lemmerik called, beginning the trail.
Elliot tensed in his seat as he watched Olivia rise from her chair, and make her way to the stand. He knew how brutal attorneys could be. He didn't know what this guy would do to her.
"Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?" The bay lift asked Olivia as she stood at the stand.
"I do." Olivia answered honestly, taking a seat.
"Detective Benson, when approximately when did you find out you were pregnant?" Lemmerik asked, beginning his line of questioning.
"About three months ago." Olivia answered, keeping her answerers short and to the point.
"And about how far along are you?" He asked.
"Now, four months." Olivia answered.
"Did you plan this pregnancy Detective?" The attorney asked.
"No." Olivia answered, suspiciously.
"Isn't it true that in the past you told anyone who would listen that you didn't want kids?" The attorney asked.
Olivia was stunned for a moment. "How did he know that?" She wondered.
"That was a long time ago." Olivia answered, trying to redeem herself. It was true that she didn't want kids at one time, but that was before she and Elliot started dating, before she got married, and before she got pregnant, and fell in love with her daughter.
"Detective, do you expect this court to believe that you welcome this unplanned baby when just a few years ago you were adamant about never having children?" He asked, further taking a jab at Olivia's ability to love her baby.
"Yes. I do." Olivia answered bluntly. "I made those comments years ago; my opinion on the subject of motherhood has since changed."
"Then why not plan the pregnancy?" He asked.
"My husband and I were only married for month when I got pregnant. We both wanted to have a baby; we just planned to wait a little while." Olivia answered.
"You claim that you love this baby, yet how can you say that and then put yourself in a dangerous situation that you knew could have put this baby's life in danger?" He asked.
"Objection!" Casey yelled; happy that Lemmerik finally said something that she could call him on. "Speculation. Mr. Lemmerik can't possibly know that Detective Benson knew the situation would turn dangerous."
"Sustained." The judge ruled.
"Detective Benson," Lemmerik began, deciding to ask the question in another direction. "Were you told by your doctor and captain that the safest course of action to take during your pregnancy would be to remain at a desk?" He asked.
"Yes." Olivia answered.
"Then why would you have gone into that interrogation room despite everyone telling you that it wasn't safe for the baby?" Lemmerik asked.
"My colleagues had just brought in a pedophile. We had strong reason to believe that he had kidnapped and raped several young girls. Our ADA told us that we needed a confession to solidify a guilty verdict." Olivia began.
"And you just thought, "'What the hell, why not put my baby's life in danger, and talk to the guy?'" Lemmerik asked rudely.
"If you'd let me finish." Olivia responded, annoyance rising in her voice. "He told my colleagues that he would only speak to me."
"Oh, so you put the aspect of a collar in front of the safety of this child?" Lemmerik asked coolly.
"I took every precaution!" Olivia answered angrily. "I was armed, his lawyer was in the room, and there were two detectives and my captain watching from outside the door. Some things you can't foresee." She answered. Unfortunately, Olivia had just unknowingly walked into a trap.
"So, Detective, is it safe for me to assume that, since you took such precautions, you knew there may be some chance of danger in that room?" He asked slyly.
Olivia shut her eyes for a moment, realizing what she had just said. "I did what I thought I had to do to put away a pedophile." She answered.
"And the hell with the safety of this kid?" He shot back.
Olivia ignored his comment, knowing that it wasn't an actual question, but just a way to try to get a rise out of her.
"Detective, you say you love this kid, and that it's best interests are foremost in your mind, yet it may have sustained fatal injuries because of the decision that you made. How can this court believe that you won't do the same thing once it's born? How can you expect the jury to believe that you won't get a call one night from your boss, run out and answer it, and leave the kid alone in the house, or that you'll forget to come home night, or…" Lemmerik was now yelling at Olivia.
"Objection!" Casey yelled. "He's badgering your honor!"
"Sustained, back off Consular." The judge warned. "Detective, answer the question." He added.
"First of all, my baby is not an 'it', it's a she, so I would like you to stopreferring toher as'it.'" Olivia began, fighting back tears. "Second of all, what gives you the right to stand there and tell me that I don't love my daughter?" She continued, through deep breaths trying to control her tears. "The day I found out I was pregnant; I fell in love with this life that was inside of me. I became the least important thing in my life that day, so how dare you accuse me of wanting to forward my career over protecting my child. I love her more than anything in this world, but unfortunately, there's nothing I can do to prove that, but there's also noting you can do to prove other wise. So, you'll just have to take my word for it." She added.
"Well…" Lemmerik began, but was cut off.
"If you want proof though…" Olivia said, speaking over the consular, "Look on my desk at work, you'll find each sonogram picture in a frame. There are also pictures in my wallet, and on my dresser at home. Whenever I go out, I come home with bags full of toys, or stupid baby safety things. Last week, I bought a baby gate to go across stairs, and we don't even have stairs in out apartment." She smiled. "Each night I have dreams about her, and each day I imagine what it's going to be like once she's here. I think about what she'll look like, and what type of person she'll become. I love her, so don't stand there and tell me that I don't." She finished angrily.
"Detective, what kind of childhood did you have?" The attorney asked, knowing that a change of subject was in order.Olivia knew that this would be coming eventually.
"What do you mean?" She asked playing coy. She wasn't giving in that easily.
"Isn't it true that your mother was a drunk, and your father is a rapist?" He asked.
Elliot tensed. How dare this man do this to his Olivia. He wanted to lunge at Lemmerik's throat, but held himself back.
"Relevance Your Honor." Casey objected.
"I'm getting to that Your Honor." Lemmerik answered.
"Well get to it consular." The judge ruled.
"How can you expect to be a good mother for this child if you yourself never got to experience a normal childhood?" He asked.
"Objection your honor! Detective Benson's mother's actions have nothing to do with her ability to be a mother." Casey said.
"Over ruled." The judge ruled, wanting to see where this was going. "Answer the question."
"Growing up the way I did, I know how not to treat my daughter. I learned first hand what can happen when a mother puts her child second to anything. I know what I did in her absence, and therefore know not to let my daughter get the chance to make the mistakes I did." Olivia answered, still seeping with anger. "I also know how painful it is to not be able to besure if my mother loved me. I would never cause my daughter to go through that, ever."
"Detective, you may love it, uh, her, but your past actions have shown that you can't prove without a doubt, that you'll be able to put your career, which up until a short time ago was the main thing in your life, second to the life of your child." Lemmerik finished, "No further questions your honor." He rested.
TBC...Casey will get her chance in the next chapter! REVIEW (i hope everyone was okay with the court thing, I figured that my stories could use something new!)