Lost
Disclaimer: Not mine
Summary: See chapter 1
The Defense Rests
Casey rose for her turn to question Olivia.
"Detective Benson, the prosecution asked you about a time when you made it clear that you didn't want children." She began. "Can you tell the court when that was?" She asked.
"2 years ago I guess." Olivia answered. She had full confidence that Casey would show the jury that she would be a good mother.
"Has that thought changed since then?" She asked.
"Yes." Olivia answered. "I want a child more than I have ever wanted anything in my life."
"So, than what made you say that you never wanted kids?" Casey asked.
"Like Mr. Lemmerik pointed out, I had a crappy childhood. I was afraid that I may turn out to be like my mother; it scared the hell out of me. I would never want to cause a child that much pain. That along with seeing the violent world we live in every day made me apprehensive to have children." Olivia explained.
"And what made all this change?" Casey asked.
"My husband." Olivia answered, smiling in Elliot's direction briefly. "He showed me that I didn't have to be like my mother if I didn't want to be; and I don't. He gave me confidence enough in my self to see that I'm not her, and I never will be."
"What has your life been like since you found out that you were pregnant?" Casey asked.
"Hectic." Olivia smiled. "I've been running around buying baby furniture, and paint. My husband and I have been planning her nursery, and thinking of baby names. We've been going back and fourth to doctors, and I've been thinking about how complete my life is going to be." She answered.
"Would you ever knowingly put your daughter's life in danger?" She asked.
"Of course not." Olivia answered honestly.
"No further questions." Casey rested. Olivia let out a sigh of relief, she was done with her part.
"You may step down detective." The judge told Olivia. She did so, and returned to her seat as Casey called Fin to the stand.
After questioning Munch, Fin, Alex, and Cragen about Olivia's actions at work over the past few months, Casey was ready to call Elliot.
The last few witnesses had all basically said the same thing. They testified that Olivia hadn't been able to talk about anything other than her daughter in months, and that she happily rode a desk, without complaint.
"Detective Stabler," Casey began, "How long have you known Detective Benson for?"
"A little over 7 years." Elliot answered. "We dated for about a year, and we've been married for 5 months now." He added, finally revealing that he was Olivia's husband.
"So, you are the father of her baby?" Casey asked.
"Yes." Elliot answered.
"Do you have any other children?" She asked.
"Yes, four from my first marriage." Elliot answered honestly.
"And, has Detective Benson ever been alone with them?" Casey asked.
"Yes, many times. Some weekends that the kids are at the apartment I have to work. They stay with Olivia. She also watched them one weekend when my ex-wife and her husband had to go away, and I was working a case that took me out of state. Liv was alone with the kids that whole weekend, and they were just fine." Elliot answered.
"Do you trust Detective Benson with the lives of your children, both born and unborn?" Casey asked.
"Of course." Elliot said.
"If your daughter was hurt while Detective Benson was carrying her, would you ever think to blame your wife?" Casey asked.
"Never. Olivia has loved that baby since the day the little stick turned blue. I've never seen her as happy as she was the day she told me we were gonna have a baby." Elliot smiled.
"Having your unborn daughter's safety in mind, do you think that the right thing to do to keep her safe is to take her away from your wife?" Casey pushed.
"I think the best way to keep my daughter safe is to keep her with Olivia. She would lay down her for her of she had to." Elliot answered.
"Thank you no further questions." Casey said, sitting. Olivia smiled at Elliot.
Lemmerik got up from his seat, adjusted his coat, and cleared his throat.
"Detective Stabler, you told the court that you have only been married for what, five months?" He asked.
"Yeah, so." Elliot answered suspiciously.
"So, would you say that you still have stars in your eyes detective?" He asked.
"Objection!" Casey noted.
Before the judge could rule Elliot answered. He was sick of watching this attorney make Olivia out to be a bad person.
"When it comes to my children no one comes before them." Elliot said above all the other voices in the room. "Not even my wife."
"I'm sure she appreciates that." Lemmerik noted.
"Your Honor." Casey protested, but Elliot again answered. He never could step down from a challenge.
"She wouldn't have it any other way." Elliot answered as Olivia nodded her head in agreement. "The kids, both mine, and ours, are the most important in Olivia and my lives. They come first; before anyone, or anything else." He added.
"Didn't you tell her that you didn't think it was a good idea for her to be interrogating the suspect, when she told you she wanted to?" The attorney asked.
"Yes." Elliot answered.
"And what was your reason for that?" He asked.
Elliot hated that he had to answer, but he was under oath.
"Detective?" The prosecutor pushed.
"I felt that the situation may be too dangerous for an expecting mother." Elliot grumbled.
"And you feared for the welfare of your unborn daughter?" Lemmerik added.
"I know that Olivia has her best interests in mind every second of every day." Elliot said.
"Please answer the question Detective." Lemmerik warned.
"No, I don't have to fear for her welfare, ever." Elliot answered.
"No further questions." Lemmerik huffed.
"You may step down Detective Stabler." The judge said.
Casey was ready to call her secret weapon to the stand.
"The Defense calls Kathy Smith to the stand." She announced.
Elliot's ex-wife walked into the court room, andwent up to the stand. She was sworn in, and took her seat.
"Mrs. Smith, how are you related to the defendant?" Casey asked to begin.
"She's married to my ex-husband." Kathy explained.
"Would you say that you love your children Mrs. Smith?" Casey asked.
"Of course, they're my whole world." Kathy answered with a smile.
"Would you ever knowingly put them in a dangerous situation, or leave them with anyone whom you felt may allow them to get into dangerous situations?" Casey asked.
"Of course not." Kathy answered.
"Have you ever left your children alone with my client?" Casey asked, going for the real reason she had called Kathy.
"Yes, many times." Kathy answered truthfully. "The kids love her."
"Has Detective Benson ever given you reason to believe that she may provide an unsafe environment for your children?" Casey asked, concluding her questioning for Kathy.
"Never." Kathy answered bluntly. "If I even felt Olivia couldn't be trusted with my children, I would never leave them with her." She added to make herself perfectly clear.
"No further questions." Casey said; returning to her seat.
"Mrs. Smith." Lemmerik asked from his chair. "Do your children tell you everything?"
"Well, not everything, I mean, they are teenagers." Kathy answered.
Casey shook her head. She knew where the prosecution was going.
"Do you think that they would tell you if Detective Benson left them to do whatever they wanted to?" He asked.
Kathy hated how this attorney could make her say these things. She looked at her hands when she answered.
"No." She said under her breath.
"Thank you, no further questions."
Kathy stepped down, and Casey called her children to the stand one by one. Each testified that Olivia had always been there when they needed her, and that she was a good step mother. Olivia was just thankful that the Prosecution didn't rip into them. If he had she would have had to rip into him.
Olivia hated that all the people she loved had to be paraded in and out of this court room, but she knew it had to be done to protect her daughter.
TBC... the verdict will be read in the next chapter, and the one after that will be the final! Thanks for reading, and keep on reviewing!