Hey everyone. I just want to thank you all for the reviews, they are so funny and much appreciated. Especially you, SVU101, lol. The story is starting to wind down now, probably by Chapter 23 we'll see the ending. Thanks for staying with me.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Olivia paced nervously around the room in her prison issue garbs. She was in the interview room of the Bellevue Psychiatric Ward, awaiting Huang and Casey Novak's arrival. This was her first major session with them after being arrested. Her lawyer, Trevor Langan looked up from his notes.

"Olivia," he said firmly. "Calm down. You're making me jumpy."

She looked at him, still unable to believe how far she had fallen. "Calm down? These people used to be my friends. My co-workers. I used to be on their side."

"Regardless," he said, unconcerned. "You're up for the death penalty. Let me do all the talking."

"Olivia."

She turned towards the door, where Casey and Huang stood. Casey looked at her with such pity, Olivia wanted to scream. She remembered the arraignment, how Casey had refused to look at her,instead opting for some unseen spot above her right shoulder. She felt so betrayed. How could this happen to her?

Trevor kicked off the proceedings. "We are filing notice of an affirmative defense," he said in his brusque, arrogant manner. "Not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect."

Olivia shuddered at the words. Casey tore her eyes away from Olivia. "She murdered eleven people," she said shakily. My God, she thought. Am I really saying this about Olivia? She strengthened her voice. "I'm not sure a jury is going to buy that. And I'm not sure you can blame anyone for that."

"Oh, no? You have your own cops as witnesses," he said smugly. "She's sick Casey. Anyone can see that and the jury most definitely will. She suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder."

Casey threw Olivia a look. I have to do my job, no matter how much it hurts. "She can't get away without some type of punishment Langan. The city wants her head on a platter and I have to give it to them. Her acts have terrorized this city for the past 5 months. This…Multiple Personality Disorder defense is a crock."

Olivia was having a bit of trouble breathing. She was going to get the needle. She didn't understand what had happened to her mind, but she was going to get the needle. And Casey was gunning for her.

Huang was quietly observing Olivia. The confusion and despair was evident on her face. He knew her life depended on his diagnosis.

"You have your shrink right there," Trevor said, standing up and motioning Olivia to follow suit. "We'll schedule a 730 exam."

Huang and Casey watched while Trevor and the guard led Olivia from the room. Disturbed, Huang turned to Casey.

"I talked to her Casey. Elliot was in the room with her. I haven't done the exam yet, but I can tell you right now she's mentally unstable. She had no control over her actions. She doesn't even remember committing those acts!"

Casey blinked back the tears. "Dr. Huang," she began with difficulty. "As an officer of the court, it is my duty to uphold the law and to serve as advocate for the victims. I have to go after her. She killed eleven people in cold blood. I don't like it any more than you do. But this is what has to be."

Huang smiled sadly. "Do what you have to do. But I can tell you right now, you won't like my report."

Casey stood up from the table and headed for the door. Suddenly she whipped around and faced Huang.

"Listen to me Dr. Huang," she said, enunciating every word. "If you try to…misdiagnose Olivia's condition to get a lighter sentence for her, I will take your license and your freedom. Count on it."

As was Huang's way, he kept his emotions tightly under control. He calmly stood up and faced Casey. "Once the exam is scheduled, you'll have my findings first thing."

XXXXXXXX

"Bye Dad!" Dickie squealed on his way out of the apartment. Elliot managed to ruffle his hair before he ran past. The girls were much more clingy, Maureen, Kathleen and Elizabeth each managing to kiss him on the cheek and grab a part of his body, hanging on for dear life.

"Alright girls," Kathy said softly. Reluctantly, they peeled themselves off of their father and headed out the door. Elliot turned to Kathy, at a loss for words. She had graciously allowed them to stay with him the past couple weeks, believing that he needed his kids now more than ever. She couldn't have been more right.

"Thank you Kathy," he said quietly.

She bit her lip. "I'm so sorry Elliot," she said. "I know…I know how close you and Olivia were. I'm sorry it had to end this way."

Elliot smiled, a bit perplexed. "It?"

"Well…I think we both know 'it' may have interfered in our marriage…" Kathy came to a stop. It was over now, no need to bring up old wounds.

Elliot gave her a quick hug and said goodbye, shutting the door after her. He marveled at how empty the apartment felt. Having his kids here allowed him to shut out all thoughts of Olivia. He was lost to her now, the pain of it all sometimes making him question where he stood in this life. What now?

Their fling was brutally short, and Elliot regretted what could have been. Olivia had been gone for more than a month and he still couldn't bring himself to go visit her. He was due back to work next week, a new partner waiting for him. Huang suggested it would be good for him to see her, talk to her, before he went back to work, the work that so defined her and everything he knew of her. It would bring some normalcy to his life, he had said.

He sighed and looked out the window. Nothing would ever be normal again.