CHAPTER 12

A Picture is Worth A Thousand Words

Olivia and Munch hopped out of the squad car. Elliot and Fin were already on the scene, interviewing witnesses. Elliot spotting them, excused himself from a distraught bystander.

"What have you got?" Munch asked, holding the police tape up for Olivia to crawl under.

"Apparently a group of four boys, witnesses put the ages between 11 and 13, chased the victim out into the street where he was hit by a car," Elliot explained, leading them to Warner and the prone body of a little black child.

"Meet Demetrius Brown," Warner said looking up at the detectives. "His mother is over there, she came out of her apartment after hearing the commotion. She puts the boy's age at six."

Olivia looked down at the little boy, heartbroken. A child murdered by children, she thought desperately. It can't get any worse than this.

"His pants are ripped…did that happen during the accident?" she asked fighting to keep the trembling from her voice. Elliot glanced at her but remained silent.

"I can't say for sure, but it looks as if they were ripped before."

"Possible sexual assault…" Elliot mumbled to her. Olivia looked up to the sky, searching for an answer.

After the boy's body had been taken away, the detectives interviewed all witnesses on the scene. They found one bystander who identified one of the boys, Jered Manchester.

"He lives in my apartment building, over there, 466" the little man supplied, pointing across the street. "He's a good boy, not like him to be involved in anything like this. But I saw him, plain as day…"

Elliot nodded. "Thank you sir," he said, excusing him. "Hey, Liv and I will go see if the boy or his parents are home."

Fin nodded. Olivia followed Elliot as they headed for the building. She wasn't sure what was going on in Elliot's head. He was flipping the script on her, acting in just the same manner she had when he had pissed her off. He mentioned not one word of the fiasco with Alex, instead keeping to professional manners. He hadn't returned any of her phone calls.

"Here it is, 466." Elliot knocked on the door rapidly. After a moment of silence, he repeated the action to no avail.

"Guess they're not home," Olivia mumbled. She followed him out of the building

"El, hold up," she said when they walked out into the sunshine. Their position was obscured from the scene. He turned to her.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

She didn't quite know how to bring it up. "What's happening with us?" she blurted out. "I mean, talk to me. What are you thinking?"

Elliot smiled thinly. "I'm thinking that my best friend and lover is a lesbian."

Olivia shook her head. "I…I can't explain it to you…I can't explain it myself…"

Elliot waved her off. "I know what I saw," he said stepping closer to her. "What does this make you? Bi-sexual? Do you have any idea what you're doing Olivia?"

Olivia frowned, taken aback. "What do you mean, what I'm doing?"

Elliot shrugged. "No, don't do that," Olivia demanded. "What are you trying to say?"

"It's a sin Olivia," he said quietly.

Olivia looked at him as if he were from another planet. "El…what the hell? You can't honestly believe that, Catholic upbringing not withstanding."

He shuffled his feet. "Well…I'm okay with…that lifestyle for others, but I don't necessarily want it around me…Olivia I was sleeping with you," he said pointedly. "You should have told me. I thought it was some guy…but Alex? I always knew something was off about that woman…not this… but you two together?"

Olivia was trying to follow his rambling. "Look, you're right about not telling you, I was wrong." she said sternly. "I've never done anything like this before. I like Alex a lot and I have a wonderful time whenever I'm with her. Does this make me bi or a lesbian, I don't know. But what I do know is that it doesn't make me or Alex or anyone else who chooses to sleep with the same sex a deviant or sinner. That's just bullshit from the organized religious sect. You have a mind of your own Elliot, use it."

Elliot nodded his head, looking over her shoulder. Olivia could see that he was truly troubled, so she softened a bit. She knew how important his faith was to him and she had no choice to respect it, regardless of the fact that he was wrong.

She placed her hand on his cheek and rubbed it. He closed his eyes, drinking in her touch. She leaned forward and kissed him softly. "I also know how much I love being with you," she said, when they disconnected.

"Liv…I don't want you with her," he whispered, leaning his forehead on hers.

"I don't want you with your wife," she answered, shocked by the truth of her words.

"I can't stop you can I?" he said looking at her sadly.

"I don't know what this is with Alex, but I've got to find out. It seems like we both need to make a decision about who we want to be with."

He was about to answer when something caught his eye. A blue Ford Taurus parked directly across the street was flashing. Elliot realized it was a camera bulb.

"Olivia…" he said alarmed, stepping back. She looked over her shoulder.

"What is it?" she asked, her eyes searching.

"That car…" He took off running. The engine roared to life and the Taurus peeled out. Elliot chased it a few feet then skidded to a stop in the middle of the street. Olivia caught up to him.

"What the hell is going on?"

"That guy was taking pictures of us Olivia," he said angrily.

"What?" she gasped. "Do you think it's IAB?"

"What happened?" Munch called catching up to them.

Elliot shook his head. "We're being tailed, some guy was taking pictures of Olivia and I."

"What on earth for? Is it the rat squad?" he asked, echoing Olivia.

"El, we'll put out a couple of feelers and see what we find," she said, her hand on his shoulder. He threw her a look and she read it instantly. They had been caught kissing. If it was indeed IAB, they were fucked.

XXXXXXXX

Attempts at identifying the mystery photographer went unheeded and Olivia and Elliot went about their normal routine, both trying to force back their paranoia. Olivia was in the locker room on her cell phone talking to Alex. She hadn't seen her for a week and she was really worried about her.

"…Olivia…I just…I was so scared," she whispered. Alex had spent the rest of the week in total terror. Returning to the office, she was hypersensitive to the demeanor of her colleagues but nothing had changed. As far she could tell anyway.

"Alex I told you Elliot wouldn't tell anyone," she scolded, tapping her foot on the floor. "What do you want to do now?"

"I miss you so much…"

"I miss you too…but Alex, you really need to figure this out."

"My parents are still here," she said quietly.

"What?" Olivia asked, confused. "They moving in or something?"

Alex sighed. "They pushed back his surgery, so now he's just dandy staying here."

Olivia continued her conversation with Alex. Meanwhile, down below in the squad room, another drama was unfolding. Kathy Stabler was arguing with Fin, Munch and Cragen. "I want to see her now!"

"Look Kathy," Cragen said, fighting to keep his voice level, "you are gonna have to calm down or we are gonna have to escort you out of here."

She laughed hysterically. "Escort me out?" she asked in disbelief. "You would protect that whoring bitch? She can't hide from me."

Cragen was flabbergasted. Elliot was out for the day on a detail with the Bronx D.A., so he wasn't quite sure what to do with his wife. "Maybe I should call Elliot-"

"I don't want Elliot, I want to see Olivia," she said with clenched teeth.

"May I ask why?" Cragen asked.

"Why certainly," she hissed. "I want to ask her all about how she's been fucking my husband!"

Fin, Munch and Cragen jumped in surprise. "You serious?" Fin asked her.

Cragen looked at the two detectives for help, but they were looking at Kathy in shock. "Kathy…I don't where you got that idea… but it can't be true...I'm sure this is some sort of misunderstanding…"

"Oh no?" she asked sarcastically. She flung a manila envelope at him. "Take a look Captain."

Cragen fumbled with the envelope, but managed to grasp it. Flipping it open, he pulled out a stack of black and white photographs. His eyes widened in disbelief as he saw Benson and Stabler in one compromising position after another as he thumbed through the pics. Munch tried to sneak a peek, but Cragen was too fast for him. He slipped the photos back in the envelope.

"Kathy, why don't we go in my office," he invited, motioning her to follow him.

"What's on the photos?" Fin asked, after the duo were out of earshot.

"I don't know, I couldn't see, but damn…must be something incriminating."

In Cragen's office, he offered Kathy a seat.

"No," she snapped. "What are you going to do about this?"

"I need to talk to both Olivia and Elliot before any other steps are taken," he said cautiously.

"Like what?"

"Well…for starters they would be assigned new partners."

"Good," Kathy said, "and I want her out of this precinct and away from my husband.'

"I have to talk to them first," he reiterated. "But right now, I can't allow you to see Detective Benson. Please go home and I will handle things from this end. I'll need to keep the photos."

Kathy started to protest, but thought better of it. "Fine," she said in resignation. "Thank you Captain Cragen."

He nodded with difficulty. "I'll show you out."

Olivia bounded down the stairs. She felt marginally better after talking to Alex, but she couldn't help thinking the whole situation might be a bit too dramatic for her. Her thoughts were interrupted when she saw Munch walking quickly over to her.

"Liv, go back upstairs I need to talk to you," he said in a low voice, blocking her way.

"What's wrong?" she asked, concerned.

"You! Get over here!"

Olivia turned towards the shrieking voice and saw Kathy Stabler running over to her. Fin intersected her before she got too close to John.

Enraged, Kathy lunged at her, Fin grabbing her before she could connect. "You bitch! You lying, cheating bitch."

Olivia stunned, just stood there frozen. "You've been fucking my husband you whore," Kathy screamed uncontrollably. "You ruined our family. Are you happy? Are you fucking happy?"

"Olivia, go upstairs and wait for me," Cragen yelled angrily. Fin and he pulled Kathy away towards the front of the squad.

Numbly, Olivia went back to the crib, John following behind. She collapsed onto one of the beds in complete shock.

"Olivia, what the hell is the matter with you? You and Elliot?"

Olivia didn't know what to do. First instinct was to deny, deny, deny. "I…I don't know what you are talking about," she whispered.

John shook his head. "Yes you do, don't pull that crap," he said angrily. "She's got photos Liv."

Olivia looked up at him, realization dawning. Photos. The man in the car. Kathy had hired someone to tail her husband. Olivia felt her world caving in at that very moment.

"Munch out!" Cragen yelled. Obediently, John turned to leave, throwing Olivia one last stern look.

"What the hell were you thinking? What the hell were both of you thinking?"

"I can explain…"

"Explain this," he said, handing her the envelope. With shaking hands Olivia surveyed the contents.

"Oh my God," she whispered. They were in her apartment, in bed. On a street corner. At the corner deli. In the sedan.

"Are you admitting to these allegations Olivia," Cragen asked.

"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" she asked tearfully.

"Not really," he snapped. "As of this minute you are suspended until further notice. Get your stuff and leave."

XXXXXXX