"Benson!" Cragen shouted from in his office. She looked up at Stabler from her desk. Cragen threw open his door and shouted at her.
"Benson! Your ass in here now!" She frowned. She was surprised, and a little frightened. She went into this office hesitantly as Stabler stood with his arms across his chest.
"Did I do something wrong?" she asked quietly.
"What the hell do you think?" he shouted. She had no idea what he was talking about.
"What did I do?" she asked.
"Sit down" he grunted loudly. She sat and watched as he sat in his chair.
"Olivia, you have worked with me, a part of my team for many years now…." He started. It sounded like the 'your fired' talk. She looked away and closed her eyes.
"I want to keep you on my team. And I have the right to keep you here, but I have a duty to have you transferred." He continued as she looked up at him.
"If you two do have something going on, you stop it." He told her. She frowned. How would he know?
"You and Stabler are wonderful detectives, two of my best. But, if you let anything continue between you two, then I have to do what I feel is best for your own good" he told her. She nodded as she got up.
"Is that it?" she asked.
"Yeah" he said quieter. She nodded and turned to the door. But, she stopped before she left.
"How did you know?" she asked.
"Know what?" he said not looking her in the eyes. She understood. If he did know something was going on, he would have to transfer one of them. She nodded and left the room. Stabler watched from his desk, as Benson grabbed her car keys.
"Where you going?" he called out and she stopped.
"I forgot something at home" she told him looking away. He knew she was lying but she seemed like she needed her space. She went out to her car and put the keys in the ignition. She started to drive home. She had to force herself to believe nothing had happened between her and Stabler. That Cragen had never said anything. That the police ball never happened. She pulled into her parking space and put her head on the steering wheel. She covered her head with her arms as she felt warm tears starting to welt up. But before she let any come out she put her head up. She put on the most serious face she could and got out the car. She hadn't been upset about anything as ridiculous as a man. Especially Stabler. Not like this anyway. She lay down on her couch and pretended like nothing had ever been. Like she had never been.
tbc
