"She was definitely tired," Olivia whispered as they tiptoed out of the guest bedroom quietly.
Elliot nodded "yeah she was," he said as he sat down on the love seat "it was probably a good thing too I didn't wanna have to answer any more questions tonight."
Olivia nodded understanding "questions about our change in routine I assume?"
Elliot nodded his head "yeah," he said through a sigh as Betty pointed at them "shhh!" she said.
"Betty..." Judith said disdainfully as Betty looked to her and shushed her too.
"El why don't we go out and sit on the patio for a little while?" Olivia suggested in a whisper.
"Sounds good honey," he whispered back as they stood up together and quietly went outside as Olivia gazed up at the sunset "definitely the right choice, it's beautiful out here," she said with a smile.
Elliot nodded "yeah I agree that woman was rude though."
Olivia nodded "yeah she was," she said as she leaned against him gently and he wrapped an arm around her loosely and swayed slightly.
Her body moved with his as music wasn't needed for them, they just swayed in sink doing a dance of their own as Carl and Maureen walked outside having had a similar idea "you guys want some music?" Carl asked.
"Doesn't matter to me," Elliot said as he focused back on Liv as he was keeping their movements really slow and careful as to not hurt her.
Carl nodded as he pulled up A Whiter Shade of Pale on his phone and him and Maureen began dancing to it.
Liv and El danced to it too and Olivia smiled happily as when Carl loaded Wonderful Tonight by Eric Clapton they continued dancing, both of them having smiles now as Elliot sang the words to her softly.
After that dance Olivia sighed "I've loved this El, I need to sit down though," she said regretfully.
Elliot smiled at her as he looked into her eyes "I've really enjoyed it too sweetheart and that's okay, we can dance again another time," he said softly as they sat down in lounge chairs together side by side.
They watched with amused smiles as Maureen and Carl attempted to do the chacha slide then the Macarena "okay I'm glad we stopped when we did," Elliot said while chuckling.
Olivia chuckled and smiled "me too El I feel like we'd both need ER visits."
He smiled "yeah your probably right," he said as Maureen and Carl finished their dancing session by dancing to Brown eyed girl and Forever and Ever Amen as Elliot smiled and sang the lyrics to Liv on both songs.
"Alright I'm exhausted now," Carl said in a chuckle as Maureen nodded in agreement and they both sat down.
"I can see why you guys are, those dances look like they're hard work," Olivia commented with a smile as she looked carefree.
Maureen nodded "they are, you and dad should try them sometime though, you guys could do it."
Elliot chuckled "maybe ten years ago I could, now? No way," he said adamantly.
Maureen smiled "anything's possible dad," she said as she yawned "I'm heading inside Carl," she said.
Carl nodded "I'll be in soon honey," he said with a smile as Maureen nodded and went into the house.
Olivia shivered slightly as she leaned a little more into Elliot "I think we're heading inside too Carl we have a long day tomorrow," Elliot said.
"O?" Carl asked interested.
Elliot nodded and sighed "we have to go into the city there are a few things we need to take care of."
"Oh okay gotcha, are you taking Izzabella with you?"
Elliot shook his head "no we're not it'll probably be an emotional day for us we have to do a press conference."
Carl nodded "I see, we'll watch her it won't be a problem."
Elliot smiled slightly "thanks Carl we really appreciate it, good night," he said as he helped Olivia up and they went inside as she was still shivering.
"Olivia dear how are you cold? Your wearing long sleeves and I'm warm with short sleeves," Bernadette said.
"I honestly have no idea," Olivia said puzzled by it herself "maybe it's just because I'm tired."
She nodded slightly "I suppose that's possible, Elliot maybe you should ask Kathy about it?"
He shook his head "I'm not doing that mama there's no need we'll just get her covered in a blanket."
Bernadette nodded "whatever you say dear," she said as Judith looked up from her phone "maybe fix her some hot coco? She could be falling ill though she looks sickly."
"She doesn't look sickly, maybe a little pale but that's all you worry to much," Mary said.
Josephine nodded "yeah I agree with Mary Judith after all they were just all outside in the cold."
"It's not that cold out though," Judith said as Elliot sighed slightly then looked to Olivia "would you like a glass of hot chocolate baby? I'll fix you some or we can go on to bed? It's whatever you want."
Olivia sighed "I think I'd just rather go on to bed if that's okay, I just feel cold and tired and I think a good nights sleep will do me good."
He nodded "of course baby, goodnight everyone," he said with a slight smile.
"Good night Mr. Stabler, see you in the morning, thanks for the meal," Josephine said.
Elliot frowned slightly "no problem ma'am, give me a minute sweetheart," he whispered to Olivia as he walked over to Bernadette "mama where is everybody supposed to sleep? You don't have room for everyone."
She sighed "we'll just have to figure it out Elliot I can't make these ladies drive when they don't feel safe doing so, besides it's your fault they stuck around this long anyway," she whispered.
Elliot sighed "how is it my fault? I'm not the one who invited them over," he said as he tried to stay calm.
Bernadette sighed "it's your fault because dinner wasn't done until 7:30 if they had been able to eat sooner Betty wouldn't have had to watch her show here and Josephine would have felt safe driving everyone home."
Elliot sighed "unbelievable, this is unfucking believable tomorrow we're out of here, I can't handle this chaos anymore, it hinders Olivia's recovery and your friends, especially that one," he pointed at Betty "are the most ungrateful people I've ever seen, me and Olivia worked really hard on that dinner and only two of them seemed to care about that. I've tried to be patient with you mother I really have but your not gonna blame me for this situation getting out of hand tonight, your just not."
Bernadette just sighed "Izzabella can sleep with me in my bedroom, the rest of you'll have to figure it out on your own, there are sleeping bags in the closet."
Elliot sighed and gave her a glare as he stepped away and went about moving Izzabella to Bernadette's bedroom as he was relieved when she didn't wake up as during the argument the four ladies moved into the dining room to continue playing cards so they didn't hear it "what's wrong with dad?" Kathleen asked Liv having only seen him storm off.
"I'm not to sure sweetie I didn't here much of it," she said through a sigh.
Kathleen nodded as she noticed Olivia's slightly pale features "you need me to do anything? I'm not dad I know but I can help I know a lot about medical care and stuff."
She shook her head "no thank you sweetie," she said as Elliot walked into the living room and angrily placed the sleeping bags on the floor "Lizzie, Kathleen can you girls share a sleeping bag?"
Okay now I see why he's pissed, Kathleen thought to herself as both her and Lizzie nodded their heads.
Elliot nodded slightly "thank you girls, Maureen can you and Carl share a sleeping bag?"
She sighed "I suppose we can manage it..."
Elliot sighed "honey I'm sorry."
Maureen shook her head "it's not on you dad," she said through a sigh.
Elliot nodded slightly as he walked over to Bernadette and her friends "I need to figure out where you four are gonna sleep so me and Liv can lie down," he said.
"We're not going to sleep yet," Betty said.
Elliot sighed "you don't have to ma'am all I need from you is for you to decide."
Bernadette sighed "your not in charge of them Elliot," she said.
Judith sighed "don't start a fight Berni we don't want trouble, I don't care where I sleep sir," she said.
Elliot gave her a slight nod "I want to sleep in a comfortable bed by myself but I'm not tired yet," Betty said.
Elliot nodded "the twin bed it is for you then," he said.
Betty shook her head "a twin bed is to small I sleep in a queen sized at home, it's Tempur-Pedic."
Elliot sighed "well you either get that, the couch or the love seat 2 people are gonna need to share the full sized unless you can convince mom to give you her bed."
Betty shook her head "I'm not gonna take her bed that's rude."
Yeah like you've been particularly kind all evening, Elliot thought to himself as Josephine looked to him "me and Mary will share the full sized bed."
Elliot nodded and looked back to Betty "last chance to take the twin bed because once me and Olivia lay down we aren't moving."
She sighed "okay fine I'll sleep there I'm not going to bed yet though."
Elliot nodded "I could care less when you ladies go to sleep as long as your quiet enough that my family can sleep that's all I care about, goodnight," he said as he stepped away from them and went to go move his and Olivia's stuff into the living room.
"Ladies I'm really sorry about my son's behavior..." Bernadette said through a sigh "he likes to control things he gets it from his father."
Judith shook her head "he hasn't done anything wrong there are a lot of people here under one roof tonight order is necessary."
Bernadette sighed "I don't like order you know that."
Judith and Josephine nodded as Marry sighed "he probably shouldn't be living here with you then he seems to be the king of order."
Bernadette sighed "I can't kick him out I don't see him often enough and his wife is going through a really hard time."
Judith sighed "that's exactly why she shouldn't be sleeping on a couch, just my opinion," she said as they all went back to playing cards.
"We're gonna have to sleep in here baby," Elliot said through a sigh as he sat their bag down beside the couch.
Olivia frowned "how will that even work?"
Elliot sighed "nothing will change for you I'm still gonna hold you like normal I'm just gonna have to try and fit on this uncomfortable thing."
Olivia frowned slightly "El I don't want you to be uncomfortable."
He sighed "neither do I but I don't really have a choice..." he said as he then realized what he said "sweetheart I'm sorry, I'm not trying to be short with you it's just we're gonna have 7 people crammed in here tonight and that shouldn't be so and I wanna take you out of here so you can recover better but it's late and"-
Olivia rubbed his back slightly "I understand," she said softly as Elliot nodded slightly and let out a long sigh "h-here," he said a couple minutes later handing her her pill.
"Thank you El," she said as she took it easily "you ready to try and get some sleep?"
He nodded "yeah," he said as he decided he'd try to treat her burns in the morning in private as he pulled her into his arms and covered her gently with the one throw blanket they had leaving himself uncovered.
"El if you need"-
He shook his head slightly cutting her off "I'm fine baby don't worry about me just try and get some rest okay tomorrow's gonna be a hard day for both of us," he whispered as he stroked her hair.
She nodded slightly and yawned "I love you El."
Elliot gave her a small smile "love you too, night baby," he said softly as he kissed her head and she fell asleep.
Around 30 minutes later Judith quietly made her way to the love seat as her and Elliot both stared at the ceiling for a while unable to fall asleep on their rather uncomfortable beds "can you not sleep either?" Judith whispered noticing him staring.
He shook his head "these things are designed for young folks to sleep on not us my back hates this," he whispered.
Judith chuckled and slightly smiled "my neck hates it too."
"I'll gladly trade places with one of you guys this sleeping bag on the floor reminds me of the bed I had in Rikers," Kathleen groaned.
Judith's eyes widened "you've been to jail?"
Elliot chuckled lowly "don't panic ma'am it was a minor charge and it happened five years ago."
Judith nodded warily, sighed and focused back on counting the dots on the ceiling as Elliot smiled watching Olivia's sleeping form for a moment then tried closing his eyes.
May 29th, 1:25 AM.
"N-No, N-no d-don't touch me Lewis," Olivia cried in her sleep quietly as she was having a nightmare.
Judith frowned slightly from her spot on the love seat as she still hadn't fallen asleep whose Lewis? she thought to herself curiously having not seen the news coverage.
"N-No, n-n-no," she cried a bit more panicked as that woke Elliot "shhh shhh your safe love, your safe," he said softly.
"N-No Lewis N-No d-don't h-hurt him...," she continued to cry as tears seeped out of her closed eyes.
"What's wrong with her? Should I call the mental health line?" Judith whispered.
Elliot shook his head "she's having a nightmare just let me handle it," he said as he then focused his attention back on Olivia "Liv baby your safe, we're safe Lewis isn't here baby I promise," he whispered softly as he stroked her hair.
"E-El, E-El," she murmured in her sleep.
"Shhh I'm here baby, I'm right here your safe," he soothed as her eyes finally opened "E-E-El?"
"It's me baby, it's me I'm right here," he whispered softly as she nodded and teared up slightly "t-thank god y-your alive..."
"Ohh honey of course I'm alive.." he said softly as Judith glanced over "yeah why wouldn't he be?"
Olivia sighed slightly "I-I just had a nightmare I-I'm sorry I bothered you."
Judith shook her head "I was awake it's okay who is Lewis?"
Olivia tensed in Elliot's arms as he was quick to stroke her hair "you don't have to answer her baby," he whispered softly as he then looked to Judith "I understand your just concerned but right now isn't a good time for her to be answering questions."
Judith nodded "will you answer my question? I'm just trying to understand."
Elliot said nothing as he gently and steadily stroked Olivia's hair as she fought falling back asleep "don't fight it baby I'm gonna be right here all night," he whispered softly.
She shook her head slightly "w-what if I have another nightmare?"
"Then I'll help you out of it like I did a few minutes ago," he said.
Olivia nodded slightly and a couple minutes later she drifted off as he smiled not stoping the motion of his hand.
"Who is Lewis?" Judith asked again.
Elliot sighed "a kidnaper, murderer and rapist," he whispered.
"Oh my god that's horrible... How does she know him?"
Elliot sighed "Olivia was abducted by him, I really don't want to talk about this anymore she could wake up and hear me."
Judith just nodded slightly "I hope you get her some help for her nightmares," she said as she then rolled over slightly and finally fell asleep as Elliot bit back a frustrated response.
The rest of the night passed slowly as thankfully Olivia didn't wake up again but Elliot tossed and turned quite a bit as he only slept a little here and there as he woke up for good at around 8:30 when he smelled Maureen making breakfast.
By 9 o'clock every one was awake as the ladies were playing a spirited game of poker and Olivia stirred in Elliot's arms slightly "morning beautiful," he said softly.
"Morning handsome," Olivia said groggily "you look really tired."
He shook his head "ah I'm fine baby," he said with a smile "you ready for today?"
Olivia sighed "as ready as I'll ever be, the whole prospect of today is just scary."
Elliot nodded "I know it is honey, I'll be with you though every step of the way and all this is on our terms, try and remember that."
She nodded slightly "I know it is El I-I'm just afraid of how the unis are gonna look at me when we go in there. That they're gonna patronize me or give me pity filled looks like I'm this broken woman that I'm not."
Elliot rubbed her back "I can't tell you what they're gonna do because I probably haven't met several of them but I know you'll set them straight and I know you'll be able to handle this today because your still the strongest woman I know."
She sighed slightly "I hope your right El," she said as she looked into his eyes "c-can I have one more minute here in your arms before we go out and face the world?"
Elliot nodded "of course baby take as long as you need," he said softly as she nodded and they hugged each other tightly.
They ended up taking about 5 more minutes or so as they pulled away from each other in sync as they quickly ate breakfast then found somewhere where they could treat her burns in private "these are looking a lot better baby I think they'll be completely healed in a couple more days," Elliot said with a smile.
Olivia smiled "I'm glad to hear that El d-do you think they'll leave behind any scars though?"
"I'm not sure baby but if they do it'll be alright you can look at them as battle scars."
She sighed slightly "I just don't want the reminder."
He nodded "I understand," he said softly as he helped her into her outfit then changed into his as it was an outfit he used to wear often to work and the sleeves on his shirt were rolled up slightly as she smiled while looking at his arm muscles "you like what you see Liv?" he asked with a smile.
Olivia smiled and nodded "mmhmm, I remember when we were in interrogation sometimes you'd roll your sleeves up and it'd take every thing in me to keep my focus on the perp and not stare at your muscles."
Elliot chuckled slightly "it usually helped that in those times I was ready to hurt the perp so protecting them from me was usually your priority," he said as he quickly rolled his sleeves down.
Olivia chuckled a bit "true," she said as she noticed him rolling them down "you don't have to do that El I don't want you to get hot."
Elliot smiled "I won't baby and I know I didn't have to I just want to look as calm as possible and I know my sleeves being rolled up is associated with the angry me."
She nodded "they can be but your not angry this morning and I know that, you ready to head out?"
He smiled slightly "I am if you are," he said as after they told Izzabella bye and talked to Carl for a minute he grabbed their overnight bag and her medicine and they left the house.
"Baby can you tell me what has you the most nervous?" Elliot asked softly as he noticed Liv tapping her leg slightly.
She sighed slightly "two things, I'm afraid the squad will hear us going through the different therapists cards I have in my desk and I'm worried about what questions they'll ask us during the press conference."
Elliot nodded slightly "well about the squad hearing us if they ask us any questions we can just tell them it's none of their business why we're looking through them because it really isn't and as for the press conference I can prep you if you want."
Olivia tensed slightly "prep me?"
Elliot nodded "yeah baby I won't be doing most of the talking, I'll be right there beside you supporting you but it'll be more believable coming from you not me."
Olivia sighed slightly "the truth is the truth El no matter who says it."
He nodded "I know baby, listen I'll do the talking if that's what you really want but I really think that the statement should come from you and I believe with every thing in my heart that you can do it," he said as he reached over and rubbed her shoulder.
Olivia relaxed slightly "I want to speak El it's not that I don't want to speak, hell I've done more press conferences than I'd like to admit as a detective b-but it's different when I'm the victim and I feel like I'm the one on trial."
He nodded "I understand honey I really do and I can't begin to tell you how pissed off at the media I am for believing his bullshit lies and dragging your name through the mud like this but they won't be as likely to believe us if I'm the one to talk."
Olivia gave a slight nod "I-I know," she admitted.
Elliot continued to gently rub her shoulder "I want you to try to look at this in a different way okay? I want you to try and think of this today as speaking your truth can you do that for me?"
Olivia gave a slight nod "I-I can El, I-I can," she said repeating herself to try and convince herself of that fact.
"Yes you can baby because your the strongest and bravest woman I know do you hear me? Because I'll tell you I don't know of very many women who have been through what you've just been through who were able to do a press conference this soon after the attack at all much less to defend their reputation most people would have refused honey," he said softly but surely.
Olivia nodded slightly "I-I know they would have, I wanted to too b-but I couldn't, I can't let Lewis win and let the community see me as that kind of a woman b-because I'm not, I'm not," she said adamantly.
"I know your not baby, I promise you I've never wavered in that belief and you've got this honey, you'll get through this and I'll be right next to you the whole time."
Olivia smiled slightly "I know you will be and thank you for having faith in me El," she said softly as the double meaning in that statement was clear.
Elliot nodded his head "I always will and you never ever have to thank me for that," he said softly as he rubbed her shoulder for a bit longer "were you still wanting to prep me?" she asked quietly after a few minutes.
"Do you feel like you need that?" he asked softly.
She sighed "I-I don't know," she admitted as Elliot nodded slightly deciding it was best to just lightly prep her "I think you should be direct in what you say, the things you want the press to hear you on, believe you on they need to come first."
Olivia nodded slightly understanding what he was saying to her "what if they still ask me questions though about it after?"
"Then you hold your ground and if they still don't listen I'll step in because I'm not gonna let them harass you, also if at any point you feel to overwhelmed to continue I want you to just look into my eyes and I'll take that as a sign to take over okay?"
Olivia nodded "I will El but I don't wanna have to do that, I really do want to do this, to speak my truth."
He nodded "I know you do baby and that's exactly why I'm not gonna speak for you unless you need me too, I want to support you but this is your story and you should be the one to tell it not me."
Olivia nodded slightly "w-what will I do though if when I get in front of them I just freeze?"
"That's not gonna happen baby," he said knowingly.
"I-I hope not El," she said as Elliot nodded "it won't once you're up there you'll get into your zone and the words will come naturally."
Olivia nodded slightly as she did her best to believe his words as for the rest of the drive they were quiet besides some small talk here and there as they listened to the rest of the morning show on 96.1 as although Elliot usually hated the pop music they played Olivia was laughing at the morning shows antics and that was all he truly cared about in that moment.
Around 11:30 or so Elliot pulled up at the precinct as they watched detective Carisi putting a handcuffed man into the back of a squad car for transportation to the courthouse "you okay baby?" Elliot asked softly hoping Olivia wasn't being triggered by the sight.
Olivia nodded "yeah I'm fine El we can go in once they pull out."
He nodded "sounds good love," he said with a slight smile as once the car pulled away they got out and headed inside with linked arms "good morning detective Benson," the desk sergeant said as they passed his desk and headed towards the elevator.
Good he's treating me normally, we're off to the right start she thought to herself as she gave him a slight smile "good morning sergeant Smith," she said.
"The weather's nice today isn't it? I'd rather be anywhere than here," he said in a chuckle.
"You know me too," Olivia said through a small sigh as sergeant Smith nodded to her "long time no see Elliot," he commented.
Elliot chuckled slightly "same here Allen, how are your grandkids doing? Did you get your hockey team off the ground?"
He smiled "they're doing really well Elliot thanks for asking and yes I did the kiddos were undefeated last year."
Elliot smiled "that's great to hear."
Allen nodded his head "I tried to get an invite out to you but your number was disconnected."
Elliot sighed "sorry about that man it's just after the shooting there was a lot of bad press and I needed to be left alone so I could deal with every thing that happened."
Allen nodded sympathetically "I understand Elliot that was a bad day I'll never forget it guaranteed."
Elliot discreetly wiped at his eye "m-me either," he said as he and Liv walked away in sync and Allen frowned from his seat behind his desk.
"You okay El?" Olivia asked softly once they were alone in the elevator.
Elliot nodded "yeah I'm fine baby don't worry about me," he said softly.
Olivia smiled slightly "I can't help it just like you can't help it," she said as he nodded knowingly and they kissed quickly before the elevator doors opened.
"You guys have passed me over a less than bullet proof case, the victim is suspected of having an affair, his fingerprints aren't on anything, he sustained multiple injuries and her husband is prone to violent rages," Barba could be heard saying as they walked quietly into the squad room.
"I can tell you right now she's not having an affair her love for that man is like love I've never seen before, it's love I'll probably never have in my life," Rollins said.
Barba sighed "I know she's not having an affair but a jury is who has to be convinced not you and me."
Rollins sighed heavily "a jury would be stupid not to believe her," she said as Munch nodded "your forgetting too that he burned his fingerprints off, no person in their write mind burns their fingerprints off unless they have something to hide."
Barba sighed "your right but last time we tried him we had a better case than this and he got off, I want more evidence."
Olivia's face paled "h-he can't get off, h-he can't go free I-I won't be safe if he's free..." she whispered into Elliot's ear.
"Shhh, shhh I'll keep you safe sweetheart," he whispered softly as he pulled her closer to him "you better not let that fucking bastard out! I mean it you better not," he growled as Barba's face paled and Cragen's shoulders slumped "I-I didn't realize you guys were here..." Barba sighed.
Elliot nodded "well we are and you better not!"
Barba sighed "I-I'm gonna get justice for you Olivia I mean that I just want them to find more evidence before I proceed, I don't want him walking again."
Cragen sighed "there isn't anything else to find the CSU techs have been over it all already but there were urine stains in their closet for god sakes."
Barba sighed "I know that and we all here know what that means but William Lewis is a master manipulator and he'll spin that, he'll spin it and say that Olivia knew he was in that closet."
"I-I didn't though, I didn't I-I wouldn't endanger my family like that," she said fighting tears.
"We know baby, I promise you we know," Elliot said softly as Rollins was once again scared at how fast he went from 100 to 0 in a matter of thirty seconds "m-maybe I could get him to agree to a plea deal," Barba said.
"If it doesn't come with a sentence of at least 20 years I don't want to here about it," Elliot said.
Barba sighed "it would be the charges of breaking and entering and assault on a police officer served consecutively, I'd recommend 6 years in prison, 10 on parole and a permanent restraining order once he's out."
Olivia shook her head "no t-that's not enough time for him to spend in prison for what he did to me a-and he has to go on the sex offender registry for me to be okay with any deal, besides I saw him shoot Ryan McGuire even if you can't prove that he assaulted me you can prove that he shot him."
Barba shook his head "no I can't there aren't any fingerprints on the gun but yours."
Olivia sighed heavily "R-Rafael I never beg for anything b-but I'm begging you now, please please don't set William Lewis free," she stepped away from Elliot and over to him "i-if you do the moment he gets out of the hospital he will come after me and El will die trying to protect me. I-I can't have that happen I-I couldn't live with that, I'll testify to everything I saw, everything I went through j-just please, please make him stand trial for what he did to me..." she whispered to him.
Barba sighed "you realize if I do the cross examination you get from his lawyer will be brutal?"
She nodded slightly "I-I know I'm not your average victim counselor I know what I'm getting myself in to."
Barba sighed slightly "okay then, I'll file the proper paperwork and get him arraigned, I'll push for remand."
"T-Thank you," Olivia said through a relieved sigh as she went back over to Elliot "Olivia what do you want your last name listed as in court?" Barba asked.
"Benson-Stabler," she said with out hesitation as Barba nodded his head then pulled out his paperwork for another case and Elliot rubbed her back gently "how'd you get him to change his mind?" he asked softly.
"I spoke from my heart," she said simply as Elliot nodded slightly "well whatever you told him I'm glad you said it because I would have hated to have to stalk Lewis and kill him," he whispered.
Olivia smiled slightly "I have the funny feeling you'd love doing exactly that," she whispered.
He smiled "maybe I would but I'll settle for him being someones play toy in prison instead."
Olivia smiled slightly "me too," she said as they hugged tightly for a moment then walked over to her desk to begin looking for the name of their new therapist.