Chapter Summary: Olivia and Elliot fall asleep at Fin's NYE party.
Author's Note: This chapter follows the last one in time, but stands alone as its own (short) chapter. I think this is the last chapter, but I won't swear on it. Thank you all for reading and commenting. It really does mean a lot!
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Buzz Buzz Buzz
Sergeant Bell was just about to get off the couch and head to bed when she heard her phone vibrate on the end table. She and Denise had decided to stay in this year, celebrating early as a family. Denise was already in bed, asleep, after wrestling with a very restless and excited baby Jack who did not want to be put to bed. Bell had stayed up to watch the ball drop and the related commentary and was now ready to make her way to the bedroom.
Her lock screen read 12:32 a.m. January 1, 2023 and shows a text notification from Sgt. "Fin" Tutuola.
Wondering what Fin would be texting her about at 12:30 on New Year's morning, she swipes open the notification.
It's a text with a video:
Delete immediately after watching.
Tell anyone and I'll disown you.
[shush emoji]
She clicks play.
The video starts with a close up of Fin's face, he's giving the camera a happy tipsy smile. The camera moves back, as if he's extended his arm, giving her a wider view of his apartment. But then he turns it and she sees Phoebe, Rollins, Carisi, and Valesco standing around a small loveseat, trying their best to contain their giggles. Each of them with a party hat on their heads and noisemakers in their hands, and mouthing "shhh's" with their fingers over their lips.
Fin is standing behind the loveseat, but she'd recognize that bald head anywhere: Stabler. He's sitting next to a long-haired brunette, and it doesn't take a detective to know that it's Olivia Benson.
Fin makes his way around the loveseat, letting the camera pan over Elliot and Olivia, who had somehow fallen asleep on the small couch. Elliot's sitting up, with his head back resting on the back of the couch, his mouth propped up and small snores filtering out. His arm is wrapped around Olivia's shoulder and her head is resting on his chest, her party hat tickling his chin, with her hand across his abdomen.
How did they fall asleep at Fin's party? she wonders. She knew that they had taken a holiday vacation with his family, renting a cabin for several days. Must still be worn out from all that family time with the kiddos and the 'fresh air,' she concludes with a soft laugh.
Fin flipped the camera to the TV in the background that had been muted and she sees the countdown to the new year starting. Oh no, they wouldn't…
10…
9…
8…
The camera is back on the couch, all the party-goers having surrounded the sleeping pair, most of them putting their noisemakers between their lips. They can barely contain their mirth. Bell can see tears of pre-laughter and joy starting to seep from Carisi's eyes.
7…
6…
5…
4…
"This is what you get for falling asleep at one of my parties, I don't care how old you are," comes Fin's voice through the camera.
3…
2…
"HAPPY NEW YEAR!" comes several shouts along with the whistles, and cracks, and popping of the noisemakers.
Elliot and Olivia both jump awake, their eyes snapping open, their bodies jolting, and they gasp for breath.
It takes a few seconds for them to take in their surroundings as the small crowd around them doubles over with laughter.
Elliot jumps up, slightly pushing Olivia off to the side and starts after Fin. The camera goes wobbly and Bell can see the floor and walls passing by as she hears Elliot's booming voice "FIN! That's right! You better hide!"
"You don't want to do this Stabler! I outrank you Detective," she hears Fin yelling back. Yea, like that matters now, chuckles Ayanna.
In the background she can barely hear Olivia scolding her squad, "Rollins! Valesco! On call! Rest of your life! And Carisi…," she's running out of steam, "you're lucky you're with the DA's office or I'd…."
But she never learns what punishment Olivia would have doled out to Carisi, because the screen goes black as the video ends.
Bell knows she has to delete it, but she watches the video three more times, her laughter coming harder with each repeat, before she texts Fin:
You are a brave soul. Did she know you took the video?
Hell no!
I'd be too dead to text you if she did.
I'm surprised you are alive now.
Nah, she owes me one
Two words: Interrogation Room
I'll let you guess who
I don't even want to know
I've learned to much about that "Alter Boy" to last a lifetime
Alter Boy my ass!
Stop now, I beg you!
Sourpuss!
Happy New year
Happy New Year
