Chapter 30: This case.
(Narrator POV)
The following week on Tuesday, Olivia and Edgar scheduled an appointment with Olivia's OBGYN. They were gonna see their baby for the first time. Edgar was so excited for today bought a frame that said 'my first ultrasound'. Olivia was very excited still very cautious; about the baby making it to term. Edgar constantly reminded her that their baby would be fine but she needed to see for herself. Edgar's parents surprisingly hadn't called to ask Edgar what that happened over that phone call.
"Hey, babe!" Edgar shouted from the kitchen. "Yes!" Olivia was upstairs finding clothes for Noah to wear to school. "Can you come here for a second?"
"Can it wait?"
"I guess!" Olivia groaned and made her way to the balcony. "What is it?"
"Nothing it can wait. Finish what you're doing." She smacked the railing. "Edgar I got up to see what you wanted! What do you want?" Irritability... another mood swing. Been the most persistent mood she's had. "Okay, when can I tell my mom and dad, y'know about the baby?"
"You seriously called for me; to ask me that? You're kidding right?"
"No it's a genuine..." she walked away from the balcony. "Question." This woman is absolutely crazy, all I did was ask a question. Edgar thought. He finished making breakfast when Noah came running down the stairs. "Hey Noah, where's you're mom?"
"She's upstairs looking in all of the rooms. She's acting weird." Edgar made Noah a plate and went upstairs looking for Olivia. He went all the way down the hall in the third room. "Aye, breakfast is ready. What are you doing? Is something wrong?" A question he had asked too much in the past few days. Please don't let anything be wrong. I cannot take anymore of this. "This is the room. I want this to be the nursery."
"Okay... sure!"
"Really?"
"Yeah. If this is what you want, then this will be the room."
"Thank you!" She jumped onto him and hugged him. She jumped before Edgar could could even react, but he caught her. Even though her grip wasn't gonna let her fall. "You're welcome?" It's just a room. "Okay do you want to get down now?" She pulled back to look at him. "Mhmm, no."
"Is this good for your back?"
"Well my back isn't hurting at the moment."
"Okay well we need to get moving, Noah has to get to school by 8:00 and your appointment is at 8:30." He tried to put Olivia down but she kept her grip and laughed at him. "Olivia get down."
"No."
"Mommy- Uhh what are you guys doing?"
"Noah jump on Edgar's back!"
"Wait I don't think that's a good idea." He swiftly turned around. "What if you fall, you're pregnant."
"I know you're not gonna let that happen." Noah kept trying to find Edgar's back but he kept turning. "And Noah come on we're bro's."
"Noah I'm your mom, jump on his back."
"I can't." He giggled. "Got him!"
"Noah mess up his hair!"
"WAIT-Wait, wait! We don't have to go that far please leave my hair out of this. It doesn't have to be like this guys."
"Okay fine. Let's leave Edgar alone." Olivia jumped down, then Noah. "Thank you. I do not like being ambushed. I don't appreciate it. I think you guys want owe me an apology."
"Nah, you'll be okay. Just get used to it, don't forget we have one on the way." They all left the room to eat breakfast, finish getting ready to leave. Edgar drove to Noah's school, Olivia had to take in something to the main office. Then the couple made there way to the Gynecologist office. "Hello, we're here for an 8:30 appointment."
"Last name?"
"Benson."
"Olivia Benson?" She just nodded. "Okay, the doctor will be right with you. I just need you to fill out this paperwork give it to me if you finish before you're called, if not give it to your doctor."
"Okay thank you." She went through all the pages and it was pretty basic information. "I do half, you do half?" Edgar the last half of paper and filled it out to the best of his knowledge, there were of curse answers he didn't know like past Health conditions but everything he pretty much knew. "Am I your emergency contact?" She smiled at him and said "Who else would it be?" Then she winked. "Okay then, I just need you to sign here, here, and here." He pointed out on all the pages. "I need you to sign on this front page of my stack."
"Alright... done! I can take the papers up." Almost immediately after he gave the front desk lady the papers they called Olivia back. "Olivia Benson, how is it going? We're finally seeing each other on a good visit."
"Everything is great and I know right."
"Okay we're gonna be in this room right here." She let Edgar and Olivia in the room first. She took her seat and opened her computer to ask some routine questions. "Sir I don't believe we've met, I'm Lindsey Hein I'll be assisting Dr. Hill today." She reach her hand out to shake his. "I'm Edgar Goodwin."
"Nice to meet you, your relationship with Liv?"
"Boyfriend! Yep this is our little baby." Olivia loved how much Edgar lit up when talking about them and the baby. He truly was proud to be her boyfriend. "Well alright, congratulations to the both of you and Dr. Hill will be right in. And before I forget, I need you to strip from the waist down."
"Okay thank you." Lindsey left the room so that Olivia could get undressed. "Can you help? My back is a little sore from earlier."
"You shouldn't have jumped on me."
"In the heat of the moment... it was the only way to show my excitement. I don't regret doing it."
"Okay, here put this over you. Give me your clothes." Edgar folded her clothes and placed them on the counter. They waited silently for the doctor to come in, but Edgar could sense olivia was nervous. He rubbed her shoulder, "what's on your mind?"
"I just want everything to be okay. To get this far and something happen isn't even an option. I just really want the baby to be okay."
"And he or she will be. You got just trust the process and keep doing what you're doing. We're gonna take it one day at a time." They heard a knock on the door. "We're ready."
"Hi, Ms. Benson! You are very popular around here. Do you have lots of kids?"
"No. My job causes me to come over here every once and a while. This is my first pregnancy ultrasound appointment. My first child is adopted."
"Fun! What's their name?"
"Noah, he is amazing!"
"So I'm gonna take a wild guess... you're dad?"
"Yes I am. Edgar Goodwin." He shook her hand. "Very pleased time meet you both. My first day here! My first patient! So lucky you. We're just going through first am I right." They collectively laughed together. "So how far along do you think you might be?" Dr. Hill started prepping for the ultrasound.
"Pssh, I don't know around 11 weeks."
"Oh really? Well I guess that might change somethings. For the first ultrasound I like to do an internal ultrasound just because the baby is really small. At 6 weeks but you're almost out of your first trimester I think we can do an external ultrasound is that what you prefer?" Olivia didn't know which to choose, she looked to Edgar help. "Do whichever one makes you comfortable."
"I'll tell you what, we can try external first, then if the baby is to hard to see we'll do an internal. Sound good?"
"Okay." Olivia rolled her shirt up under her breast line. Edgar took her hand in his, kind of rubbed the back of her hand with his thumb. "This is gonna be a little cold." The gel was super cold. Olivia squeezes Edgar's hand. It was almost like ice melting on her stomach. "Ahhh I think I found your baby. Look!" She turned the screen toward the anxious mommy and daddy. "Aww." Edgar kissed the back of her hand. Olivia let one tear fall. The doctor started to point out the arms, legs, head, spine, rib cage, and heart. "I'm gonna start a 'heart tracing' so we can measure how fast the baby's heart is beating and hear the heart beat of you like."
Doctor spent some time on work on the heart tracing longer than usual. She clicked on the hearing. "Mhmm, it seems like your baby has a little heart murmur."
"Oh my Gosh!" Olivia covered her eyes, she couldn't watch the screen anymore. "Well is that a bad thing?" Edgar asked.
"Not necessarily, it is common in babies. I'm sure- well I found the reasonable explanation. Look... your babies are fine." Olivia gasped and laughed. "I knew it. I was way too big to be 12 weeks. Oh my- we're having twins! Wow."
"The twins heartbeat sometimes overlap each other so it sounds like a murmur when it really isn't. With new high tech... here is the heart tracing for both babies. Baby A which is right here has a heart beat of 149 and baby B is at 152. Both very healthy heart rates. Both your babies are doing wonderful I see nothing wrong just with your advanced maternal age, as your pregnancy progresses start taking it easier. We're done! Any questions?"
"Any tips?"
"Stay hydrated. Lots and lots of water. I'm sure he will make sure of that. You of course you know your body just don't over work."
"Her job is can be very very stressful and physical, what should she do as far as work?" Olivia rolled her eyes at Edgar.
"What do you do?"
"I'm a NYPD Captain."
"I see why you asked. Again you know your body better than anyone. You just need to take care of yourself. Obviously no tackling anyone, work as much as you can but limit yourself." They nodded. "And another thing, I want to see you every four weeks. I can tell you are a nervous mama. So those frequent visits might ease your nerves."
"Okay. Sounds great. Thank you Doc!" Edgar said. "Yep you guys have a good rest of your day." Edgar gave Olivia her underwear and pants.
"Our babies are perfect!" Olivia squealed, after this the room went in slow motion for Edgar. It was happening again... she was gonna jump. He was prepared this time. He just hugged her tightly. He let her enjoy this moment. They enjoyed it together. She hopped down and looked at his beautiful eyes. "Family of five!" They held each other's hand as the scheduled their next 4 appointments. As they were leaving they saw Elliot. Edgar shielded Olivia so that he could see her face. He got Olivia in the car before Elliot noticed him. "Hey aren't you Olivia's boyfriend?" Of course he knew that he was her boyfriend.
"Not anymore, we haven't been together since that day at the hospital. I was here with my new girlfriend. But we're still good friends."
"Nice, congratulations. Is Olivia seeing anyone?"
"I don't think that should matter to you, you seem to already have your hands full." He gestured the pregnant woman beside him.
"Oh her? I barely know her, She's nobody. if Olivia is on the market she's all I'm worried about. Have her give me a call will ya?"
"No, no I won't." He simply just walked away to get in the car. He was nice enough to Elliot to last a year. Lord knows he can't stand him. "What did he say?"
"He asked if I was your boyfriend, I said no so he wouldn't try to come say hi and mess with you. He asked if you were single I told him it's none of his business because he had someone next to him who had his baby I'm guessing. And he said 'Oh her? I barely know her, She's nobody. if Olivia is on the market she's all I'm worried about. Have her give me a call will ya?' Uhh no I won't have her call you. Like what the hell kind of shit is that you're gonna have a baby with another woman, leave her and get with you. Ugh, he pisses me off so much!"
"Okay calm down. Don't let him spoil our good day. Just remember I AM your girlfriend and we have three beautiful kids, two of which are on the way. Something we can look forward to, seeing our babies grow!Forget Elliot."
"You're right. Today is a good day. I am calm. You are my girlfriend, my beautiful girlfriend."
"And don't you ever forget it."Then he just looked at her with a sparkle in his eyes. "I love you."
"I love you too! As much as I wish we could sit here all do and look at each other but we can't. We both have to go to work." They grooved to some music and talked more about the babies before they arrived at the precinct. "Do I need to pick you up?"
"My new squad car is supposed to be here today. I'm excited to see what's different about. If not I'll catch a ride or a taxi. I'm going back to my apartment tonight but can you come by tonight... if I'm at home."
"Yeah. Just shoot me a text. Want me to walk you in?"
"Nope. Love you." She shut the door. "Love you too honey." Edgar said sarcastically to himself.
In the precinct..
"Hey Cap. We were just about to roll out. We gotta case, white female, mid thirties, reported being stalked for the past week but no one took it seriously. Today they found her in her apartment two gunshots the head." Kat rushed up to her.
"And what does this have to do with SVU?"
"I don't know they just requested you be there and SVU to the crime scene."
"Alright, let's ride!" Kat and Olivia drove in one car, and Amanda and Fin drove in the other. They arrived on the scene, "Captain Olivia Benson, Special victims. Why am I here?"Kat went to examine the body while Fin and Rollins talked with neighbors.
"Because we found this and the victim had her panties around her ankles." Olivia took the evidence bag out of the police officers hand. It had a little piece of paper that said 'Stabler and Benson.'
"He hasn't been my partner in 10 years. Where did you find this?"
"It was in the victims mouth. Now would you like to see the crime scene." He said more as a statement than a question, with attitude that Olivia did not appreciate. She brushed past him to the apartment. The smell of blood made her want to throw up. Nothing she saw made her recognize the woman. "Cap do you know her?"
"I don't think I do. What's her name?"
"Margarite Scott." Olivia racked her brain through her first years at SVU with Elliot but nothing clicked. "I don't know."
"What about you old partner?"
"Elliot? I don't know. I don't remember her coming to the precinct. Or ever hearing her name." She took a pause, she felt the bile raise in her throat. "Excuse me." She walk out to get some fresh air not realizing she was followed by Kat.
"Cap you good? Is it...?" She gestured toward her abdomen.
"Yeah, the smell is not easy on my stomach right now. But I'm okay. I just can't remember who she is." This is the last thing she wanted today. But she had to do it. "Go look and see if you can find out anything else about her." She went to her contacts Elliot. She needed to text him. But he had already texted her 'can I take you out to lunch?' She knew his intentions and didn't want to but she needed to talk to him. 'You busy now?'
'For you, never.' Heart emoji.
'Elliot, this is serious. Stop trying to hit on me! Come to the precinct.'
'I can't go back. Meet me at Manhattan Diner on Broadway.'
'I'll be there in 15 minutes.' She really didn't want to go but she needed to ask him about the new case. "Kat!" She was walking out of the building back to Olivia when she was summoned. "What's up?"
"I need to go. Ride with Fin and Rollins. I'll be back later."
"Is something wrong? Are you okay?" Kat started look at her trying to figure it out. "Kat calm down I'm just gonna go see my former partner see if he knows anything about Ms. Scott."
"Want me to come? I know you two don't really get along."
"Actually sure. But I need to talk to him alone so stay near by in case I decide to punch him."
"That's my cap." They hopped in the SUV, Olivia drove to the Diner while Kat interrogated her about the baby. "So how's it been go ya know with... the little peanut."
"Everything is well. But we just found out that we are having twins. We're really excited."
"We? You told him? Thank God! I was tired of keeping it a secret and quiet frankly you weren't doing such a great job covering it up."
"I did tell him but we are telling Noah tonight, then the squad over the weekend." Olivia found a parking spot a little ways down from the diner but it was the best she could find. "If you feel the slightest bit uncomfortable or he starts making you angry beyond what you can tolerate flip your menu over. And I got you."
"Alright." They arrived before Elliot which was surprising. "How many?"
"2." Kat follows the waiter and Olivia. She takes the third table behind Olivia so she could see everything. 10 minutes later Elliot finally walks through the door. "I meeting someone, she's right there." He excused himself past the hostess. "I'm sorry I'm late."
"Don't be. I'm sorry I came. But I need-"
"I heard that you and Edward broke up..." Kat looked at Olivia confused, but Olivia shook her heard. "His name is Edgar."
"And my name is Elliot-"
"Elliot! Stop, I really need to talk to you!" The tone in her voice got real serious but Elliot kept pressing on. "I saw him at a pregnancy clinic."
"Elliot listen to me!"
"How does that feel? You guys break up and he gets another woman pregnant." He nagged on. "Elliot you have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh but I think I do Olivia."
"You know what, I do have to take this." She flipped her menu over. Just before she slid out of the booth Elliot said, "Wait! I'm sorry. What did you want to talk about?"
"Are you done with the questions?"
"Yes. Now, what is it?" Olivia pulled out the case file. "This case I have, her name is Margarite Scott. At the crime scene they found a note with our names on it. Nothing but our last names. I don't remember her, do you?"
"She was stalked, raped, then murdered?" Olivia nodded. "I think you're looking at this the wrong way Olivia. I don't think she knew us, I think the guy knew us."
"The guy? You mean the rapist?"
"Yeah, I mean that's the only plausible explanation in my opinion. Two gun shot wounds to the head? Olivia, do you remember Richard white? Your first year at SVU he was hitting on you. Now I'm not saying that it was him but it's the same MO, might be a copycat." Olivia thought for a second. "I could be wrong but that's all I got."
"Okay thank you, I may call you again. I need you to come down to the station though. I can't keep meeting up like this."
"Why not?"
"Because I have a job I need to do. And you have a pregnant... person in your life that you need to worry about and not me." Olivia started to slide out the booth. "How did you know that?"
"Because I'm Edgar's pregnant girlfriend. Goodbye Elliot." Olivia left and Kat followed behind. Elliot just sat there stunned.
6 hours later...
Olivia had a suspect name Sean Lawson. They found loads of evidence against him, except how did he know Olivia and Elliot. He just told them he wanted a lawyer before she called Lucy to make sure Noah was picked up from school and taken care of. She had a minor headache and needed to get some water to keep herself hydrated like the doctor said. She walked to the bullpen where Carisi and Amanda were eating and talking about the case. They were dating for some time now. They came to Olivia a while back and of course Olivia was cool about it. "Hey Liv?" Amanda spoke.
"Yeah?" She said lowly. "You alright?" Amanda asked concerned.
"Yeah." She bought a water bottle from the vending machine.
"Did you talk to your old partner about the case?"
"Yeah."
"Did he say anything about it? And this time say something other than 'yeah.'" Amanda mocked Olivia.
"Only what I told you guys." Kat came racing in bullpen to find Liv. "Uhh Elliot is here."
"What does he want?"
"I don't know. I looked up and I saw him, I came straight to you." Olivia rubbed her head in frustration. "Put him in my office."
Amanda and Carisi looked at each other having a silent conversation. Olivia never brought up Elliot like that when Carisi came around. By that time she had moved on. He didn't know much about Elliot but Amanda knew that Olivia wasn't very fond of him anymore.
"I thought you couldn't come here." She closed the door to her office. "Well I wanted to know how the case was going. We never finished talking." They both sat down at her desk.
"When I left- that meant we were done talking. We have a suspect with airtight evidence against him we are just waiting on his lawyer to get here. Thing is he didn't confess and the evidence we have points to him it's not enough for an arrest. And-"
"You still don't know how he knows us."
"Exactly." Her headache was making her dizzy and her hands were shaking. Olivia started to feel queasy. She rested her elbows on her knees and let her head hang low on her hands. "Are you okay?" He moved to her side. When she didn't answer he grabbed her water bottle, opened it, and gave it to her. "Drink this. Are you hot?"
"Yes but you need to back up. You're too close."
"I'm only trying to help." She just nodded. She took her blazer off, it revealed her pregnant belly that was pretty big to Elliot's surprise. "Elliot what the hell are you doing?"
"Dizzy spells happened like this with Kathy when she was pregnant. Especially with the twins. I'm just trying to help."
"No. Back up! I understand you're trying to help but you're not. You're just making it worse. So please just stop." She shoved Elliot out of her way, stood up, and immediately got too dizzy. She felt disoriented. She caught herself from falling on her desk, Elliot put his hands on her n her hips to steady her, Olivia was too out of it to even fight against him. She heard some come in the office but who- she couldn't tell. She heard voices but it was like they were underwater. "Olivia, baby? What happened?" He looked at Elliot. "She got dizzy. Probably because she isn't properly taken care of." Her Edgar tunes out that last part his focus was Olivia. He pushed Elliot out the way picked her up, then placed her on the couch. Out of nowhere she popped out of her spell. "What happened? When did you get here? Why are you here?"
"Slow down. You got dizzy, I got here about 7 minutes ago."
"Okay so why are you here?"
"I have a client Sean Lawson." Olivia sat straight up and gave him the look. "You're kidding right?"
"That's too bad. Olivia you don't like defense attorneys. Mhmm." Elliot shrugged his shoulders. "Elliot shut up!" Olivia exclaimed. "Edgar?"
"No I am not. What's the issue?"
"Dude are stupid?" Elliot budded in again. "Elliot we're done talk you can leave now." He got his things and left. "The issue is, is that we're dating and you're working against me."
"I don't see what the big problem is. I can leave work at work. I hardly- ever bring my work home."
"You are unbelievable!"
"Where is Sean?" Olivia scoffed, rolled her eyes. "Interrogation 1." He was about to exit the room when he said "drink some water. I don't want you to get dizzy like that again."
Later that night...
Edgar came over to have dinner with them. While Olivia finished making dinner, Noah and Edgar were playing games with legos. Olivia was still irritated with him from earlier. She put on a happy face for Noah. Tonight they were gonna tell him about the babies.
"Food is ready."
"What did you make?"
"Spaghetti, Noah's favorite." They enjoyed their meal. Edgar made sure to stay away from the topic of work. He talked to Noah most of the night only talking to Olivia a few times. "I can take the dishes." Noah was offered. "Sure but set them in the sink not the counter." While Noah was doing that she shot Edgar a glare. He was in some hot water. Surely if she wasn't hormonal then she wouldn't be as mad. When Noah finished he hopped on the sofa between Edgar and Olivia. "So No, Edgar and I have something to tell you okay?"
"Did you get me a dog!"
"No, Noah maybe something you'll like even better."
"What's better than a dog?"
"Well, mommy is pregnant again."
"Really! Is something gonna happen to the baby again? Because if so I don't want it." Tears bayed in Olivia's eyes by what Noah said. "Noah, I don't know if something will happen. I sure hope not."
"I don't want the baby."
"Noah, listen I know you're scared... me and mommy are just a scared but we still love the babies very much. Just think Noah if nothing happens you will be a big brother. Remember how excited you were when you found out the first time?" Noah nodded his head. "You should feel even more excited because they are two baby in mommy's belly." He looked down at his moms stomach, Olivia rolled her shirt up. "See they babies are in there safe and sound. Mommy is gonna take good care of them so that we can finally meet them one day, but that also means you and I have to take care of mommy. Whatever she needs, so that we meet them." Noah wanted to put his hand on her stomach but was hesitant. He didn't want to hurt the babies.
"Noah it's okay, go ahead."
"Am I gonna hurt them?"
"No, you just have to be gentle." He placed his hand down. "I can't feel them. Are you sure they are okay?"
"It's normal not to feel them. I don't even feel them yet. But I know they are okay."
"Okay, but you gotta take care of them okay?" Olivia chuckled and tears fell
"I promise."
"I didn't mean to make you cry. I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault sweetie. Sometimes the babies make me happy and then sometimes I cry. But I'm honestly fine." They Enjoyed their moment of happiness, before Edgar sent Noah of to his room. "Edgar-"
"Hold on, I wanna say something first. I'm sorry. I should have realized how this would effect us." He take both of her hands into his.
"Edgar..."
"I'm not done, I'm going to tell him I can't be of counsel for him anymore. And I promise not to take another SVU case."
"I'm not mad anymore." Edgar has it his head down. "I said I'm sorry, I dong know what else you want me to do. I'm not-"
"Edgar! I said I'm NOT mad. It's okay I may have overreacted I don't know I'm not myself right now. But I know I'm not mad at you anymore. As long as we agree that you can't work against me. Because unlike you I can't leave my work at the door it's apart of me. I just don't want that relationship to effect this one. I love you with all of my heart, and I don't ever want to lose that."
"I love you too!" They kisses and made up. For the rest of the night until about 9:00, when Noah had to go to bed. They all played in Noah's room, after that Olivia wanted so cuddle time with Edgar but it was getting late so at about 10:45 Edgar got up to leave. "Do you have to leave?"
"We both have work tomorrow and I don't have any other clothes."
"I know. I hate it when you leave."
"Then move in with me. That way you never have to leave my side. I have space for all of us. Just think about some more."
"I want to, I just have to talk to Noah first see was he thinks about it."
"Alright, love you." They hugged and kissed. "Goodnight baby."
"Love you too."