Chapter Nine
After some very serious conversations with Elliot, Olivia and his kids were able to convince him to allow Emma to testify against Wheatley, even though she was going to do it, with or without his permission.
Olivia, Elliot and the Stabler kids walked up the courthouse steps. Both Elliot and Olivia had told the kids not to talk to any of the press. No one. Even if they asked the simplest questions.
"Ms. Stabler-Wheatley!" One reporter said, and put the mic towards Emma's mouth, "Is it true that you're about to testify against your own father? Who just so happens to have murdered your own mother?"
"She has nothing to say to you." Elliot said, pushing the mic away from Emma's face.
"Detective Stabler," he said, moving the mic towards Elliot's mouth, "Is it true that your old partner, Captain Benson, is trying to legally adopt Emma?"
"Where'd you hear that?" Elliot said, stopping in his tracks and pushing the guy's arm down.
"I can't reveal my sources Detective," The man said, looking down and seeing Elliot had a grip on the man's wrist. "And that's police brutality." Elliot looked down and let go of the man's wrist.
"Dad," Kathleen said. Elliot ran up the rest of the stairs catching up with the rest of his family.
They made their way into the courthouse where they met up with ADA Frasier. She took Emma from there and brought her to the waiting room. The rest of them entered Part 32. There were a lot of people. Press, lawyers, cops, and even more people. He even saw support from his old squad.
"What are they doing here?" Elliot asked Olivia.
"They wanted to come to support, Kat wanted to come too, but we need someone at the precinct. She's watching it online." Elliot smiled.
"Everyone rise," the judge said, entering the room. They had a few different witnesses who basically said the same thing. "ADA Frasier, call your next witness."
"The people call Emma Stabler-Wheatley." The court officer entered the room with Emma, who sat in the witness's chair.
"Please place your hand on the bible." the officer said. "Please state your name for the court,"
"Emma Stabler-Wheatley," she said.
"Do you swear to tell the truth and nothing but the truth?"
"I do,"
ADA Frasier got up from her seat and walked over to Emma. She asked her all the basic questions she needed to cover.
"Just one more question," Frasier said. "Tell me why Kathy gave you up."
Emma took a deep breath, "I was told that Wheatley had threatened her and her family if she hadn't given me up."
"Thank you, no further questions. Your witness."
"Ms. Stabler-Benson, if your father was threatening your mother and her current family, why didn't he want to keep you himself?" Wheatley's lawyer stated.
"He told me that he didn't want a baby holding him down." Emma replied.
"And isn't it true, you went to visit in jail while he was on trial for your own rap case?"
"It is," Emma said.
"And isn't it true that Captain Benson is trying to adopt you?"
Emma didn't answer. Elliot looked at Olivia, curious to know whether or not this was true since he has heard this news twice today.
"Ms. Emma Stabler-Wheatley, please answer the question."
"Uh, yeah, I guess."
"Thank you, no further questions."
The judge had ordered a brief recess for lunch. The Stabler kids decided to take Emma out, since they were no longer needed in court. Olivia and Elliot stayed at the courthouse waiting for the trial to resume. They were standing outside the courtroom doors.
"Is it true?" Elliot asked, breaking the silence.
"Is what true?" Liv responded.
"Are you really adopting Emma without even talking to me first?" he said, with an angry tone in his voice.
Oliva sighed before answering, "It all happened so fast. I wasn't even planning on doing it. Then all of a sudden Trevor found out and asked me if I wanted him to represent me on Emma's case. I'm not even sure if the paperwork will go through. It's early El."
"And you didn't even think about asking me if I wanted to adopt her?"
"You know, I thought you would've been happy for me. I mean you already have 5 kids."
"You know, don't start with that Liv. Emma is still part Stabler, she deserves to live with her siblings."
"Elliot, please let's not do this here."
Elliot drove Olivia back to the precinct. The tension between them in the car was intense. There in Liv's office was Trevor Langan waiting for her.
"Captain, I swear I didn't tell them." Trevor stated, as the two walked into the office.
"I know," Liv responded.
"But we do have another issue," he added. "Wheatley's lawyer called, he wants full custody of Emma."
"He has no legal right to have her." Elliot added.
"Not him, his wife, Pilar."
"So what does that mean for us?" Liv asked.
"Well it gets much worse. Wheatley has been pulling old case files. He even added that when you first filled out the adoption forms years ago, that they told you, you 'weren't parenting material'. They also pulled that when you tried adopting Noah you never notified the father, and then when he died you never notified Sheila."
"So what does this mean for Liv?" Elliot asked, accepting the fact Liv was in the right for adopting Emma.
"It means we'll have to go to court, and prove she's a fit parent. But that means that both Emma and Noah will have to testify proving our point."
"And what if Noah doesn't do it?" Liv asked.
"Then that makes our case a lot harder, but not impossible, but Noah is living proof." Trevor responded.
"I'll talk to him." Liv said. "What if we don't win the case?"
"The worst that could happen is that he gets visitation rights until she's 18. It's only for another year or so, but it could be worse." Trevor picked up his things and headed to the door. He stopped near Liv, and whispered something in her ear. Olivia's facial expression went from worried, to as if she saw a ghost, her skin turned pale, and she started to breathe heavily. Liv started to fall against the wall, Elliot ran over and held her up.
"Hey, are you ok?" He asked, helping her get back on her feet. She didn't answer or say anything. She just stared into space. Elliot helped her over to the couch and grabbed her a cup of water.
