Chapter 14

AN: Thank you so much for the support. I am both extremely excited, and extremely nervous, for you to read this chapter. Hope you like.


A little while later Olivia, having no idea that Alex and Liz are on their way to where she is, is standing outside the emergency room of the hospital Kathy Stabler, who was involved in a car bombing, was brought to. For the first time in Ten Years Olivia has spoken to Elliot Stabler, and she isn't quite sure how to handle that fact as she is feeling beyond shocked.

As she tries to comprehend everything that happened Olivia hears footsteps, and she looks to see Fin walking towards her. As she sees her Sergeant Olivia feels relieved to see him as after everything, they have been through she knows she can count on Fin.

"Liv. Liv. You okay?" Fin asks concerned as he knows that Olivia isn't likely to be in great shape right now.

"I followed Elliot here. I barely talked to him. Kathy just went into surgery," Olivia explains. "How did this happen? Why?" Olivia asks, as she doesn't understand why this happened.

"Rollins is at the scene. A uni told her it was a rental car parked on the street," Fin explains. "Kathy went in to get in, and the bomb went off. Arson thinks it misfired and threw her clear," Fin explains, telling Olivia everything he knows so far.

"A rental car… where are they in from?" Olivia asks, feeling that she should have let Alex tell her where Elliot was when she offered because at least then she would know a little more.

"They've been living in Italy," Fin explains. "Elliot had to come in for some type of task for meeting, and he and Kathy decided to make it a trip," Fin explains as even though he has seen Dickie, Liz and Kathleen a few times in recent months he was still shocked to get a call from Elliot. "He just called me out of nowhere and told me he was coming. I may have spoken about your award," Fin explains, and Olivia rolls her eyes. "I thought enough time had gone down between you two," Fin admits.

"Okay, a task force, what… who's he working for?" Olivia asks, trying to make sense of things.

"NYPAD. He's the international liaison in Rome," Fin explains, knowing a little more than Olivia does.

"Since when?" Olivia asks shocked.

"Look, this is all I know. You're gonna have to ask him," Fin says, and as he does Elliot comes out of the hospital.

"Fin," Elliot says as he and Fin shake hands and they use that to pull each other in for a hug.

"Hey, I'm here for whatever you need, Man," Fin assures him as even though it has been ten years Elliot is still his brother, even though he is angry with him for what he did to Olivia.

"Appreciate it," Elliot says, meaning that.

"Okay, how's Kathy?" Olivia asks, looking at Elliot.

"They're still working on her," Elliot explains. "Burns, concussion, fractured pelvis," Elliot explains, and both Olivia and Fin know that's not good. "What do we know?" Elliot asks.

"Local precincts are canvassing, and our explosion guys are tearing the car apart," Fin explains. "Captain, if you don't mind, can I get back to the scene?" Fin asks, as he wants to work, he knows it is the best thing he can do right now.

"Go, go, go, go," Olivia says, and Fin leaves.

"Shouldn't have even been driving," Elliot admits. "I got a call. I slipped away. I gave her the keys. She was worried we were going to be late for your award," Elliot explains, and as he does Olivia feels guilt rise up inside of her. "I meant to give you a call…" Elliot starts to explain.

"It's okay," Olivia says.

"That we were coming," Elliot finishes.

"Elliot, please no," Olivia says, as it is not the time for that.

"Tell me she's gonna be okay," Elliot says, as he cannot lose Kathy.

"Kathy's a fighter. You know that," Olivia says as Dickie and Kathleen walk up Olivia and their dad, seeing the pair Olivia knows that she has to call Alex and see if Liz knows as she would expect Liz to be with Kathleen and Dickie because she knows how close the three of them are.

"Dad?" Kathleen asks as Dickie and Kathleen hug their father.

"What the hell happened?" Dickie asks shocked.

"Uh, we're not sure right now," Elliot admits. "Um, she's alive, and she's in surgery, and that's what we know," Elliot explains. "So, let's go upstairs, come on," Elliot says.

"Olivia," Kathleen says, feeling glad to see her, and to Elliot's complete shock Dickie hugs Olivia. Out of the two of them, as he doesn't know what's been going on with his kids in the last year, he would have expected Kathleen to hug Olivia.

"I'm here, Richard, whatever you need," Olivia assures him, in a quiet voice.

"We should go upstairs," Elliot says, as Olivia and Dickie break apart, and once they do Elliot, Kathleen, and Dickie head inside.

As the four Stablers head inside Olivia pulls her phone and calls Alex, as she needs to talk to her, for many reasons.

"Liv?" Alex answers.

"Alex, are you with Liz? Kathy Stabler…." Olivia starts to say.

"I know," Alex says, saving Olivia from needing to explain.

"You know?" Olivia asks surprised.

"I was with Liz when Richard called. I've driven her to the hospital, she's heading in now, I'm in the carpark," Alex explains.

"Which carpark?" Olivia asks, as she really needs to see Alex and Alex explains. "I'll be right there," Olivia says, before hanging up.

Walking incredibly fast Olivia gets to the carpark where Alex said she would be, and to her relief she spots Alex standing outside her car, and so without a word Olivia just walks straight up to her and hugs her. For a few moments the two of them just stand together and hug.

"How's Liz?" Olivia asks once they finally break apart.

"In shock," Alex admits. "How are you doing?"

"I don't know yet. I was so angry to him, and then this happened…. I don't know how to feel," Olivia admits.

"Are you working this?" Alex asks, not completely sure it's a good idea.

"Yeah," Olivia confirms, and even if she doesn't think it's a good idea Alex knows better than arguing.

"I can drive you back to the precinct," Alex offers, feeling the desire to do more.

"Thanks, but I have my car," Olivia says.

"Okay, if you need anything…" Alex starts to say.

"I know," Olivia says. "But you should worry about Liz, she needs you more than me," Olivia says, as she knows that Liz sees Alex as a parental figure and she's going to need that support, especially when Elliot's likely going to be a mess.

"I can be there for both of you," Alex assures her. "And Richard, and Kathleen," Alex tells her, knowing she will also reach out to Maureen, but she is closer to Liz, Richard, and Kathleen.

"Have you called Antonio? Richard and Liz are going to need him, Richard especially," Olivia explains, as while she doesn't know exactly what the nature of their relationship is she knows Richard and Antonio are incredibly close.

"I know. I'm going to call him on my way back to the office," Alex explains.

"Good," Olivia says relieved, and she hugs Alex once more before heading back to her car.

After watching Olivia leave Alex gets back into her own car and drives back to Vita Nova as she is going to have to pull an all-nighter to ensure she is ready for the hearing.


Hours later, extremely early the next morning. Alex, who pulled an all-nighter as expected, is with Antonio and the two of them are walking up to Liz and Richard's apartment.

"Mami, what do I do? What do I say? Nothing feels right?" Antonio says as they walk, as he wants to do the right thing, he wants to be there for his friends, but he isn't sure what to do, he doesn't know what to say. He was so young when his biological parents died so the only thing he remembers about what helped him was Mike right after, and Alex in the months that followed.

"It won't matter, you just be there for them," Alex explains, as they get to the apartment and knock the door.

"What if they're asleep?" Antonio asks, not wanting to wake them up and make things harder.

"They wouldn't have slept," Alex admits, and as she does the door opens revealing Kathleen.

"Alex, Antonio," Kathleen says, and Alex just takes a step forward and hugs her. "I'm really glad you're here," Kathleen admits, in a quiet voice, as she returns the hug. Once Alex and Kathleen break apart Antonio hugs Kathleen while Alex walks into the apartment and heads straight towards Liz and Dickie.

"Alex," Liz says, looking glad as both she and Dickie walk up to Alex and hug her. Just like Alex suspected it is perfectly clear that neither have slept.

"I'm here, okay, whatever you all need," Alex promises the twins, and Kathleen, while continuing to hug Liz and Dickie. While Alex has a lot going on workwise she knows, without a doubt, that she will do everything in her power to be their for the Stabler children as they mean a lot to her and they're going through hell.


Ever since she got the call Olivia has been working the case of what happened to Kathy. A few hours have passed since after Alex arrived at Liz and Dickie's and in that time, Alex has been handling a hearing that she and Liz were supposed to handle together alone. While it isn't ideal Alex has been making the best of it. After an intense conversation with Elliot, a conversation where she found out why he never called, Olivia is walking out of the hospital and calling the number for the only persons she wants to talk to.

"Cabot," Alex, who is at her desk, answer without checking her caller ID as she hasn't slept in over twenty-four hours due to everything that has happened. Since Liz got the call Alex has been doing her best to look out for Liz, Dickie, and Kathleen, while also completing the work she has to do.

"Hey," Olivia says, and Alex finally pauses what she is doing.

"Hey," Alex greats. "How are you?" Alex asks.

"Tried," Olivia admits. "Elliot finally told me why he didn't tell me he was leaving," Olivia reveals.

"How'd that make you feel?" Alex asks curious.

"I'm glad to finally know his reasons," Olivia admits. "But that still doesn't make it okay," Olivia admits, not sure they will ever be okay. "He was my best friend, the person who looked out for me, and he disappeared without a word," Olivia says.

"I know," Alex says, as she saw what Elliot and Olivia meant to each other, and heard Olivia talk about it. "I can't imagine how you're feeling right now. I don't know how I'd feel if after ten years Rafi came back to my life after he didn't say goodbye or reach out," Alex says, knowing that Olivia's relationship with Elliot is a lot like her relationship with Barba so while she can't imagine what Oliva is feeling she assumes that feelings of hurt are top of the list.

"It's a lot," Olivia admits, knowing that is an understatement. "Have you talked to Liz? Or Richard or Kathleen?" Olivia asks concerned.

"Yeah, I've talked to all three of them, seen all three of them," Alex assures Olivia.

"How are they?" Olivia asks, as she has only seen how Elliot is doing, and hasn't had a chance to call them.

"Not great," Alex admits. "Antonio and I went over to Liz and Richard's this morning. Kathleen had stayed over but none of them had slept," Alex explains. "They're scared, worried about what's going to happen next," Alex explains. "Only one person can visit at a time, so that's added pain; they're terrified they're going to lose their mother, and that they're not going to get a chance to say goodbye," Alex explains, and Olivia hates that they are going through that. "Antonio stayed with them, but I had a hearing. I'm going to go back later today," Alex explains, she really wished that she would have been able to stay with them, but it just wasn't possible.

"Have you slept?" Olivia asks, as it doesn't seem like it.

"Have you?" Alex counters, and that tells Olivia what she needs to know.

"No, not so much," Olivia admits, with a sigh. "We're still trying to figure out why this happened," Olivia explains.

"In a few hours I should have more time, what can I do? Is there something I can look into?" Alex asks as she wants to help Olivia, and Liz, and Richard and Kathleen.

"I don't know," Olivia admits, though she knows that there might be avenues for Alex to explore that she can't. "I'll let you know," Olivia says.

"Okay," Alex says. "I know you're worried about Elliot and the kids, but you need to acknowledge how you're feeling," Alex tells Olivia.

"I'll back to you on that one," Olivia responds.

"Liv…" Alex starts to say.

"I've got to go, Alex," Olivia tells her. "I'll call you later,"

"Okay, talk to you later," Alex says as she really has to get back to something so she doesn't fight, even though she would like to talk to Olivia more.

As soon as Alex hangs up with Olivia, before she can even get back to work, Barba walks into her office.

"Liz or Liv?" Barba asks as he heard Alex's phone ring.

"Liv," Alex answers. "She's still trying to figure out what happened to Kathy, and dealing with seeing Elliot again," Alex explains.

"How she doing?" Barba asks curious, as except for Alex, Olivia is his closest friend.

"About how you'd expect," Alex says, as she does not want to break Olivia's confidence. "Everything's a mess," Alex admits.

"What can we do? What can I do?" Barba asks, as he's feeling pretty powerless, and he feels the desire to do something.

"I need to get back to Family Court and Liv's going to call if there's anything we can do," Alex explains. "But unless that happens, I need you to handle everything here," Alex admits. "I know you won't even consider calling Liz, but don't call Antonio either, he's with Liz and Richard. That is where he needs to be," Alex explains.

"I've got it all, Lex," Barba assures her. "How are you doing?" Barba asks. "I know you're worried about Liz, and Liv, and Dickie, Kathleen, Antonio and even Elliot, but I also know this has to be a lot for you, so how are you doing?" Barba asks worried.

"I don't know," Alex admits, as she closes her laptop and collects files. "And I don't have time to figure that out," Alex says, before heading out of her office.


The following evening Olivia and her team are still working Kathy's case, and having just had a conversation in a park with Elliot Olivia is pulling her phone and calling Alex. While she desperately wants to talk to Alex, she also knows that Alex can help make a few things clear that Elliot wasn't able to.

"Hey, how you doing?" Alex asks, answering after only a couple of rings, as she is driving.

"I don't know," Olivia admits. "We're still trying to figure out why this happened," Olivia admits. "Which is part of the reason I'm calling," Olivia admits. "We think Elliot was the target and we're trying to figure out how the bomber knew Elliot was in the city," Olivia explains. "Did Liz tell you her parents were coming? Elliot said he told the kids not to tell anyone," Olivia explains.

"Liz didn't say a word to me, and Antonio admitted that Richard didn't tell him," Alex explains, as he told her that when they were on their way to Liz and Dickie's.

"Which means they wouldn't have told anyone," Olivia realizes. "Okay, that helps," Olivia says, as that cuts down on a lot of the possibilities about how whoever came after Elliot could know that he was back in the city.

"Is there anything else I can do?" Alex asks as she really wants to help Olivia, she wants to do more.

"I don't know if there is anything you can do right now," Olivia admits. "How are the kids?" Olivia asks, clearly not just asking about the Stabler's but Antonio too.

"Hanging on," Alex answers. "I'm on my way back to Liz and Richard's, Antonio and Rafi are both there, I'm bringing them food," Alex explains, as over the last couple of months Barba has become closer to Liz, Kathleen, and Dickie so he wanted to be there for them. "I don't really know what else to do," Alex admits.

"I'm sure they'll appreciate it," Olivia tells her, feeling glad that Barba is with them too.

"Nothing feels like enough," Alex admits.

"I know," Olivia admits. "I need to get back to work," Olivia admits.

"Okay, if you need anything, or if I can help with the case, let me know," Alex requests.

"I will," Olivia assures her. "Bye Alex," Olivia responds.

"Bye Liv," Alex says before hanging up, and continuing to drive.


After another few hours it is officially March eight, and Kathy Stabler has succumbed to her injuries. Having been officially taken off the case Olivia has returned to the hospital where she sees Elliot in the church, hugging Liz, Kathleen, and Dickie. As she watches Elliot hug his children, the children Olivia now knows so well as adults, the look off utter heartbreak on his face, everything becomes clear to Olivia, she has a moment of clarity.

Turning Olivia hurries out of the hospital, and to her car. Once in her car Olivia drives, knowing exactly where she is heading, and exactly what she needs to do. Not long after she left the hospital, though it feels so much longer for Olivia she arrives at the apartment of Alex Cabot and is pounding on her door.

"Liv?" Alex asks surprised, as she answers her door, feeling confused about why Olivia was knocking so hard.

"Kathy's dead," Olivia reveals.

"I know," Alex says, as Liz called her, and she felt her heartbreak for the young women. "I am so sorry," Alex says as she knows that Olivia and Kathy were friends once.

"I was standing their watching Elliot lose his love and all I could think of was you," Olivia admits. "I thought I lost you once and… there were so many things I regretted," Olivia admits.

"Olivia…" Alex starts to say, wanting to believe that Olivia is saying what she desperately hopes she is, but she isn't sure if she can bring herself to believe that.

"I don't want to have regrets, I don't want fear to keep from admitting how I feel anymore," Olivia admits. "I love you, Alexandra Cabot, I am in love with you, and I have been for a very long time," Olivia tells Alex, before bracing herself for how Alex is going to react.

"I love you too, Olivia Benson," Alex says, feeling overwhelming joy, despite everything going on.

Once she gets the conformation that Alex feels the same way she does Olivia takes a step forward and kisses Alex. As they kiss Alex pulls Olivia into her apartment closing the door behind them, both of them giving into what they have been resisting for almost twenty-one years.