Chapter 16

AN: Sorry about there being no chapter yesterday, I completely forgot. Hope you enjoy this one. Also, sorry about this chapter being later than usual.


March 18th 2021

A week has passed since Liz retuned to work and while she seems to be doing okay Alex, Barba and Olivia are still worried about her. Ever since Alex came to the precinct to collect Olivia the two of them have spent basically every night together, as it is clear that after so many years of ignoring their feelings, they don't want to let go of each other.

It's early evening and Olivia is in her office packing up as she is going to pick up Alex as they have plans; she is going to cook dinner for Alex and Noah. As she packs up her stuff Olivia hears footsteps, and she looks up to see Rollins.

"You heading out?" Rollins asks curious.

"Yeah, unless you need something," Olivia says to her.

"Nah, I'm good," Rollins confirms. "Big plans?" Rollins asks, trying to figure out what is going on.

"Dinner plans," Olivia corrects.

"With Stabler?" Amanda asks, doing so hesitantly, as Olivia finishes packing up.

"No," Olivia answers quickly, heading over to collect her jacket. "Um, with Alex, and Noah," Olivia explains.

"Really?" Amanda asks curious. "You've been having dinner together a lot," Amanda notes.

"Yeah, we have," Olivia confirms, and as she does Rollins recognizes the look on her face. "Goodnight Amanda," Olivia says, before heading out of her office.

"Good for you," Amanda says as she watches Olivia go.


A little while after she left the precinct Olivia is arriving at Vita Nova. As she arrives Olivia walks straight over to where Liz, Antonio, and Barba are.

"Hey Liv," Antonio greats.

"Hey Antonio," Olivia greats.

"How you doing, Liz?" Olivia asks curious, and concerned, as she knows how far from okay Elliot is and she knows that that has to be affecting his kids.

"I'm doing okay," Liz confirms. "Things are hard, and I don't know much of anything right now, but I'm hanging on," Liz admits.

"If you need anything, even just to talk, you can always call me, no matter what," Olivia assures Liz.

"I know," Liz says, with a nod. "But um, about that, do you mind if I give Eli your number?" Liz asks curious. "I think he could use someone other than Dad to talk to," Liz admits.

"Of course, you can," Olivia assures her, and Liz looks relieved.

"So, Liv, you here just to say hello? Or have you got a reason?" Barba asks curious, clearly wanting Olivia to admit what is going on between her and Alex.

"You know my reason Rafa," Olivia says, before heading to Alex's office.

"I don't if you two don't actually confirm it," Barba says, as Olivia opens the door slowly, and only a little, checking to make sure Alex isn't in the middle of anything confidential.

"Hey, come in," Alex says, and Olivia walks into the office.

"Still busy?" Olivia asks curious.

"I just need to finish this," Alex admits as she continues to type. "I'll be less than five minutes," Alex explains.

"All good, take as long as you need," Olivia assures her as she sits down on the chair across from Alex.

"Thanks," Alex says gratefully.

"Liz seems like she's doing okay," Olivia notes.

"She's doing as okay as you'd expect," Alex admits. "Richard's come by every day, and Kathleen's come by a few times," Alex reveals. "They're all doing how you'd expect," Alex admits, but she pause what she is doing to look at Olivia. "But Liv, they're all worried about Eli, and Elliot," Alex admits.

"I am too," Olivia admits. "But Elliot's made it pretty clear that he wants me to leave him alone," Olivia reveals.

"Then if Elliot won't accept help, we do what we can to help Liz, Richard, Kathleen, and Eli, even Maureen if she needs anything," Alex suggests.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Olivia says as while she would like to help Elliot, if he won't accept help then she will focus on the kids, and the two of them drift into silence.

For the next couple of minutes Alex and Olivia sit in silence while Alex works to finish the work that she needs to get done.

"Okay, done," Alex says, closing her laptop. "Do we need to stop by the store?" Alex asks curious.

"Nope, I've got everything at home," Olivia responds, and Alex packs up her stuff.

Once Alex has packed up her stuff she and Olivia head out of her office and into the bullpen together. When Olivia and Alex walk into the bullpen, they see that Dickie has arrived.

"Olivia," Dickie greats, seeing her.

"Richard, how you doing?" Olivia asks in a gentle tone of voice.

"I don't know," Dickie admits. "I miss mom," Dickie reveals, as he was always close to Kathy.

"I know," Olivia says, hugging him, as she has no idea what else to say.

"What have you three got going on tonight?" Alex asks Liz and Antonio as Olivia and Dickie hug.

"Dinner, back to our place," Liz explains, and Alex nods.

"Rafi?" Alex asks, interested, as Olivia and Dickie break apart.

"Work. I've got that hearing in the morning," Barba reminds Alex.

"Right," Alex responds, and Alex walks over to her son. "I'll see you tomorrow," Alex says, hugging her son, and kissing his head.

"Night Mami," Antonio responds, and once he and Alex break apart Alex and Olivia leave. Not long after they leave Liz, Dickie, and Antonio leave as well.


Three days later it is Sunday morning and both Alex and Olivia are at Olivia's apartment with Noah playing boardgames together.

"Am I winning now?" Noah asks curious, as he looks between his mother and Alex. While he is not completely sure what is going on between his mother and Alex, he is happy about whatever it is.

"Yeah, I think you are," Olivia confirms.

"Nice job," Alex says, with a smile, and as she does Olivia's phone rings.

"It's the chief," Olivia says, feeling concerned, and she stands up. "Chief?" Olivia asks, taking several steps away from Alex and Noah.

"Why don't I take my turn," Alex suggests, as she knows enough to know that Olivia getting a call from the deputy chief on a Sunday isn't good, and she rolls the dice.

"Alex you're catching up!" Noah says, noticing Alex's roll.

"Yeah, I am," Alex confirms, as she moves her piece.

"Ally," Olivia says, and Alex gets up and walks over to her.

"What's going on?" Alex asks concerned.

"Garland wants to see me, it's about my case," Olivia explains, causing Alex's concern to rise.

"Okay, do you want me to come with you?" Alex asks.

"No, I'll be fine, Garland is on my side," Olivia explains. "But can you stay with Noah?" Olivia asks.

"Of course," Alex answers, without hesitation.

"Thanks," Olivia says, before walking back over to Noah. "Noah, I've got to go have a quick meeting, but while I'm gone Alex is going to stay with you, that okay with you?" Olivia asks her son.

"Yes!" Noah confirms. "How long will you be gone?" Noah asks.

"Hopefully not long," Olivia tells her son, before kissing his head and standing up. "I'll be back soon," Olivia says, looking at Alex, before heading out.

"Looks like it's just me and you, Buddy," Alex says, walking back over to Noah, trying to hide the fact that she is concerned about what Garland is going to say to Olivia.

"Can I have moms' money?" Noah asks curious, causing Alex to laugh.

"How about we split it," Alex suggests.

"I guess that could be okay," Noah says, and they continue to play the boardgame.


A little while after Olivia left her apartment Alex and Noah are in watching a movie together when Alex's phone rings; checking the caller ID Alex sees that it is Olivia calling.

"I'll be right back," Alex assures Noah, walking into the kitchen. "Hey, what did Garland say?" Alex asks concerned.

"Nothing good," Olivia admits. "He thinks that if this goes to trial that both the department and Jayvon's legal team will try to scapegoat me," Olivia explains, pain clear in her voice, which Alex understands as she knows how much the job means to Olivia.

"Oh Liv, I'm so sorry," Alex says.

"Yeah, me too," Olivia admits. "Garland suggested I get a lawyer who can work both sides, guess it's good that I already have one of those," Olivia admits.

"Yeah, it is," Alex confirms, though she knows that there is a particular problem that she will have to talk to Olivia about in person. "Are you on your way home?" Alex asks curious, and Olivia very much likes that Olivia referred to her apartment as home.

"Not yet," Olivia admits. "I've got to quickly meet Fin, Phoebe and Kat to celebrate Kat making detective," Olivia explains. "But after that how about I pick up some lunch for us," Olivia suggests.

"That sounds great," Alex responds. "I'll see you when you get back, Bye Liv,"

"Bye Ally," Olivia says, before hanging up. Once she hangs up with Olivia Alex walks back over to the couch where Noah is.

"Is Mom on her way home?" Noah asks curious, as Alex sits back down.

"Soon," Alex answers, as the two of them continue to watch the movie.


A while after Olivia called Alex Olivia is back at her apartment, and she, Alex and Noah have had lunch together. While Noah is in his room Alex and Olivia are cleaning up.

"I think I should talk to IAB," Olivia tells Alex.

"Liv…" Alex starts to say.

"I know you don't think it's a good idea, but the Captain I talked when this started was reasonable," Olivia admits. "It's the right thing to do," Olivia tells Alex.

"I'm sure you think that," Alex says. "This whole thing is a mess, and you're in the middle," Alex admits. "And there is something we need to talk about," Alex admits, and Olivia is concerned about Alex's tone of voice.

"What's wrong?" Olivia asks concerned.

"When I insisted that I be your lawyer for this that was before we got together," Alex tells Olivia, who automatically realizes the problem.

"And you can't be my lawyer when we're involved," Olivia realizes.

"It wouldn't look good for you," Alex admits, feeling more concerned for Olivia than herself.

"And it wouldn't be good for you," Olivia points out, stressing the 'be', walking towards Alex. "I'll be okay, Ally, I'll handle this without a lawyer," Olivia says.

"That's not happening," Alex tells her, as she knows that wouldn't be a good idea. "We need to call Rafi; he's the only one I trust with this," Alex explains.

"He's going to be thrilled. We finally have to confirm the truth for him," Olivia says amused.

"To make sure you're protected, I don't care," Alex says, and Olivia smiles.

"I love the protective side of you," Olivia says, walking the few steps that separate them and kissing Alex. "Let's call Rafa," Olivia says, when they break apart.


Even though it is a Sunday, not long after Olivia called him, Rafael arrives at Olivia's apartment.

"Hey, thanks for coming," Olivia says, letting him into the apartment.

"It's no problem," Barba responds. "You were vague on the phone, what's going on?" Barba asks, as he walks in, then he realizes that Alex is sitting on the couch. "Lex?" Barba asks surprised, as Olivia gave away nothing to suggest that Alex was with her.

"We both need to talk to you," Alex explains as Barba walks over to the couch.

"Okay," Barba says, looking between them as Olivia sits on the couch, and he sits on the armchair.

"Tomorrow Liv has a deposition for the Jayvon case," Alex explains.

"Yeah, and you're handling it, right?" Barba ask, as that's what he thought.

"I can't," Alex answers, and Barba grins.

"Why Lex? Why can't you handle a deposition for Liv?" Barba asks, his voice full of amusement, as he knows what is the most likely reason.

"You know why," Olivia tells him.

"No, I don't think I do," Barba says, as he wants Olivia and Alex to spell it out, and they both roll their eyes at his dramatics.

"Raf, I cannot be Olivia's lawyer because Olivia and I have been together for the past two weeks," Alex explains. "Happy?" Alex asks him.

"Thrilled, it's about damn time," Barba admits. "I am happy for both of you," Barba admits.

"We know," Olivia assures him.

"So, am I the first to know?" Barba asks curious.

"You're the first we've told," Alex informs him.

"Good," Barba says, causing Alex and Olivia to exchange amused looks. "Okay, Jayvon, the deposition, everything we know so far, let's go," Barba says, and he, Alex and Olivia get to work.

After Barba is all caught up, and he, Olivia, and Alex have come up with a gameplan, Barba, to Noah's joy, ends up staying for dinner.


The next morning, against Barba and Alex's advice, Liv has gone to IAB to talk to the Captain she talked to when the Jayvon case first began. As she leaves the office Olivia pulls her phone and calls Alex.

"Hey," Alex greats.

"Hey, so don't be mad, but I went to IAB," Olivia explains.

"Liv!" Alex exclaims.

"I know you think it was a bad idea, but it was what I had to do," Olivia admits.

"What happened?" Alex asks.

"Thing chances I thought were coming are never going to happen," Olivia admits, sounding disappointed. "But I'm gonna be cleared of all wrongdoing," Olivia explains.

"That's something," Alex admits.

"But it's not good enough, Ally," Olivia says. "We need change, and I thought this was going to be the catalyst," Olivia admits. "It should have been," Olivia says.

"Change takes time, Liv," Alex tells her, even though that doesn't make anything right, it's what she knows is the horrifying truth.

"It shouldn't," Olivia says.

"No, It shouldn't," Alex confirms, and as she does Olivia gets a notification.

"Ally, I've got to go," Olivia says, in a hurried voice. "Can you tell Rafa what I told you?" Olivia tells her.

"Of course," Alex says. "Stay safe Liv, I love you," Alex says, as she knows that for Olivia to use that tone then she has to handle something bad.

"I love you too," Olivia responds, and both she and Alex hang up.

After hanging up with Olivia Alex gets up and heads to the door of her office.

"Rafi," Alex calls from her office door, before heading back into her office. By the time Barba gets to Alex's office she is sitting in her chair once again and so Barba closes the door behind him, walks over and sits down.

"What's going on?" Barba asks.

"Liv just called, she went to go see IAB," Alex explains.

"Of course she did," Barba says, not at all surprised. "And she called you? Lex you know you can't be Liv's lawyer, not when you're together," Barba reminds her.

"I know," Alex says.

"Tell Liv that when it's about her case to call me," Barba tells Alex.

"Raf…" Alex starts to say.

"I'm trying to protect you both," Barba says, as he knows that it would not end well for either Olivia or Alex if anyone were to find out that Alex was acting as her lawyer while they were together.

"Rafi are you gonna let me talk?" Alex asks curious, and Barba just throws his hands up, as if to say, 'fine'. "Liv going to IAB worked, to a degree, she found out that she is being cleared of all wrongdoing," Alex explains.

"Okay, that's something," Barba comments. "What's the catch?" Barba asks, as he suspects that there has to be one.

"Seems like there is going to be no changes in NYPD," Alex explains.

"Saw that coming, the Old Guard aren't going to just go quietly," Barba says.

"You don't have to tell me that," Alex admits, as she was a lesbian woman in the DA's office in the late nineties and early two thousand, she knows all too well how ingrained the culture is. "Liv's disappointed, she thought things could really change," Alex admits.

"And knowing Liv she's going to keep fighting for it," Barba says.

"Of course," Alex responds, sounding proud of her girlfriend. "Now that we know what's going to happen with IAB that just leaves the civil suit," Alex comments.

"Which I will handle," Barba says, leaning forward. "Lex, I know you want to help Liv, and that you hate that you can't, but you have to trust me. I've got this handled," Barba tells Alex.

"I know that Rafi, I always trust you, always will," Alex assures him. "I just wish I could be in that deposition," Alex admits, and once she does, she and Barba drift into silence.

(Line break)

Hours after she talked to Alex Olivia, who is working the case of a missing women, the sister of someone who is important to Carisi, who's girlfriend was raped, is walking into Jayvon's Lawyer's office. As she walks into the room Olivia is texting with Barba who is a few minutes away and is telling her to keep quiet until he arrives.

"Am I early?" Olivia asks as she walks into the office and only sees Jayvon.

"No, you're on time," Jayvon assures Olivia. "My lawyer went to get coffee," Jayvon explains.

"Okay, well, if you want, I can just wait out here," Olivia offers, knowing exactly what both Barba and Alex would tell her to do right now.

"You might as well have a seat," Jayvon explains.

"Thank you," Olivia says, walking in and taking a seat.

"My lawyers hear a rumor that IAB is gonna exonerate you, congratulations," Jayvon says.

"Well, I'm told that it's… not gonna effect the size of your settlement," Olivia says, and the second she does she regrets it.

"That's not what this is about," Jayvon says angrily.

"I know that, and I respect that," Olivia says, and she gets the idea to do exactly what Alex and Barba would tell her not to do, but she also knows that it may be the only way to make the changes that desperately needs to happen, happen. "Look, off the record, you and I both want the same thing," Olivia reveals.

"How do you figure?" Jayvon asks, not believing Olivia.

"Well, we both want the department to owe up to their mistakes and to make changes moving forward," Olivia says, as that's what she wants.

"You want that?" Jayvon asks surprised.

"I do, very much," Olivia admits. "And I…Look, I get what your lawyers are going for with this show trial, but the fact of the matter is, there is no amount of publicity that's gonna move the dial at 1PP," Olivia explains.

"And you're gonna tell me what will?" Jayvon asks, and Olivia knows she has to talk fast before the lawyers arrive.

"You have allies in the department. Deputy inspectors, IAB investigators who fell very frustrated that they can't rid the ranks of bad cops," Olivia explains.

"Here it comes. Now you're gonna tell me, it's just a few bad apples," Jayvon says, sounding annoyed.

"No," Olivia answers. "But what I will tell you is that IAB knows who the march gladiators are, and if their investigators are deposed, and they are forced to tell the truth, then, yes, we can get rid of the worst cops," Olivia explains.

"The police unios will never let that happen," Jayvon comments. "They're still against anti-bias training," he points out.

"Exactly, and that's why the court needs to order it," Olivia explains. "With a department-wide consent decree," Olivia explains.

"Go on," Jayvon says, looking interested.

"Push for a new use of force policy, community safety partnerships…" Oliva starts to say, but before she can say more Barba and Jayvon's lawyer walk in.

"You're both here," Jayvon's lawyer says.

"Everything okay here?" Barba asks, looking at Olivia and suspecting that she has done something that she shouldn't have.

"Everything's good," Olivia says.

"We're fine," Jayvon says, and as the lawyers have arrived the deposition begins.


Not long after Barba arrived in the meeting room Olivia and Barba are walking out of the law offices together.

"Liv, whatever you said to Jayvon please tell me that you at least made sure it wouldn't trace back to you," Barba says, as he knows Olivia well enough to know that whatever it is she said to Jayvon that 1PP will not like it.

"Don't you want to know what I said?" Olivia asks.

"Up to you, we do have privilege," Barba tells Olivia.

"A Captain at IAB gave me ideas about things that need to be done for changes to occur; I told them to Jayvon," Olivia explains.

"Liv…." Barba starts to say.

"Rafa you know changes have to happen," Olivia tells him.

"I do," Barba confirms. "But Liv you might have just put yourself in the firing line of every gladiator in the department," Barba explains.

"It's worth it if real change happens," Olivia tells Barba, who realizes that Olivia continues to believe that she did the right thing.

"Just watch your back, Liv," Barba says.

"I will, but look, I've got a massive case. Tell Alex I'll text her and call when I can," Olivia requests, knowing that Barba will be going straight to Alex to tell her what happened.

"Of course," Barba says, and Olivia hurries off.

After watching Olivia hurry off Barba heads back to Vita Nova as he knows that Alex is waiting for him to get back so that he can tell her what he can, which means nothing they just talked about.


Not long after Olivia hurried away from him Barba is arriving at Vita Nova, as soon as he steps out of the elevator Barba isn't at all surprised to see Alex waiting.

"What happened? How do you think it went?" Alex quickly asks.

"I can't give you details, Lexie," Barba reminds her.

"I know, I'm not asking for details, Rafi," Alex says, as they walk towards her office. "I just want to know how bad for Liv you think this is," Alex explains, and Barba knows that he cannot give an honest answer to that because of privilege.

"I think, it's a wait and see game," Barba admits, as they walk into Alex's office. "We'll know more in a few days," Barba explains.

"You're not saying something," Alex realizes.

"Liv said she'll message and call you when she can," Barba explains, telling Alex that there is something he can't say due to privilege. "Now, pull out that ridiculously expensive bottle you have in your bottom draw," Barba requests. "I want a drink," Barba admits, as he sits down.

"You mean the bottle you brought, and I won in a bet you were stupid enough to agree too," Alex says, amused as she opens the draw and pulls out the bottle and two glasses.

"Are you ever going to stop rubbing that in?" Barba asks curious, as soon as he agreed to that bet he knew it was a bad idea but it was too late, as Alex pours the drink.

"Never," Alex responds, handing one of the glasses over to Barba. "Salud," Alex says.

"Salud," Barba responds, and they both drink.


The following morning Olivia, who's case is finally over, is walking out of the hospital after having a conversation with Carisi. While she is walking towards her car Olivia pulls her phone and calls Alex.

"Hey," Alex answers.

"Hey," Olivia greats.

"Nice work with the case," Alex tells her.

"Thanks, it was a tough one," Olivia admits.

"Seems like it," Alex responds, and from Alex's office Olivia can't help but think there is something bothering Alex, more than just the case Olivia has been working.

"Alex, are you okay?" Olivia asks curious.

"No," Alex admits, then sighs. "I've had Liz in my office for the past hour," Alex explains. "She's upset because of Eliot and the way he's been acting, extremely worried about Eli," Alex reveals.

"I've tried to talk to Elliot, but he just keeps telling me to leave it alone, leave him alone," Olivia reveals.

"From what Liz said that's what he's been doing that with everyone," Alex admits. "Liz, and apparently Kathleen agrees, think Eli needs to get out of the house, that he needs to meet other people, talk to someone other than Elliot," Alex explains.

"And you've got an idea," Olivia realizes.

"Yeah, dinner tonight, my place," Alex explains. "Kathleen, Richard, Liz, Eli, Antonio and Rafi are all coming," Alex explains. "I was wondering if you and Noah want to come over too," Alex explains.

"Sure, well be there," Olivia answers. "Does Elliot know about dinner?" Olivia asks curious.

"No, Liz said he wouldn't care," Alex explains. "Liz and Kathleen already had plans to take Eli out tonight, apparently Elliot didn't even question it," Alex reveals, and Olivia can't help but feel a little annoyed at Elliot.

"What time?" Olivia asks.

"Seven thirty," Alex answers.

"See you then," Olivia responds as she gets into her car.