Chapter 33

Manhattan SVU, Manhattan, New York

Friday, January 17th 2016

3.33 pm

Elliot rushed into the house and went straight to the study where he knew Olivia and George would be. He saw his wife and rushed over to her pulling her into a strong embraced where she broke out in wracked sobs.

George nodded to Elliot and then made his way out to get his prescription pad so he could fill it for Olivia and give husband and wife a chance to talk.

"I'm sorry." She sobbed.

"Don't you dare try and apologize Olivia, I've been so caught up in my own world I didn't see that you were sick." He whispered. "I should have known baby, I love you so much and I'm the one who's sorry for not paying enough attention to you."

"I love you El, I'm so sorry." She cried and he kissed the top of her head heavily as she clutched the back of his shirt tight.

He held her tight and rocked her softly as she sobbed, he looked at his gurgling son and felt his heart feeling heavy. He really loved his wife, he was as much in love with her now as he was fifteen years ago if not more because she'd given him seven beautiful kids all of whom he considered his own even if he had been ridiculous in saying that only five were his, he loved Melissa and Nicole as much as he loved all other nine of his children.

As Olivia's sobbing subsided her hands relaxed on his shirt and her breath evened out. He knew she had barley been sleeping, she had been doing all the night feeds with George even though he woke up to do it she'd already be out the bedroom door before he opened his eyes properly.

Slowly he lowered her down to the cushion and then pulled the comforter from the back of the couch and put it over her. He looked at her and for the first time he could see how drained she looked, even in her sleep she looked disturbed and sad and he'd never seen her look so down.

Slowly he got off the couch and pulled his youngest child from the bouncer and left his wife to sleep.

"You and me little man are going to help make Mommy better." He whispered once he closed the study door behind him. "Right now Mommy's real sad but she's going to get better and you're going to realise that she's the best Mommy in the world."

George gurgled contently and Elliot smiled, he knew he would never actually understand what Olivia was going through, he couldn't imagine not loving and not wanting the baby boy in his arms but he knew that Olivia didn't choose this to happen, she didn't consciously reject her son she just got sick, he knew it was a bit like wires getting a bit crossed her mind and caused her to feel things that she didn't want to feel.

When George returned he found Elliot stood over the bassinette where baby George was sleeping.

"Hey." George said softly.

"Olivia's sleeping in the study." Elliot told him.

"Ok." George nodded. "How are you doing Elliot?"

"I'm ok. I'm confused and I won't even begin to say that I understand what she's going through George but I can promise that I am not going anywhere, I'm going to help her get through this." Elliot said firmly without peeling his eyes away from the sleeping baby.

"That's good Elliot because she's going to need you now more than ever, more than she did when Cole died, when her Mom died and her Dad." George said and Elliot just nodded in reply. "Hopefully we'll get the old Liv back."

"There's no hopefully about it George, we will get the old Liv back because she's not right at the moment, that's not her in her head right now." Elliot argued. "I should have seen it, she wasn't sleeping, wasn't eating, was distant from everyone, argumentative, she didn't want me touching her, not even in a hug so sex was out of the question…"

"And you just listed the DSM criteria for depression Elliot." George said. "We know what it is now we can treat it."

"Is it really going to be that easy?" Olivia asked from the entrance into the living room.

"It sounds easier than it is Olivia, I won't lie to you but we'll get there." George said and Olivia nodded. "Ok…" She was interrupted by the shrill ring of the house phone. "Cragen-Stabler's… shit we're on our way just don't let him do anything stupid!" Olivia yelled before hanging up.

"Liv?" Elliot asked.

"Munch wants to plead guilty." Olivia replied shakily. "We need to go."

Manhattan SVU, Manhattan, New York

Friday, January 17th 2016

4.41 pm

On the drive over to the precinct Elliot tried to talk to Olivia but she told him calmly that now wasn't the time and that she wanted to try and focus on Munch for a bit.

Once at the precinct Olivia rushed into the interrogation room where Miranda was with Munch.

"What are you playing at?" Olivia yelled at her Detective.

"Liv…"

"No! Don't you dare try and say that this is what you want to do because you cannot stand in court under oath and say you did this when you didn't!" Olivia yelled furiously.

"I have to Olivia… I can't go through a trial…"

"What about the rest of us Munch? Stop being so damn selfish and think of the rest of us, we have been working nonstop trying to prove your innocence and every hour we get closer and we won't stop until we get there…"

"I need to think about me Liv!" Munch yelled.

"Yeah well for once I'm thinking about me John! Guess what? Before coming here I faced the reality that I have postpartum and I need you Munch, I need my friends and family around me now more than I have ever needed them ever before and when I say my friends and family I mean ALL of them!" She yelled not even realising what she was actually admitting out loud.

"What?" Munch said in shock. "You have postpartum? Since when?" Munch asked in shock.

"That doesn't matter John but if you go to prison it's not going to help either of us, fight this John while we prove that you're not who they say you are." Olivia pleaded slipping into the chair opposite him. "I need you to fight this." She pushed taking a hold of his hand.

He looked at Miranda Pond as the guilt ate at him for a moment then he looked at his best friend and nodded, they were like siblings and he needed to be there for her now and she was right if he was in prison then she wouldn't be able to do that.

"Ok Liv, I won't do it." He said and she gave him a weak but grateful smile.

Manhattan SVU, Manhattan, New York

Friday, January 17th 2016

5.10 pm

After Munch left with Miranda the squad went into the bullpen to continue working on the two cases that matched the MO. Luckily they had a suspect now and they were planning on bringing him to do a line up.

"Call Alex so we can do a line up." Olivia said to Elliot. "Fin how about you and I get this son of a bitch and hopefully we can have Munch off the hook by morning. Nick can you go pick up the two vics and call IAB and tell them we think we know who did the third girl seeing as there's a TRO against us we can't go near her."

"Sure." "Yeah." "Ok." The replies came at once and everyone split up their separate ways.

An hour later their suspect was stood in the line-up and the three girls were ready to identify him, they had semen from the first rape so if she could identify her attacker then they could get a court order for DNA.

While Olivia was prepping the first girl to come in Elliot looked at the suspect in the line and he could see how like Munch the guy looked under his sun glasses.

"Ok so take your time and…"

"It's number two." She interrupted.

"Are you sure?" Olivia asked calmly.

"Yes number two that's who raped me." The young girl said.

"Ok." Olivia nodded and she led the girl out and brought the second in.

"When you see him just say the number ok?" Olivia told her and she nodded and scanned each person once.

"It's number two Captain." The girls said. "Number two raped me."

"Thank you." Olivia said.

Ed Tucker brought in Melissa and she was visibly nervous.

"Just take your time Melissa ok?" Olivia said and she nodded and stepped up to the window.

She looked from one man to the other but then she looked at number two and started to cry.

"What have I done?" She cried.

"Do you see him?" Olivia asked and she nodded.

"It's not the cop I thought it was." She cried.

"That's ok Melissa just say the number." Olivia replied knowing the little girl would be feeling very guilty.

"Number two." Melissa said. "Number two is the man who raped me."

"Ok come on." Tucker led her out and Olivia smirked at the defence attorney.

"We're three for three Counsellor." She said. "Now we'll take your client's DNA and myself and Detective Stabler will take his statement."

"Is there a deal on the table if he pleads guilty?" The lawyer asked as Alex walked in.

"If he confesses to all three rapes he'll get twenty five years for each one and parole is on the table." Alex said knowing the court appointed attorney would definitely take any deal offered.

"I'll talk to my client." He said hurrying off.

"I'll call Munch, he might want to see the man he was mistaken for." Olivia smiled feeling relieved that she and her squad had proved his innocence.