Three weeks later, they were at the courthouse for Trevor's trial. Alex was sure she would be able to secure a conviction – there was hard evidence that Trevor had been abusing her. Alex had gone over Olivia's testimony enough with her that she was sure everything would go just fine.
"The State calls Olivia Benson," said Alex.
The whole courtroom seemed to hold its breath and Olivia trudged to the witness stand. Her broken left arm had healed; so had her rib fractures and bruised face. But the injuries on the inside were numerous and no one knew if she would ever recover.
Olivia trembled as she sat down. She clasped her shaking hands together and focused on a spot on the wall, trying not to look at Trevor. She'd been here many times before, to testify against the rapists and murderers she prosecuted, but never before had she been the victim. She'd been here before but not like this. Never like this.
She was sworn in but, much as she tried to avoid it, all she could see was Trevor, watching her, glaring at her with a terrible, evil gleam in his eye.
She tried to shake off her fear. She wouldn't be scared anymore. That was what he wanted.
Alex purposefully stepped in front of Olivia, blocking her view of Trevor as she walked Olivia through the events of that horrible night and all the abuse she'd endured. It was killing Alex to put her friend through this, but it was the only way.
When defense attorney Roger Kressler stood up to cross-examine Olivia, she started to visibly quaver once again.
"Olivia," said Kressler in a smooth voice that made her cringe. "When was the first time you and the defendant had sexual relations?"
"Two months ago," she whispered.
"Was it consensual?"
"Yes."
"Did you have sex with him often after that?"
"Every night," she responded, wiping a hand across her eyes.
"When did it become . . . non-consensual?"
"About a month ago," she answered quietly.
"What changed?"
"I – I wanted to break up with him. He was hitting me sometimes and I didn't like it. I wanted out. He got angry and . . . forced himself . . . on me."
Kressler scratched his head. "Are you sure he wasn't just . . . overcome with passion?"
Olivia smirked. "I'm sure."
The lawyer raised his eyebrows. "Nothing further."
Olivia could feel Trevor glaring at her as she stepped down from the witness stand. But she'd done it. She had been brave and faced her fear. She was back to being tough Olivia Benson, the strongest of them all.
* * *
Elliot met Olivia outside the courtroom. "You did really well," he told her.
"I'm not one of your victims, El," snapped Olivia.
He shrugged. "Okay. What do you say we go out to dinner tonight?"
She gave him a small smile. "Okay."
But he saw something flash across her face and it worried him. "Liv, what's wrong?"
"Nothing," she replied quickly – too quickly. He knew her too well.
"What is it?"
"Just – just be careful, okay?"
Olivia took a deep breath. "Trevor said – he said he'd kill you," she whispered. "And that's why I never told."
"That asshole," muttered Elliot, clenching his fists. "It's okay, Liv. He can't hurt you now. He can't hurt anyone now. You made sure of that."
Olivia's eyes suddenly widened and stared at her in confusion. "Liv, you okay?"
She didn't say anything. All of a sudden, she threw her arms around him and the force of her embrace spun Elliot around as she murmured, "I love you," and pressed her lips to his.
Elliot was shocked. What was she doing? They never touched each other, except for that inevitable, accidental brushing of hands or shoulders. But even though he didn't understand it, maybe Olivia needed him – needed this – now.
He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, pulling her close as she leaned into his chest. Her felt her shoulders tense and then –
BANG!