So Olivia went to group therapy. Bless her. Anyway hope you like this newest chapter. We're nearly at the end now! So sorry but it has to finish somewhere!
When Olivia arrived home she headed for the living room where she found Elliot and Serena asleep on the sofa and could hear Craig gurgling through the baby monitor. For a moment she just watched until Elliot opened his eyes and looked at her.
"Hey Liv." He smiled rubbing his eyes. He looked at Serena. "I should take her to bed. Give me two minutes." He smiled lifting his daughter into his arms. Olivia watched as he took her upstairs before making her way into the kitchen and making herself a glass of water. As she closed the tap she felt Elliot's muscular arms slip around her waist and she placed her head on his shoulder as he kissed her neck.
"How was group therapy?" He asked her not sure if she'd want to discuss it.
"Just what I needed, do you remember Marisa Wight the assault and attempted rape, he got just three years for the assault. Well she was there and she was wonderful to me and the man who abused her is out of jail next week. I can't believe he only got three years because he pleaded guilty. She's now terrified that he's going to go after her again." Olivia said, she wanted to tell Elliot a lot about what had happened that evening.
"It's awful but it was Alex who prosecuted him right?" Elliot asked and Olivia nodded.
"She wouldn't have done it if she could have had a conviction at trial." Elliot said.
"I know but it's just horrible to think at least if Tucker is found guilty he'll get twenty five to life, I mean just three years. That would kill me."Olivia sighed heading back into the living room.
"By the way, whilst I'm off I'm going to be investigating five cold cases." Olivia said quickly without looking at her husband, she knew he'd be mad.
"Liv. Why?" He sighed.
"I just felt for these girls you know, one of them was beaten so bad that she had over six hundred stitches and spent four hours in surgery. Another had been so brutally raped that she had to have reconstructive surgery on her vagina and breasts, another was kept captive for nearly a year before he got bored and disappeared, I mean he could have another girl El. And I didn't promise I'd get the men who abused them I just promised to investigate and see what I could find. I mean if I could bring just one of those men to justice, I'll at least help one girl sleep better at night." Olivia explained. Elliot pulled her into his arms.
"You are amazing do you know that?" He smiled.
"Why?" She asked confused.
"Because you were there to get help and you leave trying to help other women." Elliot said.
"I think I just realised whatever the jury come back with the likeliness is that Tucker won't see the light of day again. I'll never have to worry if he's out there watching me or going to get me again but these girls have no idea where their abusers are. I'm glad we have Tucker it makes it easier to deal with." Olivia explained.
"I know Liv. These girls will be grateful whatever the result, because just that you're trying shows to them you care." Elliot said kissing the back of Olivia's head.
"Now what do you want to eat, I couldn't wait so I ate with Serena, but whatever you want I'll make it." Elliot said getting up.
"I'm not hungry just very tired, can we go to bed?" Olivia asked and Elliot extended his hands to her and pulled her from the chair.
"Let's go to bed." He smiled.
xxx
The next morning Olivia felt like she had a new outlook on life. As she got herself ready for court and the kids ready for Simon's arrival she felt herself getting excited to get the trial over and done with.
Xxx
Once at the court, everything just went by quickly and before Olivia even realised Ed Tucker had been sworn in and the defence was about to begin their questioning.
"Mr Tucker, could you please tell the court what your relationship was like with the victim?"
"She was a co-worker, you know a member of the force." Tucker shrugged and Olivia squeezed Elliot's hand at the sound of his shrill voice. She hadn't heard it since he had been screaming that he was unarmed.
"Tell us about the time you had to arrest the victim."
"I had to arrest Benson for murder after DNA evidence suggested that she was the killer."
"And was she?"
"No Benson was a victim of blood tainting."
"We will have Melinda Warner testify to what blood tainting is in a short while."
"Why did you stalk Olivia Benson?"
"Because I was angry that she still had her job."
"Why?"
"She may not have committed the murder but had she not given her DNA to Warner I wouldn't have need to arrest her. False arrests do not look good in an officer's jacket." Tucker said and Olivia realised how angry he was getting. She squeezed Elliot's hand again.
"Were you angry with Detective Benson?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"She made me look bad."
"Does that give you the right to kidnap and torture her?"
"Yes."
"But isn't that against the law?"
"Not if it is justified."
"No more questions." Miranda Pond sat down as Tucker stared at Olivia panting. His eyes pierced her but she did not look away he had just made his grave and Casey was damn sure going to make him sleep in it.
"Mr Tucker if a man was to rape a woman and she was to kill him is it justified?" Casey spoke quickly like she just wanted to get this mess out of the way.
"Yes."
"If I stole an apple and had my hands cut off should I be prosecuted for theft or the store owner prosecuted for dismembering me?" Again Casey spoke Matter-of-factly.
"You."
"If I was to pull your hair and you stab me who should be prosecuted?" She looked directly at him when he answered as he looked at her.
"Me."
"No more questions your honour." Casey smirked as she sat down. Ed Tucker had just proven that he knew he was wrong in what he did with the last question, she had been ready to go on until he did crack as all the previous answers didn't matter, the jury would remember the last one.
"You may step down Mr Tucker." The judge said. "Call your next witness council."
"The defence calls Melinda Warner."
Once Melinda was sworn in Miranda Pond began instantly.
"Could you tell us what blood tainting is?"
"Yes, when you remove white blood cells from the blood you leave blood without DNA. Take someone else's DNA and amplify it and mix it with the blood you can make it seem like it is someone else's blood."
"Was this the case with Olivia?"
"Yes it was not only did I figure it out the scientist who did it confessed to doing it for the real killer."
"So there may be people in prison who don't belong there because of this blood tainting."
"None from me since this happened, I know check for white blood cells before giving detectives a name."
"No more questions." Miranda finished before going to sit down.
"No questions for this witness. Can I ask for a recess before closing arguments?" Casey asked looking at Judge Donnelly.
"You may fifteen minutes." The judge called. Casey rushed over to Olivia and Elliot.
"I don't think the jury will take long with this, did you hear him put his foot in it?" Casey said excitedly. "I knew I'd eventually get him but I didn't think it would be that easy!" She smiled.
"Thanks Casey." Olivia said giving her friend a hug. "For everything I mean you didn't have to take this case."
"Of course I did, I wasn't going to let the feds have it.
Xxx
Once the recess was over Olivia and Elliot held each other tight as Casey stood to make her closing argument.
"So you have heard the gruesome details of what happened to Detective Olivia Benson Stabler, You've seen the horrific injuries that Ed Tucker inflicted upon her and you have been told how he behaved during the time he held her captive. Not only that but he himself sat here and showed you that he did know the difference between right or wrong. So when deliberating between his guilt and his insanity defence please think of the testimony he gave and also that Doctor Huang gave. There's nothing wrong with this man, he was just angry. Find him guilty so that many people can sleep sounder in their beds tonight." Casey sat down as Miranda Pond stood up, Olivia noticed instantly that she looked very nervous compared to her usual demeanour in court.
"The people have argued that my client knew the difference between right and wrong when he committed these crimes. Did you really see that? Not only did my client tell you that he was angry he told you why too, because she made him look bad, does that sound like a person of sound mind to you. He could have killed the victim straight away but he wanted her to suffer the way he had been suffering since his embarrassing false arrest and he told you that what he did was justified because she did him wrong. Does that sound like a guilty man? Or a man who needs help? I hope you come to the right conclusion." Miranda Pond stepped back to her seat and Olivia just held Elliot as the jury was sent to deliberate.
"Don't go far, I don't think this will take long." Casey smiled before rushing out the door. Olivia looked at Elliot.
"What are you thinking?" Olivia asked him as he stared into the distance.
"I'm thinking that Casey shouldn't be so over confident, the jury may not be sane." Elliot said making Olivia giggle.
"Come on I need some air." Olivia smiled.
Xxx
It didn't feel like they had been standing outside more than five minutes when Olivia's cell phone rang. She saw the caller ID and answered quickly.
"We'll be right in." She said before hanging up. She looked at Elliot her stomach turning with nerves.
"It's time." She said extending her hand to him.
Together they walked back into the courtroom and sat down. Olivia watched as the bailiff took the paper with the verdict on to the judge, she watched as it was read and passed back and the head juror stood up.
Only one chapter left and I leave you all hanging! How nice am I? ;) hahaha one more chapter to go and scream if you want a sequel, I have some ideas for one if you want it then you can have it!