"Double Time" Sequel to "Stepping Time" (Highly recommend you read Stepping Time before reading this sequel)

The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.

Author's Note (Especially for laurel hardy) Characters guide-Primary SVU Characters Olivia Benson, Alex Cabot Primary Original Female Characters Army Lt. Col. Erin Mathison, Attorney Angie Secondary SVU and L&O Characters Elliot Stabler, Casey Novak, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn Secondary Original Characters Jeff Stockton, Amelia Stockton, Dylan Mathison, Petraeus (Erin's Chihuahua), Senator Rushing, TJ McCoy

Thanks for reading and the reviews for the first 27 chapters. Love and appreciate the reviews and it means so much that so many are reading this sequel.

#### New Community created by Rach5 (Olivia/OFC Stories) featuring stories with Olivia and original female characters or Olivia with female characters from other shows. Thanks Rach5 for creating and please let us know if we are missing some that you like. #####

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"Double Time" Chapter 28

"You okay babe?" Olivia asked as Erin connected her phone to the charger.

"I'm sorry. I had this plan of cooking us a nice dinner, but I've been on the phone the last two hours," Erin smirked as she joined Olivia on the couch.

"I had a taste for Thai anyway," Olivia said pressing her lips to Erin's. "So bring me up to speed."

"Well one our dinner with Senator Rushing has been postponed. Confidentially and ironically she will now be in Kabul on February 5th with a few other members of the Senate Armed Forces Committee," Erin said.

"I'm sorry babe. I was looking forward to it too," Olivia said stroking her hand through Erin's hair.

"I'm disappointed, but the good news is that she assures me that it will be rescheduled where you can still come with me. And I'll be cast free so I'll be able to wear the new dress I bought today," Erin smiled. "I am supposed to have a lunch meeting with her on the 10th now."

"I want to see the dress," Olivia smiled enthusiastically and started to get up until Erin snagged her arm.

"It's not here babe," Erin laughed. "Needed some slight alterations, besides I don't want you to see it until I'm in it."

"Not fair," Olivia pouted slightly and then smiled. "I'm going to have to get a new one too, because you've seen all three of mine in the closet."

Olivia got up from the couch as she heard two knocks on her door. She paid the delivery man and Erin set out plates, silverware and napkins on the coffee table in front of the couch.

"So when is this conference your sister-in-law might be coming to D.C. for?"

"Third week of February, 24th through the 26th I think," Erin said loading up her plate. "I don't know if my brother or sister-in-law is the bigger drama queen. If they do come up that weekend I don't think that is a weekend you will want to come down."

"I thought you wanted me to meet them," Olivia said in between bites.

"I do babe," Erin stuttered slightly. "I was just thinking they would be much more tolerable in Texas where we would have a hotel room. Katie's school is only giving she and the other two teachers she is going with a stipend which covered her airfare…but now Dylan's work hours got cut and he's stressin' about finances."

"So why was Dylan upset with you?" Olivia questioned. "You seem to have magic powers over Elliot."

Erin smirked and shook her head. "No, no, no…not me with El. That was Alex. I think by the time he got to me he was just afraid of losing his other testicle. Really, when we talked Alex had whipped him into shape. I pretty much just got the, if I hurt you lecture…."

"I'm sorry," Olivia said planting a kiss on Erin's cheek.

"Nah, that's nothing and kind of cute…well maybe a bit annoying. But since it isn't going to happen…and it was less harsh than what Alex told me would happen to me if I ever hurt you," Erin laughed.

"What and when?"

"Oh just that my body would never be found," Erin smiled. "Last night at Humphrey's. I just wanted to make sure that she was really okay with you taking the leave."

"Gotta love Alex," Olivia smiled. "You know…it would really suck if any in our group broke up," Olivia sighed. "I don't see that happening, but it would be tough."

"I agree on both counts," Erin said setting her half eaten plate of food on the coffee table and walking to the bedroom. She returned moments later with a glass encased candle, placed it on the coffee table and lit it.

"Your way of telling me I'm not being romantic enough tonight," Olivia chuckled.

"No," Erin laughed sitting back down on the couch. "As dorky as this may sound, I told Munch I would light a candle for his date with Evelyn tonight. And he should be picking her up about now."

Olivia leaned forward inhaling the scent of the candle. "Smells really nice. Ocean breeze," she muttered as she read the label on the glass. "So does the scent have anything specific to do with his date. Did I tell you that John was the one who told me what the orange and yellow roses that you sent after our first date meant?"

"You did tell me it was him. No real secret meaning with ocean breeze, just like it. And John and I were talking about how we're ready for winter to be over and to get some beach time. Well actually for John, some sailing time," Erin said. "He really likes this Evelyn. Not that I really think the candle will make a difference, but positive thoughts."

"You're adorable and kind and now I'm even more pissed off at Dylan," Olivia responded.

"He pisses me off sometimes too, but I know why he does what he does. I'm just hoping by the time he hits 40 he'll get over the sibling rivalry. Well maybe 41 since he turns 40 in October and…well he'll be in a better mood once dad bitches to him about me retiring," Erin said as she took their plates to the kitchen.

"What?" Olivia questioned. "Didn't he say just a few weeks ago that he was fine with it, almost supportive?"

Erin leaned her back against a kitchen counter and began recalling her father's words. "Erin, sure it shook me up that you were almost killed. But you'll be a full-bird. Even if you go back over they wouldn't be putting you on the road as a colonel. Hell, my whole time in 'Nam I saw nothing higher than a gold oak leaf and that was comin' out of a whorehouse in Hanoi."

Olivia just looked at Erin slightly dumbfounded by her father's words. "Jesus isn't four deployments to war zones, nearly 25 years of service and retiring as a colonel enough for the man," she finally stammered. "And did he really need to recall his whorehouse adventures."

"That's dad," Erin smirked. "whorehouses and all. He…he just thinks since I'm getting promoted ahead of most of my peers to colonel and that I'll be in a pretty high visibility position in Washington that I should hang in there and go for the star," Erin said solemnly. "But you know even if I was so inclined, it is so political to get promoted to that level. First you have to get recommended by an in-service promotion board, then you have to wait 'til someone retires or croaks, then the President has to nominate you and then you have to be confirmed by the Senate."

"If you knew you would get one star, would you want to stay in?" Olivia asked as she began rinsing their plates and silverware.

"No…I told you that before. I believe I told you on our first date, before I fell in love with you, that I was retiring," Erin said as she snagged a couple of beers from the refrigerator. "And super hypothetically, if the political landscape were to be favorable six or seven years from now where I could get that star, then I would always wonder if I got it more for my service record or my sexuality ironically. First out lesbian general possibly. I wouldn't want that Wiki entry."

"Don't get me wrong, I definitely like the idea of you retiring, especially because I don't want you deployed again, but someone is going to be the first…"

"Not going to me babe, this position is going to be public and political enough," Erin smirked. "Besides would you really want to be a general's wife? Don't get me wrong I've met a few who have their own careers and interests, but the majority I have met…well I've had more fun alone in a foxhole."

"Shit," Olivia mumbled hearing Erin's cell phone ring.

"If it's a heterosexual male, I'm not answering. I've had enough of them today," Erin muttered.

"Even Jeff?" Olivia questioned looking at the screen on Erin's phone. Erin gestured for Liv to hand her the phone.

"Sorry, will just take a minute. I'm going to meet up with him sometime tomorrow afternoon I think," Erin said.

"No problem. Gonna take a quick shower," Olivia said, still contemplating Erin's most recent words, especially one.

#-#

"Hey Jeff hold on," Olivia heard Erin say as she walked out of the bathroom into the bedroom. Erin padded into the bedroom, phone in one hand and her beer in the other. "Yum," she smiled seeing Olivia wrapped in just a towel. Olivia dropped the towel and smiled before sliding on a sweatshirt and sweatpants.

"It's cold babe," Olivia grinned seeing Erin's slight frown. "Promise they'll be off later."

"Crystal clear connection," Jeff said loud enough that even Olivia could hear. "So why am I holding on?"

"Ummmm…not to listen to us later," Erin laughed. "Because I want to put you on speaker and tell you both what else pissed me off today and then I'm done bitchin'."

Olivia stretched out on the couch propping a pillow up against the arm rest and leaning back. Erin sat back so her head was resting against Olivia's chest. She hit the speaker button on her phone and rested it on Olivia's thigh. After Jeff and Olivia exchanged greetings Erin interjected.

"So blah, blah, blah with this new position of course there will be a standard bio, but the public affairs office is already putting together a video bio on me for the website and on this DVD in a DADT press kit. My bio is like two minutes on this whole DVD on transitioning and training with the DADT repeal," Erin said quickly.

"Hey ladies," Casey piped in. "Just got home from a board meeting. Did Elliot pull his head out of his ass yet?"

Olivia and Erin both laughed. "More like Alex yanked it out…at least partially," Erin said.

"He made a lot of progress today," Olivia added. "I still don't know everything Alex said to him. Just glad between the three of us he seems to be getting it now."

"So what about the bio?" Jeff asked as Casey took a seat next to him.

"Well after I was done talking to Senator Rushing, I had to talk to her lovely press secretary T.J. McCoy again," Erin sighed. "Essentially I was scolded by him for not informing them that I was attending and speaking at Cassie's…Specialist Weston's funeral."

"What the hell for?" Olivia seethed.

"Because I as a public affairs officer should have known that a 'lil footage of my eulogy of Weston would have been great on the video bio and to have in the can for other possible uses," Erin said sarcastically. "So T.J. is on the hunt now for video because you know the Nashville affiliates had crews there for at least part of the service."

"Did the Army send any public affairs staff?" Jeff queried.

"A photojournalist, but not a videographer," Erin replied. "And you know Jeff… I get it. It is news and I want broadcast and print media reporting these deaths, covering the funerals, recognizing the sacrifice 'cause a lot of people don't even think about the wars we're in on a daily or even weekly basis. But I'm pissed because I don't want her family or friends to ever think that there was any other reason for me being there then to recognize her as a soldier and her service."

"And is this just T.J.'s idea or do you think Senator Rushing wants it too?" Olivia asked.

"I wish it was just T.J., but I know from what he said she's backing his play on this," Erin sighed.

"You know they're going to get what they want," Jeff sighed. "And you know Cassie's parents could have prevented the cameras inside the church if they would have wanted to."

"Yeah, but don't you get the difference between that as a news story and this as them trying to package me up in this two minute piece. It's promoting me, not remembering Cassie," Erin said.

"Erin," Casey started softly, "Have you talked to Cassie's girlfriend or Mr. Weston since Jeff gave you your letter?"

"Well…it only has been a few days," Erin said as she sat up and leaned against the back of the couch and in the process knocked the phone off Olivia's thigh and onto the floor. Olivia reached down grabbing the phone and apologizing before placing it on the coffee table and sitting alongside Erin.

"Sorry," Erin continued. "I was going to call Kelly at least this afternoon…and yes I have been procrastinating it, but Case, like Liv and Jeff already know between T.J., my dad, and Dylan I not only didn't have time to call her, I would have been too…I just need to be in the right frame of mind."

"Why don't you call when you are over here tomorrow?" Jeff queried. Erin glanced toward Olivia and Olivia squeezed her hand and nodded in agreement.

"Do they know what your new position is?" Casey asked. "Because I think you should just be honest. Pentagon public affairs staff putting together a bio and they are requesting some footage from the service to possibly include."

"You make it sound so easy," Erin chuckled. "Kelly knows the exact position. Mr. Weston just that it is a public affairs position at the Pentagon."

"Babe, I think she's right. I know you're not going to open the conversation with it," Olivia said. "And I know that we weren't in Nashville long, but you went above and beyond and spent a lot of time with Kelly and Cassie's family. I think they have a pretty good idea of your true character."

"I agree," Jeff said. "Rushing and McCoy are requesting footage from affiliates, it's not like you brought your own camera crew there to record it or ask that an Army crew be assigned."

"You know T.J. even asked if Liv or one of my other friends might have recorded on their phones or anything. I obviously knew before that Rushing has a lot of influence and some that she has used already has been good, good for me and Liv, but I'm already starting to feel like her puppet," Erin sighed.

"But I think she picked you because she knows exactly what she has," Jeff argued. "The truth is that you are that officer who does the right thing, above and beyond like Liv said. Hell, you read the file she has on you and know how thorough it is. There's nothing tarnishing in your record professionally or personally."

"Maybe Dylan," Erin laughed uncomfortable with Jeff's praises. Olivia got up and walked to the kitchen. "Jeff you certainly know I'm no saint myself." Olivia returned and placed another beer for Erin on the coffee table. She stepped away mouthing to Erin that she was going to the restroom.

Olivia closed the bathroom door and sat on the ledge of the bathtub. She took a long drink of her beer then set it on the floor, burying her face in her hands as old fears and insecurities resurfaced.