Special Victims Unit
Squad Room
Friday, November 19

A week has passed since the trial and things around the 1-6 precinct was starting to get back to normal. It was a typical Friday night in Manhattan. A fraternity party 2 miles away from the Hudson University campus got a little out of hand with a young college freshman accusing one of the fraternity brothers of assault. The station was packed with uniformed officers running about, people from the party being dragged in and out of interrogation rooms. The victim sat in Captain Cragen's office with Olivia and Nick, getting her statement about the assault.

"Okay Rachel, was there anything else you remember from the party?" Nick asked the young woman.

"N-no…I think that was it." She responded quietly.

"You did a good job, honey." Olivia said calmly. "Since we have your statement, it'll be best to take you down to the hospital and get checked out by a doctor."

"Wait, why? Do I have to go?" Rachel asked hesitantly.

"The doctor can recover any DNA the man may have left on you from the assault. It's our ticket to putting that man away for hurting you." Nick said.

Rachel turned towards Olivia and she gave her a reassuring nod. "You will be okay, Rachel. It won't take long to do and you'll have someone with you at all times in the hospital."

There was a knock at the door, followed by Cragen walking in with Amanda. "Detective Amaro, why don't you and Detective Rollins escort Ms. Simmons down to Mercy? I need Detective Benson to stay here."

"Yeah, sure thing, Cap." Nick said as he looked over at his partner. Olivia shrugged her shoulders and gave Rachel a smile.

"You'll be safe with Detectives Amaro and Rollins. If you need anything, you have my card." She assured her.

Rachel gave Olivia a sheepish smile as she followed Nick and Amanda out of the office. Cragen closed his door and sat down at his desk.

"What's up, Captain?"

"I want to talk to you about taking the Sergeants exam. It's coming up in a few months."

"What about it?" Olivia asked, trying to figure out his motive.

"I think it'll be a good idea for you to take it. We could use as much help around here as possible."

"We have enough people here, Cap. I think—"

"Liv, let's not beat around the bush. My time here is running out, as well as John's. Things are going to change, whether if you like it or not." Olivia sat down in her chair and stared at her captain. "And speaking of John, his retirement is actually coming quick. In a few weeks, it'll be his retirement party. And before you know it, he's gone from the unit. I need someone that can step up and handle the responsibilities, someone I can trust running this unit in my absence.

"So that leaves me…"

Cragen got up from his chair and walked around the desk, sitting in the chair next to Olivia. "You live for this job, Olivia. You work well with the victims and you work hard to get justice for them, sticking every sick bastard with a punishment they deserve for hurting them. I'll even help you prepare for the exam, even though I think you're in pretty good shape. I wouldn't tell you this if I didn't believe it to be true. There's no doubt in my mind that says you can't do it, because I know you can."

Olivia turned to Cragen and looked into his eyes, seeing that he was truly sincere about what he said. "And what about you?" she asked quietly.

Cragen sighed and adjusted himself in his chair. "Well, I still have some time before it's my turn to go, but not that much time. Which is why I could use another Sergeant to take John's place. Which also reminds me, I'm also arranging for another detective to get placed here."

"Another rookie? Don, I don't think I have the energy to show another rookie the ropes around here."

"No need to worry, Liv. This detective is experienced. Just wanting on paperwork to go through and get approved. The new detective should be here within the next few weeks." Cragen got up from his seat and glanced down at Olivia, still sitting in disbelief.

Seconds later, Fin knocked on the door as he walked in. "Hey Captain, we have a situation out here."

Cragen followed Fin out the office, but stopped in his tracks and looked back at Olivia. "You'll get through it, Liv."

Olivia nodded her head as Cragen left the office behind Fin. Her phone then started buzzing in her pocket. She took it out and saw that Elliot had texted her. She got up from her chair and walked out the office to her desk.

"Are you feeling okay, Liv?" Munch asked as he appeared from one of the interrogation rooms.

"Just a lot on my mind. I think I'm just going to head home early. Do you mind—"

"Get some rest, Liv." Munch smiled. Olivia gave her friend a smile as she gathered her belongings and headed out the precinct.

How strong do you think I am?

How much can I take of this?

Am I a rock, or a rose, or a fist?

Or the breath at the end of a kiss?

How deep do you want to go, because I'll go there if I can,

You make it harder than it has to be,

How strong, how strong do you think I am?

Benson Residence
203 W. 89th Street Apt 4D

Olivia opened the door to her apartment and was welcomed by an amazing smell of dinner being made. She placed her bag and coat on the couch as she walked into the kitchen, wrapping her arms around the chef standing in front of the stove.

"Whatever you're making smells so good, El."

"I figured a hot cooked meal is something you needed after a long week." Elliot said as he turned around to kiss Olivia.

"So what exactly are you making?"

"I have chicken baking in the oven, made my famous homemade mashed potatoes, and some corn on the cob. I also made biscuits."

"It sounds really good."

"Why don't you go relax a bit?" he said as he stirred the potatoes.

"Ugh, relaxing is so far from my mind…" Olivia grunted as she sat down at the island counter.

"What's going on, Liv?"

"Cragen laid a load on me before I left the precinct."

"What did you do now?" Elliot laughed.

"Very funny, El." Olivia chuckled. "I didn't get in trouble. He started off with telling me that he thinks I should take the sergeants exam in a few months."

"Oh wow, that's a big opportunity. An opportunity you deserve." Elliot said as he turned the burners down and focused his attention on Olivia.

"He then followed that by mentioning his and John's retirement from the force…he said that he's going to need all the help he can get when John leaves. Then he even said that he has another detective coming to our precinct."

"Oh yeah?" Elliot was caught off guard by the news. "Well…that's um, interesting news for sure."

Olivia noticed his hesitant answer, but didn't act on it. Maybe he was just as shocked as she still was.

"But yeah, that's just a lot to take in. I've always imagined being in charge of the SVU later down the line, but not like this and surely not this fast. I also don't want to leave Nick without a partner, or with a new one at that. I'm just getting used to trusting someone else with my life when it comes to the job."

Hearing those words leave Olivia's mouth stung Elliot. Even though it wasn't intentional, he can still sense that she was still hurt from him leaving all those months ago. Olivia had finally realized what she said and gasped.

"I'm so sorry, El."

"No, it's okay. I get what you mean." Elliot said quietly. He walked over to Olivia and hugged her. "I understand that this is a lot to take in when you're still adjusting to changes."

"I just can't imagine working there without Munch or Cragen anymore. It's such a weird thought and feeling. I mean, they're pretty much my family…I can't imagine not having them in my life anymore."

"Hey, it's not like they're moving to a whole other country, Liv. They're still going to be around, just not as co-workers anymore."

"That is true…"

"Hey, enough of this. Why don't we enjoy this lovely meal I made?" Elliot smiled.

"I like the sound of that." Olivia said as she got up to assist Elliot with dinner.

After finishing dinner, Elliot and Olivia decided to enjoy some wine while watching a movie, enjoying each other's company as they cuddled on the couch.

"Remind me again why we agreed to watch 'The Fast and The Furious'?" Olivia laughed as she got up to stretch her legs.

"Nothing else was on TV. It was a good movie." Elliot replied.

"You figured after the third one, this franchise would end. But no, this is what, number 7 now?"

"Hey, it beats watching 'The Nanny' on TV Land." Elliot said as he motioned Olivia to sit next to him.

"I love that show though." Olivia said as she snuggled back into Elliot's arms.

"Well, there's something that I love that can't be seen on TV…"

"Oh yeah, what's that?"

"You." Elliot kissed Olivia softly. She moaned as he shifted their bodies, her laying on her back and him on top.

"Why don't we continue this on something more comfortable, Stabler?" Olivia asked breaking the kiss.

"You read my mind, Benson." Elliot grinned as he got off the couch, picking Olivia up, and rushing to her bedroom.

Hello everyone! So I am back in action! So sorry for the very long hiatus! And sorry that this chapter wasn't much, but at least it's something. It's getting harder to think of how to continue this story for you all-writer's block is something else...so it looks like this story will be coming to an end very soon. HOWEVER, I have an awesome idea to continue where this story ends in a whole new story. More details to come...but for now, enjoy and I'll be back with another chapter soon!