A/N: A shout out to Faith Ann Tucker for her review! So glad you liked it. A smaller cliffy at the end of this one for you. ;)
Chapter 19
"Detective Stabler, what is the news on your partner?" Judge Carlson asked. Elliot rose from his seat next to Martha at the defendant's table.
"She's out of her medically induced coma but she can't talk until her throat heals a little more. The doctor's think her skin irritation and breathing should be better in about a week so they're keeping her until then, your Honor," he explained.
"Glad to hear she is on the mend. Mrs. Stabler alleges that you are her emergency medical contact?" The Judge wanted to know. Martha was about to object to the odd way the judge was handling the proceeding as it was against protocol but Elliot answered before she could say anything.
"She has no family left your Honor. I agreed to be her emergency medical contact because she's most likely to be hurt on the job and I would already be present to give consent for any emergency procedures," he told him.
"Very good. Please be seated," Carlson said. Elliot nodded and sat back down.
"Now, I have reviewed all the paperwork and I must say it seems to be full of innuendo but lacking on hard evidence. Even if I were to have Detective Benson brought into this courtroom, I don't see her being able to add to this proceeding. I warned you Mr. Boles, not to waste this court's time and you have," the Judge started.
"Your Honor. I object. You clearly favor the Detectives and you should recuse yourself from this case!" Boles stood up from his seat.
"Bias toward the plaintiff? Is that what you are accusing me of? What exactly do you think you'll gain by dragging Detective Benson in here, in a highly unusual move for divorce court? I allowed you the benefit of the doubt as there might have been a chance to catch her in a lie on the stand but you've shown me no evidence that there was anything to lie about," Carlson pointed out.
"Your Honor you have statements…"
"Those statements from children who have said that their father spends more time at work than with them? I defy you to find another police officer who doesn't have the same problem. Those statements regarding rumors being spread at the precinct where the Detectives work? You gave me no photographs, no receipts for gifts that the plaintiff never received, or any indication that the defendant was spending time in hotels. There is nothing here. Expect the disciplinary committee to be hearing from me," Carlson shot down Kathy's attorney and Elliot could see she was steaming.
"It is the opinion of this court that no perjury was committed when the divorce papers were originally signed. With no maleficence, I find that the original papers are binding. Custody of the children shall be shared as agreed upon. One word to the defendant and the plaintiff, make time for your children when they are with you. I don't want to see either of you back here," with that the hearing ended and the Judge banged his gavel. Elliot turned to Martha and shook her hand.
"Thank you," he smiled.
"You're welcome. Before you run off to the precinct or to the hospital, do me a favor and make sure that if you start having problems again, you call me. Something tells me that today's decision did little to change your ex-wife's mind," Martha told him.
"You've got it," Elliot nodded. Martha gave him a smile and he moved away from her and stayed away from Kathy as he exited the courtroom. He didn't want to give her the opportunity to try and start something right there in the court building. He worried that she was coming off the rails and decided that it would be a good idea to ask Huang what he thought. As much as he didn't like to admit it, he was a little out of his depth with Kathy's recent behavior. They hadn't really been in love the last few years but they stayed together for the children. Then he realized that staying together for the kids didn't really matter when the kids could tell that their parents were miserable. It was making everyone miserable so the split needed to happen. Her sudden belligerent behavior, just because of something that their daughter had said, seemed like an overreaction. He couldn't help shake his feelings as he climbed back into the standard issue sedan and headed for the precinct to check in.
To Be Continued…