As Olivia watched the bathroom fill up with steam, her thoughts drifted back to the trial and to Greg. Fearless, that's the kind of strength she would need to muster up from inside herself today. She blinked back emotion as she thought of how lucky she was that Elliot was by her side. He would need to be her strength today and she would need to be his.
Olivia could feel her heart pounding in her throat as she took a shaky step off of the witness stand. Elliot had yet to testify so he hadn't been allowed in the court room with her and she was left without the reprieve of his bright blue eyes as she carefully described what she had experienced.
Liz Donnelly was on her A game; fiery, intense, driven. It was like watching a Chess Master. Liz set up each question so gracefully that the defense attorney did not realize the her arguments until it was too late. Greg had not retained a lawyer and had been saddled with a green public defender. Olivia felt bad for the stuttering 20-something newbie. It didn't help that his suit jacket looked to be a couple sizes too big and dwarfed him in appearance. Olivia vaguely felt sorry for him.
Greg's demeanor was icy. He kept his eyes trained on Olivia, absorbing each small motion, each gesture, each word, making her skin crawl. He remained completely impassive and expressionless which turned Olivia's stomach even more. Not that she had been expecting remorse, no, she knew better than that. But it would have made her feel better and made Greg seem a little more human.
Olivia wasn't sure her trembling legs would be strong enough to carry her to the door, especially in the heels she had decided on this morning, but never the less she pushed passed Liz and offered a weak smile as she bolted out of the courtroom, her only thoughts on Elliot's waiting arms.
Elliot stood immediately, taking stock of Olivia's facial expression as she hurried out of the courtroom and towards the bench where he had sat waiting. He opened his arms immediately and pulled her head to his chest.
"It's over." He whispered over and over again. She remained motionless, barely even breathing, internalizing everything as he had been afraid she would.
"Liv, talk to me, please." Elliot soothed, stroking Olivia's hair.
"Nothing to tell. He's in there, you weren't, Donnelly's on a war path, his defense attorney is still in diapers, and I survived. That's all there is to tell."
Elliot brought his hands up to frame Olivia's face. She was steely with resolve, her walls firmly protecting her emotions. She was trying to be strong for him, Elliot realized. Silently, he thanked her, knowing that once they got home, they could talk this through. Maureen had volunteered to watch Eli overnight so that Elliot and Olivia could have some time to recover from the today so they would have the apartment to themselves.
He brought his lips to hers in a gentle but insistent kiss which she gladly returned. She allowed herself to become momentarily lost in him, needing to forget if only for a few moments, when someone cleared their throat behind Olivia.
She whipped around, half expecting to see Kathy, not at all expecting to see Don Cragen.
"Shit..." Olivia muttered, stepping quickly away from Elliot, though it was clearly too late.
"Captain, I ca-" Elliot began.
"Save it." Cragen interrupted, holding up his hand towards Elliot. "I'll redefine 'fraternization' with you two later. How's the trial going?"
Olivia exhaled sharply. "Fine. I'm glad Donnelly took this one on herself. She's not taking any prisoners in there."
"Good." Cragen replied, nodding. "Let me know if I can do anything to help." He turned away from his detectives and glanced towards the closed courtroom doors. Sighing, he turned back to Olivia and Elliot. "It will be over soon." He muttered and walked away, trench coat flailing behind him.
"Shit." Olivia whispered to herself.
"Eh, who cares?" Elliot replied, causing Olivia to glance up at him sharply. "If he doesn't want us to work together, I'll admit it'll suck but as long as I get to come home to you every night, I think I'll be okay." He said, shrugging his shoulders.
Olivia stared at him, incredulous but hopeful. "Elliot Stabler, did you just suggest that we move in together?" She questioned, hitting him on the arm.
"Olivia Benson, I believe I did." He nodded at her, smiling brightly.
She shook her head and rolled her eyes at him. Smiling, she took his hand and wrapped it around her waist so that she was comfortably snug into his side. "Okay." She whispered, leaning her head into his chest.
"Okay?" Elliot asked, pulling back slightly to look at her. Olivia brushed a strand of hair out her eyes and looked up at him. She nodded and he pulled her into a fierce kiss.
"Detective Stabler?" The courtroom clerk called into the small lobby where Elliot and Olivia were standing.
Elliot broke their kiss, grasping Olivia's bottom lip in his teeth as he did and turned to acknowledge the clerk. He gathered himself, gave Olivia one last backward glance, and practically strutted into the courtroom. Olivia smiled and shook her head. There were two times that Elliot "strutted;" when the had a lead or a perp, and when he was supremely happy about something. She was ridiculously happy too.
An hour and a half later Elliot emerged from the courtroom tear-stained and disheveled. It was clear to Olivia that rehashing everything his kids went through and reliving his terror at not knowing their whereabouts had taken a huge toll on him. Reaching Olivia, who was now standing in front of the bench, he folded her into his arms once more and kissed the top of her head.
"Its over." He whispered, reassuring himself as much as her.
She nodded and then tugged at his hand, leading him away from the courtroom and into the air of New York.
Judge Donnelly called Elliot the next morning to inform him that she believed closing arguments would be taking place the following day. The defense attorney had failed to call any substantial number of witnesses and it had basically been a "one woman show." Elliot smirked at her and affirmed that he and Olivia would both be present tomorrow. She also said that she would not be calling Lizzie and Dickie to the stand as she felt she had been able to prove Greg's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt without their testimonies.
Elliot breathed a sigh of relief. He walked back into the bedroom where Olivia was still sleeping peacefully. Her hair splayed out on the pillow and made her look so relaxed. Elliot stood watching her for a few moments before his phone buzzed again. This time it was Kathleen returning his call from last night. He stepped out of the room to take it, leaving Olivia to catch up on some much needed sleep.
When Olivia woke up, Elliot's side of the bed was cool to the touch. He had clearly been up for quite some time and Olivia was concerned that he had not slept much. She ambled out into the kitchen looking for him. Elliot was on the phone.
"...no, that's perfect, Mo. 7 p.m. You have the address? Good. I'll see you then."
He hung up and set the phone down on the counter while carefully tucking a piece of paper into his back pocket.
Olivia padded up behind him and wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head between his shoulder blades.
"Good morning." Elliot said, pulling Olivia in front of him and into a hug. "Donnelly says the closing arguments are tomorrow. Fast trial and hopefully a fast verdict." He kissed the top of her head.
"That's good." Olivia sighed.
"Wanna know what's even better?" Elliot asked, a smile lighting up his face.
Olivia couldn't help but laugh. "What?"
"This." Elliot said, sliding over an opened, official looking envelope. This came in yesterday's mail but I didn't get a chance to open it until this morning."
Olivia pulled out a thick packet of court documents. Engrossed, she moved and sat down on the couch without taking her eyes off the papers.
"Elliot..." She breathed, putting a hand to her mouth.
"It's over." He replied, sitting down next to her. "My marriage has been officially dissolved by the State of New York." Elliot was beaming but Olivia looked at him with concerned eyes.
"Are you okay? What about the kids? Are they okay?"
"Liv, they knew this was happening. It's been over for so long. They will be thrilled. Actually, I've already talked to Maureen and she couldn't be happier."
Olivia curled herself into his side. "Okay, then." She replied smiling. Elliot tipped her chin up and kissed her fiercely, losing himself in her until his phone buzzed in his pocket, leaving Olivia stunned.
The next day, Elliot and Olivia walked into the court house hand in hand. Closing arguments were quick and brutal for Liz and slow and bumbling for Greg's attorney. It was lunch time when the judge dismissed the jury to deliberate. Elliot and Olivia went to wait for Liz's phone call at the diner across the street.
Olivia was stoically picking at her salad when Elliot broke the silence. "They'll find him guilty, Liv. Donnelly did well."
She glanced up and offered him a weak smile. "I think so too."
"I have to run some errands for Kathy tonight. I hope you don't mind, but I told Kathleen she stop by the apartment even though I won't be there. Are you staying tonight?"
"I was planning on it, if that's okay."
"Good." Elliot smiled and reached across the table for her hand. At that moment, Olivia's phone buzzed and she jumped almost spilling her water.
"Benson." She snapped.
"Olivia, they jury is on their way back."
"Thanks, Liz. We're on our way." Olivia set the phone down as Elliot pulled out a twenty and threw it unceremoniously onto the table. He tossed Olivia her coat and took her hand as they walked out into the chilly New York air.