Thanks to those who have had a chance to review the last chapter, and to the new readers who are following the story. I decided to go ahead and post a little more since I had some spare time. Enjoy!

It was late morning before Olivia made it to the precinct. Her early meeting had gone much better than she had expected, and she was relieved, but she knew she had to make an announcement now and she was dreading that. She took a deep breath and walked into the squad room, fully aware that all eyes were on her. News traveled fast, and her fainting spell during the Tibbits case last week had obviously started things in the rumor mill. "I need to have a short meeting with everyone," she said when she walked in the room and everyone gave her their full attention.

She could see Fin, looking questioningly at her, wondering if she was about to inform them that she had been removed as C.O. He looked like he was ready to rush to her side if she fell apart and she appreciated him for that. "I wanted to thank everyone for working so hard to find Haley Tibbits last week," she began. "And I need to apologize for not being there…for leaving you all on your own that last day, but I am so grateful you were able to pull together and bring Haley home to her parents."

"Liv, you don't need to apologize," Nick said quickly. "We all know you weren't feeling well. It's okay."

She smiled, knowing he was standing up for her in front of the other officers. "I wasn't feeling well," she looked around the room at the detectives and uniformed officers who were assigned to her command, "And I should've told you why. I'm going to have baby…a little girl…in about six months," she said with a lump in her throat. She never expected to make an announcement like that, and suddenly she was overwhelmed with emotion. "I know some of you already knew…and I appreciate you keeping it to yourselves, but now that I've disclosed it to my bosses, I wanted to tell everyone here." She was surprised by the response, everyone congratulating her and telling her they were happy for her, and it made her wish she had made the announcement sooner.

"Are they going to let you stay?" Amanda asked.

Olivia nodded, "Yeah…actually…they said that they really didn't want to disrupt things here again and they feel like I can do a good job even if I am not physically feeling up to going out on cases."

"Thank God," Fin smiled.

"But…they do think I need a second in command," she announced. "Someone to take over if I need a break and someone to supervise out in the field." She looked at Fin, "So, I asked them to let Fin do that…if he's willing."

Fin looked at her with shock. He'd been there almost as long as she had, but he'd never felt the desire to move up the ladder. "Does that come with a pay raise?" he teased.

She laughed, "I think we can work something out." She sighed, "Get back to work, everyone." She walked into her office, dropping her things beside her desk and turning on her computer. She looked up when Fin knocked on her door and she motioned him in. "Please don't tell me you're here to turn down the job," she pleaded.

"No…you want me to be your second hand man…I can do that," he sat down and looked seriously at her. "I'm glad you told everyone. How are you doing?"

"I'm good," she answered.

"Really?" he asked. "Because Elliot called me. You know that, right? He told me…"

"He told you about the baby," she nodded. "I know…and I'm fine."

"Olivia…" he sighed.

"What? Do you want me to say I'm devastated?" she shook her head. "Because I'm not going to say that. I love her."

"Of course you do," he said gently. "I know that. I just thought you might want to talk about it."

"Well I don't," she said quickly.

"Okay," he stood up and headed toward the door, "I guess I'll get back to work then. Being second in command probably means I should set a better example for the others."

"Fin," she called to him and he turned back to look at her. "When Elliot called you…did he say how he was feeling about things…about the baby?"

"Don't you think you should be talking to him about that?" he asked seriously.

"He says he's happy…that he can't wait to be a daddy again and that we're lucky because she's special," she looked at him tearfully. "But before I told him she had Down syndrome, he wasn't even sure he could be a father again. Why would he change his mind so quickly?"

He walked back over to her desk and sat down, "Maybe because he knows you need him to be on board 100% right now. He can't question his feelings anymore. He has to be committed to you and this baby girl. And he is. He loves you both."

"I'm scared," she admitted sadly. "I'm afraid he'll leave me again. I want to trust him…I love him…and I know he loves me and the baby…but I thought he loved me before and he just walked out of my life without ever looking back. If he could do it then, what's to stop him from doing it now?"

"If you're really afraid of that, then you should tell him," he said softly. "But you're not the same person you were then. You're a hell of a lot stronger now. You don't have to live in fear of losing him."

"I keep feeling myself getting more and more dependent on him," she whispered nervously. "And I don't want to put myself in that position again."

"You don't want to get hurt," he nodded. "I get that. He hurt you…and I wanted to kill him for it. But you let him back in…you're having his baby…you have to have a little faith that things will be better this time. You owe that to yourself and to this baby girl…and even to Elliot." He smiled, "But trust me when I say he better not hurt you this time or I won't be so well mannered. I'll make sure he regrets it."

She laughed a little, "Thanks, Fin. I know I can always count on you."

"For what it's worth," he smiled, "I don't think he's going anywhere. I think when you told him the baby had Down syndrome, he realized what a fool he'd been focusing on how scared he was to be a dad again, instead of on what a miracle it is for him to be having this baby with you."

"Did he say that?" she asked with a slight smile.

"He didn't have to," Fin stood up and headed back toward the door. "I'm here if you need anything," he reminded her as he opened the door.

"Thanks," she whispered. Then she returned to her work.