The Characters are copied righted to Dick Wolf.
When Partners Continue to Collide Chapter 3
Heading over to her desk, Olivia picked up the phone and dialed Warner's number and asked if she could meet up ASAP on the quiet with Bell, Elliot, Fin and herself to see if she could help. Warner agreed and they arranged to meet in an hour's time.
Finally, leaving her office, she informed Bell and Fin, then headed to the roof to speak to Elliot.
Olivia reached the top of the roof and could see Elliot standing looking out over the Manhattan skyline. "Howdy Partner", Elliot glanced round to see Olivia coming up to him. Putting her hand on his shoulder, "You ok?". Elliot turned and drew Olivia to himself, surrounding her in a bear hug. Olivia put her arms around Elliot, realizing he needed contact with her at the moment, and waited for him to move away.
Elliot tried to choke back the emotion "Liv, are you sure about this? You don't have to even consider this, we can put a stop to it now, work out some other way of rescuing Amelia and bringing in Smith." Olivia looked up at Elliot "Let's go and see Melinda and see if this idea is even feasible, because I don't want to think of what the alternative is." Elliot nodded, understanding what Olivia what alluding to.
"How are you doing?" Elliot asked, Olivia sighed, "Trying to hold it together in front of everyone and trying to understand how I've been dragged into another madman's mind games. But I think above all I'm scared."
Elliot nodded, he was scared too. Scared of the now very real possibility of Olivia having to be alone with Smith, pretending to be dead or not. "Did you phone Warner?" Elliot asked after a moment's pause. "Yes – Fin, Bell, you and I are meeting her in less than an hour" Olivia responded. "We better head back down then" Elliot said. Olivia nodded and smiled, and they headed back to the squad room together. Olivia went to her office to continue with her daily chore of police circulars, while Elliot went with Bell to set a plan in motion for disrupting the Five Points with Reyes.
Olivia jumped at sound of the knock on her office door. She looked up to see Fin standing there. "You ready?" Fin asked. Olivia grabbed her purse "As I'll ever be" she responded, as she followed Fin towards the elevator.
Informing Whelan, Muncy, Jet, and Velasco that they were off, Olivia could feel their apprehension of the meeting that was about to happen. Also, the look on their faces displayed the realization that there was only one alternative if this plan didn't work.
Olivia and Fin were driving in a comfortable silence, Fin looked at Olivia looking out the window, knowing her as well as he did, he knew Olivia had put her defenses up. "Liv, you can back out and we can find another way." Olivia, still looking out the window, said "You speak to Elliot?"
"No, why?" Fin asked. Olivia smiled and said, "Because he said exactly the same thing." Fin smiled "It's only because we care about you". Pulling into Washington Drive, Fin found a parking space near the bar, and they joined Elliot and Bell walking in. Once inside they headed over to Warner, who was sitting in a booth in the corner away from everyone else. They all sat down, Olivia and Elliot sitting next to each other opposite Warner.
After explaining the situation and their idea of a plan to Warner they waited as she processed the information.
"Let me get this straight – you want me to help you fake Olivia's death, and it needs to be so convincing that it fools a senior federal agent who is potentially corrupt? And on top of that, makes a guy who's obsessed with Olivia hand himself in, to bring down an organized criminal group?"
Bell looked at Warner and simply said, "Basically! Can you help?"
Everyone around the table looked at Warner as her mind was beginning to work out a plan.
"If, and I mean if, I help you" Warner said at last "firstly I want clearance from your bosses at 1PP – I don't want my career on the line." Olivia and Bell looked at each other, knowing getting McGrath's support was going to be tough. "Secondly," Warner continued "Olivia you need to know exactly what this is going to involve. This isn't some play dead, have a few people weep over your body, have a photo taken, and then get up again."
Olivia nodded "Ok" Indicating to Warner to carry on.
Warner begun to list the steps.
"Firstly, you're going to need to consider the psychological trauma this is going to bring back up for you. You're talking about going back to the beach house, and the very room, where you were assaulted and tortured – both physically, sexually, and mentally." Olivia began to protest but Warner stopped her "Olivia, don't take me for a fool. Don't underestimate your PTSD". Olivia swallowed down the emotion she could feel rising, and knew Warner was right.
Olivia nodded "What next?"
Warner, knowing she got her message to Olivia across, continued "You're going to need to be hit across the head, hard enough so it leaves a mark. I need to be able to argue the case that you were incapacitated, so you can't have any help or touch your head afterwards.
I suggest using the same gun this gang you mentioned – the Five Points? – use". Bell nodded "Yep, a Glock, we can get one of those" whilst simultaneously getting out her phone to text Reyes to 'borrow' Paul Kelly's Glock.
Elliot, who had been listening closely to this, suddenly spoke up "Sorry, one of us has to pistol whip Olivia? No way Doc, I'm sorry, out of the question". Olivia touched Elliot's arm, "El, let's hear the whole plan and then we will make the decision, ok?" Elliot nodded and looked at Fin, who also nodded in agreement.
Olivia, speaking to Warner, "Ok, carry on". Warner took a sip of her drink then continued, "To imitate Lewis you realize this means being tied to the bed in the same way he tied you last time, and this time your clothes will need to be removed and a belt tied tightly around your neck, so it leaves a mark? We can slip a small sponge between your trachea and the belt to allow you to still breath though. Then you'll need to have something similar to tar poured over you from head to toe, and then feathers placed over you". Olivia took a deep breath; she had not considered the belt, or her clothes being removed, and looking at the rest of the team – nor, apparently, had they. "Why does the captain's clothes have to be removed?" asked Bell before anyone else had a chance.
"Tar and feathering is all about humiliating the victim. They would have hung Flemming naked after tarring and feathering him. You want Smith to feel that the Five Points are sending him a message, it needs to be exact – the full humiliation – though we can try to cover your dignity as much as possible with the feathers. However, when your reach my autopsy table, I will need to wash you down, and take photos of every inch of your body. There will be no hiding." Warner said before continuing "Those photos will then be uploaded into the system with my report. I can use another cadaver for the actual autopsy, but if you want to fool this agent it needs to be a full autopsy report – I can't leave anything out otherwise it raises a red flag. I can mark them classified, and obviously they will be destroyed after the case, but I can't be sure they won't be accessed by anyone else".
Olivia nodded, taking in everything Warner had said – this was going to be a lot more in-depth than she realized and, if she was truthful to herself, she was questioning if she could go through with it. "Anything else?" Olivia asked.
"Yes", Warner continued "Two more things, Olivia you're going to need to be processed as a crime scene – that means my team and CSU will have to see you, move you, touch you and place you in a body bag for the entire journey back to the morgue."
"Finally," Warner stated, addressing Olivia directly, "You will need to take a paralytic drug". Olivia straight away jumped in, "No way, sorry Melinda, I can't do that. Everything else I can potentially put myself through, but not drugs. I haven't been able to take anything stronger that Tylenol since Lewis."
Warner, understanding what Olivia was saying and spoke gently to her "Liv, you know when you begin to drop off and your body twitches, or involuntarily jumps. If you do this, even once, around Smith, this gang, one of my medics…the game's up and it could be potentially very costly to you. A conscious paralytic drug will allow you still to be able to breath on your own and, even though you will need to close your eyes, you'll be able to hear and feel everything that is going on around you – you just won't be able to move, and your heart rate will be slower, so your breathing will be shallower. Finally, it will make you drowsy, so it will take you out of the situation, which if you do decide to attempt this mad cap idea, might not be a bad thing".
Warner took a sip of her drink while Olivia took out her phone and looked at a photo of Amelia. She knew she had to do this for her. Holding her phone so Melinda could see the video Smith sent her that morning Olivia spoke "Melinda, if I don't do this, I am left with two alternatives. Giving into Smith's demands and trading Amelia for myself and allowing him to do goodness knows what to me. Or leaving Amelia and hope he releases her, and with his mental state at the moment, I can't see that happening."
Elliot rubbed his hands down the side of his face, realizing that Olivia was actually wanting to go through with this plan. He got up, mumbling about going to the men's room. Olivia looked at Bell and then Fin, who got up to follow Elliot downstairs to the men's room, said "I don't like this one bit, but I hate to admit it, Liv if you think you can do it then I agree it is our best plan. But my caveat is that you book an appointment with your shrink for the very next day". "I agree with Fin" Warner added, watching him leave to check on Elliot.
Olivia looked at Bell, who said "Rather you than me captain. But as you said, I am not liking the alternatives. I will come with you to see McGrath". Olivia smiled, "Thank you" she said.
Fin walked into the men's room, to find Elliot pacing up and down. "Hey man" Fin said, standing in the corner of the room "You want to talk?"
Elliot stopped pacing "I can't believe she is even considering this, doesn't she even see the potential dangers putting herself in and everything that could go wrong?"
"She knows, but put yourself in her position, what would you do?" Elliot looked at Fin, knowing he was right – if he was in Olivia's position, he would be making exactly the same decision and, as hard as it was for him, he knew he needed to support her and help her as much as possible.
"You're right, but I don't like it" Elliot finally said. "Nor do I," agreed Fin, "but Liv is going to need us to be strong for her". Elliot nodded and then said, "We better get back upstairs". Elliot and Fin headed for the stairs to join the rest of the group.
As Elliot and Fin approached the table Elliot said "Melinda, what's the earliest we could be prepared to do this? Bearing in mind the deadline for Olivia contacting Smith is 8am tomorrow". Olivia and Bell looked up, surprised at Elliot's change of heart. Elliot put his hand on Olivia's shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze as she looked up at him and gave him a small smile.
Melinda, thinking out loud, replied addressing everyone, but looking at Fin, "If I could borrow Fin for the rest of the day, and tap into some of the many contacts I know you have, we could be ready first thing tomorrow morning?". Fin smiled, "My resources are at your command".
Olivia nodded and then, turning directly to Elliot and looking into his eyes, asked if he would be the one to help her with everything the next day. Elliot held her gaze without hesitation and said he would. He then swallowed, with the sudden realization what 'everything' actually entailed.
Before everyone left, they sorted out the finer details, and then Bell and Olivia headed to 1PP to talk to McGrath. Olivia was mentally preparing for a fight to convince McGrath to allow her to go through with this. Bell, looking at Olivia and reading what was going through Olivia's mind, said "We will bring him on-side, especially with the idea of catching a federal agent in the act. They may even make him the deputy commissioner for an arrest like that. You and I won't get a mention mind you". Olivia smiled, appreciating Bell's attempt at cheering her up, as they pulled into the 1PP car park.
Before Olivia and Bell even managed to sit down in the chairs opposite McGrath's desk, he was already berating Olivia for her lack of progress in rescuing Amelia. Olivia, taking a deep breath trying to maintain her cool, cut off McGrath. "Chief, if you would give us the curtesy to be able to come in and take a seat and actually get a word out, you would find that we have made progress, and we want to talk to you about a plan – not only to rescue Amelia, but also arrest Smith and bring down the entire Five Points gang. Hopefully it will also give us evidence to flush out Johnson, who we believe is the agent that has been supplying information on drugs and weapons to Smith to use in selling his way into the Five Points. Which, needless to say, would look very good for you Chief." McGrath sat more upright at the mention of the arrest of Johnson, and said to Olivia and Bell "Ok, I'm listening".
Bell and Olivia explained the plan to McGrath, who was initially very dismissive of the whole idea as sheer lunacy which, begrudgingly, Olivia admitted might be fair a point. But the more they explained every point and answered his questions, gradually McGrath began to come around to the plan and eventually agreed they could go ahead with it. But then, what color McGrath did have in his face suddenly intensified and turned a deep pink. "Urm, Captain" McGrath said, turning to Olivia, "did you know in the case of a dead officer, especially a captain, it's normal for a chief to go and view the body when it's brought into the morgue?". "No, I didn't", Olivia answered truthfully, also feeling as uncomfortable as McGrath clearly was with this thought. After a few more moments of a now very awkward conversation, Olivia and Bell stood to leave. As they got to the door McGrath said "Captain Benson, I wish you good luck, I know this won't be easy for you." Olivia, a little taken back that McGrath was being civil to her, nodded and followed Bell out the door.
Olivia and Bell arrived back in the squad room and Bell instructed Whelan to contact Reyes and arrange to pick up Paul Kelly's gun that Reyes had 'acquired', whilst at the same time delivering the evidence of Smith working with the Lennox Avenue Gang, under the alias Lewis Williams, that they had discovered.
Olivia explained the rest of the plan set out by Warner to Jet, Velasco and Muncy. All three looked shocked at everything the plan entailed and what Olivia was going to have to go through. Unsure what to say, Velasco was the first to speak. "Captain, are you sure, I mean is it safe for you?" Olivia smiled, touched at Velasco's care, but she was also honest with her squad. "No, I am not sure. But I trust Melinda Warner and Elliot with my life any day, and I know they will be looking after me. Jet – can you work with TARU, off the books so to speak, and make sure that the house is covered with eyes and ears?". Jet nodded and set off to make plans.
Muncy looked at Olivia as if she was mad but, after debating whether to say anything, she decided not to. Olivia could see Muncy wanted to speak and ask 'why was she doing this?' but Olivia decided she'd talk to her afterwards, when she might have a better understanding.
Instead, Olivia explained to Muncy and Velasco that they were needed to go undercover as patrol cops and be first on the scene to arrest Smith. "We need you to be on standby near the beach house, and to come in when instructed by Bell".
Bell, now joining Olivia, added "Can I remind you that you need to prepare to act shocked and pretend that Captain Benson has been murdered. It shouldn't be too difficult, she won't exactly be looking her usual immaculate self".
Olivia smiled at Bell's description of her, knowing that she was trying to lighten the tension that was in the room "Thank you," she said, "I try my best…alongside getting my sleepy twelve-year-old son up for school".
Then turning to Jet, who was at her console, "Jet, we need you to be ready to disable the morgue cameras, and also with your little gift for Johnson when he downloads the file". Jet nodded.
Addressing the squad, I can't send you home, but please try to get a bit of sleep tonight. There is not much we can do now until tomorrow", then Looking at Bell "Can you hold take charge here, if I go and see Noah and prepare for tomorrow?". Bell nodded, Olivia smiled and headed out of her squad room.
Sitting with Carasi and Amanda in their lounge, sipping a much-needed cup of Carasi's Italian coffee, Olivia had asked Noah to give her five minutes alone with Aunty Amanda and Uncle Sonny as she explained the next day's plan. Looking at Olivia, Amanda nodded, but worried about everything Olivia was going to have to put herself through, "I know you can't do much, but Stabler is staying nearby to protect you if needed". Olivia nodded. "Fin too. Can you imagine either of them leaving me to my own devices for too long." Amanda smiled and then Carasi spoke, "I am just checking, you know you can't actually prosecute anyone for harming you?"
Olivia smiled, "Thanks Carasi, I do know a little about the law." Amanda, concerned, then asked Olivia "What you going to tell Noah? There's no promise that your death isn't going to be in the media tomorrow."
"The truth" Olivia responded, "I hate to ask, but are you able to get him out of town for a couple of day?". Carasi nodded, understanding what Olivia was asking, "I'm not in court for a couple of days, so I'll take Noah, Jesse, and Billie to my sisters upstate. They'll certainly try to get some meat on those bones of his, but they'll also be very discreet." Olivia thanked Amanda and Carasi, and then went into the next room to speak to Noah.
Sitting down next to Noah, waiting for him to finish watching a TikTok video, he looked up and smiled and put away his phone. "What's up mom? You look worried, is it a really bad case?"
Olivia smiled and hugged him. "Noah, I am going to be honest with you about something that I am going to be doing tomorrow, and that you may hear about." Noah's forehead creased, his mom had rarely told him about one of her cases before it had happened, in a worried voice he asked "Mom, what is it?"
Taking a deep breath Olivia explained to Noah that, to catch the bad guys, they needed to pretend that she had been killed, and he may hear about it on the news or even see pictures of her supposedly dead body. But she reminded him that it would all be carefully staged. Noah nodded, understanding what his mom was saying. After a second he asked, "Are you going to actually be hurt though?" Olivia looked directly into her son's eyes and saw he was scared, but knowing she had to be honest she answered, "I will have a cut on my head and marks around my neck, and probably my wrists too". Noah nodded as he took the information in. Finally, he asked "Are you scared?" Olivia felt the tears well up as she answered "Yes". Noah lent in and hugged her so hard Olivia thought he was going to knock her over. They held each other for a while until finally Olivia, holding Noah's face between her hands and bringing it to her own said "You're going to go with Uncle Sonny to his sisters for a few days – try not to look on social media. I promise I will FaceTime you the minute I can, ok?"
Noah nodded and they headed back to the lounge, arms around each other. After hugging Amanda, Carasi, and having an extra-long hug with Noah, Olivia headed back to her flat to begin to prepare for the next day.
When Olivia got home, she took off her make-up, showered, and put on a pair of leggings, a baggy top, and a long snuggly cardigan. Doing this as soon she got home had become her habit over the years. A way she could switch off from the horrors of the day, and metaphorically wash the day away. But not today. As she sat in front of the TV, she knew she was restless for tomorrow and found herself constantly going over the steps for the plan in her head.
Finally, she got up and went to her wardrobe and began sifting through her clothes to find a set of clothes that still looked like workwear, but she didn't mind being donated to evidence. She laid them out and then got out an old pair of boots and a jacket.
Just as she sat down and had picked up the John Smith Case file to re-read, the doorbell went. Looking through the security hole she saw Elliot, with a hold-all and a Chinese takeaway. Olivia opened the door and smiled.
"What's in the bag?" she asked by way of greeting, while stepping aside to let Elliot in. Elliot walked to Olivia's kitchen and began hunting for chop sticks while answering her question. "I had a feeling you might be obsessing about tomorrow and, in the meantime, forget to do things like eat or sleep. So, I asked permission from Bell and have brought a bag over to stay, to make sure you're taking care of yourself".
Elliot found the cutlery and began equally sharing out the Chinese into two bowls. "That's very presumptuous of you El" Olivia said, slightly annoyed that Elliot was correct. "Is it?" Elliot responded, passing Olivia a bowl, and heading over to the couch with Olivia following him. "What have you had for dinner?" "I need to have an empty stomach for tomorrow" Olivia said, knowing she was defeated but still wanting to make some attempt of arguing her case all while expertly scooping some rice into her mouth with the chop sticks. Elliot, also tucking into his meal, between mouthfuls said, "You have to stop eating at 10pm – it's currently 8pm, that's two more hours."
Olivia stuck the TV on to a comedy film and they ate and watched in silence. When the program had ended, Olivia turned off the TV and began to clean up their meal.
"Liv, we need to talk" Elliot said, sitting on the bar stool. Olivia carried on tidying away their dinner. "What do you want to talk about?" Olivia asked, though she knew what he was going to say, she was a police captain after all.
"Us and tomorrow" said Elliot "so will you please come and sit down" he added. Olivia stopped what she was doing and headed back to the sitting area with Elliot following.
Taking a deep breath Elliot said "I am so sorry for the way I acted when I found out I was not going to lead the OC. My behavior was childish, and I took it out on you."
Olivia looked straight at Elliot and said "Yes, it was, and you did."
Elliot continued "But please don't think I ever stopped caring for you, or that I don't want a relationship with you." Olivia didn't quite know where to begin, she had heard rumors that Elliot was seeing a pretty Italian cop. "Elliot", Olivia said, "you were my rock, my sanctuary for so many years. When you left, I didn't know how much I was floundering until Noah came into my life. Now you have returned, and I feel like I am on unsteady ground again with so many possible next steps and I don't know which one to take. But I do know that I'm glad you're back in my life, especially as I need you by my side tomorrow."
Elliot nodded and reached out, taking Olivia's hand, "I can't begin to imagine what your feelings are about tomorrow, but I am terrified for you, and for everything I have to do to you."
Olivia looked up at Elliot and whispered, "I know." Elliot lent in and held Olivia, who lent back into him. Both not wanting to let the other go. Finally, Olivia moved away and said, "We'd better try to get some sleep."
Elliot stepped away, "Yeah, you're right – an early start tomorrow." Looking around and suddenly realizing he did not know where the linen closet was, he asked "Liv, where do you keep your spare sheets?"
Olivia, realizing that Elliot was thinking of spending the night on her sofa, replied "Elliot, I am not letting you sleep on the couch for another night! We're not youngsters anymore – come on." She indicated he was to join her in her bedroom. Elliot felt his palms go sweaty when he realized what Olivia was suggesting. "Liv, are you sure? I mean, the couch is fine."
Olivia looking directly at Elliot "Elliot, we're both adults. Adults who need to allow their aching bodies at least an attempt at a good night's sleep." Then, realizing that maybe Elliot was uncomfortable with sharing a bed with her, she added "Unless you would feel more comfortable on the couch?"
Elliot smiled, picked up his hold-all, and followed her into the bedroom. Olivia smiling, in a mock warning voice said, "I am warning you Detective Stabler, no funny business – my body becomes evidence tomorrow and Warner will know." Elliot laughed, held his hands in the air in surrender, and said "I promise!"
Taking out his wash bag and pajamas, Elliot went to the bathroom to freshen up, while Olivia got into bed, picked up her journal and began scribbling in a few thoughts of the day. Elliot retuned and hovered anxiously. Olivia folded back the covers and indicated he was to join her. Elliot scrambled under the covers as Olivia put her journal back. After checking Elliot was ready, she turned off the lights and they snuggled under the covers – each aware the other was a matter of inches away.