TIMELINE: Elliot recuperates at Olivia's after being shot in RAW (Season 7, Episode 6). Elliot is separated from Kathy, and this is around the time E&O start to acknowledge their attraction and begin to explore their feelings. After STARVED (Season 7, Episode 8), something happens that changes Olivia's life forever.
I never knew of alternate universes for our beloved SVU characters until I found this website. I have LOVED reading them here, and have become completely invested in those stories. This is my first attempt at a completely alternate universe story.
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It was a bustling day at the 1-6 with several high-pressure cases keeping all the detectives busy nearly 24/7. One of those days where the chaos never seems to settle down. Captain Olivia Benson was stuck on the phone in her office with McGrath, while yearning to be on the ground working side-by-side with her sergeant and detectives. Olivia loved being a Captain, and was very proud of her accomplishments, but some days she just wished she could be chasing down perps, and bring them to justice. As has been happening a lot in the past couple of years since he returned, Olivia lets her mind wander back to her partnership with Elliot. Back when they were both detectives, and were always so in sync, while willing to do anything to solve a case. She grins thinking about how much grief they brought to Cragen, and how grateful she doesn't seem to have a "Benson & Stabler" within her current squad.
Now, after 25+ years at SVU, she carries the burden for everyone as Captain. It is fulfilling on its own, but it definitely lacks the adrenaline of her early days with the Unit. She still misses the adrenaline rush of catching a case, and hitting the ground with Elliot, Fin, Munch, or Nick. Being the Captain has its benefits, but there is nothing like getting your hands dirty with the details of a case.
There was a knock at her door, pulling Olivia out of her memories, and she summoned them to come in. Olivia looked up to see a uni standing nervously in the doorway. "Captain…there is a young woman here to see you. A Ms. Humphreys." Olivia didn't know the name, so assuming it was someone inquiring about a current case, she instructed them to send the visitor to her office. She pressed the handset between her shoulder and chin, continuing to listen to the droll of McGrath on the phone.
Olivia was finally able to hang up, and dive back into her work. In addition to the crazy caseload this week, Olivia had been summoned by the 1PP brass to COMPStat the following morning. She hated being put in the spotlight and having to describe, and justify, where they stood on any of their open cases. COMPstat was always an added stress to her life, and now the rest of her day was now going to be filled with organizing her notes for every open case so she didn't make a fool of herself in front of the 1PP brass.
Olivia looked up from her notes when she sensed there was someone once again standing in her doorway. A young woman with thick brownish/blond hair, fair skin, and a gentle smile. But when she saw the young woman's eyes…Olivia's stomach plummeted three stories down.
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2005
Olivia insisted on Elliot coming back to her apartment to heal after being shot in the elbow by Kyle Ackerman during the chaos yesterday in the courtroom. "Elliot, please stop! You are coming home with me! You are not going to go sit at your apartment, alone, and annoy me with calls to bring you things!" Elliot shrugged his shoulders knowing she was right, but he enjoyed seeing her get all flustered. Handling a pain-med drugged Elliot was not something Olivia was looking forward to. She knew he was a terrible patient.
Inside her apartment, Olivia made quick work of setting up plenty of pillows and blankets for Elliot to lounge on on the sofa. They bickered about pretty much everything. Elliot did not want any of the assistance Olivia was trying to give him, and she was frustrated that he was trying to do everything for himself. Finally, Olivia put her foot down, and laid out how all of this was going to work. Jokingly, she made it clear that if he didn't behave, he was going to be grateful all he had was a gunshot wound. Elliot smirked at how cute he thought she looked being the boss, which drove Olivia crazy. Eventually, he conceded and settled in on the sofa while Olivia went to work making dinner so he could eat and take some more pain meds for the night.
After Olivia and Elliot finished up dinner, and Elliot had taken his evening meds, the partners curled up on opposite ends of the sofa to relax. "Thanks for everything Liv. This is better than sitting alone at home. Want to veg out and watch TV?" Elliot patted the spot next to him, and Olivia scooted closer, and rested her head on his shoulder. He clicked on a random 80s romcom, and they enjoyed reliving their teen years. The movie ended, and another began, but Elliot succumbed to his pain meds, and Olivia dozed off leaning on Elliot.
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The Captain stood stunned looking at the young woman standing in her doorway. She observed her closely, trying to guess her age. Maybe 17 or 18. That would be about the right age. Olivia motioned for the young woman to come to her desk, and she stood to shake her hand. "Ms. Humphreys? I'm Captain Olivia Benson." The young woman with glacier blue eyes stared nervously at her before slowly taking Olivia's hand in a firm handshake. "I'm sorry to interrupt you Captain, but I needed to see you. I'm Ella Humphreys.
Olivia sharply inhaled, and when she exhaled, a quiet Ella escaped her lips.
"Ella Benson Humphreys."
Tears began welling in Olivia's eyes. Her full body began to shake, while her knees began to buckle.
"I think you are my mother."
