I haven't written in years, so I hope you'll pardon me if this is terrible. I do not lay claim to anyone (except any you may not recognize) as they're all from the L&O SVU franchise.

I have this all planned out in my head – now I just have to write it. Spanish is not my native language, so I hope it all makes sense... if you'd like translations, I can give them to you!

Here goes…

...

The view is truly quite spectacular. I've lived in Manhattan, well in the burbs but known Manhattan almost all my life. Most people like the look of Broadway and Times Square, especially at night and they're not wrong – they're totally lovely and take my breath away to this day. But there's something about 60 Center Street on Foley Square that makes me proud. Proud to be a native New Yorker, and proud to live and work in this city. It's a gorgeous spring day today. The sun is out, the cherry blossoms are blooming and there's a lovely warm breeze in the air. Despite all of these things that would normally perk me up on a random Tuesday morning such as this I look towards the square I can't help but feel heavy, anxious and full of worry. I take a long lingering sip of my coffee and sigh as I feel its warmth. I'm lost in my own world, not focusing on anything in particular but leaning against a pillar in a long non-clingy dress with a jacket over me, enjoying what may be my last few moments of peace before chaos descends. I'm oblivious to the fact that he's calling me when I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder.

"You ok?"

I smile and nod my head, not turning to look at him but choosing to remain outwardly calm.

"I'm hanging in."

"They're calling us back."

That got my attention. I turn and look at his face with a shocked expression across my own.

"Already?"

He smiles slightly and nods his head.

"Is this a good thing or a bad thing?"

He shrugs his shoulders and tilts his head.

"It's hard to say. In most cases it's a good thing, and I really do believe that Defense Council failed to show Burden of Proof."

I look at him with nervous eyes.

"What if the Jury didn't believe me or our case? What if they find him innocent? What if they let him go and he does this again but someone isn't as lucky as I was…"
He puts his hands on my shoulders and it forces me to take a breath, and I become calm as he speaks in a soft voice.

"Shhh. You are one of the strongest women I've ever known. No matter what happens we'll deal with it. But I hope you'll believe me when I tell you we did everything according to the book and we proved our case beyond any reasonable doubt. He used someone on the outside to attack you to attack me, and this was his sad plan of revenge towards me for rightfully having sent him to jail. He was 100% correct in the anger I felt, but he didn't know who he was dealing with." He brings his mouth to my ear and whispers "Y si no fuera por tu rodilla, habría tenido un caso mucho más difícil, así que gracias por eso".

I can feel the smirk on his face as I can't help but at laugh at his attempt to calm my nerves. He knows me too well.

"Sabelotodo."

I feel his kiss on my temple as he reaches for my hand.

"Let's go. Liv, are you ready?"

I see her nod her head as she throws out her coffee cup, having given us these few moments together.

"Ya. Right behind you."

As he opens the front door of the Courthouse for me, I turn to see Olivia following – her whole squad with her. It's at this moment that I truly realize that once you're a member of the team, you're always a member of the team. He left for a while to refocus himself, but now that's he's back and looking at the world through different eyes as he says, I can almost feel the support from this group of amazingly dedicated people. He stops just outside the Courtroom door and looks at the impressive entourage we seem to have gathered.

"Give us a minute, ok?"

They nod in his direction and head inside as he looks at me with concern.

"It's going to be your call whether you sit in the galley or with me for this. I'm leaving that decision up to you and whatever choice you make I am completely fine with."

"Is the chair beside you remotely comfortable?"

He smiles the crooked smile I've become weak in the knees to.

"Not especially, but I'll do my best to make it so."

He holds the door as we walk into the room which is surrounded by cameras, witnesses, general public and many members of the team. He nods at them curtly then escorts me to the seat beside his, and then we sit. I feel a gentle hand on my shoulder and I turn to see Olivia's reassuring smile in my direction, which I weakly return. I'm a strong woman and I use sarcasm to cover over pain, discomfort and general awkwardness but I've never been in this situation before – and that disturbs me. I feel his right hand give my left one a little squeeze as I hear the Bailiff ask everyone to rise as the Judge enters the room and takes his seat.

"Please be seated."

There is a brief moment when the Judge looks over some paperwork then turns to the Bailiff and asks him to bring in the Jury. As he opens the door to the holding room, we are asked to rise for the Jury. As they are seated I notice how incredibly quiet it is in the room at this moment - you could literally hear a pin drop. The Judge turns to look at the Jury as he speaks.

"Mr. Foreman I understand that the Jury has reached a verdict?"

"We have, your Honor."

"Will the Defendant please rise."

"Mr. Chairman, how do you find?"

I feel his hand reach for mine and as I grasp it tightly I close my eyes as the verdict is read.

"In case number 20220414356 on the charge of Aggravated Assault we find the Defendant…"

...

TBC…

Reviews are greatly appreciated, especially since this is my first in many years. J