Protégé

A/N: I'm semi-back. Hope there's still an interest in this mess.

A/N 2: Because of the long delay between Chapters I've included a short recap of how Chapter 53 ended, and then we'll dive back in. Who's door is Elliot knocking on?

Disclaimer: I don't own these characters, I'll put them back where I found them if DW ever asks.

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Chapter 54

End of Chapter 53—

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Elliot pounded on the door, he could hear the TV from where he stood, and wasn't sure if they could even hear his knocking when the door suddenly opened, revealing a bewildered, and confused figure.

"What the hell are you doing here?" they asked, as Elliot gulped loudly, still catching his breath from Serena's ultimatum, and racing out of the precinct.

"Pl-please I need your help," Elliot pleaded.

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Monday Evening, Summer 2013

"Look man, I'm busy," Elliot watched as his potential ally, and the man who's advice he sought pulled the door tight against his body so that Elliot couldn't see past him into his apartment.

"Fin, it's Olivia…" Elliot sighed as the man had turned his head to look behind him, whipping back around when Elliot's words registered in his brain.

Fin stared at Elliot holding eye contact for a few moments, "Fine come in, but anything you see, or hear you keep to yourself, you got me?"

"Yeah, fine whatever," Elliot agreed before Fin opened his door wide enough for him to walk through, it left him wondering what on Earth he could see once he was inside.

"Close the door behind you," Fin called, walking around his furniture before plopping down on his large leather couch, and propping his legs up on the coffee table in front of him.

Elliot had only just noticed Fin was wearing a long black robe.

"Ummm," Elliot began, wondering again just what he was interrupting.

"What are you waitin' for? A glass of rosé, and a charcuterie board? Get yo' ass over here, and spit it out," Fin demanded.

"Yeah okay okay," Elliot moved quickly, claiming a seat in the matching lazyboy recliner. He leaned over, and rested his elbows on his thighs.

"Not getting any younger Stabler…" Fin drawled as he stared at his flat screen, while crossing his arms over his chest, the TV was playing some music, some kind of jazz if he had to guess, but Fin quickly muted it.

"Long story short, Serena's been sniffing around-"

"Yeah I know, who you think gave Olivia that video?" Fin sat up straight, concerned the younger Detective had showed up at his place looking for a fight. He didn't care if Elliot had a problem with him probing into his confrontation with Serena in their lobby, he'd do anything to verify Elliot was solid, and anything to protect his Captain from getting hurt by either Elliot or her Mother.

Elliot was confused, "What video?"

"Uhhh, we can circle back, so you've met Liv's darling Mother, sweet as pie ami'right?" Fin joked, as he tried to keep his eyes from darting to his bedroom door every other minute, he could still hear the shower running, and hoped Elliot assumed it was a normal background noise.

"Oh she's definitely like pie, except she's not full of fruit, she's full of sh-"

"Yeah I'm familiar with the woman, what's the problem? Liv isn't buying the bullshit Serena's selling so…" Fin cut Elliot off, trying to get through their conversation as quickly as possible.

"Serena knows Liv and I are in a relationship, she's known for a while, tried to get me away from her but, fuck man, she came by the precinct today and-"

Fin finished his sentence for him, "Shit, she never realized y'all worked together?" He understood why the younger man was suddenly banging on his door, asking for advice. Not only did he know Olivia, and her history with Serena, but he was also one of the few people who knew who his Captain was sharing her bed with these days.

"Not 'till today," Elliot nodded, "Now she's given us both an ultimatum, well… she's threatening to go to Dodd's, she plans to get us both fired if we don't break up, and I take a job elsewhere."

Fin leaned back, and rested his head on the back of his couch, "So do it."

"What?" Elliot asked.

"Wasn't that already your plan? I mean you guys have a mini Benson on the way, you didn't think you could work together forever?" Fin asked incredulously.

"Well no, and I recently gave Liv my resignation forms, and transfer request-"

"So do it, technically you are doing what she's demanding, you're taking a job in another unit, she doesn't have to know you guys aren't breaking up, not like she follows Liv around all day making sure she stays away from you," Fin stated.

Elliot leaned back in the lazyboy, "Thought we weren't suppose to negotiate with the hostage taker, kidnapper, terrorist…? Give into their demands?"

"She's a neurotic, narcissistic, controlling, alcoholic, who wants to have a hand in every aspect of her grown daughter's life. She wants to control every element and facet of Olivia, probably because she had no control over how she came to be in the first place you know," Fin explained.

"Wow, that um wow, Liv tell you all that?" Elliot was flabbergasted by Fin's assessment.

"Naw I deduced that for myself over time, I know Liv pretty well, and the few unfortunate run ins I've had myself with the she-monster over the years, has left me with that opinion," Elliot was even more impressed with the quiet, very wise man.

"The real reason I'm here talking to you, do you know what the rules, or laws are for dating colleagues, or just other NYPD personnel? Should I get a lawyer, or talk to my union rep?" Elliot inquired, he'd always believed Fin was a very knowledgeable man, more than he let on, and Fin's earlier insights cemented the fact in his mind.

Fin turned pale, "Wh-why would you ask me about NYPD relationships?"

Elliot shrugged, "You just seem to know more than you let on sometimes, you've been on the force so much longer than me, figured you might've dated a colleague or two along the way?"

"Ah, well truth be told I'm not sure man. Depends on so many factors, are you in the same unit, are you the same rank, do they work in a position that could somehow help or benefit you or any of your cases in some way?-"

"Right, right like an ADA or something?" Elliot used a lawyer as a suggestion.

"Yeah, sure a lawyer, a forensic tech, someone from TARU, you get the idea," Fin waved his hand dismissively.

"So you good?" Fin stood from his large couch, clapping his hands together, hoping their conversation was over.

Elliot got the hint, standing as well.

"It can't be that easy though, right?" Elliot walked ahead of Fin towards his front door.

"Hah, with Serena involved? Naw man, she ain't going away easily, not where Olivia is concerned," Fin warned him.

Elliot had a confused expression on his face, "Liv and I have been," he shrugged and gave Fin a sheepish look, "You know, for a while now, and Olivia has barely even mentioned her. If they're so close-"

"Nope, never said they were close, hell I think most of the time Serena probably wishes she could've had a legal abortion back then," Fin started to explain.

"I don't get it… if she never wanted Olivia, why the hell does she care what she does?" Elliot prodded, not understanding their relationship.

"It's like I said before, it's all 'bout control with that woman, she was assaulted man, taken advantage of in the worst possible way, and Olivia was the byproduct of that horrific experience. Maybe she couldn't have stopped her rapist, or brought him to justice, but damnit she was gonna be in the driver's seat for everything that happened afterwards. We've seen it in victims, it's a natural reaction really, Serena just took it to a new level," Fin opened his door, as he finished explaining his viewpoint.

Elliot nodded, "Guess you're right, maybe if they caught the bastard things would've been different-"

Fin shook his head, "Don't play the 'what if' game, it'll drive you insane. And one last thing, check out the Detective and Departmental Handbook, it clearly outlines the rules, and guidelines for relationships in the NYPD. Knowledge is power man."

Elliot smiled, "You must be a pretty powerful dude then."

A soft noise coming from Fin's apartment suddenly stopped, "What was that?" Elliot inquired.

"Plumbing," Fin replied quickly, pushing Elliot out his door.

Elliot turned and held out his hand, thoroughly impressed with Olivia's friend, and the advice he had given him, which Fin took with a firm shake.

Just as Elliot released his hand, and turned to go, he heard a toilet flush. His gaze snapped to Fin's face, his hazel eyes widening in surprise.

"Hey wait a-" Elliot called, but Fin slammed the door closed.

"Fin!" Elliot pounded on his door.

"Go away Stabler, I'm closed for the night!" Elliot heard through the wood separating them.

Elliot frowned, curious as to who was in Fin's apartment but as nosey as he felt, it still didn't distract him from his actual problem. Sighing he headed back down the stairs, wondering how Olivia's night had gone.

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A/N: Sorry for the long delay, multiple surgeries. I've managed to write a few Chapters so y'all can expect some updates soon. Happy belated Mother's Day to any readers!