Chapter Text
They decided to end the discussion for the day. Carisi needed to work on countering the defense's motions, Barba needed to think through a strategy, and everyone needed to shake it off.
While Carisi approached Olivia to discuss the next steps, Elliot moved away to check in with Jet. "You okay?"
"As I can be," she said with a shrug.
Elliot nodded. He felt the same way. "Need a lift?" The Long Island City apartment was out of the way now that they were already in Manhattan, but he drove her over and didn't want her stuck with public transportation.
"Velasco's gonna drive me to Kathleen's. She's letting me crash there for a while."
Elliot glanced over to Joe who nodded reassuringly. He'd watch over both of them. "Okay, sounds good." He squeezed Jet's shoulder. "If you need anything, I'm here." Jet nodded and left with Joe. Carisi waved to Elliot as he followed after them. Barba remained at the table, still gathering papers into his briefcase.
Olivia brushed Elliot's arm. "Ready?"
Elliot looked down. "Get your things together, I'll be right there." Olivia tilted her head, eyes narrowed and unfooled. "I'll behave." She held his gaze a moment more, pressed his arm, and exited the room without another word.
Barba stood to find Stabler waiting for him. He was not really in the mood for a confrontation, or whatever this was, but it was better to get it over with. They needed to be on the same page.
"Rafael."
Barba pursed his lips. He didn't realize they were on a first-name basis but whatever. "Elliot."
"How bad is it really?" Elliot asked in a quiet voice.
Barba was prepared for some form of posturing and peacocking, a speech about not being a bully and respecting the roles of law enforcement and fatherhood that obviously 'Rafael' could never understand. He was not prepared for deference or contrition. He shook his head, wary. "It's not good."
"Give it to me straight. Please."
The 'please' really did him in. Barba found himself warming to the man. "Juries are distractable and all of this is very distracting." Barba moved around the table and settled beside Stabler. "The real problem is they don't have to make anything up. The facts of the case are on our side but the facts of the spin..."
His voice trailed off but Elliot understood. "What's the worst-case scenario?"
Barba took a big breath. "Jet, Richard, Elizabeth, and—" He frowned. "The other one—"
"Jamie."
"Jamie," Barba said with a nod. "The public loves a sex scandal and this one has intrigue, danger, tragedy, potential incest." Elliot blanched. Barba huffed. "Sorry." Elliot nodded. Barba waved a hand. "It's modern-day Game of Thrones but it's also an obvious sideshow. I might worry about tabloid press or showing up on a trashy true crime podcast but it'll blow over." He looked up. "Kathleen has more to lose." Elliot waited. Barba took another breath. "We should expect them to use her disorder and her past convictions. Accuse her of seducing Joe to exploit SVU—even manipulating her siblings, you, Liv, to mastermind the whole event and act out a rape fantasy in front of a crowd."
More horror crossed Elliot's face with every word. "Jesus."
Barba clenched a fist at his side. "Please believe I would never suggest any of that." No amount of money or prestige or righteous indignation would allow it. "It disgusts me that anyone would. What she did was brave and deserving of nothing but praise, and I will work tirelessly to protect her and help her control the narrative. But you asked for the worst case."
"I know." Elliot folded his lips. "What about Olivia?"
Barba shook his head. "Honestly, I'm not sure. She's a well-known figure and an NYPD darling and that could work to our advantage. Buchannon is likely to see Kathleen as an easier mark and he can pin police corruption on Joe or Jet or—"
"Me," said Elliot.
"Yes," Barba agreed. "You'd be easiest." Jet and Joe were more likely to be painted as inexperienced and overeager. Elliot had a long career and an incendiary reputation. Olivia had friends, enemies, and people who wanted to use her in the higher echelons of the police force. Elliot mainly had people looking for a reason to push him out.
"And if Liv falls on her sword to protect us?" Olivia was just as willing to fight the system as Elliot or Barba and was a righteous warrior in the face of perceived injustice. They both knew she'd use all that power and goodwill to deflect the fire from Elliot, Kathleen, Jet, Joe, and the others.
Barba swallowed a sigh. "We can't let her do that." He met Elliot's stare. "If they use this to put scrutiny on Lewis again it could ruin her." That worst case was too much for Barba to verbalize. They'd sell the op as a power trip and Olivia as the puppet master who taught her troubled stepdaughter how to seduce a rapist and then pointed her in the direction of an innocent man. It would be proof of a pattern. She could be charged with corruption, entrapment, perjury, assault, murder. And William Lewis would get a Netflix special about his potential innocence, terrible childhood, and tragic death. Barba would set fire to the courthouse before he let any of that happen.
Elliot's eyes were a storm. "What happened at that trial?" Barba was quiet. He was relieved to learn Elliot knew some of it as he was pretty sure he didn't during the Wheatley trial. But he didn't know what version of events Olivia shared. Elliot shifted, frustrated and anxious. "She said he told them she wanted it and the jury believed him." Barba nodded. "How did the defense sell that? It sounds insane!"
Barba pursed his lips. "Well, first of all, Lewis represented himself so he could use the trial to revictimize her." All color drained from Elliot’s face. "But as for how—you'll have to ask her. It's not my story to tell."
"This is why you took Wheatley's case, to protect her from a damaging cross-examination." Barba nodded. Elliot's chin trembled. "Because of our relationship." After a beat, Barba nodded again.
A heavy silence filled the air between them.
"Liv honored my marriage more than I did," Elliot said, his voice low and spent. "More than Kathy did."
Barba flashed a sad smile. "She is very honorable."
Elliot straightened and grabbed Barba's arms. "Look, whatever you have to do, you protect Liv, Kathleen, Eli, and Noah. Don't worry about the rest, we'll circle the wagons." His family was under fire but they had strength in numbers. The squads were family, too, and Ayanna proved she had Jet's back. The focus of protection had to be on the kids and the two women at the center of the blaze. "I don't care what happens to me. I'll go down for all of it. Liv, Kathleen, Eli, and Noah. Understand?"
Barba nodded. "You have my word."
"I'll hold you to that," Elliot said, his tone on the line between promise and threat.
Ah, there was the Stabler he expected. Barba decided he liked, or at least appreciated, both sides. "I know."
Elliot let go with a nod. "Thank you."
Joe and Jet met up with Kathleen at her apartment at dinner time. She arrived first and had pizza and beer waiting. "Hi!" she said with a toothy grin and a wave for Jet to get comfortable. Yesterday Kathleen was jumpy the whole time they were in the place and reluctant to consider coming back and part of Joe was worried the bright welcome was masking trauma. But the knowledge she was coming home with him placated the fear. It was okay to distract herself with someone else's needs for a few hours and he would be there to catch her if or when she fell apart later.
"Hi," he said, snaking his arm around her waist to pull her in for a quick kiss. He wanted to do more but they weren't alone and Jet already felt awkward. He stepped back and grabbed a slice of pizza. Carbs and comfort were just what he needed after that mess of a meeting.
Jet sat at the table and accepted the plate Kathleen passed over. Her eyes widened when she realized it was her preferred toppings. Kathleen waved at her phone. It was department issue, borrowed from SVU because her own was evidence. She'd have to order a new one but in the meantime, she needed easy access to her family and friends. "I told Dickie the plan and he let me know your pizza order." Jet nodded. She probably should have talked to him herself but Kathleen offered and Jet was tired after the long day of disappointing everyone she looked up to. She didn't have it in her to deal with disappointing Dic, too. "He said he can pack up your room for you and make sure everyone's out when you come by. Just let him know. And he'll watch your cat. Pets aren't allowed here but we can try to sneak it in."
"Okay," Jet said because she had to say something or she might burst into tears. "Thanks for letting me stay." It wasn't exactly escaping the Stabler web but after dinner, Kathleen would go with Joe and Jet would be left alone to think.
"Oh, it's actually really helpful. I have to renew soon but Dad and Liv offered me a loft at their new house and it's convenient and I could help out with my grandma and the kids but I mean, do I really want to move in with my parents? And—" She glanced at Joe and blushed. It felt silly to consider him in her living arrangements, and moving in too soon got her in trouble before, but Kathleen was an optimist. Who knew what could happen in the next six months? "Anyway, you're doing me a favor. I don't want to be here right now." She said it in the same cheerful babble she had everything else but there was a sheen to her eyes that made Joe move closer. "But I don't want to make a decision yet. And the neighborhood's not bad."
"Yeah," Jet said after a moment. Without Kathleen's chatter, the quiet was suffocating.
Kathleen chewed her lip. She still didn't really know what happened between Jet, Lizzie, and Dickie and she worried about all three. "My family is—a lot." She glanced at Joe again. "God bless you both for even trying. But our heart's in the right place." Joe kissed the top of her head. He felt secure that he was in the right place, too.
Jet nodded. "I know." She sort of hated everything right now but she still felt grateful that Elliot recruited her into his team and that so many of them refused to give up on her.
Kathleen stood. "Okay, well, I'm gonna pack up clothes and stuff but appliances, furniture, whatever's in the kitchen—" She waved her hands. "Make yourself at home."
"Okay. Thanks." Kathleen disappeared into the bedroom. Jet looked over at Joe. "She's good people."
He smiled in agreement. "The family is a lot," he said. "Must have been crazy living with them all."
Jet picked at her pizza. "No, all the crazy was outside. Inside we could just—" She shrugged. "Be." Jet looked like she was going to cry and Joe was not sure what to do about it. Maybe, probably, she needed to cry. But maybe, probably, she didn't want to break down in front of him or Kathleen. He passed over a beer and she took a deep sip.
After a too-long awkward silence, Jet sat up and ran a hand through her hair. "What's your favorite movie, Velasco?"
"Favorite movie?"
"It was a thing we did." She swung the bottle around and took another sip. "You seem like a Marvel type."
"What's wrong with Marvel?" In point of fact, he had seen every one of them, but he hated to be so predictable.
"Nothing," Jet said in a tone that dripped judgment. "I prefer Batman."
"Of course, you do." Jet grinned. Joe considered. "Fast and Furious."
Jet nodded like that was an acceptable choice. "Which one?"
"All of 'em."
"Even Tokyo Drift?"
"Especially Tokyo Drift." Jet laughed and it sounded genuine. Joe took a sip of his beer. "But you know, 'I live my life a quarter mile at a time'," he said in a passable imitation of Dom Torretto. "Maybe you should try that for a while. "
Jet raised an eyebrow. "Street racing?"
"Not worrying about what's next."
The quiet grew again but it was less stifling and more reflective. More comfortable, too.
"You do a pretty good Vin Diesel," Jet said after a while.
Joe chuckled. "Thanks."
She sat up and leaned in. "Say 'family'."
"No," Joe said, still chuckling.
"Come on."
"Shh." Jet reached out but Joe swatted her away.
"Please?" Jet said elongating the vowels.
Joe rolled his eyes. Jet pouted piteously. Joe straightened his shoulders, dropped his chin, and intoned, "Family."
"Yes!" Jet raised both her arms with glee. Her laughter filled the room and brought tears to her eyes. "Oh my God, you have to do that for Kathleen! She'll find it so sexy." Joe's look was deeply skeptical. "Please," Jet scoffed. She knew she was right. "It's like Stabler porn."
Kathleen reappeared with two canvas shopping bags she carefully placed on the floor. "What's like Stabler porn?" Her expression was poised between horror and an embarrassingly desperate desire to know. Jet gestured to Joe. He swallowed a sigh and resumed the Toretto position.
"Family."
Jet doubled over in laughter again. Kathleen raised an eyebrow and crossed over to stand between Joe's legs. Instantly aroused, he grasped her waist in his hands.
"She's right," Kathleen said, eyes shining with promise. "That's the hottest thing anyone's ever said to me."
Elliot closed the dishwasher and set it to run. Dinner had been subdued, with all four of them lost in their own thoughts for most of it. Now the boys were on the sofa, quietly entertaining themselves in a way the older kids never really had. Olivia watched from the island, a pensive look on her face. He leaned over the wood and brushed her hand.
"We don't have to do this tonight." They had agreed to tell Eli and Noah about the engagement before anyone else. It would affect them the most, and she was worried about their reactions. But it had been a long and trying day and he knew she was worn out.
"No, it's important." She pulled up and turned to look at him directly. "We need them to trust us. They can't think we're keeping secrets." Elliot nodded. "And—" She broke off and worried her lip between her teeth. Elliot took her hand and gently rubbed circles in her palm. He waited for her to continue. "I had to stop myself from telling Fin this morning," she said, shyly.
A warm smile lit up Elliot's features. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." She tugged on his hand. "Everything's so complicated and I know this is, too, but." She flashed a soft smile. "But it's good. I want to share something good." Elliot closed her into his arms and breathed in. His heart swelled with more love than he knew what to do with. Olivia pulled away to meet his eyes. "Are you okay?"
"I'm great." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and grabbed her hand. "Let's do this." Elliot led Olivia into the living area. "Boys, we want to talk about something."
Eli and Noah looked up, nervous, as their parents settled onto the shorter side of the sectional side by side. Eli set his tablet on the coffee table and sat back. Noah curled his knees into the corner of the sofa. The calm of the kitchen dissipated into apprehension.
Olivia tried to hold on to her sense of positivity but while she knew Fin would be happy for her, Noah's and Eli's reactions could go many ways. She forced her shoulders to relax and took a breath. "We have some news that will affect all of us and wanted to talk about it together to make sure we all feel heard."
Noah watched with a cool poker face but Eli looked panicked. "Are you breaking up because of us?"
"No." Olivia reached out to touch Eli's knee. He was practically jumping out of his skin. "If we were breaking up it wouldn't be because of you or anything you did or said." Eli did not look convinced. "But we're not breaking up." Beside her, Elliot was bursting with the news and just as jumpy as his son but Olivia felt hesitant. She leaned back and took a breath. Noah raised his eyes. Eli held his breath. Elliot placed his hand on the small of her back. Olivia smiled. "We're getting married."
Two identical wide-eyed stares met her words. Noah's mouth dropped open. Eli's eyes flickered to his father, Noah, and finally Olivia. "When?" he said, breathless.
"When it's time," Olivia said, matter-of-fact.
Eli frowned. "What does that mean?" Elliot looked like he wanted to know, too.
"It means we don't know," Olivia said. "But there's no rush because the point is we're committed to each other and to this family." She sounded more calm and more confident now. "Part of that is making sure everyone is comfortable with the changes, and if we're not, then we figure it out together." She held Eli's gaze until he nodded then turned to her son. "Noah." He looked up at her. "How are you feeling?"
Noah shot an anxious look at Eli, but he was watching him as closely as his mother was. Elliot relaxed his shoulders and leaned in to model calm for the kid. "If you want to talk to your mom privately, that's okay," he said, his voice measured and kind. "Eli and I will go for a walk. But we are all on your side and no one will be angry with you for your feelings." Olivia nodded, and Eli. "You can tell us."
Noah swallowed. "I guess I'm confused."
Olivia nodded encouragingly. "About what?"
"Everything." His shoulders shook.
"Okay," Olivia said, softly. "Pick one thing." It was a therapy trick she picked up over the years.
Noah took a breath. "You said we could slow down but getting married seems more like speeding up."
Olivia nodded. That made sense. "You're confused because I'm giving you mixed messages," she said to clarify. Noah shrugged. Olivia straightened. "Let me describe one way we can slow down." All three gave her their full attention. "The closing on the house is coming up fast, but we have this apartment through the end of September. We don't have to move in in one weekend. We can make sure everything is exactly how we want it first."
Noah crept closer, his face scrunched in thought. "Like what?"
"Well, you can set up your room. Pick out paint, and think about layout."
"Dad redid my room at the old apartment," Eli said.
Olivia nodded. "You can visit the new school and we can eat over, even stay over. But we don't need to make the final move until you're ready." She shifted to look at the older boy. "And Eli, you are welcome to stay here as long as you want, too."
"Thanks."
Olivia's smile encompassed both boys. "It's important to me and to your father that you both feel comfortable and safe." She took a breath and reached for Elliot's hand; he threaded their fingers together. "At the same time, I need to feel comfortable and safe, too. And for that I need commitment. I need this relationship to be defined, to have rules."
Noah crept closer again, close enough Eli could put an arm around him. Noah didn't shrug it off. "What kind of rules?"
"The most important one is that when it's hard we sit with it and we talk about it and we work through it together. We don't run away and we don't hold it in." If she learned anything in the last seventy-two hours—and the last fifteen to twenty-five years—this was it. Elliot squeezed her hand. "That goes for all of us."
"Can I add something?" Eli said in a rush.
Olivia looked surprised but nodded. "Go ahead, son," said Elliot.
"We all make space for each other in the family," Eli said. "No one has to prove they belong."
Olivia blinked to hide the tears that sprung into her eyes. "I like that," she said, breathless.
Elliot squeezed her hand again. "Noah, do you have anything to add?"
"Um." He pursed his lips. "Can I think about it?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
Silence filled the room. Eli felt a flutter of anxiety return. "So. What happens now?"
Olivia glanced at Elliot. He nodded and she turned to her son. "Noah, you have group tomorrow and Penny asked to speak with Elliot. Would it be okay if he brought you?"
Noah glanced between the two adults and nodded. "Yes."
Olivia smiled. "And Eli, you'll be with me." She owed him a conversation and it wasn't going to get any easier.
"Okay," he said softly. He met her eyes and tried not to fidget. The engagement was proof Olivia wasn't going away and she made space to spend time with him but he was still scared that he'd let her down.
"Okay," she echoed. "Is there anything else you want to talk about before we get ready for bed?"
Noah sat up. "Who else knows you're engaged?"
"Nobody," Elliot said. "We wanted to tell you first."
"But you'll tell people now, right?" Eli said.
"Yes, starting with your sisters and brother."
"Can we tell people?" said Noah.
Olivia nodded. "If you want to."
Noah's eyes lit up suddenly. "Can we help plan the wedding?"
Olivia's eyes went wide, surprised. She could feel Elliot vibrating with excitement beside her and the small, quiet, simple event she imagined in her mind was eclipsed by the combined enthusiasm of her son, her partner, and no doubt at least one of his daughters. But she supposed there were worse problems to have. "Um, we are not there yet, but, yes, we would love that."