Semper Fi

Second in Command

XXXXX

Olivia came in dragging to work the next morning after being up until 2am studying.

"Morning Liv, another late night?" Fin asked as she walked to her office.

"Yeah. Hey can you come see for a minute?" she set down her bag and closed the door while motioning for him to take a seat.

"What I do this time?" he asked.

"Nothing. For once," she joked. "I know you know I'm taking the Lieutenant's exam in a couple of weeks."

"Yeah good luck with that. I think you will do fine Liv."

"Thanks for the vote of confidence," she said circling her desk to sit down. "If I pass, I'm going to need a second in command. I want that person to be you."

Fin sighed before answering, "Listen Liv—."

"Look I know you are comfortable where you are and you have never been one for paperwork or the administrative burden or bureaucratic BS. I get it. I'll take as much of that from you as I can and in return you will be in the field. You won't have to ride a desk like Munch did when he was Sergeant," she assured him.

"You know me a little too good. That was actually most of my issues," Fin said surprised but she could tell he still wasn't sold.

"Fifteen years Fin. I know you pretty well by now. Well except for what the hell you do with yourself when you aren't here," she laughed.

He chuckled, "Well a part of me likes being a mystery."

"Seriously. Please think about it. This unit means a lot to me and if I'm not here for whatever reason you are the person I trust to be in charge and have my back."

"What about Nick? You don't think he would want to do it?"

"He probably does. I haven't asked him though. I asked you." Fin shifted still seemingly a little uncomfortable with the idea. "Look if you turn me down then Nick will be the next one I ask. I trust him too and I think he would do a good job but you have been here the longest, you have good instincts and you have a good rapport with the brass. It's yours Fin. If you want it."

"Can I think about it?" he asks standing up to leave.

"Of course. I didn't expect an answer right away." As he reaches for the door she calls him back. "Oh and one more thing, these are yours," she says handing him some books. "No pressure but just in case you say yes."

He looks down and smiles at the books. They are the ones she used to study for the Sergeant's exam.

"Oh yeah right no pressure...Liv can I ask you something?"

"Anything."

"Why now?" he asked. "Even though you weren't Lieutenant you still needed a number two. Why push the issue now?"

"Good question. Well for one they are pretty much making me. But honestly Fin..I guess I'm just ready to have a life again. This place has always been my world and while that was good for me in some ways, I'm just ready to enjoy my life outside of SVU. Have a little more balance."

"Does this have anything to do with Elliot?" he asked seriously.

"Yes and no. It's not just Elliot. I want to have more time with Noah and my friends. Sometimes this place can get crazy and I don't want to always have to leave my kid in the middle of the night to go to a crime scene."

Fin nodded in acknowledgment.

"Just so you know if it was because of Elliot that isn't a bad thing."