Semper Fi

Second in Command

Olivia raised her eyebrow in surprise.

"Really?"

"Yeah really. The family thing looks good on you. I know how long you've wanted one. Apparently.....Noah likes the idea too," he teased.

"You guys are never going to stop giving me grief for that are you?" she smiled back.

"Come on Liv you have to admit it was pretty funny that little man outed you in front of everyone."

"Well my son is definitely full of surprises."

"Elliot's face when he called him daddy was priceless too. He lit up like a damn Christmas tree."

"Yeah...he did," she said smiling at the memory.

Fin sighed again seeing how happy she was at the thought of Elliot and Noah.

"Ok. You promise me I will get to be in the field and not ride a desk?"

"Yes," she shook her head emphatically.

"And I won't get stuck in a ton of paperwork?"

"No. Not much more than usual," she promised.

"And I won't have to suck up to those fools at 1PP and have all those meetings kissing ass like you have to do sometimes?" he asked seriously.

"Right. Just do me a favor and don't call them fools to their face. That may not go over well."

She could tell that he was on the verge of saying yes and decided to nudge him a little more.

"You know you want to share all this with me.." she teased holding her arms wide like she was showing off the precinct. "Deal?"

"Deal," he agreed and they shook hands.

"Thanks soon to be Sergeant Tutuola."

"Yeah yeah," he said closing the door behind him.

Olivia smiled to herself that she got him to agree to take the exam. Her phone rung and she was pleased to see the photo of Elliot holding Noah when he was in the hospital splash across her screen signaling that it was Elliot calling. That photo seemed like forever ago and they had come so far since the night of their impromptu first date when that photo was taken.

"Hello there," she answered seductively.

"Well someone is in a good mood. Should I be offended that you seem so happy and I haven't seen you in a week?"

"Not at all. I am happy because I just got Fin to agree to take the Sergeant's exam."

"Really? How did you pull that off?" he asked surprised.

"I can be very persuasive," she said in a sultry voice.

"Well it better not be the same way you persuade me to do things or we are going to have a much bigger problem."

"Not at all. He understands that I need to have a second in command here and I trust him to handle it. Fin's a good cop, one of the best."

"Yes he is. I hate that I didn't tell him that enough when we worked together," Elliot agreed.

Olivia yawned, "Plus I think he's doing it as a bit of a favor to me too. He knows that I need time for other things."

"Hmm and what other things are we talking about?" he asked in a low voice that sent chills up Olivia's spine.

"Is your mind always in the gutter?"

"When it comes to you..yes."

He heard her yawn again.

"You ok? You sound pretty tired."

"I'm exhausted. It's all this studying for the exam. I'll be ok once it's all over."

"Well you get some rest...you will need it when I return."

She giggled softly, "Oh I bet I will. And when is that going to be?"

"Soon. This training squad they want to be done in two weeks because they are sending them on a special mission. I should be back by the time you take your exam."

"Ok. Sounds good."

"I gotta get going. I love you."

"I love you too."

Olivia hung up the phone and rested her head on the back of her chair. She pulled up the picture again of Noah and Elliot and traced her fingers over the screen. In her wildest dreams she never thought she would be able to have it all, a family and the job but in this moment she felt pretty damn close.

Coming up: Olivia takes the exam, Elliot returns and it's Stabler family dinner time.