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Amanda couldn’t say she wasn’t warned. When Stabler first appeared back in the captain's life, Fin had taken her aside and given her some insight into the duo's tumultuous history.
“Amanda, with Stabler being back in the picture,” he paused, “you remember how it was when you first got here. He means a lot to Liv, but we need to have her back. Their relationship is complicated.”
“I know. The legendary Benson and Stabler. They were partners for years and had the highest closure rate in the NYPD. After all that time, they got pretty close. I’ve heard it all before.”
“Look, I know you’ve heard about what they were like, but it’s different when they are together. They had each other's backs for 12 years. Close would be an understatement. You couldn't say one's name without the other's.”
She had been warned.
That had been investigating a domestic assault case, a typical day at SVU. “Our perp is Benjamin Thompson, 38 years old, boyfriend of our victim, currently working at Goodman's Auto in Brooklyn.”
Recognition crosses Olivia’s face, and she asks Amanda, “Benny Thompson?”
“Yeah, I think he goes by Benny.”
“OC has been tracking activity at that mechanic shop. They suspect they are running a high-end auto theft ring. I recognize the name.” Amanda didn’t have to ask how Liv knew about the in and outs of OC’s case load.
Olivia continued, “We should consult Sergeant Bell and see what she has on him.”
Which is how they got here with the two squads crowding around an evidence board.
She sees it now. They work in tandem as if they are an extension of each other. If one sees a connection in a case, the other is already handing them the info for the board. With two dedicated departments on the case, they quickly determined that the best course of action was to bring Benny in for questioning. They had strong evidence in the assault case, and it could give them leverage in the investigation of the auto theft ring.
She sees it as they set out for the shop. On the way to their vehicles, Benson and Stabler move together, in step with one another. They are close enough that their hands graze as they walk. They only part ways for Olivia to get her SUV and Stabler to hop in Bell’s car. There is definitely some underlying sexual tension, but otherwise, it seems like a platonic relationship. However, she can’t help but wonder if there has ever been or is something more. She thought she was prepared, but boy, was she wrong.
Please Take the Next Available Seat
When they arrived at the shop, Olivia and Stabler went in to confront Benny while Amanda and Bell were waiting in the SUVs as backup. When all was silent for nearly 20 minutes, Amanda thought that maybe getting the suspect was going to be easy, that they would shortly walk out the front door with Benny in hand. Only seconds later, her wishful thinking was crushed as Amanda heard shots being fired and the radio crackled to life.
“Suspect on the move. Armed and headed towards the back garage,” her captain called.
Quickly, Bell replied, “On it!”
Followed by Amanda, “I’m coming around on 7th street!”
She pulled the car into gear and started to pursue the suspect. She whipped around the side street heading to the empty lot at the back of the building. Just when she took off, a car pulled out in front of her.
“Come on!” she exclaimed and flipped on the sirens. As Amanda was coming around the corner of the building, she saw a white truck flying from the empty lot, over a curb, and onto the street. The truck was old and rusted along the wheel well. It looked exactly like the kind of beater that a shop would keep around, but it definitely stood out against the shiny luxury vehicles in the lot. Benson and Stabler were in pursuit on foot.
Bell was immediately able to tail the truck, calling over the radio, “I’m in pursuit heading west on Walnut Street, requesting backup.” But Amanda was a little further behind.
Stabler stopped running after the truck, anticipated Amanda stopping the SUV, and quickly hopped in the front seat. Olivia, on the other hand, had chased the truck further, but even Olivia Benson couldn’t outrun a car. Rather than having her run towards them, Amanda drove towards her, slowing down to pick her up. Instead of opening the back passenger door and hopping in, Stabler opened the front passenger door and held out an arm to help Olivia swing into the seat with him. She slammed the door behind them. But Amanda was shocked at the casual way Olivia settled in his lap. She stared for a second before her captain pulled her out of her stupor.
“Let’s go, Rollins.”
She floored it, and they took off with one of Stabler's arms firmly around Olivia’s waist and the other reaching for the radio to tell Bell they were in pursuit and inform the station to get CSU out to the shop.
Unfortunately, Benny was able to escape when Bell had to brake to avoid crashing into another car. After the chase, Amanda was sure of one thing: this was going to be a long case, and she knew she needed to collect more evidence.
She’s just thankful that, when she pulls over, Elliot gets out and moves to the backseat.
I'll Take Fries With That
After losing the suspect in the car chase, Jet reported that she lost him on traffic cams, and they agreed to regroup at the precinct. But after all the excitement, they all could use a meal. So Amanda stopped at a burger place drive-thru on the way back.
She pulled up to the drive-thru speaker and ordered a sandwich for herself, then turned to ask Olivia what she wanted.
“I’ll take a chicken nugget meal with a small fry and Diet Coke, and Elliot will have the double cheeseburger, no sauce, with a large coffee.”
Amanda didn't know what to think about that. She relays the order to the drive-thru operator but wonders why exactly Olivia knows Stabler’s lunch order. It’s been a decade since they were partners, and surely his tastes have changed.
“Anything else for you?” the drive-thru speaker asked.
Amanda paused for a moment and looked back at Stabler to confirm he was good with the order. He nodded.
“Nope, that will be all.”
When they got back to the office, they settled in a conference room, started laying out evidence, and dug into their food.
Amanda takes a seat directly across from the duo and observes a strange chain of events unfold. First, Olivia reaches beside her, steals the tomatoes off of Stabler's sandwich, and takes a bite out of one of the slices. All the while, Stabler pours ketchup on both of their wrappers.
Then, Stabler goes to dip his cheeseburger in freshly poured ketchup. Olivia comments, “Why do you always have to dip your sandwiches in sauce? Can’t you just put it on the sandwich like a normal person?” But the way she said it makes Amanda think this is not the first time they've had the exact conversation, like the comment itself was instinct.
“I've told you this before, Liv, it’s the superior way to eat a sandwich. The distribution of the sauce is better.” He paused, then added, “And at least I don’t get chicken nuggets like a child at a fancy restaurant.”
“I’ll have you know that my chicken nuggets taste delicious.”
In protest, Stabler leans over, plucks a chicken nugget out of the box, and takes a bite. He concedes, “Okay, fair.”
In response, Olivia gives him a knowing smirk that almost seems too private for a table full of coworkers, grabs the coffee cup from the table, and takes a sip.
After watching the encounter, Amanda couldn’t help but look around at her coworkers, some of who seemed to be just as confused about the partners' behavior. But Fin looked completely indifferent to the display that just unfolded. He, then, chose to break the silence, turning the conversation back to the case.
They spent the rest of the day attempting to find a new angle. They followed new leads and tried to track the truck, but they turned up empty-handed, so the captain sent them all home.
Can I Get a Ride?
They catch a break later that night and get called into the station. Turns out some unis found Benny when they stumbled upon a shooting. Apparently, his higher-ups thought that he was a liability with the police after him. He had a gunshot wound to the leg. Lucky for him that the cops showed up when they did, otherwise he might have been in the morgue instead of a hospital bed. Although maybe not with his own trying to kill him.
By the time Amanda arrived at the precinct, it was nearly 9 o'clock. She began to look through all of the arrest paperwork. Sergeant Bell and one of her detectives were already at the scene. Fin and Kat went to the hospital to interrogate the suspect. And she was just waiting for her captain to arrive for further instructions.
Eventually, Stabler and Olivia stroll into the precinct together, late. He’s in casual clothes: a pair of black sweatpants with a white stripe down the side and an old gray hoodie with the NYPD logo and a huge coffee stain on the front. She's in jeans and a t-shirt, with a black cardigan over it.
And it’s at that moment that Amanda thinks she has it figured out. Surely they had to be seeing each other if they showed up together? They were probably at his place or hers and came in together.
Olivia switches into captain mode and begins to dive back into the case right away.
Later that night, when she has a free moment, she pulls Fin to the side.
“Liv and Stabler arrived together tonight?” Amanda questioned her former partner.
“It's not like that, Amanda. In the old days, Stabler always picked her up.” Amanda wasn’t convinced. Fin noticed her expression and continued. “Look, I know it might seem like there is something more going on there, but this is normal for them. They were partners for a lot of years. When you work together for that long, you develop habits. Trust me, them showing up together is not a big deal.” As an afterthought, he adds, “It's probably why they showed up late. Stabler swung by Liv’s place to pick her up.”
And that did make sense, so she let it lie for the moment.
What Do You Mean By ‘Personal Space’?
Turns out Benny was a talker. Amanda is guessing that’s the reason he ended up with a hole in his leg. The second they pressed him, he spilled. He agreed to plead guilty to the assault charges and testify for OC's case in exchange for leniency and a cell at a state prison far away from Manhattan.
They work late into the night, sorting through what Benny had told them, so they could plan and coordinate their next move. He had given them a promising lead about a car show as a cover to sell the stolen luxury vehicles. The event is exclusive, so they were working on a way to get in.
Even though the case is making good progress, Amanda’s attention can’t help but drift to Olivia and Stabler. She notices how often they touch each other, orbiting around in the other’s space. She bumps her hip against him as she passes by. He presses up behind her, looking over her shoulder at the document in front of them. Their shoulders and thighs pressed against each other as they sat on a couch in the interview room. They are in constant contact with each other. For two people who were only supposedly friends, they had emotional boundaries a mile wide but nearly non-existent physical ones.
Amanda grows tired of third wheeling and decides to work at her desk. Eventually, Sergeant Bell’s team, Fin, and Kat show up at the station. Given the information the suspect revealed, and a lead on getting into the event they start to work on a plan. In the absence of Captain Benson, Bell leads the discussion. That makes Amanda wonder where the couple went. So she excuses herself from the group and goes to find them. She doesn’t have to look far as she finds them right where she left them, on the couch, now asleep with Elliot's head on Olivia’s shoulder, paperwork spread out all over the couch. She decides that Bell can update them in the morning.
Don’t Mind Me
By morning, Sergeant Bell acquired VIP tickets and obtained a position in the event staff. The plan was in place. Benson and Stabler would go in as potential customers. One of Bell’s detectives would be playing event staff, and Amanda and Jet would be running interference from a hotel room in the convention center. All in all, it was a pretty solid plan.
It was go-time.
Amanda got to the hotel early enough to help Jet with the security setup and get everyone in place in time for the car show. Olivia shows up only a little after Rollins and is wearing a gray hoodie and some leggings. And it takes a minute for Amanda to recognize that hoodie. That gray hoodie with the NYPD logo on it, oversized on Liv, so well-worn that the cuffs of the sleeves are fraying, and a large coffee stain on the front of it. The same one Elliot was wearing the day before. Amanda knows that's textbook dating behavior, but she was quickly learning that these two were anything but by the book.
The night was only getting started when Elliot showed up. Olivia was getting ready in the bathroom when he arrived. Already dressed in proper attire, she was just putting the finishing touches on her look before getting mic'd up, door open so she could carry on a conversation with the detectives while she worked.
Elliot walked into the room and asked, “Are we ready?”
“Security is ready to go,” Jet said.
Liv replied, “Give me a few.”
“Okay then, I’m going to use the restroom real quick.”
Amanda was thinking Stabler was going to go down to the lobby, maybe, but no, he slid behind Liv, who was at the bathroom counter. Olivia closed the door behind him. Once the door closed, Amanda heard a muffled but short-lived conversation. Amanda looked over to Jet and Bell and gave them a questioning look. Jet's mouth was open in surprise and confusion, but Bell just kind of laughed and shrugged her shoulders. Maybe she knew something. With the flush of the toilet and then the sound of the sink, Stabler and Olivia both emerged.
“Ready for my mic,” Liv motioned to Jet. Jet quickly jumped into action, but Amanda was still a little shocked. She couldn’t help but wonder why, even to the outside observer, it felt so natural for them to be in each other's space. Such a display of closeness should have made her cringe, but it felt normal.
“Alright, then let's go,” Olivia commanded as she made her way out of the hotel room door.
The sting went off without a hitch. They all played their roles remarkably, and they were able to obtain critical information they needed to intercept the movement of the stolen vehicles and make the arrest of several key players in the ring. Now all they could do was wait.
Afterward, as they were all getting ready to head home, Rollins confronted Bell about what they had witnessed in the hotel room. “What’s up with Stabler and my captain?”
“Officially, it’s none of my business.”
“Okay, but …” Rollins hesitated. There had to be something else going on. Fin didn’t have any answers, but she thought that maybe Bell might.
“I’m not entirely sure.” So she had the same inkling as Amanda. “They are closer than any friendship I know, but 12 years as partners will do that to you.”
“But that can’t be all! You saw it right? I mean, using the bathroom together? That’s reserved for married couples and drunk sorority girls.”
“I think there is more going on between them, but so much has happened that I’m unsure. If they are together, they will let us know when they are ready to.”
+1 A Marital Dispute
They are back at the precinct the next day. Starting the morning off with a rundown of the case. The detectives and their sergeant had gathered in Olivia’s office.
“So where are we at with it now?” Amanda asks.
“Well, with SVU’s perp taken care of, the rest will be handled by OC.”
“I should be heading out then. Bell has a meeting on another case this morning, but I should get a head start on things.” As Stabler speaks, he collects his keys and a metal water bottle from Olivia’s desk. The bottle makes a clanking sound.
The sound must grab Olivia’s attention because she gives him a strange look.
Amanda’s about to ask if everything is okay, when Olivia asks, “Did I hear ice in your water bottle?”
Elliot shakes the water bottle, making the sound again. It's clearly ice clanking against the metal. “Ya, why?”
“Did you refill the ice cube tray?”
“Since you're asking, I have a feeling you already know the answer, Liv,” Stabler responds.
“Why didn’t you refill it?”
“I was trying to get out the door, okay? You know we were running late."
“It takes two seconds, Elliot.”
He fires back, “Well, it also takes two seconds to unload the dishwasher. “
“Like you're one to talk, the other day I had run the dishwasher twice because you didn’t wash the pans after dinner.” She actually sounds frustrated. This was beyond their normal banter.
“You put them in the dishwasher?” Elliot interrogates. “You know you're not supposed to.”
“Well, my house, my rules, and the rule is if it doesn’t go in the dishwasher, it doesn’t belong in my house. We’ve been over this. I don't have time to hand-wash dishes.”
The argument continues as the detectives awkwardly sneak out the doorway of the captain’s office.
She meets Fin's eyes, seeing if he will telepathically communicate whatever platonic codependent explanation he has for this, but even he looks a little surprised.
He closes the office door behind them, then admits, “Now that right there is some couple, shit.”
“Undoubtedly,” Amanda confirms.
“I’ve seen them fight, but never over petty shit like that. Ice cube trays and unloading the dishwasher, that is a marital dispute if I’ve ever seen one.
“Beyond a reasonable doubt,” Amanda agrees. "Next thing you know, they will be filing taxes jointly.”