A/N: Ok, so this is it-the final chapter. I thought about adding a couple more but I really don't want to drag the story out. So I hope you all like it. And finally, I just want to thank every one who read and reviewed. It means so much to me to hear that someone out there actually enjoyed my little story.

-Jordana Amore

-----------------------------------------

Her heart almost stops. She can't believe what the jury foreman just said. She even has to look around at the expressions on her friends' faces to make sure. Guilty. That's what the foreman said, right? It had to be because as the thought crosses her mind Daniel Fletcher is being led out of the courtroom wearing handcuffs and a look of absolute disbelief. She doesn't move till he's completely out of her sight, and her life.

After the verdict is handed down there is a flurry of hugs and awkward congratulations. Olivia just smiles through it all almost in shock. Munch and Fin excuse themselves immediately after to get back to a case and Cragen rushes off to a meeting after offering her some supportive words. She leaves the courtroom flanked by Elliot and Casey.

"You did great," Elliot tells her with a proud smile.

"I never expected it to turn out this way," she admits.

"You had that little faith in me, huh," Casey teases.

Olivia cracks a rare smile. "No. I just…I don't know. I guess I was wrong."

"See, sometimes justice does prevail," Elliot points out with a grin.

"Yeah," she replies in a detached manner. "I guess so." It still doesn't seem real. She almost expects to wake up and find out it was just a dream or be called back into the courtroom and told the foreman read the verdict wrong.

"So how does it feel?" Casey asks only to be interrupted by the ringing of Elliot's cell phone.

After saying only a couple of words he closes the phone and shoves it back into his pocket. "Well, that my cue," he says. "I got to go. I'll see you later." He gives Olivia a quick hug and leaves.

"You want to grab something to eat?" Casey asks her as they step out of the courthouse and into the cold. Olivia doesn't answer. She doesn't even hear her. "Liv?…Olivia?….Detective Benson?"

"Yeah," Olivia answers finally.

"So do you?"

Olivia looks confused. "Do I what?"

Casey laughs lowly. "Get something to eat."

"Um," Olivia starts.

Casey stops suddenly on the front steps of the court house. She turns to look her friend directly in the eyes. "Liv, you could breathe now. It's over," she says seriously.

Olivia takes a few seconds to answer. "I know. Thank you for everything."

"So I'll take that as a no."

"I'm sorry Casey. I don't really feel like going out right now. I just want to get home. My heads still spinning from all this," the detective reveals.

"I could imagine."

"Maybe tomorrow?"

Casey smiles, "yeah, that'd be great."

"Ok. I'll see ya."

Casey leans in to hug her friend, Olivia returns the gesture. "Take care Liv."

"Bye."

------------------------------

For the first time in weeks Olivia walks into her apartment confidently. She throws her bag and keys on the table by the door and takes a long look around. With a stone cold look of determination she walks over to the couch, where it all took place. After taking a couple of deep breaths she sits down and smiles. It's a little less terrifying. That's a start at least, she thinks.

She spends the rest of the day watching television, jogging, running errands, cleaning the bathroom, and alphabetically arranging her music collection. By six-thirty that night everything that she could possibly do is done. The strain of the day is starting to show and Olivia begins to look through her kitchen for something to eat. She grabs a box of pasta out of the cupboard and starts to look for a pot. It's nothing special but pasta is one of the only things she could cook.

Suddenly the buzzer rings out through the apartment. The sudden sound startles her and there's a loud clamor of crashing pots and pans. "Damn it," Olivia mutters as she gets to feet and rushes over to the buzzer.

"Yeah?" she says into the small intercom.

"Guess who?" a voice she instantly recognizes as Elliot's responds.

Olivia rolls her eyes. "Come on up, I'll unlock the door." She quickly unlocks the door so she could tend to the mess in the kitchen without interruption.

Elliot opens the door to Olivia's apartment but knocks as he does just to warn her. "Liv?" he calls out as he steps inside.

"In the kitchen," she answers. She shoves the last pot back into the cabinet with a frustrated grunt.

"You alright?" Elliot asks with an amused smirk.

"Yeah. So what's up?"

"Nothing. We just thought we'd stop by," he answers.

Olivia whips her body around. "We?" She immediately sees what he means. Standing behind him is Munch, Fin and Casey. She shakes her head with a laugh. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," John answers stepping forward with a bag in each arm. "We figured you'd be home making your sad little pasta so we bought you some real food."

"You did," she says leaning back against the counter.

"Yep, from that little Chinese place on the corner," Fin explains.

Casey steps forward. "I know you said you didn't want to go out to eat earlier, but you never said anything about eating in."

Olivia laughs again. "You got me there."

"If you want us to leave then we're gone," Elliot tells her.

"Could I keep the food?" she asks with a grin. "Of course I want you to stay. You could put that stuff in the dinning room. I'll get some plates."

The guys take the food in the other room and begin unpacking as Casey helps Olivia get the silverware. "You sure you don't mind us all being here?" the ADA asks as she reaches for a cup.

"Absolutely not. Honestly I'm glad you came. If I had to eat pasta one more time I think I'd throw up."

"So learn to cook something else," Casey teases.

Olivia rolls her eyes. "Funny. Here take these." She hands Casey a pile of plates. "I'll get the cups."

"Oh like you know anything about it," Elliot says skeptically in the other room. The three men are setting the food out on the table.

"Who says I don't?" Munch counters as he removes a container from the brown paper bag.

"Oh please. Don't get him started," Fin pleads.

"The Yankees are nothing but an army of overpaid mindless government-controlled robots"

"What do you know about baseball Munch?" Fin asks tiredly.

"More than you think," he insists.

"How are the Yankees a government conspiracy?" Elliot asks. He knows he's inviting an endless rant about mind control and manipulation but he can't help himself.

Fin reaches for one of the containers on the opposite end of the table. "You're such a nutcase."

"Because," Munch starts enthusiastically, "they're a tool of distraction. Nothing but a smoke screen. Don't you see? They use money and power to manipulate people into believing that the most important thing to talk about is the Yankee-Red Socks game so no one thinks about the real problems in the world."

"Like aliens and UFOs?" Elliot questions trying to keep his grin at bay.

"Yeah it's all fun and games to you. Just wait. You won't be laughing for long," John warns.

"So the Government is using the New York Yankees to brainwash us?" Fin's voice is a mix of doubt and amusement.

"Yes. How do you think they afford all those all star players?" Munch points out.

Elliot rolls his eyes. "Wow, you've really lost it this time."

"What about the Mets…are they a tool of the devil?" Fin jokes.

"Watch out, Satan's playing ball," Elliot says with a chuckle.

Munch narrows his eyes at his friends with scorn. "Okay, go ahead. Make fun of me. You'll see."

Olivia and Casey enter the room in time to hear the last part of the guys' little argument. "Oh God, here we go again," Olivia groans placing the cups in the center of the table.

"Please tell me this isn't what we're going to have to hear all night," Casey adds as she hands the plates to Elliot.

"Oh come on Casey, admit it. You love it," Munch teases.

Casey snorts. "I'd rather swallow glass than listen to you John," she says with a huge smile.

"Now that's something I'd love to see," Olivia chimes in.

"Okay who forgot the fortune cookies?" Fin asks with disappointment.

"Cookies? What are you five?" Munch responds.

"They're not just any cookies Conspiracy Boy," Fin retorts lifting a forkful of beef and broccoli to his month.

"I didn't know you believe in that stuff Fin," Olivia says. She passes a small white container to Elliot.

"I don't," Fin states. "I just like the cookies."

As the five continue to eat the room fills with excited talk and laughter and of course the occasional argument.

-Complete