saying goodbye again

It wasn't long after the child abduction case that the captain announced that he was taking early retirement. Olivia had a bad year starting with the kidnapping by Lewis but the captains year had been almost as bad since he had been framed for murder and was almost put away for it. He gave his speech to the squad that evening as everyone was getting ready to leave.

"All right, everybody, listen up, please." Don started. "I didn't want to announce this until Nick and Olivia's situations got resolved, but that's done, and so am I. I'm leaving." He continued. "And olivia will be acting commander of svu until if and when a replacement can be made."

The whole squad was shocked and olivia spoke first "your leaving now?"

"Eileen has two tickets for a six-month cruise, and I have enough accrued leave to take me through my mandatory retirement date. If I stay, I make less than if I leave." He chuckled.

"Wow a cruise cap?" Amanda asked "that don't sound like you."

"Good for you cap." Fin interjected with a small smile.

The captain smiled and gave a slight nod. "I'm proud of my time here and I'm honored and grateful to have worked with the finest unit of detectives I've ever known." He then began to acknowledge everyone. "Nick, you're gonna get through all this. You're too good a cop and too good a man not to. Amanda, I was never sorry that I brought you up from Atlanta. I would do it again....And Fin....What can I say? For a guy who never should have been an SVU detective, you're okay." He chuckled as the squad laughed a bit with tears welling in almost everyone's eyes but especially olivia. She had never admitted it but Don was like a father to her and she knew the squad wasn't going to be the same without him in it. She also feared she wouldn't make a good leader.

"Right back at you captain." Fin finally said breaking the small silence.

Don nodded "now remember, it's not easy going from player to coach, so don't bust Bensons chops." He said to the rest of the squad then looked at his long time detective who was now a Sargeant and continued. "But if they do, you bust 'em right back." He then walked to his office to finish packing and olivia followed behind him.

"I can't believe your leaving." She said holding back as much of her emotions as possible.

"Word of advice?" He suggested.

"Oh, please." Olivia said with a tearful laugh.

"I gave my whole life to NYPD, and I forgot to live my own. Me and Eileen...It's a hail Mary. It's a shot at happiness." He began. "You know, people used to say this to me all the time, and I never understood what they meant...But take care of yourself. You deserve it." He smiled and touched her shoulder lovingly then hugged her. He put a picture in his box then looked back at olivia. "Oh, and Olivia...Do something with the place, will you?"

She smiled with a short laugh as she watched him grab his box and leave for the last time. She glanced around the office not believing this was all happening.

Nick walked in the office and looked at olivia. "you ok liv?"

Olivia shook her head looking down. "I...I'm not sure...I don't know if I can do this job even half the way Don did."

"So don't do it his way. Do it your way. You'll be good." He smiled "so how long am I stuck on the desk?" He asked speaking of his desk duty suspension.

"I'm not sure right now nick." She sighed.

He decided not to push right now so he just nodded and went back to his desk.

Olivia sighed and realized the troubles were already starting. She knew Nick was a good guy and detective but he had been involved in a pretty bad shooting that almost cost him his job and she knew something like that could mess with your mind and your reflexes. Olivia had been in some bad shootings before and it had affected her so she knew it would affect him more. "God help ke figure this out." She looked at her hands then stood and grabbed her purse and said her goodnight to everyone. She just wanted to get hom and relax with her daughter.