Stabler comes across a DNA sample from Calvin in Bensons desk and assumes his partner failed to send it in as a stall tactic to avoid finding Calvins dad so she could keep Calvin longer. Eli has wandered away, walking up to a bridge and contemplating suicide. A local captain, Julia Millfield (Kim Delaney), tells Benson her brother, Simon, is a suspected rapist. At the beginning of "Whipping Post," fans assumed the worst and that Stabler opened the door and spent the night with Leonetti. Benson strategically alleviates the situation by manipulating Stuckey into thinking she doesn't like Stabler. Hargitay also told TODAY in February that the scenes in this episode were her favorite ones to film with Meloni since he returned to the franchise. In retrospect, that line is even more significant now that Benson has a child of her own a son named Noah (Ryan Buggle), whom she adopted after finding him during a particularly dark case. A case of he said/she said between a college advisor and a graduate student, in which the advisor says he and the student had a consensual sexual encounter and the student claims it was rape, lands Benson and Stabler on opposite sides. (We will not speak about Benson asking to see Stabler in Episode Seven and being clocked by Beck with the words Maybe I can help you. Benson later pulls more info to help Stabler and the SVU team with their current case, and Stabler invites Benson to take a crack at their suspect in interrogation. Stabler goes undercover as an animal smuggler, which means more time away from Kathy and their young son, Eli. Cragen throws her out of interrogation and says that a 5-year-old couldve done a better job, to which Benson responds, Then go hire one.. (Shes not wrong! In that moment, Stabler snaps back to reality and realizes what hes said and who else is in the room and adds, I love all of you.. This episode was a great opportunity for fans to see what Stabler and Benson would look like as a couple. I just dont know how its going to shake out. Cragen adds Stabler would need to submit to a psychological evaluation to keep his job and go through anger management training, among other things. You offering to be my partner? Stabler says. The mother, who rarely speaks, decides to read Stablers coffee grounds while the two sit together at the table. She asks him to tell her his honest opinion, and boy, does he deliver the words many have been thinking for over two decades. Hows that for an admission?, Then take our hand, Benson says. Benson asks Stabler why he was so jumpy the other night when she went to his building to talk about the letter. Stabler runs toward Benson, and the two embrace as she says, Im really glad youre back., I shouldve come back sooner, he responds as he tightly holds her. Stabler rushes over to Benson and turns her over. Benson stays by Kathys side the entire time, including in the ambulance, where Kathy ends up giving birth to a baby boy. Then Stabler meets up with Benson in the hallway, and after telling her the babys doing great, he goes to walk past her. Benson then briefly rests her head on Stablers as she says, Im fine, to which he replies, Like hell you are.. At this point, they both have tears in their eyes as the standoff continues. Benson gets up and begins rifling through her cabinets to find the sugar when Stabler asks why she didn't call him, presumably after the gang attack that left her with a bruised eye. Benson finally gets a moment to unload on Stabler about how he hasn't asked about her life since his return. Benson, whos clearly still struggling with the unexpected return of Stabler after all this time, pulls away and leaves. For the past decade, Stabler was abroad, first working on private security and then joining a terrorism task force. The look on Stablers face is priceless as he realizes hes getting his partner back at the Special Victims Unit. Do you have any idea how much I worried he preferred spending time with you than with me and the kids? Kathy says. Kathy was in the car when the bomb went off, and she later died of her injuries. It doesnt take long for the door handle to start rattling as the animal smugglers try to get inside since they saw Stabler let a guest in. Since Porter and Benson were already close, Porter overhears Cragen on the phone telling Benson theyve located their latest suspect, whom Porter is somehow connected to. Things have changed in 10 years. Even though Stabler isnt in this episode, hes mentioned multiple times to Benson by various people throughout. They split up, and eventually Gitano grabs Stabler by the collar and holds a gun to his head as Benson enters the scene. In a blow to Stabler and his family, the judge declares a mistrial, and Wheatley is remanded. Youre all bottled up, Lewis says. In later episodes, Lewis again puts Benson through even more horrific things, like a game of Russian Roulette, which results in his death. The cases suspect is a famous football player, who turns out to also be a closeted gay man in a relationship with the victim. Then Stabler confesses to Benson something thats been on his mind: His father staged a shooting while he was on the job years ago. In later seasons, Rollins ends up in a romantic relationship with her former partner and ADA Dominick Sonny Carisi (Peter Scanavino). During an interview with Seth Meyers in March, Hargitay said she had never seen that scene until that moment during the interview. He would kick your teeth in, break your legs, break your arms, break your back break your face. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. He feels her head and notes shes burning up before going to the kitchen to make her tea. And, for the first time ever, Benson is seriously encouraged to explore a romance with Stabler! Jenna walks away then returns a few seconds later and starts shooting the suspects in the cell. "Yes, I am.". The SVU episode ended when the NYPD Intelligence took over the case from the SVU team, leading right into the first Organized Crime episode. The history between the two is "complicated," as Hargitay told TODAY in February. Stabler tells Benson what she means to him (spoiler alert: the world) in a scene between the two during the second episode of Organized Crime.. judge timothy kenny political affiliation. She goes into an empty interrogation room and breaks down. Before those laced personal episodes, Benson goes undercover for the FBI to infiltrate an environmental group (in real life, Hargitay was pregnant, and the show needed a clever way to cover her absence). Cue the Benson-Stabler love theme, which starts to play, while Stabler just stares. Benson mentions his anger issues and that bottling it up inside hasnt worked for him. I can hear it in your voice. I dont know, maybe Id have better luck with a guy. As it turns out, Benson isn't fatally injured, and she tells Stabler to go after Gitano. It is her death that inspires Stabler to take a new job with the NYPD that keeps him in the Big Apple. Viewers know he went home with a girl he met on the street and woke up hours later to find her dead in the next room. Well, its not at risk. Eventually, Benson is able to pull an iron rod from the bed and hits Lewis with it before getting her gun, which has Stablers mini shield on the bottom. (In a 2016 interview, Meloni revealed he was the one who insisted that spontaneous hug be included in the scene. Women keep leaving me, Stabler responds. I mean, you couldve said something, Stabler responds. Why didnt you trust me? she says through tears. Otherwise, we cant be partners., I cant believe youre saying that, Benson says. Its Bell, who wants to tell him a piece of news, presumably about Wheatleys release, that she didnt want him to be "blindsided" by. Stabler texts Cragen once theyre in Porters phone to call Benson, whos started kissing Porter. Bensons brothers case resurfaces in this episode, as does the feisty side of Benson and Protelliot, who literally jumps to his partners defense when a suspect lunges at Benson during an interrogation. When the woman asks Benson who this Elliot is, she drops her head back on the pillow and whispers, Nobody., It doesnt sound like nobody, the woman responds before mimicking how Benson mumbled Elliot., Back in New York, the ADA needs Benson to take the stand in a rape trial and tries to track her down. Will Hart / NBCU Photo Bank / Getty Images. Im sorry, I shouldve talked to you. Benson follows up by asking if he liked working with her. Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) and Elliot Stabler (Chris Meloni) have been dancing around their relationship for over two decades now. After Benson affirms their night together wasn't m to her, she starts talking to Stabler by their lockers. Grab onto us., I know youre all just trying to help, Stabler says. Benson puts her weapon down as Stabler walks up behind her with his gun drawn and tells Simon to drop his weapon while Benson begs him not to shoot. she says. Benson teams up with Cragen for most of this episode to work the case of a boy whos been missing since 1980. I can't be looking over my shoulder making sure you're OK," he says after Benson points out she couldn't shoot Gitano since he was using the child as shield. Just take it read it, dont read it, throw it away. Took long enough. After the paramedics arrive, Benson ends up climbing back into the car to stabilize Kathys head and neck before the first responders can extract her from the car. "Because what if it doesn't work out?" They share a longing look before Benson turns and leaves. Distance makes the brain dream about your (former) partner. Stabler, whos also familiar with an estranged marriage as his wife wants him to sign divorce papers, makes points in defense of Miles. she shouts after him as he walks away. Thats what I thought, he replies. "You're just going to sit here all night until I do, aren't you? Benson, of course! After the conversation, Bernie asks Benson not to tell Stabler she visited his daughter. Stuckey answers Stabler's phone when Benson calls, and explains that her partner went out for sushi (a crucial detail) and left his phone behind. Season One of "SVU is laced with incredible Benson and Stabler moments that are still discussed to this day. Then she shoots Sister Peg, a woman in charge of a local homeless shelter who had been helping Benson and Stabler with the current case. When a shirtless and pants-less Stabler realizes its Benson knocking on his door, he hurriedly pulls her inside since the animal smugglers warned him not to have any sort of contact with anyone. This episode is absolutely laced with moments between the two, including the most physical one theyve shared (so far). Theres nothing to find. Then Cragen stands up and points out it was Stablers sixth shooting and that the whole squad is on notice., So what? It's a little more general," Stabler responds. he shouts as he approaches her on the ground. "Olivia! Shut up and drive., During a private moment at the end of the episode, Benson tells Stabler she had recently explored adoption, but she was turned down by the agency. In the Season 23 SVU premiere, Benson was run off the road while on the phone with Stabler. Webdid benson and stabler ever sleep together. In the OC Season One finale, Angela asks her attorney to find out exactly who Richard was talking about, and later learns that people believe Richard was referring to Benson. Afterward, the two sit awkwardly at a caf until Benson finally breaks the silence and says, Why couldnt Dani cut it? Stabler says Beck couldnt deal with the victims." Stabler reentered her life after disappearing from it a decade ago. Then she hears Liv and turns and locks eyes across the scene with Stabler. Benson goes to introduce Noah to Stabler, but Noah jumps in that he already knows whom Detective Stabler is, his moms former partner. Who knew one word, Wildlife, could hold so much power among Benson and Stabler fans? And this letter, Benson continues. Many fans have followed Benson's life and career for nearly 25 seasons, but one thing that's always remained a mystery: Whether she's ever had romantic feelings for Stabler. Stabler began talking about Rome as if he expected the relationship between himself and Benson to thaw suddenly, but Benson made it clear that she couldn't do that. In Scorched Earth, we are also introduced to Detective Amanda Rollins (Kelli Giddish), who ends up delivering an unforgettable line to Benson about Stabler years later in the Season 23 finale. While waiting to see Eli, Stabler finally starts to ask Benson about her life during his 10-year absence. Elliot, Benson begins as she steps closer to him. You dont get to talk about him, Benson interjects. At one point, Benson breaks her undercover protocol to contact Odafin Fin Tutuola (Ice-T) for help getting information. A young tech named Dale Stuckey (Noel Fisher) is with Benson and Stabler at various crime scenes throughout the episode, and at one point, even makes a careless mistake that ends up setting the suspect free. It's worth noting that, at the end of this episode, Stabler finds out Angela was actually the one who ordered to take Kathy out, not Richard. Benson notices a bunch of pills on the floor of the bathroom and calls Stabler over to let him know. While hallucinating, she imagined he was first responder who helped her. After concluding her conversations with both, the evaluator tells Cragen that the two have a degree of mutual reliance and emotional dependence that compromises their effectiveness as police officers. Basically, theyre too close., When Cragen asks if this means he should split them up, the evaluator responds, If you want to lose your two best detectives.. Kathleen tells her dad she went to Benson to ask for help. Later on, Benson goes into Cragens office after seeing IAB and says, That was a good shooting, captain. The two arent vibing well at all, and Cragen tells him he and Benson needed a break from each other, and shes now working in Computer Crimes. "Hey, would you talk to me?" Well that makes two of us, Benson says. As Stabler gets out of the car, the smuggler shoots him twice. They hold hands and he thanks her for coming. Once again, Love affairs? steve stricker wrist lock; what channel are the st louis cardinals playing on today "She was the boundary.". I just wasnt ready, she says. Stabler walks Benson out through the back garden. Stuckey further gets under Stablers skin at one point after saying a photo on a piece of evidence looks like a little younger version of Benson. In the middle of a sudden commotion with the crowd, Stabler spots one of the missing kids, Ryan, and shouts to get his attention. At the end of the episode, Jenna shows up at the SVU office asking Benson if they found her mothers killer. You stubborn son of a b----," she says with a smile. While talking to Stabler and Angela, Richard says he recorded Angela plotting to kill Kathy, and Angela denies it. Why did you give me that letter? Stabler tells Benson to go hide while he answers the door. Whatever you decide, I understand, Stabler says. Benson responds, You dont know anything about my feelings for Elliot, and you dont know him.. (Oh, and Stabler, while undercover, also slept with her!). I just think the older I get, Im beginning to understand that people are complicated, Stabler says. A shot rings out, and both Rojas and Benson go down. Benson offers to take Kathy to a doctors appointment after Stabler is pulled out of town for their current case. Back at her apartment, Benson thanks Stabler for safely bringing Noah back. Protelliot prevails in this especially personal episode for Benson. #WhatsInTheLetter trended for weeks online, and "SVU" fans on Twitter also put a letter emoji on their profiles. Do you want to know my dating history, detective? Benson says with a smirk. - April 2, 2021 08:33 am EDT. Part two of the so-called holy trinity kicks off appropriately with Stabler at church in confession. Stabler also makes sure to get Benson back in bed before he leaves and jokes, Im getting my hazard pay coming to see you.. Down bad since day one, according to many fans. The episode ends with Benson walking back to her old desk, which prompts Stabler to ask, What are you doing here?. I have to work on changing his about that see if I cant make myself No. "So this is about the death of a loved one?" ET, with a new Organized Crime episode following at 10 p.m. Later, Stabler and Benson prove that after over 20 years, 10 of those being apart from one another, they are still in sync. The Milgram nickname is important as its a reference to psychologist Stanley Milgram, who conducted shock experiments to test how far someone would go to follow instructions, despite the moral feeling of his or her conscience. It has to be this outpouring of everything that, over all these years, that has never been spoken or physically acted on. What about your kids?" Barba says he got a glimpse, to which Benson reminds Barba shes known Stabler for 23 years and he always had her back. "There's nobody that I trust more to bring my son home in one piece than Stabler," she tells Carisi, and adds she's going to meet them at home. She didnt. Thats the problem, she responds. The moment Benson and Stabler first saw each other after 10 years apart. Stabler comes home one night to see Benson and all his kids. This moment was teased in a previous promo and sent fans into a spiral. The two also meet up at night ahead of a raid, and Stabler gives her his word that hes got her back. Rook also pulls out a remote and claims hes wired the door with explosives, which will go off if Stabler tries to open it to get to his partner. There must be a reason she why she didnt tell you about me.. SVU will be back next Thursday at 9 p.m. In the middle of the night, 4:47 a.m. to be exact, an already awake Stabler gets a text from Benson telling him to meet her downstairs, where shes sitting on his porch with a cup of coffee for him and tea for herself. Jenna begins lowering the gun until one of the wounded suspects in the cage starts taunting her, so she raises her gun to shoot him again. After Benson tells him to freeze, Gitano quickly slashes her neck with a knife, and she falls to the ground. Thats some advice, Benson responds, picking up on the implication. While SVU is called off the case, Benson continues to help Stabler as he gets settled back into Manhattan detective work as he tries to find Kathys killer. "I wouldve done the same thing," Benson responds. Knowing hes in trouble, Eli calls Elliot and tells him his location. Stabler tells Benson that the letter was Kathys idea, and Kathy thought it would be an easier way to start a discussion since the two hadnt seen each other in years. Benson shows up at the lab only to find Stabler tied to a chair. She notes theres been change with her chief and squad, and she still doesnt have closure with Barba after he defended Wheatley against her wishes. Benson gets a call to go to a scene and to her surprise, sees Kathy on a stretcher being wheeled into an ambulance. In what was a reunion for the ages, a lot was going on in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit [], By Daniel S. Levine Before the raid, Benson again picks up on Stabler wilting mental state after he chats with their informant, whos also SVUs current suspect in a rape case. Im just calling to say I want to thank you for everything that youve done for me, for the kids. It felt good to hear that, Stabler tells her, clearly relieved to know that after disappearing for a decade, Benson still cares about him. Benson, wise to his actions, points out Stabler had to have gone out of his way to make her home a stop on his way in. Ayanna Bell (Danielle Mon Truitt), Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni talk about return of Law & Order: SVU, Benson and Stabler hold hands in SVU-Organized Crime crossover, Chris Meloni reveals story behind Law & Order set pics with Mariska Hargitay, Mariska Hargitay: Benson has 'been in love' with Stabler for many a year, Stabler made a very big apparent confession. She emphasizes to Stabler that he walked away, and she had to find out about his exit from Cragen. A shocked Benson points out it sounds like Stabler and Donnelly are getting pretty close.. In interrogation, Benson attempts to arrest Porter for being an accessory to murder. The top-tier scene, however, comes at the end of the episode when Stabler spins Benson around as theyre leaving the police station to thank her for being there for him. Rook threatens to hold the button down longer and double the voltage of the shocks. And hell tell them to go to hell, Benson replies before walking out. Turns out, Kathy was injured in a car bombing, as she and Stabler were in town to see Benson receive an award. This is arguably *the* episode that changes everything for Benson and Stabler since the contents of the letter are finally revealed and its a doozy. Stabler confronts Rojas in the parking lot, and Rojas holds a gun to Bensons head. "Loss. They both glance down at their watches at the same time and choose to enter a facility they believe holds the missing girl before backup arrives. Elliot talked about you all the time.. Cragen then informs Benson and Stabler that Porter and the suspect are off the hook since the situation is out of their hands. How about we call it a friendship, Benson says to a beaming Stabler. Benson and Stabler share whats considered among the fans a significant moment in the hallway of the OC office when Benson reaches for Stablers hand as she walks past him to exit, and the two linger in their handhold until the last minute when she has to pull away to leave. After kicking Benson out, one of the smugglers takes Stabler for a ride. I just think I needed to hear you say that.. He says, What was I gonna do let you get shivved in Rikers?. Stabler keeps telling her to shoot Gitano, and eventually says she can do "the right thing" in this moment since he says he did not when he chose to go to her after she got hurt instead of running after Ryan. Benson's boss, Deputy Chief Garland (Demore Barnes) needed an explanation on why Stabler left. Ral Esparza, who portrays Barba, spoke to TVLine about the ending and said the dialogue can be can be taken in a number of ways., There are fans that have always wanted to kind of spin off that story, Esparza told the outlet about Barba and Benson. They pull up to the phone Eli had said he was by but there's no sign of him. In the Season 22 SVU finale, Fin is set to marry his first partner, Phoebe. During a briefing, Benson and Stabler have a sidebar conversation, in which Benson calls out Stabler for not telling her he was undercover. Lewis continues to talk about that old partner of hers and says, It mustve been tough for you all those long nights alone in the car.. I do, Stabler interjects. Who knew a small letter could hold so much power? When Rollins questions Stablers recent actions, Benson defends him. In a parallel universe, Benson begins. Then Stuckey comes up behind them both with his gun drawn. Rook also informs Stabler that Bensons chair is wired with electricity that will release shocks when a remote is pressed a recreation of the Milgram Shock experiment. She also confirmed that she never spoke with Stabler after he left the force. Meloni told TODAY in February that little moments like holding hands, which among the fans are obviously a big deal, are ones he and Hargitay add into the scenes themselves. Liv, lets not go into that, Stabler replies before Sgt. A shocked Benson stares at Stabler as he tells the lawyer, "You have no right to use my personal life to make your case. Witnesses rush over to help Stabler, as does Benson, who calls for help. Meanwhile, Stabler and the teams tech guy, Ruben Morales, are in Bensons bedroom so that theyre close enough to get into Porters phone and eventually track him. Later on, Stablers in the locker room changing when Benson appears in the doorway. He tells her he was asked to speak at her award ceremony, but instead opted to write his thoughts in a letter he planned to give to her that night. Benson and Stabler share another long stare in the car in what turns out to be their last scene together of the season. Later, in an unexpected clocking of sorts, Rollins asks Benson how she and Stabler are doing before offering some personal advice, which may come as a surprise given Rollins previous hesitations about Stabler. Stabler says he couldnt, and at this point, the others in the room take notice of their bickering. The previous episode, "All That Glitters," introduced viewers to Tia Leonetti (Ayelet Zurer), who worked with Stabler in Italy after he left the Special Victims Unit. So in Thursdays Law & Order: Organized Crime, Benson was visibly shocked when Stabler blurted I love you (!!) ET. Tucker suspends Benson, and after hearing the news, Stabler says to Tucker, You are a son of a b----. Then Tucker drops the news on a shocked Stabler that Benson has been sleeping with Moss. Benson says she doesnt need help from them. Despite now knowing Kathy wrote the letter, Benson still shows up in the cemetery to meet the rest of the Stabler family at Kathys grave. Back in the squad room after going over the latest with the case, Porter asks Benson if shed like a ride home. Cragen tells Stabler he may have another chance and that Benson is back (finally). A few scenes later, Stabler is caught off guard when he gets Benson a soda, and she informs him that she doesnt drink them anymore. At this point, Benson starts reciting back lines from the letter, that she has memorized, including that what Benson and Stabler were to each other was never real and they got in the way of each other being who and where they needed to be. Stabler joins Benson in her car after she drops Noah off at school and brings her coffee (just like old times). Stabler reminds his mother that his family had been living in Rome and notes they had come back to visit about four times.. You still want him.