➺ 𝙎𝘼𝙑𝙄𝙉𝙂 𝙄𝙎𝘼𝘽𝙀𝙇𝙇𝙀 - O.Benson

Chapter 17: Meeting the Family

Isabelle stood in front of the precinct building, feeling like a knot had twisted itself tightly in her stomach. Olivia had told her that today she'd be formally introduced to the rest of the team—the people Olivia worked with every day and the friends who had become like family to her. Isabelle knew some of them already—Detective Amanda Rollins, who was also Blaise's mom, and Rafael Barba, who had fought so hard for her in court. But still, the idea of meeting them all at once was overwhelming.Olivia placed a comforting hand on Isabelle's shoulder. "It's okay to be nervous," she said, her voice warm and reassuring. "But I promise you, they're going to love you. They've been wanting to meet you properly ever since the trial."Isabelle nodded, taking a deep breath. She'd spent so much time on the outside, feeling like she didn't belong anywhere, and now she was being invited into Olivia's world—a world that felt like it was filled with people who actually cared."Okay," Isabelle said, forcing a small smile. "Let's do this."Olivia led her through the bustling precinct, past desks stacked with case files and officers typing away at their computers. They stopped in front of a room where Isabelle could see a group of people gathered, talking and laughing together. She recognized a few faces from the trial, and her nerves kicked up a notch."Everyone," Olivia said, her voice carrying a hint of pride, "this is my daughter, Isabelle."The room fell silent for a moment as everyone turned to look at Isabelle. Then, one by one, they broke into warm smiles, and Isabelle felt some of her tension melt away.

Amanda Rollins was the first to step forward, a wide smile spreading across her face. "Izzy!" she said, pulling Isabelle into a gentle hug. "It's so good to see you again, sweetheart. How are you holding up?"Isabelle returned the hug, feeling a bit more at ease in Amanda's familiar presence. "I'm doing okay," she said softly, grateful for Amanda's warmth. "Thank you for everything, Detective Rollins. I don't know what I would have done without you."Amanda chuckled and shook her head. "Please, call me Amanda," she said. "We're family now, and you've got enough people calling me 'Detective' around here."Isabelle laughed a little, a genuine smile tugging at her lips. It felt good to be around people who didn't treat her like she was fragile, like she might break at any moment.**POV: Isabelle's**Next, a tall man with a serious expression and a warm twinkle in his eyes stepped forward. Olivia had introduced him as Sergeant Fin Tutuola. "Hey, Isabelle," he said, his voice deep but kind. "I'm Fin. It's good to finally meet you properly."Isabelle nodded, feeling a bit shy under his gaze but also reassured by the kindness in his eyes. "Thank you, Sergeant Tutuola," she said quietly."Call me Fin," he replied with a small smile. "We're all on the same team here. And from what I've heard, you're a lot tougher than most people give you credit for."Isabelle blushed slightly at the compliment, not used to being seen as strong. "Thanks, Fin," she said, feeling a little more comfortable.

Rafael Barba stepped forward next, his sharp suit and serious demeanor reminding Isabelle of the courtroom, where he had so fiercely defended her. But today, his expression was softer, more relaxed. "Isabelle," he said with a nod, "I'm glad to see you outside of that courtroom, under much better circumstances."Isabelle gave him a small smile, grateful for everything he'd done for her. "Thank you, Mr. Barba. I don't think I ever really got to say how much it meant to me, what you did. You believed in me when I didn't believe in myself."Barba's stern features softened into a rare smile. "You're stronger than you know, Isabelle," he said. "And for the record, it was an honor to fight for you. And please, call me Barba. We're all on a first-name basis here."

Finally, a man with a kind face and an easygoing smile stepped forward. "Hey there, I'm Sonny Carisi," he said, extending his hand to Isabelle. "It's great to finally meet you. I've heard a lot about you—good things, don't worry," he added with a wink.Isabelle shook his hand, feeling the warmth of his sincerity. "It's nice to meet you, Detective Carisi," she said, a little surprised at how comfortable he made her feel."Please, call me Sonny," he said, giving her a friendly grin. "We're all on a first-name basis around here, especially with someone as important to Olivia as you are."Isabelle couldn't help but smile back at Sonny's easy charm. "Thanks, Sonny," she said, feeling like maybe she could actually fit in here, in this group of people who seemed to care about her more than she'd ever thought possible.

Olivia watched as Isabelle interacted with her team, her heart swelling with pride. This was the family she had built over the years, the people who had stood by her through everything, and now they were welcoming her daughter into their fold. It was more than she could have ever hoped for."Well," Olivia said, looking around at her friends, "looks like you've got a whole new group of people who have your back, Izzy."Amanda, Fin, Barba, and Sonny all nodded in agreement, and Amanda added, "You're one of us now, Isabelle. Anything you need, you just say the word."Isabelle felt a lump in her throat, overwhelmed by the kindness and support surrounding her. For so long, she had felt alone, like she didn't belong anywhere. But now, standing in this room full of people who cared, she felt something different—something that felt a lot like family."Thank you," Isabelle said, her voice thick with emotion. "Thank you all for everything. I don't know how I got so lucky to have all of you in my corner, but I'm really glad I do."Olivia pulled Isabelle into a side hug, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. "You're not alone anymore, Izzy," she whispered. "You've got all of us, and we're not going anywhere."As Isabelle looked around the room, seeing the smiles and nods from the people who had become her new family, she felt the warmth of acceptance, the sense of belonging she'd always longed for. And for the first time in her life, she truly believed that she wasn't just surviving anymore—she was starting to live.