Liv and El’s close moment came during an episode in which Oscar Papa, head of the brutal gang BX9, was brought to trial.

Though he was rushed to the hospital, Duarte did not make it — and Papa basically admits to ordering the hit.

He says he’ll plead guilty to murder “but not the rapes,” and Benson makes him promise that Noah won’t be harmed.

And then all that’s left is for Stabler to bring the boy back to Manhattan, because as Benson puts it, there’s no one she trusts more to take care of her kid.

When Noah is home and safely asleep, Liv thanks her former partner for helping out in a very trying time.

A massive ‘ship was setting sail, and your friendly neighborhood recapper might’ve gotten tumbled about in its wake.