Elliot Stabler

**Detective Elliot Stabler** is a detective with the Organized Crime Control Bureau, reporting to Sergeant Ayanna Bell. He was a detective with the Special Victims Unit partnered with Olivia Benson, reported to Captain Donald Cragen, until his departure in 2011.

## On SVU

Stabler was partnered with Detective Olivia Benson. They have an extremely close, and have more than once chosen each other over their duty to their jobs. They are briefly separated when Benson goes on an undercover assignment with the FBI, and Stabler is partnered with Detective Dani Beck, with whom he shares a sexual attraction towards. Beck ultimately transfers out of SVU when she decides she cannot live with seeing children being abused, and Benson becomes Stabler's partner again.

Stabler was married to his high school sweetheart, Kathy, with whom he has five children. His job nearly costs him his family when Kathy leaves him, having grown tired of his anger and emotional distance, both occupation hazards of dealing with heinous crimes every day. They were estranged for two years and nearly got a divorce, but ultimately they reconciled after Kathy gets pregnant with their fifth child.

Of his children, he has the most trouble with his daughter Kathleen, who acts out against her parents in ways such as stealing Stabler's credit card, having sex with multiple boys from her high school, and getting into a drunk driving accident. Stabler eventually learns that Kathleen's behavior is the result of undiagnosed bipolar disorder, which she inherited from her grandmother, and helps her get counseling.

### Retirement

In 2011, Stabler is forced to shoot and kill a teenage girl named Jenna Fox after she opens fire on her mother's murderers in the middle of the SVU squad room, inadvertently killing Sister Peg in the process. As this is his sixth career "good shooting", the NYPD tries to force him to undergo counseling, anger management, and other administrative procedures to keep his job; he instead puts in his papers and retires, leaving Benson distraught.

### Return

In 2021, after spending ten years working and living in Rome, Stabler returned to New York was seriously injured after being caught in a car bomb allegedly meant for Elliot. At the crime scene, Benson reunited with Stabler who then lead her to the hospital. Fin explains that Stabler was an NYPD liaison in Rome and he returned to New York for department meetings and conferences. At the precinct, Benson had a suspect in custody named Jacob Peters. Stabler approaches Benson at the precinct asking to interrogate the suspect. Benson won't allow him to interrogate the suspect due to him being related to the suspect. Stabler promises Benson that he will behave and Benson allows him to interrogate Peters. However, Peters antagonises Stabler and Stabler gets furious. Before a fight was started, Benson told Stabler to leave the room. At the hospital, Benson asks Kathy questions about the bombing but Kathy claims that she didn't see anything. Kathy says that it was "just like the old days" and was shocked that they didn't talk to each other for a decade. Benson claims that she didn't know he was back on the job. Benson leaves the room and so does Stabler. Stabler apologised for the situation he put her in at the precinct and also apologised for abandoning her 10 years ago. Benson claims that he was the single most important person in his life and he just disappeared. Stabler claims he was afraid and if he would have heard her voice, he wouldn't have been able to leave. Unfortunately, Kathy later died of her injuries and SVU was immediately taken off the case. (SVU: "Return of the Prodigal Son")

After the intervention, Benson confronted Stabler about what happened and why he wouldn't want to receive help. Benson told Stabler that he should get some rest and eat something because it would make him and his children feel better. Stabler said that he understood what she was trying to do and they made up. Later, Stabler assisted the Special Victims Unit in a case where two women where drugging and raping men using a drug called Purple Magic. According to Stabler, Stabler and the Organized Crime Control Bureau were investigating Purple Magic. After catching the dealer, Felix Tinga, The Special Victims Unit later wired up Tinga and sent him undercover. This caused Felix to be shot to death by hitmen who then attempted to kill Benson and Stabler. (SVU: "Trick-Rolled At The Moulin'")

Stabler attended the wedding of Fin and Phoebe Baker, who made a last minute decision not to get married but continued with the ceremony. Stabler and Benson later reconnected and Stabler brought Benson a drink. Stabler told Benson that he thinks Fin and Phoebe are a good looking couple and asked how they met. Benson explained that Phoebe was a cop and they were each other's first partners. Benson and Stabler then made a toast "to partners". (SVU: "Wolves In Sheep's Clothing")

While talking on the phone with Stabler, Benson saw a car behind her with headlights on. Stabler told her to pull over and let him through but she tried but couldn't. The car hit Benson's car causing the car to skid off the road and into a tree. (SVU: "And The Empire Strikes Back")

Stabler, Bell and the Special Victims Unit worked together to investigate Gabe Navarro, a serial rapist connected with the mob. Stabler and Benson reconnected after not having talked for a while during his undercover operation. During a chase, Gabe attempted to shoot Stabler but Stabler shot him. At the hospital, the feds took Gabe and put him in witness protection. Stabler claimed that he knew nothing about that. (SVU: "I Thought You Were On My Side")

Stabler testified at Wheatley's trial for the murder of his wife. Stabler testified about everything that he saw the night of the bombing. Barba then cross-examined Stabler, claiming that his task is to prove that Richard Wheatley is not responsible for Kathy's death. Stabler then told Barba that he is sure that Richard murdered his wife and had a meltdown on the stand. After Judge Ellery asked him to be quiet, Stabler asked him how much Wheatley was paying him before being taken off the stand. (SVU: "People Vs Richard Wheatley")

While Benson and Noah were walking from their Mothers Day lunch, Benson and Noah ran into Stabler while he was buying flowers. Benson then introduced Noah to Stabler but Noah told Benson that he already knew who Stabler was. Stabler then started complimenting Benson. Stabler told Benson that he was on his way to the cemetary with the kids before going to see Bernadette. Stabler then asked Noah what he was planning on doing today and Noah told Stabler that he was going to do whatever Benson wanted to do. Benson then got a text message before Benson asked Stabler if he worked with Officer Jessie Santos to which Stabler responded that he did. Benson then told Stabler that she will call him when she can before walking away with Noah. (SVU: "Did You Believe In Miracles?")

When Sirenko gets ID'd by another sex trafficking victim, Stabler and the rest of the three squads raid Sirenko's home. Benson then finds scratches on the floors of the empty house and suspects that there might be a hidden room. Stabler and Cosgrove move a shelf and discover a secret storage room. Benson then discovers the makings of a bomb inside the room and tells everyone to turn off their radios. When Sirenko is still nowhere to be found, Stabler says Sirenko is apolitical and has no idea why he has an IUD. Later, after Vince is used to help them catch Sirenko, Stabler goes over the plan with Vince who appears to be jumpy. While Vince stands in an alley waiting for Sirenko, Stabler checks in with Benson. Sirenko arrives but refuses to talk to Vince in the alley. When Sirenko wants to go inside a garage, Vince and Sirenko then go into a basement where Sirenko interrogates Vince about his involvement with the police. Stabler then tells Vince to back off but Vince pushes Sirenko. Vince loses signal with Stabler but the video is regained. When Vince tries to run, Sirenko's henchmen shoot at Vince. Vince keeps calling for Stabler but Sirenko starts assaulting Vince. Stabler runs towards Vince but shots are fired at him. Stabler loses Sirenko but finds Vince who had been beaten and shot. Stabler then calls for an ambulance but Vince dies in Stabler's arms. Stabler then interrogates Sirenko's henchmen about his whereabouts but the man wants an attorney. He tells Stabler that he is too late. While on the search for Sirenko, Stabler catches a guy who is named John Kent. Kent tells Stabler that he was blackmailed by Sirenko who was using him to get security information. When Sirenko sets off a ten-minute timer on a bomb, the squads evacuate the building that they are in. Cosgrove then catches Sirenko just as the bomb goes off but Sirenko disappears again. Stabler then sends his men in all directions to search for Sirenko. Sirenko is then spotted by Rollins and Stabler but Sirenko holds hostages. Benson tries to cooperate with Sirenko but Sirenko drops his hostages and gets held at gunpoint by Stabler. Cosgrove then stops Stabler from murdering Sirenko. (SVU: "Gimme Shelter")

While Benson concludes the case against Oscar Papa, Stabler drives Noah home to Benson before Noah falls fast asleep in his bed at home. Benson thanks Stabler for driving him back home. Stabler then asks Benson why she didn't call him after the attack happened and Benson told Stabler that he would have tried to protect her. Stabler then asked Benson if there was anything wrong about that before saying that he cares about her. Stabler then asks Benson for sugar and then Benson goes to get it for him. Stabler then walks over to Benson and tells her to look at him and attempts to kiss her. Benson told Stabler that she wants to kiss him but she can't because she's worried things won't work out. Stabler then tells Benson that things might work out but Benson tells Stabler that she is not ready to be in a relationship with him. (SVU: "Blood Out")

Outside the courthouse, Benson meets with Stabler where they become formal with each other. Stabler asks Benson how Noah is doing and they talk about the night that Stabler tried to kiss Benson. Benson told Stabler that it wasn't the right time for her but Stabler told Benson that it was an even worse time for him. Benson then shows Stabler a photo of Suarez and asks if Stabler is investigating him. Stabler tells Benson that Suarez gets out of prison on furlough and rapes people. Stabler told Benson that there are other rapes that he has nothing to do with before Benson tells Stabler that they are investigating the same case from opposite ends. (SVU: "Bad Things")

Whilst investigating the Shadowërk case, Stabler gets updated by Benson about their case. After the site gets shut down, McGrath starts yelling at Jet but Stabler tells McGrath to leave Jet alone. McGrath then throws a fit and tells them that someone had just gotten away with murdering a federal judge. Later, whilst wrapping things up on the case, Stabler and Benson have Chinese food together where he wishes that he could bottle this moment. Stabler asks Benson if she spoke to Rollins before noticing an unwrapped present on Benson's desk. Stabler tells Benson to open it but Benson refuses. Stabler then tells Benson that she's afraid it's going to be too normal. However, Stabler and Benson get interrupted by a call. Later, after getting new information about a new suspect, Stabler and Benson realise that someone had ordered a hit on them. (SVU: "All Pain Is One Malady")

## On OC

### Season 1

Kathy being killed in a car bombing caused Stabler to suffer PTSD and he continuously had nightmares and started behaving unusually. He became determined to to avenge the death of his wife which caused him to threaten suspects, promising that they were dead. Benson provided Stabler with all of the information and evidence she had on the case and Stabler, provided his old partner with the letter of the speech he had planned to give. Stabler successfully fought to be allowed to join the new Organized Crime Control Bureau that was being formed and survived another attempted murder alongside Angela Wheatley. (OC: "What Happens in Puglia")

Stabler meets Bell who claims that an unidentified deceased body was discovered and they were called to investigate. Stabler and Bell then drive to the Wonder Wheel where Stabler notices the shell casing and realizes that the armed weapon was hand-loaded. Later, Stabler calls Benson and leaves a message asking her not to tell anyone about what she saw the previous night until he can explain. Bell then informs Stabler, Morales and Jet about Wheatley claiming that he is a drug dealer and hacker who manufactures custom made dangerous and illegal drugs. Stabler then tells Bell that he would like to be introduced to Wheatley. Stabler and Bell then approach Wheatley, Dana and Bekher as they leave the office. Stabler accuses Wheatley of killing his father and robbing COVID-19 vaccines from trucks. Wheatley then tells Stabler that he has to bury his father before leaving. Later, Benson meets Stabler outside Noah's school and Benson tells Stabler that she is worried about him. Benson tells Stabler that she thinks he might have PTSD and is worried about his involvement with Sinatra's death. Stabler tells Benson that she means the world to him before telling her to back off. Stabler sets up a dating profile so he can meet with rich girls who are getting access to the COVID-19 vaccine illegally. Stabler then meets with a rich woman and tells her that he is a detective investigating the robbery of COVID-19 vaccines. The woman gives Stabler the name and number of the doctor who is giving out those vaccines. As a result, Stabler and Bell arrested the doctor, Dr. Laurence Valentine, for robbery. Later, before Stabler entered his apartment, Stabler noticed that two men were walking towards Eli and Stabler yelled out to Eli to get inside. Stabler then got attacked by the two men with their guns before being left on the side of the street. (OC: "Not Your Father's Organized Crime")

Stabler gets questioned by Moennig and Bell about the assault and Stabler tells Moennig and Bell that he doesn't think the attack was personal or not. Later, Kathleen meets with Eli at Stabler's home and Kathleen shares her concerns about Stabler to Eli. Kathleen tells Eli that she thinks it would be a good idea for Eli to move in with Maureen and Carl until it is safe. Stabler agrees with Kathleen's idea but Eli refuses to move in with Maureen and Carl. Kathleen then leaves Eli's room and pleads for Stabler to start taking meds for PTSD but Stabler refuses. At the precinct, Bell informs Stabler that the DA is not impressed that they arrested all the patients the previous night. Later, the squad discovered that the bullet used to murder Sinatra came from a Virginia mobster. Bell and Stabler then head to Virginia and Stabler tells Bell that the men that beat him up were after Eli. Bell tells Stabler that they will get the men that came after Eli. When they arrive in Virginia, Stabler and Bell realise that the same bullet was used to murder another woman. Later, Angela meets with Stabler at the shopping center. Angela then notices Stabler's bruises and asks what happened to him. Stabler tells Angela that he was looking out for his kid and then Angela tells Stabler that she hopes Eli is okay, claiming that she researched Stabler. Angela then gives Stabler information about Wheatley and the charity event that Dana is hosting. Angela tells Stabler that she is worried that Dana is getting too close to Wheatley. Later, Stabler shows up at the charity event while Wheatley makes a speech. The team then raid the charity event while Stabler and Bell confront Wheatley. Bell tries to accuse Wheatley of committing crimes but Wheatley finds his way around it. Stabler then approaches Bekher and notices that he has a weapon before confiscating it. Later, after it was revealed that Bekher attacked Stabler and murdered Sinatra and the woman, Stabler arrested Bekher for the two murders. (OC: "Say Hello To My Little Friends")

Stabler struggles to sleep and watches the footage of Kathy's murder. Stabler repeatedly watches the video of the bombing going off before noticing a couple in the footage taking a selfie minutes before the bomb went off. Stabler then calls Moennig and tells him that he wants access to the photos that were taken before Kathy's death. Later, Bell and Stabler interrogate Bekher for the murders and Bekher denies committing Sinatra's murder. Stabler shows Bekher and his lawyer the evidence that they have against him before Bekher's lawyer ends the interrogation. After the interrogation, Bell tells Stabler that she doesn't mind him investigating Kathy's murder as long as he focuses on Wheatley's case. Later, Stabler and Bell arrive at the home of a young boy named Cole Braverman who overdosed on Wheatley's drugs. Stabler then comforts Cole's mother after she freaks out about his death. Bell tells Stabler that Cole broke the law because he purchased drugs while under the age of eighteen. Stabler wants to tie Cole's death with Wheatley's crime syndicate. Later, Stabler talks to Moennig about updates on Kathy's murder case. Moennig tells Stabler that the couple didn't see anything and Moennig refuses to let Stabler assist in the investigation. At Stabler's home, Stabler punches a hole in the wall which was witnessed by Eli before being called by Bekher who wants to meet with him asking for protection. Stabler and Bell meet with Bekher at the prison who tells them that Wheatley murdered Sinatra. Carisi and Stabler then talk to Judge Lee about getting a secret lawyer for Bekher while they make a deal with him. Stabler manages to convince the judge to go forward by mentioning Cole's death. Later, Stabler and Eli walk along the street and Stabler confiscates Eli's phone. Eli then becomes frustrated with Stabler. Stabler then asks Eli to do a favour for him causing Stabler to get distracted by the phone which causes a minor accident. Later, Stabler enters his apartment and finds Benson and the rest of his children standing there. Kathleen tells Stabler that they are holding an intervention and Benson tells Stabler that it's because his children are worried about him. Stabler then admits to Benson that he loves her before realising what he said and tries to cover it up by saying that he loves all of them. Benson tries to convince Stabler to let them help him but Stabler refuses. After the intervention, Stabler meets with Angela at her apartment and they talk about their grief. Angela tells Stabler to get some sleep and reassures that it will get better. Later, Stabler watches the footage again and realises that Sacha Lenski was watching Kathy get into the car across the street. Stabler then calls Benson but she doesn't answer. Stabler leaves Benson a voicemail and tells her that Kathy was the intended target. (OC: "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of")

Stabler later became involved with Angela, after they shared an awkward kiss. Stabler approached Angela and apologised to her for unexpectedly arriving at her house and kissing her. Angela told Stabler that she was terrified of him due to him entering her life so quickly. Wheatley arrived at Colombia University and approached them during their conversation. Wheatley angrily told Stabler to keep away from his family. Unbeknownst to Wheatley, Stabler and Angela later met up and Angela asked Stabler to dinner. Before Stabler and Angela went to dinner, Stabler received a call from Bell, who proved that Bekher, created the bomb that killed Kathy. When they arrived to meet with Bekher, Stabler punched him and aggressively demanded for reasons on why Richard wanted Kathy dead. Bekher claimed that Wheatley didn't order the hit but Angela did. (OC: "An Inferior Product")

Stabler later arrested Angela for Kathy's murder in her hotel room. During interrogation, Angela claimed that Richard manipulated her into believing that her adoptive son, Rafiq, was murdered during a police raid by Stabler. After being manipulated, Angela told Richard that she wanted Stabler to suffer but claims that she didn't mean for anybody else to die and that they were just words. Angela later explained Richard's connection to Kathy's murder and told Stabler and Bell that she would assist them in putting Richard behind bars for the rest of his life. (OC: "I Got This Rat")

Stabler brings in Gianluca Silvano, a former member of the Russian Mafia and Stabler's confidential informant, to pose as Wheatley's client. Silvano would also assist them in arresting Wheatley. Stabler and Bell team up with the Emergency Service Unit to arrest Wheatley until Chambliss bailed on them. However, they continue with the operation and they work together to bring down Wheatley. While Wheatley meets up with Silvano at the subway, Jet listens in using a microphone disguised as a hearing aid placed in Silvano's ear. However, when Jet realises that the microphone becomes faulty, Jet goes undercover to give a new microphone to a transit undercover disguised as a homeless person. After getting all the evidence they need, the team goes in to arrest Wheatley. However, Wheatley attempts to get away and holds two people hostage but Stabler apprehends him and arrests him. (OC: "Everybody Takes A Beating Sometime")

Stabler and the rest of his children attend Wheatley's arraignment trial and Wheatley is remanded without bail. Later, the Organized Crime Control Bureau discover from Frasier that Wheatley is planning to make a deal with the federal prosecutor, Vince Baldi. When they talk to Baldi, Stabler explains how Wheatley murdered his wife and doesn't deserve a break. Vince claimed that he wants justice and has to consider. It is also revealed that Stabler is recieving treatment for his PTSD caused by witnessing Kathy's murder. After talking on the phone with his doctor, Stabler does some deep breathing and he's supposed to call someone that he trusts. Stabler calls Bell and she shows up to check on Stabler's wellbeing. Later, at a therapy session, Stabler talks with his doctor and claims that his anxiety is getting worse along with his feeling of hopelessness. However, Stabler's therapy session is interrupted after Stabler gets a call about Angela who was poisoned while in witness protection. (OC: "Forget It Jake; It's Chinatown")

### Season 2

While Reggie completed a mission for the K-O, Stabler surveilled Reggie and assisted him in assaulting police officers who infiltrate the scene. Stabler ends up being arrested by the police but was released after Bell and Frasier managed to get him out of trouble. Reggie and Stabler enter the Besa Gym where Reggie approaches Albi with information about the mission. Reggie then started fighting a boxer who started beating him. Stabler yelled from the corner and started giving Reggie tips on how to fight back. Albi then stopped Reggie and the boxer and asked who Stabler was. Albi then assigned Stabler and Reggie to find his stolen drugs which was taken from the scene. At the precinct, Stabler meets with Bell and Jet where he gets information on a corrupt cop named Beau Campbell who took the drugs from the scene where Stabler and Reggie got arrested. Later, Stabler and Reggie enter Reggie's home where Reggie introduces Stabler to his mother, Agnes, but she didn't seem to like Stabler. When Stabler asked Reggie more about her, Reggie claimed that Agnes got shot in the head and suffered from a speech impediment as a result. After Agnes makes tea for Stabler, Stabler drinks the tea and Agnes reads Stabler's grounds before him and Reggie leave. Stabler and Reggie then attack Campbell demanding to know about the guy he gave the drugs too. Campbell then gave up a man named Lance Flowers, who Stabler finds out works for The Marcy Killers. Stabler and Reggie then attempt to approach Flowers but Flowers wasn't there. Stabler and Reggie then approach Nova and Penda. While Reggie held Penda hostage, Stabler demanded the drugs from Nova which Nova gave him. At the Besa Gym, Stabler waited outside while Reggie gave the drugs to Albi who claimed that the drugs they took were his drugs. (OC: "The Man With No Identity")

Stabler and Albi go for a drive while Albi snorts cocaine and offers Stabler some but Stabler refuses to do cocaine. Albi tells Stabler that he doesn't trust him because he is an outsider but Stabler tells Albi that he has never ratted anyone out or cheated a partner. Stabler and Albi then meet Reggie and the Marcy Killers at the warehouse where Nova becomes startled and points a gun at Stabler and Albi. Stabler then points a gun at Nova and Albi tells her to put her gun down. Reggie then orders to burn the warehouse down to cover up the two murders that he committed. Stabler pours gasoline everywhere and torches the warehouse. At the precinct, Brewster approaches Stabler and tells him that he is worried about Stabler being seen. Stabler then informs Bell and Brewster about the murders at the warehouse and the alliance between the K-O and the Marcy Killers. Bell tells Stabler and Brewster that she wants to flip Nova. Later, Stabler and Reggie meet with Albi at a burnt down bagel shop. Albi wants Stabler to determine whether the fire was lit on purpose or accidental. While Stabler investigated the fire, Albi became impatient and murdered the bagel shop owner. Stabler then met with Bell at the church where he confessed that he feels responsible for the bagel shop owners death. Later, after Bernadette gets arrested for slapping a child, Bernadette yells out that she wants to see Stabler. Bell then releases Bernadette from her cell before taking her to the precinct. Stabler then reunites with Bernadette but Bernadette doesn't recognise Stabler because of the beard but Stabler tells Bernadette who he is. Bernadette then claims that Stabler never visited her before realising that Kathy was murdered. Bernadette then thinks that Benson is the woman who died but Stabler doesn't correct her. Stabler takes Bernadette home where Kathleen and Eli think it's a good idea for her to move in with them to which Stabler agrees to. Later, Stabler and Reggie go back to the diner where a man walks in and claims that he knows Stabler. However, the restaurant gets shot up and Stabler rescues Rita from being shot. Later, Stabler attends dinner with the rest of the K-O before Stabler gets poisoned after kissing a woman. Stabler then leaves the restaurant while under the influence of drugs and shows up at Benson's apartment. (OC: "New World Order")

Stabler arrives at Benson's apartment and asks Benson to let him inside. Benson tells Stabler that she is going to call it in before Stabler tells Benson that he didn't write the letter that he gave her when he reunited with her. Stabler tells Benson that Kathy wrote the letter before Benson read out what was in the letter. Stabler tells Benson that he wrote the last line of the letter before collapsing. Stabler then woke up in Bell's apartment and Denise doesn't seem happy about Stabler sleeping on their couch. Bell hands Stabler his coffee before questioning him about the poisoning. Stabler then receives a call from Albi on the encrypted phone that was given to him. Stabler then meets with Albi at an unknown location and Albi asks Stabler for a favour. Albi asks Stabler to help him cover up a murder by making it look like the man died in a fire. Stabler tells Albi that he has a better idea which was to bury the body in a graveyard where other dead bodies are buried. At the graveyard, the squad arrives and digs out the body while Stabler waits in the car to avoid being seen. Jet then approaches Stabler and gives her the encrypted phone. Later, at the boxing gym, Stabler gets approached by Reggie and tells Reggie that he tried to call him but the phone doesn't work. Reggie tells Stabler that you can only text on the encrypted phones. Stabler then gets called away. Flutura then approaches Stabler while he is in the changing rooms. Flutura then asks Stabler why he wasn't interested in the girl that kissed him last night. Later, Stabler and Reggie go to the diner where Reggie warns Stabler about talking to Flutura. Later, Stabler catches up with Flutura and tells her that he is not celibate or queer he just doesn't want to make an enemy out of Albi. Flutura tells Stabler that Albi doesn't care about what she does. Stabler then questions Flutura about the dead man, Tristan Vucaj. Flutura denies knowing Tristan and claims that Albanian men gossip more than women. Stabler then follows Albi to a gay bar where he spots him sitting there. When Stabler leaves the gay bar, Albi spots him and Albi tells Stabler that he is not gay. Albi then kidnaps Stabler and takes him to the graveyard. Stabler then gets Albi to confess to the murder. Albi confesses to Tristan's murder and Stabler tells Albi that he will keep his secret until the day he dies. (OC: "The Outlaw Eddie Wagner")

At the diner, Stabler gives Rita a copy of The Count of Monte Cristo. Stabler then tells Rita what the book is about and Rita seems interested. Meanwhile, at a hidden poker club, Stabler and Reggie play cards with another group of men. One of the men, Luka, starts becoming hostile towards Stabler and claims that Stabler has a poor judge of character. Stabler then beats Luka at the poker game which embarrasses Luka. At the diner, Stabler asks another waitress, Amelia Shehu, where Rita is and Amelia tells Stabler that Rita called in sick. Luka then starts harassing the waitress about his order before questioning Stabler's loyalty. Stabler then beat up Luka and threatened to kill him before he and Reggie left the diner. Reggie tells Stabler that he shouldn't have beaten up Luka because Luka is engaged to Kosta's eldest daughter, Grace. Later, Reggie approaches Stabler at his van and becomes worried because Kosta wants to meet with Stabler. Stabler tries to calm Reggie down but Reggie wants Stabler to leave so Kosta doesn't kill him. Stabler manages to calm down Reggie. At the precinct, Stabler tells Bell that Kosta wants to meet with him. Bell wants Stabler off the case but Stabler tells Bell that if he doesn't show up then the operation is over. Bell agrees to surveil Stabler during the meeting. Stabler then stops by his house before being approached by Eli. Stabler then hugs Eli and promises Eli that he will try to make it to his next soccer game. Stabler then leaves Benson a voicemail where he tries to confess his love for her but the voicemail cuts off. Later, Stabler meets with Kosta in his office. Kosta tells Stabler that they have been very generous with him and then he beats up Luka. Stabler tells Kosta that he beat up Luka because he questioned his loyalty. Kosta then goes for a walk with Stabler where he tells Stabler that he doesn't care for Luka but if his daughter loves him then he is stuck with Luka. Kosta then orders Stabler to rob a bar to make up for beating up Luka. Later, Stabler meets with Albi who gives him details about the mission. Later, Stabler meets with Flutura at Albi's home and then kisses her. Stabler then spikes Flutura's drink which causes Flutura to pass out. Stabler then searches around their home and discovers the passports of several women and suspects that the K-O might be involved in sex trafficking. Later, Stabler, Reggie and other gang members show up at the bar while the task force surveils Stabler. Stabler and the gang enter the bar with guns in their hands and start holding everyone in the bar hostage. A woman spots Stabler and the gang members enter the bar and calls the police which was spotted by Bell. Stabler then notices a man pull a gun on Stabler and Stabler shoots him before leaving the bar in the van. Brewster then notifies Bell that Stabler was the shooter. Later, Flutura approaches Stabler at his winnebago and starts flirting with Stabler before they kiss. (OC: "For A Few Lekë More")

Stabler fills Benson in on the case and who the players are in the Albanian mob. Later, Benson sees Flutura with the girls and suspects that she is a madam. Later, when Stabler arrives home, Bernadette claims that she is worried about Eli after she thinks he stole all of her pills. Stabler tells her not to worry because he is a good boy. However, Bernadette claims that if he's never home, how would he know. Later, Stabler goes to see another Albanian waitress, Amelia Shehu. Stabler notices that she was beaten up but Amelia refuses to state what happened. Later, Stabler and Bell witness the girls get out of the van but Stabler's favourite waitress, Rita, is still missing. Stabler spots Flutura and they need to get in the house and he goes off without permission again. When Stabler meets with Flutura, he flirts with her to try and get some answers about the trafficking ring. Flutura states that the girls work for her. Stabler. Stabler continues to find Rita and eventually finds her and rescues her from being kidnapped. When Stabler comes home, Benson is there to check up on him. However, when Benson walks into the bathroom after Eli leaves she finds pills on the floor and tells Stabler. (OC: "The Good, The Bad and The Lovely")

Stabler gets stalked by a young man, Louis Chinasky, who claims to be the son of Stabler's undercover persona, Eddie Wagner. When Louis was spotted by Stabler at the gym, Stabler gave him a job as a "spit bucket boy". Later, after learning that Kosta is going to order Reggie Bogdani to murder a political candidate, Teddy Garcia, Stabler told Garcia that he was a cop working for Sergeant Bell and asked if anyone was at his home. Garcia told Stabler that his wife was home and rushed to save her. However, Stabler told Reggie that he was following Garcia and he didn't need to shoot anybody. However, Reggie already shot Diana when they arrived, which left Garcia distraught. Later, Louis approached Stabler at his van and claimed that he knows Stabler isn't Eddie Wagner but he wanted to be like him, not like his father. (OC: "Unforgivable")

While Reggie was being interrogated, Stabler revealed his true identity to Reggie. After Reggie heard this, he jumped up and attempted to attack him claiming that he betrayed them. Stabler claims that he did what he had to do. After interrogation, Brewster tells Stabler to push harder on Reggie and Stabler claims that they have one more card to play. Later, Stabler testifies in court that the Kosta Organization has gone to the source so that they can continue their drug trafficking operation. Stabler claims that they are the most dangerous criminal organization in New York and they are responsible for several murders. Later, Stabler is ordered by Albi to assassinate Reggie after believing that he was the rat in the organization. However, Stabler recorded the conversation and showed it to Reggie. (OC: "High Planes Grifter")

Stabler, Bell and Jet continue the search for Albi, Kosta and Flutura. Later, Stabler reveals his true identity to Kosta, after arresting him, and reveals his identity to Flutura. Flutura claims that she is not mad at Stabler but hurt that he lied to her. Flutura tells Stabler that he will miss the Albanian life and that she could tell that he enjoyed being inside the mob. During a hostage situation, Stabler and Flutura attempt to talk Albi out of killing his boyfriend and Stabler reveals his true identity to Albi. Albi was shocked that Stabler was a cop as he was being arrested. As Flutura is being arrested, she tells Stabler that she hopes he doesn't ever forget her. After arraignment, Bell asks Stabler to shave the beard because his undercover operation was done. (OC: "Ashes to Ashes")

Stabler entered his home looking for Eli, after he disappeared. Stabler then asked Benson for help in finding Eli. Stabler repeatedly kept on calling him but got no answer. Eli was eventually found attempting to jump off a bridge by an officer. Benson and Stabler arrived at the precinct and talked with Eli, who told them about the girl that he found dead when he woke up in her apartment. After finding Eli, Stabler asked Benson about what happened with her after he left. Benson told Stabler about her previous relationships especially Ed Tucker, whom she told Stabler that had died. Stabler told Benson that she was sorry to hear about his death. Stabler then invited Benson and Noah to celebrate christmas with the Stabler family. Benson told Stabler that she will think about it. (OC: "The Christmas Episode")

After cyber criminal escapes from prison, Stabler and Bell were brought in to meet the new specialist the FBI brought in to help them with the case. As Stabler entered the room, he locked eyes with Wheatley who was revealed to be the specialist. After Stabler angrily exited the room, Brewster and Bell caught up to him and Wheatley ended up joining the conversation. Wheatley claims that unlike Stabler he doesn't hold grudges but Stabler claims that he doesn't have a grudge. Stabler orders Wheatley to give him the address where they will meet as needed. Later, Stabler met with Angela at the coffee shop with Angela still pretending to have side-effects from the poisoning. Stabler asked Angela about Sebastian McClane but Angela claimed that she has never heard of him. As he was about to leave, Stabler noted that she faked her situation. (OC: "Nemesis")

After questioning McClane's ex-girlfriend and her mother, Stabler realises that what the mother said is from Wheatley's podcast. Stabler starts to suspect that Wheatley and McClane are working together. Later, Stabler talks to Wheatley over the phone and he tells Governor Garcia that Wheatley and McClane were on the same prison bus but Garcia has no idea what that has to do with anything. Stabler accuses Wheatley of being the mastermind behind the cyber attacks but Garcia does not believe Stabler. Later, after receiving a frightening call from Bernadette, Stabler spots Wheatley outside of his house and threatens to kill him if he comes anywhere near his family. (OC: "As Nottingham Was To Robin Hood")

After McClane and Wheatley escaped from the police at the data center, Stabler and Bell were questioned about what happened that night. Stabler insists that Wheatley was behind McClane's escape and everything else. Later, Stabler asks Cho to get Angela's panties for him to make Wheatley jealous but Cho tells him that she cannot do that. Later, Stabler meets with Angela and pretends to be in love with her, knowing that Wheatley is watching them. Stabler takes her hand to make Wheatley even more jealous. Later, Wheatley kidnaps Angela and demands to know if she was sleeping with Stabler but Angela claims that she was not. Later, Stabler beats up Wheatley in an elevator and shows him the panties which makes him furious. The two continue to fight before Stabler receives a call from Bell who tells him to back off. At the precinct, Stabler was called into Bell's office where she told him that he has been instructed to attend a psych eval. At the psych eval, Dr. Aboud asks Stabler questions about his obsession with Wheatley and they make a deal. Stabler claims that if he loses the deal, he will hand in his gun and badge. (OC: "As Iago Is To Othello")

After hearing about McClane and Wheatley's plan, Stabler went undercover to attend a meeting with several of McClane's followers. Stabler met with a young hacker, Ana Castro, and the leader of the meeting, Brother Bill. McClane appeared on a video screen telling his followers about the next plan which involved bomb threats. After Stabler had a conversation with Ana, the team thought his cover was blown and Stabler was quick on his feet telling McClane's followers that Malachi had sent him. Malachi, being undercover, improvised and and vouched for him. The group lead Stabler to a van full of explosives which they will use in the bomb threats. Later, Stabler arrested Brother Bill for the crimes he committed. Stabler noticed that Ana did not want to be apart of the plan so Stabler let her go. After finding one inactive bomb, Stabler pushed Bill to reveal the locations of the other bombs. Bill told Stabler about the mastermind behind McClane's plan. While on the search for Wheatley, Stabler found McClane bound and in need of medical attention. Stabler and the team arrived at the control center but Wheatley had already disappeared. However, Wheatley left a message for Stabler before causing a blackout which threatened the city. (OC: "As Hubris Is To Oedipus")

As Wheatley televised a list of demands, Wheatley claims that he wants Stabler to pay for what he did to him. After Wheatley demands Richie to be released from prison, Stabler and the team organise Richie's release. After Richie is released, Wheatley murders him with the NYPD watching him. Later, Wheatley orders Stabler to perform penance and Stabler refuses. Wheatley then shoots the cops who are sneaking in and claims that it is Stabler's fault that the power went out at the nursing home. Later, Wheatley demands that Stabler would walk to City Hall while reciting the crimes that he committed and the people that he shot while on the job. The crowd started following it and called Stabler a rogue cop. Wheatley makes Stabler say that he is guilty of using excessive force while everyone is booing Stabler. Wheatley wants Stabler to say that he is guilty of framing an innocent man for Kathy's death but Stabler refuses. As Wheatley gets annoyed, Stabler punches someone and the lights in the city turn back on as Stabler gets into Bell's vehicle. Wheatley then shows Stabler the video of Bernadette being held hostage and calling Stabler for help. Wheatley then tells Stabler that Miles works under his orders and Stabler has Miles arrested. While Wheatley and Angela make their escape, Stabler tells Angela over the phone that Wheatley murdered Richie which resulted in Angela committing suicide by driving the car off the cliff, killing herself and Wheatley. After Wheatley and Angela's death, Bell told Stabler that Angela's body was discovered but Wheatley's body was never found. (OC: "...Wheatley Is To Stabler")

While jogging in the park, Stabler meets with Donnelly at a park while he is tying his shoe lace. Donnelly then shows Stabler a video of Bell throwing Stabler under the bus. Stabler then approaches Bell and Benson at the precinct and the two get into a heated argument. However, Benson manages to get them to calm down. However, Stabler discovers that Donnelly is taking bribes from the Marcy Killers. Stabler and Benson then have a conversation together and Stabler asks Benson and Noah out to lunch but Benson claims that she doesn't want Noah to get too attached. Later, Donnelly and Stabler have a drink together and discuss Donnelly's family life. That evening, while Donnelly and Stabler were driving together, Donnelly stops the car and asks Stabler to wait for him while he goes into a house. Donnelly then finds a dead drug dealer and Stabler shows up offering to be backup. However, Donnelly hands him a load of stolen drug money. Stabler reports back to Bell who discovers that Donnelly is running a gang outside the NYPD. Later, after introducing Stabler to a friend of his, Webb approaches Donnelly saying that he suspects Donnelly of stealing drug money and Donnelly denies his accusations. Later, after picking up Big Smoke, Stabler and Donnelly are robbed by Hugo and Stabler pretends to go along with it and ends up shooting Flip and Donnelly and Stabler flee the scene. Stabler then gets a gang tattoo on his back under Donnelly's orders. (OC: "Takeover")

Stabler meets with his therapist and claims that he feels like he's betraying cops. Stabler tells his therapist that it is because of his dad, Joseph, who has been deceased for thirty years. Stabler's therapist thinks that Joseph would be proud of Stabler, if he were still alive. Later, while preparing to go undercover again, Jet upgraded Stabler's burner phone. Later, Stabler enters the new precinct where the other cops don't think highly of him, especially Captain Darnell. Darnell puts Stabler on desk duty with thousands of folders of paperwork assigned to him. Later, Stabler, Donnelly and Santos bust into an abandoned warehouse where they come across an abandoned drug lab. They find several bags full of drugs and they stuff them into bags. However, several men carrying weapons approach them and start shooting at them. Donnelly takes one for the team and gets shot in the stomach. After Donnelly was taken to hospital, Stabler pays him a visit and Stabler thanks Donnelly for saving his life. At the precinct, Darnell wants Stabler terminated for refusing to stay on desk duty but the fellow police officers applaud Stabler for his heroic actions. Later, Van Aller picks Stabler up and Van Aller writes down serial numbers despite nerve damage in his hands. Later, Van Aller drops Stabler somewhere and Stabler tries to get Van Aller to talk, earning his trust. Van Aller tells Stabler that nobody could find out about this and confesses to the murder of his lawyer. Van Aller then tells Stabler that he has to call his children and Van Aller commits suicide. Later, Stabler is approached by Donnelly at the bar who tells him a story about how Joseph faked an injury to cover for another dirty cop. (OC: "Guns & Roses")

Stabler meets with the new ADA, Keller Shapiro, who wants Stabler to stop investigating dirty cops. Stabler claims that he is not interested in his opinion. Bell claims that Stabler should wear a wire and that she wants him to flip a member of The Brotherhood. At the Stabler home, Stabler asks Bernadette about the story behind the Combat Cross. Bernadette claims that she doesn't know anything and gets upset. Bernadette claimed that no one trusted her with their secrets especially Joseph when he got suspended. Later, Stabler watches Santos exchange money with another guy and Santos tells Stabler the entire plan to steal diamonds. Stabler then offers to be Santos' wingman. Stabler then reports back to Bell and Jet. Later, Stabler and Santos enter a coffee shop wearing a wire but Santos wants to leave. After leaving the coffee shop, Stabler tries to calm Santos down after sees a ticket on the windshield of his car. Bell listens in on Stabler and Santos' conversation in the car and Donnelly then enters. Later, Santos meets with guy named Clifton Hurley, who has a heart condition and feeling nauseous, while he and Stabler break into his briefcase. Later, Stabler reunites with his former boss, Cragen, while looking for answers about his father. Cragen tells Stabler that he did not know his father very well but he says that Joseph was a tough man in a tough situation. Cragen suggests that maybe Joseph gave Stabler a medal to tell him to be a better cop than he was. (OC: "Can't Knock The Hustle")

At Donnelly's barbecue, Stabler asked Bridget about how her and Donnelly met. Bridget told Stabler that she was his girlfriend before they got married. Inside the house, the crew started talking about Santos' arrest and became worried that Santos will rat them out. Parnell then started to become suspicious of Stabler due to the fact that they were never getting this much heat before he showed up. Donnelly told them that Stabler might be Donnelly's replacement in the future. Webb then called Donnelly and Stabler to come meet him at the warehouse. Stabler and Donnelly met with Webb at the warehouse where Webb told them that somebody stole a shipment of weapons and stole a sculpture from his wife. Webb then asked Donnelly and Stabler to investigate and find out who stole the shipment. Stabler agreed to investigate in exchange for fifty thousand dollars. Stabler then barged into Cassandra's office to discuss the missing shipment. Cassandra told Stabler that she doesn't get involved with Webb's dealings and started flirting with him. Donnelly and Stabler then broke into the shipper's home to pressure him into giving them information about the stolen shipment. The shipper told Stabler and Donnelly that he switched to a new security company with connections to port authority. Stabler and Donnelly started to suspect that the port authority officer stole the shipment. Later, Stabler and Donnelly surveilled the port authority officer, Harkins, at a motel. Stabler and Donnelly broke in demanding to know about where the shipment was. Harkins punched Stabler and Donnelly shot him, giving him a flesh wound. Donnelly then threatened Harkins and Stabler stopped him for more information. They both found out that Harkins was working under the orders of another man, Victor Braden. Later, at the precinct, Stabler spoke with Santos in private while he was in a holding cell. Stabler encouraged Santos to give up Donnelly. When Stabler arrived at Braden's warehouse, Donnelly called Stabler and backed out. Stabler decided to meet with Braden alone. Stabler then got into a fist fight with Donnelly before gunshots were fired and Braden was arrested by the task force. Stabler then went to meet with Donnelly but saw Bridget going into labor and rushed her to the hospital. Donnelly then thanked Stabler at the hospital and insisted on hugging him. Later, Stabler visited Webb with disappointing news about how his guns were confiscated. Webb became disappointed with Stabler and Donnelly's detective work and told him that he deals with him from now on. (OC: "Change The Game")

After Stabler agrees to do business with Webb, Webb meets with Stabler and assigns him to find his stolen money. Stabler meets with Donnelly and tells him that Webb had reached out to him and assigned him to find stolen money. Donnelly claims that it will be a long haul. Stabler asks Webb for one million dollars to do the mission and takes photographs. While Stabler and Donnelly attempt to see Rutger Ulrich, the Organized Crime Control Bureau and Donnelly's team surveil them. Stabler and Donnelly manage to get in to see Ulrich but Ulrich becomes insulted. Stabler and Donnelly tell Ulrich that the money comes from Webb and Stabler notifies Webb that Ulrich has agreed to make a deal. Stabler tells The Brotherhood about a concealed room in the money launderer's house and they can break in with Malachi's help. With Malachi's assistance, Stabler manages to break into the money launderer's residence while Malachi and Donnelly try to find the concealed room. When Stabler finds a button underneath a desk which opens the doors, Malachi attempts to blowtorch the doors. After the alarm goes off, Stabler tells Malachi to stop blowtorching before the security guard walks in. The security guard sees nothing in the concealed room while Stabler and Malachi lie against the wall. After the security guard leaves, Malachi continues to blowtorch the door. When they get into the concealed room, Stabler, Donnelly and Malachi find nothing but $700. Stabler has suspicions that Ulrich might be after them. After the cops run a credit card used to rent a stolen van used for the robbery, Stabler realises that the data shows that he rented the van and notices that he is being set up. Stabler talks to Donnelly about him being set up. Donnelly claims that Webb will kill them both if they found out that they were involved in the robbery. Stabler tells Donnelly that he doesn't want to keep hiding from Webb but Donnelly does. Stabler then explains to Webb what happened with the money and Webb tells Stabler that he has been stolen three times and that he is losing his patience. Later, Stabler talks with his dad's old partner, Gus Hansen, and shows him the home videos. Hansen asks Stabler why he is at his residence and Stabler asks him about the Combat Cross. Hansen claims that Donnelly's father, Jack, was bad and Stabler pushes Hansen for more information. Hansen claims that the shooting his father committed was a good shooting and becomes defensive. Stabler tells Hansen that he meant no disrespect and leaves. (OC: "Dead Presidents")

Stabler and Bell get approached by Benson who notifies them about Sara Santos’ kidnapping. Stabler agrees to work with Benson and her team on the case. After Benson shows Stabler and the team footage of Sara Santos’ kidnapping, Stabler tells Benson that he will discuss the case with Donnelly to see if he has any involvement. Stabler and Benson then question Rosaria about Sara’s kidnapping and Rosaria started accusing Stabler of poisoning her family and taking her husband away from her. After a new suspect was arrested, Stabler and Benson interrogate him who then gives them the details of another man that Jessie Santos got into a fight with. Stabler approaches Santos in prison who becomes devastated after hearing about Sara’s kidnapping. Stabler then asks Santos who got into a fight with him outside Sara’s school and Santos tells Stabler that it’s not important. Santos then asks Stabler if Donnelly has anything to do with Sara’s kidnapping before Stabler leaves the prison. Stabler meets with Donnelly at his home and informs him about Sara’s kidnapping. Stabler then tells Donnelly that he’s working with Benson on the case and the two start discussing more about the case before getting approached by Bridget. Donnelly and Bridget then reveal to Stabler that they named their new child after Stabler. Stabler tells Donnelly that he’s honoured. When Stabler leaves the Donnelly home, Stabler plants a bug on the tire of Donnelly’s car. Stabler and Benson then discuss Donnelly in the car and Stabler tells Benson that Donnelly named his child after him which shocked Benson. Stabler also tells Benson that he thinks his father staged a shooting while he was on the job before discovering that Donnelly was going to meet with Rosaria at their home. Stabler and Benson then approach Rosaria about why Donnelly was at their home and Rosaria tells them that Donnelly gave her the money to help pay off the kidnapper that took Sara. After Bell and the team focus on another suspect, Stabler manages to discover the location where Sara was being held hostage. Stabler and Benson then break into a home where they thought Sara was being held hostage. Stabler and Benson then arrested a guy at the scene named Eddie Alvarez and demanded answers from him. When Eddie tries to get away, Stabler attacks him and arrests him. Stabler and Benson then find Sara trapped behind a door and Benson gives Sara her inhaler. After discovering Sara, Stabler gets shot at by a suspect before shooting him and then arresting him. In the car, Benson and Stabler discuss Stabler’s thoughts on working an SVU case again before being approached by Donnelly. Later, Stabler meets with Bell and Jet at the precinct who revealed to Stabler that Donnelly had set Stabler up after he robbed money from Rutger Ulrich. (OC: “Lost One”)

After discovering bullets in a tree, Stabler asks Jet for help. Jet claims that she has a friend in Ballistics who she can ask to help them. However, Bell interrupts them and Nova tells Stabler that Webb had ordered a hit on him. Jet then hugs Stabler claiming that she feels uneasy about the hit ordered on Stabler. Stabler tells Jet that he is not planning on going anywhere. The squad then discusses why Webb ordered a hit on Stabler. Stabler then talks to Donnelly privately and questions Donnelly about robbing Ulrich. Donnelly claimed that he bribed the head of security in case that there was no money in the concealed room. Stabler then asks Donnelly who used his credit card to purchase a rental van used in robbing Ulrich. Donnelly claims that Raymond Moss purchased the rental van. Eli then calls and tells Stabler that Bernadette is having an episode and that he is worried about her. Stabler tells Eli that he wants to speak with Kathleen. Bernadette then grabs the phone but someone starts shooting at Stabler. The task force then checks in with Stabler and Stabler tells Bernadette that he is fine. After the shooting, Stabler bursts in Webb's office while he is asking Nova and Hugo to deliver a message to Kilbride. Stabler asks Webb to cancel the hit because he knows that Webb thinks Stabler took his money from Ulrich. Webb denies committing the shooting and then tells Stabler that he is running out of time. Jet tells Stabler that she has a lead on who might have shot at Stabler which turns out to be a professional assassin who murdered several people. Donnelly then announces to Stabler and The Brotherhood that he is stepping down as the leader of The Brotherhood and leaving Stabler in charge. Stabler and the rest of The Brotherhood object but Donnelly refuses to listen to them. Later, Jet calls Stabler and tells him that his assassin is actually a woman. Stabler arrives at an address sent to him by Jet and uses his phone to open her door. Stabler then discovers a bunch of photographs of Eli in school and Kathleen walking out of her building. Stabler then chases down a woman named Natalie but he loses her. Jet then discovers Natalie's whereabouts and Stabler chases after her again but loses her. Later, Stabler breaks into a room where Natalie is waiting for him. Stabler and Natalie then get into a fight before Stabler knocks Natalie out and Natalie is taken into custody. Stabler questions Natalie and insists that she cooperates with the investigation. Later, Stabler discovers from Jet that Gus Hanson shot his father in the leg to cover up a shooting which shocked Stabler. (OC: "Streets Is Watching")

After finding out that Hanson and Joseph staged a shooting, Stabler talks about the shooting with Hanson. Hanson denies filing off serial numbers off guns despite the evidence proving that he did. After Stabler leaves, Hanson calls Donnelly and tells Donnelly that Stabler has been working undercover to investigate him and The Brotherhood. Donnelly then gathers everyone at the bar and tells them that Stabler has been working undercover. Donnelly then orders Parnell and Bolton to assassinate Stabler. When Stabler meets with Donnelly, Donnelly tells Stabler that he wants to speak with him. Donnelly tells Stabler that they are going to deal with Webb and Donnelly asks Stabler how he is enjoying the experience of being leader of The Brotherhood. Donnelly tells Stabler that he entrusted him with the closest thing to his heart. Stabler then calls Bell and Stabler tells Bell that Donnelly is trying to find Webb and that he has taken up his offer on finding him. Bell then tells Stabler that she got a judge to sign off the warrant to arrest Kilbride and Stabler congratulates Bell. Later, Donnelly calls Stabler and tells him that he has a location on Webb and gives Stabler the address. When Stabler arrives at the address, Donnelly is waiting for him. Parnell and Bolton then come out of the hallway with guns and surround Stabler, leading to a gunfight between them. Stabler then manages to escape by jumping out of a window but ends up getting shot by Parnell. Luckily, Stabler was wearing a bulletproof vest which protected him from the gunshots. Bell arrives and finds Stabler and Stabler tells Bell that he realises they think he got killed. Later, Stabler ends up attacking one of the cops who assaulted him earlier and he demands answers threatening to call someone. Stabler then beats up Bolton, who ends up getting arrested along with the rest of The Brotherhood. Later, Stabler goes to visit Bridget who becomes worried after Donnelly disappeared without warning. Bell then calls Stabler and tells him that Webb was found dead at the bottom of a canal. Later, Stabler notifies Jet that Bridget wants to be the bait to lure out Donnelly and he discovers that Bridget is in a facility with travel medicine. Bridget then starts yelling at Stabler telling him that Donnelly had told her everything. Stabler then ends up chasing Donnelly without backup. Donnelly then abandons his car and Stabler starts yelling out to Donnelly while he hides around the corner. Stabler tries to convince Donnelly to surrender but Donnelly refuses to allow Stabler to arrest him claiming that Stabler broke his heart. Donnelly then stands on the tracks while a train is coming and ends up getting hit. At the 37th precinct, Stabler is packing his belongings when Bell calls and tells him that he will be awarded the Combat Cross. Later, Stabler visited Hector Serrano and informed him that Joseph and Hanson framed his son several years ago. (OC: "Friend Or Foe")

### Season 3

After Cosgrove threatens Mark Sirenko, Stabler becomes furious with Cosgrove due to his actions risking the case against Sirenko. Stabler then becomes calm and tries to focus more on catching Sirenko. Stabler and Bell explain that Sirenko is deeply involved in a drug trafficking ring which is involved in serious criminal activity. Stabler and Bell then tell Cosgrove and Shaw that they want to continue investigating before bringing Sirenko in. Cosgrove then tries to make Stabler feel guilty by telling them that he thought Stabler would be more passionate about this case. Bell tells Cosgrove that it’s Stabler’s call. Stabler then meets with his criminal informant and asks him to clone Sirenko’s phone in a bid for the NYPD to get evidence about the murder. The informant manages to clone Sirenko’s phone and Stabler hands the cloning device to Jet. Jet downloads surveillance footage from the phone which shows Sirenko and another man with Ava and another woman on the yacht. After discovering that Ava’s pimp was a woman, Stabler, Cosgrove and a SWAT team raid the female pimp’s home. Cosgrove then gets charged by a woman with a knife but he disarms her and tells all the other cops not to shoot. Cosgrove then cuffs the woman and takes her into custody. (OC: “Gimme Shelter”)

After Henry Cole was murdered, Teddy called Stabler to inform him about Henry's death and his cause of death. As a result, Stabler asked Bell to press charges against the Silas family for murder. As a result, Bell partnered Stabler up with Whelan, who just joined the task force. Whelan reminded Stabler of himself and took a ride with Whelan to get to know him better. Stabler and Whelan canvas Henry's apartment but a uniformed officer became hostile towards Stabler and called him a rat. Whelan attempted to stand up for Stabler but Stabler told Whelan that he didn't need anyone to fight his battles for him. Whelan then told Stabler that he was the reason that he joined the task force. Stabler and Whelan then went outside. However, Stabler and Whelan were nearly hit by some cables that went loose. A foreman warned Stabler and Whelan that construction sites were a dangerous place. Stabler then visited the M.E. who informed Stabler that Henry's death was accidental but Stabler discovered a possible rat bite. Stabler asked the M.E. to delay the report on Henry's death pending toxicology. Jet recommended that Stabler would have the ME send him a sample of his tissue to rat experts. However, the rat experts determined that the rat that bit Henry was a foreign rodent from the Bronx. Later, Bell returned from meeting Denise and confronted Stabler on opening a murder investigation against the Silas family. Bell told Stabler that dealing with the casino was too political. However, Stabler and Bell got a hit on the store that sold the poisonous rodents. While driving to the pet store, Stabler and Bell had a discussion on being bad spouses. When they arrived at the store, the store owner gave Stabler and Bell a lead to the rat buyer. Later, Stabler and Bell got a possible location on the rat buyer who turned out to be a man named Kenny Kyle. However, the team missed Kenny because he was taken to the hospital after being bitten by a rat. Just as Stabler and Bell were about to question Kenny, Kenny escaped from the hospital and went to Teddy's nightclub. Stabler and the team moved in to surveil Kenny but Kenny saw the team and fled the nightclub. Kenny then stole a woman's car before attempting to run over Stabler but Stabler managed to dodge the car. (OC: "Everybody Knows The Dice Are Loaded")

While the team searches for Kenny, Stabler and Bell approached Teddy, Pearl and Bishop to see if they know or heard from Kenny. Teddy, Pearl and Bishop all deny knowing Kenny before Stabler and Teddy exchange a few words. However, Reyes informed Stabler and Bell that the police found $20,000 of payoff money in the club before receiving a sighting of Kenny. Later, Stabler and the rest of the team discovered that Kenny had called the police which led them to meeting with Buatsi. Buatsi told them that Kenny had visited him and assaulted him. Buatsi also told them that Kenny would die soon due to him being exposed to rat poison. Later, Stabler and Whelan met with Dede who was a close friend of Kenny. Dede told Stabler and Whelan that she and Kenny got into an argument and that she doesn't want to be around Kenny anymore. Dede also told Stabler and Whelan that Kenny should go to jail for his wrongdoings. Stabler and Whelan realise that Dede wasn't telling the truth about Kenny. Stabler and Whelan then tracked her cell phone records and they saw the moment that Kenny called Dede. Stabler and Whelan discovered that Dede was going to meet with Kenny. After Dede met with Kenny, Stabler and Whelan arrived at Dede's home and discovered two hitmen lying dead on the floor before discovering Dede's dead body. Stabler discovered that Kenny stole another car and was heading towards the Canadian border. Eventually, Kenny was arrested by Bell and Reyes and the infant he kidnapped was given back to her mother. Later, Stabler learned that the police officer that Kenny maimed died from his injuries which infuriated Stabler. (OC: "Catch Me If You Can")

After Kenny assaulted a guard and got tossed into the infirmary, Stabler was sitting next to Kenny when he woke up. Stabler continuously tried to get information from Kenny about who hired him to kill Henry. However, Kenny refused to speak to the police claiming that he'd rather be in prison. In order to extract information from Kenny, Reyes offered to go undercover at the prison as an inmate. Bell accepted Reyes' offer and allowed him to go undercover. Later, after Reyes gets stabbed in prison, Stabler and Bell visit Reyes. Reyes tried to convince Bell to let him continue the mission but Bell told Reyes that she doesn't want to lose another undercover. When Bell left the room, Stabler told Reyes to keep pressing Kenny but only after he initiated the contact. Later, Stabler visited Kenny in the prison. Stabler asked Kenny for the name of the man who ordered him to murder Henry. Kenny told Stabler that Russo had ordered him to kill Henry. Stabler then visited the FBI to get more intel on Russo and they brokered a deal to share the bust. Stabler, the task force and the FBI tailed Russo to the airport. Russo noticed Stabler and the team and then drove off. Russo was cornered and Stabler repeatedly yelled for Russo to get out of the car. Russo got out of the car and pointed his gun at the police. Stabler then shot and killed Russo to prevent Russo from shooting them. After Russo died, Stabler and the team raided Russo's residence where they found a photo of him and Dede. Stabler and the team continued to investigate until they found a connection between Russo, Bishop, Kenny and Dede. Later, Teddy and Pearl met with Stabler where they told him that Bishop was responsible for Henry's death. Stabler tried to get Teddy and Pearl to confess to knowing Kenny but they still denied knowing him. Stabler and Whelan then visited Bishop's home where he grabbed his gun before opening the door. Bishop then ran past Stabler and Whelan to run into the bathroom where he held a gun to his head. Stabler tried to talk Bishop out of it but Bishop shot himself in the head. After Bishop's death, Stabler met with Pearl at the construction site where he gave her a proposition to work as an informant to spy on Teddy, Robert and the rest of the family. (OC: "Spirit In The Sky")

At the church, Stabler prays while reliving the experience where he witnessed Donnelly commit suicide. Stabler confesses that he feels responsible for Donnelly's death and he crosses himself and then leaves. A priest then takes a photo of Stabler to prove that he was in the church. The priest then tells Stabler that he is trending on Twitter. Stabler tells the priest that he wants God's backup. After testifying against The Brotherhood, Stabler confronts some reporters who want to know why he is judging his fellow cops. Later, Rollins calls Stabler to help investigate the attack of a family. Rollins tells Stabler that the mother and the daughter were raped and she thinks that The Brotherhood is involved. Stabler then questions the mother who tells them that the attackers wore masks and didn't have badges. The woman also tells Stabler and Rollins that she tried to save her daughter but they beat her and made her watch. Stabler promises her that he will do everything he can to take them down. Stabler and Whelan then go to the house where the attack happened. A man inside is seen waving a knife and tells Stabler that he isn't going to do this again before calling him a rat. The man ends up dropping the knife. Stabler and Bell then question Gabriel, the man with the knife. Gabriel claims that he didn't see anything and won't become a rat. Stabler then attempts to get up and leave but Gabriel tells him that the perp had blue eyes but doesn't know anything else. Later, Stabler and the task force arrive at a crime scene where a woman was murdered. They find an earring but they can't seem to understand why the girl was shot and not raped. The brother of the girl gets really upset and tells them that the guy in charge had blue eyes and shot his sister while fighting with another perp. After Manny Rivera gets identified as a suspect, Stabler and Bell go to Manny's last known address where they find out that Manny wasn't there but was a foster child from a man who lives there. The man then tells Stabler that he doesn't know anything else but Stabler believes that the man is covering for Manny. Rollins and Stabler then bring Maria an array of mug shots where the daughter identifies her rapist. Stabler and Bell then set up a sting operation to catch Manny in the act. Jet then flirts with Manny while Stabler and Bell nervously watch her. Manny then invites Jet to a party the next evening while Stabler and the rest of the team listen in on a phone call where Manny says they have one last raid to do that night. During that raid, Manny gets arrested but Dante ends up getting shot. Bell interrogates Manny where Manny wants his lawyer but Stabler tries to stop him from calling his lawyer which annoys him. (OC: "Behind Blue Eyes")

Stabler and the task force search Vaughn's mansion but Vaughn is nowhere to be found. However, after Vaughn calls Reyes, Vaughn mentions that he is going to start killing cops out of revenge for Stabler shooting Dante. Stabler then discovers a bomb in one of the closets and evacuates everyone out of the mansion. When Stabler and the team evacuate the mansion, Stabler notices that there is a bomb inside the car which is parked. Stabler and the team duck as the bomb goes off. After the explosion, Stabler makes sure that everyone is okay especially Jet who seems traumatised. Later, Stabler asks Jet to look into Vaughn's connection with the NYPD and Jet also tells Stabler that she couldn't trace the phone call made by Vaughn earlier which means she nearly died for nothing. After Vaughn shoots two police officers, Stabler tells Bell that there was an ambush and Whelan informs them that uniforms are going business to business to see if there are cameras to get information. Later, after Paul Fink is identified as a suspect in connection with Vaughn, Stabler and Whelan approach Paul who runs away from them and attempts to attack them. Stabler and Whelan arrest Paul but Paul refuses to talk to them. However, Whelan manages to get a name out of him which is Nate Reynolds. Later, after Nate denies knowing Paul or Vaughn, Stabler tells Whelan to share his hunches. Whelan tells Stabler that Nate is lying to them. Stabler then calls Bell and claims that he wants to do something but Bell tells Stabler to give her five minutes so she can talk to IAB about Nate. Stabler then starts to follow Nate around and watches him from a car. Stabler tells Whelan to record what Nate does next which was dumping gear in a dumpster. Later, Stabler and Whelan see someone who looks like Vaughn pull up but it turns out to be a kid who started freaking out, claiming that a man bribed him to park there. Stabler then manages to find Vaughn after shooting occurs. Stabler and Whelan run after Vaughn while Stabler calls for backup. Vaughn shoots at Stabler and Whelan and Whelan almost gets hit. Eventually, Vaughn ends up getting shot and gets arrested by police. After Dante dies and Vaughn gets imprisoned, Bell commends Stabler on his hard work during their case. Stabler tells Bell that he couldn't have done it without Whelan. Stabler then takes a bottle of booze out of his drawer for emergencies before Pearl calls and tells Stabler that she has important information. (OC: "Blaze Of Glory")

While investigating an illegal jewellery operation, Stabler follows Leonetti after she receives a bag from a jeweller. Leonetti then spots that police are after her and Stabler and the team chase after her. Stabler then tackles Leonetti to the ground before they recognize each other while the jeweller, Jay, gets arrested. At the precinct, Bell questions Stabler about Leonetti and Stabler tells Bell that they used to work racketeering cases together in Italy. Bell tells Stabler that she should have checked in to avoid confusion before Bell informs Stabler that Abramov is in town for another 48 hours. While Jay is being interrogated, Stabler tells Jay that bail would be a bad thing since Abramov knows Jay was arrested. Jay tries to deny everything about that jewellery operation but Stabler tells Jay to give him names or else he gets killed. A few moments later, Leonetti shows up at Stabler's house where they talk about Stabler's family life and Kathy's death. Leonetti then tells Stabler that they were special together before telling him that she has surveillance footage and addresses. Stabler then asks Leonetti what she is really doing in the United States. Leonetti tells Stabler that she investigated Abramov two years ago but he ended up murdering his wife and children so the case fell apart. While Reyes practices with Leonetti for a mission, Stabler and Bell discuss Leonetti. Stabler tells Bell that Leonetti is good police but Bell claims that she went rogue. Stabler explains that when he was in Italy, he didn't want to do the job anymore and she helped him. While Reyes meets Abramov, Stabler, Leonetti and the task force surveil him. Stabler then starts to think that Reyes is pushing too hard. When Reyes leaves, Stabler tells him that he almost got made. Later, Stabler and the task force search a warehouse where Stabler finds a skull filled with gold. A few moments later, Stabler and Leonetti question the ambassador due to their suspicions of the embassy's involvement. The ambassador then tells Stabler and Leonetti to leave. Stabler and Leonetti then discover that Abramov is going to be getting on a plane soon and they rush to the airport. Stabler then spots Abramov and tells his people to move. While Abramov is yelling at some guy on the phone in Hebrew, Abramov's henchmen tells him about Stabler and Abramov attempts to move before a massive shootout takes place. Stabler ends up arresting Abramov and taking him into custody. A few moments later, Leonetti calls Stabler and tells him that she can't sleep before saying that it felt good to work with him again. Leonetti also tells Stabler that she doesn't want to go back and deal with what's waiting at home for her. Leonetti then tells Stabler that she could use a drink and that she is outside his door. (OC: "All That Glitters")

Stabler invited Leonetti into his apartment where he gave Leonetti his bed while he slept on the couch. Stabler was given the opportunity to sleep with Leonetti but ended up turning it down. Stabler also told Leonetti that he was in love with someone else. Leonetti took the hint and told him that she would fly back to Italy. Leonetti also wished Stabler luck with the woman that he was in love with. However, Stabler received a phone call before he could say goodbye to Leonetti where he was informed that Pearl collapsed at an event. Stabler became suspicious about Pearl's illness and became convinced that Teddy and Robert did something to her. Stabler informed Bell about Pearl's mysterious illness which Bell found suspicious too. However, Bell told Stabler that he can't open any new cases and that he should hand the case over to another precinct. Stabler believed that something was up with Bell but he continued digging deeper into Pearl's mysterious illness. Stabler visited Pearl at the hospital where he was told by the doctor that Pearl had been drugged. Stabler then ran into Teddy who was sitting next to Pearl's bedside. Teddy told Stabler that Pearl had been drugged and that he should investigate who drugged her. Stabler became suspicious about Teddy and believe that he drugged her. However, Stabler kept digging deeper into Pearl's situation. Stabler believed that Pearl could have been drugged at the club and checked security cameras but discovered that someone had wiped the hard drive of the security cameras. However, Stabler and the team traced the wipe to a guy who was running a date-rape drug ring where he would drug celebrities and have his girlfriend film them and then send those videos to people at TMZ. Stabler then checked the fan videos of the people outside and was able to determine whether or not Pearl was drugged by checking out her scarf. Stabler found out that Pearl's scarf was laced with the belladonna plant, which was extremely deadly. After Pearl woke up at the hospital, Stabler visited her and told her that she was drugged which frightened Pearl, causing her to go into hiding. Stabler quickly found Pearl and asked her what she remembers about the night she was drugged. Pearl told Stabler that everything was normal and that she had her suspicions on who might have drugged her but couldn't prove it. Stabler managed to find a connection between the mob, the Russians and the belladonna plant causing him to ask Leonetti for assistance. Stabler and Leonetti managed to bring in Pearl's poisoner, Luca. However, after Luca quickly lawyered up, Stabler discovered that Teddy had the same attorney as Luca. Stabler decided to confront Teddy about his discovery and went to his apartment. Stabler questioned Teddy about Luca and how they had the same attorney. However, Robert interrupted their conversation and told Stabler that Teddy wasn't speaking to him without an attorney present. Robert also threatened to call the commissioner on Stabler if he doesn't stand down. Stabler ended up backing away and left the apartment. Before Stabler could get answers from Luca, Teddy brutally beat Luca with a baseball bat but was found by Stabler. After Teddy was taken into custody, Luca revealed that Robert ordered him to drug Pearl before Luca dies from the injuries. A few moments later, Stabler meets with Teddy in prison where he asks him about Robert's whereabouts. Teddy refuses to tell Stabler where Robert might be hiding. At the precinct, Bell revealed to Stabler and the task force that Goldfarb was shutting down the task force but Stabler tells Bell that he already knew and expressed anger towards her for not telling them about it. (OC: "Whipping Post")

When Stabler enters the precinct, Stabler gets into an argument with Bell which gets heard by the whole task force. Meanwhile, Robert's lawyer shows up and says that Robert will agree to cooperate if Teddy gets released. After Robert requests to meet, Bell claims that she wants another team to take the lead since the OCCB is being shut down which Stabler doesn't approve of. Bell then admits to Stabler that she doesn't want the new job and she doesn't know who she is now that Denise is out of her life. Stabler understands Bell's point of view and claims that he felt the same way since Kathy's death. Later, Stabler meets with Robert who claims that all men choose between being a good father and husband or good at their job. Stabler tells Robert that Pearl was pregnant. After a man disguised as an ADA attempts to get in the way of the meeting with Robert, Stabler gets fooled by the guy before Bell manages to stop him. Bell runs after the fake ADA but ends up tripping and injuring herself. Bell manages to limp upstairs while Stabler whispers for Robert to hide. Stabler then ends up getting into a shooting with the fake ADA before Stabler and Bell get prepared to leave. The fake ADA ends up running out of bullets and attempts to attack Stabler with a fire extinguisher. The fake ADA then shoots at Jet while Reyes chases after him. Stabler then ends up shooting the fake ADA and he falls out of a window. After the fake ADA dies, Stabler tries to get a signal so Robert can escape. Meanwhile, Stabler and Robert get involved in a drive-by shooting and Whelan ends up getting hit. Stabler believes that they won't get past all the men and they barricade the door and look at cameras to find Whelan. Stabler then sneaks into a small space where he finds Whelan and they all go out together while Jet watches them on the screens. However, ADA Sanders ends up getting kidnapped for ransom. Stabler meets with Reyes on the roof where they get no signal and Stabler throws his phone away. When Whelan accuses Robert of setting them up, Stabler informs them that they do not negotiate with terrorists. While Sanders has a gun to his head, Stabler whispers their next plan to Bell. Stabler pretends to exchange Robert for Sanders which frightens Robert. However, Stabler tricks them which causes more shooting. Stabler and the team run to the control room where they have to barricade until the bad guys break through. Eventually, the shooters surrender and get arrested for their crimes. Meanwhile, Robert gets arrested and claims that he wanted to stay alive for his grandson. (OC: "Last Christmas")

After shooting Polson whilst meeting with Robert, Stabler has been instructed to attend counselling due to him opening fire on a suspect. Stabler then goes to see the psychiatrist who tries to get him to explain why he wants to go back to work but Stabler doesn't seem interested. The psychiatrist then gave up and gave Stabler his card in case he ever wants to contact him again. Stabler then gets a phone call from Tino, his informant, who wants Stabler to meet him in jail. Stabler meets with Tino. Tino tells Stabler that he was watching races and some guy paid him to run an interference with the cops even though he knew the guy who paid him is dealing drugs. Tino then tells Stabler that they kidnapped his wife and he needs Stabler's help to find him. At the precinct, after meeting with the new deputy inspector, Stabler introduces Reyes to his contact. After Bell and Jet discovered that Tino's wife is being moved in the South Bronx, Stabler and Whelan catch the guy who wanted Tino's wife murdered but they don't find her in the car. Later, after Reyes infiltrates a football game, Stabler confronts the coach about illegal activity but the coach denies doing anything illegal. The coach tells Stabler that he does work on the cars of street racers but doesn't ask any questions. Stabler calls Whelan and tells him that he wants him to go undercover as a street racer to infiltrate a gang due to him being a street car racer in his past. Whelan agrees to go undercover but Bell tells him he has time to prepare. While watching Whelan, Bell and Stabler have a discussion about his therapy. Later, Stabler goes back to the psychiatrist and talks about his feelings. Stabler tells the psychiatrist that he feels like everything is ending all the time and that he lost a close friend and a partner recently. Stabler then gets a phone call and leaves the session. After Whelan starts his undercover assignment, Stabler and Bell go in where they see Whelan with a bunch of gang members. Stabler and Bell have Reyes follow while they rescue Tino's wife. Stabler and Bell then quickly overpower and arrest two gang members in the warehouse and rescue Tino's wife. (OC: "Trap")

After Whelan and Reyes get kicked out by the gang, Stabler and Bell confront Whelan where Whelan tells Stabler about the intel that he gathered. Stabler then tells Whelan that he will finish the job. Stabler and Whelan then film a video where Stabler pretends to shoot Whelan. Whelan then becomes pissed that Stabler is not letting him finish the mission. After two detectives from Miami show up, Bell calls Stabler in and Ray tells her that the detectives are there to assist and that he wants Stabler to make them feel welcome. Stabler goes into a bar where he meets Cristobal telling him that he is looking for Antonio Duran. Cristobal denies knowing Duran but Stabler throws money around and claims that he is looking to do business. Cristobal frisks Stabler and Stabler tells him that he took care of Whelan. Duran then asks Stabler how he knows Whelan and Stabler shows him the video claiming that his name is Moretti. Stabler says that he was looking to rip off Duran and that he doesn’t tolerate snitches. Duran then shows Stabler a sculpture before sending him away. Bernanda then tells Duran that she can’t tell if Stabler is who he says he is. Duran tells her that she knows what to do. Stabler calls Bell and updates her as he leaves. Stabler and Bell then notice that he is being followed. Stabler then goes into a parking garage where Bernanda is and she takes photos of him exchanging money to a guy in a hood. After a shooting occurs in Washington Heights, a detective from Miami says that Duran orchestrated it and that Stabler’s friend had gotten shot trying to save his nephew. Esteban gives Stabler Duran’s name claiming that he is ruining the neighbourhood. Duran then calls Stabler and asks to meet him. Duran’s gang then takes Stabler’s phone and keys before he meets Duran. Stabler then met with Duran who told him that he did his research and found nothing on Stabler. When Stabler returns, Bell tells him that the detectives are being iced out and Stabler tells Whelan to keep the detectives occupied. Later, Stabler finds Cristobal after he gets shot and Cristobal tells him that Duran took it out on him when some guys got into it with another gang. The cops then show up and shoot Cristobal during a raid. Stabler gets arrested and gets angry that the Miami detectives interfered claiming that they ruined the operation. Stabler confronts Whelan and Whelan tells Stabler that he made it all about him. Stabler and Whelan argue before Ray shows up and tells them that Duran has gone missing. Stabler then calls everyone into the break room where he says that Cristobal’s phone might tell them where Duran is. Stabler and the team then find a storefront in the Bronx where Duran might be hiding. At the warehouse, Bernanda gets caught as she runs away and becomes shocked to find out that Stabler is a cop. During interrogation, Bernanda refuses to talk and Stabler tells her that she is playing the loyal soldier and that Duran doesn’t feel the same way about her. Whelan then wants to try interrogate Bernanda and starts questioning her. Stabler then becomes impressed with Whelan for his interrogation methods. Later, after Bernanda murders Duran during a sting operation, Stabler tries to compliment Whelan who starts questioning him about his compliment. Whelan tells Stabler that he feels that he humiliated him on purpose. Stabler tells Whelan that they work as a team and Whelan will get his shot again. (OC: “The Infiltration Game”)

Stabler meets Bell outside the courtroom where she asks Stabler about Benson and reads a statement to him asking that Octavio would not get released for her partner's murder. At the parole hearing, Stabler supports Bell before Octavio recants claiming that he did not murder her partner. Octavio then gets removed from the courtroom. Bell then tells Stabler that she always knew something was wrong and she wants to investigate. Later, after discovering that Murphy murdered her partner, Bell gives Stabler notes claiming that she can get Murphy but Stabler tells Bell that Octavio was murdered in prison. Stabler and Bell then brief the team about Murphy and Seamus where they tell the task force that they need to flip one of Murphy's crew members. Later, Stabler is seen getting undressed before getting ready to call Benson. However, Harold shows up and claims that she is investigating Octavio's murder and that she will tell him what she knows. Harold tells Stabler that she knows what he did with The Brotherhood and that Benson speaks highly of him. Stabler tells Harold that he will need to tell his sergeant before she gives him photos of Murphy and the dog. Later, while Jet goes undercover to try to flip Seamus, Stabler works in Teddy's casino room while Seamus keeps his eye on Jet. Stabler then tells Teddy to keep an eye on Jet and Seamus while he asks Whelan for a bottle. Bell then claims that they started talking as soon as Stabler walked away. While Jet continues to flirt with Seamus, Stabler calls her away before Seamus leaves. Stabler then sends Whelan and Reyes after Seamus and end up arresting the buyer that Seamus made the deal with. Bell then tells Stabler that she should have pursued Murphy in the first place instead of Octavio. Stabler told Bell that she did the best she could before Bell told Stabler that she feels bad that Octavio sat behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. Stabler tells Bell that they are going to see this though before Jet shows up and she admits she didn't hate the job. A few moments later, Harold calls Stabler and asks him how opening night at the bar was. Stabler refuses to give Harold any details but she says that Octavio's death was ruled a suicide. Harold warns Stabler to be careful and asks him to keep her in the loop. (OC: "Partners In Crime")

While Jet meets with Seamus, Stabler and Bell watch her nervously. At the precinct, Stabler tells Jet to distract Seamus until the cops arrive at the bar. When Seamus gets into a fight with confidential informants posing as rival gang members, Stabler and Harold look at the footage. Stabler thanks Harold for her help with the case and Harold assures Stabler that she will call in a favour when needed. Stabler tells Harold that he has worked it out with Murphy. Murphy knocks on the door and complains about the cold weather. Murphy enters the bar and tells his dog to stay. Murphy then mentions that the dog does what he tells him and he expects his crew to do the same. Stabler then asks Murphy where he was last night when the rival gang came in. Murphy tells him that he wants 50% of the house but Stabler offers 10, 20 or 25. Stabler tells Murphy to show the neighbourhood who is in charge. Murphy wants the bar cameras gone and the names and social media of everyone who works at the bar. Murphy also wants Stabler to figure out where to find him and bring it to him personally. At the precinct, Stabler tells Jet to reach out to Seamus. When Jet meets with Seamus, Bell takes photos while Stabler listens in. When Jet notices a police academy ring, Bell tells Stabler to be patient before a helicopter passes overhead. At the precinct, Stabler asks Bell to ask Thurman for assistance with the case before Whelan suggests that they try to make a drug deal with Murphy. Later, after the confidential informant backs out of the mission, Murphy appears at the bar and Stabler starts acting submissive towards him. Murphy then leaves and Stabler says that they need to set up a buy with Teddy. (OC: "Punch Drunk")

After Jet gets kidnapped by Seamus, Stabler gets notified about her disappearance and works with the team to try to get her back. Stabler then broke into Murphy's warehouse demanding to know Seamus' whereabouts. Later, Stabler and Bell arrive at the woods where they hear Seamus scream. Seamus continues to talk to Jet before Stabler and Bell show up. Stabler points his gun at Seamus but Jet tries to stop him before Stabler shoots Seamus. At the hospital, Jet becomes worried about Seamus but Stabler and Bell try to get her to talk to someone about the kidnapping. Jet thanks Stabler and Bell but still wants them to pursue Murphy. Thurman then shows up and notifies Stabler and Bell that Teddy has escaped. Thurman then orders Stabler to find Teddy. Later, Stabler and Bell look for evidence to tie Murphy to Darryl's murder and Stabler finds two one way tickets to Santa Fe in Seamus' apartment. Bell then finds a pen gun which was similar to the one used to murder Darryl. Later, after Jet asks Stabler if she can interview Seamus, Stabler claims that she is biased and Bell agrees stating that she has done enough before Stabler starts to agree with Jet. Stabler goes to see Seamus and tells him that Jet didn't want to hurt him. Stabler tells Seamus that they found the pen gun in his apartment and asks why he has it. Seamus told Stabler that it was his insurance and Murphy used to use it but gave it to him for protection. Later, after the task force manages to arrest Murphy, Stabler asks to interrogate Murphy but Bell refuses to allow him. Bell then goes into the room and starts interrogating Murphy. At the task force, Stabler checks in on Bell who claims that Murphy was not afraid. Stabler tells Bell that she needs to get some rest before Thurman enters and says that the FBI is seizing all the OCCB case files of the investigation into Murphy. After Murphy taunted Bell, Bell confronted Murphy at a secret location and pointed her gun at him. Stabler then shows up and manages to convince Bell to lower her gun. Stabler then gives Murphy a dirty look as they exit the area. In the car, Bell admits that she is scared about how close she was to pulling the trigger. Stabler tells Bell that he has her back if she wants to go after Murphy but Bell tells Stabler that she has to let it go. After Seamus gets murdered in prison, Stabler meets with Murphy at a park where he threatens him. (OC: "All In The Game")

After Janelle gets kidnapped and her fiance gets murdered, Stabler realises that Janelle is the daughter of his former marine buddy, David Carver. Stabler then briefs the task force while David briefs the gang. When Bell asks for a real story, Stabler tells Bell that David saved his life while he was overseas before Reyes interrupts claiming that he has a lead. Stabler and Reyes then speak to a prisoner who claims that he's just a prospect and doesn't know much before claiming that Stabler makes him uncomfortable. Stabler then threatens to charge him as an accessory if he doesn't cooperate. Stabler and Whelan then find a trove of guns in a car before some guys show up and they draw guns on each other before revealing that they are ATF. The ATF leader informs Stabler that he is looking into illegal guns printed on a 3D printer that are being distributed to the cartel. Stabler thinks that the cases are connected somehow. Stabler then questions David about selling illegal guns to the rival gang. David confesses that he was paid to sell guns to Grimes but refused after he found out that Grimes was planning on selling the guns to the cartel. David then informs Stabler about Grimes' kill list which includes federal agents and marines but David refused to kill a fellow marine. David then shows Stabler a 3-D printed gun but claims that he doesn't know who the gun manufacturer is. Later, Stabler tells David to call Grimes and make the trade. David then realises that he will be going to prison and that he thought about getting out of this life after Janelle mentioned that she wanted to get married and have children. David then tells Stabler that he's a poor judge of character. Stabler then meets with Grimes who wants the guns or else he will murder Janelle. Grimes then threatens Stabler with a gun. Bell then informs Stabler that they are not giving Julius to Grimes before Whelan suggests that he would pose as the gun manufacturer to make the deal. After the operation begins and Grimes gets ready to release Janelle, La Torres shows up and starts a shootout. Grimes then kidnaps Janelle again and Stabler chases after them as they drive off. The task force then purposely set up an accident, causing Grimes to stop driving. Janelle then gets rescued from Grimes before David attempts to shoot Grimes. Stabler manages to convince David to put the gun down before arresting Grimes. Stabler tells David that he has to take him in and that he will be a character witness if needed. David tells Stabler that they are even now as he is taken into custody. Bell then comes to see Stabler who claims that he is fine. Bell then notices the photos of him and David before Stabler tells Bell that David ghosted him after he went to the academy and that he had heard David got into crime. Stabler mentions that he once saw David in a drunk tank and David yelled that he wasn't his brother anymore. Bell tells Stabler that he did the best he could for David before they make a toast. (OC: "The Wild And The Innocent")

After Jennifer gets shot, Stabler visits Lee but gets bothered by reporters. Lee becomes suspicious of Stabler but tells Stabler that he figured the threats were standard and he reported them to Lin at the 4th precinct. Lee tells Stabler that he was terrified of gangs when he was growing up and decided to take them on as a politician. Lee then insists that he doesn't want a security detail and he and Jennifer wanted to take on the gangs without police. Stabler tells Lee about Kathy's death and understands how he must feel but told Lee that his job is to make sure that he is safe. A few moments later, Stabler and Bell visit Lin who tells them that Lee had a target on his back since he decided to run for office before telling them that they shouldn't assume how things work at the precinct. Later, after Daniel Yao gets arrested for his involvement in the shooting, Stabler goes to visit Quan who didn't tell him that he was replacing his security. Lee tells Stabler that Quan is his biggest campaign donor and tells Stabler that his wife is out of surgery. After Stabler arrests Yuze Zhao, Stabler then questions Yuze who talks to Chang in Chinese. Yuze tells Stabler that he wants to talk to Chang and not to him before Chang tells Stabler that Yuze is doing a bad job at flirting. Yuze tells Stabler and Chang that Daniel didn't tell him how to exit the place and asks to leave. When Stabler refuses to let him leave, Yuze asks for an attorney. When Chang tells Bell about a girl who was trafficked, Stabler and Bell make the discovery that Jennifer was the target all along. Stabler then goes to tell Lee who refuses to believe that she was the target. Lee then tells Stabler that he is dropping out of the race. Stabler and Chang then talk to Jennifer's co-worker who claims that Jennifer is the heart and soul of the place she worked in and doesn't see why anyone would kill Jennifer. However, she mentions that one of the workers had a falling out with Jennifer. After discovering Mei's identity, Stabler visits Lee at the hospital where Lee claims that he is trying to find the right words to use while making an announcement. Stabler then asks Lee about Mei and Lee tells Stabler that Jennifer and Mei were in trouble and forced to leave. Lee then gets Mei's address from Jennifer's phone before the cops find Mei's body. A few moments later, Thurman thanks Lin and Bell shows up claiming that she was supposed to be looped in. Bell finds out that Yuze's prints are on the gun and Thurman claims that it's a win for all of them. Stabler tells Thurman that Yuze was in jail when Mei got shot. Thurman insists that this is final and he wants to acknowledge them. However, Stabler and Bell don't buy it. After Jennifer wakes up, Jennifer thanks Stabler and Bell and Lee tells Stabler and Bell that he will find new ways to serve the community. Stabler and Bell tell Jennifer about Mei's shooting and ask for her help with the case. When Lee tries to stop Jennifer from talking, Jennifer refuses and tells them what she knows especially that Quan was meant to get them safe housing. Quan speaks at a press conference, claiming that Lee has withdrawn and that he will run instead. Stabler then gets a phone call from Jet who tells him that an LLC implicated in human trafficking had made a contribution to Lee's campaign and that Quan was on the board of directors. Stabler then informs Bell and they believe that Quan had ordered Jennifer to be shot. When Stabler asked to speak to Quan, Stabler tells Quan that he knows he is behind the shooting and makes a promise that he will go down for it. (OC: "Chinatown")

After Quan comes under investigation for human trafficking, Stabler goes undercover to make a bust before Wen approaches Stabler with a baseball bat. Wen then attempts to escape from the police but ends up getting arrested. In the cell, Wen refuses to give Stabler his contact's information, claiming that he doesn't trust Stabler. Wen then asks Stabler that if he releases him from custody, he will give him his information. After Wen attempts to attack the contact, Stabler manages to stop him and questions him about making fake passports. Stabler becomes annoyed with Wen who claims that they make a good team. Stabler and Wen then exchange photos of their children before Whelan tips them off. Stabler tells Wen to stay put but Wen doesn't listen and almost gets himself killed. After Quan enters the 4th Precinct, Quan claims that Stabler has been harassing him and when he gets elected, he will put an end to it. Stabler then asks Bell to use Wen as bait in order to catch Quan but Bell becomes hesitant to it at first. Bell claims that Wen hasn't listened to Stabler but Stabler tells Bell that they don't have another choice. Stabler then talks to Wen and tells Wen that they can't afford for Wen to lose his temper again as it will ruin the case. Wen tells Stabler that he gets upset every time he thinks of Bo getting imprisoned and Stabler understands. Stabler then asks Wen about his job as a science teacher before telling Wen that he needs to channel his patience. After Wen loses his temper after a trafficker refuses to give Bo back to Wen, Stabler comforts him and gets him to stop losing his temper. After Bell comes up with an idea to get donated money from Quan, Stabler wires up Wen and then sends Wen into the location while wired up. Wen continuously reports to the cops what is happening while Bell sends Reyes in. Quan then arrives and then calls someone claiming that they have a problem. Quan then tells one of his goons to get everything out and he starts packing up. After Quan gets arrested for his crimes, Stabler claims that he will celebrate when Quan gets convicted. Stabler then meets with Bo and tells him that Wen is a good man who is very stubborn but very brave. Stabler then gets invited to eat out with the task force but declines and eats at home with Eli instead. (OC: "Blood Ties")

After Whelan and Reyes see Paolo running away, Stabler chases after Paolo as well as Dominic who ends up beating Paolo. After Geary loses consciousness in the bar, Bell sends Stabler away to talk to Geary about the attack. Later, after Bell and Jet arrest Dominic, Stabler questions Dominic who tells Stabler that it felt good to get justice. Dominic then tells Stabler that gay men have been drugged, robbed and targeted and the department is ignoring it. After discovering a dozen cases, Stabler claims that nobody realised the cases were connected and Bell tells Stabler that she wants the cases opened since someone is targeting gay people. Later, Bell and Stabler call Geary into the precinct to get him to look at mug shots and help them set up an undercover profile on a dating app. Geary then gets introduced to the task force and assists Jet in setting up a dating profile for Stabler. Geary then starts flirting with Stabler. At the club, Stabler and Bell realise that nobody seems to be taking the bait which upsets Bell. Geary then offers to help Stabler with the mission. At the club, Geary looks around nervously while Stabler goes over to the robbers. Geary then identifies the suspect and sends Reyes in when a suspect asks to dance. While Reyes takes a video, the cops identify Alex and Stabler walks away before a robber drugs his drink. Bell then texts Stabler before one of the robbers recognize Geary before Bell arrests Alex. After Alex's arrest, Stabler and Bell confront Alex about the evidence against him. Alex claims that drugging Stabler's drink doesn't mean that he was planning on attacking him. Stabler then informs Alex that his dad can't help him now. Alex then tells Stabler and Bell that his father owes someone money and Stabler and Bell insist that Alex would tell him. Alex then tells Stabler and Bell that his dad owes money to Frank Moretti. After the cops watch Moretti talking to Alex, Stabler and Bell follow and listen in before learning that Moretti is changing the deal. When Stabler and the task force sneak up to arrest Moretti, Moretti holds Alex hostage and claims that he wants Robert to turn over all five clubs or he will kill Alex. Moretti then ends up getting arrested before telling Alex that he made a big mistake. At the precinct, Bell tells Stabler that Alex will get murder one and a hate crime charge possibly. Stabler tells Bell that they did good and asks Bell if she is okay. Bell tells Stabler that she thinks cases like these are hard and Stabler tells Bell that he won't know how it is for her but he is always here for her. (OC: "Tag:GEN")

At Stabler's home, Stabler makes tea for Bernadette but Bernadette forgets telling Stabler that she asked for tea. Stabler tells Bernadette that he wants Eli to move back home before telling Bernadette that he has to go into the office. Bernadette becomes annoyed that Stabler doesn't trust her to be at home on her own. Stabler then enters the office where he finds Bell in a meeting with Thurman and a counterintelligence officer. Stabler gets briefed that there is an event at the UN and the State Department wants more manpower because of terrorist threats. Stabler then gets assigned to be in charge of transporting a diplomat from India. Stabler then calls Bernadette to tell her that he can't come with her for lunch while Bell informs Stabler that she has to be in court for Jack's custody hearing. Bell then assigns Stabler to handle the assignment until she comes back from court. Stabler then decides to transport the diplomat, Diya Laghari, himself in his car but reporters bother Stabler as he leads Diya to the car. Diya acts rude towards Stabler when he attempts to make small talk but Diya becomes nicer to Stabler when Stabler tells Diya that his only job is to protect her. After the entourage stops at a crosswalk, Stabler instructs them to keep their distance from people before seeing a guy in a black hoodie. Stabler watches as the guy hits a button on his phone and a car in the motorcade explodes but Diya is safe. However, another driver was murdered from the explosion. Stabler instructs Whelan to watch Diya while he chases after the suspect. While Jet interviews witnesses and checks traffic cams, Stabler goes with Diya to the consulate. At the consulate, Stabler talks to the security guard who tells Stabler that he is not invited. Diya insists that Stabler would come in with her. Diya tells Stabler that she has a case she says contains her speech that must be protected with her life before taking a call. Stabler informs the security guard that he's ordering more officers. While Jet talks to the bomb tech, Jet updates Stabler but they are interrupted by Veer saying that Diya will reach out shortly. Stabler tells Jet that he wants to find out where his charge is and hangs up. A few moments later, Stabler finds Diya meeting with Sita in the hospital. Stabler tells Diya that she shouldn't leave without telling him again and questions Sita about why the driver was changed at the last minute. Sita then realises that Diya was meant to be in the car that exploded. Stabler then gets a phone call from Bernadette who tells him that she went for a walk and doesn't know where she is. Jet then arrives at Stabler and runs facial recognition on a suspect. After opening the photo, Bernadette recognizes Russian cigarettes in the man's pocket. Bell calls Stabler and tells him that Whelan and Reyes are questioning the original driver and Stabler reassures Bell that the custody fight will pass eventually. At the squad, Stabler and Bell report that both drivers have died and they are aware the bomb was meant for Diya. Jet gives her report including what Bernadette mentioned. Stabler then talks to Diya who tells her the people that would want her dead but doesn't think they are involved. Diya then tells Stabler that she won't give a name of a suspect without concrete proof. Veer then tells Stabler that he failed to protect Diya when she sneaked off at the hospital. Stabler then grabs Veer by the throat and says she's here and she is alive. After Reyes discovers another possible suspect, Stabler and the task force head to Ivan's home where they find bomb-making equipment. Stabler then enters watching Ivan chop vegetables before he reaches for a gun under the table. Stabler manages to stop Ivan and arrest him. After Jet found a list of names on Ivan's computer, Stabler and Bell stake out at Ivan's usual location before seeing Veer meeting someone in the car. After seeing Leland, Stabler and the task force arrest him. After Veer gets arrested, Diya thanks Stabler for saving her life. Stabler then offers to drive Diya to the airport. In the car, Diya tells Stabler that she doesn't think he thinks Veer represents her country. Stabler then questions Diya about Russia supplying arms to India before suspecting her involvement. After the FBI opens the case, Stabler realises that Veer put the arms in Diya's briefcase without her knowledge. At Stabler's home, Stabler returns home to find Bernadette outside in the yard. Bernadette tells Stabler that she is making a wish on the stars before Stabler provides Bernadette with a list of names of places for her to look at. Bernadette tells Stabler that he's putting her out to pasture but Stabler assures her that he just wants her to be taken care of. Bernadette requests that she would live in a place with walking paths and that her only wish is for Stabler to be happy. (OC: "A Diplomatic Solution")

After Phil McBride gets murdered, Stabler and Bell get called in by McCrary who gives them information about the murder and the victims' connection to several bank robberies. McCrary asks Stabler and Bell to help them figure out the connection and what exactly is going on. Stabler tells Bell that the victims were not criminal masterminds but they were dads and amateurs. After Emily mentions Lloyd, Stabler and the task force look into Lloyd. After having suspicions that Lloyd may be the third bank robber, the task force and McCrary put a team together to investigate Lloyd. Stabler and the task force then follow Lloyd who goes into a fenced area with gloves on, cuts some wires and grabs a duffel bag which he throws in the back of his truck. Stabler tries to stop Lloyd but Lloyd turns on his engine but appears to listen when Stabler forces Lloyd to turn it off. Stabler then arrests Lloyd for robbery but finds nothing in the duffel bag. During questioning, Stabler questions Lloyd about Phil's murder where Lloyd claims that Phil bullied him in school. Lloyd then asks Stabler if he is married but Stabler refuses to answer until Lloyd notices that he has no wedding ring. Stabler then tells Lloyd about Kathy's death before Stabler tells Lloyd that he has a lot of texts of Phil interfering with Lloyd and Renee. While Bell orders surveillance footage of the robberies, Lloyd gives Stabler an alibi for the night of the murder. Stabler then gets footage of a Con-Electric truck next to the bank that was robbed. Lloyd then confesses to Phil and Frank's murder. Bell then calls Stabler to tell him that they have a DNA match to a suspect in prison. Stabler and Bell visit Junior Suarez while he is doing dialysis. Suarez tells Stabler and Bell that he was in prison the whole time and Pendergast backs him up. Stabler and Bell then agree that this case is impossible to solve and they need to be able to explain this before they go to a jury. Stabler then asks to look at the visitor log and the guard on duty gives them a hard time. Later, after discovering Pendergast's corruption, Stabler suspects Suarez did a second job to earn the money he needed. Bell tells Stabler to update Major Crimes. Stabler comes home where Antonia claims that Bernadette requested that Stabler would make her dinner. Bernadette then makes a third spot for Kathy and claims that she is sorry she forgot that Kathy died. Stabler tells Bernadette that Kathy will always be here anyway. Stabler then gets a call from McCrary who says that Suarez had been traced to another murder. Bernadette claims that he can't leave her here but Stabler tells Bernadette that he will wait until tomorrow. Bernadette then tells Stabler that Antonia isn't working tomorrow. Stabler takes Bernadette with him while he canvasses and tells Bernadette to stay in the car. Bernadette doesn't even wait a second before getting out of the car. While Stabler questions Julius, a uni shows up with Bernadette who was wandering across the street. Stabler asks the uni to stay with Bernadette and they all go inside the house. Bernadette then discovers notes but the uni tells her to stop touching things. Bernadette then looks at photos and claims that she lost Joseph so young but Stabler moves her out of the way. At the squad room, Bell informs Stabler that they are no longer investigating Phil's murder. Stabler continues to try and find out why Suarez had Rachel murdered. When Bell tells Stabler to head home, Stabler tells Bell about how Bernadette made a third place for Kathy at the table. Bell then orders Stabler to go home. However, Stabler doesn't go home and collects photos. Stabler then sees someone entering the interrogation room, thinking it was Jet. Stabler then follows the woman into the room where he finds Kathy sitting at the table looking at him. (OC: "Pareto Principle")

After Stabler meets Benson at the courthouse to inform her about the revenge-for-hire ring, Stabler and Benson discuss the case before Stabler tells Benson about seeing Kathy in the interrogation room. Stabler and Benson then decide to question Suarez. At the prison, Stabler and Benson toss Suarez's cell where they find a hidden phone. Stabler and Benson then meet with Papa in the prison library where Stabler becomes aggressive towards Papa before Benson tells Stabler to protect the case and not her. Stabler decides to ask Bell to meet with Maria. At the precinct, Stabler and the task force discuss Suarez's bitcoin transfers and the fact that someone used an external hard drive to bypass proxy servers at the prison. Stabler asks Bell if he could look at Derek's computer to see if he contacted Suarez. Bell tells Stabler that they need a warrant. Stabler and the task force then arrive at the Scully's residence with a warrant. Derek tells Stabler and the task force that he had nothing to do with the rape. Gretchen then confesses to the rape to stop them from destroying Derek's belongings. During interrogation, Gretchen recants and wants to make a deal. Stabler and Bell ask Gretchen to tell them what she knows and they will decide. Gretchen then told the story about how she wanted revenge and she heard about a site on the dark web where you need an invite and an incognito browser. While Jet accesses the site, they discover that the murder Stabler is investigating was crowdfunded by nine different anonymous users. Stabler then arrests a bunch of neighbours while a guy refers to them as the Gestapo. Stabler and the task force then hear from the neighbour that Rachel had a daughter. Stabler and Whelan then talk with the prospective victim who complains about the sugar in her coffee. Gary becomes confused as to why the cops care about a man like himself and that he used to do hits the old fashioned way. Stabler then attempts to walk away but Gary tells Stabler that he will help him out. Later, while going on a stakeout to arrest the killer, Stabler manages to stop Gary from beating up a suspect. Later, while discussing witness protection with Gary, Stabler notes that Benson informed him about her arrest of four rapists. Stabler then visits Rollins while she is teaching a class and interacts with her during the lecture. Stabler then congratulates Rollins on her pregnancy and asks if Benson knows. Rollins tells Stabler that she will talk to Benson before she asks how she can help. Stabler explains Shadowerk to Rollins. Stabler then notes that Rollins is more excited about the case than her lecture. Rollins admits that she doesn't like the job and feels bad because Carisi got it for her. After a federal judge was murdered, Stabler and Rollins meet with Benson at the crime scene where Benson and Rollins awkwardly reunite. (OC: "Shadowërk")

Whilst investigating the case, Stabler and Benson talk to Jason who claims that he heard from someone on a burner phone. Stabler and Benson then get taken off the case by the feds due to the threats against them. Stabler and Benson ignore her and question someone who has access to the computers. A few moments later, Stabler, Benson and the feds go out to eat together where Benson keeps talking about the mac and cheese. Stabler then comments that it's nice to see Benson embracing normalcy. Meanwhile, Kyle gasses up a bunch of feds in a car and goes into the diner where Stabler and Benson are eating and gasses the diner up. A shooter then starts shooting before Benson gets shot in the hip and can't walk. Stabler then helps Benson get out of the diner. Stabler has Benson taken to urgent care while the shooter gets arrested. At the hospital, Stabler is so worried for Benson and gets informed that Benson can't do any physical activity for two weeks and she asks Stabler to help her up. Benson then asks Stabler about his condition where Stabler tells Benson that he couldn't see anything and heard that shot and thought he had lost her. Stabler then gets a call that Linda had given Kyle up. Later, after Whelan gets shot, McGrath watches as Kyle gets arrested and Stabler glares at him. Stabler then gets informed that Whelan had died in the hospital. Before Whelan's funeral, Stabler visits Benson at the precinct after her release. Benson tells Stabler that she's sorry about Whelan. Stabler tells Benson that Whelan's death made him realise how special life is. Stabler then gives Benson a gift and claims that he will be gone for a while to work on a case. Stabler then tells Benson that he wants her to open the box from the McCann's first. Benson tells Stabler that if he opens it, he will keep it. Stabler opens the gift and finds a decal. Stabler tells Benson that he will treasure it before Benson opens her present which is a necklace with a compass. Benson asks Stabler if it is meant to lead her somewhere. Stabler tells Benson that it will lead her to happiness. (OC: "With Many Names")

### Season 4

Stabler has a flashback to the events of Whelan's death where he tries to clear his mind by washing his face. Stabler then sits in the dark eating a cold can of baked beans before coming out of a warehouse when a truck pulls up. Stabler gets into the truck with Tweaker who appears to be high. Stabler points out how Tweaker is acting but the driver assures him that he is alright. Stabler and the driver pick up another man where they end up stopping in front of a police blockade where there are ICE agents. One of the men tells them to jump the curb so they are not late and pulls a gun, forcing Tweaker to run over people on the sidewalk. Stabler pulls the gear shift and the other guy shoots Tweaker. Stabler ends up fighting him while Tweaker lies on the floor dead. The shooter then runs away and ICE arrests Stabler while the shooter gets away. At the precinct, Stabler enters and claims that if they don't find Espinoza then the operation is shot. Bell tells Stabler to take a breath before Stabler asks how Reyes and Jet are coping. Bell is concerned about Reyes throwing himself into his work which reminds her of Stabler. Stabler informs Bell and the squad about the operation when Vargas shows up after Bell calls him in. Vargas introduces himself to the squad but Stabler acts hostile towards him, especially after Vargas attempts to put his belongings on Whelan's desk. Bell then tells Stabler that Vargas is now a member of the team which annoys Stabler. Stabler then lights a candle for Whelan and comes home to find Bernadette asleep on the couch with Antonia beside her. Bernadette becomes concerned about Stabler's bruised face and she asks when she is leaving. Stabler insists that Bernadette is not leaving and Bernadette refuses to be a burden to him. Stabler then walks off before finding a message from Benson. Stabler sends Benson a voicemail before getting a call from Reyes who says they found Espinoza. Stabler and Reyes then arrest Espinoza, who refuses to talk. Stabler tells Espinoza that they arrested his mother for aiding and abetting and Espinoza claims that he doesn't know who the boss is but gives them details about the trucks. While Jet goes undercover, Stabler and Vargas stay put in the van while surveilling them. While Jet and Reyes make risky decisions, Stabler tells them to abort the mission but Jet refuses to leave. Reyes and Jet manage to avoid getting caught and leave. Jet then ends up collapsing and Stabler realises that she has been dosed with Fentanyl and sends her to the ER. Stabler and Bell sneak into the warehouse and find dead bodies. Stabler claims that only the boss would have given the order and they can't get anything off the printer because the DEA has locked the place down before Jet shows up and claims that she already did. Stabler and the team discover that Espinoza had been arrested by the DEA and they turned him into their informant. Whilst Stabler and the team watch men put boxes into the trucks, Stabler claims that they need someone to infiltrate. Stabler then puts on a hazmat suit and claims that he will blend in whilst being connected to the bodycam. Stabler then ends up locking eyes with a man in a suit who seems to be nervous. Stabler enters the trailer whilst the DEA watches. Bell realizes that Stabler has been made and she calls Stabler. Stabler then ends up getting charged at by a man in a machete and a shootout occurs outside. Stabler ends up winning the fight and a guy attempts to kill him from behind but Reyes shoots him. Outside, Reyes ends up collapsing and the cops go after Stabler. Bell then calls them off and gets Nalazone but Stabler grunts Reyes and then ends up collapsing himself. After recovery, Stabler attends the funeral of Tweak and approaches his father and gives him Tweaker's medallion. At home, Stabler watches McGrath's press conference before Bernadette confuses him with Randall and asks him where her tickets were. Stabler then claims that she doesn't have to go but Bernadette insists that she needs Randall. (OC: "Memory Lane")

At the home, Stabler and Bernadette are praying but Bernadette can't seem to remember what "who art" means in the Lord's prayer. While on the way to work, Stabler hears about the bombing on the news and then calls Randall to tell him that Bernadette wants to see him. Stabler then spots Reyes sleeping in the car but Reyes insists that he is fine. Bashir then comes to see Stabler about the bombing and tells him that his wife was in the mosque. Bashir thinks that the crime wasn't a Hate Crime. Stabler then recognizes that Bashir is a veteran. Vargas then starts doing an incident report on the last case and claimed that Tweaker wouldn't have been shot if Stabler didn't pull the gears of the car as it went onto the sidewalk. Stabler then tells the squad that he's going to check on the mosque case against Bell's orders and talk with Bashir. Stabler then talks with Bashir who has an informant with deep ties to the community and claims there is a new criminal element tied to the Kabul. Bashir tells Stabler that the kid who got arrested has nothing to do with the bombing and that he should speak to his mom who is a rabbi across the street. Stabler then questions Klein refuses to talk to the cops and that Asher doesn't carry explosives. Stabler asks to speak with Asher but Klein refuses to let him. Asher claims that two guys hired him to paint graffiti on the mosque and that he was wasted at the time. Asher claims that he didn't know about the bombing but Imam was shot and he heard it. Stabler then speaks to Jet and then visits Warner at her office. Warner became curious as to why Stabler was there since Hate Crimes was on the case. Warner then gave Stabler information about his victim and the circumstances around his death which causes Stabler to have a flashback to the night that Kathy was murdered. Warner then asked if Stabler was okay and Stabler agreed that he was fine. Stabler then hugs Warner which confuses her. Stabler tells Warner that he got her message after Kathy died and struggled to reach out. Stabler then goes back to speak with Bashir. Bashir claims that Imam was like a father to him and Stabler updates him on the evidence that they found regarding his death. Shah then calls Bell and complains about Stabler going behind her back. Bell then asks Jet where Stabler is and Jet tells her that Stabler is going to pick up Randall. In the car, Randall tells Stabler that he took Eli fishing which Stabler knew nothing about. Randall says that Eli has a girlfriend who is way out of his league but Stabler claims that he has never met her. Randall tells Stabler that it's a shame that nobody taught Eli how to fish. Jet then calls Stabler and Randall tells her that all of Stabler's cases are big. Stabler tells Randall that Bernadette wants to go to long-term care and Randall offers to help pay. Randall then starts complaining about the outside of Stabler's apartment. Stabler then goes to meet with Bashir and asks to meet the informant. When Bashir's baby starts crying, Stabler picks up and comforts the baby. Stabler then finds out that Bashir's wife is the informant and shows them photos of two men that hired Asher to tag the mosque. At a press conference, the cops claim that Asher is the prime suspect while Stabler looks at the security footage to see the fake cop kill Asher. Bashir then finds the abandoned patrol car and calls out to see who it belongs to and they find the dead cop in the trunk. Stabler then updates Bell about Asher's murder before Stabler goes to meet with Klein. Klein slaps Stabler for not helping Asher. When the cops break into a warehouse, Bashir becomes overwhelmed after finding dead bodies and a bomb but Stabler tells him to do his job. The police then realise that the bomb is being controlled by the phone and then the bomb goes off but Stabler and Bell are fine. Stabler then comes home and sits outside with Randall. Randall tells Stabler that Bernadette was worried when she heard the car. Stabler asks how it went with Bernadette and Randall makes a sarcastic comment, which annoys Stabler. (OC: "Deliver Us From Evil")

### On L&O

Dixon calls Stabler to help them with the case and Dixon tells Stabler that she is sorry about the death of his informant, Vince. Stabler thanks Dixon and asks Jet to pull up a video. Stabler and Jet show Dixon the video of Sirenko talking to a guy named Andre who acted scared towards Daniel Rublev. Dixon told Stabler that the video is good because it is proof that Rublev is known to Sirenko. However, it doesn't necessarily prove that Rublev is ordering the hits or is connected to the crimes. Stabler approaches Andre who wants to call his lawyer. Stabler threatens to bust Andre in front of his friends and tell his friends that he snitched. Andre agrees to come with him voluntarily. Later, after Price and Maroun make a deal with Sirenko, Stabler confronts Price and Maroun about his thoughts on the deal. Price agrees with Stabler but before he could finish talking, Stabler accused Price of chasing after headlines. Price says to Stabler that the reality is that he is following orders from the Attorney General. (L&O: "Gimme Shelter")

## Officer-Involved Shootings

* Two unnamed people
* Brad Kendall
* Unnamed snakehead gangster
* Christopher Rawlings
* Jenna Fox
* Unnamed hitman
* Gabe Navarro
* Ronnie Illic
* Unnamed Albanian gangster
* Flip
* Smokey Sosa
* Dominic Russo
* Dante Scott
* Vaughn Davis
* Two unnamed hitmen
* Polson
* Seamus O'Meara
* Tracy Horner

## Appearances

* Law & Order: Special Victims Unit:
	+ Season 1: "Payback" • "A Single Life" • "...Or Just Look Like One" • "Hysteria" • "Wanderlust" • "Sophomore Jinx" • "Uncivilized" • "Stalked" •"Stocks & Bondage" • "Closure (Part I)" • "Bad Blood" • "Russian Love Poem" • "Disrobed" • "Limitations" • "Entitled" • "The Third Guy" • "Misleader" • "Chat Room" • "Contact" • "Remorse" • "Nocturne" • "Slaves"
	+ Season 2: "Wrong Is Right" • "Honor" • "Closure (Part II)" • "Legacy" • "Baby Killer" • "Noncompliance" • "Asunder" • "Taken" • "Pixies" • "Consent" • "Abuse" • "Secrets" • "Victims" • "Paranoia" • "Countdown" • "Runaway" • "Folly" • "Manhunt" • "Parasites" • "Pique" • "Scourge"
	+ Season 3: "Repression" • "Wrath" • "Stolen" • "Rooftop" • "Tangled" • "Redemption" • "Sacrifice" • "Inheritance" • "Care" • "Ridicule" • "Monogamy" • "Protection" • "Prodigy" • "Counterfeit" • "Execution" • "Popular" • "Surveillance" • "Guilt" • "Justice" • "Greed" • "Denial" • "Competence" • "Silence"
	+ Season 4: "Chameleon" • "Deception" • "Vulnerable" • "Lust" • "Disappearing Acts" • "Angels" • "Dolls" • "Waste" • "Juvenile" • "Resilience" • "Damaged" • "Risk" • "Mercy" • "Pandora" • "Tortured" • "Privilege" • "Desperate" • "Appearances" • "Dominance" • "Fallacy" • "Futility" • "Grief" • "Perfect" • "Soulless"
	+ Season 5: "Tragedy" • "Manic" • "Mother" • "Loss" • "Serendipity" • "Coerced" • "Choice" • "Abomination" • "Control" • "Shaken" • "Escape" • "Brotherhood" • "Hate" • "Ritual" • "Families" • "Home" • "Mean" • "Careless" • "Sick" • "Lowdown" • "Criminal" • "Painless" • "Bound" • "Poison" • "Head"
	+ Season 6: "Birthright" • "Debt" • "Obscene" • "Scavenger" • "Outcry" • "Conscience" • "Charisma" • "Doubt" • "Weak" • "Haunted" • "Contagious" • "Identity" • "Quarry" • "Game" • "Hooked" • "Ghost" • "Rage" • "Pure" • "Intoxicated" • "Night" • "Blood" • "Parts" • "Goliath"
	+ Season 7: "Demons" • "Design" • "Ripped" • "Raw" • "Name" • "Starved" • "Rockabye" • "Storm" • "Alien" • "Infected" • "Blast" • "Taboo" • "Manipulated" • "Gone" • "Class" • "Venom" • "Fault" • "Fat" • "Web" • "Influence"
	+ Season 8: "Informed" • "Clock" • "Recall" • "Uncle" • "Confrontation" • "Infiltrated" • "Underbelly" • "Cage" • "Choreographed" • "Scheherazade" • "Burned" • "Outsider" • "Loophole" • "Dependent" • "Haystack" • "Philadelphia" • "Sin" • "Responsible" • "Florida" • "Annihilated" • "Pretend" • "Screwed"
	+ Season 9: "Alternate" • "Avatar" • "Impulsive" • "Savant" • "Harm" • "Svengali" • "Blinded" • "Fight" • "Paternity" • "Snitch" • "Streetwise" • "Unorthodox" • "Inconceivable" • "Undercover" • "Closet" • "Authority" • "Trade" • "Cold"
	+ Season 10: "Trials" • "Confession" • "Swing" • "Lunacy" • "Retro" • "Babes" • "Wildlife" • "Persona" • "Smut" • "Stranger" • "Hothouse" • "Snatched" • "Transitions" • "Lead" • "Ballerina" • "Hell" • "Baggage" • "Selfish" • "Crush" • "Liberties" • "Zebras"
	+ Season 11: "Unstable" • "Sugar" • "Solitary" • "Hammered" • "Hardwired" • "Spooked" • "Users" • "Turmoil" • "Perverted" • "Anchor" • "Quickie" • "Shadow" • "P.C." • "Savior" • "Confidential" • "Witness" • "Disabled" • "Bedtime" • "Conned" • "Beef" • "Torch" • "Ace" • "Wannabe" • "Shattered"
	+ Season 12: "Locum" • "Bullseye" • "Behave" • "Merchandise" • "Wet" • "Branded" • "Trophy" • "Penetration" • "Gray" • "Rescue" • "Pop" • "Possessed" • "Mask" • "Flight" • "Spectacle" • "Pursuit" • "Bully" • "Bombshell" • "Totem" • "Reparations" • "Bang" • "Delinquent" • "Smoked"
	+ Season 22: "Return Of The Prodigal Son" • "Trick-Rolled At The Moulin'" • "Wolves In Sheep's Clothing"
	+ Season 23: "And The Empire Strikes Back" • "I Thought You Were On My Side" • "People Vs Richard Wheatley" • "Did You Believe In Miracles?"
	+ Season 24: "Gimme Shelter" • "Blood Out" • "Bad Things" • "All Pain Is One Malady"
* Law & Order: Organized Crime:
	+ Season 1: "What Happens in Puglia" • "Not Your Father's Organized Crime" • "Say Hello To My Little Friends • "The Stuff That Dreams Are Made Of" • "An Inferior Product" • "I Got This Rat" • "Everybody Takes A Beating Sometime" • "Forget It Jake; It's Chinatown"
	+ Season 2: “The Man With No Identity” • "New World Order" • "The Outlaw Eddie Wagner" • "For A Few Lekë More" • "The Good, The Bad and The Lovely" • "Unforgivable" • "High Planes Grifter" • "Ashes to Ashes" • "The Christmas Episode" • "Nemesis" • "As Nottingham Was To Robin Hood" • "As Iago Is To Othello" • "As Hubris Is To Oedipus" • "...Wheatley Is To Stabler" • "Takeover" • "Guns & Roses" • "Can't Knock The Hustle" • "Change The Game" • "Dead Presidents" • "Lost One" • "Streets Is Watching" • "Friend Or Foe"
	+ Season 3: "Gimme Shelter" • "Everybody Knows The Dice Are Loaded" • "Catch Me If You Can" • "Spirit In The Sky" • "Behind Blue Eyes" • "Blaze Of Glory" • "All That Glitters" • "Whipping Post" • "Last Christmas" • "Trap" • "The Infiltration Game" • "Partners In Crime" • "Punch Drunk" • "All In The Game" • "The Wild And The Innocent" • "Chinatown" • "Blood Ties" • "Tag:GEN" • "A Diplomatic Solution" • "Pareto Principle" • "Shadowërk" • "With Many Names"
	+ Season 4: “Memory Lane” • "Deliver Us From Evil" • "End of Innocence" • "The Last Supper"
* Law & Order:
	+ Season 10: "Entitled" • "Fools For Love"
	+ Season 22: "Gimme Shelter"
* Law & Order: Trial by Jury:
	+ Season 1: "Day"