Law & Order: SVU season 26’s premiere doubled down on the series’ latest Benson/Stabler update. Benson and Stabler were partners during the long-running procedural’s first 12 seasons; while their relationship was platonic then, many of Law & Order: SVU‘s best episodes involved tension between the two that could have been romantic or sexual. Stabler was married and not interested in leaving his wife, Kathy. Thus, there was no chance of a romantic relationship between him and Benson in those early days, even though their chemistry was so strong that Kathy was often jealous of Benson and Stabler’s relationship.

https://screenrant.com/law-and-order-svu-season-26-continue-benson-stabler-separation/