A new Law & Order: Organized Crime teaser shows Elliot Stabler's return to the world of crime, and it won't be an easy one. Christopher Meloni's Elliot Stabler was a staple of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit for over a decade alongside Mariska Hargitay's Olivia Benson. In 2011, though, everything changed. Meloni was written off the show, reportedly due to a pay dispute between the actor and the network, NBC. His abrupt departure sent shockwaves through both the community of fans and the fictional world of the show.

Now, Meloni is getting his own spinoff in Organized Crime, set to premiere on April 1. NBC has touted the series as an event that Law & Order fans should not miss, both because of Meloni's return and what it means for the relationships Stabler had with the various characters. The network has previewed a reunion between Stabler and Benson, but a teaser fleshes out another relationship that needs to be mended.

Related: Law and Order's Stabler Spinoff Can't Work Without Changing Elliot First

The clip from Law & Order's Twitter begins with a montage of Meloni's return as he tries to explain why he handled his departure so poorly. Ice-T's Sergeant Fin then tells him that he didn't handle the departure at all, shutting out the friends and co-workers he was once close to. Stabler says that, even while time passed, he kept waiting for the right moment to reach out to those he was once closest to. The teaser ends on an emotional note, with the words "Stabler Comes Home" blazoned across the screen. Check out the clip below:

The preview confirms what fans have already surmised: Stabler's return will not be an easy one. Benson herself has looked reticent to accept his return in previous teasers, and it looks like Ice-T's character is on the same page. While this may be painful for longtime fans of the dynamic duo, it's the right story to tell. For Stabler to return and quickly fix everything with his former co-workers would seem disingenuous, especially considering their vast history of working together and forming bonds through solving some of New York City's most brutal crimes.

With the two-hour SVU and Organized Crime crossover event coming soon, it won't all be tension, though. The show will likely want to come to some form of resolution in Benson and Stabler's story, especially so they can crossover again in the future. Law & Order: Organized Crime seems to be just the beginning for Stabler's return to law enforcement, and fans will likely be wanting to see the classic Benson and Stabler dynamic for years to come. The pair will just have to wade through some very emotional territory first.

More: Law & Order SVU: Why Stabler Left After Season 12

Source: Law & Order