Melinda looked at Olivia with the professional compassion--anything else, she knew, would repulse the detective. Selecting her words with care, she said: "There's no shame in seeking counseling, if you need it."

"I know, I know," Olivia replied quickly and quietly, nodding. "I…I…look, I need to go. When I get time…" She moved past the medical examiner.

"Olivia," called Dr. Warner. She waited as the other woman continued moving a few steps, then stopped and stood silently without turning around. "Please find time."

The detective exited quickly without a reply.

Hours later, Olivia found herself alone at her computer in a mostly deserted room. Elliot had gone home to his family, Fin and Lake had left to interview a victim at Mercy General Hospital, and Munch had left abruptly after receiving a cryptic telephone call from a "confidential informant." She didn't look up when Captain Cragen exited his office and walked over to her desk.

"Olivia?" He looked down at her with concern.

She continued to stare at the computer screen, fingers resting on the home row.

He tried again, slightly louder. "Olivia."

After a few seconds, she blinked several times and turned. "I'm--I'm sorry, Captain," she said, looking somewhat uneasy. "I…I didn't hear you…"

"Why don't we talk in my office?"

Once inside, with the door closed, Cragen pulled all the blinds shut before beginning. "Olivia, you need to take some time off to recover."

"Captain," she protested, shaking her head, "it's nothing I can't handle…"

"I timed you, Olivia," he interrupted firmly though gently. "You sat at your desk facing forward, doing absolutely nothing for 15 minutes before I came out."

"I'm fine, Captain! I was able to interrogate that sadistic scum--I even got under his skin--and when the warrant was issued, I marched right back into that prison to arrest him! And that's not counting all the other work I've been doing!" Olivia was shouting now.

"And what about when you're not busy?" the captain inquired. "Like right before now? And how well have you been sleeping?"

She looked away for a long moment, perturbed, then composed herself enough to say softly: "I'll get it together, sir."

"Not without help, Olivia," Cragen stated gently. "I know you don't like to ask for help, but this time you really need it--like any violent crime victim."

"I'm not a vic, Cap," she said, her voice louder this time, her eyes watery.

"But you are," he persisted, compassion in his eyes. "He beat you, tried to rape you, and he would have if Fin hadn't stopped him--and that's one reason why you're hurting now."

A single tear streaked her face. "It's—it's more than that," she whispered. "I'm a sex crimes cop. Women, children, and even men look to me for strength and guidance. How can I even face them…?"

"I know from my personal experience with alcoholism that takes a lot of strength to admit that you can't always recover on your own," he replied, "and how better to guide than by example?"

Touched and enlightened by his words, Olivia nodded slowly. "You're right," she replied through more tears. "Th-thank you, Captain. And…I'll do it. I'll take a week off, and I'll call Rebecca Hendrix tomorrow. If…if she isn't available, then…I'll ask for a referral."

"That's a great first step," Cragen said, placing a paternal hand on her shoulder. "Now, you'll have the support of everyone on the squad. We'll welcome you back with open arms whenever you're ready. And if there's anything else I can assist you with, don't hesitate."

She didn't. Olivia immediately moved into his arms, accepting his comforting embrace as she silently vented against his shoulder.