Title: The Layaway Angel
Summary: No summary needed. Title explains it if you've been keeping up with the news
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. I am just a humble fan who wanted a Christmas story.
1.) Dec. 23rd
Olivia Benson sat at her desk finishing up some last minute paperwork.
The Captain had given her time off for Christmas Eve and Christmas even though she had refused. Olivia had no family and no genuine friends to spend the holidays with. Work was her life even on the holidays but the Captain had seen how hard Liv had been working this past year, a lot harder than she ever had in the thirteen years of working with the unit. Cragen played the holiday card and told her that these next two days wouldn't affect the days off she had accumulated. "Consider it a Christmas gift," he had said to her. Olivia knew with words like that that there was no way the Captain was going to let her work and so she reluctantly accepted.
Once the paperwork was done she got her coat and headed out. She didn't have much to do but she decided to stop at a local Walmart for a few things. Olivia decided that she would get some groceries so that she could make a Christmas Eve dinner so she ended up with a ham as well as some other purchases. Olivia also made it a point to find Calvin something even though she wouldn't see him till the 26th.
The lines were long, it being the eve before Christmas Eve but she was in no rush. Living a single life gave you much needed freedom as well as endless time. She finally made it to the cash register and paid for her items.
She then saw a short line at customer service and thought of an idea. People all across the country were becoming an inspiration and she figured that since she didn't have people in her own life to purchase Christmas items for, the best she could do was make sure a family elsewhere could have a Merry Christmas.
"Can I help you," asked an older lady behind the counter.
"I'd like to pay off someone's layaway purchase. If you could find one that has toys that would be great."
The lady smiled. "Of course," she said. She pulled out the file where they kept the layaway receipts. She pulled out a random few and let Olivia pick through some of them. Olivia sifted until she found one that she thought was perfect. There were a couple sports sweatshirts and mostly child toys. The price roughly around $275 plus some change.
On the back of the receipt Olivia wrote a little note:
To your family,
Wishing you a stress free Christmas.
-A Friend (DB)
Olivia paid the balance and received a huge thank you from the worker. Olivia smiled at the woman and left the store.
A/N Definition: Layaway- This past year in 2011 we were introduced to the concept of "layaway" where people can purchase items and then pay for them later.
Layaway Angel- We were also introduced to people that became known as "Layaway Angels" where anonymous donors pay off a layaway purchase