Disclaimer: I don't own Law And Order SVU
Elliot groaned. It seemed to him like he was a failure as a father. His daughter had bi polar disorder and he should have seen the signs
For months she had shifted in her moods from up to down and back up again. He had treated it as if it was typical adolescence. Sometimes he ignored it and other times he acted tough. He would be on her side in public but in private he would tell her off about how difficult she was being and how she shouldn't act the way she did even acting in ways that were hurtful because he didn't understand the behavior. He was the son of a woman who had bi polar disorder. His wife suffered from that disease in her teenage years and so did he during his teenage years.
"Elliot," Olivia said, "You did the best you could."
"THE BEST I COULD WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH," Elliot exclaimed, "I FAILED MY DAUGHTER. Do you have any idea how many times I should have seen the signs. She was despondent. I patted her on the head and said, 'it will pass honey'. She did things she shouldn't have done I lectured her or ignored it or assigned consequences. I forgot how to be empathetic. It was pathetic on my part. She's my kid. I should have known something was wrong."
"Listen if this hadn't happened she might not have gotten diagnosed until it was too late. Besides you've been going through a tough time."
"That is no excuse," Elliot said, "I'm the parent. She's the kid. I should have been more aware."
Before Olivia could respond the phone rang. Elliot picked it up.
"SVU-"
"Stabbler," the captain said, "Put Benson on."
"Just a second," he said, "Olivia it's for you."
"Benson here," Olivia said