Breanna Scully was running late. She had forgotten to check the alarm on her phone and overslept. She was supposed to be at the precinct in 10 minutes. She threw on a purple blouse and a gray skirt while running a brush through her hair. Bree rushed into her bathroom to apply minimal make up. She looked at her petite 5'2" frame with shoulder length auburn hair and green eyes. Satisfied she looked half way decent to face other humans, she made her way to the door of her apartment.
"Bye Cali, see you tonight." she called over her shoulder to her yellow lovebird.
Closing the door behind her, Bree rushed across the hall and knocked on Olivia's door, wondering why Liv hadn't knocked on her door to ride together to work. After waiting for a few minutes, she decided Liv was either dead to the world after working a case all night, or still at the station. She ran to the elevators to catch a cab to work.
At the 16th Precinct, Bree rushed off the elevator and ran into Detective Nick Amaro.
"Whoa there, Bree. What's the rush?" Nick asked as reached out to steady her.
"Sorry Nick, my alarm never went off and I overslept."
"Well you made it here so you can slow down now." Nick replied with a chuckle.
"Yeah, thanks. Were you here all night? Working the Ashley Brenner kidnapping?"Bree asked.
"Sure was, we all stayed. Unfortunately we still have no solid leads. I was just running out for some coffee and muffins, you want anything?"
"A blueberry muffin and chai tea latte?" asked Bree with a smile.
"Sure thing," said Nick as he stepped into the elevator.
Bree made her way to her small office just off the squad room. As she opened the door and turned on the light, she heard footsteps behind her. Bree spun around quickly with her hands up to defend herself, out of habit.
"It's just me honey. I didn't mean to scare you." Olivia Benson said as she caught her goddaughter in a quick hug. "You okay?" she asked, looking down at Bree with motherly concern.
"Yeah I'm ok, just feeling paranoid lately." said Bree as she pushed a strand of auburn hair out of her face. "I should be asking how you are Liv, since you were working all night."
"Oh I caught a couple hours in the crib, I'm fine. Once we find Ashley, then I'll catch a full night's sleep." Olivia's gaze shifted to somewhere over Bree's head as she thought about the 11 year old girl somewhere being hurt by some sick man. "She's been missing for 16 hours now. As soon as Nick gets back we are going to regroup and see if we can come up with something new. You want to sit in? A fresh pair of eyes may help."
"I'll be there in a minute; just let me put my stuff away." Bree put her purse and work bag in their appropriate places, glancing at her calendar to double check her appointments for the day. At 27, Bree was SVU's psychologist in training; she made herself useful wherever she was needed. She was working towards her Masters degree in psychology and had a degree in Criminal Justice. She often had follow up meetings with the victims that passed through the precinct. Since there was a shortage of counseling for victims of assault, Bree was glad she could help those who needed it. She also loved working the same place as her beloved godmother, Olivia.
Bree joined Olivia, Amanda, Fin, Munch and the Captain as they were gathering around Nick and Liv's desks. They all looked exhausted and extremely upset. Bree knew they were all worried about Ashley and were upset that she had not been found yet. Nick walked in a few minutes later with muffins, bagels, coffees and teas for everyone.
"Alright, what do we know so far?" Captain Cragen asked, looking at the best detectives in SVU.
"Ashley Brenner disappeared yesterday afternoon around 3:30pm walking home from school. She was reported missing at 5:00pm after the school was searched and her parents called all of her friends and she was not with any of them. Witnesses say they saw a dark blue van sitting in an alley on the same route Ashley walks home, half an hour before school got out. No other concrete information at this time." Amanda summarized.
"How about from the tip line? Anything promising?" the Captain asked.
"Just the normal paranoids and crazies. Everyone thinks their neighbor is the one who took her," said Fin.
"And we have ruled out both parents?" asked Cragen.
"Yep, they're both squeaky clean," replied Munch.
"What about any male relatives?" asked Bree, "Does she have an older cousin, an uncle, a friend of the family? Someone who has an unhealthy attachment to Ashley?"
"She has two uncles who live out of state. One in Ohio and one in Virginia. No other male relatives and the parents didn't notice any of their friends or neighbors paying extra attention to her," reported Liv.
"So, it was a stranger kidnapping...the question is, does he think he loves her or was she a random snatch?" mused Bree. "If he thinks he loves her, most likely she is still alive, but if this was random..." Bree quickly looked away to try to hide the unshed tears. Cases involving innocent children always got to her, particularly young girls like Ashley.
Olivia looked at Bree, knowing what was running through her mind. She wished she could make those memories disappear. She had wished that a million times over the years and it never got any easier. Bree was the closest thing to a child Olivia had and she loved her like she was her own daughter.
It was Olivia who had discovered Bree's father raping her when she was only six years old. The memory haunted her to this day. They found out the abuse had been going on for almost two years. After he was put away they all thought the nightmare was over for Bree. She was in therapy for years but she bounced back. She never told anyone because her father threatened to kill her mom, Olivia, her cousin Jules and her grandmother Maggie.
Life got back on track for Bree, until her father was released after only 6 years in prison. Around the same time, Dana had been diagnosed with cancer and they were all focused on that crisis. Unknown to everyone, Bree's father was raping her again. Bree didn't want to tell anyone because she had been worried about her mom. In her twelve year old mind she thought maybe if she suffered in silence, maybe God would let her mom live. This time, it had been Jules to find Bree being attacked. Jules had taken the man down with a sleeper hold. Olivia knew it had taken every ounce of self control for Jules not to kill him, the same way it had taken all of hers not to kill him previously.
Olivia came back to the present, catching Bree's eye. Bree gave her a look that told Liv that she knew where her mind had wandered to. She gave Liv a half smile as she focused on what the Captain was saying.
"Liv, Nick I want you go talk to the witness who saw the van. Maybe she remembers something more today."
"Hey Captain Cragen!" yelled one of the volunteers who was manning the tip line.
"What is it Karen?" asked Cragen.
"I got a call from a Jake Hunter; he lives on the street that Ashley was abducted from. He has a video camera set up to record all the activity on his street. He says he has the abduction on tape. He would have come forward sooner but he works third shift and just saw it."
"Ok, Liv and Nick. I want you to go pick the tape up from Mr. Hunter and get it back here ASAP."
"We're on it Captain," said Olivia as she made her way to the elevators with Nick right behind her.
An hour later Nick and Liv had returned to the squad room with the video in hand. They put it in as everyone gathered around to watch. Jake Hunter had edited the tape so they wouldn't have to fast forward to find the kidnapping. They saw the blue van back into the alley.
"Pause it!" yelled Amanda as she got up close to the screen to try to make out the license plate, "Ok it is 8P9B24." Fin ran the plate as the rest of them watched the kidnapping unfold on screen before them. It showed Ashley pausing as the man in the driver's seat yelled out the window to her. To everyone's surprise Ashley willingly climbed into the passenger seat. They all sat there stunned as the van drove off screen.
"She, she just got in, "said Bree not quite believing what she had just seen, "It must be someone she knows."
"I'm calling the Brenners to have them come and see if they can identify him, "said Nick.
"The van is registered to a Mark Neilson. He lives one street over from the Brenners," reported Fin. He checked Mark Neilson's driver's license photo to the image of the kidnapper on screen. "That is definitely Mark Neilson."
"Ok Sam and Ruth Brenner will be here soon," said Nick as he hung up the phone.
"Alright while we are waiting for them to arrive, I'm going to get on the phone to the ADA's office and get us a search warrant for the Neilson house," said Captain Cragen.
Twenty minutes later Sam and Ruth Brenner rushed in and hurried over to Olivia.
"Detective Benson, you have news?" asked Ruth, desperation in her voice.
"Yes, we have a video here of Ashley getting into a van. Do you feel up to taking a look?" Olivia asked gently.
"Yeah, we can take a look," Sam Brenner said as he took his wife's hand. Olivia played the video for them, and then paused it so they could see the driver. "That's Mark!" said Ruth, looking at Sam, "why would he pick Ashley up?"
"How do you guys know Mark?" asked Amanda.
"He's lives one street over from us. He's my jogging partner in the mornings, "said Sam, "I never saw him with a van, he always drives a pickup truck."
"Most likely he had the van in a garage or storage," Olivia told them.
"Why aren't you at Mark's house now, looking for Ashley?" Ruth Brenner asked with an almost accusatory tone.
"We will be on our way as soon as we have a search warrant to go through his house and look for Ashley," explained Amanda patiently.
At that moment Captain Cragen came out of his office and told Nick and Fin that the search warrant had come through.
"Liv, Amanda we have it," Fin announced to the group.
"Ok, I am going to have Breanna sit with you guys while you are waiting. She is our resident counselor," Liv told Sam and Ruth, "If you have any questions or need anything, she will be happy to help."
Once Bree was with the Brenners, the four detectives left for Mark Neilson's house. "Can I get you anything? Some coffee or tea?" asked Bree.
"No thank you," said Ruth with a weak smile, her eyes glued to the elevator doors that had closed just moments earlier.
"Those are the best detectives you could hope to have," Bree told the couple, "They will find Ashley."
At Mark Neilson's house Nick and Olivia got out of one car with Fin and Amanda right behind them. The four detectives approached the front door with caution. They all noted the blue van in the driveway.
"The bastard is bold," said Fin.
Olivia knocked on the door. "Police Mr. Neilson, open up!" They all waited for about twenty seconds, and then they heard someone approaching the door. Mark Neilson opened the door with a smile on his face.
"Why hello there, what can I do for New York's finest?"
"We have a warrant to search your house," said Liv, handing him the warrant.
"Search for what?" Mark asked, sounding nervous.
"Ashley Brenner, we have you on tape picking her up in your van," Nick said.
"Yeah so I gave her a ride home from school, why are you looking here for her?"
"Apparently you don't know, but she never made it home yesterday. Although I don't know how you could miss the Amber alerts on the radio and TV," said Fin sarcastically.
The detectives started on the main level, searching every room and closet, calling for Ashley. Amanda came across a door that was locked. "Mr. Neilson, I need you to open this door for us."
"Sorry, that doors been locked since I moved in."
"Yeah and we were all born yesterday," scoffed Fin as he handcuffed Mark, "Keep him right here," he said to the uniformed officer that had just arrived.
Nick and Fin took turns kicking the door in, with Nick taking more turns than Fin. "You ok man?" asked Nick.
"Yeah, I'm just getting too old for this," puffed Fin. After a few more kicks, the door finally gave way, revealing a staircase leading to a basement. They all rushed down the stairs, and saw Ashley sitting on a mattress on the floor, bound and gagged. She looked extremely frightened and tried to scoot away from them.
Nick and Fin immediately backed away as Liv slowly approached the mattress and Amanda stayed at the bottom of the stairs.
"Hi there Ashley, I'm Olivia. We are police officers and we are going to take you back to your parents. I want to take the gag out of your mouth, is that ok?" Ashley nodded, her eyes never wavering from Olivia's. Olivia gently pulled the rag from Ashley's mouth. "I want my mom," Ashley said immediately. "I know honey; we are going to take you to her very soon." Olivia finished untying the ropes from the young girl's wrists and ankles.
Nick and Fin went up the stairs to have the uni put Mark in the squad car so Ashley wouldn't have to see him. Olivia and Amanda helped Ashley up the stairs.
"Ashley, we need to take you to the hospital, but your parents will be there ok?" Amanda said to her. Ashley nodded, gripping Olivia's hand. They walked out to the cars. Olivia sat in the back seat with Ashley while Amanda drove them to the hospital. She called Bree on the way to have the Brenners meet them there.
At St. Paul's Hospital Bree was waiting with Sam and Ruth for Ashley to arrive when they were approached by Dana Scully.
"Hello there, I am Dr. Scully and I will be examining your daughter when she is brought in."
"Will I be able to stay with her during the exam?" Ruth asked hopefully.
"You can certainly see her when she gets here, and help her feel comfortable with me but there are parts of the exam I will need to do with you out of the room," Scully said sympathetically, "I know that will be very difficult for you but an exam like this is usually easier for the child when their parents are not with them. They often feel ashamed and don't want someone they are familiar with in the room. As soon as I am finished, I will let you in."
At that moment Olivia walked in with Ashley clinging to her hand and Amanda behind them. Ruth and Sam jumped up and Ashley ran toward their outstretched arms,
As Ashley hugged her parents, Bree reached out to squeeze her mom's hand. She knew how hard exams like this made her job. They exchanged a look that lasted half a second and shared a hundred memories.
Scully leaned down and addressed Ashley in a soothing tone. "Hi Ashley, my name is Dana, I'm a doctor. Is it ok if I do an exam to make sure you're ok?" Ashley nodded. Scully lead the way to an exam room with Ashley and Ruth following.
After Ruth came back out, Olivia went to help her friend do the exam on Ashley. Bree and Amanda sat with Sam and Ruth in the waiting room, attempting to make small talk to take their minds off of the exam.
An hour and twenty minutes later Scully and Ashley came out and walked over to the sitting area. "May I have a few moments to speak with you guys?" Scully asked the Brenners, "Ashley can stay here with Bree while we talk, it should only take a few minutes."
Olivia and Amanda left to bring Ashley's rape kit to the lab.
"So Ashley, do you like licorice?" Bree asked. Ashley smiled and nodded. Bree pulled a package of Red Vines from the bag at her side.
A few minutes later, when Scully and Ashley's parents came back to the waiting room they all stopped at the sight before them. Ashley was giggling and eating a piece of licorice while Bree was telling her jokes. "Wow, she's laughing," Sam said, stunned, "I thought that with what happened, it would be awhile."
"Well Breanna is very gifted at putting people at ease and children especially respond to her very quickly," Scully said with pride. She was always amazed at her daughter's ability to connect with people and win their trust.
Sam and Ruth gathered their daughter and headed home, with Bree's card in their pocket. Scully walked over and put her arm around Bree's shoulder as they watched the family leave whole and intact. "So, was she raped?" Bree asked. Scully nodded with a sigh. "At least she is alive and back with her parents, I think she will be alright," Bree told her mom.
"Well of course, with you on her side she will be," Scully said with a smile on her face, "Well I need to get back to work, as do you my dear."
"Alright, talk to you later Mom, love you," Bree gave Scully a quick hug. "Love you too," Scully gave Bree a quick kiss on the cheek then turned back down the hallway. Life had taught them that they never knew what could happen, so they always made sure their last words were ones of love whenever they parted.
On her way back to the station, Bree's phone rang. She smiled when she saw who it was. "Bigfoot hotline, do you have a sighting to report?" she answered. "Hey kid, that one never gets old," Mulder said with a chuckle.
"Hey there, what's going on?" Bree asked.
"Well, your mom's working late tonight, so I was wondering if I could take a lovely young lady out to dinner? It's been awhile since just you and I have had time together."
"Why sure, I'd love to go to dinner with you. I just saw mom and she didn't mention working late."
"I think she just found out a couple minutes ago, I just got off the phone with her," Mulder said, " So I was thinking Italian, does that sound good?"
"Sure thing, what time?" Bree asked.
"Would 7:00 work?" said Mulder.
"Sure, see you then. Love you," Bree said as she got out of the car to walk into the station.
"Love you too kiddo, see you later," Mulder said before he hung up.
As Bree was walking into the station she felt as though she was being watched. She had been getting that feeling every so often the past few weeks. She looked around, but didn't notice anything out of the ordinary.
The rest of the day passed quickly and it was 6:45 before Bree realized it. She packed up and closed the door to her office. Liv, Nick, Fin, Munch and Amanda had all been sent home as soon as their paperwork on Ashley's case was done.
"Goodnight Captain," she said as she passed his office.
"Night Bree, see you tomorrow," Cragen said without looking up.
Mulder was already waiting outside the restaurant for Bree when she arrived. "Hey you," he said, giving her a peck on the cheek.
"Hey Mulder, I'm so glad we are doing this," Bree said with a smile.
They were seated at a booth and they both ordered water. Mulder ordered lasagna and Bree got the chicken alfredo.
"So, I saw the story on Ashley Brenner, was that your case?" Mulder asked after a swallow of water.
"Yeah, it was. I am so glad that she was found so quickly," said Bree, picking at a breadstick.
Mulder changed the subject, wanting to lighten Bree's mood.
"So, your mom and I have been talking about moving back to the city. To be closer to you and so she wouldn't have to drive so far to work."
"But you guys love that house," Bree protested.
"Yeah but we love you more, and we don't like you driving back home in the dark when you come to visit."
"Well if you're both ok with it, I would love it," Bree said smiling.
They talked for another hour, then Mulder checked his watch. "Well your mom should be getting out soon, I told her I would pick her up."
They said goodnight and went their separate ways. Outside Bree and Olivia's building, someone watched Bree get out of the cab and pay the driver. There was no one else around. The cab drove away and Bree made her way to the steps.
All of a sudden, a cloth was held over her mouth and everything went black.
