Copyright (c) 2012-2016 by Aviator39 under the Copyright Act of 1978 which states that works written under a pseudonym are protected for 95 years after publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter. Stealing and/or plagiarize any aspect of this story is grounds for me to sue you! You have been warned. You will be reported if you violate this Copyright.
Fostering Hope
"There it stood. A flower on a rock where nothing else lived for a hundred miles. This flower was life. Bold and true standing proud up into the sky. Lapping up sunlight, digging her roots into the ground. She was living. No matter what the world told her she shouldn't do. She just went on, chin up into the sun and I realized then that life by its very nature is brave." – Atticus
Elliot frowned as he and Liv entered the squad room – that thick file definitely hadn't been on this desk when they'd left.
"Someone leave something for me?" He asked, brow furrowing as he hefted the weighty file in his hand. "What did I do now?" Elliot muttered as a serious looking Melinda Warner walked towards him.
Melinda rolled her eyes, a slightly exasperated sigh rushing past her lips. "You didn't do anything, Elliot…yet. But there is something I need to talk to you about." She glanced around at the now extremely curious squad. "Preferably in private."
Elliot gave her a look. "Nothing in this precinct stays a secret for long. You know that." He said, fingers twitching to dive into the mystery file. "You might as well tell me here."
"Fine, but you better brace yourself." She sighed, shaking her head as the others leaned forward in their desk chairs – even George had pulled his head out of the book he'd been reading. "A friend of mine at Children's Hospital asked me for a favor the day of the ferry accident." Melinda explained. "One of her patients was on the ferry and mentioned something about you being her father."
Silence descended over the group and when no one spoke after several moments, Melinda pushed on. "So she sent me a blood sample to confirm and I ran it through the NYPD database – it was a match." Melinda paused, taking the file from Elliot's slack fingers and flipping it open to reveal a photo of a smiling girl. "Are you with us, Elliot?"
Elliot shook his head, scrubbing a hand down his face. "Yeah…yeah, I'm with you." He murmured, currently avoiding looking at the photo in the file – he could deal with that later. "What's her name?" He managed after a few moments.
Melinda licked her lips, dark eyes soft with sympathy as she regarded Elliot. "Her name is Skylar Marks and from what it says here, she works at that diner Spotlight near Broadway." She said evenly. "I had O'Halloran and TARU make the file. Everything you could want to know about her is in there."
Elliot nodded distractedly as he reclaimed the file from Melinda. "Thanks." He breathed, not entirely registering Melinda's hand on his shoulder before she exited the squad room.
A thick silence settled over the group and hung in the air for several moments – no one daring to shake Elliot out of the stunned disbelief he was wrapped in.
"What the hell just happened?" Elliot breathed after what seemed like forever. "Someone tell me what the hell just happened?" He muttered, running a hand through his close cropped hair and sighing heavily.
"I don't…uh. I don't really know." Liv scratched at the back of her neck, left hand tucked deep into the back pocket of her slacks. "I think we should head to Children's ASAP."
Elliot shook his head, looking down at the name printed on the front of the file. "You really think I should put stock in this crap?" He questioned, looking around at the others.
Liv shrugged, inching closer to the doors they just came through – even now as a Lieutenant she hadn't lost the thrill of being on the streets. "I highly doubt Warner would lie about something like this." She stated. "Besides, it couldn't hurt to check." She waved a hand towards the door. "So, you want to go do that or should I cruise alone."
"Don't you think if she was still at Children's, Warner would've said so?" Carisi asked, leaning back in his chair. "If I were a detective – which I am – I would deduce that she'd probably be at work." He paused and winked at Amanda who snickered. "After all, the ferry accident was over a month ago."
Amaro leaned forward, resting his elbows on his desk. "So you think we should all go to Spotlight and scope her out?" He asked and gave a dubious laugh. "Don't you think she'd freak if we all came up to her at once?"
"I think what Carisi means is that we," George gestured around to the others with his book. "Go to dinner there tonight. Like normal people."
"Right, because we're so normal." Mike deadpanned, earning a laugh from everyone, even Barba who had just walked in.
Elliot sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. "What can it hurt?" He muttered. "I mean it's not like she's going to out me in public or anything."
"Right." Carisi nodded and then scooted back a little as Elliot narrowed his eyes at the younger detective. "Sorry chief, that was a little harsh wasn't it?"
"You think?" He snapped and scrubbed his hands down his face, clapping them together when he couldn't think of anything else to do. "Okay, okay…we'll all finish our day and meet up at this diner around 7:00?"
"Assuming that's when she's on shift." Liv paused as she made her way back over to her office where a pile of paper work awaited her.
"Could just call." Amanda muttered as she began to flick through a report she had yet to file.
"So someone can tell her, so she's expecting it." Barba shook his head. "No, you just go n and see if you're lucky. If not, we try again." He paused. "Assuming you want to, that is." They all looked to Elliot.
He blinked, feeling very much like a deer-in-headlights. "No, no…I have to know…even if I don't know how this happened." He sighed heavily. "Guess I'll find out somehow, right?"
Elliot tapped his foot as he waited for the others to arrive. In his nervousness he'd gotten to Spotlight half an hour early and was leaning against his car.
"Early bird gets the worm." Liv chuckled as she pulled in next to him and climbed out of her car. "Place seems nice – bigger than I thought though."
"I hear it's quite popular." Barba commented as he and Amaro climbed out of the ADA's sleek Lexus – how long had they been there? They'd been dating for four months, and frankly, everyone was glad they were going steady. "I've heard rave reviews about it from other ADA's." He paused and linked hands with Nick. "Apparently the wait-staff sing and dance."
Fin breathed a laugh as he walked up and they watched Mike, Amanda, Carisi and George pull in separately. "If I get show-tunes stuck in my head, I'm blaming you." He pointed at Elliot who simply sighed for what felt like the thousandth time that day.
"We should head in." Amanda suggested, gesturing towards the door. "We're starting to get some looks."
And head in they did, Elliot leading the way and the team talking in their own bubble behind him. He was more focused on finding an empty booth and a name tag wit that short little name on it.
"Elliot." Liv shook him back to earth, tugging him towards the rounded booth somewhat towards the center of the thumping diner. "Come on, everyone else is seated."
He didn't want to sit in such a crowded space, but there didn't seem to be any other option and he was beginning to get distracted again. He was trying to keep it cool, he really was, but all he could think of was if he would recognize her. Would she look anything like him? Would she have any of his traits?
He'd have to wait and see.
They were in a booth made up of one giant horseshoe shaped bench, that of course was nearly smack in the middle of the bustling diner. "Of course we had to be in the middle." He muttered to himself. "Of course."
Amanda chuckled. "Think of it this way – diners in the center get noticed faster than those on the edge." She stated matter-of-factly. "Maybe we'll get served faster. And you can see the whole diner from here."
"Maybe." Elliot agreed distractedly as he looked up at the second level of the diner – it was just as full as the first. Barba was right…this place was popular.
"This is a good change from where we tend to go." George commented as he leaned back in the booth. "It's considerable livelier."
The group turned to face the opening of their booth as a young woman approached their table. Her honey blonde hair was tied back in a high ponytail with her bangs swept to one side. She wore a Spotlight uniform of a tailored retro style bowling shirt with black buttons and cuffs while the rest was bright red and a slightly full black skater-style shirt that came to mid-thigh. The uniform was finished off with a pair of black Keds and white ankle socks.
"Good evening folks! My name's Skylar and I'll be your server this evening." Skylar smiled, showing off two rows of pearl white teeth while the others did their best not to stare. "Everything's on the house. NYPD and friends eat free here." She laughed lightly, showing off her dimples and shining blue eyes. "So what can I get you?"
There was a scatter of food and drink orders around the table and she jotted them down with a none-the-wiser smile, making a small joke with Liv – they could all keep their cool, but Elliot was gone.
She had his eyes – and his dimples.
Those eyes were his, right down to those flecks of gold around the left edge of her iris.
And when she turned those eyes on him, still patient with a slightly slack-jawed man, as though it wasn't her first time dealing with one; she was pretty; she was a waitress, of course it wasn't.
"Sir, you're going to have to tell me what you want. I can't read minds unfortunately." She cocked her head softly, kind face going towards sympathy.
Elliot blinked and shook his head, dutifully ignoring the chuckles and snickers form the others. "I'll have the burger please. Well done and a root beer." He managed at last, coughing to clear up some of the hoarseness in his voice. "Thank you."
Skylar smiled, ponytail swaying as she bounced on the balls of her feet slightly. "Sure thing, honey." She replied cheerfully, flashing the group another dazzling smile. "I'll put those orders in right away and someone will be by with some waters."
With that, she spun around and headed back towards the kitchen where Elliot watched her hand off their ticket just as the GLEE version of Valerie began playing throughout the diner.
"Dinner and a show." Mike commented, smiling easier than he had in a while as Skylar and the other wait-staff began singing. Her voice carried above the others – full-bodied and strong. "I can see why this place is so popular."
"I can't imagine the practice that goes into it." Liv paused, smiling as she watched Skylar spin around. "They must really love their jobs."
"I feel like I'm stuck in a giant ball of pink bubblegum." Nick murmured, though he hid his tapping foot well.
George looked at Elliot with more concern than normal as the man began to fidget, looking annoyed, hurt and lost all the same time. Elliot Stabler, nervous? No one would've thought they'd live to see the day, let alone that it was even possible.
They were watching the dancing and singing wait-staff until the song ended and their waters showed up. Elliot's gaze zeroed in on Skylar who was leaning against the wall with one hand pressed to her chest and a look of pain creasing her otherwise bright features. "She doesn't look good." Carisi murmured as they watched the bubbly teenager with concern. "You think she's okay?"
George pressed his lips together. "I don't think anyone who looks to be in that much pain is okay." He stated evenly. "But there's not really anything we can do at the moment."
Amanda frowned, a dissatisfied furrow between her eyebrows as she watched Skylar come over with a food laden tray, snapping open the small tray rest she carried in the other hand before setting the tray down.
"Two burgers, well done." Skylar smiled, although it seemed to be more forced than earlier as she handed Nick and Elliot their food. "One BLT with extra B." That sandwich went to Amanda while Skylar handed Carisi a Philly Cheesesteak and Mike his Ribeye. "One steak and potatoes for the best ADA Manhattan SVU has had in a while. A fish and chips for the good doctor and finally a club sandwich for the lovely Lieutenant." She placed one hand on her cocked hip as a coworker came and handed out their drinks before taking away the tray and tray holder for Skylar. "Let me know if you guys need anything else."
She was halfway to the door that lead to the break area when Elliot slipped. "Miss Marks!" He called out, startling some of the other diners near them as the others stilled, watching as Skylar froze in place before turning and walking back over to them. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to shout." Elliot managed, stumbling over his words somewhat.
Skylar nodded, frowning slightly as she studied Elliot's face intently before a small smile quirked her lips, looking around to make sure no one was eavesdropping. "You're Elliot Stabler, aren't you?" She asked.
"The one and only." Liv snickered and the others laughed nervously. "So your doc asked our coroner for a favor and here we are." She said, taking a bit of her sandwich.
"Umm…yeah." Skylar nodded, the curls of her ponytail bouncing with the movement. "I…um…I get off at nine." She stammered. "I can meet you outside and we can talk."
Before Elliot could answer, she dashed away to a table that was flagging her down.
The others gathered around Elliot's car, eyes fixed on the door of the still bustling Spotlight. "I think she handled it well, considering." Barba commented. "I know if someone had shouted my name in the middle of a restaurant, I wouldn't have been so nice."
Elliot shook his head. "I didn't even know I was going to say it until I said it." He muttered. "And, yeah…she seemed okay about it."
He stuffed his hands into his coat pockets, breath hitching as they watched Skylar exit the diner, her gaze scanning the parking lot before it settled on their little group.
"You guys stick around as backup or something'?" Skylar asked, but the words lacked an accusing tone. "I promise not to jump your detective." She teased.
The group laughed nervously. "Nah, we're just here for moral support." Carisi interjected, flashing Skylar one of his easy smiles. She flushed and looked down. "So now that we're all out here – standing in the cold, mind you – should we talk about the elephant in the parking lot?"
"You really do talk too much for your own good." Mike muttered, hitching his shoulders up as a gust of crisp wind threatened to bite through his wool coat. "Trying' to scare the girl away, Carisi?"
"The girl is standing right here." Skylar quipped before turning to Elliot. "I'm really not sure what to say…"
Elliot's breathing hitched again and he felt his throat go tight as the others watched him, while Skylar smiled at him warmly. "So you're my –" He couldn't finish the sentence, the words lodging in his throat as he continued to stare at her – at her eyes and dimples that were mirror images of his.
Skylar smiled again, hesitantly. "Yeah…I'm your daughter."
