BELIEVE
Chapter 1 - Promise
DISCLAIMER: Don't own any SVU characters, just borrowing. I plan to return 'em fully intact. Any characters you don't recognize are mine.
A/N: I'm killing off Jeanine from the other story and reincarnating her in this one. She's going to have a completely different personality, and the setup is different, so I'm basically just using the same name. Also--this one will be a series of vignettes, mostly in chronological order, so hopefully it won't get too confusing. Anyways--enjoy.
The first thing he notices about her is the long, threatening scar down the left side of her face. Her expression dares him to question it. He doesn't. Instead, he asks her if she knows the kid in the interrogation room with Olivia and Elliot. She pauses for a minute and looks through the oneway glass. Yes. I know him.
They both lapse into silence for a moment, watching. I want to talk to him, she says. He keeps his thoughts to himself and says Alright. A moment later, she's across the table from this boy, this creature of hard edges, while the three of them watch from outside.
Look at me, Andre, she says softly, but with a venom behind her words. He lifts his head and she sees him for what feels like the first time. His skin is an ashy black color and his eyes are deep black like the night sky outside her childhood home in Virginia. She can't tell what he's seeing.
Jesus, Andre. You promised me.
Almost as if he's heard her thought, his eyes suddenly focus on hers and lock into place. I didn't break it, he says.
Yeah, she tells him. I know.
Another eternity passes between them before he speaks. So what's gonna happen to me now? He says it not with fear, but with resignation.
Her arms fold across her chest as her heart breaks for this boy of eighteen who had struggled against the world and come out on the losing end. You're gonna go back to prison unless you tell me about your friend. She waits for an answer, but he remains silent.
Fine, she says tiredly, standing up. You want to go back to jail for some no-good, drug-dealing piece of shit, it's fine with me. But Andre, she says, leaning down on the table, don't do this to yourself. I know you're better than that.
He says nothing and stares out over an expanse of concrete in the wall.
As she walks out of the interrogation room, she looks at every one of the detectives, who look back at her with expressions she doesn't want to read. One of them, however, the younger guy, seems to understand. She speaks only to him. I'm sorry, she says quietly, without knowing quite what she's apologizing for. Then, silently, she's gone.