AN: This story was meant as a practice run for a planned story in the Criminal Minds fandom, but it got away from my planned exercise (as all good ideas should) and developed into a proper story. I hope you enjoy it :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Law & Order SVU. However, any character you do not recognize from the show is mine.
The Desk
Sunday December 23, 2001
7:00 am
Olivia walks in to the squad room and groans when she realizes that Munch beat her in and is already in the process of making coffee.
"Good morning Olivia," Munch says in greeting, "Want some?" He holds up the coffee pot.
Olivia nods, "Hi Munch and yes please." She grabs her mug off her desk, crosses the room and holds it out to Munch.
He pours, "Long day yesterday?"
Olivia sighs, "Yeah. We didn't catch any new cases, just caught up on paperwork."
Munch frowns, "Olivia, is that your locker open over there?"
She turns around, "Huh, it is. I'm sure I locked it last night and I haven't opened it yet this morning." Olivia walks back to the wall of mini lockers and takes a look inside.
"Is anything missing?" Munch asks from his desk.
Olivia frowns, "Just my extra sweater." She hangs up her coat.
Munch laughs, "I swear it wasn't me! Your clothes wouldn't fit."
Olivia rolls her eyes and locks her locker. Then she sits down on her chair and starts to roll it forewords. Suddenly Olivia stops. "John," she whispers.
"What?" he asks in a normal voice from across the squad.
"Shh!" Olivia says, and puts a finger to her lips. She waves him over.
He frowns but complies. "What is it?"
"I found my sweater," she says and points under her desk.
Munch raises an eyebrow.
Olivia stands up and gestures for him to sit in her chair.
He does and inhales sharply when he looks under Olivia's desk.
Wrapped in Olivia's purple sweater is a small child, fast asleep. Probably a girl from the amount of hair but it is difficult to tell under all the grime.
"What am I supposed to do?" Olivia asks him.
He rolls his eyes, "It's a kid Olivia. You talk to kids all the time."
She frowns, "This is different John, we've never had a kid turn up at the station and fall asleep under one of our desks. Can't you talk to her? Please?"
Munch shakes his head before responding, "She's under your desk so she's all yours."
Olivia starts, "John-"
He cuts her off, "Little kids and I, we don't mix well."
She sighs, "Fine. Go away. Call Cragen and Elliot. El's better with kids than I am. While you're at it, you should probably call your partner as well."
John rolls his eyes, stands up, and walks back to his desk.
7:15 am
Olivia sits down on the cold floor and is mildly surprised to see a pair of grey eyes staring back at her.
She smiles, "Well hello there sweetheart. Will you please come out from under there?"
The mass of dirty hair shakes out a no.
Olivia sighs, "Please?"
The birds-nest shakes negatively again.
Olivia tries something else, "My name is Olivia and I'm a police officer. Can you tell me your name?"
Thin shoulders shrug this time.
Olivia frowns, "Do you know your name?"
There is hesitation before the shrug comes again.
Olivia bites her lip, "Are you a girl?"
Her head nods slowly.
She sighs, a Jane Doe. "Do you know how old you are?" She asks.
The little girl lets go of Olivia's stolen sweater with one and holds up five twisted fingers. Slowly a single finger pokes up from behind the sweater come blanket.
Olivia winces when she sees the twisted fingers and burns covering the little girl's hands. "You're six?" she asks to clarify.
A hesitant nod is her response.
"Do you have a mommy?" Olivia
The girl wrinkles her nose slightly and then shrugs.
She frowns and asks, "What about a daddy?"
Olivia gets the same wrinkled nose and shrug.
She sighs, "Do you have a brother?"
There is a negative shake of her head this time.
"A sister?" Olivia tries again.
This time she gets a nod.
Olivia runs her fingers through her hair, "Is she younger than you?"
Jane Doe gives slight shake of the head.
She frowns, "So your sister is older?"
Another nod.
"What's her name?" she asks hoping for a verbal response.
What she gets instead is a small frown and a slow blink.
Olivia sighs.
So does the little girl, but her sigh rattles.
"Aren't you cold under there?" Olivia asks, "You could come out and we could find you a blanket. Would you like that?"
Grey eyes blink, but there is no other reaction.
Olivia sighs, "I asked two questions didn't I? That was silly of me." She smiles at the little girl.
A flash of teeth that might be a smile comes back.
"All right," she says, "Let's try this again. Are you cold?"
A slight shrug and then a hesitant nod are Olivia's answer.
She nods, "Okay. Do you want a blanket?"
This time there is a quicker nod.
Olivia holds out her hand, "If you want a blanket I need you to come out from under my desk."
The grey eyes open wide in terror and she presses back further into the corner, shaking her head violently and hitting it on the side of the desk. Dazedly the little girl blinks and frowns at Olivia.
Olivia sighs and pulls out something from her desk drawer, "This is a granola bar, I'm going to put it here next to you. Take it if you're hungry."
A male voice calls out, "Olivia?"
She stands up and backs marginally away from the desk, "Yes Munch?"
"You've been at it for quite a while, asking the same questions over and over. The Captain is getting impatient, he called and said either Stabler or Tutuola can drag her out if you won't."
Olivia frowns, "He wouldn't-"
Munch cuts her off by putting a finger to his lips, then pointing to her desk.
The little girl has crawled out from under Olivia's desk and is curled up on her chair, munching on the granola bar.
Olivia grins at Munch in thanks before turning back to the little girl. "Shall we find you a blanket now sweetie?" she asks gently.
The little girl just blinks impassively up at her.
Olivia sighs.
Munch stands up and walks across the squad room.
Grey eyes follow his every move.
Olivia notices her interest, "That's John, he's my friend. Do you have friends?"
Wide eyes look up at her and she shakes her head.
Olivia frowns internally and holds out her hand, "Let's go find somewhere warmer to talk."
The little girl shies away from Olivia's hand but slides down off the chair.
"Okay then," Olivia mumbles, "I'll just lead the way then, shall I?" She walks slowly towards the stairs, glancing back every few steps to make sure the unnamed little girl is still following her.
Olivia winces internally and holds back tears through sheer determination as she watches the tiny girl stumble her way painfully slowly across the room, clutching Olivia's purple sweater. When she finally arrives at the bottom of the stairs, Olivia looks around for Munch.
He's standing outside the squad room talking quietly with someone just out of sight.
The little girl stops just out of arm's reach.
Olivia sighs and sits down on the stairs, "Are you going to be able to climb up all these stairs by yourself?"
The little girl gives a brief, barely perceptible shake of her head.
"I could help you up the stairs," Olivia offers and holds out her hand.
Little Jane Doe backs up and looks back and forth between Olivia's hand and her face.
Olivia smiles sadly at her and waits patiently for a decision.
After a few minutes, tiny twisted fingers latch onto one of Olivia's hands.
8:30 am
With barely contained relief Olivia can see Munch preventing anyone from entering the squad room until they are safely up the stairs.
This is especially helpful as it takes significantly longer than Olivia would have thought possible to make it up all eighteen steps to the second floor. They had to sit down on the landing and rest for a few minutes because little Jane Doe refused every offer of help, other than Olivia's hand, to make it up the stairs.
"I promised you a blanket," Olivia says as she squats down next to the little girl, "Do you still want one?"
A hopeful look crosses her face for a split second then it disappears and her face is emotionless once again.
Olivia sighs, "Come along sweetheart, the blankets are right over there on that tall shelf. Can you see them?"
She receives a slight nod.
They walk together at the little girl's pace; her grip on Olivia's hand is much stronger than appearances would have led her to believe.
Olivia pulls down one of the grey blankets and turns back to the little girl. "Sweetheart I'm going to wrap this blanket around you but first I need you to give me my sweater back okay?"
The little girl releases Olivia's hand, shakes her head, and holds on to the now dirty purple sweater even tighter.
"We could trade for it," Olivia proposes, "I give you the blanket and you give me the sweater."
Jane Doe sniffs the sweater and shakes her head again.
Olivia sighs, "Okay. I'm going to put the blanket in this room and you can come inside with me. There is a couch you can sit or lie down on."
The little girl frowns but follows Olivia into the break room.
Olivia sits down on the couch with the blanket at the opposite end.
The little girl sits down under the table and stares at the blanket longingly.
Olivia smiles, "Come sit on the couch with me sweetheart, I don't bite."
Narrow grey eyes pierce Olivia's.
She sighs, "I suppose that might have been a bad choice of words."
Jane Doe just blinks at her.
There is a knock at the door.
The little girl scrambles out from under the table into a corner and cowers there.
Olivia just watches with a heavy heart.
The knock comes again and the little girl's breath rattles in what might be terror.
Olivia sighs and answers the door.
"Hi Liv," Elliot says, "I brought coffee from the deli and breakfast from Kathy." He holds up a tray and a cooler bag.
She lets him enter and answers "Thanks El you're a lifesaver," with a pained smile.
"Where's the little one?" he asks, looking around the room.
Olivia tilts her head in the direction of the corner furthest from the door.
Elliot looks over her shoulder and sighs. "She's so small," he whispers, "Munch said you found her under your desk."
Olivia nods and crosses the room with Elliot. They stop at the table, a few feet away from the little girl. "This is my friend Elliot," Olivia says and points at Elliot, "He's also a police officer."
Elliot smiles and says, "Hello kiddo." He sets the coffee tray and bag down on the table.
"He's brought breakfast. Would you like some?" Olivia hopes for an answer.
Silence.
Olivia sighs, snatches up her cup, and smiles at her partner.
Elliot opens the cooler and pulls out cutlery and napkins.
"What did Kathy make this morning?" Olivia asks as she sips her coffee.
"Omelets," Elliot answers with a smile. He pulls out three Tupperware containers and watches the little girl with one eye. He catches Olivia's eye and nods in little Jane Doe's direction.
Olivia turns slightly.
The little girl is sniffing the air and looking hungrily at their meal.
Elliot opens the first Tupperware and puts it down at the end of the table with a fork and napkin.
Olivia opens hers and sits down at the table.
Elliot copies her movements.
They wait patiently to see what the little girl will do, but she hasn't moved from her spot in the corner.
"That one is yours," Olivia says quietly and points at the Tupperware furthest from her and Elliot. "Come eat sweetheart," She continues with a sigh.
The little girl slowly rises and walks cautiously towards the table.
Olivia and Elliot pretend to ignore her in favour of their own breakfasts.
Jane Doe snatches up the Tupperware and darts back into the corner where she devours the omelet without the benefit of a fork.
Elliot frowns, "Liv is that your-"
She cuts him off, "Yes, that's my sweater."
"How?" he asks with a frown.
She shrugs, "My locker was open this morning."
Elliot frowns.
Munch sticks his head into the break room without knocking, "The Captain wants to see both of you."
Olivia looks between the little girl and Munch, "Are you going to stay with her?"
He shakes his head, "No, she'll be fine up here for a few minutes."
Elliot nods and rises from the table.
Olivia sighs, "I'll be down in a minute."
Elliot and Munch close the door as they leave.
Olivia crouches down near the little girl and smiles at her, "I'm going to go downstairs to talk to my boss sweetheart, but I'll be back soon. I need you to stay here for me, please. Can you do that?"
She gets a half shrug and an abortive nod.
Olivia sighs, "Thank you. I'll see you in a few minutes."
9:45 am
Cragen frown, "Benson did you lock the break room door after you left?"
Olivia looks up from the report she's reading, "Yes I did. Why?"
Cragen points to the stairs.
Olivia turns around and inhales sharply.
On the landing and descending slowly is the little Jane Doe she left upstairs.
She rises from her desk and goes over to the bottom of the stairs. She smiles up at the little girl, "Well aren't you a little Houdini. How did you manage to get out?"
The little girl shudders and doesn't respond.
Olivia sighs, "I'm not angry sweetheart, just surprised. You're okay, come to me. I won't hurt you."
"Benson," the Captain calls.
She ignores him in favour of talking the little girl down the stairs.
"Olivia!" he calls out louder.
The little girl flinches and grabs onto Olivia's leg.
She places a calming hand on the little girl's shoulder and half turns, "Yes Captain?"
He frowns, "Did you get a Polaroid shot of our Jane Doe?"
"Not yet," Olivia sighs, "El do you have the camera?"
He answers without looking up, "Yeah, just give me two seconds to sign this." He stands up and grabs the camera, "Okay where do you want to do this?"
The little girl hides more firmly behind Olivia as Elliot advances.
He sighs and holds out the camera, "I guess you'll have to do it Liv."
Olivia takes the camera and pries the twisted little fingers off her legs. "I'm going to take a picture of your face sweetheart so everyone can see how pretty you are. Okay?"
The little girl blinks up at her.
Olivia sighs and snaps a quick picture before Jane Doe can decide to protest. Then she hands the camera back to Elliot and bends down slightly to show the picture to the little girl, "See how pretty you are? We're going to take another picture later after we wash your hair and face."
The little girl just wraps her arms around Olivia's leg again.
Elliot raises an eyebrow and catches the Captain's eye.
Munch descends the other set of stairs and approaches Olivia and the little girl slowly. "Did you still want that blanket Olivia?"
She looks down at the shivering form attached to her and nods, "Yeah, thanks."
Munch holds out the blanket and Olivia takes it from him.
Fin, Elliot and Munch disappear into the Captain's office where he is already on the phone.
Olivia drapes the blanket over one arm and looks down.
Jane Doe holds out her sweater.
Olivia smiles, "We won't make a trade my sweater for the blanket right now. You can hold on to it for me."
Her lips somewhat curl up and she hugs the sweater tightly.
"I want to try something with you," Olivia says.
Grey eyes eye her wearily.
"I'm going to lie this blanket down on the table and then you're going to lie on top of it. Then," Olivia smiles, "I'm going to wrap you up in the blanket like a hotdog. Okay?"
Jane Doe smiles back ever so slightly and nods.
Olivia holds up a finger, "First I need to do one thing."
The little girl frowns.
"I need to see that note pinned to your sweatshirt," She points to the crumpled up piece of paper pinned to the little girl's shirt.
Jane Doe looks down, unpins the note and holds it out to Olivia.
"Thank you sweetheart," she replies and slips it into the evidence bag Elliot hands her. Olivia then lays the blanket out on the table and has to bite her tongue as the little girl slowly climbs up and lies down, her eyes full of fear when she looks up at Olivia.
"You're going to be much warmer in a few minutes," She says and starts wrapping Jane Doe up.
The little girl, looking at Olivia imploringly, brings one battered hand up to her chin and pulls it away.
Olivia wracks her brain, trying to think where she's seen that motion before. Oh, it's a sign! "Did you just say thank you sweetheart?" she asks curiously.
She receives a shy look and a nod.
Olivia smiles at her. "You are very welcome. Do you speak by signing? Do you use sign language?" she asks hoping for a yes.
The little girl looks at her in confusion.
Olivia sighs and wraps the little girls arms up with the rest of her in the blanket.
Little Jane Doe yawns.
Olivia picks her up, "It's okay sweetheart, you can go back to sleep. I'll hold you till you wake up. No one's going to hurt you."
She gets a soft rattle of an exhalation and the little girl closes her eyes.
AN2: Please let me know if you think I need to up the rating to M. Thank you for reading, please review :)