Hi. This begins CUMULATIVE A. I think it's a good enough case, but the important aspect of this fiction is Elliot's return, setting the stage for the next fics in this section. This fic is pretty short, but don't worry, I think you'll be satisfied with it for the most part. Enjoy.

Floodgates

On scene around 12:30am

"Who's our vic," Amaro asked a crime scene investigator. A woman in a maid's uniform spoke up—and frantically. "I came back just before midnight. I'd forgotten the key to my apartment. I was only gone forty-five minutes! I found Miss Jamie curled in a ball in the bathroom. She was crying and there was blood everywhere! Oh, God! I've known her since she was four." The maid, Catherine, was trembling with anguish, her face damp with stale tears and fresher ones, her lip quivering.

Olivia straightened the old lady into a dignified posture with her hands at Catherine's shoulders in a comforting manner. "It's okay, Mrs. Livingston. Do you know anybody who would want to hurt Jamie?" Amaro left Benson to the task of questioning Catherine. He went over to the ambulance where Jamie sat as an EMT used a tiny flashlight to check her pupils. "How's she doing?"

"Detective, she's in shock. Won't say a word. Ride if ya want."

Amaro hopped in. The whole ride the girl barely blinked. She was so pale and her hair was dark as the night. At the scene, Olivia peeked into the bathroom where the bloodbath took place. Catherine was right. Blood everywhere. The walls, the floor, sink, tub, and the medicine cabinet mirror was cracked with blood and hair on it. She went for a closer look, then turned to an investigator behind her and asked if they'd gotten a sample. "We're getting to it," he said. "Good. Her hair isn't blonde."

Squadroom

Olivia slapped two pictures onto the board. "Our victim before and after the attack. She sustained three broken ribs, one punctured her left lung, a skull fracture, many bruises and cuts, and her nose is broken." Amaro cut in, "She also had anal tearing. On the bright side the idiot didn't use a condom. Finished on her lower back."

"Melinda's running it through the system. Let's hope he's had some run-ins with the law. Nick and Amanda, go check out her school, her friends." They grab their coats and head out.

Me and you, Olivia," asks Fin, comfortable with the status quo.

"Yeah, let's check on her recently-released uncle."

"Funny uncles," he shakes his head, "Everybody's got one."

Fin heads out a stride or two ahead of her. The elevator dings and opens and Fin exclaims warmly, "Long time no see!" Time slows down and every sound is muffled except for Benson's own breathing and heartbeat. Fin and Elliot broke their shoulder-hug and Elliot faced an approaching Sgt. Benson. "Olivia," he says warmly, reaching out a hand.

She goes from dazed and confused to utterly enraged and accomplishes three whole strides in one motion. She throws herself at Elliot with her right arm cocked back. Her hook caught him in his left eye and he almost goes down but catches himself. Fin yanked her back.

"Olivia!"

"I gave you twelve years! And I don't get one word!"

Fin puts her in her office and she slams the door behind her. She grimaces away the tears, holding her stomach with one arm as if it physically hurts from anger and hurt. Elliot rubbed the left side of his face. Fin approached him as they both composed themselves. "Look, man, you really should've given somebody a heads up. She's pissed."

"I see that!"

"Who was she gonna talk to? Us? No. She locked it away with her mom and her dad and her victims. I should really kick your ass myself but we're both getting too old for this."

"So maybe I deserve this."

"Maybe? You should've said something. That was a crap move. Just hope it didn't cost you your friend."

Benson came out of her office pacing toward them. "I'm ready, Fin." They got on the elevator. As the door closed she and Elliot looked each other in the face. No words. Only tense faces.

NYU

Nick and Amanda walk toward a group of students wearing math club sweaters. "Hi. I'm Det. Rollins. This here is Det. Amaro. Tell me about your friend, Jamie." The small group, two males and a female, don't look fazed yet. The girl responded, "I'm Carla. This is my brother Carlisle. That's Joe. What's up with Jamie? She's not gonna make it to the tournament Friday night?" Amaro said, "If she does go she'll be going in a body cast. Who's got it in for her?" Joe looks at Carla then Carlisle. "She's really pretty and all but she doesn't have friends. So she doesn't have enemies."

"So you can't have enemies if you don't have friends?"

"Right. You'd think someone so beautiful and loaded would be popular. But she stays under the radar." Carla cut in. "She's a weird one but we love her." Then Carlisle adds, "We sure do. It's a shame. She would've given anything to be in this tournament." The detectives look at each other, confused. "Well there are only three of you now. Don't you need her to participate," asked Nick. Carlisle scoffed. He said, "We can just declare ourselves handicap by default. Our teammate can't make it." Nick and Amanda run with that.

Apartment of Leo Gaines

Olivia knocks on the door three hard times. "Police! Open up!" "Olivia, how come you never talked to me?" About Elliot's leaving," inquired Fin. She just looked at him with a face of stone, "There was nothing to talk about. I was fine with his decision."

"You didn't look fine with it back at the precinct."

"Ya know, if anybody should've done some talking do you really think it was me?"

A man opened the door. Though he was dressed well, his face was harshly stubbled and his hair a mess. He looked like a cheap businessman drunk on cheap liquor. And young children could be heard playing in the back. "Whaddya want," he asked in a raspy voice that almost sounded painful. Benson and Fin simultaneously flashed their badges and made their way past the man.

"Hey, Fin. When somebody is convicted of child abuse aren't they ordered to stay away from children?"

"If I remember correctly, Sergeant Benson," he says, playing along, "But maybe things have changed."

Gaines recognized the name. "Benson? What the hell! Get outta here!"

Olivia peeps into the room where two children are playing "What are these kids doing here?"

"They're my grandkids and it's none of your business! Leave!"

A violation of parole is our business," Fin shouts, cuffing Gaines.

"How would their mother feel about this, I wonder," says Olivia.

"Guess we better call her. Tell her what's up."

Gaines laughs at their presumptuousness, "Guess what! These babies belong to my daughter, Amy. She lets me babysit. 'Cause I do it for free."

"Ain't nothing free," said Fin, "I know what you're getting out of this."

Olivia crouches next to the children who have since stopped playing and are watching wide-eyed as their grandpa is arrested and mirandized. She gently says, "Hi. My name is Olivia and I'm a police officer. What're your names?" The little boy looks at his younger sister then back at Olivia. "Is my daddy a bad guy? Like in cops and robbers?"

So, please review and tell me what you hate, what you love. By the way, do you see what's going on with that Leo Gaines part? It makes me feel kinda sick, but, hey, it happens in the SVU world. The next chapter will be up before the end of this week so stay tuned. It gets good. Happy reviewing!