I really should be studying for finals..
Olivia stood on the steps of Manhattan's 16th precinct, recalling the tragic incident that had unfolded there. Anthony Benson, better known by the SVU squad as Noah, was so ecstatic to walk from school to Olivia's work. Noah was like a nephew to John, Fin and Elliot and the grandson that Cragen never had. The eight year old boy told his mom that morning that "I am a big boy now" in his mostly manly voice and insisted that he was old enough to walk from school to the precinct. Now look it where it got him, lying on a steel table in the city morgue..
Noah always told Olivia that he wanted to be like her when he grew up but she never wanted that for him. She never wanted her innocent, happy child to see the world for what it really was. Rapists, cold blooded murderers and traumatized victims should be the least of his worries. She was determined to preserve his innocence. She would protect him, no matter how hard it was. But she couldn't protect him forever. He died alone, he bled out on the steps of the precinct alone and they hadn't even got the killer's face on the video cameras.
"It wasn't your fault, Liv," she heard a familiar voice behind her. Elliot was always there for Noah, be it Career Day at work and even though he was more of an uncle to Noah he faithfully took him to the Father/Son Weekend Fishing Trip every year.
"Really, El? I allowed my 8 year old son to walk the thug-infested streets of Manhattan and someone puts a bullet in his skull and it's not my fault?" she spat. He just didn't get it, Noah was her only child. He had 5 and he talked about them as though he had 4 to spare.
"No, it's not your fault. It's the son of a bitch's fault that Noah is gone," Elliot said, wiping his blood shot eyes. She hung on to the last word of his sentence, "gone", it was so final. The reality that Noah was never coming back had slapped her in the face when Elliot said 'gone.' She winced when Elliot put a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll get him, Liv. It's cold, everyone's inside picking those videos apart," Elliot said, taking her hand and leading her inside.
They walked through endless pitiful stares, but she didn't want pity. She wanted her son back. They walked into the squad room where Fin, Munch and a computer tech sat watching the video intensely.
"Got anything, guys?" Elliot asked, an arm still around Olivia's slender shoulders.
Fin shook his head. "I'm not getting anything from this but a bad case of "I wanna kill the bastard"," Fin said, his fists clenched at his sides. John nodded in agreement.
"Play it one more time for me, Liv you should go lay down," Elliot suggested but Olivia stood her ground.
Elliot nodded at the tech to play the video again. He pressed play and the tragic moment replayed itself on the Samsung tv.
Noah, Fantastic four lunch box in hand, had just turned around the corner when a black Expedition pulled up on the side of the curb. Noah looked left and looked right just like Olivia told him to before he crossed the street and used the crosswalk like he was told to. He began bounding up the steps when the black Jeep pulled off from the side and swung on the side of Noah, almost hitting him. A hand emerged from the passenger side and pointed it straight at Noah. A loud bang sounded in the streets and Noah hit the floor with a thud.
Olivia cried out in pain, not just hers but to see her young son be slain right in front of her workplace was painful. Elliot placed both hands on Olivia's shoulders to keep her from falling, while trying to keep his own tears from escaping. Fin put his face in his hands and walked into the cribs, John following him. Olivia looked at them questioningly.
"They've been working all night, they're just really tired," Elliot explained, as the tears fell from Olivia's eyes.
"I want to see him," Olivia said. Elliot shook his head at her.
"It wasn't a request, Stabler, dammit I want to see my son!" she said, clearly fed up.
Stabler gave in and the two walked down to the morgue together. When they got there, the usually opened door was closed which meant Melinda didn't want anyone inside... she had baby sat for Noah on numerous occasions and she was just as devastated as the rest of the team. Elliot knocked twice on the door before opening it. Warner was standing over Noah's body, looking at it as though she had missed something. She had been so focused on Noah's body she didn't even notice the two come in..
"Nice shirt," Stabler said. "You were wearing it yesterday, go home Mel," Stabler ordered.
"I can't figure out if this "6 bullet is equal to the bullet hole on his medulla.." she was cut off by Elliot.
"Go home, everyone's had a long couple of days" Stabler said it a second time.
Melinda wiped her eyes and began to put Noah's body away but Elliot stopped her.
"Liv wants to see him," Elliot said.
"That's not a good..." Melinda started.
"You wanna try reasoning with a woman that just lost her son, took out a Marine last year and is as stubborn as I am?" Elliot asked, tilting his head.
"I'll leave him on the table," Melinda answered quickly.
She knew just as well as anyone in the precinct that Olivia and Elliot were perfecrt partners because they both had skulls as thick as padlocks. Melinda wiped her eyes with her labcoat sleeve and left a note for the intern to put the body away and she raced out of the door.
"Ready?" Elliot asked.
Olivia nodded and walked up to the table. She stood over her son's pale body and pushed his tousled curls out of his face. She'd told him to comb his hair that morning, but he was just as stubborn as she was and "forgot" to do it. She'd never see him get his purple belt in tae kwon do which he was so excited about. Elliot pulled an arm around her waist and pulled her toward him when she began to cry. He looked intently at Noah's body as if it were supposed to bring him back, but he said it himself.
Noah was gone.
Elliot called the intern to put the body away and the two left the morgue together. They walked back up to the precinct and they stopped dead in their tracks when the tech guy who played the video ran up to them.
"Detectives, I think I might have something but she's not gonna like it. Follow me, if you will," he said and retreated into a backroom, Elliot and Olivia following him.
The tech stood next to Elliot and whispered in his ear. "I looked through the video again and magnified the shooter's hand, how many persons do you know with a bald head eagle on their hand?I only know of one, a particular fed Olivia put away.." the tech trailed off.
Elliot stared at the tech as though he had just discovered some profound truth. "Dean Porter's out of jail," he whispered back.