Title:Who Knew?
Author:forshame417
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Casey Novak woke up for work Monday morning. She was the ADA for the Manhattan Special Victims Unit. She and her friends were like one big family, no secrets…except for one.
"Mommy! Get up!" A small body was lunged at Casey with full force. Casey looked down at her daughter.
She was six years old with long strawberry blonde hair. She was about three feet tall. Her eyes were just like her mothers.
"I'm up Charlie." Her actual name was Charlotte, but she liked Charlie better. It was also her father's name.
"Why don't you go take your shower while I make you some breakfast?" The girl nodded. She then hopped off her bed and into her room. Casey went into her kitchen and started to make some eggs and toast.
It wasn't hard being a single mom. Charlie would go to school and her friend's mom would drop her off at daycare. After work, Casey would pick her up. On weekends Casey would stay with her unless she got called in and Charlie would go to the neighbors.
Casey turned off the eggs and slid them onto a plate. Same with the toast. Charlie came in wearing her uniform with her hair slightly damp in a ponytail. She sat at the table.
Casey placed some food in front of her.
"Eat up." Charlie started.
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"Instead of going to daycare today, can I go over Sarah's house?" Sarah was her best friend as of last year.
"Okay, let me call her mom."
"She already knows." Casey nodded. She then started to walk out of the kitchen.
"I'm going to get ready for work, finish up."
"Okay!" called Charlie. She finished and placed her plate in the sink. She entered her room and grabbed her backpack and coat. She sat in the living room and flipped on the T.V.
A few minutes later, Casey came in with her coat and briefcase.
"Let's roll." Charlie switched off the T.V. and pulled on her coat. Casey did the same and took her daughter's backpack. She left her apartment locking the door behind them and they were off.
At the precinct
Casey strode into the bullpen. She walked over to Olivia and Elliot's conjoined desks. She held out a piece of paper.
"Here's your warrant." Olivia took and looked it over.
"Thanks, Case." She then turned to her partner. "Let's go nail his ass." Elliot grinned and stood up following his partner.
They got into Elliot' car and started off to the preps house. He was a Caucasian man who had raped and killed three women. He was also known for murdering a few people in the past.
The two stepped out of the car and walked up to the door. Elliot knocked on the door.
"Mr. Monteg, open up it's the police." After a few seconds, a gruffy man came to the door.
"What do you want?" Olivia turned him around and slapped some cuffs onto his wrist and started to lead him towards the car.
"You are under arrest for the rapes of three minors. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law." She finished his rights and they were off to the precinct.
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Later on, Casey had left work to pick up Charlie from her friend's house. They were then headed home. Casey spoke up in the taxi.
"So what do you want for dinner?" Charlie smiled.
"PIZZA!" Casey nodded, but groaned inwardly. She had pizza the last three nights. When they reached the building, the two stepped out of the car and walked inside. When they reached their floor, Casey opened the door and they stepped inside.
"Go put on your pajama's and I'll order the pizza." Charlie nodded and ran off to her room. Casey called in the order and went to change for bed. When she got back, Charlie was on the couch watching T.V. Casey sat down next to her.
"Is your homework done?"
"Yeah, we're learning fractions now."
"Really?"
Charlie shook her head, her ponytail bobbing up and down.
"They're really easy." Just then, there was a knock at the door. Casey stood up. She looked through the eye hole, and opened the door for the delivery guy. She paid for the food and brought it to the kitchen.
"Charlie, come and get it." Charlie got off the couch and went into the kitchen. She plopped down in a chair and took a slice. Casey did the same
"Mommy?"
"Yes?"
"Can I get a pony?" Casey chuckled at her daughter's random question.
"I don't think it would fit in the apartment honey." Charlie frowned, but then got the spark back in her.
"Can I get a turtle?" Casey thought it over. She shrugged.
"Well okay. How about this weekend we go get one at the pet store." Charlie started to bounce up and down in her seat.
"Yay! I'm gonna name him Steve."
"Steve the turtle?" Charlie nodded eagerly. "Well, Steve it is."
-♥-
After dinner, Casey and Charlie were on the couch watching Finding Nemo. For the fifth time this week. Casey had to bear with it though. She did anything to keep her daughter happy. Towards the end of the movie, Charlie fell asleep. It was getting late, too, so Casey turned off the T.V. and then gently picked up her daughter and started to walk towards her room.
She was about to place her on her bed, then she changed her mind and brought Charlie to her own room. She placed her on the queen sized bed. She then went into the living turning off the lights. She came back into the bedroom.
She left her side lamp on knowing of Charlie's fear off the dark. She held her daughter in her arms and went to sleep.
♣
Charlie woke up the next morning first. She looked around her surroundings. Why am I in mommy's room? She glanced at the clock, her eyes got wide.
"Mommy! Wake Up! Wake Up! We're gonna be late!" Casey pushed herself up in a sitting position. She rubbed her eyes.
"What?"
"We woke up late! I'm gonna miss school!" Charlie paused "Well it wouldn't be that bad." Casey laughed. She got out of bed and picked up Charlie.
"Go take a quick shower. You can eat breakfast in the car and I'll get dressed."She set Charlie down, who hurried to get ready. Casey got into her attire of a dress suit and heels. She put her hair in a clip.
She went into Charlie's room and grabbed her backpack and coat. She placed them on the couch next to her own coat and briefcase. Charlie came out of the bathroom dressed and ready.
"I'm ready, what are we having for breakfast?" Casey looked around. She went into the kitchen and grabbed a banana. She tossed it to Charlie.
"I'll get a coffee at work. Let's go." The two left, Casey closing the door behind her.
Casey was in her office doing some paperwork when her phone rang. She reached over and picked it up.
"District Attorney's Office."
"Hi Casey, its Olivia."
"Oh, hi. What do you need?"
"A search warrant. We think Monteg has his brother in on this. We think he's hiding the video tapes there."
Casey nodded, even though Olivia couldn't see it.
"I'll see what I can do. Bye."
"Okay, bye." Olivia hung up her phone. Just then, Cragen came out of his office and came towards her and Elliot.
"Who's catching?" Elliot and Olivia stood up. Elliot answered for them.
"We are, what've you got?"
"A little girl was almost kidnapped at St. Thomas. Teacher recognized the man from the paper, the mystery rapist. I want you to go question her." They nodded and left the precinct.
They always hated the cases with children. It was hard to understand why someone would hurt such a young, innocent person.
Olivia and Elliot arrived at the crime scene 30 minutes later. They got out of the car and walked to the scene. Elliot held up the crime scene tape for Olivia and followed after.
"Where's the girl?" asked Elliot. The crime scene investigator pointed towards an ambulance.
"She's getting checked out right now." Elliot nodded and turned to his partner.
"Why don't you go talk to the kid, I'll try to gather some more information."
"Okay." She strode over to the ambulance and climbed inside. She felt her heart drop when she saw the little girl, crying her eyes out. She then looked at her eyes. She looks familiar, where have I seen her. She shook off the thought and began.
"Hi there sweetie, my name's Olivia. What's yours?" The little girl sniffled and took a shaky breath before answering.
"Charlotte, but everyone calls me Charlie." Olivia nodded.
"Okay, can you tell me what happened?" Charlie paused.
"I was playing soccer with my friend, Jordan, and the ball rolled away. I went to get it" Her eyes began to water. "He pulled me by my hair. I kicked him and he twisted my arm." She started to sob. Olivia hugged her.
"I want my mommy!" she mumbled into Olivia's shoulder.
"Okay honey, can you tell me your last name." Charlie coughed and wiped her eyes.
"Novak." Olivia's breath got stuck in her throat. Casey could have a sister or brother, it's possible. She turned to the girl.
"What's your mommy's name?"
"Mommy." Olivia nodded. She got up.
"I have to go talk to my partner, okay? I'll be right back." She climbed out of the ambulance and joined over to her partner.
Elliot sensed that something was wrong.
"Liv, what's wrong?" Olivia sighed.
"It's the victim. Apparently her last name is Novak." Elliot looked at her with disbelief.
"Are you sure?" She nodded.
"It could be a relative, you don't know." Elliot rubbed his forehead. Something hit him. He walked over to the teacher with a confused partner in tow.
"Excuse me, I'm Detective Stabler." The teacher shook his hand.
"Rebecca Anderson, what do you need?"
"I was wondering if you by chance had information on…" he looked at Olivia.
"Charlie." She whispered.
"…Charlie's parents."
"Follow me." They were lead into the class room where Rebecca took a file from her desk and handed it to Olivia. She opened it and was shocked at the information it contained. Elliot peered over her shoulder. It read:
Mother: Cassandra Marie Novak
Father:Ceased
Olivia glanced at her partner. He remained speechless. She handed the file back to Rebecca.
"Thank You for your help." They then started to walk back outside. Elliot spoke first.
"Why wouldn't Casey tell us this? We're her friends." Olivia shrugged.
"I don't know," she stopped "But we can ask her right now." Elliot looked towards the ambulance where Casey was hugging her daughter.
Olivia and Elliot went over waiting for them to finish their conversation.
Casey held her daughter tightly in her harms, resting her head on her hair.
"Are you okay?" Charlie hiccupped, tears came back.
"My head hurts." She mumbled. "I don't want him to come back." Casey nodded, rocking her back and forth. Who would want to hurt a little girl? Casey looked around and noticed her co-workers looking at her.
"Awww shit." She muttered. She placed her arms on her daughter's shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
"I want you to stay right here. I have to go talk to my friends. If you need me, you can just come over." Charlie nodded. Casey got out of the ambulance and walked over to her friends as slowly as she could. I am in some deep shit. Maybe they won't be mad… When she reached her friends, she put her hands up in surrender.
"I swear, I can explain." Elliot crossed her arms.
"That would be good." Casey sighed.
"Okay, you know Charlie that I told you about?" Olivia nodded. "Well…I kind've lied. I actually married him a few months after I met him. I had Charlotte a couple of months after. A year and a half later, Charlie was on his way to work one day." Casey paused. "He was murdered by one of my ex-boyfriends in an alley behind his building. He died an hour later. Charlotte was only two and didn't know what was going on and I've been keeping her a secret because… I just don't want to lose her, I'm sorry."
Olivia pulled her into a hug.
"We had no idea. I'm sorry." Elliot thought over what he just heard. He then cut in.
"Do you think the man who murdered Charlie could have possibly been the one that tried to kidnap your daughter?" Casey shrugged. She looked down when she felt a tug on her skirt. Charlie was standing there, a paper in her hand. Casey picked her up balancing her on her hip.
"Charlie, these are my friends Elliot and Olivia. They work with me."
"I already know Olivia. She talked to my before. The doctor lady said you need to sign this." She handed Casey the paper.
"Okay. Why don't you go with Elliot and Olivia to the car, and I'll be right there." Charlie raised her eyebrow. "I promise, now go." Casey set her down. Charlie followed Elliot and Olivia to the sedan. She climbed in the back and put on her seatbelt.
"Where are we going?" Elliot answered.
"To where we work."
"Where do you work?"
"At a precinct." Charlie scrunched up her nose.
"What's a preesint?" Olivia chuckled.
"Not a preesint, silly. A precinct. It's were all the cops are." Just then, Casey came towards the car and slid into the backseat. She buckled her seatbelt just as Elliot started the car. They were then gone,
The group was in the elevator waiting to go up. Charlie had fallen asleep, so Elliot had picked her up. Casey shifted uncomfortably. Olivia could see that she was nervous.
"Don't worry, Case. I'm sure they'll understand, they're your friends." Casey nodded, but now nervous more than ever. The elevator dinged meaning they were there, Charlie woke up.
"Where are we?" Elliot shifted her a little, and started to follow Casey and Olivia.
"We are going to where I work. It's called the squad room."
"Who's going to be there?"
"My boss and other detectives."
"You're a defective? I thought you were a police man." Elliot suppressed a laugh when she tried to say detective.
"Well, I'm sort of both." Charlie nodded. They reached the doors and Olivia held it open for Casey and Elliot. She entered right after them. Everyone started to stare, but they just ignored it.
Elliot set Charlie down at his desk.
"Why don't you stay here with Olivia while your mommy and I go talk to our boss?" Charlie nodded. Olivia came over and started to talk to her.
Casey and Elliot gestured for Fin and Munch to come with them and knocked on Cragen's door,
"Come in." the four entered, closing the door behind them. Cragen eyed them each.
"What's going on? Where's Olivia?"
"At her desk." started Casey "Don, there's something I need to tell you." Fin cut in.
"Please." Casey started to explain everything from when she met Charlie, to his death, to Charlie almost being kidnapped. Don and the other two detectives took some time to process this information. He got his voice back.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Casey simply shrugged.
"Charlie is the only thing I have left. Without her I'm nothing. If I lost her… I don't know what I'd do." Munch placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it; we're going to find that bastard." Casey nodded, but remembered something.
"I think it's about time that you guy's met Charlie." Don nodded and stood up. Fin and Munch did the same. They exited the office and walked over to Elliot's desk. Charlie was sitting on Olivia's lap playing on his computer. Casey tapped on her shoulder. She turned around.
"Charlie, I'd like you to meet some more people. This is Don, Fin and Munch." Charlie smiled.
"Hi! I'm Charlotte, but you can call me Charlie." Don smiled.
"Nice to meet you." Fin pulled Casey aside.
"We have to question her still, see if she saw his face." Casey sighed.
"Okay, I'll have Olivia do it."