Title: Nathan

Author: Youcantakethesky

Spoilers: "Infected" and some minor others later on

Rating: K+

Disclaimer: Don't own 'em. Making no money whatsoever

Summary: A boy from a past case has trouble adjusting to life and looks to Olivia for help.

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Chapter 1

Olivia Benson sat at her desk staring at the piles of paperwork she had to have done by the end of the day. She'd been filing out reports all day and her eyes had begun to ache from the tiny print. She leaned back in her chair and ran a hand through her hair.

She looked up across her desk at her partner. Elliot Stabler looked as if he'd had just about enough of the paperwork as well. Olivia was about to comment on the futility of all the paperwork on a case that had been open-shut when a woman walking into the room. She was a middle-aged African American woman with a kind face and Olivia was pretty sire she'd seen her before.

The woman saw Olivia and smiled. "Detective Benson," she said, "It's Amelia Jordan. We met a few months ago. I'm…"

"You're Nathan's foster-mother," Olivia finished, realizing why the woman looked so familiar.

"Yes," replied Amelia as she shook Olivia and Elliot's hands. "I was wondering if I could speak to you for a moment."

Olivia's brow furrowed. "Is Nathan alright? Has he been causing you problems?"

"Oh no," Amelia said quickly. "He's a very sweet boy. We haven't had any problems with him so to speak, but no I don't think he's alright."

"What's the matter?" Olivia asked.

"Ever since he came to live with us he's been drawing further and further into himself. He barely speaks anymore. He's very polite when he does but most of the time he is in his room, just staring at the ceiling. His teachers at school say his assignments are done well and turned in on time but he never speaks up in class or to the other students."

"Has he been seeing a psychiatrist?" Elliot asked.

Amelia nodded. "Once a week. But the doctor says Nathan won't talk about what happened to his mother or Ted Carthage."

"We might be able to recommend a doctor who's more adept at handling children who've experienced this sort of trauma," Elliot told her. "It's possible this doctor isn't very good."

"I'd appreciate that, but there's more. Nathan is uncomfortable around me and my husband, well around pretty much everyone. He won't let me hug him, or his foster-father pat him on the shoulder. He's so afraid. And he has nightmares, almost every night. I hear him calling out in his sleep. He calls out for you Detective," Amelia said looking towards Olivia. "Over and over he screams for you to help him. When I go in and wake him up he backs away from me, curls up, and cries."

"Oh my god," Olivia said.

"I'm not a psychiatrist," Amelia finished, "but my heart tells me that Nathan won't feel safe until he can see you again."

Olivia let out a breath and tried to digest everything she'd just heard. Her mind was filled with images of the boy she'd grown so close to in a short amount of time. As she recalled that first night when she'd stayed with him until he fell asleep she realized there was no decision to make.

"What would you like me to do?" she asked Amelia.

"Amelia smiled and a look of relief passed over her face. "I thought maybe you could come by on a day you have off. I realize you must be very busy but…"

"No," Elliot jumped in, "we have this weekend off. If they need something Captain can call me. Go see him Saturday."

"Thanks El," Olivia said.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate this Detective. I'll see you Saturday then. Around 11?"

"Sure."

Amelia wrote down her address on a piece of paper. Olivia took it and with that Amelia left the precinct.

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tbc

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