Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Borrowed Time

Chapter One

Stepping Over the Line

Olivia had fallen in love with the kids the moment she saw their eyes. They were a bright green that could liquidize Olivia's heart. Olivia could see something in them, but she couldn't grasp what it was yet.

The oldest girl was four years old, her name was Riley. The other child was a two month old baby, named Aubrey. Olivia had been dating their dad, Jordan Creeks for a couple of days, and was about to break up with him, until she met his two kids. She just couldn't do that to them. He had told Olivia that she was the first woman he had dated since his wife died, a month and three weeks ago.

It was now about three weeks later and Olivia had become apart of the family. Riley had even gotten used to calling her Mommy.

Olivia was at the apartment now holding sleeping Aubrey in her arms. Jordan was at work, he was an EMT and lately he had the graveyard shift. Riley had "Spongebob" on in the background. It went to commercial which meant it was over. Meaning that Riley had to get ready for bed.

"Riley, go brush your teeth, honey." Olivia stated.

"But ma…" Riley said sauntering over in her best milking it routine.

"Rye, we've talked about this before, you have preschool tomorrow." Olivia stated.

"How come Aubee gets to fall asleep in your arms?" Riley whined.

"Aubrey is a baby. I'm sure your Mommy held you as you fell asleep when you were a baby." Olivia explained.

"Aubrey gets you and my old mommy." Riley stated.

Olivia stood up, walking Riley to the bathroom. "She's not your old mommy. She is your mommy. I am not, so you shouldn't call me that."

"Well, I want to." Riley argued finally making it to the bathroom.

"I'm going to go put Aubrey in her crib, brush your teeth good, set your timer." Olivia said as she walked away from the doorway of the bathroom.

She put Aubrey in the crib and then turned the baby monitor on and took the other extension. She then went to the kitchen and made sure there was baby formula made up incase Aubrey woke up in the middle of the night.

Then she made her way to Riley's room. It was lime green and a light blue and there was no doubt in Olivia's mind that Riley's mom picked out the colors. Riley went to her white dresser and pulled out clothes setting them on the bed. She pulled her shirt off and something caught Olivia's eye. Riley was grabbing her nightgown when Olivia stopped her.

"Riley," Olivia said dropping to her knees and running her manicured fingernail over a bruise on Riley's shoulder. She saw that it was in the shape of a thumb print.

Olivia put her thumb up by the bruise and then turned Riley around, seeing four finger marks on the other side. "Jesus, Riley where'd you get these?"

"I was bein' bad," Riley said looking down at the carpeting, "I moutheded off."

"What did you say?" Olivia asked in shock.

"Well, dad toll me that I needed to be really nice to you cause if I didn't he says you'd leave us and….an he said I had to call you mommy. I toll him that I didn't want to. Well I want to…so I guess I toll a lie too…but you said that I couldn't call you that cause you weren't my real mommy, but he yelled at me and picked me up here." She pointed to her shoulder, "He frewed me on my bed, that's where I got this." Riley paused her little story to find her bump on her head and have Olivia feel it, "He left cause Aubrey woke up…but I was really sorry."

Olivia shook her head and looked at the carpet.

"Are you madat me?" Riley asked

"No! no…" Olivia said, "Daddy shouldn't have done that."

Riley looked scared, "Livia….are you going to leave us?!"

Olivia pulled Riley into a hug, and ran her hand down her hair. "No, I won't leave you."

They broke away for a second, "Riley, I'm going to need to take pictures of that and it's really important that you not tell him because if you do he'll tell me not to come over anymore okay?"

Olivia didn't want to scare her, but she needed to stress how important it was that she not tell him.

- - - - -

Olivia looked at her cell phone in the living room, about two hours later. She had Elliot's name highlighted in contact book. She finally pushed the green "send" button. She put the phone to her ear and waited for a response.

"Stabler," Elliot stated

"Hey, it's Liv." Olivia said

"Did we catch a case?" Elliot said hazily

"Uh, not really." Olivia said letting a small sigh out, but Elliot caught it.

"What's wrong, Liv?" Elliot asked

"El, you know Jordan," Olivia asked

"Yeah, your boyfriend." Elliot said suspiciously.

"Well…he…" Olivia said before being cut off.

"Did he hit you?" Elliot asked immediately, and loudly.

"No! no," Olivia said for the second time that night, "But his daughter has a bruise and she says he gave it to her."

"Well does she seem like she's telling the truth?" Elliot asked

"Someone had to give it to her," Olivia stated, "There was a thumb print on her shoulder and four fingers on the other side. What kid lies about that kind of stuff."

"Yeah, he gave it to her." Elliot said

Olivia heard rustling on the other side of the conversation.

"What's that sound?" Olivia asked

"I'm putting my pants on," Elliot stated like it was obvious, "I'm coming over there."

"Elliot please don't." Olivia stated, "He's a jealous guy, he won't like you being over here."

"He's violent Olivia." Elliot said.

"I know that Elliot." Olivia stated, "But you know that Health and Welfare is hesitant to take children away from their parents. I'm going to talk to him."

"So he'll stop making the hitting show?" Elliot asked

"Elliot, I can't lose them." Olivia stated loudly.

"He doesn't love you, he's just using you to be a mother to his children." Elliot stated

"I can't lose the kids." Olivia clarified, "I don't give a shit about him."

There was a moment of silence as Olivia soaked in Elliot's last comments. She was staring at the clock hoping to god that Jordan didn't come home early. He was due home in two hours.

"Look, I'll talk to him. He just lost his wife, he's a little on edge. I'll be really passive about it, and just tell him I don't want to see it again." Olivia stated.

"Olivia…" Elliot stated, "I can't lose you, so be careful alright?"