This is my first SVU story in a very long time, so please, go easy on me :). I've tried to stick as closely to the show's format as possible, and hopefully true to the characters. This first chapter's a little strange, but it'll all make sense later. All reviews are greatly appreciated.

Angela Manning

Tuesday, September 12th

I ducked into one of the spare bedrooms, turned off the light, and lied down on the floor. That only made my dizziness worse, and quickly sat up, resting my head against the bed. . . or dresser. . . it was something like that. God, I had had way too much to drink. I was so close though. I managed the 12 tequila shots that I had to. . . they'd finally accept me in their "group", wouldn't they? Too much thinking. I had to concentrate on not puking.

He knocked on the door and came in, switching on the light.

"Sorry," I said quickly, trying to stand up. "I didn't mean to sneak around your house. I just needed to- get away from the party for a little."

"Don't worry about it."

I managed a small smile and pretended I wasn't about to throw up. They didn't seem so bad after all. Lee had been wrong after all.

And then it happened. Then he leaned in and kissed me.

Olivia

Wednesday, September 13th

Breathe in, breathe out. Two blocks to go. I had definitely underestimated the actual distance of the trail I was taking for my run. Already I could feel the build-up in my legs that would lead to soreness later in the day.

I finally made it home, and stopped on the doorstep to breathe before I let myself in. I still hadn't met my neighbours. Then again, it was New York, and I wasn't living in a commune anymore. They probably wouldn't want to have anything to do with me anyways.

I switched on the lights, stretched, and stumbled through the mess on the floor to get over to what was left of the washroom. I ran the water hot and prepared to get into the shower. My heart still hadn't stopped pounding though. It wasn't from the run anymore, but from my nerves. This morning I was going back to SVU.

Elliot

I entered the station at the same time as Munch, who was trying to balance two trays of coffee and a box of doughnuts. I pulled the door open for him.

"You went out for coffee? What's the special occasion?" I asked him teasingly.

"Well, I thought we should have something to celebrate, and the captain won't let us use champagne because we're still expected to work today-buzz kill, huh? Anyways, I thought this would be the next best thing."

"Celebrate?" I asked.

"Come on Elliot, I know you two haven't been getting along great the past couple of months, but don't get like this."

"Wait, do you mean-?" I didn't finish my question, since the answer was standing right in front of me. Her hair was longer and lighter, but there was no mistaking her, even from behind.

Olivia.

I didn't say anything while Munch passed out coffees, and no one noticed me standing at the side. To my surprise, Olivia turned down the coffee and instead was sipping some kind of fruity-looking drink. Fin said something, and they all laughed. Then she looked over at me.

"Elliot, hi."

"Welcome back Liv," I said in a voice that I knew sounded too forced. We looked at each other, and I tried desperately to think of something. I was still mad at her. Well, mad wasn't the right word. Betrayed? Abandoned? She hadn't told me she was leaving, or how long she would be gone. She had called Fin, but hung up when he tried to give the phone to me. I wasn't mad about everything that had happened when she went over to computer crimes. I was mad that she couldn't trust me enough to tell me what was happening.

She opened her mouth to say something, realizing the rest of the squad standing around looking at us, but then closed it and smiled at someone behind me.

"Hi Kathleen," she said. I turned around to find my 17-year-old daughter standing behind me. The last time she had been here was the end of last school year, to chew me out for talking with her boyfriend. Slowly over the summer, she forgave me though.

"Sweetheart, what are you doing here?" I was startled to see such a difference in her from the last time I saw her. She was starting to change the way she dressed, the way she behaved, the way she spoke even. Overnight, she had gone from daddy's little girl to semi-rebellious teenager, and now to woman.

"Can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked me. She didn't seem mad at me- a first for any female in my family visiting me at work.

"Sure." I scanned the precinct quickly and saw an empty interrogation room. "Do you want a doughnut?"

She looked into the box. "Jelly filled? No thanks."

"Hey, don't knock them 'til you've tried them," Munch told her, a sprinkling of powdered sugar covering his lips and nose. I stifled a laugh and guided Kathleen over to the room.

"Is everything okay?" I asked her, pulling down the drapes. I didn't need anyone spying on us.

"Dad, you know how badly I want to go to Princeton, right?"

"You've been talking about it since you were four."

"And you know how hard it is to get in if you're from a public school, right?"

I nodded, although I didn't know if it was true or not. I had always figured there was some kind of quota system,

"So, I applied to a couple of prep schools. And I got into Manhattan Prep. And they're willing to let me start next week, even though the school year's started."

I inhaled sharply. Kathleen had been working hard all through high school, after slacking off in junior high. She had managed to stay within the top three in her class. Had made national honour roll. "Kathleen, that's amazing. But you know we can't afford it. It's-"

"They gave me a full scholarship."

"It's almost an hour-and-a-half commute from home."

"I know. But it's only a fifteen minute subway ride from your apartment."

"You want to move in with me?"

"Dad, this is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. Mom and I can't stop fighting, the twins are driving me crazy, and you have an extra room anyways."

I thought hard. "I'll call your mom. See if we can talk about this tonight. I'm not making any promises, I don't like the idea of you living in the city, and your mom does have custody."

"Thank you!" she cried, jumping up and wrapping her arms around my neck. She had probably decided to not hear me say that it wasn't a sure thing. To her, it was set in stone. But having my daughter happy with me. . . maybe it was worth it.

"Okay, now, come on, you're going to be late for school." She nodded and picked up her bag. I walked her to the front of the unit, and she hugged me again before taking off for school.

"Everything okay?" Liv asked when she was gone."

"Yeah." Again, I tried to find something to say, but nothing came out. Luckily, the captain had something to say.

"Sorry to cut the celebrations short, but Munch, Fin, Casey just called and needs you in court for the Owens case. And Elliot, Olivia, 16-year-old found in central park. Warner's going to meet you there."

"She dead?" I asked.

He nodded grimly. "Her name's Angela Manning. She a student at Lincoln Memorial. I want you two to talk to her parents, then get to the school."

"Elliot, isn't that Kathleen's school?" Liv asked. Her voice was concerned now, like everything from before was gone.

"Her old school," I replied quickly. My mind was made up. I picked up my jacket, and we set out towards Central Park.