June 2011

'Long fucking day, huh Liv,' Elliot said with a smile, slowing the car as he took a left onto Isham Street.

'Yeah,' she said, rolling her eyes. 'Why do we always end up on the opposite side of town from the precinct?'

'Sod's Law. And Washington Heights is full of cranks with nothing better to do than prank us with false info.'

'Ha. Yeah, you got that right.' She pulled her bag up from the footwell and started searching through it for her compact. 'Got any plans tonight?'

'I wish. Microwave dinner in front of the TV.' He caught the sideways glance and raised eyebrow. 'Kathy's taken the kids on vacation for the weekend,' he explained quickly. 'Just to Long Island. ' He glanced over at her, waiting for a response. The silence got awkward. He caved. ' What about you?'

'Going out with some of my friends at college. '

'Oh. Well, that sounds fun.' Elliot hated small talk.

'Yeah. I baked some cookies for it.'

That got his attention. 'What, you BAKED? You?'

Olivia looked mildly pissed off. 'Yes. Why?'

'Well, Liv, the last time I gave you a ride home, you were using your oven for storage.'

'I have a small apartment,' she said defensively. 'And just because I don't cook doesn't mean I can't! See?' She produced a sandwich bag full of oddly lumpen, vaguely beige cookies and held it out. Elliot wasn't sure he liked where this was going. 'Try one, go on! They're really good.'

He reached out and took the bag from her reluctantly. 'Are you sure? Maybe you should save them all for your party tonight.'

Olivia snorted. 'Nice try. If you think- El, look.'

He slowed the car. 'What is it?'

'Look.' She pointed ahead at a little girl wandering on the edge of the street sobbing, maybe half a block away. 'She can't be more than about eight or nine, El. I think we should check she's OK.'

'Sure, Liv.' They carried on up the street and pulled over just short of where the girl was wandering. Olivia was out of the car before he even had the chance to put the transmission into park.

'Hey honey, where's your mom?' She knelt down beside the girl and shot Elliot a look.

The child looked at her, her lower lip trembling. 'At home.'

'Well, I don't think you should be out on your own, it's getting dark. Where do you live, sweetie?'

The girl sniffed and wiped her nose with her sleeve. 'I was meant to stay with my brother.'

'And where's he at the moment?'

She pointed behind her at a huge open steel trailer gate set into the industrial buildings that lined the street. 'He said he was going in there to find some junk to sell. I didn't want to because it was dark and stinky in there, so he left me out here.' Her lip began to tremble again. 'I want my brother.'

'It's OK, honey, I'll come help you find him.' Olivia stood up and took the girl's hand. 'El?'

'Yeah, I'm coming,' he said, pausing to lock the car. As he stepped towards them the girl shrank back behind Olivia.

'My mom says not to go anywhere with any strange men,' she mumbled.

'Well, your mom is right, but it's OK, he's a police officer, he's here to help you,'

'My mom says not to go anywhere with ANY strange men,' the girl repeated, louder this time. She began to cry again. 'I'm scared...'

Olivia looked at Elliot and shrugged. 'You wait here, El, I'll be right back.'

'Liv, I don't know...'

'Come on, honey,' she told the girl, ignoring him. 'Don't think this gets you out of trying the cookies, El!'

Elliot swore to himself as he watched Olivia and the girl disappear into the building. He opened the bag and sniffed. They didn't smell that bad, so he reached into the bag and pulled out the smallest one he could find, then cautiously took a bite. He wrinkled his nose. Maybe there was a good reason why Olivia shouldn't cook. He glanced both ways to make sure she wasn't in sight, then surreptitiously dropped it on the pavement and slid it into the storm drain with the toe of his shoe.

A/N: Starts off pretty slow but it'll get going soon, I promise! Let me know what you think, this is the first time I've written any multi-chapter stories so I'm still learning...