A Strong Fragility Chapter 1

I don't own SVU or the characters associated with SVU.

Olivia wondered why she didn't just go with her instincts more. Surely by now she should know to trust her gut. Her gut instinct was if she turned that phone on, she would be called and sure enough there was half a dozen messages waiting for her. Cragen told her to keep the phone off until she returned from her much needed, much deserved vacation; her sixth sense told her she was needed and sure enough, she was.

Olivia wished for the siren, but her private vehicle was without. She hurried to the scene, all six messages from her captain telling her exactly where that was. She didn't like the tone in Cragen's voice, this was serious and they needed her specifically. There were children involved and there was always a specific tone used when children were at risk. Special Victims included children, it's what they did, but still those young victims managed to break even the most seasoned detectives. Olivia knew for a fact that she had been broken many times by the littlest victims, too young to understand, too late to save.

The scene was pure chaos if described by an outsider or civilian, but she could see where the order started and unfortunately just a few feet from him is where it stopped. Cragen was involved in a heated conversation with the SWAT commander, refusing to stand down when ordered. Olivia was not used to seeing her Captain defy an order, he was all about respecting the chain of command. Today, that chain had missing links and Olivia scanned the area as she approached the arguing men.

Cragen turned when he sensed his detective approaching. "Benson, we need you now!" Don Cragen all but shoved the Kevlar vest at Olivia as he pulled her by the arm around to the back of the van.

"Captain, what's going on. I came as soon as I got your messages." Olivia eyed the hostage negotiator as he frantically set up his equipment.

"Raul Rossello. Ring a bell?" Cragen waited until Olivia had fastened her vest before handing her an earpiece. He attached the mic to her vest as she positioned the piece into her ear.

Olivia didn't have to think long before she pulled up the case that involved Raul and his two small children. "Yeah, he got a quarter and lost his kids to foster care. Captain that was nearly thirteen years ago..."

"Good behavior. Was sentenced before the guidelines changed. Twenty-five gave him twelve and a half." Cragen waved off the SWAT commander. "He wants his kids back, Liv."

"They've got to be teenagers by now, maybe older." Olivia handed over her gun to her captain, she knew she would have to go unarmed. Cragen simply stared at his detective, saddened that she easily figured out where this was headed.

"He's a loose cannon, Liv. He wanted Elliot to get his kids and bring them here." Cragen spoke quickly when he saw the look on Olivia's face. "We told him Elliot was no longer with the NYPD, so he said he wanted his partner. The lady cop that took his kids from him to bring them back."

"Captain, we've got to get her out of here." Cragen nodded to the head paramedic that had tended to Rollings after she went down.

"Rollins was sent to talk to him, got five of the twenty-five kids out before he shot her. He demanded to speak to you." Cragen watched as Olivia took a step back. "She's going to be okay, but she's having a hard time right now. She's not been around as long as you have, Olivia. She will crack if those kids aren't rescued."

Olivia turned away from Cragen, reaching for the door of the ambulance. She quickly stepped inside, just long enough to make eye contact with Rollins. The wordless conversation was enough to let Amanda know that she had made it and that she would do all she could to get the kids out of the school and away from Raul Rossello. Olivia pounded the back of the ambulance door once she closed it and jumped when the sirens started despite expecting the noise.

Cragen walked with Olivia as she made her way to the gate to the school yard. He didn't want her to go in, he didn't want her to have to face a man that had no problems shooting cops, but he also knew that she would do whatever it took to save the kids that were in that school. "He has a bunch of kids, which is basically trading power. He wants his kids brought to him. We are trying to locate them now for no other reason than to talk to him. We will not bring them on scene."

Olivia cringed at the noise in her ear, quickly adjusting her earpiece. She looked around at the media that had already converged on the scene. She wondered if they knew the gunman's name for if they did, surely it would be displayed on the screen from every major television news station in NY. A madman at a local elementary school would definitely be breaking news and if his name was shown, there would be a chance that Elliot would see it. She felt confident that if Elliot knew who she was dealing with, he would come. He hadn't visited, called or returned her calls in nearly a year, but still she had to believe he wouldn't let her do this alone.

Cragen brought Olivia's attention back to him by grabbing her arms, forcing her to face him. "Raul Rossello is a live wire. He has twenty terrified children in there and has already shot Rollins. I need those kids out and him set up for a kill shot."

"Cap..."

"He has already shot a detective. He doesn't know if he killed her or not. He knows he is going down for good and I don't think he will hesitate to take you with him. He wants his kids, we want those kids in there." Cragen stared into Olivia's eyes. "Be careful, Benson."

"Detective Benson, are you able to hear me clearly?" Olivia's attention was directed to the voice in her ear.

"Affirmative." Benson wondered if she could be heard considering the mic was now underneath the hot, heavy vest.

"Name is Martinez. Joe is fine. I will be in your head until we are through this." Olivia turned toward the white van where she suspected Joe was. "Welcome back. I hope you had a good vacation."

Olivia gave a slight wave as she shook her head in disbelief. Cragen had left her, and she caught a glimpse of him as he was ordered to enter the van as well. She spotted her partner along the south side of the building, flanked by two sharpshooters. She couldn't help but feel at least a little relief to know that she was not going in totally alone. Nick held her gaze for as long as he could before Joe's voice in her ear made her look away.

"Benson, I am counting on you to talk to me. Talking to him, talks to me. He wants his kids and as long as he has hope for that, we have hope for those children in there." Joe cleared his throat which seemed especially loud to Olivia. "We have been talking with him via his cell and he has asked for you by name. I will be able to put him on a three way giving you direct access to talk to him. Talk to him, he asked for you, make sure he knows it's you."

Olivia looked up at the sky, taking a minute to realize how blue a cloudless sky could be. The air was cool which made for a beautiful day. "I'm ready, Joe. Call him."

"Raul, I have Detective Benson here and she is coming to talk to you." Joe's voice was much more comforting than the desperate frustration she heard in Raul's.

"Is that her? She doesn't look the same. Don't play games with me, Joe. You saw what happened to that other lady cop."

"It's her. It's been nearly thirteen years, you know. People change. Your children have changed as well, they're nearly grown." Joe spoke quickly, causing Raul to respond quickly.

"Raul Rossello. It's Detective Benson. Let's find a way to work this out." Olivia had entered the school yard and was slowly making her way toward the doors that led to the school cafeteria where Raul was with the young children.

"Benson. You're the bitch cop that took my kids from me, no?"

"I am that bitch cop, yes. Raul, we are trying to find Julian and Maria now. You know they are going to want these kids released unharmed first."

"Nice Benson." Joe had forgotten to give Olivia the names of Raul's kids, but Olivia rarely if ever forgot the names of the victims she saved.

"I know how the game is played. I give to show good faith and then you all lie to me." Raul's voice was venom laced and this made Olivia that much more nervous as she continued making her way toward the school.

"Come on, Raul. You know as well as I do why you chose a school. You knew it was an easy way to come up with trading power. Give me those kids and I will then give to you." Olivia stopped just short of the school, her gaze falling onto Nick who was only a few feet from her.

"Who's out there with you, Benson?"

"No, Olivia. Do not give up Amaro's position." Joe's order was clear, but Olivia chose not to hear him. Her ass was on the line right now, she trusted her gut after all these years and her gut said tell him.

"My partner. I need someone I trust to help me get those kids to safety." Olivia tried to see inside the cafeteria but the glare from the sun hitting the windows was nearly blinding.

"They told me your partner had left. That self-righteous son of a bitch couldn't handle it, huh?" Raul laughed and Olivia was back nearly thirteen years ago with his voice.

"I have a new partner. Raul, it's time to give us something." Olivia could hear Joe talking to Cragen, but couldn't quite make out what he was saying.

"I want my kids brought to me. I am losing patience, Benson." Raul's voice as now filled with warning.

"We are working on that like I said. I want those kids." Olivia made her voice equally as demanding.

There was no response from Raul so Joe cut in. "Raul, you said it yourself, show of good faith."

"Benson, I want you in here. They will move faster if it's one of their own." Raul ordered one of the kids to open the door.

Olivia walked into the cafeteria, giving herself a few minutes for her eyes to adjust. "Raul, these kids are terrified. Come on, look at them."

"Turn around." Olivia did as ordered, her hands kept raised to show she wasn't a threat to Raul. "Get them out of here. Not these two."

Olivia glanced at the two children Raul held close to him. "Raul, them too. I will stay, let them go too."

"Take it or leave it, Benson." Raul used his gun to motion to the children that were all sitting against the wall.

"Get them kids out now, Benson!" Joe's direct order frustrated Olivia but she complied to both Joe and Raul.

Olivia hurried over to the frightened children, directing them to run to the police man at the door. Nick held his hands out to the children while he glanced around inside the cafeteria. He took in the possible entry spots for a sharpshooter to make contact. Olivia knew better than to feel any sense of relief when there were still two children and herself to get out as well.

"Tell them his kids are on the way." Joe's suggestion was once again ignored.

"Raul, we are trying to get your kids here. They are teenagers now, it's going to take some time to find them. Look at these two kids, they're scared to death." Olivia took a few steps closer knowing the movement would force Raul to react.

"That's close enough." Raul aimed his gun at the little boy. Olivia tried not to look into the boys eyes, but she could feel the fear that she refused to see.

"Okay, Raul. Okay." Olivia held her hands up in a surrendering position.

"You give me mine back and you can have these two." Raul used his gun to point at the little boy.

Olivia could see how scared the little boy was and she could feel he was going to pull away and in that very instant he did. He reached for Olivia but fell just short of her hands. "No!"

Raul immediately knelt down behind Olivia, his gun touching her temple. He screamed at the officers outside not to come in. He especially glared at Nick as he held a shaking gun against Olivia's head.

Olivia rested her fingers against the boy's neck. She looked up, meeting Nick's glare through the window. It was all she could do not to react to the lifeless child she held in her arms.

"Benson! Talk to me." Joe's voiced pierced through her senses.

"Raul, it's not too late. Let me get him out of here. He needs help." Olivia picked the boy up, ignoring the blood as it covered the front of her vest. "Please, Raul!"

Raul stared at the boy. "I didn't mean to hurt him. Oh, God!"

Olivia started toward the door with the boy, looking back at the traumatized little girl who watched her. Raul was so concentrated on Olivia's movements that he had forgotten about the little girl and Olivia prayed she would run the other way and out into the school. Olivia felt Raul as his body was pressed against hers from behind, clearly using her as shield as Olivia opened the door.

"Okay?" Nick reached for the boy as Olivia flinched against the gun Raul jammed into the side of her head. He tried to read her eyes but all he could see was what Olivia already knew. The boy was dead and Raul was definitely a live wire as Joe had explained earlier.

"Benson, as soon as you're clear of him, we are moving in. Create distance as soon as possible." Joe's voice was more of a threat as Olivia immediately looked for the little girl. If Raul had forgotten about her, mentioning the fact to Joe that there was still one more child would draw his attention to her.

"Raul, it's not too late. They're going to help that little boy. You've got to end this before it's too late." Olivia could feel the way Raul shook against her and she dared move against his gun. She allowed herself a deep breath when she felt him pull the gun away from her head.

"I just wanted my kids. Why wouldn't they give me my kids back. I did my time, but still they said no." Raul was coming unglued and Olivia knew his erratic motions would create the distance Joe was looking for.

"Benson." Joe warned through Olivia's earpiece.

Olivia was silent as Raul's attention was pulled by the crying girl just a few feet away. He created the distance himself as he started toward her. "Run!" Olivia watched as the girl did as Olivia ordered.

The noise was deafening as Olivia immediately hit the floor, covering her head as gunfire filled the room. Finally, she could hear the little girl screaming, the officers hollering and Joe in her ear.

Olivia ignored Joe's orders to respond as she crawled over to the little girl who was trapped beneath the weight of Raul's body. "It's okay, it's okay." Olivia knew it was anything but okay but the way that little girl stared at her told her it had to be. Olivia pulled her away from Raul as the officers entered, guns drawn.

"Olivia!" Nick's voice was a welcomed distraction for Olivia as she pulled the girl in close to her, shielding her head into her chest.

"Benson!" Joe was awaiting some kind of response.

"Suspect in custody." Olivia watched Nick as he shook his head after checking Raul. "Suspect is dead."

Nick knelt down in front of Olivia, waiting for her to hand the girl over. He would wait until she was ready, but he suddenly realized there would be no hurrying now. Olivia closed her eyes as she felt the movements of the little girl in her arms still. Olivia had no idea where she had been hit, but what did it matter now anyway.

"Come on, Liv." Nick guided her to her feet, not even trying to take the girl from her. He walked with her from the school and toward the commotion in the street. The news cameras were held back, but it was known that the scene would be caught on camera anyway. The image of Olivia carrying the lifeless child from the school would be broadcast on every news station ensuring that none of those present would ever forget what had just transpired.

Olivia stood in front of her captain, the blank stare she greeted him with nearly broke his heart yet he reached for the girl. Olivia allowed Cragen to take the child from her where he immediately handed her over to the waiting medic. "It's too late."

Joe made his way toward Olivia, removing his headset as he stopped in front of her.

"You moved in too soon. You moved in too soon and now it's too late." Olivia's voice was rough and Cragen held his hand up to Joe, suggesting he leave her alone; at least for a few minutes. Joe headed the older man's warnings and walked away.

Cragen watched Olivia as she stood nearly motionless. The blood from both children covering the front of her vest. "He was a loose cannon. There was no way, Captain."

"I know. I know, Liv, but you tried." Cragen's soft tone was enough to allow Olivia to finally break. Cragen quickly pulled her into his chest, motioning for Amarro and Fin to help form a barrier so that she could have whatever time she needed.

Cragen held his shaking detective not caring what else was going on around them. They would deal with the aftermath after.