Chapter 2: Won't Let Anyone Else Have You
Olivia Benson walked into the squad room, scared and shaken. She was bruised from head to her abdomen and she sat at her desk waiting for her partner. She sat there thinking about her recent abuse and the others that she's had throughout the years. She had a spare coat hanging on her desk nd clutched it closer to her, scared and afraid. It was not like her to be this afraid, but her mother truly scared her. She remembered something and said it aloud, just as Elliot was walking it. "I won't let anyone else have you.", Serena would always say during her attacks.
Olivia didn't hear Elliot come in and Elliot saw her sitting there in a haze. "Liv, are you okay.", he asked, cautiously. He didn't want to pry but something was definitely wrong. When she looked up and saw him, he came closer and she reached out for him.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know who else to call. You are my partner. The one that I trust to help me get through this.", Olivia said crying.
"Olivia, what happened to you?", Elliot asked. "I can't tell you. She'd kill me if she'd know that I told.",
Realizing that she'd said too much. She quickly grabbed her coat and said that this was a mistake. She had to get home. Elliot stood up and that's when the captain walked in.
"Liv, you can't go. We need to help you. You have to let us.", Cragen said, and it was an assuring hand on her shoulder that made her feel safer. It was Elliot. She looked up at him and she saw tears in his eyes. She nodded and hugged him closer. Something was sore apparent that Liv was hiding and she called her abuser a she. Both Cragen and Elliot had her this, and they knew that this was not a boyfriend. This was a woman, someone close to Olivia.
"Liv, let's go in the bull pen and we can have a look at what this crazy woman dd to you.", Eliot said. "Don't call her that! She's dealing with her pain. She has been for twenty nine years, ever since I was born.", Olivia said and Cragen then realized who was her attacker.
"Olivia, who did this to you?", he asked, knowing the answer. "I can't tell you! She told me that if something were to happen, she'd never let anyone else have me. I can't tell you.", Olivia said. Elliot had connected eyes with his boss and shook her head. Cragen's head dropped and put his hand on Olivia's shoulder. "Liv, if this happens again, she could kill you.", he stated.
"She wants me dead, so if that's what it takes. This was a mistake. I am sorry Cap, sorry El, I didn't mean to drag you out. Just wanted to talk. You guys, the attacker is not going to kill me. I promise.", Olivia stated. She grabbed her coat and walked out of the precinct. Elliot and the Captain saw her leave and both started thinking together.
"We have to get her out of there. She wouldn't take off her coat, and you saw the bruises on her face Cap. We have to take this matter in to our own hands. I need to help my partner. I can't let her down!", Elliot said. "Let's wait till tomorrow and get some rest. Maybe she'll come clean and we can get her out of there someway.", Cragen said. Elliot nodded and went home. He had seen that his partner was struggling and would do anything that he could to help her. At Olivia's house, Olivia had just walked in and immediately regretted going out. There was her mother, right in front of her. She had that drunken look in her eye and that meant trouble. Olivia felt the anger coming from her mother and knew that what she had coming was so munch more than what she had endured earlier.
"You stupid bitch! Did you think that I would not know you were gone? Hm, Olivia. Did you think that there was someplace you could go to get away from me? Well, I know you went to the precinct. I know you went to meet your partner. I know everything, Olivia. You can't escape me. You my dear, are in a heap of trouble.", Serena said, slapping Olivia over and over again. "I won't let them have you. You are mine, and you're never going to that stupid job again. I knew this wasn't good for you. Do you see what you made me do?", Serena continued grabbing her drink.
"You made me do this, grabbing the drink tightly, as it shattered and then Serena picked up a jagged edge of the bottle and came at Olivia. Olivia tried deflecting the glass but felt it slice her skin on her shoulder. She cried out in pain and saw the blood. She knew that if no one helped her, she'd bleed out, but then stiffened up as she saw Serena coming again. That's when Olivia felt more hits and kicks to her stomach and finally she just laid on the floor, hoping her mother would stop. She finally did after seeing Olivia not fight back. Olivia lay on the ground, where her mother left her trying to reach for her phone, but that's when she heard the sirens. Her mother must have called the dispatch. Olivia glared at her mother, who smiled viciously. She done this to her and now she was smiling. She wanted Olivia to suffer through everything, until her dying day. When she died, Olivia was going to go with her and make her feel at peace. She was the reason for her suffering and it was time she knew it. Before the cops got there, Olivia saw that Serena had poured another glass of whiskey and then began to laugh. Olivia cried because of the pain and because she knew she was the cause of all of this. This was the image that she had known forever, since Olivia was a baby When the dispatch and cops got there, Olivia knew that her detectives would be there soon. Soon enough, as they were wheeling her out, that's when Olivia saw them. She saw Monique first and tried to call out, but all she could get out was a strangled cry. One of the local cops that was there tried to calm her down, then motioned for the detectives to come forward. Elliot came up next to Olivia and put his hands on her shoulders to calm her down. She put her face down and cried even harder, then made eye contact again and broke down even more.
"El, you were right. I need help!", Olivia cried in to his shoulder.
"Liv, look at me. Tell me who did this.", Elliot pleaded. When Olivia tried, she had another panic attack and the doctor told them they had to move her. Elliot told the EMS that he was her partner and he was riding. When Olivia saw him enter the ambulance, she cried into his shoulder. He tried calming he r but he could see that she was in pain. He held her hand and wiped her tears. Whey they got to the hospital, Olivia was scared to be left alone, but more scared when the doctor tried to do anything to her without Elliot there. He told the doctor that he was going to stay. The doctor allowed him to stay as they got the glass out of her arm. When they were done, Elliot was sitting there with Olivia. Her head was hung down. She was ashamed that this got this far, but it happened before. But she never felt this embarrassed. The information that she would have to share with her fellow detectives would be damaging to her family. Could she do it? Then, Elliot had come back in the room after being told he had to go because of the doctors' orders, while they cleaned her up more. When the doctor told him to come in, he saw her hanging her head and knew she was embarrased.
"Liv this is nothing you have to feel embarrassed for. What happened to you is not your fault.", Elliot said.
"No, El, I left the house. I should not have left home. I should not have come to the precinct. I should not have done anything.", Olivia said, crying. Elliot sighed. He put his arm around her and with her good arm, she put her arm around him.
"Liv, what happened.", Elliot asked.
"My mother attacked me.", Olivia stated. Elliot was shocked. He never expected this, however, the pain in Olivia's eyes was now reflected in his. He didn't know what to think at this point. How did her mother do this to Olivia.
"El, my mother is a victim of a rape. I am the result of that rape. That's why she drinks and that's why she beats me.", Liv said, when she knew he was looking for answers.
"Liv, I'm… ", Elliot started but could finish as her mother came running through the door. Apparently her mother had sobered up enough to get her act together and come and follow her to the hospital.
"Olivia, sweetheart, are you okay?", Serena said. Then turned to Elliot and asked him to leave. When he wouldn't she said that she would get a doctor to escort him out because there was no way that she was not seeing her daughter. After seeing Olivia freeze up, Elliot didn't want to leave, but the look in her eyes told her that she would be okay. He just hoped that in the hospital, Serena wouldn't try anything stupid.
"Captain, Olivia's in there now. Serena's with her. She said she would be fine, but I'm worried. Olivia told me that it was her mother that did this. Liv's eyes told me that she was okay, but I could sense that she was scared."", Elliot told Cragen when he walked out. He stood outside her room with Cragen and watched through the window how Olivia's mother treated her.
Inside, Olivia and her mother were talking.
"You shouldn't have left the house, my dear, all you had to do was clean yourself up.", Serena said.
"You called the cops, Mom. They were there because you called the cops.", Olivia said.
"Yea, I did. I could not watch my own daughter die at my own hand. But next time, there will be more pain. (Grabbing Olivia's face in her hand) You hear me. You ever leave the house again go anywhere with out my consent, there will be hell to pay.", Serena bellowed and then left the room. She saw Cragen and flirted with him. Eliot looked at her like she was crazy. Serena walked out giving her number to Cragen and winking. Both men walked into Olivia's room to see her getting dressed and about to follow her mother out.
"Liv, where do you think you are going?", El asked.
"No, Liv, you are not going back there. You are going to the precinct.", Don said.
"No, I can't. I have to go home. She threatened to do more damage if I don't. I have to go guys. I'll be fine. I'll see you at work later.", Olivia said and followed her mother where they saw Serena waiting by the elevator. Olivia walked out with her head down, like a puppy following his master when he did something wrong.
"Captain, we have..", Elliot started.
"We'll get her out, El, don't worry.", Cragen said. "She's my partner, Captain, I have to protect her. But it's more. I am falling for her. know I am married, but I have to honor my feelings. I am in love with her. I knew it the moment that she walked in the room.", Elliot said, with his head in his hands. The captain was shocked. He had never heard this coming from the detective about Kathy and it was coming from his heart. "Elliot, what about Kathy?", Cragen asked. "Kathy and I have our problems. She doesn't like the job, the kids think I'm never around. I can only go from my heart. Captain, I love her.", Elliot said, and then they walked out of the hospital.
"We can't do anything until we see Olivia later at the precinct. El, relax go get a shower and be back at work. Don't worry, she'll okay. She's strong.", Cragen said. Elliot nodded and went into the precinct and to the bunks. He didn't expect to find someone in there.
It was Olivia. "I thought you went home.", Elliot said.
"I called and told her that we caught a case. Even though I was right, I didn't want to face her now. She's furious with me.", Olivia stated and sighed.
"Liv, what happened? How did this start?", Elliot asked. He pulled his chair up closer and put his hand on hers. "I never had a father growing up. When I asked my mom why, she would always make up one story after another. He left, he couldn't handle a kid, the usual stories any single parent makes up when their kids ask. One day when I was sixteen, I had a boyfriend in her English literature class. I was going to marry him, but it wasn't what I wanted. He was not what I thought I wanted. When my mom found out, she went ballistic. She proved to me that this is insane and proceeded to tell me about my fahter. She was staying late one night at school when he came up behind her and raped her and left her to die. She never got to put him away because she didn't know her attacker. She filed a report but it went on deaf ears. I joined the force to try and find the bastard that did this to my mother. When she told me, my mother was drunk. She continued her booze trips overtime she saw me from then on. That's why I went away to school. I traveled far because I wanted to get away. But when I came home, she was even more thrown off the wagon then i figured she would be. The abuse seriously began then. I covered everything up. I can't do that anymore El, not now."
"Oh God, Liv, I…", El said and hugged her. The detective fell in to her partner's arms.
"El, I have to tell you something. I know you are married, but I'm… I'm falling for you.", Liv said. She looked Elliot straight in the eye and he smiled.
"Liv, I feel the same way. But let's make you safe first. I want to help you and then we'll explore this.", Elliot said and she nodded. She knew that this was going to happen, and then it was all about her. The Captain had texted Elliot that he was heading down to Olivia's apartment to talk to Serena. Olivia said she'd better go, because Serena was waiting for her. This was a mistake in her mond. Elliot stopped her.
"Liv, you are not going home tonight. You are coming home with me. Cragen will talk to your mother and then we'll go from there. But you are definitely not going back there.", Elliot said.
"El, you don't get it. I am her daughter. She won't let go of me and won't stop until I stop her and do something that neither of us want. Until I'm free, nothing will stop her.", Olivia said, breaking down one more time.
"Let Cragen handle this.", Elliot said, and held her close. He called Kathy and told her of what was going on but Kathy had an inkling something would happen like this and this was very bad. She knew that this would happen that he would take care of her and this was something she didn't. At Olivia's, Cragen was walking up the stairs when Serena met him at the door and told him that she knew he'd be back. He told her that she wouldn't ever get to hurt anyone again. Then Cragen saw her snap. She yelled at Cragen to get out and that he couldn't have Olvia and that there was nothing that she wouldn't do to control her daughter. Crane felt a little sad for his detective that she would have to deal with this woman until her dying day and one of these days something was going to happen. Cragen walked away feeling like nothing was accomplished because Olivia was living with a fallen down drunk.
"Well….?", Olivia asked when she saw her captain come in. He shook his head and she saw that there was nothing that he could have done. She looked down and sighed. She has no way out. She was stuck.
"I can do this. I have to, it's my mother.", Olivia said and walked out. Liv and Elliot held hands for a second when she left and she softly smiled. This was her life and she would have to face her crazy mother alone. But now that she was in love, maybe he could help her. Elliot would be there for her and she knew that. Back at home, Olivia had walked in and saw her mother passed out, with a drink in her hand. She was already drunk and Liv walked towards her bedroom, but as soon as she made her way past the living room.
"Did you think that you would get away from doing that to me? Did you think that you can get away with letting your boss try and stop me from being a mother to you?", Serena asked.
"Mom, you hurt me. They were just trying to protect me.", Olivia sighed and tried to leave but Serena talked to her again. "You're never going to get away with this. I'm too drunk right now but you'll get the punishment. You did this to me!", Serena yelled and slapped Olivia. Olivia sighed, she knew that this was going to happen. Olivia saw her mother sit down on the sofa and pass out. For now she was safe, until the next day when she would try and leave. Hopefully things would get better. The next day, Serena blockaded Olivia's bedroom door so she wouldn't leave. Her mother really wanted her to stay. When Olivia called to she just stated that she needed to call in sick and then they will deal with her punishment. She opened the blockade and watched as Olivia made the call.
"Uh, cap, I can't come in today. The wounds hurt too bad to go and I think I'm coming down with something." "Liv, are you sure.", Cragen said and waved for Elliot to come to his office.
"Yea, um, she won't let me leave.", Olivia said, and saw Serena get angrier. She told Cragen that she'd update him on her condition later and hung up. Elliot came in and asked what was going on with Olivia and he said that her mother wouldn't let her leave.
"Unbelievable. She's trying to control her. Cap, I'm going to get Liv. She's not going to do this.", Elliot said leaving the office. "No, El, let her figure things out with her mother. Maybe she would back off.", Cragen said. Elliot nodded, but had that disturbing feeling again. He called Olivia, and she answered on the second ring.
"El, what's up. Tell Captain I am not coming in. Feeling sick, although that would be a lie, he'll believe me.", Olivia said.
"Olivia, what's going on?", Elliot asked, but before Olivia could answer, he heard a scram. It was Olivia's scream. "No, El help, Mom stop!",Olivia screamed and then the line went dead. "He called Jeffries and Munch and told them to meet him at her apartment and left for the apartment.
"Liv!, it's Elliot, open up! But he could hear the screams from the inside. He had to get in there. But there was no way in. How could he get in?
Author's note. Please review. Thanks to those who've read my story. I decided to keep you on your toes and leave you. I know cliffhangers are terrible, but it's a great chapter break.