Scent - Chapter Two

Chapter Two:
The Three-Ringed-Circus

Manhattan SVU Squad Room
Tuesday May 15, 13:45

"We come bearing gifts," Munch said as he and Fin entered the squad room with pizzas, and bag of clothing and all Jess's textbooks.

Olivia and Elliot were sitting at their respective desks and Jess was sitting at the end of Olivia's writing a paper for her English class on Olivia's laptop; her teachers had replied to her emails while she and Olivia were shopping. Elliot had been to Simpson's place of work. They said he called in sick. Elliot had called Alex to see if she could get a warrant to pull the LUDS on 'We'll Call You', the telemarketing firm Simpson worked for. Cabot had worked her magic and compelled a judge to sign the warrant. Elliot had met her at the courthouse to get the warrant. She gave it to him and he took it back to the squad to start running the LUDS.

Elliot looked at Munch "Tell me you didn't get the pizza from Pino's again. That place has rats in it the size of house cats."

Olivia looked at Fin and shook her head. "Seriously Fin, tell me you didn't condone another pizza from there?"

"Would everyone relax? It's not from Pino's," Munch said, slightly offended.

"Yeah they were shut down by the Health Board last week," Fin deadpanned.

Fin set the bag of clothing and the textbooks down beside Jess. The two pizza boxes were set down on Olivia and Elliot's desks and the four detectives dug in. It was the first time it was quiet in the room.

Elliot looked at Jess. "Dig in kid," he said with his mouth full.

Jess watched the detectives devour the pie. "Do you people always eat like this?"

Olivia threw a roll of paper towels at Elliot. "No. Most of us have manners and don't talk with our mouth full."

Elliot stuck his tongue out with pizza still on it. "What?"

This garnered disgusted faces and noises all around.

"Elliot, you sicken me," Jess said laughing and grabbed a slice out of the box. She took one bite and knew where Munch and Fin had gotten the pizza from.

Olivia swallowed her first bite. "This pizza is the best, where'd you get it from?"

Jess looked at Fin and Munch and smiled. "Tony. You got this from the diner didn't you?"

"Yeah. He really misses you Jess. He wanted you to know that he is thinkin' about you and wants to see you when this is all over," Fin said.

"I miss him too." She really did. If she could see any two people right now she would see Tony and Connie. Jess just wanted to thank Tony for coming in when he did the night before.

"Benson, my office!" Captain Cragen barked from his half open doorway.

Captain Cragen started in on Benson as she closed the door to his office. "I thought you had gone for the day?"

"I took Jess shopping. We had to come back to the squad to get the clothes Munch and Fin picked up for her at her place." Olivia could tell where this was going. Cragen wanted her and Jess out of the squad room.

"I trust you'll be leaving soon then? This isn't a daycare Olivia; you should be at home with her. She's fifteen; this squad is no place for her." Cragen said shaking his head at Olivia from across his desk.

Benson nodded at her Captain. "I know, you're right. After she's finished lunch I'll take her home."

"See that you do. Oh and stay out of the Simpson case," Cragen warned.

Benson nodded and left the captain's office.

"Alex, you want a slice?" Jess asked.

Alex had come to the squad room looking for Olivia. They had to go over her testimony for a case tomorrow. "Uh.."

Elliot chimed in. "Come on, have one."

Jess egged her on. "Best pie in the city."

Alex smiled as she looked at the young victim. Since her return she had not spent a lot of time socializing with the detectives. It was her own fault, she had been asked out to their local watering hole many times over the last few months. Alex had wanted to keep a distance between herself and the squad; she had answered enough questions about her time away. This was different though, she had never had a victim ask her to have lunch. "Well I have to try that." Alex put down her brief case, took a slice and bit into it. "This really is the best slice I've had in a long time. Where's it from?"

Jess smiled. "Tony's Diner. He makes the best of everything."

Olivia joined the group at the desks. She and Alex exchange nods. Jess was the only one who picked up on it. There was something exchanged between the detective and the A.D.A. Jess wasn't sure what it was, but she knew there was definitely a story there.

Fin nodded to the now closed Captain's office door. "What was that about?"

Olivia looked over at Jess. "Jess after lunch we are going back to my place."

For all intents and purposes, Jess actually liked being in the squad room. There was always someone around and it was never quiet. She liked Olivia's place but Jess knew it would be too quiet there. "What? Why?"

Olivia raised her right eyebrow. She found it odd that the young woman wanted to stay in the squad. "Because."

Jess looked at Olivia but she didn't push anymore. It wasn't her place.

Alex looked at Olivia. "Olivia, we need to go over your testimony for the trial tomorrow."

Olivia sighed. "Oh shit, that's right. I have to testify at the Menendez trial tomorrow."

"We can do it here, in the squad." Alex suggested.

"Olivia I can just finish my homework here. You and Alex can do whatever you need to, it's cool."

The detective sighed. It was far from cool.

Elliot took out his wallet from his back pocket and fished out a dollar. He slipped it across the desk, "Jess, why don't you get yourself a soda out of the machine?"

"Subtle", Jess said sarcastically as she rolled her eyes at the detective but took the cue and the money and left.

"What the hell happened in there?" Fin asked

"Captain wants me to take Jess to my place. He says the squad is not place for her. I have to agree with him. Alex can we do the prep at my place?"

The thought of going to Olivia's place sounded like a nice way to spend the afternoon to Alex. The problem was they did have to get work done. They could not throw caution to the wind and fuck around. Not only that, Jess would be there. Alex was not sure Olivia had thought this through completely. "Yeah I guess. Are you sure you want to be prepped in front of Jess though?"

Olivia raised her eyebrows. "Hits a little close to home. I don't want her to hear that crap."

"Look, prep in Interview one. I'll watch Jess," Elliot said as he looked at his partner.

Olivia shook her head. "Captain's not going to like that. You can't just stay here and baby-sit, we gotta get Simpson."

"I'm running a search for any property he owns and pulling his LUDS. Plus I'm going through the small bit of evidence from Simpson's place. I can do all that right here in the squad."

"Where are we on the Simpson case anyway?" Alex asked. She genuinely wanted to know, but also asked because she knew Olivia couldn't.

"He wasn't at work, called in sick as you already know. Once the LUDS come back hopefully we can get TARU to trace where the call originated. Hasn't been home, hasn't been to the diner, doesn't have a car, no credit cards. We ran his social and got his bank account, only a chequing and we're tracking it. Wasn't friendly with his co-workers, never spoke about family or friends with them," Elliot said.

"Canvassed his building; neighbours say Simpson kept to himself. Never bothered anyone, not real social," Fin answered.

"None of them remember ever seeing him with company. He did have a laptop that we gave to computer crimes. He also had numerous photographs of Jess dating back about two years. They were the only pictures in his apartment. All the pictures were taken with a telephoto lens. Nothing else noteworthy in Simpson's apartment; no bloody clothing or a knife," Munch added.

"Has the DNA come back on the rape kit?" Olivia asked.

Elliot shook he head. "Not yet."

"We can go to the lab and sit on them. I know Jess ID'd Simpson but it would be nice to see if he's in the system already," Munch offered.

Alex furrowed her brow. "How is this guy thirty-five and so squeaky clean?"

Elliot looked at her. "Social's only two years old. Before that there is no record of this Mitch Simpson. No work records, no driver's license, no bank accounts, nothing."

Alex raises her brow. "Are you kidding me?"

Munch looked from Stabler to Alex "We couldn't make this crap up. It's obvious this guy changed his name two years ago. He has reinvented himself once; it would be pretty easy for him to do it again."

"We gotta get that DNA. If he had a record under an alias it'll come up," Benson said.

Alex looked between all four SVU Detectives. "We have no bloody clothing, no murder weapon; fluids aren't back yet, no family to speak to about the suspect and no history on the suspect prior to two years ago? Do me a favor Detectives find me at least one of the above or we have nothing."

"Detective Benson?" A uniformed officer interrupted. He had a manila envelope in his hand.

Olivia looked at him, annoyed and barked. "Yes?!"

The officer handed Benson the envelope. "This was dropped off at the front desk for you."

"Thanks." Benson took it from the officer and he left.

"We'll head over to the lab and wait for the DNA," Munch said. He knew Alex was right, they all did.

Benson opened the envelope.

"Sounds good," Stabler said.

"Oh shit!" Benson said and spilled the contents of the envelop on her desk.

Elliot pushed the pictures around with the end of a pen so he could see the one of himself better.

"Fuck off, when were these taken?"

"Today, look this one is from when we were going into Jess's apartment," Fin said pushing the picture of him and Munch around with a pen.

"Shit, you're right. The one of me was taken outside Simpson's work."

Benson opened her desk and took a pair of latex gloves out of a box. "Oh my God, this one is of Jess. This is from today. Simpson knows we have her." Benson picked up the picture and flipped it over. 'It would be so easy to take her' was hand written in black permanent ink.

The hairs on the back of Olivia's neck stood up; panic started to set in. "Oh fuck, where is Jess?" Benson was looking directly at her partner.

"Shit, it's taking a long time to get that soda," Stabler said as he and Benson stood never breaking eye contact. The four detectives and the ADA sprinted to the soda machine.

Panic had totally overcome Olivia. "Where is she?!"

Fin looked at Benson "She can't be far. Split up, we'll find her Liv."

The five of them split up to search for Jess. Munch, Stabler and Fin went downstairs to check out the squad room, bathrooms, processing and holding cells. Benson and Cabot took the floor they were on, searching interview rooms, bathrooms and the crib.

"Where did everyone go?" Jess asked Captain Cragen, who was standing by Olivia and Elliot's desks when she walked in. He was holding a manila envelope, he had latex gloves on.

Cragen looked at Jess sympathetically. "I'm not sure. How are you doing?"

She shrugged her shoulders. "Fine I guess." Jess had not had any contact with Cragen. All she knew was that he approved Olivia being her Protective Detail.

"Are you comfortable with Olivia protecting you?"

Jess smiled. She was comfortable with Olivia. She looked up at Cragen. "Yeah. She's really sweet. It's weird but she gets me. Most of the time I don't actually have to come out and say how I feel, she just knows. It's nice."

Cragen smiled. "Olivia is the best. I'm glad it's working out with you two. If you need anything let me know Jess."

The Captain's use of her shortened name surprised Jess. They had never spoken but he knew she preferred Jess over Jessica. It was a nuance that he had picked up from somewhere. The Captain was good. "Thanks, Captain Cragan."

With that all five of the people that had been looking for Jess ran into the room.

"Oh thank God," Olivia said and ran towards Jess throwing her arms around the blonde like she hadn't seen her in months. It did not occur to the detective until she was already holding Jess that she might not be ready for that type of closeness.

"Whoa, it's okay. I'm right here. Where did you go?" The hug had surprised Jess; although it was unexpected Jess liked it and had hugged Olivia back.

"Where did I go? Where were you?" Olivia asked as she loosened her arms enough that the two women could look at each other.

Jess looked at Olivia very confused. "I went to get a soda."

"Where did you go, Canada?" Concern seeped into Elliot's tone as he said it.

Jess developed some attitude as she looked at Stabler. He had sent her away, why was he making a big deal about this? "You want the play-by-play?"

"It'd be a start," Fin deadpanned.

Jess looked around at the detectives, A.D.A. and Captain as she spoke. "I went to the bathroom, got a soda, watched two cops in plain cloths sweat a guy in Interview Four, went downstairs and watched a hooker and her pimp get fingerprinted, brought coffee to a Sergeant Jordan and then I came back up here. Where were all of you?"

No one spoke but Captain Cragen. He looked down at Jess. "Why did you get coffee for Sergeant Jordan?" He tried to ignore the rest of the story.

Jess shrugged her shoulders "Cause 'Shaner the sheet stainer' asked me too," she said matter-of-factly.

The room was completely silent. Jess was getting the impression she had crossed some sort of line with her fieldtrip. Honestly, she thought to herself, she would do it again, it was hilarious. The hooker and her pimp were her favorite part. Jess was not sure if it was the fact that she had seen the entire 1-6 in 15 minutes or that she had used Officer Shane Smith's nickname but Captain Cragen burst out laughing. It took all of a second and a half and the other five started laughing.

"I've never heard someone so young say his nickname." Elliot said through his laughter.

Olivia looked down at Jess; she had stopped laughing but still had a crooked smile on her face.

"Did you have fun on your little detour?"

Jess grinned from ear to ear. "The pimp and her hooker were hilarious. He was dressed in this outlandish coat and had gold teeth. She was a hot mess though. She had on this shirt that you could see her boo…"

"Alright," Munch said.

"We got it," Fin announced.

"Whoa." Elliot said putting his hands up.

"Enough," Olivia said. "That was the last time you are ever going to be alone. You don't eat, sleep, go to the bathroom, or get a soda without me, deal?" Olivia asked and extended her hand out.

Defeated, Jess sighed. "Deal," and shook Olivia's hand.

"Jess I want you to wait in Interview One for Olivia. The rest of you I want in the observation room to Interview One, now. Alex will you sit in with us?" Captain Cragen asked, his face was sullen, completely void of the laughter that had been etched it seconds earlier.

"Sure," Alex said and followed everyone to Interview One.

Jess was now in the interview room. She really didn't want to be here. Being alone was not high on her priority list right now. It wasn't just being alone; it was the fact that they were all looking at her that was making Jess uncomfortable. She got up off the chair she was sitting on, which was in the middle of the room, and moved it to the same wall as the two-way mirror. Jess sat the back of the chair against the wall, beside the mirror so that they could not see her. What the hell is going on with me, Jess thought? Until last night she liked being alone, now she couldn't be alone for a few minutes without feeling scared. It was so uncomfortable for Jess to have people really close to her though. She could not understand why there was such a fine balance all of a sudden. Jess also felt an unwavering sensation of guilt and un-cleanliness. She drew her knees up to her chest. Even though Jess had showered twice as long today as she normally would have, she still felt dirty. Jess could still feel Mitch on her, hear his voice. Jess drew Olivia's hoodie up to her nose. She wondered how long she was going to have to sit there. She wanted to see Olivia, her right hand started to shake again.

"What the hell is going on here? This isn't the YMCA, Jess can't walk around free. She is supposed to be in Protective Custody, your custody Olivia, take her home, now!" Cragen pointed at Benson as he yelled. He turned to the other detectives. "Where did these pictures come from? They were left out for anyone to see, including Jess. I expect better from my detectives. I shouldn't have to remind you this is a capital case; two people have lost their lives. So like I said, what the hell is going on here?" Captain Cragen asked in an irritated tone.

"Look I know I need to take Jess home. You're right I should have never brought her here. I've jeopardized her life by coming to the squad and those pictures prove it." Olivia pointed at the envelop in her Captain's hands. "The pictures were left at the sergeant's desk for me. They're from Simpson, he's been following all of us, including me and Jess," Olivia said in a defeated tone.

"These are evidence then, someone get me a bag." Captain Cragen demanded.

Munch left and came back with the item the Captain requested. "We'll take these to Latent and see if they can get fingerprints off them. See if we can get a line on where they were developed too. It would have to be somewhere around here, that picture of me and John was the last one taken it's less than two hours old," Fin said and took the pictures in the evidence bag from the Captain.

"Fine, you two go. Olivia the less you and Jess are out the better. Stick to your place and the squad," the Captain stated.

Fin and Munch left to start their assignment.

"The squad? I could have gotten her killed today because I came here," Benson said, trying to hide the fact she was on the verge of panic.

"I've thought about it and I don't think that's true. The picture of you and Jess was taken at a store, not here at the one-six. The safest place for Jess, not to mention you, might be right here in the squad. I also think we should consider getting a new safe house. Alex can you co-ordinate with us to get the paperwork going on that?" Captain Cragen asked.

"Absolutely, just let me know the address and I'll have the paperwork signed within the hour." Alex said. Her top priority was to keep her only living victim alive but Olivia's safety was also on Alex's mind.

"No, no I can keep Jess safe at my house. There is no need to move her."

"Liv, come on. He followed all of us today and we had no idea. You can't honestly think the safest place for her is your place. He's probably already got it staked out," Stabler said looking at his partner.

"I don't think so. If he did why wasn't there a picture of me and Jess leaving my place this morning? I think he's staked out the one-six. He's followed each of us out of our own front door. So far he doesn't know where I live. If we leave out the prisoner transfer exit and take an unmarked sedan he won't know we've left. I don't want to move Jess again. She actually slept last night. We all know how significant that is. She's fragile; I want to keep her movements to a minimum. My place and the squad I think are the safest places. There is an APB out on Simpson he won't walk into the precinct and I suspect he doesn't know where I live." Olivia looked around to see if the people around her were buying what she said.

Cragen looked at Benson for a long moment and sighed. "Fine but we are putting a car in front of your place and Elliot is following you home in an unmarked sedan. I want you and Jess back in the squad room tomorrow morning. I'm not totally convinced that Simpson doesn't know where you live. Even though he probably has the one-six staked out, I still maintain it's the safest place for Jess as long as he never sees her, or you coming and going."

Olivia nodded. "Thanks Cap"

"Olivia, you feel anything, sense anything, see anything, hear anything out of the ordinary, you call it in. Is that clear?" Cragen asked.

She nodded again.

Cragan turned to Stabler. "Elliot I want you do go downstairs and talk to the sergeant, I want to know who Simpson is working with. I'm sure he didn't just walk in and drop that envelope off himself."

"Olivia I want you to set up the detail on your building and not let Jess out of your sight," Cragen said as her turned to her.

"Cap, I have to prep for the Menendez trial tomorrow with Alex."

"Fine, I'll go talk to the sergeant, Elliot you baby-sit, Olivia and Alex prep in Interview One," Cragen said.

The four of them turn and look through the two-way mirror for the first time since they had assembled there.

"Where the hell did she go?" Cragen asked in a disbelieving tone.

Olivia ran through the doorway of the observation room and opened the door to Interview One. There Jess was, sitting on a chair knees pulled up to her chest and her arms around her shins.

Olivia looked over at the girl. "What's the matter?"

"Why am I in here?" Jess asked in a weak tone.

The detective walked over to Jess slowly. She could tell the teenager was upset; Olivia did not want to spook her and exacerbate the situation. "We needed to have a meeting and we didn't want you left in the squad by yourself."

"I AM by myself," Jess said desperately. Olivia got to Jess and knelt down on the far side of her. Jess's right arm was shaking again. I have to call Rebecca Hendrix and get Jess an appointment for tomorrow Olivia told herself.

"No you're not. I'm right here, I'll always be right here." Olivia spoke calmly to the young woman.

"Swear it," Jess said looking into Olivia's eyes on the verge of tears.

Olivia smiled slightly at the blonde. "I swear."

Jess uncrossed her arms, dropped to her knees between Olivia's legs and threw her arms around the brunette. The force almost knocked Olivia off balance as Jess fell into her; Jess's head was on Olivia's chest and her hands clenched the back of the Detective's shirt. Olivia leaned into the girl slightly to keep her balance. The brunette could smell her own shampoo on the young blonde's hair. Over Jess's shoulder the detective could see Cragen, Elliot and Alex looking at them through the doorway of the interview room; they were talking.

"That's it. She broke Jess," Stabler said as he watched his partner console their latest victim.

"What do you mean?" Alex asked looking at Elliot not understanding the harsh comment.

Stabler met Alex's eyes. "Jess trusts Liv now. I don't always know what she says but without a doubt, Liv gets more victims to trust her than anyone else on the squad."

Cragen watched his detective. He had not lied to Jess earlier; Olivia was the best, at least with victims. "It's true. I'm going down stairs. Stabler, have an eye when Jess is with you."

"If Jess needs Liv, I'll have to come get her out of your prep session," Stabler said.

"That's fine. Whatever Jess needs," Alex said knowing that Stabler and Cragen were right about Olivia. She had the most compassion for the victims of anyone else in the squad. Alex wasn't sure how Olivia did it, to a fault, everyday, but she was glad she did. This wasn't the first time Alex had seen a child require Olivia's comfort. She herself knew just how much comfort Olivia's arms held.

Elliot and Cragen left, but Alex remained. Her light blue eye made contact with Olivia's dark brown ones. It was only then that disappointment set in. Dinner had been incredible last night; they were supposed to go to the club and then back to Olivia's place for the night. Instead Olivia was called to the crime scene at the diner and Alex was called in to get the paperwork on the Protective Detail. Olivia wished things had turned out differently, but her priority now was Jess. She gave Alex a wink and turned her attention to the girl, cradled in her arms. "It's okay. You're okay. I'm right here, you're not alone."

As Jess gripped the detective's shirt Olivia could feel the child's right arm settle down and stop shaking completely. It brought Olivia comfort to know that the young woman was calming down and felt safe.

Olivia and Alex were deep in their prep session in Interview One. Cragen had come up from downstairs after talking to the Sergeant. A Caucasian male in his late teens had brought in the manila envelop. There was no sign of Simpson. Elliot was going over some paperwork at his desk while Jess was doing her homework at his partner's desk. Jess looked over the top of Olivia's laptop at Elliot.

"What is Olivia's favorite dish?"

"What?" Elliot asked looking away from some papers to meet Jess's eyes.

Jess sighed. "You're Olivia's partner, right? You trust each other with your lives. You work together all day, everyday. You know who she's seeing; she knows who you're seeing, yada, yada, yada. So I'm asking you what she likes to eat."

This garnered a laugh from Elliot. SVU's latest victim was developing some confidence. "You picked all this up from the five minutes you've been here?"

Jess shot Elliot an eat-shit grin. "I'm observant."

He grinned and raised his left eyebrow. Strike that, their latest victim was getting her personality back and it was witty. "Chicken Cacciatore. She orders it from a great place around the corner when we're actually in the squad over lunch."

"Thank you," Jess replied still smiling.

"What?" Elliot asked. He liked that the young woman was coming around a little bit. She had a great smile.

"What about the rest?" Jess asked, raising her eyebrows.

"What about 'the rest'?"

"Was I right?"

Elliot was surprised by the interest the child was showing in his partner. "Mostly, we are partners."

"And?"

"And we work all day, every day together."

"And?"

"And what?" Elliot replied with a smile on his face from ear to ear. This kid was great.

"Do you know who she's seeing and does she know who you're seeing?"

"Sort of."

Jess raised her right eyebrow; dipped her head down slightly while she smiled at him.

Elliot sighed. "She knows who I'm seeing, everyone does. I've been married to my high school sweetheart for many years."

"I knew you were married. I bet you have like five kids too. I want to know who Olivia is seeing." Jess deadpanned.

Elliot was surprised that Jess guessed so accurately. He was not sure why the teenager was so interested in his partner. He decided to try and keep Jess off the topic of Olivia. "You didn't know I was married."

"Hhhhhh, asshole. Hold up your left hand," Jess said rolling her eyes. "Wedding band." She said pointing to his hand. "I was born at night, but not last night, Elliot."

Elliot burst out laughing. He had to admit he was actually having a good time with Jess. "Okay, okay, I believe you. How did you know I have kids?"

Jess leaned over Olivia's laptop and raised her brow at Stabler. "Really?"

"Yeah really, smart ass," he quipped leaning forward on his desk. He knew he should not have called Jess that. She was a victim, but she was not acting like one right now. The pair had somehow fallen into a tit for tat game. Elliot felt as though he could take a luxury, like calling Jess a smart ass and she would hopefully see it as part of the game. He called Jess correctly; she was not fazed by the jab.

Jess got up, stretched across Olivia's desk and pick up a picture frame from in front of Elliot. "Five kids, three girls, two boys, one wife and one very married Detective Elliot Stabler." She shot him her eat-shit grin.

Elliot sat back in his chair and put his hands behind his head. "Okay, I admit you're observant."

Jess sat back in Olivia's chair and put her feet up on the desk. "So answer my question."

"What was the question again?" Stabler asked. This time he shot Jess an eat-shit grin.

Jess rolled her eyes. "Come on."

"Look, you'll have to ask Olivia who she's seeing", Elliot said in his detective tone. The game was over, but Jess pushed. She was not sure why, but for the first time since she was attacked she actually felt somewhat like herself. Jess liked giving Elliot the business; she also wanted to know more about Olivia and who better to ask than her partner.

"Oh come on? I don't get any intell?"

Elliot took one of his hands out from behind his head and pointed at Olivia's laptop in front for Jess. "Don't you have homework?"

She pushed a little harder. "I finished it. Come on, aren't you just a little bit impressed with my accurate observations about you? Doesn't that garner any information on Olivia?"

"Accurate observations and garner? I believe you when you say you're done your homework," Elliot said with a smile. "Look Olivia and I have been partners for a long time. There is a level of trust, understanding and privacy that goes along with that. Otherwise we wouldn't be partners. You're a smart kid. I know you understand that. I chose to tell you about myself, you'll have to wait for Olivia to do the same."

Jess sighed. She understood and he was right. On the other hand Jess didn't totally believe he had any idea who Olivia was seeing.

"I knew you didn't know who she's seeing." Jess deadpanned.

Elliot smiled. Although he knew Jess was right, he really didn't know who Olivia was seeing or even if she was seeing anyone; he didn't give the teenager the satisfaction of letting her know that…at least not yet. "You're not going to goad me into giving up the goods on my partner. I was born at night but not last night."

Jess smiled and giggled. "Touché."

"Well, well, well…it looks like you two are getting along," Olivia said coming up behind Jess from Interview One.

"You could say we found some common bonds," Jess said.

Olivia looked from Jess to Elliot. "Do I want to know?"

"Accurate observations and garnering intell," Elliot said, hands still behind his head.

Elliot and Jess locked eyes and grinned at each other.

"Those grins scare the shit out of me. How long was I in there for?"

"What's happening here?" Alex asked as she joined Olivia at her desk.

Jess dipped her head down slightly, Elliot mirrored her and neither of them broke eye contact.

"I'm not sure. Either a staring contest or each of them knows something about me and doesn't want the other to say anything."

"I'd go with the latter", Alex deadpanned. "I've seen this stare-off before, usually between you and Elliot and usually it means you are both hiding something." The corners of the blondes' mouth twinged up in a smile as she looked at Olivia. "It's uncanny how similar the two of them look to when you and Elliot do this routine."

Olivia laughed. "Agreed. Can we cut the crap; it's time to go home."

Satisfied that the other wasn't going to repeat the content of their previous conversation, Elliot and Jess broke eye contact.

"Sweet, let's go. Can we stop at a grocery store on the way?" Jess asked. She desperately wanted to make Olivia chicken cacciatore and there was no food back at the detective's apartment.

Elliot and Olivia looked at each other. Alex was right. The resemblance between Elliot and Jess doing this routine and Olivia and Elliot doing it was uncanny. Olivia knew she had no food in the apartment but there was something in the look she and Elliot were giving each other that made

Jess instantly felt fear. She furrowed her brow. "What? What's going on?"

"Nothing," Olivia said in a tone Jess immediately didn't believe.

"Liar" Jess said in a tense tone.

Olivia broke eye contact first and stared at Jess. She had not witnessed the last few minutes between Elliot and the young woman. Jess's tenacity took Olivia by surprise. Olivia tried to pacify the teen. "It would be better if we went right home. We can order in whatever you want once we get to my place."

Jess was adamant. She had played the role of victim since the night before. The game with Elliot had brought out some of her true colours and she liked how it had felt. She did not want to be weak anymore. She wanted what she wanted. "No. I want REAL food. I have a list, the city of New York will pay for it and I will cook for us."

The staring contest was back on between Olivia and Elliot. Maybe brute force was not the way to go here. Kindness can go a long way. "Please?" Jess asked quietly.

Having come to some kind of silent agreement, that only years of being partners could explain, Elliot spoke first, "Fine," ending the staring contest.

"You have to wear a Kevlar vest", Olivia said looking at Jess, who furrowed her brow again.

"Why?"

"Those are the rules," Elliot said looking across the desks at Jess.

"Do you think Mitch is going to shoot me?" Jess asked, panic starting to set in.

"New requirement in Protective Details. Any case involving a minor everyone involved must wear them," Alex said looking around at the three of them. She knew it sounded lame, but she hoped it would work. It wasn't just Jess she was worried about; Olivia was just as much at risk for harm. Alex knew that if Olivia put on a vest, Jess would too.

"Alex is right. We all have to wear vests," Olivia agreed.

Jess shrugged, not totally convinced any of them were being truthful. She conceded that if she had to wear a vest to go to the grocery store then so be it. Jess wanted real food, plus she had a plan she wasn't ready to bail on yet. "Where are these vests?"

"Come with me I'll get you fitted for one," Olivia said. Jess got up out of Olivia's chair and they walked down a hall and through an unmarked door. Inside was a rack of Kevlar vests, a row of lockers with names on them, a bench in the middle of the room and an entire wall that looked like one giant locker. The harder Jess looked at it, she realized there was racks upon racks of guns locked in the wall-sized locker.

"Come stand here. I have to find one small enough. You'll have to take off my sweatshirt to put it on okay?" Olivia asked as she filed through the rack of vests.

"If it's a 'new requirement in protective details' involving minors why aren't smaller vests being issued to you?" Jess asked. She knew she had caught Olivia in the lie.

Olivia sighed. It appeared Jess was starting to become comfortable in her surroundings. Comfortable enough to speak at length with Elliot and see through a lie made up by an Assistant District Attorney. It was nice to see her break out and start to take a little control back in her life. "Look, it's just a precaution. It's one that we take in most protective details when we move around."

Jess looked down and played with the hem at the bottom of the hoodie, suggesting to Olivia that she was stalling taking it off. More of Jess's attitude surfaced. "Then what was with the cock-and-bull story Alex coughed up?"

"She didn't want you to worry. None of us do. You are in no more or less danger than anyone else in protective custody. There is still a risk though. A vest is a good idea and it is standard to wear them when we are on the move," Olivia said as she selected a vest from the rack after careful consideration. She caught Jess playing with the hem again. Benson felt she had better address the issue. "I can turn around while you take the hoodie off. Just slip the vest over your head; do up the Velcro straps and you can put my hoodie back on."

Jess's reaction was in the form of a question, and it took Olivia by surprise. "Do you want me to trust you?"

She looked up slightly, wanting to meet Olivia's eyes as she answered but could not. "I'd like that, yes."

Jess stopped looking at the hem of the hoodie and finally looked up into Olivia's brown eyes, "Then cut the staring contest with Elliot at my expense. Cut the shit and be honest with me."

It was very honest and to the point. Jess had already been victimized; all she wanted was to be treated with respect and sincerity. Who could blame her? Olivia felt horrible; she had misjudged the young woman's strength and drive. "We should have been honest with you. That was our mistake and I apologize for that. You scared us today when you wandered off. You can't pull that kind of crap again. You have to stay with me, or one of the other detectives at all times, Jess. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. I'm sorry, I was just curious. It won't happen again," Jess said in a soft tone. She had not meant to cause such a scene. It had been obvious at the time that the detectives had wanted to speak about her case. Jess resented that they would not speak to her about her own case. In hindsight she may have taken the field trip out of sheer spite. Whatever the reason, Jess knew now it had been a bad decision and she was sorry.

Olivia smiled "Good," she said handing Jess the vest and started to turn around. Jess didn't take the vest from her. Olivia stopped turning, she turned back towards Jess, slowly. "I can leave," she said softly.

"No. S…stay," Jess said softly as she took Olivia's free hand. "I need to do this with someone I trust." Jess let go of her hand and put both hands on the hem of the sweatshirt. She lifted it over her head and off but held it against the front of her body. Jess was wearing a bra, one of Olivia's tank tops and one of her t-shirts but it still didn't feel like enough. Olivia put the vest over Jess's head. Their eyes met as Jess opened hers once Olivia had pulled the vest over her face. The vest was obscuring Olivia's view of the front of Jess's body. The young woman let her grip go on her left hand and the sweatshirt fell to Jess's right side. Olivia adhered the Velcro strips together around Jess so the vest was tight without breaking eye contact.

"You did really well," Olivia said taking Jess's left hand. The persistence of the young woman amazed Olivia. Changing in front of anyone this soon after being attacked showed Olivia just how strong Jess was.

Jess sighed. "Thank you."

Olivia squeezed Jess's hand, and then let it go. She turned and went to the row of lockers. "So what's for dinner?" she asked opening hers and pulling out a vest.

"It's a surprise," Jess said with a smile on her face as Alex walked in. This was going to be easier than she thought.

"What's a surprise?" Alex asked. She had said goodbye to Elliot and wanted to give her regards to Olivia and Jess before she went home.

"Dinner," Olivia said as she Velcroed her vest up.

"Wanna come?" Jess asked Alex. The two older women in the locker room froze. It took about five seconds but they slowly moved their heads to make eye contact. A staring contest broke out between them. Jess let it go on for about 15 seconds. She could only see Alex's face, as Olivia's back was to her, but the teenager could tell she was on the verge of being lied to again as the two women silently tried to form an excuse as to why Alex would be unable to have dinner with them.

"Alex you owe me," Jess said. This ended the contest as Alex turned to Jess and squared her shoulders.

"Excuse me?" she said, not understanding what the younger blonde had said to her.

"That cock-and-bull story you served up to me in the squad just now about how Kevlar vest are a 'new requirement in protective details' involving minors. You lied to me, you owe me a favor." Jess did not waver as she spoke; she wanted Alex to feel guilty enough to say yes to dinner. It had not been Jess's initial choice but the teenager hoped it would work.

Olivia turned and looked directly at Jess in complete disbelief, jaw open enough that the kid knew she had rattled the detective. It was hard to tell if it was that Jess had called the A.D.A on her lie or that she was inviting her over for dinner without asking. The staring contest had confirmed to Jess that Alex and Olivia were involved, at least enough that Olivia was keeping it from Elliot.

Alex sighed and moved closer to Jess, moving past Olivia. She looked down at the younger blonde. "I'm sorry I lied to you. It would be safer if everyone wore vests. I just wanted you to be safe and not upset you." She didn't touch Jess, which was good. She thought for a second that Alex would. The look in her eyes told Jess she was sincere.

Jess looked up at Alex. "I'll accept your apology if you accept my invitation."

"What invitation?" Elliot said as he entered the room and moved between Alex and Olivia to get to his locker.

"Guess who's coming to dinner?" Jess said as a smile started to form across her face.

Elliot took his vest out of his locker and turned around to look at the three women. "I don't know, who?" he asked as he put the vest over his head and did the straps up.

"I am," Alex deadpanned, not breaking eye contact with Jess. This situation was starting to hit a little close to home for the older women in the room. Now Elliot knew Alex was coming over to Olivia's for dinner. Olivia knew her partner would never let her live this down.

Jess smiled at Alex and reached behind herself and pulled out a Kevlar vest, refusing to break eye contact until she could make a joke. As much as Jess wanted to see Olivia and Alex interact outside of the squad, she don't want it to be under total duress.

"Guess you'll be needing one of these," Jess said holding out the vest to her. She winked at Alex.

The taller blonde gave in and smiled. "You think you're pretty slick don't you?" Alex asked the shorter blonde.

"Slick? She's a smartass too. You better watch her Liv," Elliot said and buddy punched Olivia in the shoulder.

"Yeah, no shit," Olivia said having not once taken her eyes off Jess since she had called Alex out on her lie; something that had not gone unnoticed by Jess.

"You okay?" Elliot asked Olivia as she and Jess locked eyes. At first the young woman couldn't tell what the detective was thinking. Olivia's face was stone, probably perfected from years on the job. Her eyes said a lot, they finally settled on one emotion…fear. Jess softened her features from slick smartass to understanding. Jess knew Olivia, and Alex for that matter, did not want Elliot to know about their relationship outside of work.

"She's fine. I'm making her favorite for dinner," Jess said, in a soft tone that conveyed the game was over and she wouldn't push anymore tonight.

Olivia let out a small breath that Jess was not even sure she had realized she had been holding in. She raised her right eyebrow, "How do you know what my favorite meal is?"

"Garnered intell," Jess said and cut her eyes to Elliot who broke out in laughter. He nodded to Jess. "Told ya Liv, smartass."

Olivia couldn't help but laugh. Alex took off her suit jacket and put on the vest. Olivia had put on a black sweater over top of the vest to hide it. Elliot had pulled a navy blue hoodie over his head and Jess had put Olivia's college hoodie over her vest. It occurred to Jess that Alex didn't have a locker in the squad and if she was going to be in close proximity to her she was going to need something to cover the vest.

Jess laughed and looked at Elliot. "You got a sweatshirt in there I can borrow?"

"Yeah, here," Elliot said turning back into his locker. He dug around and finally pulled out a sweatshirt and tossed it at Jess.

"Put this on, it'll hide the Kevlar", Jess said handing Alex the sweatshirt. She put it on and the younger blonde couldn't help herself, she had a full on grin as she cut her eyes to Elliot. Elliot couldn't even see the front of the shirt but he was smiling like the Cheshire cat, he knew what it said.

"What?" Alex said.

Olivia came over and turned the blonde towards her. 'I'm with her' was written across the front of the t-shirt with an arrow. Alex looked down and saw the writing with the arrow. She turned to Elliot and the arrow was now pointing right to Olivia. The most ironic part of this whole situation was that Elliot had no idea how poetic the shirt was. Jess couldn't help herself and burst out laughing. Olivia cut her eyes to Jess around Alex's slender figure and she slowly regained her composure. "Elliot you have to have another shirt?" Alex asked, trying not to lose her mind at the irony of the shirt.

"I really don't. Kathy made me take that one to work cause she got sick of me wearing it at home."

Olivia rolled her eyes at her partner. "Trade with her then."

"Don't you have an extra shirt?" Elliot asked, Olivia still smiling. He was never going to trade with the A.D.A. It was on such rare occasion that he saw the usually composed, white bread, fine, upstanding, royal pedigreed Alexandra Cabot in an embarrassing situation, and this….was priceless.

"No, I only have the one. It's May; I took two home last week because I didn't think I'd need them." Olivia said.

"Bummer," Elliot said, still grinning.

Jess sighed. "All right, all right. Look it's really not that bad. Let's just go, I'm hungry."

Elliot and Olivia were in stare-down when Alex gave in and said "Fine, let's go."

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