Olivia Benson woke with a start, feeling a sense of panic. She sat up and looked around; she was on her couch in her living room. She had gotten home around four o'clock, after all the paperwork on Ashley's case had been finished. Liv had settled on her couch with a cup of herbal tea and a cozy blanket. She'd fallen asleep quickly.
As Olivia got up and made her way to the kitchen, she glanced at the time on the microwave, 8:45. She had slept for almost five hours. She rinsed the cup out in the sink, still unable to shake the sense that something was very wrong.
Olivia checked her phone, no missed calls or texts. She wasn't sure what could be wrong. She decided to check in on Bree, see how the rest of her day had gone. Talking with Bree would calm the panic Liv thought to herself.
She pulled a sweatshirt on over her t shirt and sweat pants and went across the hall. She knocked on Bree's door as she stifled a yawn. Liv waited a few minutes, and then knocked again. After waiting five minutes and getting no answer, her sense of panic took over. Her heart was beating too fast and she couldn't catch her breath. She leaned over, putting her hands on her knees.
"This is silly," Liv murmured to herself. She went back into her apartment and picked up her phone. She called Bree's phone. After three rings, she got voicemail. "Hi honey, it's Liv. Listen, I know this sounds kind of funny but can you let me know you're ok? I know you were going to dinner with Mulder and I'm sure you are fine, just send me a quick text please. Love you." Liv hung up and called Mulder's phone.
"Hello Olivia," Mulder answered.
"Hi Mulder, you had dinner with Bree tonight right?"
"Yeah, I did. Why? Is something wrong?"Mulder asked.
"Well, I'm sure everything is ok. She's not home and not answering her phone," Liv told him.
"We left the restaurant about a half hour ago, she should be home. I don't think she was going to stop anywhere on her way home," Mulder said.
"Liv? It's Dana, what's going on?" Scully asked, having taken Mulder's phone when she realized what the conversation was about.
"Bree isn't home and she's not answering her phone. Dana, I have a feeling something isn't right. I know it's probably nothing but it's not like her to not answer her phone."
"Ok, I'm going to try to call her," Scully said, an edge of panic in her voice.
Olivia hung up and put jeans and a sweater on. Until she knew where Bree was, Liv would not be able to relax. She went back to Bree's and unlocked the door with the key Bree had given her for emergencies. The apartment was dark, Liv turned on the light in the kitchen. At the sudden burst of light, Bree's yellow lovebird Cali started to whistle.
Olivia looked around the living room. Everything seemed to be in place. She went back to Bree's bedroom and peeked in. The bed was unmade and there was a pile of clothes on the floor, but otherwise everything was in place. Liv checked the bathroom next and again found nothing out of place.
Liv's phone rang and she quickly pulled it out of her pocket, hoping it was Bree. Instead the screen said Dana. "Hey, did you get a hold of her?" Liv answered. "No, this is not like her," Scully said, "If her battery was dead, it would go straight to voicemail. But it rang three times then went to voicemail."
"Something is wrong; it's not like Bree to ignore her phone. She always answers," Liv said.
"I know, I don't like this," Scully said, "If it was anyone but Bree I wouldn't worry, but her phone is always on and she checks it all the time."
"I think I am going to head back to the precinct, see if TARU can get a trace on her phone," Liv told Scully, "Maybe she just left it at the restaurant."
"Alright, well Mulder and I are on our way there. I won't be able to relax until I know Bree is ok," Scully said.
"Same here call me when you're close," Liv said as she headed towards the elevator. The doors opened as she hung up. She stepped inside and pushed the button for the first floor. Olivia closed her eyes; glad no one else was on the elevator.
On the first floor, Liv left the elevator and made her way to the doors. As she started down the steps, she happened to look down, and saw a flash of pink. She bent down and picked it up. With a feeling of dread, she realized it was Bree's phone, in its pink cover. Olivia unlocked it and saw one missed call from her and two from Scully. Now Liv knew something was really wrong. There was no way Bree would have dropped her phone and not noticed. Even if she had, if the phone was here then Bree should be in her apartment.
"Bree where are you?" Liv whispered as she pulled out her phone and dialed Scully's phone again.
"Liv what is it?" Scully asked after one ring.
"I found her phone, on the front steps of our building" Liv said, trying to keep her voice steady. She had the sudden urge to throw up as reality hit her full force.
"Bree's phone? Are you sure?" Scully asked.
"Yeah it's hers," Liv whispered "I am going to call CSU, have them go over the front steps here."
"Ok, Liv. Mulder and I should be there in about twenty minutes or so," Scully said, a tremor in her voice. Scully hung up her phone, fighting tears. She reached out and took Mulder's hand.
"What is it?" Mulder asked.
"Olivia found Bree's phone on the front steps of their apartment building. Bree is nowhere to be found, Mulder I'm so scared," Scully was perilously close to losing it. She could not stand the thought of her daughter out there somewhere being hurt. Breanna was her little girl, even at 27. She was the only child Scully still had.
"She'll be ok," Mulder said, keeping his focus on the road. He pushed the speed limit until he was going an easy 15 miles over. "Bree's a fighter and wherever she is, she's ok." Mulder wished that with all his heart. Even though Bree was not his biological daughter, he couldn't love her anymore if she was. If someone had kidnapped her and was hurting her, Mulder would hunt them down.
Mulder and Scully made it to the building in fourteen minutes. CSU was already there, taping off the front steps and setting up.
Olivia saw them and came running up to the car. Scully and Olivia embraced for a long moment.
"CSU just started, they haven't found anything yet," Liv said to the couple, anticipating their questions.
The trio stood, watching CSU work, holding their breaths collectively. After half an hour, a CSU officer came over to them. "I'm sorry but we didn't find anything," he told them.
"Thank you," Liv said as he walked away to help pack the gear.
Olivia turned to Scully and Mulder. "I am going to go in to the precinct to start looking for Bree."
"We're coming too, get in we can all go in our car," said Scully as she and Mulder climbed back in their car. Olivia got in the back seat. She pulled out her phone and dialed Captain Cragen's number.
"This is Captain Cragen," he answered.
"Captain, it's Olivia. I'm on my way back in. It looks like Bree has been abducted."
"What? Liv, are you sure?"
"Yeah Cap, she isn't home and I found her phone on the front steps of the building. I know she had it earlier today. That means she was on her way in when something made her drop her phone. There is no way she would just leave it on the steps," Liv told Cragen.
"Alright, I'm still here. I'll call Fin, Amaro and Rollins and have them head back."
"Thanks Captain, I'll be there shortly," Olivia said then hung up.
As Liv hung up, she looked at the time, 10:20pm. She looked up at Mulder and Scully, noticed how quiet and tense they were. She knew none of them would have a moment's peace until Bree was found.
They arrived at the precinct eight minutes later. In the squad room Captain Cragen was waiting for Olivia as she stepped off the elevator.
" Hi Liv, everyone is on their way back. They should all be here in about twenty minutes," Captain Cragen told her.
Half an hour later, Captain Cragen, Olivia, Amanda, Fin, Nick, Mulder and Scully were all gathered in the squad room. Liv caught them up on what information she had.
"So you're sure Bree isn't just hanging out somewhere and doesn't realize she lost her phone?" Nick asked.
"No, Bree would never drop her phone and not realize it, trust me," Scully said.
"Should you guys be sitting in on this?" Amanda asked Mulder and Scully.
"Dana and Mulder are former FBI. I know it is unorthodox to allow the family of a kidnap victim to participate in the investigation but their insights will help us find Bree faster. Which is what we all want. I will make sure their emotions don't impede our decisions. Also, Detective Benson, I want Fin and Rollins to be the lead detectives for this," Cragen said to the group.
"Captain," Olivia started to protest.
"This is not negotiable. If we are going to bring Bree home safe, then I need to make sure the lead detectives won't let their emotions get in the way of making decisions. You know that's her best chance Liv," Cragen said softly.
"Don't worry Liv, we got you," Fin said, "We all love Bree and we are going to do everything to find her."
"That's right," Amanda chimed in, "We will find her."
"Detective Benson, this came for you," a uniformed officer said as he passed her an envelope.
"Thanks Schiller," Liv mumbled as she ripped the envelope open.
Liv sat down at her desk, and began to shake as she read the letter that came from the envelope.
"Liv? What is it?" Scully asked as she reached out for the paper.
Scully quickly read the letter and felt as though the floor had dropped out from under her, she felt the blood drain from her face and she was dangerously close to passing out. Fear firmly gripped her heart again.
Mulder quickly got Scully into a chair as soon as he saw her face pale. He took the letter and stood facing everyone. He read the letter out loud.
"To the esteemed Special Victims Unit of Manhattan,
If you have received this letter, I must inform you that you will never see Breanna again. You all think you are so smart, so capable of solving every case that comes your way. You think you are the elite of the NYPD. For what is supposed to be the best detectives, you missed one very important thing.
Your Breanna is simply an amazing woman. I have seen how you all treat her, as though she is just someone you work with. She is an angel who deserves to be treated with the utmost care. So, I have taken her to treat her the way she deserves. I love Breanna and we are going to be together. Look all you want, but you squandered the treasure of her company. I truly appreciate the beauty of her soul. You can check this letter and envelope all you want for fingerprints or dna, but you will be out of luck."
Mulder finished reading and looked up at the stunned faces around him. Scully had tears streaming down her face. He immediately knelt next to her and gathered her in his arms.
Captain Cragen took the letter, "Ok guys, now we know for sure someone took Bree. I am going to take this down to CSU to see if there is any dna or a stray fingerprint or anything else he may have missed. Fin, I want you to call Lindsey and get her down here."
"I'm on it Cap," Fin said as he picked up his phone.
During all of this, Olivia had made her way into the bathroom. Amanda followed her in.
"Olivia, we'll find her," Amanda said, seeing Liv's tears.
"Why Bree, Amanda? Why did he have to take her?" Liv asked desperately.
"I don't know. He's obviously obsessed with her. He's not thinking clearly. That means he'll slip up and we will catch him and find Bree," Amanda said gently.
"She doesn't deserve this! Bree has been through enough hell for an eternity. I won't survive if anything happens to her," Liv choked out through her tears.
Scully walked in at the moment and walked right over to Olivia. The two friends embraced and clung to one another.
Amanda slipped out to allow the other women some privacy.
"Dana, we will find her. We have to!" Liv said.
Scully nodded and cleared her throat. "Bree is strong, and smart. If this person thinks he is in love with her, she'll figure it out and use it to keep herself alive. As long as she can hold on until we find her."
"She will. There is no way we are losing her," said Liv.
