Chapter 2

"AAHHHH!" Olivia screamed, startling everyone in the squad room. She grabbed her computer monitor and began violently shaking it. She didn't even care if she broke it. Olivia was having one of the worst mornings she could remember. The entire week had gone south after the shooting but that morning was filled with its own challenges. The power had gone off in the middle of the night which messed up her alarm clock. She had no clean clothes. It was pouring rain. It took her forever to catch a cab to work. Her phone had crashed. The precinct was out of coffee and she had a mountain of paperwork on her desk. She was attempting to get some work done when her computer froze up.

Hot tears welled up in Olivia's eyes. She got up and walked out of the precinct before anyone noticed she was crying. She couldn't believe she had just caused a big scene, but she didn't really care at that point. She just wanted to escape.

"Liv?" Cragen called as she raced past him. He had come out of his office when he heard the screaming.

"I got her Captain," Elliot said as he grabbed his jacket and took off after Olivia.

Elliot found Olivia sitting on a bench across from the precinct in the pouring rain. He considered running back inside quickly to grab an umbrella but decided against it. He had known Olivia a long time and had never seen her act like that. Ever since Cameron had died Olivia had been pretty out of it. Her meltdown that morning really had Elliot worried.

Elliot hurried across the street towards Olivia.

"Leave me alone El," Olivia said quietly. She was soaking wet. Her head was hanging and her hair was dripping as if she were standing in a shower.

Elliot sat down next to Olivia but didn't say anything. He could hear Olivia's teeth chattering. He wasn't sure if she was cold or crying.

"I don't think I can do this anymore El," Olivia finally spoke. "I sold so much of myself to this job; I don't think there's anything left of me."

"Liv, I will support you no matter what you decide, but I'm not sure this is the time to make that kind of a decision. I think you need to take some time off, clear your head, figure out what's..."

A city bus flew by them as Elliot was talking. The puddle in the street in front of them was suddenly a wall of water spraying them as the wheels of the bus cut through it. They were both completely drenched. Elliot was freezing and miserable. He knew Olivia was defeated and had given up. She didn't even flinch when the water from the puddle splashed her.

"Come on Liv," Elliot said as he stood. "You're gonna get sick."

"I don't care," Olivia said, her quiet voice barely audible over the traffic and pounding rain.

Elliot gently took Olivia's arm and helped her up, "Let's get you inside and into some dry clothes."

Olivia let Elliot lead her back into the building. She was despondent. She sunk into her chair when she reached her desk.

"Aren't you going to change?" Elliot asked her softly. Olivia shook her head as she stared blankly at the mess of paperwork on her desk. Elliot looked at her for a moment but didn't know what to say. He went to his locker and grabbed his change of clothes before making his way to the bathroom.

"Elliot?" Cragen asked as he entered the bathroom. Huang was right behind him.

"Sorry Captain, I had to change," Elliot replied, thinking Cragen was wondering where he'd disappeared to.

"How is she?" Cragen's voice was filled with concern.

"I don't know," Elliot said, his voice low and equally concerned. "I think the Cameron Hughes shooting really got to her."

"Those were my thoughts too," Cragen agreed. "What do we do Doc?" Cragen asked, turning his attention to Huang.

"Olivia is having a hard time seeing Cameron as a perp, instead she feels like she killed a victim and it's tearing her up. She really shouldn't be alone right now. I'm worried," Huang said.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa Doc. If you're suggesting Olivia is suicidal or something then you're wrong," Elliot said firmly.

"That's not what I'm saying Elliot. I'm saying your partner is sitting at her desk, freezing cold, in soaking wet clothes staring blankly into space. I'm worried she isn't taking care of herself, eating, going to bed at night, simple things like that. It all adds up over time."

Cragen looked at Elliot."Take her home," he said. "Take care of our girl and call me." He patted Elliot on the shoulder before they turned and exited the bathroom.

"Come on Liv," Elliot whispered to her. She hadn't moved while he was changing. There was a small puddle forming on her desk. Elliot wrapped her jacket around her shoulders and flipped her hood up over her head. He helped her up from her chair and took her hand. The 16th precinct watched with expressions of fear and worry on their faces as Elliot and Olivia disappeared down the hall.

Elliot was a little intimidated by the thought of taking care of Olivia. After they entered Olivia's apartment she made her way to her couch and sat down. Elliot closed the door behind them and locked it.

"Liv, you have to change out of your wet clothes," Elliot said softly. Olivia shook her head no. "Why?" Elliot asked her. He sat on her coffee table and faced her. "Liv? Livvie, please talk to me."

"I don't deserve dry clothes. I don't deserve to be comfortable," Olivia said quietly. She turned and layed down on the couch.

"Liv, that's not true. You know that's not true," Elliot said. He knelt on the floor next to Olivia and held her hand.

"Just take me to Central Booking Elliot."

"What?" Elliot asked, confused. "What are you talking about?"

"I murdered someone. A kid. I deserve to be locked up. I'm ready to go, I'm pleading guilty."

"No, No Liv. Shhh." Elliot sighed. He had no idea what to say or do. He felt way out of his league. "Livvie, will you please put on some dry clothes? For me? Please?" Elliot pleaded with her.

Olivia sat up again. She shook her head no.

Elliot had never seen her so depressed. "When is the last time you slept or had something to eat?"

Olivia shrugged her shoulders but didn't say anything. Elliot smiled at her as he nodded his head. He stood up, took Olivia's arm and guided her back to her bedroom. He dug through her dresser until he found a comfortable looking sweatshirt and pair of jogging pants. He started peeling her wet clothes off of her. Under any other circumstances he would have been extremely turned on but he was too worried about Olivia. He helped her put on the clothes he'd gotten out for her. He grabbed a towel from the bathroom and dried her hair. He took the fleece blanket that was folded neatly at the end of Olivia's bed and led her back out to the living room.

Elliot knew how much Olivia must have been hurting if she was letting him have complete control over her. She was one of the most independent women he knew. He liked taking care of her. He loved her, and he took advantage of any opportunity he could to show her that. He sat down next to her on the couch and spread the blanket out over them. He put his arm around Olivia and pulled her head down to rest on his shoulder.

Olivia nestled her head into Elliot's shoulder. She gave in to her heavy eye lids, as she closed them a lonely tear traced its way down her cheek. The warmth from the blanket and Elliot's body heat, combined with Elliot rubbing her back was too much for Olivia. She didn't want to sleep but her body was exhausted. She hadn't really slept since Cameron had died a week ago. She fought it as long as she could but it didn't take long before she was passed out and drooling on Elliot's shirt.

"Come in," Cragen called to the person knocking on his door. He looked up to see Munch and Fin entering.

"Captain, we've got a little problem," Fin started.

"Cayden is missing," Munch added.

"Who the hell is Cayden?" Cragen asked, looking at them.

"Cayden is Cameron's twin brother," Munch told him. "Jennifer, their loving mother, just filed a missing persons report. When they saw our case on Cameron they faxed us over a copy," Munch said as he handed the report to Cragen.

"Cameron had a brother? Did we know that?" Cragen asked.

"No, we didn't," Fin answered.

"Where's Dad?" Cragen asked.

"Mom probably killed him," Munch said.

"Dad split before the boys were born. No one has any idea where he is. Probably long gone," Fin said.

"Do you blame him?" Munch asked.

"Well, missing persons isn't ours," Cragen told them.

"But abused children are," Fin told him. "Cameron had the hell beat out of him. Don't tell me mommy dearest did that to one child and not the other."

"Ok," Cragen said. "Get a subpoena for his medical records and school records. Let's check him out and be sure before confronting the mom." Cragen handed the missing persons report back to Munch before they exited his office.

Munch paused at the door and turned back towards Cragen. "Captain?" Cragen looked up at him. "I saw Hailey last night, she was asking for Olivia. I was going to tell her this morning, but, well..."

"I'll take care of it John."