Chapter 2

Elliot pulled up in front of the precinct hoping Cragen hadn't left yet. He contemplated taking Calvin home and just calling Cragen but decided to stop by the precinct on his way home instead. He didn't want to talk in front of Calvin and it would be easier to have Munch keep him occupied at the station then trying to find a private place at the apartment to talk.

Calvin grabbed onto Elliot's hand as Elliot hurried towards the building. Elliot slowed down realizing Calvin probably couldn't keep up with his pace. He made it up to the squad room and saw Cragen still in his office.

"Captain," Elliot called out. "I need a minute." Cragen looked up at Elliot and then at Calvin and nodded. Elliot looked around squad room and saw Munch over by the coffee pot.

"John, I need a favor."

"Anything," John said, not looking away from his coffee. "What can I do for you my friend?" He looked up and was surprised to see Calvin standing there holding Elliot's hand.

"Will you keep an eye on him while I talk to Cragen?" Elliot asked.

"No problem," Munch replied. He could tell Elliot was a little rattled and it looked like Calvin had been crying. Whatever was going on, Munch guessed it wasn't good.

"You're leaving me?" Calvin asked in a panic. He grasped Elliot's hand tighter and his eyes got big.

"It's ok. I just have to go talk to my boss for a minute," Elliot said. "I'll be right in there; you'll be able to see me the whole time. Ok?"

Detective Munch didn't give Calvin time to argue with Elliot. He led him over to his desk freeing Elliot to talk to the captain.

"Vivian's dead," Elliot said after he had closed Cragen's door. Cragen waited for Elliot to explain. "Somebody beat her to death in an alley. Narcotics thinks it's drug related."

"And the kid?" Cragen asked. "When did he get back in town?"

"Your guess is as good as mine Captain. I thought he was still in Vermont with his grandparents." Elliot pulled out the paper Detective Pratt had given to him at the hospital and handed it to Cragen. "Vivian left custody of Calvin to Liv," he said when Cragen finished reading.

Cragen wasn't quite sure what to say or where to start. "Have you talked to Liv yet?"

"No, I didn't want to do it in front of him," Elliot said, turning around to look at Calvin. He saw Calvin sitting at Munch's desk, nervously watching him through the window.

"What do you think about all this?" Cragen asked.

"I don't know Captain," Elliot said. "I mean, I still can't believe all this is happening but you know..." Elliot's sentence trailed off as he looked out the window again.

"Why don't you go ahead and call Liv?" Cragen suggested. "I'll give you some privacy." Elliot nodded his head.

Elliot called Olivia and filled her in on what was going on. Her first instinct was to race to the airport and hop on the first plane back to New York but Elliot persuaded her to wait until her work in California was done. As much as he wanted her home, he didn't want her to have to turn around and leave again as soon as she arrived. Olivia decided to call the ADA on the case she was working to see if she could speed up the process and leave sooner. She didn't have much hope considering it was the weekend but she had to try.

"Can I talk to him?" Olivia asked.

"Yah, hang on a second," Elliot said. He walked out to the squad room and handed Calvin his phone. "It's Olivia." Elliot leaned against the desk while Calvin was on the phone with Olivia. He looked at Cragen, then over at John before rubbing his eyes. His thoughts were racing; he was trying to make sense of everything that was happening. Just breath Elliot, he told himself. He was lost in his thoughts when he heard Calvin start to cry.

"My mom is dead." Calvin started sobbing into the phone.

Elliot took the phone and put it on speaker. "Hang on Liv," he said. He laid the phone on the desk, knelt down and wrapped his arms around Calvin who had begun crying so hard he could barely breathe.

"Shh. It's ok. Everything's gonna be ok." Elliot did his best to soothe Calvin.

"Liv, I'm gonna have to let you go," Elliot said. "I'm sorry."

"Ok El," Olivia said. "I love you."

"I love you too Baby." Elliot hated to cut their call short like that. He knew Olivia was worried. If he was honest with himself he would have to admit he was worried too. He and Olivia were now the primary caregivers for a traumatized 10 year old.

"I love you Calvin," Olivia said. "Please call me later if you can Elliot."

"I will. Bye Liv."

"Bye El."

Elliot took his phone off the desk, snapped it shut, and clipped it back to his belt, while he held Calvin with his other arm. He patted Calvin's back and gently swayed him back and forth until he had calmed down enough he could breathe normally. He raised his eyebrows and looked from Cragen to Munch. "We're gonna go," he told them. He grabbed a handful of tissues from the box on the desk; he handed a couple to Calvin and put the rest in his pocket.

"Are you ready?" Elliot asked Calvin.

Calvin nodded at Elliot with tears still streaming down his face. He grabbed Elliot's hand and they headed towards the elevator.

"Elliot," Cragen called before they reached the door. Elliot turned around and looked at him. "If you need some time..." Cragen let his sentence trail off.

Elliot nodded his head. "Thanks Captain. I'll call you."

Author's Note: Next—Getting Calvin settled in and another phone call with Olivia.