Disclaimer: all characters belong to Dick Wolf and NBC

Chapter 2- "Daddy, I need your help."

Across town, in the 16th precinct's Special Victims Unit squad room, things were unusually quiet for a Monday morning. There were no phones ringing or sounds of papers shuffling as the detectives worked to solve a new case. It seemed like the creeps and sickos of New York City had unanimously decided to take the weekend off and give the SVU detectives a break.

The detectives were enjoying their rare break. Munch could be found idling by the coffee pot rambling on about his newest conspiracy to Fin, while Elliot and Olivia were lounging back at their desks and Elliot was sharing a story about his childhood with his best friend and partner.

"When I was about six years old, my sister got this little kitten for her birthday and was all bound and determined to spoil it like crazy, so I decided to help her by making the cat it's only little home… in a Tupperware bin" he chuckled. "So I layered the bottom of the bin with blankets, collected the cat and tried to get in acquainted with its new bed. Well I guess the cat was claustrophobic because it sure as hell didn't want to go into the bin. The more I tried to put it in the more it fought, until it had enough, spun around, and dug its claw straight into my neck. Let's just say that cat and I were very friendly to each other after that." He finished his story and glanced at Olivia expecting to see a look of amusement on her face but was instead met with a look of worry. "Liv, what is it?"

"Turn around Elliot."

"Why? What's going on?" But when he did as he was told, he knew what the matter was. There stood his youngest daughter, who was staring right back at him, and it looked as though she had been crying. "Lizzie, what's the matter, honey? Why are you here and not at school?"

"Daddy, I need your help." She answered timidly then quickly walked over and engulfed her father in a hug.

"Of course sweetheart, of course." He whispered as he wrapped his arms around her and swayed with her slowly. After a few moments he maneuvered her over to his desk chair and gently nudged her so that she would sit down. "Take some deep breaths, and then tell me what the matter is baby girl."

Elizabeth nodded to him then quickly glanced over the desk at her father's partner and addressed her. "Olivia, could you come over here too please? What I have to say, I think you both should know."

Stealing a furtive glance at Elliot, Olivia quickly got up and made her way around the desks and squatted down in front of Elizabeth so she could listen to what the teenager had to tell them.

Stealing another quick glance between the two adults in front of her, Elizabeth took a shaky breath and began to tell them what she had seen. "This morning when I got to school, I went to meet up with my friend Jessica. We were supposed to hang out on Saturday, but she never showed. When I asked her about it, she said something had come up at home and couldn't get away. But it's not like her to make plans then not show and not even call! If she has to bail out on someone she always calls and apologizes! Anyways when I brought it up she seemed really distant and then changed the topic really fast. I let her get away with it but then about fifteen minutes I glanced down and part of her wrists were showing and they were all raw and bloody like she'd been restrained. When I asked her about it she said it was nothing but then I asked her about all the bruises I've noticed over the past couple weeks. She got really agitated and told me to forget about it and then turned and ran off to class. I know I should've gone to class too but I'm really worried and I knew I had to tell you guys this!" she finished breathless and looked back up at the adults who were gazing back at her wide eyed.

"Lizzie," Elliot sighed peering down at his daughter, "what do you think is going on?"

"Honestly dad, I think she's being abused at home; mostly by her dad if not both parents."

"Why do you say that Liz?" Olivia questioned.

"Well her dad, he's never seemed quite right. He's always been quick to fly off the handle. When he's mad, he throws dishes. He's always yelling and cursing at Jess when he's pissed. And her mom, she's no saint either, she's always drinking and going on about some hardship in her life. If anything ever goes wrong it somehow happens to be Jessica's fault. So in some way, I guess they're verbally abusive. But I've never thought it had gone beyond that or I would've come to you sooner, I swear!"

"It's ok Lizzie, you're here now, and that's all that matters."Olivia comforted her and patted her knee softly. "Now I need you to tell me Jessica's last name so I can open a file so we can investigate."

"Sure." Lizzie responded. "It's Higgins"

"Wait a minute," Elliot cried out, staring down at his daughter, "Higgins? As in Jessica Higgins? The girl I've known since you two were in preschool together?? I know her parents, they seem great!"

"Daddy, when they're in public they are great. They act like the perfect little family and all but it's really just a big façade."

"Okay then," Elliot answered, "to work this case I'm going to want to talk to her; see what I can get her to tell me."

"Dad she's never going to come right out and tell you. Believe me, if she's not going to come right out with it to me, her best friend, she is not going to do it with you either."

"Alrighty, how about this. You head back to school now, and when you get a chance, you talk to her and invite her over for dinner at my place tonight. That why I can get a read on her but not make it obvious. I won't actually confront her about the abuse until I'm sure she will open up to me. Sound like a plan?"

"Sounds great dad, thank you so much." Lizzie said as she stood up and wrapped her arms around her father's neck.

"You never have to thank me for this honey. Now get to school before you miss any more class."

Lizzie pulled away, nodded and smiled to Olivia, then turned and walked out the door to head back to school. Elliot watched his daughter until she was out of sight then turned to Olivia. "So Liv, you up for dinner tonight?"

Next chapter: Dinner at Elliot's house. Will Jessica open up to the detectives?

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