Murphy briefed her during the drive to the station. A neighbor called 911 about a noise coming from Benson's apartment, and when they got there she was lying on the floor, bleeding. Noah was gone.
The doctors had to put her in a medically induced coma because of the swelling in her brain, caused by a blow to the head. She was the only witness and she wasn't talking. None of the neighbors saw anything, and the one who heard the noise had nothing useful.
Murphy parked the car and opened the door for her "so can you stay here?"
"Yes" she had to talk to her deputy chief, but Eloise would tell her to stay as long as it takes.
The squad room was pretty quiet, Amanda expected it to be swarming with cops, but there was almost no one there.
"Where is everyone?" she asked Murphy as they walked to his office.
"I sent them all home, there's nothing they can do here right now, not while we are waiting for the results from CSU. They already went through every security footage we could find and there was nothing helpful, too many people" she nodded and he continued "I called you because we could use your help, you know this squad, and it is clearly personal"
"But I don't know what's been going on in here for the last year" she said.
"You've got fresh eyes Rollins, you know this place but you can look at it differently. This is what I need, what Benson needs"
"I'll stay as long as I can"
"Good" he handed her a file "they should be here soon, these are the photos from the scene"
Amanda opened the file and took the photos out and looked through them "they found any prints?"
Murphy nodded "we are waiting for the results but I doubt we'd find anything, they are probably hers"
"It doesn't look like a robbery, somebody planned this, there are signs of a struggle" she kept her eyes on the photos, trying to find anything. She wasn't sure there was anything she could do to help, but she would try.
Amanda put the photos back in the file and looked at Murphy.
"So you are back in Atlanta" Murphy leaned back in his chair.
"I am" she nodded and gave him a little smile.
"When Fin told me I was surprised to hear it" he squinted, trying to read her.
"I'm sure you know most of it" she shrugged.
"Heard some bits and pieces, you know how it is" she smiled and lowered her eyes at the desk for a moment, Benson's things were there, it was the first time she noticed the office hasn't changed. She reached to one of the framed photos and looked at smiling Noah, he looked so big now.
"You know how it is" she repeated his words and placed the pictures back and looked at the lieutenant "things change sometimes and they have for me"
"Well I just appreciate you being here" he let it go.
"Of course" the sun had already risen and Amanda heard more voices coming from outside of the office.
"I got a desk for you" Murphy got up and she followed "is it your old one?" he gestured at an empty desk.
"No" she turned to look at the things on her old work space "there's a new…or not so new detective?"
"No, at least not now" he replied "I haven't even been back for twenty four hours so I'm not caught up to all the gossip"
Amanda smiled in response and looked around. The room was the same but different. She recognized Fin's desk, it was at the same place but now someone else was sitting in front of him, from the things on that desk she figured it was Carisi. And Nick's desk was…
"No way, Rollins?" Amanda turned to see Fin walking to her.
She smiled at him and they hugged "Murphy asked me to help you out with the investigation of Benson's attack"
"Oh" he nodded "It's great to have you back Amanda, you want your old desk back? I can kick Carisi's ass somewhere else"
"Thanks" she chuckled "I'm fine over there"
"How long are you staying?" Fin asked.
"Until we find who did this" Murphy joined in.
"I still have to call my boss, but she's ok, so…" she smiled again.
"I'm just glad you're helping out" Fin sat down on his chair and Murphy walked back to his office.
"So how are things in here?" she asked and looked around again.
"We miss you" he smiled at her "but other than that…same old, at least until yesterday. How you've been doing? How's Atlanta?"
"It's alright" she nodded "speaking of…I better call and let them know I'm here"
Amanda reached for her phone but before she could dial Carisi walked out of the elevator and saw her.
"Amanda!" he looked surprised "what are you doing here? Wait, are you back to help with the…?" she nodded and he gave her a hug "I'm so glad you're back, we miss you around here, right Fin?"
"We sure do" he nodded.
"It's great to see you too" it was a rough start for her with Carisi, a part of it due to him calling Nick a disaster magnet, and her feeling like some kind of a disaster for a long time, but after a while they worked better together and she was happy to see him.
"Hey" she asked, trying to sound as casual as possible "where's Nick?" she thought he'd refuse to leave until they have it figured out.
"He's got some family business" Carisi replied, taking his sit "he was supposed to take a few days off to spend with his daughter but now…well, he went to the airport"
"Oh, well I should go make the call and I'll be right back" she walked to the bunks room for some privacy and dialed.
"Rollins?" She heard the voice from the other line.
"Sorry to call this early chief" she apologized "but I got a call from my old squad in New York, my former sergeant is at the hospital and her son is missing, they asked me to help"
"You're already there, aren't you?" the woman asked.
"I am"
"Stay as long as you need" she told Amanda "come back after you solve this, we will manage without you for a while and if you need anything call me"
"Thank you chief" she hung up the phone and sat down.
Amanda wasn't surprised by the Deputy Chief's reaction, Eloise Heathers was a damn good police officer, she was also a really good person. They first met not long after Patton's trial was over. She helped her out then and it was the first time Amanda had finally felt in control of the situation.
Still, when Eloise first offered her to come back to Atlanta and work for her she refused. Things would be different, it was clear to Amanda, but she loved New York, she didn't want to leave, but a few months later she had little choice and called her to accept the offer.
Amanda walked back to Murphy's office to let him know she's staying for as long as he needs her.
"Daddy!" Zara was happy to see Nick and ran to him as fast as she could he caught her in his arms and they hugged for a long time.
"How are you doing?" she looked tired, but that was probably because she was used to sleeping at this hour.
"Good, what are we going to do daddy?" she was excited to spend a few days in New York.
"Well, the plans changed a little" he gave her an apologetic smile and raised his eyes at Maria, who walked to the two of them, she had a trolley in each hand.
Nick called his ex-wife earlier and told her something serious has happened, he didn't want to go into details over the phone, but he asked her to take Zara to her parents in D.C. first and he will pick her up from there. Maria wasn't happy about changing the schedule but from the tone of his voice she understood it was big, he wouldn't give up time with his daughter for just anything.
"What's going on?" she asked him.
"Zara" Nick smiled at the girl "can you sit over there for a moment, I need to talk to your mom, ok?"
"Fine dad" she looked at her parents and walked to the sits her father pointed at.
"Listen Maria" he started, throwing quick glances at Zara every once in a while "I'm sorry, but there's been…Olivia was attacked at her home and her son is missing"
"Oh god! Nick I'm so sorry" Maria liked Liv, they weren't friends or anything close, but she was always willing to help.
"We have to find out who did this and I can't…"
"I get it, it's fine" she nodded "I'll take her to my parents and let me know what's going on"
"Thank you" they walked to their daughter and Nick sat down next to her.
"Zara, your mom is going to take you to visit your grandparents first, ok? And I will pick you up later"
"But why?" she looked disappointed.
"I'm sorry honey, but it's really important. I love you so much and the moment I can I will come get you and we will have a great time, te adoro"
Zara still looked confused but then just nodded and hugged Nick again.
"Let me know what's going on" Maria requested before they walked away.
"I will" Nick watched as they turned to the car rental agency and took a deep breath. He had to hurry to the station.
Nick walked into the squad room and saw Fin and Carisi checking something on Fin's computer he muttered a quick hello and walked to Olivia's office. He knew Murphy was there now, he didn't appreciate him taking the office right away as if it was his, couldn't he just take am empty desk? But there was no time to argue about it, they had to find out who did this and bring back Noah, safe and sound.
The door to the office was open and Nick walked inside to let Murphy know he was back. Through the open door Nick could tell he was talking to someone, but he didn't mind interfering for a moment, he had no plans for a long conversation with him anyhow.
"Murphy I..." Nick lost his words the moment he saw her there. It's been over a year, and here she was.
Amanda.