A/N: I forgot to mention last chapter that Frannie does not exist in this story and neither does Jesse.
It had been three weeks since Amanda's break down in front of Cragen, and much to the blonde detective's relief the elder man had not so much uttered a word about the incident since. She continued to go to meeting everyday to tame the insistent urges to hit the casino due to the stress of the knowledge that Patton was coming to town. Her nights have been no better than the restless sleep she had during her nap in the cribs, and her continued exhaustion was starting to gain the attention of her coworkers. Cragen had made it clear that he would keep her old Deputy Chief away from her during his visit but she had no idea how he was going to accomplish that.
It was a cold Wednesday morning the young detective noted as she entered the precinct. Time was both moving slowly and too fast. She didn't want the weekend to come for it meant being face to face with certain elements from her past that she deeply wished remained hidden, but at the same time she just wanted to get this all over with so she could stop looking over her shoulder and return to her old life.
"Morning Rollins" Olivia greeted as Amanda entered the squad room and sat at her desk . The blonde nodded in return as she booted up her computer. The elder woman paused for a moment simply observing the younger blonde before speaking up again "is everything alright?"
Amanda looked up slowly, trying to appear nonplussed at Olivia's sudden inquiry to her well being. "I'm doing fine. Why do you ask?" she questioned in return hoping that the other woman's concern was superficial and she wouldn't delve deeper into Amanda's person life. As far the blonde was concerned Cragen knowing the truth was one person to many as it stood.
"Oh nothing" Olivia replied back trying not to have Amanda put up her walls to quickly. It was always apparent to the brunette that the young detective kept her personal life close to her chest "I just thought that you seemed tired"
Amanda laughed slightly at this. This she could answer. This she could steer in a safe direction "I wouldn't be so damn tired if Fin would hurry and return from his Jamaican vacation" she finished as she stood to get herself a cup of coffee to help her get through her day. Her partner had left for a few days to attend his son's wedding on the tropical island. He would thankfully be back by Friday, one day before the conference would begin. She didn't know how she would cope if he ended up missing the whole thing. At least she knew if she stuck by his side Patton couldn't make a move, and her partner wouldn't bug her for an explanation even if he noticed her odd behavior. He would simply remain quiet and wait for her to come to him herself. "He better bring me back a great souvenir for carrying all his dead weight in his absence" Amanda finished to dispel any lingering concern Olivia might have had for her.
"He better bring us all back something" Olivia added as she returned her attention to the stack of DD5s on her desk.
The work load was average and Amanda didn't realize how fast the time was flying, before she knew it the work day was more than halfway over. "Alright guys I feel bad for doing this but it's time for me to be heading out" Cragen said as he shut his office door behind him. Old friends of the SVU Captain had somehow managed to get front row seats behind home plate for that day's Yankee game. An opportunity a true fan like himself could not pass up. "Remember if you need anything, anything at all do not hesitate to call" he paused in his speech as he put on his jacket to head out "but please guys... don't call" he joked as he fiddled with the hat in his hand.
"No Cap of course we won't" Amaro said as he stood to say goodbye "if anyone here deserves a good time it's you"
"Ya the last time you left work early I think I was getting my diaper changed at preschool" Olivia joked at her boss's expense.
"Ha ha" Cragen said in a mocking laughter trying to feign annoyance "just don't goof off too much just because the boss is gone, remember we still have work to do"
"We'll be good" Amanda said as she leaned back on her desk "now go enjoy yourself and stop wasting time before you miss the big game" she finished trying to usher Cragen out. He was anything but diligent when it came to his job, and the young woman didn't want him to find any reason to cause him to back out of his fun.
"No I have plenty of time, we're going to grab some dinner before the game which doesn't start for several more hours" Cragen said as he was walking out of the room. With one final goodbye he was gone.
The team quickly returned back to their work. They were not about to let their boss down, less that meant he wouldn't trust them to work efficiently on their own in the future. Nearly two hours passed with nothing eventful happening, and Amanda was starting to think it would be the quietest day she's had this last month. That was until an unannounced guest decided to drop in.
"Hello, I'm looking for detective Amanda Rollins" A southern voice range out at the officer's desk whose job it was to greet incoming guests. Amanda froze the instant she heard the terrible sound that was Atlanta's Deputy Chief Patton's voice. She didn't dare to look up, she kept her eyes focused on the paper before her praying that she was having some sort of day nightmare. "Amanda" Patton's voice sounded cheerful and she knew that he had seen her. She hesitantly raised her head to see the gray haired man walk towards her.
"Chief Patton" she said with fake cheerfulness "what are you doing here?" she finished as she felt a sharp chill run down her spine as she watched him look at her as if he was a wolf and she was his next meal.
"Well I decided to take some time off before the conference this weekend and take in what the big city has to offer" Patton said as he leaned over her desk and she could tell he was trying to peer down her shirt "and who better to show me the sights then one of my former proteges"
Amanda just sat there looking at her former boss from her chair, she didn't know what to do. She was finally stirred from her stillness when Amaro and Olivia approached the pair "oh ya, Patton these are my colleges detectives Nick Amaro and Olivia Benson"
"It's a pleasure to meet ya'll" Patton said easily as he held out his hand in greeting.
"It's nice to meet you as well" Olivia said kindly as she shook the Deputy Chief's hand and Amaro soon followed her lead "so you've come to take in the sights then" Olivia asked hearing his last statement to Amanda.
"Ya I've never had the chance before and I thought what a perfect opportunity to knock an item off my bucket list and reconnect with an old friend" Patton said as he placed a hand on the young blonde detective's shoulder. It did not miss Olivia's attention when Amanda slightly cringed at the contact and quickly shook the hand off.
"So what do you say doll, want to grab lunch before we explore what I came to see" Patton said looking down at Amanda with a predatory gleam in his eye.
"Um... I don't know my Captain..." she faltered as she looked towards her boss's office. She had forgotten that he had left early and as such wasn't there to make an excuse for her "he's not here and it wouldn't feel right ditching work without his permission"
"Come on darlin" Patton said with a sweet voice "it's only like what, 2 hours before you would normally be clocking off. I think this city could last a few hours without you here and end up being just fine"
Olivia could see the thinly veiled stress emanating from the young detective. She didn't know what was going on between Amanda and her old Deputy Chief but she could tell that the young woman was uncomfortable. Olivia was about to make an excuse to give Amanda the opportunity to deny Patton's advances if she wished, but before she could Amaro spoke first.
"Come on Rollins" Amaro said helping the blonde detective from her chair "you've been stressed these last few days, why don't you have a good time catching up on all the news from back home" he stated as he handed Amanda her things "relax and let loose, we'll hold down the fort from here"
"Why look at that, it seems some people up here do know how to put on some southern hospitality" Patton said with a smile as he placed his hand on Amanda's lower back "Thank you detective Amaro, it's nice to know that someone has my detective's back while she's so far from home" he finished as he lead Amanda out of the room.
Olivia had an uneasy feeling as she watched the young woman leave. She could not shake the insistent pull on her gut that told her something was wrong, but since Amanda didn't speak up she didn't think it was her place to say anything.
Another hour had passed at the precinct and Olivia was having a hard time concentrating. Her thoughts kept on finding their way back to Amanda. The brunette arguing with herself about whether or not to send a text to the younger woman asking if everything was going alright. Before she could make up her mind the phone rang "Manhattan SVU" Amaro answered easily as he jotted down the information and hung up the phone "we got a vic in Mercy, she wants to report a sexual assault" Olivia wasn't able to respond before she noticed the unexpected return of Cragen.
"Captain?" Amaro said in surprise as he saw the older man head towards his office "What are you doing here, what about the game?"
"Well you won't believe the klutz I am" Cragen began as he opened his office door "after I payed for dinner and we were about to head to the stadium I realized I left my ticket in my desk drawer" he chuckled to himself "how's everything here"
"Going smoothly, but we just got called about a vic in Mercy, Amaro and I were about to head out right now" Olivia answered the elder man
"Sounds good then why don't..." he paused as he noticed Amanda's desk empty "hey where's Rollins?" he questioned looking at his other two detectives.
"Well her old Chief from Atalanta stopped by and wanted to grab dinner and see some sights so we thought she could head out early..." Amaro said but trailed off as he saw his Captain become visibly tense.
"You what!" Cragen yelled catching the attention of everyone in the room
"Captain, we didn't think it would matter too much if she cut off a bit early" Olivia tried to explain not knowing what to make of Cragen's reaction
"Wouldn't matter! Wouldn't matter, of course it matters you should have never let her go with that man" he was angry and his temper was only rising "in my office now" he said and waited for them to follow him "shut the door" he ordered Amaro and the detective quickly did so.
"Captain what's going on, what's the big deal" Olivia questioned with deep concern etching over her face.
"That man's dangerous, and he has an unsavory history with Rollins. She asked me to keep him away from her during the conference" Cragen explained wanting to protect Amanda's privacy as much as possible
"Why didn't she say anything" Amaro asked
"You know how she is, and besides you're both detectives. I'm sure she was sending out some signals that had to have raised red flags for you two" Cragen stated as he pulled out his cell phone to call Amanda "pick up Rollins, pick up" he said tensely as he heard the unanswered ringing through his ear. He tried again when he reached her voice mail.
"I thought something was off" Olivia admitted
"And I left her with no way out, I pushed her to go" Amaro said with huge guilt growing inside of him
After the second call Cragen dialed TARU to track her cell. As he waited for Amanda's location he asked his detectives how long she had been gone. Olivia was the one to tell him Amanda had left a little over an hour ago. TARU soon sent the SVU Captain Amanda's location.
Cragen didn't like the location TARU had given him "she's at her apartment building" he said as he shoved the phone back into his pocket "Olivia with me, Amaro go handle that call" he didn't even wait to hear any affirmative or protest, he rushed out of the precinct like a bat out of hell.
"Captain, is Amanda in danger" Olivia asked as the elder man was driving aggressively to the blonde's apartment. It was the only explanation she could think of to explain the normally calm man's rash behavior, but what kind of danger could she be in from her old Deputy Chief?
"Yes Olivia" Cragen said without looking at her, hands tightening on the wheel "she is"
A/N: So... this isn't going to be a two shot after all haha :) I'm looking more at three or four chapters now, I hope lol. It's hard to keep to my original length. Next chapter we'll see whats happening on Amanda's end and why Patton actually came to her. Thanks for reading.