Elliot walked into the lounge to make a pot of coffee and bumped into Brian carrying a turkey sandwich "is there any news," Brian said.
Elliot took a deep breath and nodded, "it's hard to say Brian but I think there are people at this orphanage Elora has lived in which are being horrible to her, and she's taken it to heart its partly why she ran away, the other reason is she misses her friend who was adopted a few days ago."
"Ah shit poor kid," Brian muttered he glanced at the coffee in Elliot's hand, "how's Olivia doing."
"She's in the interview room now trying to calm the girl down using her natural talents," Elliot gave Brian a pat on the back and picked up two mugs of freshly made coffee, "i'll let you know when we find anything."
Elliot knocked before entering the cribs and found Olivia holding Elora in her lap humming silly tunes and pulling funny faces. Elliot saw the girl smiling and giggling, and he started to feel more confident that Elora was going to open up.
"Elora can we talk some more," Olivia said giving Elora a gentile squeeze.
"Okay misses Olivia," Elora said nodding her head.
"You don't have to call me misses Olivia just Olivia will be fine, now I know this will be hard for you but if you can tell me the truth I can help you feel better."
Elora looked into Olivia eyes and slowly said "I can't say anything about the orphanage."
"Elora" Elliot leaned foreward, "are there bad people at the orphanage people who say mean things to you."
"Were they the people who gave you those bruises," Olivia whispered.
"I can't talk about it," the girl whispered.
"Elora sweetie remember what I said," Elliot placed a hand on Elora's shoulder, "you're not in any trouble we only want to stop bad things from happening to you, but we can't do that unless you tell us the truth."
Elora placed her hands over her ears and shook her head.
Elliot waited outside leaving Olivia alone with Elora in the room then he saw Olivia opening the door. "She's asleep again I don't think she's had a proper sleep in days."
Elliot placed his hands on his hips, "what do you think we should do Liv I thought she trusted you enough to talk to us but she is refusing to tell us, I fear something terrible has happened at the orphanage."
"So do I we're going to talk to the managers of the orphanage and get to the bottom of this."
"We haven't got anything to go by these bruises could have just as easily happened when she ran away from the orphanage if we go in there guns blazing."
Olivia nodded, "they'll just pretend they have no idea and insist that some thug on the street is responsible yes your right." Olivia looked away down the hallway, "i'm going to have a word with Cragen can you keep an eye on her while i'm gone."
Elliot sat on a chair in the interview room resting his eyes then he saw Elora stirring and the first thing she said was, "where's Olivia"
"Olivia's just gone to talk to someone she'll be back soon."
Elora smiled widely at Elliot's words and Elliot gave her a lop sided grin, "you like Olivia don't you."
"yep."
"I think Olivia likes you very much as well, and Elora I know you don't want to tell us what happened right now but maybe later if you feel like telling us you can talk to us okay."
Elora climbed down from the bed and hugged Elliot's knees, "I like you too Ellie."
Elliot giggled, "thank you Elora I like you very much as well, but I would like it if you called me Elliot I think Ellie might be a girl's name."
"Okay Mr Elliot."
Elliot sniggered some more "just Elliot."
Cragen pushed a stack of papers to one side and stared at Olivia, Olivia looked into his eyes trying not to blink even though she knew Cragen was fair and kind she was afraid of what he might say. "Olivia i'm saying this as your boss your letting this case get to you, and you're going to get in trouble with me."
"I know Cragen but if we let her go back there," Olivia eyes desperately pleaded with Cragen.
"Without any concrete evidence we can't."
"Just looking at her shows she has been abused, I don't why she won't tell me but I know with time I can get to the bottom of this please let her stay with me just for a short while."
"Detective Benson."
"If I can't get anywhere I promise I will take her back to the orphanage and let the case drop." Olivia held her breath. Cragen started to smile "you can't save the world Olivia you know that don't you."
"But I can save this little girl," Olivia whispered, "I know I can."
The office door flew open and Elliot ran in, "Elora's very upset come quickly." Oliva ran past Elliot opening the interview room door and felt Elora clinging to her legs. "Olivia I don't wanna go back there."
Olivia gently stroked Elora's head, "Elora listen."
"Please don't take me back there," the girl said.
"Can you tell me about what happened in the orphanage now," Olivia whispered
Emily shook her head "I can't Olivia."
Olivia saw Cragen approaching her, "your a nice grown up I wanna stay with you, please."
Olivia bit her lip then she turned around and looked at Cragen's sad face, "Cragen."
Elora clung to Olivia's leg, "please don't go away."
"Cragen please let her stay with me," Olivia said feeling her eyes fill up with tears. Cragen sighed and nodded.
Olivia's face lit up and she stroked Elora's hair until the girl looked up at her, "you can stay with me for a little while okay Elora." Elora gave Olivia a big hug "thank you" she whispered.
That night Olivia opened up the door and taking Elora's hand she led her inside, "this is my new home" Elora said looking around excited Olivia bent down "while your staying with me, yes it is your home."
"I've got to help Olivia" Elora said.
"Help" Olivia whispered confused.
"Work and stuff so I won't be beat up", Elora said nodded Olivia raised an eyebrow and horror dawned on Elora's face she started to hit her forehead with her hands. Olivia quickly held on to her hands "honey" she started.
Elora covered her ears with her hands Olivia just gave her a hug, "i'll bet your starving i'll make you something to eat."
Olivia made spaghetti and meatballs she glanced at Elora sitting on the coach twiddling her thumbs, "are you bored."
Elora nodded.
"I think sitting there isn't much fun," Olivia said as she turned on the television. "Pick a channel honey dinner will be ready soon", she handed Elora the remote, and went back to the kitchen to get two plates.
Olivia watched Elora eat her dinner as quickly as she thought possible, then when she gave a little burp and said thank you Olivia washed the dishes and sat down with Elora to watch television, she smiled when Elora climbed into her lap and rested her head on Olivia's chest.
Another commercial break later and Olivia heard deep breathing coming from Elora she carried the sleeping girl to her bedroom and tucked her in. Then she returned to the living room and went to work setting up the pull out coach, she changed into her pyjamas and lying on the coach let herself fall into a deep sleep.
"Olivia" Olivia's eyes shot open "Olivia Olivia," Olivia sprang off the coach and ran to the bedroom she opened the door and saw Elora drenched in sweat bawling, "Olivia" Olivia scooped Elora into her arms and held her close "shhh you've just had a bad dream." Elora clung to Olivia tightly "I thought I was back at the orphanage."
Olivia rocked her back and forth in her arms "sweetheart please you can trust me why are you scared of the orphanage," Olivia felt Elora's hands clinging to her neck "Misses Silverbeads she hurts me real bad her hands hurt I have to do what she says because i'm selfish."
Olivia felt like crying for the little girl, "i'm sorry Olivia i'm selfish", Elora whispered.
"Baby you are not selfish baby you understand, and Misses Silverbeads she won't hurt you ever again," Olivia whispered.
Elora whimpered "I wasn't supposed to say anything Olivia."
"Did she tell you not to tell anyone."
"She says if I ever did tell anyone especially a police person, I will never have a mommy and daddy."
Olivia just closed her own eyes and brushed Elora's cheek with her hand finally understanding why the little girl didn't want to tell her the truth "Mrs Silverbeads is a bad person don't listen to her."
"But," the girl started.
"Elora nothing bad is going to happen okay its good that you told me this don't be afraid i'm going to stay here until you go back to sleep."
Emily clung to Olivia tightly "can you stay here for good please if its okay" Olivia climbed into bed beside Elora she watched her cuddle up to her and hearing the girl's breathing deepening she slowly drifted off to sleep holding the little girl close.