Ok, so slight angst in this one. Yada yada...I own nothing. Maria, Alex, Diane, her mother are all made up. Everyone else belongs the Homicide gods!

Chapter 4: Diane

By the time Pembleton picked her up the next morning, Maria had a basic idea of how she was going to get little Diane to talk. But first, she needed her first cup of coffee of the day. One of her four cups a day in fact. Taking her first hot sip, she was greeted by a very alert Lewis. "So, how was your first night?"

Taking a deep sigh before swallowing she replied "Well, actually, very well then I usually sleep. When is the little girl due to come in?"

"Later this afternoon at the latest."

Nodding her head, she tossed a bone from her bag to Alex before sitting down and pulling out a folder. As everyone started arriving and taking their usual places, Maria's face started getting closer and closer to the file she was writing on. John found himself, once again, glancing at her and wondering if that was one of her quarks. His thoughts were interrupted when the mother and daughter arrived.

"Ah, Mrs. Zebre. How are you feeling today?" Asked Kay as Mrs. Zebre neared her desk. She shrugged as she released her daughter's hand from her grasp.

"Well, we have someone here who wants to talk to you, honey," Kay referred to the daughter, "let me just get her attention." Kay walked over to Maria, tapped her softly on her shoulder and motioned to the pair. Maria gave a small smile, placed her pen and folder into a desk draw and motioned to the interrogation room. Alex closely followed them into the room as Maria carefully shut the door.

Placing some crayons and a coloring picture on the table, Maria kneeled down and softly said, "Hi Diane. My name is Maria and I'm here to find the bad man hurt your family. This is Alex. Do you want to play with him while I talk to your mom?"

Diane gave a small nod as she eyed the dog sitting by Maria. She handed Diane a chew toy and she sat down on the floor as Alex playfully mouthed the toy in her hands. Walking back out and carefully closed the door, she walked over and stood beside the mother who was watching her daughter play with the dog. "I was called in from Boston SVU to offer some more help for your daughter. From what I've been told, she knows who her attacker is, but she won't say. Correct?"

The mother nodded sadly. "I've been thinking that it could be a family friend of relative. I've asked her myself, but she fears that he will hurt her again if she says anything." Her voice tightened with emotion and placed her hand over her mouth. "I'm trying hard to stay strong for my little girl, detective, but...I can't do it anymore. She wants to talk about it, but she's so scared. I didn't even see who it was because I was blindfolded and she wasn't."

Maria nodded and let out a long sigh. "Ok, well...would you mind if I talk to her alone. You can go to the other side of the one way mirror and watch. The other detectives will be there if case you need anything." Mrs. Zebre nodded as she knocked on the window and waved to her daughter. Diane waved back with a small smile and pointed to Alex.

Walking back in and sitting crossed-legged beside Diane, Maria knew is was time to start. "So, what do think of Alex?"

"He's very playful. He's a good puppy."

"Yes, he is and this is his job - to be playful towards children, like you. He can be a good listener if you ever have to tell him something that is a secret."

"Like what?"

Maria had her attention and jumped right on in. "Like what happened to you and your family." God, I hope this works!

Diane soon looked to the floor and wrapped her arms around Alex, her ears close to his big furry ear. "It hurt. I told them to stop. But they didn't." Alex's body shifted so he was leaning against her, licking her bare arm. They? What the fuck happened to this child? Moments passed as they sat there, as Diane whispered to the dog, who looked to have his full attention on her. Maria rubbing her small back as Diane kept her arm tight around Alex's neck and her other hand toying with his ear.

She finally had her talking and dropped one question she would normally leave for later. "How many were there?" She whispered softly.

"Three."

"How tall were they?"

Diane looked up at her and pointed at Maria, saying, "Bigger then you."

"What color was their hair?"

"One was gray." Her voice was beginning to crack.

"and the other two?"

This time, she did not respond - she was shutting down. She buried her face into Alex's fur and sobbed as Maria reached over and wrapped an arm around her and Alex. The little girl's hands reached for Maria and held onto her like she would to her mother. "Can we stop now?" Diane asked quietly, her voice breaking with emotions.

"Yes, we can." The door opened and the mother walked in and pulled the girl into her arms. "Would it be possible to talk to her again in a few days?" Asked Maria as she stood and walked with the mother to the exit of the main room. She nodded as she turned and left.

Feeling drawn to her at that moment, John walked over and waited. Maria felt that odd feeling and she knew was standing behind her. Turning, she noticed that it was him.

"Please," she asked softy and sadly, "tell me that I got more out of her then usual." She finished, her voice barley at a whisper, but he heard it loud and clear.

Nodding and raising his eyebrows, he replied, "You did." All she could muster was a nod before motioning a hand to Alex before sitting back at her desk, resting her forehead against her arms.