Back at the hospital, Rollins was entering Josie's room once again. She had to convince this scared little girl into getting a rape kit done. Although Amanda knew the importance of a rape kit, she still hated when kids had to have them done. Amanda believed there's a special place in hell for the men who rape kids - especially when it's their own child.
"Why is that other detective so mad at me?"Josie asked Amanda.
Amanda motioned next to Josie, if she could sit next to her again, Josie nodded in approval. Amanda sat next to her and put her arm around her back, Josie laid her head on Amanda's shoulder. The poor child just wanted to be comforted. "She's not mad at you, Sweetie."
Josie lifted up her head, "don't lie to me, Amanda, I heard her yelling about me. She thinks I'm lying about being hurt, doesn't she?"
"No, she doesn't, she believes you were hurt, she's just questioning who might have done it," Amanda knew she was talking to this girl too much, but she couldn't explain the connection she had to this girl. She could have been her daughter with her light blonde hair and big blue eyes. This could be Jessie sitting here. The thought made Amanda's stomach turn every time.
"That's what my daddy kept telling me, that the cops would never believe me anyways. It's all my fault, I should have never left the apartment today. I'm so stupid."
Those words cut through Amanda like a knife. "Hey, no, you're not stupid, Josie, you're very smart for getting help. Forget about what Olivia believes or doesn't believe, I believe you. I believe what you are telling me. I'm so sorry this happened to you. It's not your fault, none of this is your fault. You're very brave, you're a lot more brave then I was when I was hurt."
Josie laid her head back on Amanda's shoulders and she felt her body tense up and her shoulders move up and down. Poor kid was crying again. "Can you call my brother?"
Amanda thought it was strange she wanted her brother over her mom, she then realized she hasn't once mentioned her mom. Where was she all this time? "Do you want me to call your mom?"
This made Josie freeze in her tracks. Something is not right here. Does her mom know what her husband does but does nothing to stop it? Does she hurt this sweet child too?
"My mom died two years ago," Josie choked out between sobs.
Or that. This poor child, left alone in the house with her abuser. Amanda just wished she could sit here with her all day, but she knew she couldn't. Time is always their enemy with these cases, the sooner the rape kit could be completed, the more likely they will find more evidence. If Amanda wiped away any evidence that Simon might have left on this child, Lieutenant Benson would have her badge in a second. Amanda never seen Olivia that upset towards a child before. She's seen her turn on victims, but never that fast. Even if someone did put her up to this, she's still the victim here. Amanda understood Olivia's overprotectiveness and paranoia about Noah after his grandmother kidnapped him, but Amanda still thought she handled this girl wrong.
Amanda took a deep breath and pulled Josie off her. She knows it's time for this girl to get her rape kit done and for someone to tend to that gash on her forehead. She sat in the chair next to the bed and grabbed her hands. Josie looked so sad.
"Sweetie, you have to be examined by a nurse. She's going to collect any evidence that your father left on you so we can put him away for hurting you. Are you okay with that?" Josie just nodded her head. She was so small and so alone in this great big world. There should be an Amber Alert on her by now, but her daddy dearest probably hadn't even noticed she escaped yet. Some bile made a threat to make an appearance in Amanda's mouth, she had to swallow it back down. She's had a pattern of questionable men in her life before Jessie came along, this could have - no, stop it, Amanda told herself. "She's going to have to check quite a few things, first will be easy, she'll clip your fingernails, swab your check, things like that, okay?" Josie nodded her head. "But then the nurse is going to have to swab and examine, uh, where he hurt you, but I'll be here with you the whole time, okay?"
"Is it going to hurt?" Josie looked in Amanda's eyes, her innocence was slipping away by the second. Amanda figured this was another appropriate time for a fib, "no. You're strong."
Just then her phone buzzed to life. It was Fin. Probably checking up on her. "I gotta take this, okay? I won't be far." Amanda stepped out the room and answered the phone. "Rollins."
"Is Liv there with you?" Fin barked.
"No, she left a while ago. Why?"
"She has a visitor here waiting for her, but she can't be tracked down."
"Whose there? Is it Simon?" She pulled her bangs out of her eyes. She saw Nurse Leonard in the hallway and she flagged her down.
"No visit from him yet, but One PP got wind of this case and Tucker wants her off the case."
"Right, cause that sounds like Liv, to just let family go. What do you make of this, Fin? Did you meet this Simon dude?"
"I have, years ago. Honestly, he was nothing but trouble if you ask me, but for some reason Liv and Stabler were gunho to defend his sorry ass. How's the girl doing?"
"She's definitely shaken up, something happened to her. Hey, she told me her mom died two years ago and her brother, or step brother just turned 19 and is in college, can you do some digging?"
"So it's just her and Simon left?"
"It's what she says."
"What does your gut say, Rollins?"
"That she's scared out of her mind and she doesn't have anyone at home to stand up for her." Nurse Leonard is walking down the hallway with the rape kit. "Hey, I got to go, it's time for her examination. I don't want her alone in there."
"You do good work in there, Rollins," Fin sometimes felt like a dad to Amanda. "Just remember, it's not Jessie in there."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. It's just, well, you saw her picture."
"If I didn't know better, I'd say she's your relative and not Liv's. Carisi and I will do more digging for you."
"Thanks Fin," Amanda took a moment to collect her thoughts. "I'm glad you always have my back, Sergeant." She hung up before he could say something sappy back.
Nurse Leonard reached Amanda. "You ready, detective?"
"You can call me Amanda. I'm ready if you are."
"She's okay with me examining her?"
"She told me she was."
"Well, you must have the magic touch, Amanda. She just cried when I went near her."
"I'll hold her hand in there. These are never easy."
"I'm glad she has someone on her side," Nurse Leonard gave Amanda a smile before she opened the door to Josie's room.
I'm glad this story is getting so many favorites and bookmarks! I'd love to hear your thoughts on the story so far! Next update will be coming soon! Thanks for reading! :)
