Immature

Chapter Seven

Casey Novak's Office

District Attorney's Office

9:00 AM Monday

Casey finished off the last of her breakfast and last sip of some very good coffee before she wiped her hands and began to prepare for court. She took on Ashley's case and she now had to go head to head with Ashley's parents over Alexis.

Olivia knew Ashley personally, but was hesitant to call her as a witness on Ashley's behalf because of how Olivia had been feeling lately. Elliot told her to try and hold off, but Casey was hoping for a quick custody hearing, but the Blacks could afford a damn good defense and drag it out forever until the Blacks got what they wanted.

In a word, it was going to turn into both an ugly battle and a media circus. Rickie would use her media attention to sway the public, get sympathy.

Casey was filing a motion to emancipate Ashley and to grant Ashley sole custody of Alexis so that Rickie Austin and Jared Black couldn't touch Alexis…at least not legally.

Ashley was grateful to Casey and Olivia.

Elliot knocked on the door and he and John walked in.

"Hey," she said as she popped a mint gum and drank some water. "Is Ashley ready for court?"

"Yeah, uh, against my advice Olivia drove her," Elliot sighed.

"Stubborn ass," Casey chuckled. "Does she feel up to testifying?"

"I don't think so, but knowing Liv, she'll make herself feel up to it," Elliot sighed.

"Well, I did my best trying to hold off, but if she wants to, I'd rather have her do it today than waiting," Casey said as she put some files into her briefcase. "I know you want her to see a doctor. The sooner she testifies, the sooner she'll indulge you."

Manhattan Courthouse

Central Manhattan

11:00 AM

"Detective Benson, when did you first meet Ashley Austin Black?" Casey asked.

Olivia inhaled then began. "I was on a case six years ago. My partner Detective Stabler and I became involved with the Blacks in the course of an investigation into Corben Black's hit an run death."

"And what did you find in the course of the investigation?" Casey inquired.

"We discovered through our medical examiner that Corben had an anxiety disorder," Olivia testified. "He bit his fingernails down to the stubs, he had rashes on his wrists and arms, he picked at his sores compulsively, and he grinded his teeth."

"Objection," Polly Williamson interjected. "Detective Benson is not qualified to render diagnosis of the boy, who died six years ago."

"Your honor, Detective Benson and Detective Stabler were both witnesses at Corben Black's autopsy," Casey argued.

"Even if they were your honor, it's second hand knowledge that the medical examiner herself should testify to," Polly argued. "And it is not relevant to the matter of this case."

"It is, your honor and I promise I will get to the point," Casey said.

Judge Carmella raised an eyebrow. "Get to it quick, Ms. Novak."

"Please continue, detective," Casey said.

"Upon learning about Corben's anxiety, we then proceeded to investigate Rickie Austin and Jared Black, which led to us finding Corben's natural father. After concluding that there was no sexual abuse, we looked into other avenues. I met Ashley when Stabler and I were interviewing Ms. Austin."

"And, how did you become personally staked in this case?"

"Ashley was exhibiting behavior that indicated domestic child abuse," Olivia recalled. "She had bruises on her arms, wrists, knees, and legs. I asked Ashley if there was any kind of abuse, and she denied it. We had our psychiatrist assess Ashley and she concluded that Ashley was deliberately hurting herself because she was starved for attention. Upon further investigation, we found that Rickie Austin had been away each time Ashley seriously injured herself and ended up in the hospital. Jared Black was also away, and he was logged as an alcoholic at the time."

"So, you felt that removing a then eleven year old Ashley from the home was necessary in order to ensure Ashley's safety?" Casey asked.

"Yes," Olivia nodded.

"Is it safe to assume that you're almost a friend to Ashley then?" Casey asked.

"Yes," Olivia said with a slight grin.

"Would you say that Ashley is responsible?"

"Yes. Ashley has matured and she realizes what she has to do in order to take care of Alexis. She is in a much better position than most teen mothers."

"Is there any reason, if any, that you think Alexis should be removed from Ashley's care?"

"No," Olivia said.

"Thank you detective," Casey said.

Polly stood up and brushed off her skirt before approaching the witness stand.

Polly Williamson was thirty five years old and she had over a hundred family court cases under her belt. She had caramel skin and long, dark hair that fell over her shoulders. She was married with three children and one on the way, but she had just found out three days ago. She liked family court, but sometimes, not everyone deserved to have children.

Ashley seemed to be a nice enough girl, but she didn't think Ashley nor her parents deserved baby Alexis. The Blacks were self centered and thought of children as property, something to make them look good, and Ashley was young, naïve and anything could go wrong.

Either way, she still had to make as strong a case as possible for the Blacks.

"Detective Benson," Polly began. "Isn't it true that you're the product of your mother's rape?"

"Objection," Casey cut in. "Relevance?"

"It goes as to Detective Benson's motives for getting so close to Ashley Austin Black," Polly argued.

"I'll allow it," Judge Carmella allowed. "Please answer the question, Detective Benson."

Olivia sighed. "Yes, yes I am a child of rape."

"And isn't it also true that your own mother neglected and abused you physically and emotionally?"

Olivia's eyes began to water but she stayed strong. "Um…"

Her side was hurting, but it wasn't as bad as over the weekend. She glanced at Elliot, who was slightly annoyed that the issue was brought up.

"Detective?" Polly prodded. "Were you not abused by your mother?"

"Yes," Olivia said. "Yes I was. More emotionally than anything."

"Oh, well let's not spilt hairs, Detective Benson. You were abused and that's why you felt it necessary to harass my clients and their daughter six years ago and even today, and try to separate Ashley even further from her parents."

"That wasn't my intent," Olivia said, wiping a tear that escaped. "I just wanted Ashley to be safe. It's true. I do see myself in Ashley, and it's my job to help those in need. At the time, Ashley wanted my help and I gave it to her. I found Ashley running out of a crack house two months ago…I saw Ashley eight months pregnant and living on the street. She witnessed a murder, and through all of that, I've believed in her when no one else has. Her parents washed their hands of her. Ashley is a good mother, and I know she can make it."

"Is that a true statement or your biased opinion?" Polly asked.

"True statement," Olivia said.

"But how can you be sure that you're impression of Ashley is accurate?" Polly asked. "You yourself knows what it feels like to be emotionally abused…to feel like no one loved you…isn't it a possibility that you let your past cloud your judgment?"

"Absolutely not," Olivia insisted.

"No more questions," Polly said as she went back to her seat.

"You may step down, Detective Benson," Judge Carmella said.

"Thank you," Olivia said quietly.

She stood up and the pain intensified and she became dizzy and nauseous. She felt the color drain from her face and sweat accumulate on her forehead.

Olivia pushed open the gate as she slowly approached her seat.

A sharp pain that felt like being stabbed by a sharp shard of glass and then the person twisting it shot through her lower abdomen and her side.

She yelped and doubled over in pain, interrupting the silence in the courtroom.

Elliot got up and helped her, as did Munch and Fin.

"Olivia," Elliot said quickly. "What's the matter honey?"

She couldn't articulate the pain she was feeling as she blacked out in Elliot's arms.

"Call an ambulance," Elliot said quickly before turning his attention back to Olivia. "Liv? Liv, c'mon sweetheart, stay with me. Olivia."

Judge Carmella saw the emergency. "We are adjourned until further notice…"

Carmella picked up the phone.

Elliot held Olivia's limp form tightly. "Liv."