Thanks again for the reviews everyone! Hopefully after this you hate me at least a little less lol
Disclaimer: I do not own any of Law and Order SVU or its characters. The story was written simply for fun and not for profit. They belong to Dick Wolf.
-------------------------------------------
Chapter Seven
When Olivia awoke the next morning her head was pounding. She dragged herself out of bed and into her bathroom to grab some aspirin. When she looked up into the mirror she saw the evidence of the events that occurred the night before. Her eyes were still swollen and blood shot, the black circles around them leaving no mistaking her difficulty to find sleep. She turned on the faucet and cupped her hands under the running water. She dropped her head into the sink and threw the cold water onto her face. Grabbing a towel from the shelf she wiped her face then throwing the towel back onto the floor she blew out a deep breath. She opened the cabinet grabbing two aspirin, swallowing them without the help of water, she then ran her hands over her face once more before returning to her bed.
The events of the night before still fresh in her memory, her already painfully swollen eyes began to feel the burn of fresh tears once more. Even now, even after all the pain he has caused her she only wants him there. For the past eleven years he has been the one she has turned to in her time of need. Her best friend, always there for her to cry to when she needed someone. Now she didn't have anyone. She couldn't talk to anyone at work about this. She had no family to comfort her. Her job kept her so busy she really didn't have any friends outside of the precinct. She was alone. The very reason she feared her relationship with Elliot in the first place becoming a reality before her now.
As the aspirin began to take effect and her head slowly started to stop throbbing she found the small amount of strength she had in her to get out of bed. She slowly walked into the kitchen and plopped down at her kitchen table propping her elbows on its surface and throwing her face down in her hands. She was so lost. She did not know what to think. She started to hate herself for missing him. She hated herself because even after what he had done, she wanted him with her. She hated herself for needing him so much. She hated herself for loving him so much.
Please God, if you're listening... I need you. Please save me, I'm falling fast.
----------------------------------------------
1-6 Station House
(the next day)
Olivia walked into the precinct dreading seeing Elliot. She had not spoken to him since Saturday night at her apartment and was not ready to speak to him just yet. She sat at her kitchen table for hours the day before praying to God for help on what to do. When she finally realized that the answer was not coming from any greater source she gave up. Feeling even more lost and confused. Now as she opened the doors to the squad room she saw him sitting at his desk and it took all of her power not to turn around and run. Making sure not to make eye contact with him she walked over to her desk and placed her coat over the back of her chair. She threw her keys onto it and walked straight over to the coffee pot. She poured herself a cup and returned to sit down. Without saying a word to anyone, she started her paperwork.
"Good morning to you too Liv."
Munch's playful banter pierced right through her. She hadn't realized that not wanting to talk to Elliot subconsciously made her not want to talk to anyone.
"Not now John."
The words came out a lot harsher than she intended and she felt bad about his obvious hurt from her words. Instead of saying anything though she just sighed and returned to her forms.
Munch looked over to Elliot who just glance over with a sorrow filled face and shook his head. Picking up on the tension between them Munch turned his attention towards Fin and bent down to whisper to him.
"Trouble in paradise you think?"
Fin simply shrugged and everyone went back to their work.
"Benson...Stabler...my office." Cragen's voice rang through the squad room like a fog horn. Olivia got up out of her chair followed closely by Elliot.
With Elliot obviously afraid to speak in front of her yet, and hiding by the door, she approached their captain. "Whats up Cap?
"I need you two to head down to Mercy to interview a vic that was just brought in. Five year old girl found beaten and raped in central park. No sign of her parents or any identification. The only thing the cop on the scene could get out of her was her name. Abigail."
This day was not going to get any better.
"Sure thing Cap."
The two of them left the office and walked towards their desks to get their coats and keys. Trying to act as natural as possible in front of everyone Olivia turned toward Elliot.
"You driving or me?"
He looked up at her obviously shocked by the normalcy in her voice. "Aaa...I guess I'll drive."
Olivia nodded and made her way to the elevator. Once they reached Elliot's car he unlocked it and the two of them hopped in. After starting the car Elliot rested his hands on the steering wheel and let out a heavy sigh. Looking straight ahead he began to speak.
"Olivia, I just..."
"Elliot. Don't. Don't talk. Just drive."
Her words were blunt and harsh. Filled with every emotion possible. Elliot glanced over and saw the loan tear that had made its way to her cheek and nodded in understanding.
They didn't speak the entire way to the hospital.
-----------------------------------
Mercy General Hospital
Elliot and Olivia walked into the hospital and up to the nurses desk holding out their badges.
"Detective Benson. This is Detective Stabler, we're here to see the rape victim that was just brought in."
The young nurse sadly smiled at them and got up from her seat behind the desk. She pointed down the hallway and motioned for them to follow her.
"Just this way detectives. She is pretty shaken up. Poor thing wont talk at anyone."
"What is the extent of her injuries?"
"She has a broken left arm and some bruising on her face and inner thighs. There was obvious trauma to her vaginal area and a fresh tear to her hymen. We gave her medication for the pain. She is a strong little girl."
When they approach her room Olivia glanced at the child laying on the bed. It is days like this that I hate my job.
"Thank you. We've got it from here."
The two of them made their way slowly into the hospital room. Elliot keeping his distance, knowing that often times the young victims are more fearful of his male presence after an attack. Olivia slowly walked up to the girls bed and sat in the chair next to her.
"Hello Abigal. My names Olivia. I'm a police officer." She took out her badge to show the frightened child.
The little girl didn't say a word. She just looked over at her with fear in her eyes and her cheeks were still wet from tears.
"How are you feeling honey?"
"I want my mommy."
"I know you do sweetie, we are doing are best to find her for you. Can you tell us where you live?"
She shook her head violently back and forth and threw her head between her knees beginning to cry.
"I am scared."
"I know you are sweetie. I promise you I wont let anything bad happen to you again okay?"
The girl shyly lifted her head from her knees and turned towards Olivia putting out her arms for Olivia to embrace her. Olivia gave the girl a smile, careful not to move her casted arm she held onto her stroking her hair as she cried.
"It's okay. Shhh..it's okay. Can you tell me what happened?"
Still holding tightly to Olivia the girl began to speak. "I was walking Muffins with mommy and daddy when the bad man came."
"Did you know the bad man?"
"No, but I think mommy did because she started to yell at him to go away. Daddy and him started to fight and mommy grabbed me and ran."
The little girl started to cry again and Olivia stroked her hair once more.
"You're doing great honey. What happened next?"
"He caught up with mommy and me, but daddy wasn't there. He hit mommy on the head and she fell down. Then he picked me up."
"What happened after he grabbed you?"
"He brought me over to these bushes. I was mad at him because he made me drop the leash and Muffins ran away. Did you find Muffins?"
Not remembering her captain ever mentioning a dog at the scene she shook her head. "Not yet sweetie. We'll make sure we find me though. I promise. What happened after Muffins ran off?"
Abigail hid her head in Olivia's chest and spoke through muffled cries, "I don't want to talk about it."
"I know you don't honey, but it will help us find out who hurt you and your mommy and daddy."
The girl lifted her head up and looked at her with pleading eyes.
"And Muffins?"
Olivia couldn't contain her smile at the young girls concern for her pet. "And Muffins."
Returning her head to her chest she spoke through her tears. "He threw me on the grass. I told him that it hurt but he said to shut up. I told him that it wasn't nice to say that word and he hit me. Then he..he took my pants off. I told him no. I said he wasn't mommy and it wasn't bath time, but he laughed at me. He said that he wanted to give me a present that mommy couldn't give me, but he lied. It wasn't a present. Presents are suppose to be nice."
Olivia's heart was breaking all over. "What happened next?"
"He hit me again because I started to cry. It hurt really bad. I asked what I did wrong. I asked him why if I was bad. He called me a little sloot. Whats a sloot?"
Knowing what the girl meant to say she just pet her hair and squeezed her a little tighter.
"It is just a bad word that mean people use sometimes. Don't worry honey. Do you remember what happened after that?"
"He grabbed my arm. It hurt really bad so I cried again and then he hit me again. I don't remember anything after that. Was I bad Olivia? Is that why the bad man came?"
"No honey. You weren't bad. You didn't do anything wrong."
Abigail began to cry harder.
"I want my mommy Olivia. Where's my mommy?"
Unable to lie to the girl she whispered out the truth as she rocked her in her arms. "I don't know sweetie. I don't know."
She looked over now at Elliot who was visibly just as hurt by the little girls story as she was. For the first time since Saturday night she looked into his eyes. Both sets, blue and brown, filled with tears. For both this young girls loss and their own. Breaking their gaze she returned her attention back to the young girl in her arms.
"You did great Abigail. Now I am going to go and try and find your mommy and daddy okay?"
"No!!!" The girl tightened her grip around Olivia's neck. "Please don't leave me. What if the bad man comes back?"
"Its okay sweetie. I promise you, you are safe here. Okay? The bad man wont hurt you again."
Very reluctantly the little girl released her hold on Olivia. Olivia smiled down to her and cupped her cheek with her hand.
"I'll be back soon okay?"
The girl simply nodded and Olivia got up to leave the room. Right as her and Elliot were about to pass through the door she heard her call out to her.
"Olivia!"
"Yeah sweetie?"
"Don't forget about Muffins okay? He doesn't like to be alone."
Olivia gave the girl a smile. "We wont forget about Muffins. I promise."
Abigail nodded once more and the two detectives left, both too broken to speak.
--------------------------------------------
Elliot and Olivia didn't speak much to each other at all the rest of the day. They spoke when they had to because of the job, but that was it. Making sure to keep up a good show for their colleagues. Now as she sits alone, once again hugging her picture frame against her chest, she aches for him. She needed him. Listening to that little girl today shattered what was left of her already broken heart. Later that day they received word that despite their desperate attempts to find them, CSU found the bodies of both her parents at another location within the park, and there was still no sign of her beloved Muffins. They all knew that he most likely he was killed as well or lost forever. They had caught the man who was responsible, but to Olivia it didn't matter. It was already too late. When the captain told her the news she left the precinct without saying a word to anyone. She just stormed to her desk, grabbed her coat and left. Olivia hated herself. She promised that little girl she would bring back her mother to her and find her beloved dog. She wasn't able to do either. She had failed her.
Unable to control her thoughts any longer she sprang from her bed and went to the kitchen to grab her bottle of Jack Daniels that she keeps for occasions just like this. She always told herself she would never be like her mother. She would never drink away her sorrow, her regrets, her mistakes....but tonight...she was truly going to be Serena's daughter.
Just as she was about to poor the warm liquid down her throat she was stopped by a voice behind her. A voice that was unmistakable.
"Don't do it Liv."
-----------------------------------------------
TBC
I hope you guys liked this chapter. Next chapter has A LOT more E/O. I promise it will get happy again soon. lol Just stick with me on this.
Please review!!!
