Olivia sat at the edge of the table, her legs dangling over the side and swaying back and forth ever so slightly. Behind her phones were still ringing incessantly and officers were running about to do…what she wasn't sure. For the last thirty minutes she watched as the news reported on the kidnapping. They cycled between stills of Johnson's drivers licence photo, the daycare security photo, the number for the police hotline and Noah's picture taken at the zoo, not even a month earlier. She sat staring at Noah's smiling face and couldn't help but think of how much she had failed him…she swore that she was going to protect him from all the horror in this world, all the horrors she sees on a daily basis and she failed. What kind of mother am I if I can't keep my child safe? Olivia thought to herself. Sighing heavily she buried her face in her hands.

"Olivia!" she heard her name and when she turned, Murphy was jogging toward her. "Rollins just called, the wife said he might be heading up north to a cabin her and her husband rent every summer"

Olivia jumped off the table and grabbed her coat, already out the door and heading toward the car. It was all Murphy could do to keep up with her.


A small army of police officers sped through the city streets and down the highway, sirens blaring and lights flashing.

"Liv slow down" Murphy called out, clutching the handle over his head, trying to be heard over the sirens. Olivia either didn't hear him or chose to ignore him cause she just pushed down on the pedal harder, urging the car to go faster.

An hour later the squad was pulling up a few yards away from the cabin. The once loud cars now sat idling silently, wanting to keep the element of surprise on their side. The cabin was surrounded by a thick layer of trees so much so that it was only barely visible in certain spots. Murphy was ducking his head and moving from side to side to get a view.

"I think I see his car." He whispered as if Johnson could hear him.

Olivia threw her door open and was about to get out of the car when she felt Murphy's hand drip her upper arm.

"What are you doing?"

"He's in there and he has Noah!"

"I'm well aware of that Sergeant but I'm in charge here and I will not have you doing something stupid and jeopardizing this operation." Murphy said, using her title so she would know he was very serious.

"This isn't just any operation Lieutenant. This is my son we're talking about." She spat back.

Murphy's grip on her arm softened, "I know that Olivia which is exactly why I need you focused. I know he's your son but we have to tread carefully here… we don't know what Johnson will do if he's spooked or feels cornered. Alright?"

Olivia nodded, "alright"


Officers crept through the forest, guns drawn and pointed toward the cabin as they surrounded it. Murphy stood off to the side of the front door, one hand gripping his gun, the other on the door handle.

"On my mark" he whispered to his team before bursting through the door.

Officers flooded into the cabin, some breaking to the right toward the back rooms, others to the left into the kitchen. A cry went out through the cabin and Olivia knew instantly it was Noah. She rushed toward the sound, only to have Murphy stop her by sticking his arm out and cutting off her path. She looked at him defiantly and he gave a look back as if to say calm down. They followed the sound, moving slowly down the long hall and heading straight into the living room where they found Johnson seated on the couch. Noah was clutched tightly against his chest and squirming, his face red from crying.

"How'd you find me?"

"Your wife thought you might be here"

"Good for nothing cow" Johnson grumbled, shaking his head.

Murphy took a step deeper into the room, his gun never leaving Johnson. "Look, we have this place surrounded…there's no way out so why don't you just let Noah go okay?"

"I won't do that, he's my son" Jonathan said as he shifted slightly and they caught the flash of metal. Instinctively they knew that it was a gun.

Olivia felt her heart sink.

"You know that's not true. The DNA test proved that you aren't his father" Murphy reasoned.

"I don't care. I spent the last year thinking that he was my son. I imagined teaching him how to ride a bike, how to throw a ball, how to shave…he's my son."

Olivia let her arms fall to her sides, and she put her gun back into its holster. She moved to step ahead of Murphy, who could only stare at her dumbfounded. She let her hand run down his arm, her way of letting him know that she knew what she was doing.

"But I've spent the last year taking care of him. I'm sorry about your wife's miscarriage but you can't replace what you lost with someone else's child…"

"You're not even his real mother!" Johnson lashed out. Those words hurt Olivia more than if he had reached out and hit her. She was left completely speechless, he was right; she wasn't Noah's real mother. Noah was no more her son than he was Johnson's. She opened her mouth to speak but Murphy beat her to it.

"Yes she is. She may not have given birth to him but that doesn't make her any less his mother. I've watched her take care of Noah for the last year and she is an amazing mother to Noah. She's changed every diaper, consoled him when he was sad or hurt or sick. She's laughed with him, fought for him, feared for him, cried for him and she's loved him more than anything else in the entire world. And if you've ever seen the way that that little boy looks at her then you'd know that he is her son."

"All I've ever wanted was to be a dad..." Johnson said, visibly defeated. He looked to Olivia then down to Noah before getting up off the couch. He reached out as if to hand Noah over to Olivia. Cautiously, Olivia moved closer and reached out to take Noah, afraid that this was a sick joke and Johnson would pull him away at the last minute, laughing. When Noah was finally in her arms she turned quickly and walked out of reach.

Murphy moved in and grabbed Johnson roughly, bring his arms behind his back Murphy pulled the steel cuffs from his belt and tightened them to Johnson's wrists, fastening them a click or two too tight. Murphy escorted Johnson to the threshold of the living room and pushed him roughly toward the other officers.

"Get him out of here and read him his rights" Murphy ordered before making his way over to Olivia. "How's he doing?" he asked smoothing down Noah's hair.

"I think he's okay" Olivia answered, wiping the tears from Noah's face and hugging him tightly as she rocked back and forth, trying to sooth him. "Thank you Declan."

"For what?"

"For what you said to Johnson and for keeping your promise and getting Noah back"

Murphy gave her a small smile and leaning in placed a small kiss on her temple.

"Let's go home"