A/N: I just want to thank everyone for giving this story a chance.
It was almost thirty minutes later that Olivia slowly made her way down the stairs. She had heard the knock on the door and decided that it was her cue to get out of the bathroom so that she wasn't holding Alex's friend up even more. She was pretty sure that she had inconvenienced him enough by having Alex call him at night to come over. As much as she was starting to trust the blonde, she was hoping he wasn't expecting payment in the form of sexual favors.
"Hey, you finished just in time," Alex said looking up from where she was sitting on the couch, "Dinner just arrived."
"I told you I could eat what was left of my sandwich," Olivia said as she sat on the chair and once again pulled her knees to her chest in a protective manner.
"I have told you when you are with me I only want to take care of you," Alex said as she pushed containers toward her, "For one night, I want to know you have eaten, you are safe, and you will be able to sleep. I want nothing in return. I wasn't sure what you liked in the way of Chinese so I ordered a variety of items. Please, go through the boxes and choose what you want."
"You choose first and I will take whatever you want me to eat."
"I ordered what I wanted and have it sitting right here," Alex said pointing at some boxes to the side that Olivia didn't see, "Those are for you. Eat whatever you want and however much you want. If you want more of one item, then I can call and have a second delivery sent here for you. It makes no difference to me. Again, before you ask, I expect nothing in return, sexually."
"But you expect something, don't you?"
"I would like to know your story, if you will share it with me," Alex said opening one of her containers.
"If not?" Olivia said as she looked through each container choosing the one she wanted.
"I can wait," Alex said around a mouth full of Moo Shoo Pork.
Olivia sat back and began to slowly eat the container of Orange Chicken as she stared at the woman to her left. There was something about her that made her want to change her ways, clean herself up, and make something of herself. Something that Alex could be proud of and would give her a chance at being with her.
"My mother was an abusive alcoholic," Olivia said finally breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them, "When I was eight years old, I was taken from her and placed in foster care because she had broken two of my ribs and my arm in a drunken rage."
"You don't have to share," Alex said stopping Olivia from talking, "I mean it when I say I expect nothing from you."
"I know, but you deserve something for your troubles," Olivia said smiling probably one of the first genuine smiles she's smiled in years.
"No," Alex said leaning forward and placing her hand on Olivia's knee trying hard to ignore the jolt of electricity that went through her arm, "You're safe for a night, that's all I want."
"I want to tell you though," Olivia said looking away, "But I don't want you to look at me differently. You are probably the only John I've had that I would remotely consider a friend."
"If it's what you want, that's fine, but do not do it for my benefit."
Olivia nodded as she took a deep breath to continue, "I was taken from her and placed in the first of many foster homes. I would be bounced from one to another about every three months or so. Sometimes it was because my mother found me, others because they were tired of me. When I was thirteen, I met my first boyfriend, Jared. He was a few years older than me and was so nice to me."
"That's when you ran away, isn't it?" Alex asked
"You've researched me?" Olivia asked looking at her shocked.
"I had Elliot and Casey trying to find you after you left the first time. The only thing they could find is that at the age of eight you were taken from your mother and at the age of thirteen you ran away from foster homes. After that, you fell off the grid, never to be found."
"He did that," Olivia said relaxing some, "He told me I would never have to live and bounce from another home again. He took me and, for the first year, it was great. He bought me everything I needed and just showered me with love. He came home one day and told me he had a surprise for me. I honestly thought he was going to ask me to marry him, but instead he had his friend who wanted to take me for a spin."
"He told you that if you really loved him you would do this for him," Alex said knowing her story all too well.
"Yes," Olivia whispered wiping the tears that had started to fall, "After that, it was once in a while until it became a regular occurrence."
"Before you knew it, he had you on the corner earning money for him. Saying that sleeping with his friends weren't enough you had to start earning your keep?"
"Are you sure all you knew was that I ran away at the age of thirteen?" Olivia asked staring at Alex with questioning eyes.
"I'm positive, but the story you are telling me I hear often in my line of work, it's called domestic Human Trafficking and a huge problem in the US."
"Oh."
"And I'm willing to bet that your bruises and cuts you are sporting today are from him. What was it? Did you not bring in enough money or did you ask for a break?"
"Not enough money," Olivia mumbled, "I hate giving my body away like this, so I avoid picking up as many John's as possible. Once I know he's done watching me, I usually sneak off and hide. I usually sleep with enough to keep him happy and a roof over my head."
"But there are times that you don't?"
"No, honestly, it's most days. He'll beat me and then kick me out of the house telling me I didn't earn the fee to sleep under a roof so then I go and find an alley or a bench to sleep on until I get kicked out of there."
"This door is always open for you if you need a place to stay or if you want to escape him for good," Alex said sitting her empty container down, "You never have to go hungry; just go to one of my cafés and tell them I sent you."
"Alex, I can't."
"Look, if you won't let me keep a roof over your head, will you please allow me to keep you fed? Just go once a day and have a good meal. Hell, for all I care, you can eat there three times a day. Just, please eat."
Olivia shook her head yes as she jumped hearing someone knock on the door and began to shake. She looked from Alex to the door with pure terror in her eyes.
"Relax," Alex whispered as she laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, "It's just Tim. There is no way he can make it to my apartment I promise you. John will not let you by unless you are on the list. I mean it when I say this is a safe haven for you."
Olivia nodded as she allowed herself to relax back into the chair. Could she have finally found a place where she could truly relax and be safe? If so, how much danger was she putting Alex in by coming here?
