Chapter 9

"Mariel," Noah said as he ran to me, dragging on the last syllable.

"Hey, sweet boy," I uttered as I picked him up, "were you good to Lucy?"

He nodded and smiled as he caught a glimpse of his mother, "Hi Mommy," Olivia and I swapped him in our arms.

I grabbed Cass' hand and directed her to the couch, "Hi Lucy," she addressed the younger brunette.

"Hey there Cass, how are you?"

"I'm good, we're eating pizza."

"You are?" Lucy responded and Cassidy nodded, "Hi Ms. Benson—Dr. Marti, Noah is done with homework. I was just about to fix him dinner when you called."

"Oh, thank you Lucy," Olivia conceded.

She nodded and began collecting her belongings as she walked out of the apartment. She bid us farewell and walked out. I sat next to Cass on Olivia's couch and she happily crawled into my lap, leaning her head against my chest. My heart swelled and I bit back tears, swallowing hard at how much love radiated through my body. I watched as Olivia interacted with her son and I looked down at my lap at the underweight little girl that only wanted and craved human touch. I kissed her hair, "Cassidy?"

She looked up at and smiled, "Yes?"

"I love you," I mumbled, low enough for only us to hear.

"I love you too, Mama," she threw her arms around my neck, pulling me in a tight embrace.

A sudden knock breaks every one of us out of concentration and Olivia runs to get the door. I tap Cass' leg and usher her to her the table. I stand after she has and walk towards the kitchen grabbing four plates and cups and walk them over to the table, "Cass, spread them out, please," I say as I hand her the plates, "Noah, cups?" I offer him the acrylic tumblers for our beverages. Olivia walks over with two boxes of pizza and sets them in the middle of her table as I rummage for the apple juice and water. I poured the drinks on each respective cup and sit down. Olivia distributed the slices accordingly and we all began eating.

"You had fun at school today, Noah?" Olivia begun.

"Uh-huh," he said, taking a bite out of his slice, "We learned about money!"

"Oh great, now he's going to hustle for me more," Olivia quipped, causing me to giggle, "What about you, Cass? Mama tells me you're doing well in school. And, I heard you like math," Olivia inquired softly.

"We're learning to tell analog time," she scanned the room and noticed Olivia's wall clock, "It's six twenty-two."

I looked at both of my wristwatches, she was correct, "Good job Cass, you did good."

"Oh, Olivia," I captured her attention, "I'll be out of my office for six weeks but per my Chief's orders, I am to answer SVU's calls and present myself to the precinct when needed," I took a swig of my water, "Please, do not hesitate to call me, Lieutenant."

"I won't," she winked at me.

I smiled and we continued eating. We laughed and reveled in Noah's wit and Cass' resilience. She was comfortable and at ease with Noah, the only male in her life at the moment. We all picked up our messes and washed our hands. As the night progressed, Olivia excused herself to give Noah a bath and I directed my attention to Cass.

"Cass," she turned and hummed at me from the floor, "do you want to take a bath here?"

She nodded, "Alright, let me talk to Olivia. I'll get your pajamas from the bag downstairs. We can go shopping for new clothes tomorrow."

"Shopping?" she asked, confused by the term.

I chuckled, "Yes, I am going to get you new clothes. Anything you'd like."

She smiled big and ran to me, "Thank you Mama."

I kissed her cheek, "Anytime sweet pea."

I stood and approached the bathroom with my eyes closed, like I often did when I was at Olivia's, "Olivia," I called from the door.

"Yea?"

"Can Cassidy take a bath here? It is getting kind of l—"

"Mariel," she called out, I hummed in response, "Open your eyes."

"Olivia," I protested.

"Open them."

I did so and Noah was submerged and playing calmly in the water. I sighed and smiled at his soap-covered hair, "You don't have to ask permission to bathe your daughter in my home, Mare," she stood from the floor and walked towards me, "Just like I don't have to ask permission to do this…"

Olivia leaned in and captured my lips within hers. My arms in a reflex looped around her waist and I pulled her in towards me, flushing our bodies and melding them into one. I moaned upon contact and Olivia took it upon herself to sneak her tongue into my mouth. I draw her tongue in, feeling my arousal increase as her hand pulls my neck into her face. She bites down on my lips when we come to a release, my chest heaving when it feels that much needed breath of air. I smile against her lips and kiss her quickly, "I'll be back."

She nodded and I released her body, patting her hip playfully. I walk past Cass and shoot her a quick smile and head downstairs. Downstairs the air is beginning to feel fresh, letting us know that autumn is fast approaching. I press the button in my hand to unlock the SUV as I reach the door. I take out Cass' bag and shut and lock the SUV. Something in the corner of my eye catches my attention. I snap my head quickly and focus my eyes on where the movement came from; all I see is a shadow. I squint my eyes and even my breathing, attempting to focus on my surroundings. There was a man walking his dog to my left, a woman with two kids in front of me, and again something moved out of the corner of my eye. Was I being paranoid? Was I losing my mind? No. No. The FBI had trained me for situations like these. You always go with your gut. My gut, at this moment, was letting me know that I could be in potential danger. And, if I was in potential danger that meant that so was Cass, so was Noah, and so was Olivia. My training kicked in and I pressed the button in my hand, unlocking the SUV once more. I opened the passenger door and fetch inside the glove compartment and reach upwards to a secret compartment for the gun. I shove inside my pant waistband and drape my shirt over it. I close and lock the vehicle once more and pace slowly to the entrance of the building. I walk to the desk where two men, who I had become familiar with in the past weeks were sitting, eyeing the monitors in front of them, "Keep an eye on who comes after me. I'm being followed by someone, just act as expected," they nod and continue with their work. I head to the elevator and punch the floor below Olivia's and two above it. The doors close and reopen on the floor below Olivia's and I hop off and rush down the hallway, making way to the where the stairs are located. I climb up to the second floor above Olivia's and rush down the hallway to where the elevator is. My heart is pounding in my chest cavity but I must remember my training and keep my composure. A stressed mind is not a great tool to survival. Once the elevator doors open I press Olivia's floor number and three mixed numbers of floors both above and below Olivia's. I exit in Olivia's floor and breathe, she could not smell the fear and adrenaline on me. I shake my head and knock twice on the door, Olivia opened the door and as soon as her eyes landed on me she spoke, "You're pale, what is going on?"

"When the kids go to sleep, please," I raise my stare to her.

She nodded and peeked outside before shutting the door behind me. I put the bag on the couch and I search for white and pink pajama joggers with the matching t-shirt, "Ready pumpkin?"

Cassidy nodded and I walked behind her, stopping in the middle of the hallway, "Olivia," she turned and I reached to my back, "lock this up with yours, please?" She looked at me confused and I pulled the gun around, pointing it downwards, with my index finger away from the trigger. Her eyes widened and she briskly walked to me, removing the weapon from my hand.

The look of horror across her face was an alarming one but I had promised her to explain everything once the kids were asleep, after all, it was a school night. I continue my walk down the hall to the bathroom where Cass awaited to be bathed. Spending this time with her allowed me to explore her personality a little more. We filled up the tub with water and added the soap, she stepped inside and sat, using the loofa to bathe herself. I splashed her face with water, being mindful of her eyes. She squealed and giggled, splashing me back. I laughed and wiped my face, grabbing the shampoo bottle and squirting some in my hand, lathering the red locks on the child's head. I rinsed it off and applied the conditioner, searching for where Olivia kept her supplies for Noah. I found the comb and combed through Cass' mane, detangling it slowly. I removed the cream from her hair and unclogged the tub, she stood and I wrapped her around in the towel, running my hands over the towel as I dried her. I offered her underwear and she slipped it on with ease. I pumped lotion into her small hands and she plastered it all over her belly. She giggled and rubbed the lotion all over her stomach and arms. As I handed her the pants and then the shirt, I could hear Olivia reading to Noah. I smiled and looked at Cass, taking the towel in my hands, proceeding to wring her hair out, making sure not tousle it further. I extended my arm and wiggled my fingers, she grabbed my hand and I lead the way to the couch.

"Story or cuddles?" I asked, just like I had when I stayed for bedtime at the group home.

"Cuddles," she stated and smiled, climbing onto my lap as I sat.

I wrapped my arms around her tiny frame and she yawned as she rested her head against my chest. I began humming a Spanish lullaby that my mother used to sing to both my sister and I. As I hummed, I swayed in rhythm and within minutes, Cass was fast asleep in my arms; her breathing slow and shallow against my own. I stopped my rhythmic humming but continued to sway. I feel soft padding behind me and I sit up straight, already on edge, my grip on Cass tightening by the moment, "She's asleep?"

I relax and ease my grip on the sleeping girl atop of me, "Yes."

Olivia makes her way around to me, "Ready to talk now?" she arches her brow, "You're pretty shaken up there," she reaches to touch my face gently.

I nod and attempt to remove Cass' limbs from around my body but every time I attempted to do so, she would tighten her grip on me, "Leave her," Olivia yielded, "she's ok babe."

I nodded and relaxed, "When I went downstairs to get Cassidy's bag, I felt someone following me," I looked at Olivia, her eyes widened in revelation, "I saw movement out of the corner of my eye… twice. I grabbed the gun and locked the SUV. I told the guys downstairs to keep an eye out. I hopped on the elevator and got off on the floor below us, I took the stairs up two floors above yours and rode the elevator down and pressed random floors for the cabin to go up and down."

Olivia breathed out, "Did you see anything else?"

I nodded, "Man: medium build, mid to late sixties, walking a dog to my far left. Woman: petite, early thirties, two kids: boys, five and ten playing roughly thirty feet in front of me."

Olivia took mental notes, "Do you know of anyone that might want to hurt you?"

I pondered on my life and hesitated, "Do you think this has something to do with Cassidy's case?"

"It is plausible," I conceded, "or it c—"

I bit my lip and held Cassidy close, "Or it could be what Mariel?" Olivia pushed.

I shook my head and looked up at the ceiling, "Babe," she lowered her voice scooting closer to me, grabbing my chin and turning my face towards her, "talk to me, please," she leaned her forehead against mine, "Is it the same guy who assaulted you?"

I shook my head, "No," I said so softly that if Olivia hadn't been as close as she was, she wouldn't have heard it, "it could be my sister's doing."

Olivia held my neck but leaned back, studying my face, "Your sister? What do you mean?"

I sighed and looked into those chocolate drenched eyes; so deep, so filled with love and concern, so expressive… "Olivia, what I am about to tell you, you cannot divulge to any one else, understood?"

"Jesus, Mariel, what is it?"

I sighed and shut my eyes tightly, slowly opening them, "Olivia, please."

"Yes, yes; what!"

"My name is not Mariel Marti," she hopped back on the couch, distancing her body from me, "Relax Olivia, I am cleared by the Bureau. Are you familiar with the surname 'Reyes'?"

She squinted and pondered, "Art galleries? Restaurants? The Fes el bé Foundation? Yes, they are all over the Upper East Side, why?"

I nodded and grimaced, "My real name is Victoria Thalia Paige Reyes, heiress to the Reyes fortune," I stared at Olivia, who had her mouth hanging open. I took her silence as a sign to continue, "I have a twin sister, that I'm sure you know, Vienna Carolina Sky Reyes."

"Wait, stop," Olivia ran her fingers through her hair, "Let's get this straight, your name is not Mariel Marti?"

"No," I said, feeling the tears threatening to fall.

"You are a Reyes?"

"Yes."

"The Bureau knows about your status but continued to employ you?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Olivia questioned.

I nodded, "I've been Mariel Marti since I was fourteen years old. I was placed under the care of one of my father's great friends. My twin sister attempted to murder me the night before our fourteenth birthday. My father found me bleeding slowly but profusely on my bedroom floor when he came to place my birthday present on top of my bed, like he did every year just so that we would wake up to them on the morning of our birthday. She stabbed me underneath my left breast; thankfully the blade hit one of my ribs and blocked it from puncturing my lung. My father rushed me to the hospital without the knowledge of my mother and my sister and there he contacted one of his colleagues and explained the situation that unfortunately no one explained to me until I was already in protective custody.

My mother always favored my sister; she's the oldest out of the two of us. As you may or may not have noticed, I favor my father but with my mother's features and my sister favors my mother completely. Uh," I rocked Cassidy but it was mostly for my comfort more than it was hers, "it all started when we turned thirteen and had our first debutante ball. My sister started saying all of these weird things, saying that she had descended from Venus her self and even though she had always been a pompous brat, that was still overreaching. Throughout the ball, a lot of the guys were drawn to her. I was obviously looking at the girls with the slightly provocative dresses. My parents ascribed it to the rebellious and controversial age but even after a few months after that, her behavior kept getting worse. She kept mentioning at school, during tutoring, at home, during social events that she was great and wonderful and that someone was attempting to be her. Trying to steal her parents, her life, her fortune…" I shook my head and squinted my eyes as I recounted the events of my early childhood, "It was five months before our birthday when my parents took us both to a psychiatrist and we did a joint session and then a separate session for the each of us. The doctor diagnosed her with GDD—Grandiose Delusional Disorder—with secondary mania. But, I think she's misdiagnosed. Uh, after that she continued with therapy sessions but no medication was prescribed.

Her rants seemed worse with each passing day. They weren't frequent but when they happened she was always in a manic state. No one in my family had ever been diagnosed with a mental health disorder before, I mean, you had your cases of Alzheimer's but nothing within those lines. And, then it happened."

Olivia had her hands over her mouth, assimilating everything that I had just said. Her eyes were darting across my face, finding a spot to land them on, "Oh, Mare," she breathed out, her hands finding mine, "Have you had contact with your family since?"

"Only with my father," I grimaced, "My mother thinks I ran away and my sister has been trying to contact me for the past five years."

"How do you know is your sister and not somebody else?"

"Olivia," I scoffed, "we shared a womb, we communicated through stares, I could touch her a certain way and she knew exactly what was going on with me. Plus, she's made contact before."

"What? When?"

"Six years ago," I begun, "I was shadowing one of the doctors for the FBI and we had a long haul; I was sent home since I was still in school but, was interested enough and had history with the Bureau that they allowed me to be there. I decided to walk by Central Park, something I love doing to de-stress. I stopped at Turtle Pond and just thought about the many, many times Vienna and I enjoyed going to that pond and that's when we saw each other. She yelled my name and sought after me. The FBI, when I was placed in protection, had trained me. I had asked for training in the matter, I needed to feel safe after the incident with my sister; we both knew who we were, I didn't once waver.

After that, I had people following me and the Bureau caught up with it after I briefed my Marshall. They upped my Intel and were able to catch a PI but he was not budging. There was a kidnapping attempt towards me, my shadows were able to stop and apprehend the guy. And, now, we're back at playing games Vienna."

"You need to report this to your Deputy Chief, Mariel."

"And, I will, but not right now. Tomorrow, I promise Olivia," I looked at her, "I will never put any of you in harms way."

She ran her fingers through her hair "Are you still in WitSec?"

"Yes, officially."

"Are you even a real doctor?"

I giggled, "Yes, Olivia, I am. I have my degree and took my oath. Oh, and yes, the university issued one for Mariel Marti as well. They were completely aware of my situation."

She stood and pushed her hands into her pockets, "So, I am dating Victoria Thalia Reyes," Olivia quipped.

I scoffed and giggled, "No, you are dating Mariel Alexandra Marti; daughter of Miguel Marti, a widower after I was born. My father worked day in and out to put his only daughter through medical school and died before I could graduate with my Bachelors. I inherited his duplex in Midwood, Brooklyn that I remodeled after I got a job with the Bureau and even though I could've moved, I decided to stay and honor my father," I giggled as I finished my cover story.

"That's your cover story?" Olivia smiled as I nodded, "Who are you?"

I thought about that question, "I am Victoria Reyes and I am Mariel Marti. I spent fourteen years as one and the other sixteen as the other. But, I remember being Mariel longer than I remember being Victoria," I looked up at her, "Who am I to you, Olivia?"

She looked at me and smiled and nodded, "Who else knows about this?"

"My Deputy Chief, my Marshall, a few suits… you, my real father. He bought me the apartment; he put a few other and myself through college thanks to a bill he passed at the foundation when I "disappeared". The Bureau made sure I applied and once my father saw and recognized my name, he made sure the foundation covered all expenses, including room and board."

"Your father really loves you," Olivia said, "Is your sister the reason you went into psychology?"

"Yes, she is."

Olivia paced back to the couch and sat back down, "You said that you think she was misdiagnosed. What do you think she has?"

I bit my lip, "Delusional Misidentification Syndrome; it's an umbrella term. It's a psychopathological syndrome that includes one of four main variants and I believe my sister has two of them."

"Which are?"

"Capgras delusion and Subjective doubles."

"Why do you think so? Because of you being twins?" Olivia asked.

I nodded and cradled Cassidy closer to me. Olivia nodded and glanced at the wall that held her clock, "Baby, it's late; stay."

I shook my head and stood, wrapping Cass' gams around my torso, "No, Olivia; I could never put Noah and you in danger. At least in my apartment, I know my Intel is close. And, don't even worry about my car being bugged, I have drop-off points; same model, same make, same plate," I said, grabbing the duffel and looping it in my arm, "If it makes you feel better, you can walk me out. I'll call you as soon as the exchange is made and once I'm in, deal?"

She thought about it and acquiesced, "Fine," she left to the kitchen and found my gun. She brought it back and placed it on my back, placing a kiss on my cheek.

"Olivia," I sighed, smiling at the sweet gesture, "Grab my phone, press six, wait eight seconds, and hang up. Don't say anything."

She reached into my back pocket and did as asked. She placed it back in my pocket, her fingers lingering and tracing the soft leather of the thin belt I sported. I watched her intently, attempting to read her tells but she gave nothing, instead she shook her head and began walking. I followed her to the door and out where she knocked on her neighbors quickly and asked them to watch Noah for a couple of minutes whilst she escorted me out. Olivia came out with me, her hand on my back where my shirt protected the piece, in case something went down. She opened the door of the SUV where Cass' booster sat. I placed her in, buckled her, and hid the duffel underneath her. She accompanied me to the other side and watched me slip in effortlessly. I leaned in and captured her lips within mine, slowly easing into the kiss, our tongues lapping smoothly against each other, "Thank you, Olivia," I whispered against her mouth, kissing the corner before opening my eyes.

Her hand crept to my cheek, her thumb stroking my cheekbone, "Call me Liv," she said as she pulled back.

I smiled and shook my head, her body now standing outside of the SUV. I started the car and drove away slowly, looking through the rearview mirror for Olivia walking back into her building. Once I saw she was inside the glass doors, I sped up and made my way to the drop-off location. Once there, FBI personnel opened Cass' door and unbuckled everything, placing it into another similar black SUV. I handed them the gun, grabbed my belongings, and exited the car, quickly entering the next and making my way to my home. I texted Olivia a kiss emoji, just to let her know that I was all right and once I made it securely into my home, I texted a house one; she responded twice with a thumbs up and finally adding the phrase, 'good night babe'. I carried Cass down the hall and into my bed, since I didn't want to jump the gun in case the adoption fell through; I hadn't gotten her room prepared. I took a quick shower and snuggled up close to the small frame of the girl besides me, slipping into blissful sleep.