That night had been awful for a lot of people.
Lance spent his first night in custody. He couldn't really sleep there. He was thinking about his life and how it turned to be a mess. Sheila. Why?
Amy couldn't sleep, she couldn't find a lawyer for her partner. She feared he would never be released. She could stand the idea of losing for a crime he didn't do.
Little Olivia turned once, twice, a lot of times in her bed. Would Angela answer? Poor Lance, her "brother". She had so much fun with him.
Sofia and Tonio could hardly think to manage so many things in the same time, two dancers less, one at hospital, suffering from wounds after a rape, the other in custody, and they still had to make the school run, and prepare a couple for the Baker Foundation contest.
Olivia had so many different feelings in her heart. She was happy to have friends back in her life, but the case was disturbing her. She sincerely thought that Lance was innocent, but someone had indeed raped Sheila. Even though she knew she was not in charge of this case she could not stop thinking about it. She remembered how Amy said her love to Lance in front of everyone, so desperate of being unable to help the man she loved. She admired it. Dare to confess her feelings. Olivia hadn't had the opportunity to do such a thing since long ago. She did not even remembered the last time she had told a man she loved him. For good reason. Since she had entered the Police Academia everything had changed in her life. Men looked at her completely differently. Or they fantasize that she was a cop and she carried a weapon. Or some found it crazy she wanted to stay and work in this unit. But it was all her life. It had been since she had crossed the threshold of the unit. She felt that her place was there and that what she had been through younger would be the experience that could help her to jail these criminals. And then there was Elliot. From the first day she found him attractive, but she quickly noticed the ring on his finger and even he hadn't been married she preferred to avoid heart affairs in the office. Over time he became her second half, her balance, her rock without whom she couldn't live. She suffered every day but let her feelings in front of the office door every morning, trying to forget the best she could which would have liked to know how it feels like to wake up alongside Elliot, of being in his arms other than friendly. Every morning since more than ten years now she had told herself she had him for all day long and many times late at night when they had difficult cases. She had almost died the day Elliot had announced that Kathy was pregnant of their fifth child. In good friend and caring partner she offered to drive Kathy to her ob-gyn for an appointment, but then was this accident. That day she had saved the wife and son of the man she loved. Any woman would have thrown in the towel, would partly be depressed, or fled across the country, such a sacrifice asked too much from an emotional point of view. But she stayed. Because she could not help but love him.
Fin and Munch stayed at office, that night trying to consider Lance was not Sheila's rapist. They took things from the beginning once more. The lab spent the night over microscopes, putting every fiber under the eyes, trying finding something new. Some fibers were actually coming from the Lance sweat shirt.
Captain Cragen spent the night at office too, supervising the whole thing. He had words with a lot of people there, being so tired to keep his mood in the appropriate mode.
Elliot was reading again and again the victim statement, and the one from Lance. Something didn't match but he couldn't put a finger on it. He remembered Amy's words. Amy. She confessed her feelings in front of everyone in the squad. He had to admit she had impressed him. Youth makes people do things that can't be done anymore older. Olivia. He remembered what happened earlier.
"Olivia: Amy!
Amy: What?
Olivia: I….nothing…I'm just impressed….
Amy: Why?
Olivia: You are so faithful and strong!
Amy: Why? Because I said the man I love that I love him? That's no big deal.
Olivia: Yes it is! You just did it in front of complete strangers in not a really appropriate moment….
Amy: I had no choice!
Olivia: Yes you had! You took the risk to be pushed away from him once more, you offered him to help him, not once but several times, and…even if he already pushed you away you …Amy!
Amy: I don't get your point, but guess what? All that matters for me is to find a way to help Lance. He's my partner, my balance, my universe. Couldn't live without him."
Olivia had looked the girl walking away. He felt something special at that moment but he couldn't know what. He felt Olivia was tense. She didn't turn to him. She had turned her head. And left. What Amy said apparently had an effect on Olivia. And apparently on him too. Why? He rubbed his face and came back to the pile of papers in front of him.
Few hours later, the sun was arising and filling the squad with light. Elliot needed to clear his mind and change clothes. He went to the locker room and took a shower. He came back after few minutes and hurried to his desk. He walked quickly, passing too close in front of the elevator doors. He almost crashed in Olivia, holding cups of coffee.
Elliot and Olivia: Whoa!
Elliot: Sorry, Liv! What are you doing here?
Olivia: Good morning to you too, El, I just wanted t come and say hi!
Elliot: And see of Lance was fine, and if we had new clues, right?
Olivia: Right.
They both walked towards the squad.
Elliot: Liv….
Olivia: El, I know I shouldn't be there, but I can't stop thinking he's innocent.
Elliot: I know
Olivia: You know? You found something new?
Elliot: No, but I read all statements again and again, and….wait a minute, I'm not supposed to talk to you about this case!
Olivia: Be nice, El! You know I'd never mess up a case for personal reasons!
Elliot: I know, but….
She stopped him, holding him by the arm.
Olivia: I brought coffee from your fave place!, she said with a big smile.
Elliot: Liv, that's not fair! You know, I could accuse you of corruption!
Olivia laughed: Oh, C'mon El!
Elliot smiled at her. Seeing her in a good mood would make his day. He thought he needed a shower to clear his mind. He needed a shower, and Olivia. Olivia's smile, Olivia's spirit, Olivia's scent…..
"Hello?
Elliot: 'xcuse me.
Olivia: You there?
Elliot: Yeah….was just thinking about a thing.
Olivia: So?
Elliot: I'm sure he's innocent as well but I couldn't find why….and Fin and Munch worked all the night long to find something new.
They walked through the doors. Cragen was talking with Munch, Fin and a newbie from the lab.
Olivia: Good morning everyone! Captain, I know I shouldn't be there, but I brought coffee!
Cragen: Thanks Olivia, now, out of here! Elliot, come here!
Elliot: Something new?
Newbie: I found other fibers melted with the ones coming from the suspect sweat shirt.
Olivia: Seriously?
The newbie blushed. He didn't if he had to answer or not. He looked at Cragen.
Cragen: Olivia…..
Olivia: Ok, ok ! I leave!
Cragen: Thanks for the coffee, that was nice of you!
Olivia: My pleasure!
She turned back to the doors. Elliot looked at her walking away. As she was crossing the threshold, she turned back and looked at the team discussing. She noticed Elliot was looking at her. She smiled and left.
Cruz House
The alarm clock buzzed and Little Olivia jumped. She switched off and jumped from her bed to switch her computer on. She saw she received a mail. She felt her heart beating.
"Message from: Angela Montgomery"
"Dear Olivia, thank you for being so discrete in writing your message. I really care about Lance, but I'm having hard times now with my family. I won't be able to talk to you until…I don't know. I will try to find a way to log in on msn at noon tomorrow, my user name is brigdebarrier. Hope we'll be able to chat. Have a good night, Angela."
Olivia thought fast. She had to find an excuse not to eat at school. She went to the bathroom and showered.
She dressed herself, packed her school papers and went to the kitchen. She opened the fridge without noticing her mother was already there, sitting at the table, drinking her coffee.
Sofia: Good Morning Olivia Elena Cruz!
She looked at her mother
LO: Oh, sorry Mum….Good morning!
She came to her and kissed her on the cheek.
Sofia: Lili, I know something's bothering you. You lied to me yesterday, and you seemed to have something in mind this morning. What's going on?
LO: I didn't lie!
Sofia: Lili, the paper you read is a story from you friend Becks! You don't write like she does, and even if you tried to put some things from you in this story I am sure it was her story, so…what's going on?
LO: I did my homework, Mum!
Sofia: I have no doubt.
LO: Well…She grabbed cereals and milk and poured a bowl. I can't really talk about it, but … I'm trying to help Lance.
Sofia: How?
LO: Can't tell yet, but be sure it's nothing illegal.
Sofia: I hope so!
Tonio: Good Morning, my sweethearts!
LO: Morning, Dad!
He kissed her in the hair.
LO: Mum, can I come back to eat for lunch?
Sofia: Why?
LO: I need to log in for a chat.
Sofia: With who?
LO: You don't know her. She's a friend of Lance, but I can't say more right now.
Sofia: One condition
LO: What?
Sofia: You don't swipe your chat, I want to read it after!
LO: Mum! Why don't you trust me!
Sofia: It's not about you, sweetie, it's about people chatting on internet!
LO: Mum, I swear this person is a good one, you have nothing to worry about!
Sofia: Then I can read your posts!
LO: Noo! That's private!
Sofia: Lili, you told me you wanted to help Lance, fine. You will chat with a friend of him on internet, I want to be sure we won't be in troubles then, so I'll read your posts, and if there is nothing bad for us, I promise I won't tell anyone you chatted with a mysterious friend of Lance!
LO: Deal!
Tonio: Why do I have the feeling I missed something?
Sofia: It's between your sweetheart number one and sweetheart number two!
LO: Of course I'm the number one!
Sofia: Hey! No, you aren't! Eat you cereals, you'll be late!
Little Olivia laughed at looked at her father who winked.