Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to Dick Wolf.

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When they got to school the next morning, Olivia was not in very good shape. She was pale and exhausted and she clung to Alex. Fiery Olivia had been watered down. They saw Elliot, Kathy, Chester, John, Brian, and Casey sitting on the curb, smoking, and Elliot called out, "Hey, Benson. What's up?"

Olivia walked over to them, Alex following behind. Olivia sat down next to Elliot, taking comfort in the presence of her other friend, and didn't say anything.

"Liv," said Elliot, sounding concerned. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Elliot," whispered Olivia, leaning toward him.

Kathy put her arm around Elliot possessively as he started to move closer to Olivia. "Did something happen, Olivia?" asked Kathy, wanting to take control of the situation, feeling slightly intimidated by Olivia.

Olivia noticed this, moved back from Elliot and said, "No, I'm fine."

"Is everything okay with your mom, Liv?" asked Elliot.

Olivia flinched at his words, then said, "You know what, El? I don't want to talk about it."

Elliot looked to Alex, as if she would tell him what was wrong, but she just shook her head slightly.

Fin trotted over with Melinda, who was holding his arm and laughing at something he'd just said. "Hey, Benson," he said. "You look like shit."

Olivia, who normally would have told him to fuck off, didn't say anything.

Alex rolled her eyes. "Thanks for your candor, Fin."

Fin took a closer look at Olivia. "Benson, you okay?"

"I'm fine, Fin," snapped Olivia.

Melinda and Fin sat down next to Olivia and Alex. They chatted about menial things until the bell rang.

"See you at lunch, Benson, Cabot," said Fin.

"See ya, Liv," said Elliot as he and Kathy linked arms and trotted off.

Olivia and Alex made their way to French class and sat down at their desks.

"Olivia," snapped Mrs. Brailin, coming over to the girls' desks. "Did you get that note from your mother?"

Olivia shook her head. "Uh-uh."

"Olivia Benson, I told you yesterday that you were to get a note from your mother confirming that she has had a discussion with you about your unacceptable behavior in class. Once again, you disobeyed me. I am going to call your mother to come and get you."

"She's not gonna come," said Olivia, in what would seem a calm voice except for the fact that her pale face had turned even whiter and her hands were shaking.

"I am going to call her anyway. You need to get your act in gear and if there isn't anything I can do, maybe you need further incentive."

Olivia started to protest, but Alex interrupted their banter. "Excuse me, Mrs. Brailin, but Olivia is staying with me."

They both glared at Alex. "Are your parents her legal guardians?" asked the French teacher.

Alex hesitated and shook her head.

"Then stay out of this, Alexandra."

Alex was torn between wanting to help her friend and wanting to stay out of trouble. "But –"

"Olivia," said Mrs. Brailin sharply. "Come here."

Olivia rolled her eyes but followed the teacher to her desk. "What?"

"Olivia, I am going to call your mother and the three of us are going to have a meeting. This is unacceptable behavior from you and I won't tolerate it."

"I don't live with my mom," snapped Olivia.

"Don't you lie to me, Olivia Benson. Of course you do. I talked to her."

"No, I don't," she repeated. "Not anymore. I'm staying with Alex's family."

"So would you like me to call Alexandra's parents?"

Olivia shook her head. "Don't. Please, just leave me alone."

"Olivia, you have two options. Either you live with your mother and I'll call her or you live with Alexandra's parents and I'll call them. Take your pick."

"Screw you," muttered Olivia, knowing even as she said this that it would only get her into more trouble.

"That's enough," snapped the teacher. "I'm going to call Alexandra's parents then. sit down."

Olivia resignedly went back to sit next to Alex. "Lex, I'm sorry. She's calling your parents. They're gonna freak."

"It's okay, Liv," Alex assured her. "It'll be fine."

Olivia sighed. She leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.

* * *

At lunch, the girls met up with Elliot, John, Chester, Fin, Brian, Casey, Kathy, and Melinda. Olivia plopped down between Elliot and Alex, her food sitting untouched in front of her.

Alex took a bite of cheese pizza. "Have something to eat, Liv."

Olivia shook her head and pushed her tray away. "I'm not hungry."

"Eat something, Benson!" ordered Elliot lightly.

"Leave me alone!" snapped Olivia. She leapt up and raced to the washroom.

Alex looked around the table at her friends, then followed Olivia. She heard something that sounded like Olivia throwing up and knocked on the bathroom stall. "Liv? Liv, are you okay? Olivia?"

Olivia opened the door and turned to Alex, her face pale, washed out. "Go back to the caf, Cabot. I'm fine."

"Liv, are you sick?"

"No, I'm fine." She turned back around and threw up again, then turned back to Alex. "Go back to Elliot and tell him I'm okay."

"But, Liv, you're not okay."

"Lex, Mrs. Brailin called your parents. They're not gonna let you be friends with me anymore. I know that."

"Liv –"

"Just go, Alex. Just go."

Alex waited a beat but Olivia had turned away, and a moment later, she returned to the cafeteria.

"Is she okay?" asked Elliot.

"She's fine, Elliot." But the words tasted bitter and odd in her mouth and she knew Elliot could tell that what she was saying wasn't true.

* * *

When Olivia and Alex got back to Alex's house after school, they went up to Alex's room. Alex took out her math textbook and started her homework. Olivia lay on the bed with her eyes closed, worrying about what would happen when Alex's parents returned.

Sure enough, two hours later, they heard the dreaded knock on the door. Alex and Olivia exchanged glances. "Come in," called Alex.

Mrs. Cabot opened the door and entered the room. "Hello, Alexandra. Hello, Olivia. I think we need to have a discussion."

Alex put down her pencil and climbed up onto the bed next to her friend, who was staring at the ground, her face ashen, her hands trembling.

Alex's mother sat down across from her. She turned to Olivia. "Olivia, I got a call from one of your teachers today. She said you had told her that you were living with us and I was your legal guardian. I was never made aware of this and I cannot take responsibility for you."

Olivia looked at her hands and didn't say anything.

"Where is your mother, Olivia?"

"She doesn't want me anymore," murmured Olivia.

"Don't be ridiculous, Olivia," said Mrs. Cabot harshly. "Of course she does, and you are not going to stay here without your mother's consent. Where is she?"

Olivia looked at Alex. "I don't know."

"Well, Olivia, I'm sorry, but I can't allow you to stay here any longer."

Olivia's eyes widened. She had expected this, but now where would she go? This was her safe haven. She had no other.

Alex reached over and put her arm around Olivia, who instinctively flinched but didn't pull away. "Mother, Olivia has nowhere else to go. Please let her stay here."

"Alexandra, I'm surprised at you. Olivia needs to go back to her mother and I forbid you to be friends with her."

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