Shae watched as Angel showed up to school with yet another new bruise. This had been a very constant occurrence the past few days. Shae wasn't stupid and knew something was up. The girls were sitting together on the ground at recess one day, tracing patterns into the softened dirt with sticks.

"Angel," Shae said as she wiped her hands on her jeans, "You keep getting hurt. Are you okay?"

Shae nodded, "Of course I am," she said without looking up, "Quit being such a worry-wart."

Shae hesitated before saying, "My patents―my old parents ―they used to hit me. Do your parents hit you?"

Angel shook her head but said, "My dad died when I was seven," she said as she snapped her twig in two, "He got into a car accident. That's when it started…"

Angel dropped her stick and pulled her hands into her sleeves, "My mom only hits me when she takes those shots, which is all the time."

She shook her head, her blonde curls bouncing, "I don't know what to do," she whispered tearfully. She felt a hand on her shoulder and squinted at Shae with tear filled eyes.

"I'll help you," said Shae, "I promise."

Elliot pulled up in front of Sunny Creek Elementary School later on that afternoon to pick up Shae. She walked towards the car with another young girl who he guessed was Angel.

"Hi," Shae greeted him, "Elliot, this is Angel. She's coming with us, okay?"

"Umm…okay?" He replied, unsure of how to respond, "Nice to finally meet you," he said to Angel who waved in response.

They got to the precinct shortly after and before Elliot could even take his coat off, Cragen came out of his office.

"Elliot, there's something I need for you to check for me."

He glanced at the Shae and Angel, "Sure, just let me…" He thanked the heavens that Casey chose that moment to walk into the precinct, "Casey, my favorite ADA!"

She cocked an eyebrow and set her briefcase down on the floor, "What the hell do you want, Stabler?"

"Can you watch Shae and her friend?" he asked, "I'll just be gone a second."

"Fine," she said, "But pretty soon I'll have to start charging you for this." He thanked her and left.

Casey looked at Shae's friend, "Hi, I'm Casey."

"My name's Angel."

Shae pushed her friend forward a little, "Angel needs to talk to you about something."

Casey looked at her, puzzlement evident on her features, "But I just met her."

"But you're an adult," Shae replied and Casey got the feeling there was something seriously wrong.

"Okay…" she said, "Shae, go up to the cribs and start your homework. We won't be long."

Shae gave Angel a reassuring smile before reluctantly heading upstairs. Casey gestured to Angel to take a seat and she did the same.

"Is everything okay at school, at home?" Casey asked. Angel wrung her wrists nervously and stared at a spot on the floor.

"Hey," Angel looked up into Casey's compassionate eyes and was a bit less nervous, "You don't have to be scared. I just want to help."

Angel swallowed hard, "It's my mom," she stuttered out, "She um… hits me."

Casey took Angel's hands in her own and Angel told her all about the abuse and drugs. She told her about her father and how his death had changed her mother.

When she was done, Angel looked up expectantly, "What happens now?" she asked.

Casey sighed, "We're going to tell Shae's parents. They're detectives, they can help you."

Angel nodded and leaned back in her chair. She closed her eyes and took a shaky breath, waiting for the next step.

Elliot and Olivia came back soon and Angel told them what she had told Casey. They started making some calls and looking up records. They got a warrant and Angel's mother was arrested that night.

Angel was in the crib with Shae when Olivia and Casey came upstairs.

"Where am I going?" Angel asked, her eyes searching the faces of both women.

"We're trying to find a nice home for you to stay in," Olivia assured her.

Angel's eyes widened, "I'm going to a foster home?"

"Temporarily," Olivia informed her, "Just until we can find you a permanent home."

"She can stay with me."

Olivia turned around towards Casey who hadn't said much of anything, "Are you sure?"

The redhead nodded, "I'm sure it won't be any trouble," she said, smiling down at Angel, who was looking very relieved.

Later on that night, Shae, Elliot, and Olivia were gathered at the latter's apartment. They were sitting on the couch watching a movie with Shae sandwiched between her parents.

"I know what I want to be when I grow up," Shae announced out of the blue.

"Oh?" Olivia said, "And what would that be?"

"A detective," she replied, looking up at both her parents, "Like you guys."

"How come?" Elliot asked. He was flattered that his daughter wanted to be like him.

"I liked how it felt when I helped Angel today," she said, "I felt good."

Olivia smiled and put her arm around Shae's shoulders, "Well, I think that's wonderful."

"Are you all set?"

Casey had given Angel the guest bedroom to sleep in. She found out that Angel was very talkative and stubborn, much like herself.

"I'm okay," Angel said, "Casey? Shae said her old parents used to hit her, but now she has Elliot and Olivia and they're really nice. Do you think I'll meet nice people, too?"

Casey smiled, "I'm sure of it. Goodnight, Angel."

"Goodnight, Casey."

John and Cragen were working late at the precinct. John was running Angel's information through the system when he stumbled upon something.

"What the…" John muttered, squinting at the computer screen.

"What is it?" Cragen asked, walking out of his office.

"Angel's father," john said, "He isn't dead."

Cragen furrowed his eyebrows, "But Angel said he died in a car accident when she was seven."

John shrugged, "According to this he's alive. Maybe her mother lied to her?"

"But why?" Cragen asked.

John picked up his phone and started dialing, "I don't know, but I'm going to find out."

I would update, but my internet is down *ugh* I'm watching Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Their British accents are so cool!

Snape is such a pissy bitch! And Dumbledore kinda creeps me out, too. Haha, the captain of the quiditch team just said quaffle with an Irish accent!

Ha!

-serenityrayne417

*Again, this chapter is like, two weeks old. All of them are up until chapter thirteen which i'll post later on this week...

K' bye.