We're getting closer to the end of the story, there's only a 1 chapter left after this one. As I've been writing the last parts of this story I've had ideas of where to take these characters and I'm thinking about doing a sequel to this.
Chapter 12
Getting the talk started hadn't been easy after Andrea had been put to bed. It was awkward and neither of them had known what to say.
The conversation had been forced at the beginning. But the longer they kept it up the less awkward it became.
By the time Casey got home, the conversation flowed easily.
Jen looked like a kid caught with a hand in the cookie jar, when Casey came into the living room. Olivia though, had heard the door and didn't need to look up to know the prosecutor was home. She didn't stop her recount of the story, she had been in the middle of when Casey had walked into the room.
Casey didn't say anything before Olivia was done with her story, but the redhead had walked over to stand behind the chair Olivia was sitting in. It was enough time for Jen to get over the shock of seeing the ADA.
Jen knew that Casey and Olivia was living together. But it was different seeing the ADA when she had forgotten where and with whom she was with.
Casey had noticed the look in Jen's eyes, but chose to ignore it. She didn't want to change or pretend at home. No matter who came into their home. It was another thing when they were working. At home she wanted to kiss her girlfriend whenever she wanted to. She just hoped that it wouldn't ruin the progress Jen and Olivia had made.
"Hi Liv, sorry I'm home this late." Casey leaned in and kissed the brunette on the check.
"Weren't you supposed to keep talking to a minimum today."
Casey said it more as a reminder than a question, though her voice left little doubt that she wasn't angry.
"I know, but it doesn't hurt as much now."
Olivia knew she would be in a tight spot if the conversation continued about her injury. To forestall that, Olivia half turned in her seat and pulled the younger woman in for a kiss.
"I know what you're trying."
"Did it work."
Casey smiled at that and headed for the bedroom to change.
Jen was a little shell shocked at having seen the ADA being so free, compared to what she had seen at work.
"I guess it worked." Olivia's voice and the brunette's smile was what needed to get Jen back to the mindset she was in, before Casey had come home.
They continued talking for a little while before both retired to bed.
They were all woken by an ear piercing scream from Andrea.
Olivia was out of bed by the first sound. She meet Jen at the door to Andrea's room. The younger woman had her gun out and was about to burst into the girl's room when Olivia got to her.
"There's no one in there, but a scared girl with a nightmare. You need to relax and put that gun away."
Olivia had put her hand on her partner's shoulder to stop Jen from going in and scaring Andrea more than she already was.
"You can't be sure." Jen didn't want to let go of the possiblity of the attacker somehow getting into the apartment.
Olivia wasn't about to let Jen barge in and scare Andrea more than the girl already was. But she didn't want to use the time to convince Jen otherwise. Olivia ignored her partner and entered the room cautiously. Knowing that any sudden movement or sound would only make it harder to calm Andrea down. Not caring that Jen tried to stop her, and when that didn't help followed Olivia into the room.
Andrea was huddled in the corner of the bed up against the wall. Shaking with quiet sobs.
It took Olivia saying, "Sweetie, it's Livia," several times before Andrea was pulled enough out of her nightmare to notice Olivia.
Andrea threw herself into Olivia's arms. The sobbing getting louder and sounding more distressed.
Olivia knew Jen itched to go through the room to make sure the attacker wasn't there. She stood up and carried Andrea past Jen, making sure the girl didn't see the gun the younger woman had out.
"All your's Jen, we'll see you in the morning."
Olivia didn't want to talk more about a possible intruder. She wanted to get Andrea to somewhere the girl could feel safe. And right now that wasn't where Jen was. On their walk to the bedroom, Andrea's sobbing didn't slow. Andrea held on tight, almost choking Olivia.
Casey had also been woken by Andrea's scream, but was almost asleep again by the time Olivia came back to bed with the frightened girl.
Olivia climbed back in bed to get under the covers, to keep the chill of the room out. Andrea wouldn't let go, not making it easy to get the covers from Casey. The redhead had pulled the comforter to herself, to keep warm when Olivia had gotten out of bed.
Olivia tried to tug at the cover, but with Andrea clinging and holding on tight. There really was no way Olivia was getting her part of the comforter back, with just the use of one hand.
"Casey honey, you gotta help out here."
Casey loosened her grip on the comforter enough that Olivia normally would have enough slack to crawl under. Casey was used to curling up with Olivia especially when the brunette came to bed later than she did. And usually snuggled up to Olivia without even waking, so when the she didn't feel the warmth Olivia usually radiated it was enough that Casey became slightly more alert and turned around to find out was what wrong.
The sight of the distraught Andrea helped clear the last cobwebs from Casey's mind. Casey saw Olivia gently rocking Andrea and humming softly. That alone was a sure sign that Andrea was scared. Rocking seemed to work when the girl was upset.
Casey sat up, leaning into Olivia and pulling the comforter up with her to cover them. Her presence lending strength to the young girl.
Andrea had been doing great with Casey and went to the redhead just as much as she went to Olivia. Not as in the beginning, where Olivia had been heavily favored. But after a bad nightmare, it was only Olivia that worked. There was no doubt in Casey's mind that this nightmare had been particularly bad. Saying anything wouldn't have a calming effect, but her presence might.
It had taken a long time before Andrea relaxed enough for Olivia to be able to lower them from a sitting position to lying down. It had taken even longer before Andrea fell back asleep. Casey had fallen asleep long before Andrea. That had been a big help in lulling Andrea to sleep. The girl had fought hard not to fall asleep. Doing anything she could to stay awake. Olivia had stayed awake watching over Andrea and Casey.
Jen had meticulously gone through the apartment. Checking the door and windows. Though, she had left the master bedroom alone. She hadn't found any sign of disturbance.
It had taken SVU four days to find the attacker. In the time Jen had stayed with Casey and Olivia only leaving for a few hours to go pick up a bag of fresh clothes.
By the time that Cragen called them to the station house, Olivia was going out of her mind. Locked inside their apartment with her partner and a young girl full of energy. It didn't help that Andrea didn't understand why she couldn't go to the park with her Livia. The only respite Olivia got was when Casey got home in the evenings. Even that wasn't enough after the first two days. The restlessness and feeling of inadequacy had her snapping at both Jen and Casey. The only one that had escaped Olivia's foul mood was Andrea.
Casey understood, but that didn't mean she let Olivia get away with it. The redhead didn't say anything before they were alone in their bedroom on the night of the fourth day.
With everything happening, their emotions were just under the surface and both of their tempers flared quickly. They hadn't had an argument like this since before Andrea had moved in, and it was awkward fighting and trying to keep their voices down.
"Olivia, this isn't your fault. I know this isn't easy, but that doesn't give you the right to talk to me like that."
Casey was trying to keep her calm. She knew it would only make it worse, if she let her temper get the best of her. She knew Olivia was hurting, but that didn't mean she would let Olivia treat her that way. It had taken years to get her confidence back after she had let an ex-girlfriend walk all over her, before finding the courage to leave. She wouldn't let anyone treat her that way again, even though she did love Olivia more than she had thought possible. It hurt more now that Olivia knew about her past than before Casey had found the courage to confide in the Detective.
"Yeah whatever. Whose fault is it then? Yours?"
From that point it only went down hill, Olivia saying all the wrong things. Knowingly pushing all of Casey's buttons. Unconsciously wanting to fight, wanting to find a way to release some of the frustration. All it earned her was a pillow thrown at her head.
"You need to find somewhere else to sleep Olivia."
The calm voice Casey said the last part in, got Olivia's attention more than anything Casey could have said or even yelled. But by the time Olivia cleared her head, she had been thrown out of the bedroom.
Olivia knew from experience that she wouldn't get back in anytime that night. They had, had their disagreements during their relationship, but fighting was a rare occurrence after they had started dating.
Olivia didn't have any other option than to sleep on the couch. Not the most comfortable place to sleep. And if for nothing else, she would regret the fight when her back and neck would be sore in the morning.
The next day didn't start any better. Olivia was woken by Andrea. The girl asking questions to try to figure out why her Livia was sleeping on the couch.
Olivia's day didn't improve when Casey finally came out of the bedroom. The redhead was ready for work. Didn't even bother with her morning coffee. Casey avoided Olivia, but took the time talking to Andrea long enough to give the young girl some sort of explanation for the change in sleeping rituals and morning routine.
Jen could feel the tense atmosphere and tried to stay away. Not wanting to cause more problems than her presence already had. She quickly went back to the guest room after getting a cup of coffee. She called Cragen as the first thing, hoping to get some good news. Or at least some advice to what she could do to help make up for the trouble her presence had caused. All Cragen could give advice vice was to stay clear of Olivia, if the Detective was in a bad mood.
Olivia's foul mood and the change in sleeping arrangement, was making Andrea unsure about her world. She didn't know what was happening, only that something wasn't right. She was clingy and not very cooperating.
It was later that afternoon that Cragen called to have Jen bring Olivia and Andrea to the station. The Captain didn't say why, just to get them there.
That order didn't exactly improved Olivia's mood.
Walking into the squad room Olivia had her arms full of Andrea. Arms wrapped tightly around Olivia's neck, refusing to let go for any reason. It didn't help that Andrea needed to pick the attacker out in a line up. That wasn't the only problem. Olivia had to do that as well, and Olivia wouldn't be allowed to be anywhere close to or in the same room as Andrea before the girl had done the line up.
The ADA that was prosecuting this case, wasn't used to traumatized victims, let alone children. He was demanding Andrea go in first and alone to keep the defense from saying the girl had been influenced. The ADA wanted to take Andrea in right away and wouldn't let any of the SVU detectives go in with the girl. After Cragen didn't give him a choice the ADA disapprovingly let one of the other detectives join them, as long as it wasn't Jen.
None of that persuaded Andrea to let go of Olivia. The more the ADA wanted Andrea to go, the angrier he got, and the tighter Andrea held onto Olivia.
It got so bad that the ADA demanded Cragen take Andrea into the room, no matter what.
Olivia had tried to keep her temper in check, not wanting to scare Andrea more. It had been working until the ADA's last comment. Before Olivia ripped him a new one Elliot dragged her and Andrea out of the room. Trying to calm the brunette, before she did something she would regret.
Casey had heard the ADA's last comment as she came in the door. She wanted more than anything to give him a piece of her mind. The only reason she didn't was because she wouldn't risk anything in this case. She felt bad enough that she couldn't be the prosecutor.
"I'll go in with Andrea."
She had startled the other occupants in the room.
"I don't think that's a good idea, miss Novak."
"That's the problem Parker, you don't think. I haven't seen the suspect or the sketch, so there's no way I'll be able to coach Andrea in any way. But I will, however, be able to calm your victim, so she might be able to recognize the attacker."
With that said, Casey turned to find Olivia and Andrea. It took some time, but Casey was finally able to persuade Andrea to do the line up.
ADA Parker wasn't particularly supportive when Andrea couldn't pick out the attacker. He kept pushing Andrea for an answer.
Olivia didn't have any trouble recognizing the man that had attacked her. It had taken Charlotte Adams a little longer, but she had picked the same man as the attacker as Olivia.
Casey didn't care that she still had work to do and a meeting with the Bureau Chief.
She knew she would have hell to pay for ignoring her Bureau Chief. At this moment she didn't care what consequences going home with Andrea and Olivia might have.
Andrea was refusing to let go of Casey after the experience during the line up, not even when Olivia joined them. For the entire way home Andrea wouldn't release or even loosen her grip on Casey.
The atmosphere between the two women was still a little tense. Normally they would have stayed clear of each other for some time after an argument. This time was different though. Having Andrea didn't give them that option, at least not this moment.
At home Andrea did let go, but wouldn't be left alone. It didn't matter if Olivia or Casey were only a few feet away, if Andrea couldn't see one of them. That made it difficult to stay clear of each other, or even talk it through.
The capture of the man that had murdered Andrea's mother, brought a whole new problem. After the trial Andrea wouldn't need the protection, that was the reason Andrea was staying with Olivia and Casey.
Olivia feared having to say goodbye to Andrea, but she also feared not only trying to get Andrea to stay permanently but also if Andrea was allowed to stay. And if that wasn't bad enough, she hadn't talked to Casey about any of that. Olivia wasn't even sure if Casey would be against Andrea staying, or if the redhead wanted the girl to stay.
If she was honest, she had kept avoiding that conversation mostly because she was scared that Casey didn't want it. They had both decided that kids weren't for them. And Casey hadn't been sure about taking in Andrea in the first place.
It didn't matter if Olivia wanted to talk or not, Andrea refused to let go of either of them when she had to go to bed. Not giving either woman the option of sleeping in different rooms or to avoid each other.
That made for a forced silence once Andrea finally fell asleep. Having the young girl snuggled up between them, didn't make it easy for either woman to say what they both knew needed to be said.
When they finally started talking, it was both at the same time and by some silent agreement they didn't talk about the fight from last night.
Casey wasn't ready to let the hurt Olivia's words had caused out in the open, and talking about it at this moment would only lead to more hurt and raised voices.
Olivia didn't know what to say to make up for the things she had said in anger and frustration.
It hadn't been awkward or difficult talking with Andrea lying in between them, as they had both expected. They had started out with the sort of light conversation that was typical for quiet nights spent in each others company.
Eventually the subject of Andrea came up. Though, Casey fell asleep before they finished talking all that through. Casey had managed to alleviate most of Olivia's fears before her eyes refused to stay open.
Olivia on the other hand couldn't get her brain to shut off. Thoughts of her childhood, her mother, Casey and Andrea were whirling around in her head, not giving her the peace she needed to fall asleep.
