Olivia hesitated, there was something strange about seeing Elizabeth Donelly sitting cross-legged on the floor with a baby in her lap. Julia held her hand tightly as Olivia paused in the doorway. They'd discussed going to school last night, the little girl wasn't sure about it. But she blew a kiss to her sister and let Olivia lead her out the door.
She had all the paperwork from the adoption with her, as well as the public records of the girl's birth; the family hadn't turned over originals. Elizabeth had authenticated them just to be safe, she wasn't sure exactly what they'd need. But they made the walk three blocks to the school, it wasn't too bad Olivia decided; she'd soon have to make it twice a day.
They stepped through the front doors and Julia curled behind her leg, unsure of her new surroundings. She glanced at the sign for the office and reminded herself she wasn't on the job, and then smiled at the secretary; trying to maneuver Julia in front of her. The woman gave her a warm smile and stood to peek over the desk to see Julia still with an arm wrapped around her leg and her cheek pressed into her thigh; sneaking glances.
" Hi, I gotta get her registered for kindergarten." The woman smiled and nodded, then stood and rounded the desk.
" Ms Warboys, and you would be?"
Olivia shook the hand offered to her. " Olivia Benson and Julia Benson, we just had the adoption finalized so she has a bit of paperwork."
The woman only nodded, held out a hand and Olivia handed over the file. There was silence for a moment as a form appeared and notes were made, then the woman's glance flickered back to hers. " How is she doing?"
" Well, she hasn't attended school before." She saw the recognition, seeing Julia's previous name had probably done it. " She's adjusting well."
" Fair enough, I'll just make a note so that her teacher is aware; in case a situation frightens her. Your contact info?"
Olivia recited it easily, she realized it probably was good that the school knew Julia's history; but she wasn't sure she liked that it was a note in her file. But for the time being she'd leave it, Julia would have tells and it would be better that they know they were from a past situation rather than have the teacher's concerns raised.
" And any emergency contacts, in case we can't reach you?" Olivia hesitated, she hadn't asked anyone permission to give that out.
" Can I get back to you on that?" The woman nodded and smiled again, glancing back at Julia who had crept behind Olivia's leg and had her fingers laced in her belt loops; still sneaking looks. The kid was smart, she'd got herself trapped between the wall and a shield; she could look around without being seen easily.
" How about we go and see the class room and meet the teacher? Julia will be put in our JK class, her teacher will be Ms Cass, and she'll attend school everyday and go home by lunch time. How does that sound?"
Julia nodded against her leg and Olivia reached down, pulling the girl onto her hip. Putting her in plain view and letting her see where they were going; she could hide her face as she wished. They walked down the hall to a door decorated with a smiling cat mural. They stepped into a room designed for kids, with small chairs and low tables painted in bright colors, Julia looked around curiously.
" This is her classroom, the JK class has gym this morning; I'll go see if someone can watch her class so she can come meet you. Please look around."
The secretary left them and Olivia tried to set Julia down.
The little girl hung on. " No."
" Okay." She wandered around the room with the child on her hip; Julia looked around curiously.
She turned as the door opened again, a young woman had walked in with vibrant red curls and bright green eyes. " Hi, I'm Ms Cass, are you Julia?"
The woman made instant contact with Julia who hid her face for a moment and then peaked; the teacher was still leaned in waiting for a response. " Julia's a little shy."
" That's okay, we all are sometimes. This is your first school right? Would you like a list of things to get?" The question was still directed at Julia even though Olivia nodded and the woman turned and practically bounced towards the desk; it probably took a lot of energy to keep up with a group of four-year olds.
" So we have a really small class, our morning class is smaller right now so she'll join it. There is sixteen kids in it, she'll stay with the same class this year and next; then in grade one there may be some shuffling but usually we try to keep classes together as much as possible. We don't want to put friends in different classes." The woman handed her a piece of bright blue paper with a colorful list of school supplies; geared to kids.
" Every class in the primary division has a pet, we have two hamsters. Bip and Bop, Bop is your class'. He is the brown one." They were led towards a cage with a white and brown hamster. " We take turns taking them home each weekend and ask for a volunteer over holidays. This year we don't have a lot of parents game to take them home so if you want to sign up your mom has to fill out a form."
Julia looked at them curiously and stretched her legs to get down, Olivia smiled and let the girl down; she was interested in the animals. " I think I'll be filling that out."
" No problem, it just says your willing and will be able to pick Julia up from school on days you take them home and bring her the day you bring them back. We'll send you with food and bedding." The teacher explained, still practically bouncing.
" No problem." She was handed another form, scanned it and signed; her building had always allowed pets and these were at least temporary. She wasn't sure she could commit to a full-time one.
" We do lots of crafts and stories, it will be hard at first but she'll make friends fast." The woman reassured her quickly and then turned to Julia. " How about we put your name on a cubby?"
Julia followed behind Olivia as the walked to the back of the room and the cubbies, a bright yellow sticker was above one and the teacher wrote 'Julia' on it in big block letters. " Do you know how to print your name Julia?"
The little girl shook her head. " That's okay we'll get you a letter book. Would you like to take it home today?"
Julia looked to Olivia and she nodded. It seemed everything to do with kindergarten came in bright colors as a pink book was produced and handed to Julia who took it with a shy smile. " Thank you."
Olivia took a moment to text both Elizabeth and Melinda; hoping one of them would get back to her quickly. They took a tour of the school, and playground and met the principal; Julia kept her fingers in Olivia's pocket most of the time. Both women texted her back before they left; both agreeing eagerly to be ECs.
She gave the school the information and Ms Cass saw them out; telling Julia she looked forward to seeing her. Julia started school in the morning. They walked to the store and Olivia tried to get advice on school supplies. They left with a new back pack, matching pencil-case and lunch bag, for snacks Julia was willing to pick out, as well as indoor shoes, crayons and pencils.
Olivia carried the bags and Julia walked beside her; holding her hand. " Do you want to go tomorrow?"
Julia nodded quietly. " I have to don't I?"
" I want you to try to go, I think you'll make lots of friends."She smiled as the little girl just nodded again.
" I get to come home for lunch?"
" Yes, you will be home to have lunch with me and Maggie everyday."
" We get to bring Bop home sometimes?"
" Sometimes." She wasn't sure what it would be like to have a hamster, she'd have to keep it in its cage; there'd be a mutiny if it escaped. " We'll take turns with all your class mates."
" Okay." Olivia wondered how long it would be before Julia wanted a pet of her own; a fish might be okay, they didn't need a lot of care.
They got back to the apartment building and Julia perked up a little bouncing up the steps, Olivia just watched and thought people were right; kids were resilient. Julia knew where she was comfortable and where she was safe; it just took a little bit of time. By the time she made it up the stairs and put everything on the counter Julia was sitting on the couch behind Elizabeth's head; telling her about the morning.
Maggie was snuggled happily in the older woman's arms gnawing on a plastic ring of some kind that changed colors; it was something for teething. She listened as the child told the judge about the hamster; which seemed to be the highlight of the trip. After a moment the baby was transferred to Julia's lap and Elizabeth pushed herself up slowly; Olivia winced.
She put stuff away as the woman joined her. " I take it she's only going back to see the hamster?"
" I think that's the main attraction."
" I give it two months before you have one too." Elizabeth laughed and Olivia rolled her eyes.
" I'm thinking fish first, they're easy to take care of and can't escape to get lost somewhere." She put the snacks in the cupboard and set the lunch bag in the corner. " How was Maggie this morning?"
" Good, she's a sweet baby; tiny though for almost a year."
" Ten months isn't a year but I think she has been delayed a bit the doctor says she fine; just small. And with a good diet she'll pick up fast. She really likes attention though."
" Can't blame her, doubt they gave her any; other than hurting her anyways. Think Julia will make it through her first day?"
Olivia glanced at the girls. " Yeah. I do, but maybe just on sheer will. She really tries to make people happy with her."
" Probably a good way to avoid getting hit."
" They put a note about her history in her file. I'm going to leave it for now but later I want it removed."
" You put in the request they can't keep it; might put it on file for a guidance counsellor though but every teacher doesn't need to know." Olivia nodded, hopefully with enough love Julia wouldn't struggle too much with her childhood. " I do need to talk to you about work though, it slipped my mind last night."
" Okay." Olivia raised her eyebrows.
" I got assigned to you, you review the cases and after they go through the investigation they'll come to me for final review and recommendation to the board. I'll select the sets of cases you get, you won't testify in my court but I may retry some of the cases if evidence is found to exonerate a person previously charged; I won't be trying SVU cases anymore. Took the assignment to the review committee. I meant to give these to you last night." A pack of files were set on the counter for her.
Olivia nodded and scooped them up, she wouldn't mind working with Elizabeth, she knew the judge was fair and knew all the loopholes there were to find. Not to mention she also knew how horrific the cases could be; she wouldn't be breaking someone in. " Alright. So when do I call you?"
" When ever you want something retested or have another possible suspect; anything that doesn't line up. I need to know what it is and who handled the cases; we've got cases from all five boroughs. There's a couple other detectives being shuffled into it but they have to do some training first; haven't worked SVU. So for a while you're all we've got on it."
" And with how many years to go back?"
" We are only doing ones with a con incarcerated and alive. If something is brought to be appealed by someone who has been released it will still be handled by the unit. It's a pilot program so it'll be touch and go."
" So I'm the lab rat."
" Don't worry I won't let it blow up on you if they decide it won't work." They both laughed, but Olivia knew it was true. " Just don't screw up."
" I'm not usually a loose cannon. I've made mistakes but I'll own them; don't like to make them in the first place."
" And that's why you got the job."
Olivia nodded and handed the woman a cup of coffee and took her own the joined the girls on the couch. " I'll get started on those after I drop Julia off tomorrow."
" Don't forget to keep them locked, I really don't care if they're secured for crap reasons but they...don't need to see them." She nodded towards the kids between them and Olivia nodded; she'd have them locked up before the judge left and when she wasn't working on them. There was no way she'd let Julia stumble on some of those images; she'd seen enough to haunt her dreams for life.