Chapter 21

The rest of the morning passed quickly and Olivia managed to get back to the apartment, take a shower, hand Noah off to Mrs. Schumacher, and then get back to the deli. She had promised that she would get back to her neighbor right after lunch and the elderly woman smiled and promised to give the little tyke a bath.

"Sergeant Benson, it's so good to see you again. How are things?" The owner of the deli, Salvatore Idoni, came over to the table she had picked for her meeting with Brian.

"A little crazy Sal. How about you guys? Looks like a good crowd today," she smiled.

"Meatball Sub day is always a busy day," he winked.

"Sounds delicious," Olivia smiled again.

"One for you and one for Brian?" Sal asked.

"Excellent idea but I'm not sure how much eating we'll be doing…" the sentence died in her throat and the kindly older gentlemen gave a tight smile.

"Trouble in paradise?" He'd known Olivia ever since Elliot had left. She had stopped going to the diner that he and she usually went to because of the memories. What she needed at the time was a clean slate and Sal's deli offered that and very good food. Olivia never got to answer the question as Brian approached them. Sal gave him a look and then nodded. He knew exactly was going to happen. Ducking behind the counter, he started making fresh subs for the two.

"Liv, we need to talk about what we've been doing these last few days. It's not healthy for us," Brian said after he took a seat.

"I agree but it seems that we don't want the same things. There is nothing we can negotiate about or promise to work on. Noah is not going back into foster care. I can't and won't let that happen. He has no one. I wanted us to be a family but I should have known that wasn't going to work," Olivia told him.

"We can make it work. I was just getting overwhelmed. I didn't handle it well," he admitted.

"Just like you didn't handle the failed pregnancy test. You don't want kids, I get it. I have wanted children for a very long time. I was never in a position to have any until now. I realize that Noah was a bit of a shock and I apologize for that but when the judge asked me to take him and give him the home I know he deserves I couldn't say "no". I guess this means that we can't be together anymore. You can take the stuff your parents gave us back. I'm sure they'll want it," she said.

"I don't want this to be over. Not like this," Brian said.

"We're not interested in the same things, Bri. We barely spend any time together and you deserve someone who can be there for you and not have the extra baggage. You've been sweet through everything but I can't force you to be the man that I need any more than you can force me to be the woman you need. Let's not argue and fuss. I knew we were moving apart before and now it's blatantly obvious that we just aren't meant to be. I am truly sorry, I am but I know that you'll be happier with someone else," Olivia put her foot down. The relationship was over.

"It's because Stabler is back in the picture isn't it?" Brian asked, she could tell that he was getting angry.

"No it's not. Elliot is in no shape for anything more than what he needs to get himself back on track and neither am I. Besides after how our partnership ended I'm not sure I can even let him too far into my life," Olivia shook her head. As much as she had always had a connection with Elliot that she wished he returned (and on more than one occasion, she felt he'd proven it), neither one of them was in any condition for anything. He needed to get sober and stay that way and she needed to conquer the fears that William Lewis had been so kind to leave behind after his death.

Brian didn't seem satisfied and he seemed like he was going to yell or get upset but then he heaved a sigh and shook his head.

"I'll get my stuff out of the apartment and…" he started.

"Fin has offered Noah and I some space at his place for the next few days. Take your time; find a nice place to live," she said. Brian couldn't believe how nice she was being about things.

"I'll call around and I'll talk to my folks. I think they realize that they aren't getting any grandbabies so they might let you keep some of the things," he said.

"I'll make it work, whatever they decide," she gave him a slight smile. He nodded, stood up, and walked out. Olivia heaved a sigh and tears threatened to fall. Despite it all, she didn't hate Brian but she couldn't force him to stay either. It wasn't fair. Her phone buzzed and she checked the message. It was Elliot. How's things? It was a simple message and one that she needed. Can we talk later? She replied. Of course. Where should we meet? He asked. The diner we used to go to around seven, she said. See you then, he replied. With that she stood up and headed for the counter. Sal handed her two meatball subs to go. When she attempted to pay, he refused. It was the offer of the day, he said, – free subs to active duty police officers. Olivia crammed a ten into the tip jar and left giving Sal her thanks and a smile.

An hour later, Sergeant McMillan walked into the precinct with Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt in tow. Rollins intercepted them and offered them something to drink. At the sound of the blonde's voice, Olivia perked up at her desk. Looking at the elderly couple she could tell that they were nervous and that the Trooper had left all the gory details for her to divulge. It was the way she wanted it and she just wished that she had a little more to go on.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt I know this has been a rough day but I'm afraid before you see your daughter I need to explain some things," Olivia offered them the seats in her office as Trooper McMillan shut the door and took a seat on the couch.

"Sergeant McMillan said you were brought in because someone tried to have Ellen transported to our son's prison," Mr. Wyatt said.

"Yes sir and we're looking into who that could be. The evidence suggests that one of your former farmhands might have been involved in the kidnapping of your daughter. We have two suspects which I believe the Sergeant showed you," Olivia started.

"Yes he did. I don't see how a good man like Don Gottfried got all mixed up in something like this. He was always one to be counted on. We never had to worry about him," Mr. Wyatt shook his head.

"What about Darren Bozzard?" Olivia asked.

"You had to wonder about him. I fired him not long before the barn fire. Caught him stealing food that was supposed to be sent to the market. You don't think he took his revenge by kidnapping our Ellen do you?" The elderly man wanted to know. Olivia heaved a sigh, knowing what she needed to say next.

"Bozzard was arrested and convicted in Pennsylvania not long after he left your farm for kidnapping and sexually assaulting his girlfriend. He was forced to register as a sex offender but he seems to have slipped out of Pennsylvania and off the grid completely. In today's day and age that is not so easy to do but he's had years of practice. Ellen's hair was dyed multiple times into multiple different shades. My guess is that the reason no one caught him before was that he kept changing his appearance and hers and they moved around a lot. Since they had no ties to the communities they went to, they could slip in and slip out without much notice," she filled them in.

"What did he do to our baby?" Mrs. Wyatt wanted to know. Olivia then delved into the details of everything that had occurred since she had received the call from Warden Drysdale.

"Oh dear God," Mrs. Wyatt began to cry and Olivia handed her the tissue box from her desk.

"I am so very sorry, Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt. We'll catch him and we'll make sure he stands trial for what he's done," she promised.

"What can you charge him with? How long could he really go to jail for?" Mr. Wyatt asked.

"Well he impersonated a police officer, forged official police files, failed to register as a sex offender in New York, and committed arson, kidnapping, and rape. He will go away for a very long time if not the rest of his life. We are doing everything we can to find him," Olivia tried to reassure them again.

"Why take our little Ellen?" Mrs. Wyatt wanted to know.

"I can't say for certainty why things like this happen but I know that Ellen will need help recovering. She's being taken care of by the capable people at Bellevue. Doctor Huang is a psychiatrist on loan from the FBI and he's been helping her. In fact he's going to take you to her very shortly," Olivia gave a slight smile.

"Thank you for all you've been doing. We can never thank you enough," Mr. Wyatt said. Olivia just smiled and stood from her seat behind her desk. She then escorted them out into the bull pen as Doctor Huang walked through the door. Introductions were quick and he quickly got them heading out to his car.

"You have an APB out for this jerk?" McMillan asked.

"Yes and Huang had the FBI put out a nationwide alert as well. He could be stalking his next victim right now. The news is set to broadcast his photo soon," Olivia nodded.

"Good. As far as Ben Wyatt goes, he admitted to killing Warden Drysdale. He confronted him about the prisoner that was brought in and he thought the Warden was lying to him. After he couldn't get a straight answer, his anger won out. That's when he beat the Warden to death. He also admitted to attacking Rachel March. She's going to be ok but she'll spend the rest of her sentence at the hospital in the secure wing. The blow gave her a nasty concussion and swelling on her spinal cord but nothing she can't walk away from," the Sergeant filled her in.

"That's good to hear. Thanks again for all your help," Olivia shook his hand.

"Any time. Keep me posted," McMillan smiled before heading out himself.

To Be Continued…