"Liv, you forgot your cell phone here," said Fin. "Some lady called Ellis has been calling you."
Olivia wanted to kick herself. "Joshua's principal?"
Fin shrugged. "Guess so."
"How many times did she call?"
"Twice – no, three times."
"Did she say what she wanted?"
"For you to give her a call."
Olivia sighed. "Thanks, Fin. I'll call her back." She picked her cell phone up from her desk and dialed the school, then pressed 17, which was Ms. Ellis' extension number. When the principal answered, Olivia said, "Ms. Ellis? It's Olivia Benson. Joshua's mother."
"Yes, thanks for calling me back," said Ms. Ellis. "Would you mind coming down here?"
Olivia glanced at Elliot, who was patiently waiting for her to be ready to interview the perp they'd just arrested. "Now?"
"Please."
"Is Joshua hurt?"
"No. But it's important that you come down here."
Olivia sighed. "Okay. I'll be there in ten." She hung up and turned to Elliot. "It's Josh. They need me at his school. Can you take care of this?"
"Hey, I'll help him out," offered Fin. "You go, Liv."
Olivia smiled gratefully. "Thanks, guys." She grabbed her car keys. "See you tomorrow," she called over her shoulder as she rushed out the door.
When she got to Joshua's school, she went into the office to sign in. she was surprised to find her son sitting in a chair in the office beside another boy, his arms crossed sullenly over his chest. Olivia signed in, then sat down beside Joshua.
"Hey, Josh. What's the matter?"
He hung his head and didn't answer, and Olivia looked questioningly to the secretary.
"Ms. Benson," she said in a clipped tone. "Ms. Ellis will be out to see you in a few moments."
Olivia narrowed her eyes in confusion. "What's the matter?" She wasn't directing her question at anyone in particular, so she turned back to her son and prompted, "Did something happen at recess? Was someone picking on you?"
He shrugged and didn't say anything.
Olivia tried to wrap and arm around Joshua, but he pulled away from her and buried his head in his hands. "Are you okay, baby?" she asked, growing more concerned by the minute.
Ms. Ellis came out of the office a moment later. "Ms. Benson. Joshua. Come on in."
Olivia tried to take Joshua's hand to help him up, but he didn't take it. He waited until she was a few feet away before he got to his feet and followed his mother inside.
Olivia watched him for a moment. There was something different about him, but she couldn't put her finger on what it was. His head was hanging low and he was shuffling his feet, looking sadder than she'd ever seen him. Then she realized – he looked ashamed. Like one of their victims. She hadn't seen him like this since she'd first adopted him, when he'd had nightmares or wet the bed.
"Sit down," invited Ms. Ellis.
With one more glance at Joshua, Olivia lowered herself into a chair across from the principal. Joshua hesitated, then plopped down beside her. He rested his head in his hands and didn't say a word.
"So, Joshua, are you going to tell your mother what happened?" prompted Ms. Ellis.
Olivia didn't like this. It wasn't what the principal had said, but the way she'd said it. Almost facetiously. She bit back the, "Don't talk to my son like that," that was bubbling in her throat. Instead she said, "Why don't you tell me what's wrong, Ms. Ellis?"
The principal sighed and adjusted her glasses. "Joshua and another boy in his class got into a fight at recess. Joshua gave him a black eye."
Olivia stared at her son in horror. She'd never known him to be violent before, even when horrible, horrible things happened. He knew to fight with his words instead of his fists. She'd never seen him hit anyone before. "Honey, why did you do that?"
Joshua shrugged and didn't raise his head.
Olivia looked to Ms. Ellis, who apparently didn't have an answer either. "He wouldn't tell me, so all we have to go on is Matteo's story. He's pretty worse for wear and – well, you can see your son. So we're going to suspend him for three days."
Olivia's eyes widened. "What?" Her son had never been in trouble before!
"We have a zero tolerance policy for fighting," said Ms. Ellis sternly. "He needs to learn that violence is not okay."
"He knows that," snapped Olivia, glancing at her son, who was rocking back and forth in his seat, looking more small and forlorn than she'd ever seen him before. "This kid must have provoked him somehow."
"It doesn't matter. We do not hit in this school, and he needs to learn that there are consequences for his actions. And I expect that he will be punished at home, too." She raised her eyebrows and handed Olivia a binder. "Here's Joshua's schoolwork for the next three days. See to it that he gets it done."
Yes, ma'am, Olivia almost said, but she caught herself. She needed to show Joshua that he had to be respectful to adults and to do that, she needed to set a good example. "I will," she said instead. "Thank you, Ms. Ellis. I'll take him home now." She turned to her son and held out her hand. "Come on, honey. We're going home."
Joshua shied away and didn't take her hand. He followed a few steps behind her as she walked out to the car. Joshua silently climbed into the backseat and buckled himself in.
Olivia's concern was increasing by the minute, and she glanced back at him through the rearview mirror and asked, "Baby, are you okay?" He wasn't physically hurt, but there was something different about him, and it scared her. He just looked so . . . sad. And scared. No, he looked terrified. And she didn't know what to do.
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