It's Monday morning, about 6:30. I slowly open my eyes as the smell of freshly brewed coffee awaits me. Handsome as always and whether I'm awake or not, Rafi brings me my morning coffee almost every morning, just as he's leaving for work. He places it on the side table on my side of the bed then gives me a gentle kiss on the forehead – to which I can only respond with a sleepy smile.

"Buenos dias, hermosa."

"Buenos dias. Heading to work so soon?"

He nods his head as he speaks softly. He knows I like to wake up and be quiet for just a few minutes.

"I have some prep to do at the office and I'd like to get a good dent in it before everyone shows up for the day."

I nod my head as he sits beside me. I prop myself up and reach for my coffee cup and I take that magical first sip. I can't help but close my eyes and release a happy and contented sigh.

"You bringing me coffee first thing every morning is just so you can see me do that, isn't it?"

He smirks and nods his head as he gives my free hand a squeeze.

"Guilty as charged. Any big plans for today? I know the latter part of the week is going to be busy for you."

After another sip of manna from heaven I respond.

"I'll probably head into my office for an hour or so and make a couple of calls but after that nothing special. I might hang out here and read for a while. Imagine – reading, with no phones ringing."

He smiles and shakes his head.

"Inconceivable. How about a lunch date to break up the day before you tuck into your book?"

"I could have a lunch date with you. That'd actually be really nice."

"I'll call you later on and we'll make a plan. Have a wonderful day."

He leans towards me and kisses my forehead. I close my eyes as he kisses me, knowing how terrible I look first thing in the morning, yet he still finds it in his heart to call me beautiful. I'm so very lucky.

"I love you. Have a great morning."

"Te amo mucho, precioso."

He gives my leg a gentle pat as he stands up and leaves our home for the day. I love mornings like this, where I sit in bed with coffee, gazing out our bedroom window at the sunrise. Slow, lazy mornings are the absolute greatest, especially when your heart is as full as mine. I sigh, knowing that this feeling I have right now won't last too long, that what I actually have to do today is going to be so very difficult. I can't go on with this any further, and I have to end this terrible place that I'm in. I get out of bed and find my purse which is right by the front door. I take out my wallet, find what I'm looking for and head back to the bedroom, a piece of paper in my hand and my other hand held in hesitation over my phone. After staring at these two items I finally dial the digits I see on the card and wait for someone to answer.

"NYPD."

I hesitate, only for a split second.

"Yes, may I speak to Captain Benson, please?"

SVU SQUADROOM

I silently and nervously survey the room that I find myself in. It's chaotic, but seems like organized chaos. Some Officers are in uniform, some in regular clothes, people being escorted to and from various places. A blonde lady approaches me, probably sensing my apprehension being there.

"Can I help you?"

I smile nervously at her.

"I'm actually here to see Captain Benson."

She nods her head.

"Ok, she's just on a call but I can show you to a room where you can wait for her if you'd like."

I smile and nod my head, hoping that my gratitude is coming across.

"That would be wonderful thank you. Detective, yes?"

She nods her head.

"Yes, Detective Rollins. Right this way."

She leads me to a room with a large mirror on the wall. I know the type of room this is. People can watch and no doubt listen from the other side of that mirror. The detective closes the door behind her as I sit placing my purse on the floor beside me. At that moment my phone rings and as I look at who's calling, I smile.

"Hola. Good thanks. Yes, one should be good. I'll see you then. Love you too."

I'm sitting at my desk on the phone when Rollins pops her head into my office. I look at her, my phone away from my ear.

"Hey Captain, you have a visitor in one."

I nod my head and mouth 'thank you' to her to know I heard and got the message. I finish my call, grabbing my pen and notepad as I stand, then I head into interview room one. I know exactly who's in here as I drew up the blinds so I could assess her frame of mind and mood before I even entered the room. It's one of the many parts of my job that just seems to come naturally – being able to read people. I knock gently on the door and slowly enter.

"Hello, Lillian. How are you?"

She smiles at me, cautiously.

"Well Captain, I've been better but I'm surviving."

"It's Olivia, please."

She shifts in a gesture of discomfort, so I let her go with whatever it is she needs.

"Actually, for right now since this is not a social meeting, if it's alright with you that is, I'd prefer to call you Captain."

I nod my head as I sit across the table from her, her body facing the two way mirror in my office.

"Of course, whatever makes you feel the most comfortable."

"Thanks. This is a rather unpleasant conversation to have to have on a good day, let alone with…"

She takes a sharp and deep breath in as I reach my hand and place it gently on her arm to reassure her.

"Hey, it's ok. This is a safe place, I promise you that."

She smiles gently as she speaks quietly to me, almost as though she's afraid.

"I appreciate that, Captain. I know that this is a safe place. I'm just so very anxious over how he'll react when he finds out about all of this."

I lean back in my chair, hoping she will mimic my ease in the situation, despite my incredibly tense stomach. I have no idea what she is going to say, but whatever it is it's going to be – for her – very difficult.

"Well, you know that anything that you tell me will remain confidential with respect to your fiancée."

She looks truly frightened at this moment so I encourage her take a few breaths to calm. After a moment or two passes she looks across the table at me, bringing her hand to her face to wipe the tear that has fallen from her eye.

"How long does it take?"

"How long does what take?"

She makes a sweeping gesture towards herself.

"How long does it take to get over this?"

I pause, collecting my thoughts and selecting my words very cautiously. Empathy is key right now as is the tone and volume of my speech. If I'm too loud I can come across as overbearing, not equal. If I'm too quiet I can seem weak and unable to help. I take a stab at it and go with the soft voice I always seem to use with any victim, not just one who is engaged to one of my best friends.

"Lillian. It wasn't at work, was it?"

She looks directly into my eyes and that's when I see it, the moment that any detective or investigator looks for. She's ready to tell what happened. Her eyes begin to water, and the tear drops quietly fall from her eyes as she very gently shakes her head to say 'no'. I knew it.

"You're doing such a courageous thing coming and telling me what happened. Coming forward is often the most difficult step, especially considering who you're engaged to."

She gets a look of panic on her face.

"This wasn't him, if that's what you're thinking. Oh dear God, no. He adores me and would never lay an angry glance on me let alone a finger. Please Olivia. You have to believe that."

I smile and nod at her.

"Oh he knows better, 'cause we'd kick his ass."

She smiles a little, probably briefly picturing me pummeling him.

"I'm glad you've got my back."

"Absolutely. Before we get started, would you like water or coffee?"

"Coffee would be amazing, thank you."

"I'll be right back."

I stand up and give her a gentle smile which she returns and I leave the room, closing the door behind me. I take a deep breath then head to the coffee machine. I scan my eyes across my squad room and see Rollins sitting at her desk.

"Rollins, I need you for a minute."

"Sure thing, Captain."

I pour a cup of coffee into a cup as I talk to my friend and Detective.

"I need you to do me a huge favor. Can you watch this interview from my office? I'm going to need a second set of eyes and ears, but I need it done on the DL."

She nods her head in agreement.

"Sure. Do you need it recorded as well?"

I shake my head at the suggestion.

"We can't record this. This has to be completely confidential, between you, me and the vic. I need you to call down to the tech room and have them turn off the camera in one until we call them back to turn it back on. No one can know about this, Rollins. No one."

"Sure. Do you need me to take notes when I'm in your office or just eyes and ears?"

"On a separate pad if you want to take notes, but it must be on the DL. This is very VIP."

"You got it boss. I'll call right now."

"Thanks. Appreciated."

I head back towards interview room one while she calls tech. As soon as I hear that she has connected with someone I head into the room, knowing that within a matter of seconds the recording devices will be turned off and she will be safe, as will my friend. As I close the door behind me I hear the elevator ding and the doors slide open.

The elevator doors open to reveal a sight that I never actually thought I'd miss. I see and hear familiar voices greet me as I wave to them with my free hand. I'm holding several cups of coffee in my left. Just as I see Rollins I hear Interview Room One's door close. It has a very distinct noise to me for some reason. Maybe it's because of the time I've spent in that room and observing vics and offenders from Liv's office.

"Hey Rollins. Coffee?"

"Barba. Thank God. I'm dying for outside coffee."

She takes a cup and takes a big sip.

"What's with the generosity?"

"Do I need a reason?"

She smirks and nods her head.

"YOU? Generally, yes."

Thanks, Amanda. I continue walking to my friend's office, searching for her as I reach it.

"Olivia busy?"

"She's just in one with a vic, but I can tell her you stopped by."

"Ok. I'll pop this on her desk for her so I won't interrupt."

She hadn't had a chance to open her mouth before I stepped inside. I place the steaming cup of coffee on her desk, grab a piece of paper and write a little note.

'Now you can finally say I brought you coffee on a Monday. R.'

I put the post it on top of the cup and turn towards the office door and that's when I see her. Not Olivia, but her. I'm frozen in place and I can't move. My feet literally won't move. They can't move. I can feel that Rollins has come in the office, and she shuts the door.

"Hey, she asked me to be super on the DL about this. I tried to stop you from coming in but you're too fast."

I have no response I simply stare at the glass, my arms crossed in an almost defensive posture. I can feel my blood starting to boil.

"Apparently this is super VIP, though I don't recognize her. It's got to be high up, I mean look at the ring."

Again, no response. I can only feel the room getting smaller, my chest getting tighter and every sound I hear seeming like nails on a blackboard.

"It looks like 3 carats easily. I thought Tiffany only did white gold and platinum, not yellow. Shows you what I know about engagement rings."

We are never emotionless but being emotionless allows us to press pause and focus on defense, and the things that truly matter. At this moment, her jewelry is the least of my worries. I don't move my focus at all as I respond.

"The center stone is 6 carats, and it's not from Tiffany, it's from Harry Winston."

"How do you know?"

I take a deep breath as I continue my gaze, but speak very quietly.

"I bought it at Harry Winston 6 months ago."

The mic has dropped and so has Rollins' jaw. I think she realizes how bad this situation is, and how I really should not have seen this.

"Oh my God, she's…"

I close my eyes and nod my head.

"Oh damn."

That's exactly right, Rollins.

Damn.

TBC...

Feedback/reviews are lovely - like fresh coffee in the morning (delivered by a lawyer. Hmmm lawyer, I mean coffee.)