Chapter 2

Here's chapter 2! I'm really enjoying this story, have a few more chapters planned out. I'm writing this late at night so am too tired to proofread. Sorry for any mistakes. I hope you guys enjoy. I, as any fic writer, love comments and feedback I hope you enjoy.

He's running toward the elevator now, Carisi a few strides behind. They round the corner into the hallway just as the elevator door is closing, Fin catching a tiny glimpse of the fucking prick running his fingers through his hair. The two men pause for a second, Fin cursing the goddam elevator, before he feels Carisi pulling at his arm, directing him to the stairwell. Without another thought, the two men start their descent down the six flights of stairs.

Whilst running down the stairs, admittedly at a slightly slower rate due to his age, Fin contemplated the various things he could do to Burton without getting caught. Carisi noted the look in his eye and knew that fin was planning on doing something to which a new ADA should probably not be privy to. At that, he Carisi decided it was probably best to convince Fin to arrest the mother fucker rather than just beat the crap out of him.

"I'm gonna kill him" Fin huffed, trying to assess what Carisi would like to do about it.

"if you try and fail, he'll probably just sue to city", Carisi says, trying logic first.

"Then I won't fail, will I!" Fin belts out with a concerning laugh.

In a final effort to stop the man from committing several felonies when they exited the stairwell sometime in the next thirty-second, Carisi says the one thing he knows will restrain the man.

"She wouldn't want you to, if for no other reason than that she would want to kill him herself."

At that, Fin lets out a disgruntled groan of agreement before he opens the door to the foyer of the precinct, silently thanking God knows who, that the elevators in this precinct are as slow as a hungover snail.

Both men rush to the elevator and are ready and waiting when the doors open revealing the pathetic excuse of a man who had just hit their captain, and also happened to eb a sexual predator.

Without missing a step, Fin, pushed the guy up against the wall of the elevator, turning him around and cuffing him, making sure the man knew he wouldn't be feeling his hands for a while.

"Fin." Carisi warned, his voice stern yet his eyes enjoying the sight before him.

"What, he's still breathing, isn't he?"

At that, Carisi rolled his eye and Fin mirandized Lowe while dragging him to a nearby holding cell. Not knowing yet how Liv was doing, Fin wanted to make sure that Lower was as far enough away from her as possible.

On the way down the hall, Fin accidentally "bumped" into a few walls, using Lowe to cushion the blow.

When the man was secure, Fin and Carisi headed back to the squad room. The ride in the elevator was mostly silent. A uni got of on the third floor and then they were alone. Not fully comprehending what had just happened, Carisi broached the subject carefully.

"Do you think she will press charges?"

"it's her decision man, I don't know" Fin replies, trying to hide the depth of concern he has for his friend. He doesn't know what she will do but he does know that he will support her through it, no matter what.

When they reach the sixth floor, the elevator doors open and both men scope out the squad room. Velasco is back at his desk and the captain's door is closed, Rollins presumably inside. Caris heads to collect his briefcase, realising now, that he is most definitely late for arraignment. He gives Fin a nod, before heading back to the elevator.

"keep me updated!" he yells as the doors are closing

Fin nods and turns around, headed for his desk. He sits down, looking at his half-eaten cannoli, cold cup of coffee and unfinished DD5's. He knows he needs to finish his work, at this point it's the most he can do to help the captain.

Before he gets back into it though, he turns to look at Velasco.

"How is she?" he ask, the young detective looking up from his computer screen.

"didn't really see her, Rollins told me to get an ice pack though." Velasco says, feeling a bit out of place in the whole situation, still the outsider.

Fins nods and turns back to his computer. Unable to focus on his work, he finishes off his cannoli and picks up his phone. There is one person out there who, he knows would be more than happy to kill Lowe with him. Stabler. He thinks about calling him, going as far as to open his contact.

The man is still undercover but would surely come if he knew Liv needed him. Fin knew that Stabler would blow his entire six-month operation, just to be here for Liv. Fin also knew that Liv would probably kill both of them for allowing him to do that.

Then, the words of the ever-impressive ADA echoed through Fins head. She wouldn't want you to, if for no other reason than that she would want to kill him herself. Whilst in a slightly different context, the meaning of the words still held true. Elliot had hurt her, and she had every fucking right to be angry. And she deserved to be in control of whatever they were now.

Fin finally decided to just leave that idea alone. The relationship between his Captain and Stabler was complicated. He wasn't necessarily up to date on any recent developments, but he could see that Stablers re-appearance, especially given the circumstances, was not exactly improving Liv's wellbeing. He wasn't going to even touch that one.

At that, Fin returned to work, determined to finish his paperwork for once, while downing the rest of his cup of cold coffee, keeping an eye on the captain's office just in case she needed anything. His mind was at ease, knowing at least, that Rollins was in there; someone Liv could lean on.

*Meanwhile, in Liv's office*

Amanda rushed toward Liv, stopping short of touching her, making sure not to startler he. She glanced up and saw Carisi and Fin headed toward to elevator, after Lowe. Velasco also appeared at the door not really knowing what to do. Knowing, Liv wouldn't want their new detective to know about personal life, let alone see his boss in such a vulnerable state, she yelled at him to get her an icepack from the breakroom and to bring in the first aid kit. The young detective rushes off to do what he was told.

At that, Amanda turns back to Liv who is still just staring at the door, her glassy eyes looking empty. Amanda knows she has to get Liv back to the present, so she slowly moves to touch her shoulder, making sure not to make any sudden movements.

"Liv…. Liv, can you hear me? It's Okay, he's gone now"

Liv stairs at the door a few seconds longer before starting to blink a few times. Re-centring herself back into the present, she grabs a hold of the chair next to her, trying not to fall over as she is suddenly aware of the pain in both her ankle and her face.

Amanda slowly guides her around the chair to sit down, before pulling the other chair over from the corner and sitting herself directly in front of Liv.

It was then that they heard a light knock on the open door. Liv turned to look out the window, trying to hide her battered face from her young detective. Rollins nodded to Velasco, telling him to leave the supplies on the couch by the door and instructing him to close the door on his way out. The young man complied and then they were alone again.

They turn back to face each other. Rollins doesn't really know what to say so she reverts to her cop instinct.

"We're going to get him for this, you have a whole squad room full of witnesses" she says, knowing her words are of little comfort to the woman sitting before her.

Trying another angle, she starts "he made a mistake. He's not going to get away with it this time. It won't be enough, but the punishment he'll get for this might provide a little justice to all of the women he has victimised over the years".

Liv looks up at her now, slightly less defeated at the idea of getting justice for others. This is short-lived though as she instantly drops her head into her hands and try's her very hardest to will the world to fuck off.

"It's more complicated than that", she finally exclaims, looking up at Rollings, a tear finally escaping and trickling down her cheek.

"He's going to use my past against me. We were in a relationship, hell, we were going to get married" she is standing now, pacing around the room.

Amanda twists in her chair, so that she is facing Liv. "He is a predator Liv. He manipulated you. He say that you were a vulnerable teenage girl who just wanted to escape from her mother and he took advantage of that. It is in no way your fault. Any jury will see right through that!".

Liv stops, leans against the window into interrogation. She is seemingly staring into space.
"I slept with him, Amanda."

"You were six-…" Amanda starts to re-iterate before Liv cuts her off.

"Last week" Liv says, catching her breath on the words, trying to hold back a sob.

At that, Amanda stands and walks toward her captain. She stands in front of her and places both of her hands on Liv's shoulders.

"This is not your fault. He is a predator, and you are a survivor. There is nothing more to it." She says so matter-of-factly that Liv can't immediately deny it.

Liv looks into her detectives' eyes and thanks her; no words are exchanged but her appreciation is recognised.

Liv moves back to stand behind her desk. She stands up straight, runs her fingers through her hair and straightens her blazer. She looks up at Amanda, trying to pull herself together.

"A part of me believes you. That part is just going to need a bit of time to let the rest of me catch-up." she says, with a grateful look in her eye.

She sits down at her desk, feeling the pain in her ankle subside. At that, she remembers that she still has blood on her face. Amanda recognises this realisation and walks over to have Liv the ice pack and the first aid kit.

"You need a hand", she offers.

"No thanks, I should be fine. Get back to work".

Amanda turns to head out of the office. Her hand is about to turn the door handle when she hears liv.

"Amanda… thank you"

Amanda looks at her captain, offering a smile. She walks out, closing the door behind her. She sees Velasco back at his desk and Fin sitting at his, fiddling with his computer. Needing to find out what happened to the bastard who hit their captain, Amanda headed for Fin…