Chapter 17: Aftermath
The night after the attack had to be the worst night for everyone in terms of sleeping. Elliot was sure that he'd only really managed to get an hour or maybe 2 of sleep here and there across the whole night, with how many times the twins were up and down. Elizabeth was the worst and had woken up several times across the night, screaming and in absolute tears from whatever terrors she'd dreamt. Richard had been better in a way but he had still been distraught in his sleep numerous times across the night when Elliot had checked on him. If the terrors were waking his 7 year olds up or affecting their sleep then Elliot hated to think how different and likely worse, Olivia was coping with all. He wondered if she was having the same terrors and was up and down all night. He wanted to message her but chose against it at the thought of waking her up if she was actually still asleep. Elliot had meant to call Olivia and check in on her after the twins had first gone to bed but decided against doing so as it had gotten quite late. But Elliot made a mental note to try and call her the following morning to check in with her. Of course, the night had ended with Elizabeth sleeping in his bed with him, as she had wet hers and the only way she managed to sleep was in his bed. The little girl was really going through all kinds of emotions right now after Dani.
As Elliot sat, drinking his coffee and looking out as the sun rose over the New York skyline, he had made the decision to keep the twins home from school for the rest of the week. After the night they had, with the limited sleep, there really was no way that the twins would be comfortably making it to school or even focusing whilst there and there was no way that Elliot would get to work. Home commitments sometimes meant that sacrifices with work had to be made, Elliot was just lucky that he was running his own successful business and could take the time where needed. He called Ashley first, to let her know that he wouldn't be in today but would be available on the phone if it was an emergency. He was going to focus on helping his kids through all of this until they were better. Then of course there was the question of whether or not to seriously pursue charges against Dani. Elliot felt strongly about doing this and he believed that with everything Dani had done to his children and Olivia that she deserved to face the consequences of her actions. He was so strongly focused on this that he was going to head down to the police precinct later today to make sure everything was in order and he didn't have to complete any additional paperwork.
Elliot: Hey, How are you this morning? You rushed off yesterday before I had the chance to properly check on you or thank you for protecting my kids. I'm going to keep them home today and likely tomorrow as we've had a really rough night and they aren't in the state to go to school. I hope you're ok though and please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you Elliot texted Olivia. He wasn't sure what her plans were today, whether or not she would be at school either but he really wanted to let her know as soon as possible that the twins definitely wouldn't be there. Part of him hoped that Olivia wasn't there either though, after yesterday she deserved to take this time for herself.
Olivia: Good Morning! I'm sorry that I dashed off so quickly yesterday but I really just needed to get home to my daughter. Don't worry though, I'm totally fine. I'm not going to be at school either till likely early next week at this stage but I'll pass on the message about your kids being absent. I really hope they are ok? There were some things said yesterday they heard but hopefully won't understand…Just try and be there for them today :) Olivia quickly replied to Elliot's message he had to admit he felt relieved that Olivia was taking time off for herself. After all the trauma yesterday, she needed to take a break and he was glad she had realised that too. Elliot still had a strong urge to see her today though and he knew that he had one little girl who would also be desperate to see Olivia too.
Elliot: Well, if you're not at school today, can we meet up somewhere? I have a little girl who is simply desperate to see you and it might help with how she's feeling with everything that happened? Elliot asked. He hoped that Olivia would agree to this meet up but honestly wasn't sure what she was going to be doing.
Olivia was feeling conflicted as to what she should respond. On one hand she wanted to meet up with him and the twins to see that they were all alright. But on the other hand, she had taken a really good look in the mirror this morning and sure enough, her left eye was still very swollen and very dark with the bruising. It was simply too painful to put any makeup over it and she couldn't think of being seen like this. It would be at least a couple of days before all of this went down and Olivia was sure if the twins saw her now, they would have nightmares. Not to mention that she absolutely hated the thought of Elliot seeing her right now like this. Olivia didn't think she had a suitable excuse to use when she declined Elliot's offer. She just really didn't want to hurt his or the twins feelings in anyway. But she just wasn't sure that going out like this other than when she had to, was really a good idea.
Olivia had spoken with both her dad and Alex on the phone earlier this morning, in regard to the attack she had been through yesterday. Apparently, there was now a video doing the rounds online of what was going on and both had seen it numerous times. Olivia was just glad there was a video out there that showed exactly what Dani did, as they could use it as evidence if she needed to take Dani to court. However. she still felt a little on guard about who could potentially see the video and any repercussions which might occur because of it. Don had spoken a length with Olivia about the attack and made specific attempts to ensure that she was really alright, he'd even offered to come to New York and spend time with her but Olivia didn't want to take her dad away from his farm. It was a challenge to find people to mind the farm when Don did have to go away and the work he did there was really helping the community. Don had retired from the successful business career and sold his business when he was ready to retire but then with the money he had from the sale, he bought the farm. It was just outside of town and had been where Olivia had spent the most time when she was growing up. The farm had now turned into a way for her father to help the local community and the disadvantaged youths of the area by giving them solid work to keep on the straight and narrow path. It was honestly working wonders and Olivia was really proud of Don for everything that he was doing. Not to mention that she and Chloe really loved going to spend time at the farm.
Alex on the other hand, had already booked a flight out to New York before she'd even called Olivia. Alex was not leaving any chance for Olivia to refuse her offer to come out, she knew that Olivia needed her. Alex would be in New York first thing tomorrow morning and Olivia was really excited to see her best friend again as it had been such a long time. The incident with Dani and the things that were said had brought up some really challenging stuff for Olivia. They were things from Olivia's past that no one knew apart from her close friends as they'd been through it all with her. These were things weren't really things that she felt comfortable telling anyone else yet and most importantly she wouldn't tell Elliot. She couldn't let Elliot know about her past, it wasn't something she needed anyone else knowing. So, in a way, Olivia was glad that Alex was coming to visit as Alex had been there through everything with Brian and Olivia could talk with Alex about the attack in specific detail. They could talk about it in a way that Olivia didn't feel like she could with anyone else here in New York.
Olivia: I'm not sure whether I have time. I have several commitments today and my best friend is coming into town tomorrow so I have to get ready for her. Please let Elizabeth know that I'm perfectly fine but if it's not too late when I'm free later, I'll try call and speak with her :) Olivia decided to reply, finally working out the way to politely let Elliot down. She decided that the best way to do it would be to be truthful and explain what she had to do today. Olivia really wasn't sure now she thought about it whether she would have time to meet up with Elliot and the twins in addition to getting everything ready for Alex's stay. Olivia was going to move Chloe's bed into her room whilst Alex was here and then Alex was going to take the spare bed in Chloe's room that Olivia would finish setting up later. Olivia also had to go down to the precinct today to finalise her statement and check that the charges were going to be processed alright for Dani's attack. Dani had been abusive, and she deserved to get the consequences for her actions. Olivia wasn't just going to stand by and let her think this was ok when it really wasn't. But she did mean what she had said to Elliot, she would try and call them later today to check in on everything, if it didn't get too late.
There were very few times Elliot had ever had to step foot in a police station, he normally didn't have any particular reason to step inside. But he kept both Elizabeth and Dickie close by as he did so as he knew there were all kinds of people in this place. Not to mention after everything that had happened yesterday with the attack, the police would want to talk to his kids more than him, to get their side of things. Elliot wouldn't be leaving them whilst they did so, as they were minors and he knew they wouldn't be particularly comfortable without him close by. There was a particularly stale smell in the air as he stepped inside the precinct and felt Elizabeth tighten her grip on his hand as they did. He stepped to the front desk and advised the desk sergeant who they were here to see and what about it.
As the trio made their way to the side to wait for the officer, Elliot spotted a familiar woman walking out from behind the desk with another officer. He knew he would recognise that brown hair and figure of the person anyway, he just never expected that they would be here at the police station at the same time. It was Olivia and Elliot was so glad to see that she was here.
"Olivia" Elliot called out and the woman just turned towards him, her face showing her surprise to see him. Elliot couldn't help but cringe a little at the dark bruise across her cheek and eye. He could tell there was some serious swelling there and how much pain she must be in right now. Elliot felt guilty that this had happened when she was doing him favour and had been at his hotel.
"Miss Benson!" Elizabeth called out and broke free from her father to run towards the other woman who caught the little girl and hugged her close.
"What happened to your eye?" Elizabeth asked, in the typical young child type of method for just asking what they were thinking. Olivia thanked the officer she had walked out with and dismissed him before turning her attention to Elizabeth.
"It's nothing, just a little bit of swelling and a bruise. Now how are you sweetheart?" Olivia asked, playing down how much pain she was in and her embarrassment over being seen out when her eye looked so horrendous.
"You didn't come and say bye after daddy came up yesterday? I didn't see you" Elizabeth stated, clearly concerned for the welfare of the woman.
"I'm sorry sweetheart, I just really had to go and see my daughter and make sure that she was ok. I knew that with your daddy there you would be ok, he could keep you extra safe and I really think he's doing a good job at that" Olivia smiled over at Elliot, knowing that he was not going to let anything else happen to them if he could help it. She knew that yesterday had been a really scary experience for him.
"What are you doing here?" Richard asked, not leaving his fathers side but wanting to talk with Olivia as much as his sister.
"I had to come and talk to the police officers about yesterday, as I had some more information that they really needed. But please excuse me as I need to get going now" Olivia replied, starting to look in the direction of the exit but unsure how she would get away with Elizabeth on her hip like this.
"Where are you going?" Elizabeth asked,
"I have to go home and finish cleaning my house. I have a friend coming to see me tomorrow and I have to finish getting her room ready for her" Olivia explained.
"We can help you! Bertie showed us all about cleaning" Elizabeth tried to suggest which Olivia found a very sweet offer but wasn't going to take her up on it.
"Honey, that's really sweet and thank you for offering but I think you and your daddy have a really important thing to do here"
"Hey guys, why don't you go and sit on those chairs for me? I just need a minute to talk with Miss Benson and then we have to go talk to the nice police man" Elliot spoke up for the first time.
"No!" Elizabeth protested whilst hugging Olivia a little bit tighter, she really didn't want to let the woman go.
"Lizzie, come on sweetheart" Elliot tried to encourage the little girl just to let go and follow what he had asked.
"Nooo, I don't want Miss Benson to go!" Elizabeth tried to protest.
"Honey, your daddy and I will stay right here and I promise I'll make sure to say goodbye before I leave. It'll be ok" Olivia tried to soothe the little girl's concerns. It was clear from the discussion they had already had that the events of yesterday really shook Elizabeth up. Olivia walked over to the seats and sat next to Elizabeth for a moment before she was able to get up and walk back to Elliot without Elizabeth attached to her hip. The little girl could see her the entire time.
A/N: Thoughts? I wanted to write a chapter that kind of shows the continued aftermath to what had happened...I've just written the sweetest chapter for a few chapters time and i must say, everything here is leading up to some rather big moments. I hope you enjoyed this chapter though and i'm so glad to see so many of you loving this story! Let me know what you thought by leaving a review! Believe me when i say, the reviews help me stay motivated to write at times where i may be lacking motivation or inspiration.
Until Next Time ;)
