MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL
365 WEST 32nd STREET
MANHATTAN
8:15 PM
Harper hated hospitals. She always had.
After her mother died, she'd been abandoned at a few hospitals throughout Manhattan by different sets of neglectful foster parents—and sometimes with injuries—but the driving force for her current dislike was that her husband had died in a hospital, without a chance to go home. So, naturally, she wasn't jazzed about spending the night in the hospital where she had lost her husband, but since it was for hers and her son's health, she put up with it.
Harper was also expecting a visit from Olivia, Alex, and baby Serena that following morning, so she was quite surprised when two new visitors show up first.
It started with a knock at the door.
"Come in!" she called.
The door opened to reveal Doctor Larom. She had left only a little while ago to process Harper's newly-signed discharge papers, and now she was back, although Harper couldn't imagine why. She, herself, was back in her street clothes, and on only an oxygen line, having been told that she had to stay on it until after her visitors had come to call.
Larom looked like she wanted to say something, but stopped when she noticed that Harper was sitting up, and methodically massaging and prodding her big belly.
"Are you okay, Harper?"
"Oh, yes." Harper reassured her. "Xander just woke up, and he isn't happy that mama is confined to a bed."
Harper gave the physician a smile.
"What's up, though? A hiccup with getting me discharged?"
"No, nothing of the sort. Everything went through—just let me know when you leave." Larom said. "You've got visitors."
"My sister and Alex?"
"Friends of the lieutenant and Miss Cabot, actually: Judge Elizabeth Donnelley, and Trevor Langan. He's a lawyer who knows your sister and her colleagues very well."
Harper was very surprised to have two such important people calling on her, but she sat up a little straighter at the mention of Trevor. He was, after all, to be her boss quite soon.
"Please let them in."
Doctor Larom did so, and closed the door behind the newcomers. They were dressed for the cold outside, and Trevor was even carrying two a flower arrangement, and a gift basket presents, meant for cheering her up. This was going to be interesting.
Moving forward while Trevor got everything sorted, the judge introduced herself.
"Harper, I'm Judge Elizabeth Donnelley, and I have a long history with both your sister, and Miss Cabot."
"How do you do?" Harper said politely as they shook hands. "How did you know I was here? The grapevine?"
"Yes." the older woman confirmed. "I wanted to come say hello, and to let you know that if you ever need anything, just call me."
Harper was moved by her generosity and thanked her, before moving on to her companion, who had set the gifts out on her bedside table.
"And you're Trevor Langan, right?" she said to him.
He nodded and they shook hands. "Yes, and I have a long history with your sister and the SVU, too. But that's more for her to tell."
"Nevertheless, it's nice to meet you. I just wish it could have been under better circumstances, when I was more on my feet."
"Don't worry about it, Harper." Trevor said. "Just think of it as the start of being friends."
"Alright." Harper agreed. "That works."
"What's happening?" the judge asked, inserting herself into the conversation.
"Harper did clerical work for Absolom Briggs, over at Briggs & Raglan, for seven years." Trevor told her.
"Wow." Donnelley was clearly impressed. "Absolom just retired, didn't he?"
"Yes, and Harper is currently on bereavement leave because she lost her husband recently, but Absolom arranged for her to come work for me when it's over, since Amy is moving to Texas."
Amy was Trevor's current secretary.
Donnelley sighed. "Leave it to you and the SVU to always keep me on my toes…"
Noticing the flowers and things, Harper pointed to them. "These are for me?"
"Yes. Here you go." Trevor moved the new things within Harper's reach when he saw that her oxygen line was limiting her range of motion. "The judge and I ran into each other downstairs in the gift shop downstairs, and then we decided to come up here together."
"I'm glad you came because I love to make new friends." Harper inhaled the scent of the blooms, and examined the stuffed animals and trinkets attached to the gift basket. "And thank you for everything. I really appreciate it, and I think Xander likes the flower smells because he's calmer than he was a few minutes ago."
"I'm gl—"
Anything further from Trevor was cut off by a new voice—one of puzzlement.
"Trevor? Judge Donnelley? What are you two doing here?"
Olivia had arrived with Alex and Serena. The baby was dressed warmly for the crisp November weather, and secured in her new carseat. She was also surprisingly patient when Olivia set her down so she and Alex could take their things off and hang them on the coatrack beside the door. Serena was cooing and stretching happily a few minutes later when she was in Olivia's arms.
"We ran into each other at the gift shop, and when we realized we were both on our way to see the same person, we came up here together." Trevor looked at Olivia, curious. "Why didn't you ever say anything about a sister?"
"I honestly didn't know until everything that just went down, concerning Bella Carisi, one of my detective's older sisters. Did you hear about it?"
"Yes."
Olivia indicated Harper. "My sister escaped, and I met her here, for the first time, in this hospital. We started connecting the dots after that."
"Got it." Trevor said in understanding.
Alex chimed in, her own train of thought well in motion. "Trevor, does Harper work for you, or something?"
"Technically, no, but she will be soon."
Alex made a humming noise and then turned to her boss. The judge had an answer immediately.
"I heard about Harper through the grapevine, and I have a child about her age." In turn, she arched an eyebrow at Alex and Olivia. "Are you two satisfied?"
"Yes." they said in unison.
"Good."
Surprising everyone, Donnelley turned bright and sunny. She was even smiling outside of her usual 'the cat ate the canary' fashion. It was warm… and maternal. This was a side of Elizabeth Donnelley that only her husband and children saw.
She indicated the baby, who was watching the scene from Olivia's arms.
"Is this dear little one Serena?"
The baby recognized her name, but when she looked around, she saw Harper first, and immediately made it known that she wanted to be with her. Chuckling, Harper took her niece in her arms and began rocking her gently. Serena turned to putty.
"Yep, this is our Serena." Harper kissed one of her hands. "She knows me and likes me because Dana let me hold her a lot when we were in the warehouse."
The baby giggled when Xander began kicking and elbowing her. Harper gave Serena another kiss, and looked to the others.
"What happens now? Has my niece been made a Benson yet?"
"She hasn't." Olivia said. "Coincidentally, Alex and I were going to meet with Trevor and the judge later to do just that."
The adjudicator gave a small cough. "Please, Olivia—off the clock, it's Elizabeth, and unless Mister Langan has put your daughter's paper elsewhere, there's no reason we can't do this now."
Trevor pointed to his briefcase, atop a counter next to the door. "Everything is in there. I'm ready whenever everyone else is."
Olivia and Alex looked at each other, and then at Serena. She was currently enamored with Harper, and telling her a story. Serena was kicking her legs and laughing up a storm (Olivia suspected that Serena had never laughed so hard in her life before). She was very happy and enthusiastic, a far cry from her mood when Sophia had found her behind the flower shop. The sight of her so happy was all the confirmation that Olivia and Alex needed.
"Let's do it."
The initial adoption process didn't take too long at all, and Harper was even able to sign as a witness to the event. When it was done, and pictures had been had, and the other visitors left, Alex approached Harper's bed.
She deposited a bag from a local maternity boutique down in front of her. "We had to guess your sizes, but we bought you a new outfit, and some warm shoes."
Harper lit up. "That's really nice! Thanks!"
"And," Olivia added. "We would love to take you to breakfast—on us! Have you eaten?"
Right on cue, Xander kicked his mother with both feet. Harper blew out a breath and massaged the spot.
"I haven't eaten yet, no, but that's just because I can barely handle hospital food."
"That's the case for most people." Olivia laughed. "Have you done your discharge papers yet?"
"Uh-huh. Breakfast with my family sounds wonderful."
Alex lifted Serena out of Harper's arms and spoke to her fiancée. "Come on, Via. Let's wait for her in the hallway."
"Stay, please, Olivia." Harper said quickly. "I need help."
Harboring no objections, Alex left with Serena. Olivia closed all the blinds and sat with Harper again.
"What do you need help with first? Your shirt?"
"Yes, please."
With some tricky maneuvering, Olivia helped Harper take off her shirt and reinsert her nasal oxygen tube. Harper still bore some bruises from her assault, but Olivia still found her beautiful, and not just because they were sisters. Harper was radiant.
"Olivia," Harper said softly. "Look."
She pointed to her gigantic seven-month belly. It looked like it was moving of its own accord, and Olivia could clearly see Xander's arms and legs moving against Harper's bare skin.
"That's incredible." Olivia said softly. "Sophia wiggled almost nonstop in my belly when she realized he had arms and legs, and it got to be so much that at one point, I thought there were two babies in there. Now she's the one carrying two babies. How's that for irony?"
Harper laid one of Olivia's hands on her middle, and it was just in time to feel Xander turn over completely and press a hand against hers.
"When you carried Sophia," Harper wanted to know. "Were you as big as I am now?"
Olivia sat back and gave her a look of amusement. "Harper, you look radiant. What was it that you wanted to show me?"
Harper set her right foot in Olivia's lap. "One is on my foot. Take my sock off?"
"Alright. Oh… what's this?"
Wrapping around Harper's right ankle was a tattoo of a metallic beaded chain, at at the end of which, on her foot, was a set of dog tags. They bore the name of the elder Xander, along with a few other pieces of critical information, and the last line informed the reader that he had been of the Irish Catholic denomination.
Olivia looked at Harper again. "These are dog tags, and they're Xander's?"
Harper sat cross-legged and nodded. "He was in the Marine Corps."
"Wow."
Harper smiled at Olivia. "He was very proud, and he enlisted in the first place to have school paid for, but then he liked it so much that he did another tour as soon as he could. By the time he died, though, he was already retired with an honorable discharge."
"Wow." Olivia said again. "Did you get the tattoo to remember him?"
"Yes. I got it just before he deployed for the first time, and he was buried with his. At the funeral, his friend, Private First Class Zacharias McFadden, gave me a set that he'd had copied for me."
Zacharias McFadden? Olivia thought. Wasn't that the name of Kathleen's husband?
Olivia barely missed Harper showing her something else.
"These are the ones that Zacharias gave me." she said, showing her the dog tags she was wearing around her neck. "Junior is going to get them when he's older."
"They're very nice." Olivia said said. "Any more tattoos?"
"Yes." Harper pointed to her left shoulder. "On the other side, here, it says 'MARINE WIFE.' And there's this."
Harper showed Olivia her left wrist. In delicate script with rainbow ink was the phrase 'SEMPER FIDELIS.'
"That means 'always faithful' in English, and it's the slogan of the Marines." Olivia remarked. "Obviously, you're proud that Xander was USMC, but there's more to it that that, huh?"
"Correct." Harper admitted. "I was going to join up, too, but then I got disqualified."
"History of seizures?" Olivia guessed.
"Yes, and then I had one, the week before his first deployment." Harper sighed as she dashed away the memories. "I recovered before he left, and the night before he did, we got matching ink. Here."
Below the Semper Fidelis tattoo, there was a line of Roman numerals with dashes between them.
"VI, XX, MMX." Olivia read aloud, and then did some quick math. "June 10, 2010?"
"Mine and Xander's wedding anniversary." Harper elaborated. "I'm just thankful and grateful that we made it to lucky number seven and made a baby because we really wanted kids. Now…"
Harper's voice wobbled, and it suddenly dawned on Olivia why her sister had asked her to stay.
"Now," Harper tried again, even closer to losing it. "I'm going to be alone!"
She burst into tears.
Olivia had expected this, but maybe because this was her sister, and she was in such a vulnerable position, her heart ached for her a little more. She waited for Harper to calm down before she moved closer.
"You and Xander are not going to be alone." she told her. "It sounds like you have connections through the Corps, but you've also got me and Alex, and Sophia and Casey, and even Trevor and Judge Donnelley. I'll introduce you to the rest of my squad whenever you want, but I can assure you that everyone will adore you, and they'll have yours and Xander's back, too."
Harper's tone was tentative. "Are you sure?"
"Positive. The squad is proof that there's more than one kind of family, and we all love each other like that. We may be a little unconventional, but we're still a family, and you and Xander are part of it." Olivia patted her sister affectionately on the knee. "What do you need right now"
"A hug." Harper decided. "Will you hold me?"
"Of course." Olivia moved so that she was beside her sister, and then she pulled her into a warm hug. "We don't have to go anywhere for as long as you want."
And so, they stayed.
