SAINT BARTHOLOMEW HOSPITAL

GENERAL CARE UNIT

1224 MAIN STREET

GREAT KILLS, RICHMOND COUNTY, STATEN ISLAND


Director Greenfield met Olivia, Casey, Maisie, and Kathleen in the main lobby at the hospital. She led them into a conference room for privacy.

"Who is who, please?" she asked when everyone had settled at the main table.

"I'm Lieutenant Benson." Olivia pointed to herself and then indicated the people with her in turn. "We have have ADA Casey Novak, as well as the wives of Mister Langan and Mister McFadden, Maisie and Kathleen."

"Understood. I'm sorry we're meeting under unpleasant circumstances." Greenfield turned to Casey. "I don't mean to be untoward, councilor, but why are you here?"

"I was already with Lieutenant Benson when you called Missus Langan. She requested I come along because she believes in covering her bases."

"That, I do." Olivia confirmed. "How did Mister Langan and Mister McFadden find themselves all the way out here? One was in Manhattan. The other was in Queens."

"We're still trying to figure that out," the director confessed. "Because the EMTs responded to two men found unconscious in the park, like they'd been dumped there."

Kathleen and Maisie stared in shock. At the arched eyebrow from Olivia, Greenfield hurried on.

"I am sorry to report that when we found Mister Langan, one of his arms was broken."

It was all Maisie could do not to wilt when she heard this. "Oh, my God. We have two kids under five. Does my husband need surgery to correct the break?"

"No, m'am." said Greenfield. "His arm should have been set in a cast by now."

"Okay." Maisie sounded like she was talking herself into not panicking. "Where is he?"

"In the general care unit. We can bring you to him soon." Greenfield turned to Kathleen. "Your husband, however, has a concussion. I strongly recommend keeping him here overnight for monitoring."

This development didn't bode well with Kathleen. "Is there any way to transfer Zacharias to the main hospital in Queens? Our home is over an hour away, and we also have small kids."

Greenfield answered with complete patience. "That is very much in the realm of possibility. We can start that process shortly. I imagine that you would like to see him now?"

Kathleen gave a nod. "Yes, please. Which way?"

Greenfield opened the conference room door at this point, motioning for them to follow her. It would be something of a walk.

Olivia and Casey left the McFaddens to their own devices while they reunited. As they needed to speak with Trevor, they watched this reunion. From a distance.

Trevor was in the standard unflattering hospital garb. There was also a blanket pulled up to his waist as he lay in bed. One wrist was also tagged with a hospital ID bracelet. Another small blessing was that Trevor wasn't hooked up to an external oxygen system. If anything, he'd just had a hard wipe-out.

Maisie sat close to her husband. "Trev, how are you—besides the obvious? I was really worried."

The councilor glanced at his right arm. It had been broken in a fight, protecting Alex Cabot, of all people. The injury had also just been set cushioning gauze and white plaster. Now he was trying to get used to the extra weight.

Trevor kissed her. "Maze, all things considered, I'm fine. Where are the kids?

"Daycare. They don't know that anything is wrong at all."

"Good. And Harper? She said something last night about hanging out with you this morning."

"She's at Olivia's precinct."

"Excuse me?" Trevor bleated in surprise.

"It's true and I'll explain, but—"

Trevor sat up straight. "Is Olivia here? Is that how you figured out where I was?"

"Yes to both. Casey Novak is also here."

At this point, Trevor was bewildered. "What is going on?"

Olivia finally spoke. "That's what we want to know."

Both Langans turned to see Olivia and Casey enter the room as a flurry of activity happened in another part of the hallway.

Maisie pointed. "Is that hullabaloo about Zacharias?"

"Uh-huh." said Casey. "He's being moved to the main hospital in Queens, and Kathleen is going with him."

"Excellent."

Olivia strolled closer to the bed. "Trevor, what's your status?"

"I don't have a concussion." Trevor answered. "Other than what's happening with my arm, I really am fine. My doctor even said I can be released soon."

"Perfect. Can we talk?"

Maisie suddenly felt awkward. "Should I go?"

"That's up to Trevor."

"You can stay, Maze." he told her. "It's okay."

She nodded. "Alright. Thank you."

Trevor gave his wife's hands a gentle squeeze and then pointed to the chairs beside the bed. "Please have a seat."

"What's the last thing you remember?" Olivia asked as she and Casey sat down.

"What do you know?" Trevor asked.

"Maisie told us about how you spent the night at the hotel when the party was over. She said you sometimes rent a room in the city if your caseload is very steep?"

"Yes, but I don't do it as often because we're parents now."

Olivia was already taking notes. "Maisie began to worry when she didn't hear from you this morning. She searched me out, out of instinct."

"Hers has always been on the money." Trevor said with pride. "Where is Harper? At the precinct?"

"Yes—she was hanging out with Maisie, so she came in with her. My sister technically told me about you being MIA first. Judge Donnelley showed up a little while after Zacharias McFadden's wife did."

Trevor took this update in stride. "Okay, but what did the judge want?"

"She was looking for you because she sets a lot of store by your punctuality."

Casey chimed in, "She was concerned because she was supposed to have a meeting with you and Alex. Elizabeth made come along because she wanted to keep tabs on me."

"Sounds about right. The meeting Alex and I had with her wasn't SVU-related. She just wanted our opinion on something." recalled Trevor. "I ran into Alex at Chung's bodega, over by the courthouse."

"I know that place." Olivia said suddenly. "Alex loves it because it has a number of her pregnancy craving items that neither she—nor I, for that matter—can find anywhere else."

"Why did you go?" Casey asked.

"I was looking to get flowers for Maisie." answered Trevor. "Sending her blooms is a little something I like to do whenever I have to spend the night away from her."

"It's true." Maisie said. "I married a gentleman."

"Alex was in front of me at the register," Trevor went on. "And since we were going to the same place, we walked together. It wasn't all that far."

"Yeah." Olivia nodded. "Not even half a block."

"We were by the alley between Rosenthal's and the pet store, when these guys pulled up in a van. They made to jump her. Even if Alex wasn't pregnant, I still would have protected her like I did. She's my friend."

"Thank you, Trevor. You're so kind." Olivia said sincerely. "Do you remember anything about the men?"

"There were two of them. One even seemed to know Alex." he said after a moment of thinking. "Have I gotten involved in one of the SVU's 'misadventures' again? Like the time you had the flu?"

Olivia would have laughed if the situation were anything other than what it was. The confused look on Maisie's face alone was worth it. But she stayed composed. This was a serious matter.

"Yes, unfortunately." she said. "We're pressing you because we can't find Alex at all."

Trevor blanched. "Oh God."

"We didn't know about any of this until it was I didn't about anything until Maisie, the judge, and Missus McFadden things to our attention." Olivia said swiftly before Olivia could start jumping to conclusions. "What else can you remember about the men in the alley?"

"One had a jagged cut on his chin… and a snake tattoo on his arm. He might have been the one who pushed me."

"Very good." Olivia praised. "Can you recall how you got to the park?"

"I beg your pardon?" Trevor said in a tone of polite confusion.

Maisie glanced at her husband in concern. "You and Alex were last seen in Manhattan. We're at Saint Bartholomew Hospital on Staten Island, in the Great Kills area."

"Guess I missed that memo..."

"Well," Olivia tried. "What do you remember about how you and Zacharias got here? You guys were found in a park about a mile away."

This was news to Trevor. "We were? My arm hurt so bad that I think I blanked out, but at least I'm on morphine right now. Sorry I can't recall more than that."

"You've been a tremendous help."

Trevor furrowed his brow. "But we still don't know where Alex is…"

"And we will find her. Can you remember enough about what happened at the alley to talk about it at my precinct?"

"Yes. Anything to help."

The lieutenant stood, and Casey promptly followed suit. "We're going to go find your doctor to ask about getting you out of here. What's their name?"

"Browning. I think her first name is Molly."

"Got it. We'll be back soon."

"Thanks."

When they were around the corner, and well out of earshot of the Langans, Olivia let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. All she wanted to do was hide in a corner and cry.

But Casey was patient with her. "Your wife-to-be is a survivor, Olivia. Just like you. Just like me. Diana, too."

Olivia's heart flipped over as she thought of her daughter for the umpteenth time since they'd caught the case already over an hour ago. "That little girl is very acrobatic. I felt her kick me this morning. Alex also tells me that Diana jumps even more when she hears me sing."

"Then just think about how she's going to be when she and Alex are back in your arms."

"Diana will probably be jumping for joy..." Olivia mused.

"Because she loves her mama so much, and she knows your voice."

Olivia thought of the rest of her children. "Sophia might freak out because they're very close. Noah just won't get it. What am I going to do about that?"

"I will handle Sophia. You can cuddle Noah. Maybe give him kisses and say they're from his other mama." suggested Casey. "Perhaps give him something that smells like her?"

Olivia looked at the younger woman, impressed against her will. "Good advice. How...?"

"My brother and sisters apparently used that trick on me while the babysat me as a baby. They like to remind me that I was a nightmare about separation anxiety." Casey said. "I've also had to use that trick on my baby sisters. And my older siblings have a boatload of kids between them."

"Wow." Olivia said in wonder. "I really have to pick your brain about some stuff..."

"And I'm looking forward to that." Casey offered Olivia a small smile. "You can tell Alex about how much you love her when this is all said and done. She's always known that, but I'm sure she won't mind hearing it again."

Olivia let out another breath. "You're correct, and… hmm…"

Just for a moment, Olivia entertained the thought of asking Alex if she wanted to do a courthouse wedding. They were engaged, true enough, but when it came to the two of them, they weren't big on over-the-top to-dos. Maybe a wedding was closer on the horizon than she thought.

"Yes?" Casey prompted, bringing her back down to earth.

"It's just a private thought." Olivia said. "Nothing to do with any of this."

"As long as you're sure."

"I am. And thanks, Case."

"Any time, Liv."

"Come on." Olivia tugged her companion's jacket sleeve. "Let's go see if we can locate Doctor Browning."

She and Casey made a speedy exit.

The closer they could get to jogging Trevor's memory, the closer they were to finding Alex.