FIND HER: THE HUNT FOR ROLLINS
Disclaimer: I do not own Law & Order: SVU or its characters. The following work is strictly fan fiction.
Story takes place several months after the Season 22 finale.
Note: There will be trigger warnings including kidnapping, rape, assault, etc. Please read to your own discretion.
Chapter 8: The Search
"722 Rebecca Street," Kat said, reading off of her computer after her Captain relayed the information she was given from Rollins, trying to decode what she sent. "You said burgers, right? Joey's is located at this address, known for their angus burgers."
"Alright, we need everyone canvasing anywhere within a 10-block radius from this address," Olivia announced to the room full of officers. "We believe the suspect; Carl Clinton is holding Detective Rollins somewhere within this vicinity. Based on the information we have; he was in walking distance. Now remember, he is dangerous. Proceed with caution. We want no harm to come to Detective Rollins or any other officer. Keep your eyes open and if you find anything, radio for backup."
She dismissed everyone before heading out herself. She hopped in the squad car with Elliot next to her. She had sent Kat along with Fin, to meet them in the area. Olivia let out a heavy sigh as she looked at Elliot who nodded to her. "We'll get him."
Olivia nodded, she just hoped in time. She was terrified for her detective. Although Amanda seemed level-headed, and conscious of the situation, that didn't mean anything. She knew better than anyone the adrenaline and the will to survive can kick into full gear and mask the truth.
Nearly forty minutes went by, before they heard anything. They had checked with the owner of Joey's who recognized Carl's face but didn't know where he lived. He always ordered take out and always paid in cash so they had no record. It wasn't until she heard a radio in from an officer that they had reason to suspect a house on the corner of the street, only about a five-minute walk north from the restaurant. The officer went to the door and knocked. Receiving no answer, he began to canvas the area, noticing the display of the home to be well cared for but something seemed off. The windows on the front of the house were recently replaced, yet when he walked into the backyard, he noticed boards were put up to block any light into the basement.
Olivia and Elliot were on the scene within minutes. She nodded to Fin and Kat who were already making their way up to the door, the office who had called it in patrolling the back in case. Fin knocked on the door again, "Police, open up."
When no response came, he looked at Olivia who nodded. He kicked the door hard enough that it broke the lock and swung open. He made his way into the house, Kat right behind him. Olivia and Elliot entered as backup, keeping watch. The main level of the house was clear. With that, Fin slowly opened the door to the basement, turning the light on as he made his way down the steps. Elliot and Olivia right behind him. As they got to the bottom of the stairs they looked around, observing three doors. They checked the first two which were clear, before they made their way to the last. Fin glanced at Olivia, seeing a lock on it. She stood ready next to Elliot with their guns ready. Nodding to Fin to break it. He kicked the door, instantly moving as Elliot and Olivia moved in prepared before he followed.
"Clear," Elliot said as he checked the bathroom.
"Oh my god," he turned as he saw Olivia holster her gun and rush to the blonde detective who laid still on the bed, not sure if she was alive. The sound of the door smashing open didn't even make her flinch. With her back to them, they weren't sure if she was even alive. Olivia rushed to the other side of the bed, to see her face.
"Amanda?" Olivia said as she kneeled next to the bed, placing her hand gently on her friend's. Amanda's eyes were open, but she wasn't moving. Olivia wasn't even sure if the blonde knew she was there, she was clearly in shock. Olivia watched as Elliot came closer to her, pulling out a small pocketknife. "Amanda, honey, we're going to cut the rope okay?"
Olivia shifted as Elliot bent down beside her. Gently cutting the knot enough that they could loosen the rope and free her hands. Olivia tried to hold back tears as she held Amanda's hands in hers, seeing how raw her wrists were beneath where the rope hugged. You could see how much she tried to break free, pulling to the point of bruising and cuts. She glanced up at Fin who radioed in for a bus. Just as he called for one, they heard a call come on the radio that Clinton had been spotted.
Elliot glanced at Olivia before he rushed out of the room with Fin to answer the call. Olivia was okay, she had Amanda until the paramedics came. She wanted that bastard caught.
She looked Amanda up and down, trying her best to hold herself together as her detective – her friend – laid before her. Amanda was pale and bruised all over. She had what looked like bite mark along her neck, her wrists red and raw, her arms and forearms were bruised with fingerprints, and her thighs hard large dark marks. She was so pale it was as though she was a canvas, and every print Carl left on her showed like paint. Olivia bit her lip, trying to hold herself together as she gently grabbed the hem of Amanda's dress to hide her thigh and provide her a bit of privacy.
"Shh, it's okay, Amanda – it's me, it's Olivia," she said, as Amanda jumped at her touch. As though it snapped her out of her trance.
"Olivia?" Amanda asked confused, looking around as she tried to sit up. She held onto Olivia's arm as she sat up, not wanting to lay any longer.
"Yes, it's me. I'm here, it's okay," Olivia said. "You're safe."
Olivia wrapped her arms around Amanda as the blonde burst into tears. She rubbed Amanda's back as she cried into her shoulder. When she saw the paramedics show up, she motioned to them to wait a minute until Amanda settled before coming in.
Once they had an initial check to make sure nothing was broken or she hadn't sustained a serious injury that needed immediate attention, they told her they were ready to transport her to the hospital. At first, Amanda stood, insisting she could walk to the ambulance herself. But within a few steps she found her legs went weak. She'd been bound to a bed for days, had little food or water by average standpoints, and suffered physical abuse by her captor. Her body felt so weak, and her legs couldn't support her. She leaned on Olivia and one of the paramedics for support as they helped her up the stairs before they laid her down in a gurney.
"Amanda, I'm going to ride with you okay?" Olivia said as she continued to hold Amanda's hand. The blonde just nodded groggily. Olivia glanced at the paramedics with a bit of concern as she noticed Amanda was struggling to stay conscious. She wasn't sure if it was just exhaustion overcoming her now that her adrenaline was wearing off, or if it was something to be concerned about. "Amanda?"
She watched as Amanda forced her eyes open to look at her and nodded, before she sighed and closed them again. As she headed towards the ambulance, she saw Fin and Elliot standing by a squad car watching her. She heaved a heavy sigh of relief as they nodded to her – they caught him. Thank god. She was going to make him pay for everything he did, she would be sure of it, and she could tell from the look on Fin and Elliot's face that they felt the same way.
But for now, she needed to set her attention on Amanda who needed her. Once the paramedics lifted Amanda's gurney into the ambulance, Olivia climbed in. She took a seat next to her detective and took her hand. She watched as one of the paramedics placed an oxygen mask over her nose and mouth, having noticed Amanda was taking shallow breaths. She watched as they continued to monitor her on the ride to the hospital.
"You okay, Captain?" one of the paramedics asked as she saw Olivia's expression. Olivia nodded to her silently. "Don't worry, she's in good hands."
"I know," she replied, it just didn't make her feel any better.
Olivia looked up at Amanda as she heard her stir in the hospital bed. She had been unconscious for a few hours. Besides the odd twitch or deep sleep sigh, Amanda had been fairly still. When she first arrived to the hospital she had drifted in and out of consciousness. Although the doctor confirmed her oxygen levels to be lower than they'd like to see, they weren't any cause for concern. After checking her over, the doctor had pulled Olivia aside to update her. From her evaluation, she was confident Amanda would make a full physical recovery. She treated the rope burns on her wrists and would be providing bandages to send home with her. She had bite marks on her neck and bruising on her arms and thighs. She also noted that Amanda had vaginal bruising, but no anal trauma. Olivia let out a sight sigh of relief. Having witnessed Amanda's rape herself, she has known there would most likely be some bruising but wasn't sure the extent of her injuries. She was positive based on how Carl responded and how beat up Amanda looked, that it wasn't the only time he placed a hand on her.
"I assume we'll be doing a rape kit?" the doctor had asked her, having been informed before Amanda arrived that she was the detective that had been held against her will. Based on her bruising, it was evident sexual assault had taken place.
"I hope so," Olivia had responded, hoping Amanda would consent. Too many times had Olivia worked with victims who put up a shield and for a variety of reasons chose not to get one. She could do nothing but try her best to convince them to get one while they still could in case they changed their minds. The doctor told Olivia to let her rest and whenever she woke up they could speak to her and perform one when she was ready.
Olivia offered a soft smile as Amanda's eyes slowly opened and her head turned towards Olivia, taking a minute to realize where she was.
"Hi honey," Olivia said gently as she placed her hand on the blonde's forearm. "How're you feeling?"
"Sore," Amanda managed to croak out as she heaved a heavy sigh, trying to readjust herself. She leaned into the pillow and looked at her Captain, drowsily. "Did you get him?"
"We did," Olivia replied. "He's in holding."
Amanda just nodded and closed her eyes for a moment, "Jesse and Billie?"
"They're good. They miss you," Olivia replied. "I was thinking, if you'd like, I can take the girls for few days while you rest."
Amanda paused for a moment before she nodded. As much as she wanted to see her girls she felt physically and emotionally drained. She didn't want them to see her like this. She could put on a face for a short while but she wouldn't be able to handle the energy of two little ones tonight, "sure… do you know when I can leave? I just want to go home and shower."
"Uh, well, I did ask," Olivia responded. She knew Amanda well, and that as soon as she was able to, she'd be asking when she could be discharged. Olivia understood - no one liked hospitals. And after what Amanda went through, having to stay put somewhere other than her home would be uncomfortable. Olivia, herself, knew the feeling. After she managed to get away from Lewis the last place she wanted to be was at the hospital. Unfortunately, the place she had once thought was safe was taken from her too. Lewis had invaded her home, and took her comfort from her, making her healing process that much harder. Amanda had that one advantage. Her home was still her home. Carl had not been there; she had suffered no trauma there. It was a place she could go, lock the door and feel secure. "They said once you wake up they'd want to give you a check over and if everything looks okay you can be discharged, on the condition someone signs for you and stays with you for the next 72 hours."
Amanda shook her head, looking away. Olivia could tell that wasn't what she wanted to hear but it was better than being confined to a hospital bed. Besides, between any medication they might prescribe her and the trauma she went through it was better safe than sorry.
"Carisi said that-"
"No," Amanda cut her off without even looking at her. "I don't want to see him."
"Amanda," Olivia began, "he cares about you and this doesn't-"
"I said no," Amanda snapped, still refusing to look at her.
"Okay," Olivia responded, softly and cautiously. She just nodded and sat there for a few moments in silence. Amanda just stared at the wall aimlessly. She remained quiet. Olivia watched as she fiddled with her hospital bracelet, her hands shaking as she did so. The silence in the room make it easy for Olivia to hear the change in Amanda's breathing. Her breath was quickened, shaky. She leaned slightly to the right, to see if she could get a glance of Amanda's face. Her eyebrows were creased and her eyes shifting back and forth as if she were replaying something in her mind. Whatever it was, it was causing her distress. Olivia snapped her out of her trance by touching her arm. She waited a minute before she spoke again. "Amanda?"
Finally, the blonde turned to look at her, acting as if nothing had happened as if she hadn't been momentarily lost.
"Would you like me to sign the release papers?"
"What?"
"You need someone to sign for you, to stay with you. It's the condition for your discharge," Olivia responded, watching Amanda's face for a reaction. "Noah has overnight camp starting tomorrow. I can have Lucy stay tonight and see him off tomorrow."
"That isn't fair to him."
"He'll understand," Olivia said. As much as she wanted to be with Noah on his last night before he went on his first big two week trip to camp, she knew Amanda needed someone to be with her. Noah was so compassionate and understanding, and he cared for his Aunt so much, Olivia had no doubt he would be okay. She would make it up to him when he got back. Besides, he had bugged her so much to go to this camp he'd been raving about it for weeks. An overnight camp complete with cabins, swimming, and tons of arts programs. Several of his dance classmates were going and he was counting down the days. For all she knew he wouldn't even notice she was gone an extra night. She frowned as she watched Amanda stare at her. There was something else Amanda wasn't saying. "Amanda, what is it?"
"Nothing," she said as her eyes trailed down to her lap.
"Amanda, it's okay," Olivia responded, offering a soft look of compassion. She watched as the blonde looked at her for a moment then looked away, as if she couldn't hold her gaze. "Amanda?"
"I'm sorry, I just-" she wiped her eyes as she tried to hold back the tears that were forming.
"No, there's nothing to be sorry about. I just want to make sure you're okay."
"I just, I don't know how to- um-," Amanda tried to get out, fumbling her words, trying to avoid eye contact.
"Amanda, it's okay. Just look at me. What is it?"
"It's that," Amanda trembled as she tried to take a breath and steady herself, "I don't know how to look at you right now."
Olivia stayed silent for a moment and nodded. She watched as Amanda wiped the tears from her face with her trembling hand. She took the tissue Olivia handed her and blew her nose. Olivia understood the emotions running through Amanda. The need to be strong, the want to be able to keep herself together. She'd seen the shame victims went through after an attack. The mourning, the self-blame. Olivia experienced herself on more than one occasion. Asking herself, what if? The fear that if she fell apart others would view her differently. The fact was, none of what she went through was her fault and no one was looking at her differently. The same thing went for Amanda and Olivia wanted her to see that.
"Amanda, I understand. With Lewis-"
"Do you? Because no one watched you get-" Amanda stopped herself. "I'm sorry, Liv."
"No, don't be. You're right," Olivia responded. "But please know, I am not looking at you any differently. You are the same Amanda I know and love, what happened to you does not change that."
"The rest of the squad-"
"No one else saw," Olivia cut her off, watching Amanda's eyes widen and her breathing tremble with a hint of relief. "Just me. And it changes nothing, do you understand? Not a single thing."
She took Amanda's hand, and nodded as she did, squeezing back tightly.