Crackers, she thought. She rifled through her kitchen cupboards and dug out a half-eaten box of soda crackers. They didn't get rid of the acidic, metallic taste in her mouth right away. She sat down at the table and placed a hand on her abdomen to see if it felt different. It felt slightly heavier. She knew she had to go to work, but seeing Elliot was the last thing she wanted.
We investigate sex crimes and we didn't even think beforehand, for God's sake.
She didn't know if she should tell him.
If it comes out, it comes out, she surmised, but I don't want to force him into a relationship if he doesn't want to. You're getting ahead of yourself. See your doctor. Find out for sure.
She picked up the phone and called in to work.
"Hi, Captain? It's Olivia. I'm not feeling too well, do you need me right away?.......No, it's not serious.....I'm just going to see my Doctor.......Thanks. Bye."
**********
"Yes. You are most definitely pregnant. Does the father know?" Dr. Jacobs said. Olivia shook her head, a pained expression on her face. "Have you decided what you're going to do?" Olivia began to cry again, her shoulders shaking gently.
"I can't keep it," she managed to make out between sobs.
"Are you absolutely sure?" Dr. Jacobs asked.
"No," Olivia said, "It's just that....it wasn't planned. If I had this baby by myself.....wouldn't that be the same thing that happened to me?" She sniffed, blowing her nose.
"Olivia, I'm going to make you an appointment for an abortion. Best to get it done quickly," Jacobs said. Olivia nodded. It was too late for the morning-after pill and she couldn't leave this child alone knowing that it's mother didn't want it. The doctor picked up the phone and chatted while Olivia struggled to regain composure. Jacobs hung up.
"That was lucky. You're in with Dr. Pauls on Thursday morning. He had a cancellation. That's three days from now. Can you make it?"
"Sure."
"If you drop by her some time tomorrow, I can get you the information and forms."
**********
Elliot stood up from his desk and approached Olivia when she came in.
"Hey. Are you all right? The Captain said you were sick," he said, touching her arm.
"Yeah. Ear infection," she lied.
"Oh. I won't hug you then," he said, "Don't want to make you dizzy."
That's a convenient excuse, she thought.
She nodded and he studied her face.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah."
She forced a smile before heading back to her desk. He sat down across from her and leaned forward on his elbows.
"What are you working on?" She asked.
"I'm supposed to be filing a report so Mr. Naswell can claim his insurance, but I'm going through Kathryn MacKenzie's family's financials," he said. He was staring into her eyes and she wondered if she had been wrong.
"I'll do the insurance report," she offered, "Find out if someone paid for an abortion."
"You sure?" Elliot said.
"Yeah." Maybe the last few days could be attributed to a mood swing of his. She leaned forward and moved her leg so it gently nudged his, testing him. He yanked his leg away and caught the surprise on her face. She pretended it was an accident and quickly busied herself with the report.
After a while, Elliot pushed a paper across the desk to Olivia.
"Take a look at this," he said, "Her parents have monthly payments to her medical plan, all equal increments, but this month is twice as much."
"Maybe her mother got an X-ray," Olivia offered.
"Maybe the father paid for her abortion," Elliot said. He leaned back, putting his hands behind his head. "Why'd you think she decided not to keep it?" Olivia swallowed.
"It wasn't planned," she said nonchalantly.
"Her fault," he shrugged. Olivia looked at him incredulously.
"Her fault?! What about the boyfriend?" She exclaimed.
"Of course he's responsible, too," Elliot said, puzzled at her reaction.
"Besides," Olivia said, "She's a teenager. School's like a full-time job. Maybe she didn't want to screw up her life." She knew she sounded overly defensive.
"Well it's pretty well screwed up now."