title: Next of Kin

author: SVUFanatic611

rating: PG

a/n: I would like to thank all those who have reveiwed so far. AthleticCharmedOne, HR Puffnstuff, Boscosbabe55 (I think I can add some E/O paring, just for you!), Scarlett O' Hara (saying 'really' is a bad habit of mine. sorry, i hope u can forgive me! tee hee!), Pendray, Siriusblack1007. Thanx a bunch!

disclaimer: they aint mine!

---

"You can't just take off to New York!" said Joe, a close friend of Corrine's dad. He and his wife, Anna, were the assumed 'next of kin' for Corrine. Corrine knew them practically her whole life.

"Why not?" Corrine said, packing some stuff into her bag.

"You just can't! You barely know this woman. What's her name? Opal?"

"It's Olivia, and you're right, I barely know this woman, but my dad knew and loved her and I always trusted his judgment."

"Well, his judgment was clouded the last few months."

"Stop…don't do that!"

"Stop what?"

"Look, he wanted to take that case against the mob boss, you know that."

"And that's what got him killed."

"Well, I'm pretty sure Olivia's not going to kill me."

"You never know."

"Yes! Yes I do know! She was obviously important enough in my dad's life to have him put her as my next guardian. I'm positive he wouldn't leave me with a murderer!"

"The question of whether or not she is a murderer is not an issue."

"Well, what is the issue? I'm going to New York for a few days, get over it! And, you never know, she might not want to take me in, meaning I'm going to be with you and Anna."

Corrine finished packing and headed out the door when Joe spoke up.

"Please don't go…you've been hurt enough lately and I just don't want you out there by yourself."

Corrine ignored him until a moment of realization came to her.

"I know what this is about…"

"What are you talking about?"

"This whole thing…you can't stand the fact that my dad didn't want me to live with you guys. Listen, she may not even be able to take me in, so I'll come and live with you in Chicago."

"I just want you to know you always have a home with me."

"I do, but I need to clear things up with Olivia, hence the trip to New York."

"There's this new invention called a phone; always got the job done for me."

"Some things just shouldn't be done over the phone."

"Just promise me you'll keep yourself safe."

"I promise and if there's one thing my dad constantly told me, it was to keep my word."

"Good luck, call me when you get there."

"Okay!" Corrine yelled back as she went down the stairs and off to the airport.

As she was driving, a million thoughts were going through her mind. "Is Joe right? Should I go even go to New York? But, I've already set it up. Maybe this is a bad idea. Maybe I should live with Anna and Joe. But, I can't just leave Olivia hanging. But, maybe she doesn't want to meet me. Corrine, quit putting her down, you haven't even met her. Your dad loved her at one point. You gotta give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe she wants you. Who knows." Corrine continued to think, hoping that this trip would answer some questions.

---

The Next Day

Olivia entered the bullpen and without stopping to say hello to anybody, and went straight to the Captain's office. She knocked on the door, not knowing what she was going to say, how she was going to say it, or how he was going to take it.

"Captain, do you have a minute?"

"For you, Olivia, I have many minutes." The Captain said, in his most charming voice.

She closed the door behind her and began, "Captain, I need to take the next week off."

"Not that you don't deserve it, Olivia, but why?"

"Captain, it's sort of personal. I just can't juggle work while working this thing out."

"Care to share?"

Olivia sat down in a chair in front of her boss's desk and began to tell everything.

"Capt', I was left as the next guardian for an old friend's kid without my knowing. Well, that friend is gone now, and I might have to take her in."

"Do you want to?"

Olivia hated, but yet liked, how he did that. He inquired about everything anybody told him. Some people thought it was just to get further information about the situation, but the few, like Olivia and Elliot, who had had these talks more often than others, knew better. They knew that his inquiry wasn't for himself, but for the person to whom he was talking. It helped them understand their own situation better.

"I don't know. It's been quite a while since I've seen this kid. The last memory I have of her is when she was 3. I was pushing her on a swing in her backyard at a barbeque Walter invited me to."

"Well, just meet the kid. I'm sure she's much older than three now, and then follow your heart from there. I've never questioned your judgment, Olivia. I wouldn't start now…As for the next week off, finish off your paperwork on the Simmons case and you can go. My best to you."

"Thanks, Capt'."

Olivia, relieved, walked out to her desk to start the paperwork.

"What was that about?" Elliot asked.

"Nothing, I just need some time off."

"For what?"

"Maybe it's just none of your business." She said, giving him a slight grin.

Elliot acted as if he were getting a cup of coffee and got up out his chair. He went over to Olivia and whispered in her ear.

"Will you tell me when you're ready?"

She grinned, nodded and then sat down to begin her paperwork.

After hours of filling out interminable paperwork, Olivia looked at the clock: 10:47am.

"Hey, Munch, I'm going to go out to get some coffee, can you catch if anyone comes in?"

"Sure, only if you get me a small, decaf."

"Okay, thanks."

---

Corrine's flight had landed at 10:30. She had rented a car and made her way to Olivia's apartment. She knocked on the door, but nobody answered.

"Olivia, it's me, Corrine." She said through the door, but, still, nobody answered.

Corrine wondered what to do. "Should I just go and come back later? Should I just stay here? Should I go to her work? She works at the 1-6 precinct. I remember her telling me about that. Should I go there? What will she say if I do? Oh God, Corrine, stop being such a baby! Just go, how else are you going to find her? And, besides, if she really didn't want you to go, she wouldn't have told you."

Corrine made her way to the precinct, surprisingly, without any trouble. And as she walked into the bullpen, she saw the four desks and how busy it was. She just stood in the doorway in awe.

"Can I help you with something?" Munch asked, as he stepped up to the young woman.

"Yeah, can I see Olivia Benson?"

"Well, she stepped out for a moment, but you can wait for her in the interview room right over there for her. And your name is…?"

"Corrine, Corrine Johnson."

"Alright, Corrine, I'll tell her where you are when she gets back."

"Thank you."

Corrine made her way to the interview and sat down.

Olivia walked in at 11:00 with two cups of coffee in her hand.

"Ahh, the coffee queen, thank God you're here!"

"I would love to have that welcome every morning." Olivia said, smiling.

"Keep bringing me coffee, and you got it! Oh yeah…there's some girl named Corrine here to see you. I sent her to the interview room."

"Corrine? She's here?"

"Yeah, why is she someone important?"

"Umm…well, I just gotta talk to her. In the interview room?"

"Yeah…Olivia, what is this all about?" Munch said as Olivia walked toward the room.

"Elliot, do you know what's going on?"

"No idea…" Elliot said as both he and Munch stared off into Olivia's direction, trying to sneak a peak at what was going on.

Olivia's stomach was in her throat. Before, she had time to plan out what she was going to say to this girl, how she was going to approach her, but now, all that seemed useless. She forgot it all. She walked in and saw not a girl, but a young woman. Yet, she still had that soul of a three year old. She still reminded Olivia of that little girl.

"Corrine?" Olivia asked.

"Yes, and you are?"

"It's me, Olivia."

"Oh, Olivia. You look different than when I last saw you. I love what you've done with your hair!"

"Thanks. Sit down, let's talk."

"Look, let me start. I know my dad put you in his will without your consent, and trust me, I don't want to impose. And I know this is short notice, and if you can't take me in, it's no problem and if you can, I wouldn't mind getting to know one of my dad's old friends. Close friends of the family, Joe and Anna, they are willing to take me in."

"How long would it be for?"

"About a month. I have an early admission to Oxford. So it would be no longer than a month."

"Well, I didn't know how this was going to work out, before, but what do you want to do?"

"If money is an issue, my dad left me a fund; an 'in case of emergency' fund"

"I don't think it would be, but you still haven't answered my earlier question. What do you want to do? Who do you want to live with?"

Corrine was left speechless. She never thought she would have an option. She thought it was clear cut. Whether Olivia wanted her or not. She would stay in New York or move to Chicago. She never thought she would have a choice before.

"Umm…I don't know."

"Well, this place has got to be intimidating. How about we go to lunch, say around noon? There's a place I know, around the corner. Do you want to go?"

"Sure…I'd love to. I'll go to my hotel, get changed, and meet you back here, outside the building."

"Sure, sounds great….Hey, it was great to see you again."

"Yeah…same here. Thanks for everything, Olivia."

"You're welcome, but I really don't know what I've done to…"

"You've done more than you will ever know. I'll meet you back here at 12."

Olivia watched her step out and just stood in shock, amazed at how great this girl seemed, and she barely even knew her. She decided to finish up her paperwork and other work she needed to get done. She stepped out of the door, only to be stopped by a human wall of Fin, Munch, and Elliot.