AN: Thank you all so much for such great (longer, lol! Which makes me happy!) reviews. Many of you think that Martina is Mary-Sue-ish. (If someone could give me a by-the-book definition of what that means, I'd be eternally grateful. I get the idea of what it is, but…if you asked me to define it, I couldn't. Which bugs me.) I'll be adding flaws along the way…I know that no one is that perfect…although I can think of several people who strive to be. Sorry that my interrogation scene isn't too long…I've never been that great at writing them! Any pointers?
Thanks to everyone who's reviewed this piece for such wonderful advice, and Jess, I agree…classic.
Dedication: This chapter is dedicated to SVUFanatic611. It's through your writing that I have a better understanding of Olivia, and am able to write through her POV…I hope I begin to do you justice!
SVU Interrogation Room
Manhattan, New York
March 8th, 8:00 AM
Olivia Benson's POV
I sit across from Brian Matthews, forcing my body language to be calm, controlled and collected, even though inside I'm tenser than I've ever been in my career. And there have been some tense times. But never this tense. This case…this one affects my partner, and what affects my partner indirectly affects me. So this time, it hits home.This time it's personal.
"So, Brian," I say, my voice neutral. "Where did you say your parent's were?"
"They're on business. In California. They should be back in a few days."
"I hear you were dating Martina Andreas. Why did you break up with her?"
I look over at the little pimp. If he calls her a bitch, I swear to God, I'll lose whatever composure I have.
"Martina broke up with me. Because I'm not Catholic."
"Sucks to be you," I say, "From what I've gathered, Martina's quite the saint."
"Please, she hates anyone who's not Catholic! Someone should tell her that her so-called God calls everyone to love each other."
I lean back in my seat. Casey had convinced a judge to issue arrest warrants, and we'd arrested Brian last night around six. I'd been in interrogation all night, switching off with Munch and Fin, trying to get him to fess up. He'd claimed that his parents were on business in California, but he had called them, and they'd given permission for us to talk to him. He thought we were stupid, and that we wouldn't check with their offices. They had been on business trips, but had been home for a week.
"If she hates everyone who's not Catholic, how come she makes continuous efforts to help everyone?" I ask, getting hit with a revelation, "You're quite jealous of her, aren't you?"
"Why would I be jealous of that bitch?"
"Because 'that bitch' is surrounded by family and friends that love her. She's happy, sweet, involved. She's strong, and confident enough to set her standards…" I laugh, choosing to try out one of the one-liners I've learned from Elliot…he'd said it to one of Maureen's boyfriends, "Well, above what you are, my friend."
I lean back. I wish I'd been like her when I was a teenager. I wish I'd been confident, happy, faith-filled, and surrounded by a wonderful family. I'll never have the family she does; but the rest, I make up for now.
I snap out of what I wish I had. Martina needs my help. She's not going to get it if I dwell on my wish list of life. I realize that Stabler-izing Brian is getting me nowhere. Elliot has his act down to an art…well, it's not always an act, but whatever he does, for the most part, it works. But that's him. I'm me.
"How long were you and Martina dating?"
"A month. She still wanted to be friends when we broke up, but she said she couldn't marry a non-Catholic. That's all she friggin' thinks about! Being a perfect wife and punching out about twenty-million kids!"
"From what I hear from her best friend, that's public knowledge. So why'd you date her?"
Brian shrugged.
"She may be too much of a devotee, but she's a damn hot devotee."
I smile. Yes. He's going down. I've got him.
"Sounds like you still care about her a little. Look, Brian, I know your parents aren't on business. I checked. They have Martina, don't they?"
He looks down.
"Don't they?" I shout.
I don't know where my anger is coming from. Normally I don't lose my cool with suspects. But this is for Elliot. For better or worse, we have each other's backs. He's my best friend, and if getting these people back alive will help him and his family sleep at night…I'll do whatever I can.
"You realize that she's probably being tortured, raped and God only knows what else is right now, don't you?" I shout.
His face starts to crumple.
"Look, if you tell me, you'll get off. I'll tell the ADA how cooperative you were."
He starts to cry.
"I didn't want them to do it, but they told me she andher family deserved it!"
"Where do they have them?"
Queens, New York
March 8th, 9:30 AM
Olivia's POV
I'm driving,praying to the God my partner has restored my faith in that he will protect the family. All Brian would tell me is a house on 97th street in Queens before he said that he wanted a lawyer. A house…why did it have to be a street that had tons of houses? Unless…
I head for the Andreas' house, hoping I'm right.
St. Paul's Cathedral
Queens, New York
March 8th, 9:31 AM
Elliot Stabler's POV
I sit with the kids in the front row at a prayer service for the Andreas'. Kathy decided that she needed to work. I don't know how she's managing to work. She probably sees Martina, Marianna, Daniel, Helena and Joy in everyone she helps. She may be pushing for separation, but she's not unfeeling. She's probably thinking that that's what Martina would want; what they all would want.
I still wish she was here.
"For the Andreas' family, whether…they are still on this earth with us or not, to be strengthened in faith. We pray to the Lord." Father Jacobs said, head bowed.
"Lord, hear our prayers."
"That if they are gone from this life and rejoicing with you in the next, that you would grant their family and friends comfort. We pray to the Lord."
"Lord, hear our prayers."
I look at my watch. They've been gone close to twenty-four hours. I wish to God I didn't know the statistics of missing person's. Every second that goes by, their chances of survival drop. One…two…three…
Are they still with us?
The Andreas Residence
Queens, New York
March 8th, 9:33 AM
Olivia Benson's POV
I watch as an officer hits the door, running in the second he does. I wish to God I hadn't run in.
They're dead, all of them; shot. I recognize them all from the picture. I can't look, and I turn away, tears in my eyes. All I can do is stand there, hating both God and myself for not finding them sooner. All I can think about is the grief that this is going to cause Elliot, Kathy and their children, and everyone that loved this family. Suddenly, rage starts inside me. Helena was only eleven, Joy only six…Martina…sixteen…their lives had been cut off too soon. They were so full of life, they'd had so much ahead of them. I look back one more time, praying to God that I'm wrong; that they're not really dead. But they are, and I can't deny it. I then realize that there's only four people lying in front of me. Two blonde children, and their father…and a brunette middle-aged women.
I run up the stairs…there's light coming from under a door, and I hear crying from inside. I test the door, surprised to find that it's unlocked. I open it, walking into a bedroom that is presumably Martina's. I watch in shock for several seconds. She's handcuffed to the bed,sobbing as Brian's parents stand over her.
"Shut up!" Brian's mother shouted, backhanding her.
"Police!" I shout, snapping back to reality, drawing my gun "Both hands on the wall, now!"
I hear officers running in behind me. After the Matthews' have their hands on the wall, I address the officers.
"Arrest them."
I turn to Martina, walking to her.
"Martina, are you okay?" I ask, unlocking the handcuffs with my key. I thank God over and over as she nods. "My name is Olivia, I'm Elliot's partner. Hang on, okay? We're going to get you out of here."
My heart's breaking as I call for an ambulance. Does she know that her family is dead? Worse, did she see it? Is she wishing she herself was dead? What happened to her after they were killed? Before? Questions take over my mind. She's a miracle; she's a survivor.
She's crying even harder now, sobbing uncontrollably, unable to hold it in. I sit down beside her, stroking her hair.
"Shhh…it's okay, sweetheart, it's over."
She sighs, and I instinctively check her pulse.
It's fading. Fast.
Okay, people, I admit it. I'm not too proud of this chapter. I'm good at writing angst, butI suck at arrest and interrogation scenes, and it's my first time trying Olivia's POV to top that off. But, hey, you're not going to get better at something without practice! Tell me what you think; critique, but once again, don't flame. Until my next chapter, adios!
