A/N: This kinda really goes with the last chapter…but that would make on HUGE chapter…oh, and there is some religious overtone this chapter. What do you want from me. hehe

To all my faithful (all three of you)…thank you, and here ya go!

Elliot POV

Look at her…she's been at it awhile. She looks so miserable. Probably crying off and on all night.

"Dad? Oh God, I'm sorry…did I wake you up? I didn't mean…"

"No, not at all. I couldn't sleep." Good cover. Just sit stupid….makes you look less like I liar. "Have you been awake all night….crying over…Nick?" Hope that's his name….have to make sure I shoot the right jerk-off.

"That's his name. And haven't been up all night. I cry myself to sleep…then I dream about him and that slut Harmony together, both of them laugh at me, then I wake up and start all over again. But you know, at YOU exposed my nightmare to everyone! I could have handled it all by myself but no…you had to go all uber cop and put it all together."

Kathleen, don't cry… "It breaks my heart to see you in so much pain."

"Save it Dad."

Alright, wanna play hard ball? One arm around her…come on Kat. Let me make this right. I can't take the amount of pain she's in. The way she drops her head to hide her face….how many times have I seen a victim do that…that's shame, maybe a little guilt.

"I'm so sorry Kathleen, for opening you up like that. And even more sorry that you were treated so horribly." Get her to just talk….cry…something. Pull her closer…"Please, just let it out. I'm here…I've got you."

Her crying is so violent, I have to fight back a few tears of my own. I would feel all this for her if I could. But I have to be strong for her. I can feel her cold tears run down my skin….a small price to pay for what she's going through.

"I….lo….ved….him….I….did. Why? Am…am I not….good enough….pretty…enough? 'Cause Harmony's not exactly ugly. She's….she's WAY more pretty than me. Everyone at school thinks she got a boob job…how do I compete with that? I don't have any boobs!

Oh God….girls….wait…who the hell gets their seventeen year old a boob job anyway?

"But….she's way hot. God, I'm ugly…that's it! I know it is."

Baby, no way. Girl's probably just willing to give it away. Oh, what do I say. I need the right words…and the strength to mend her broken heart.

"Kathleen. You're a beautiful girl."

"You're…just saying that because you're…my dad."

"Not at all. And I can prove it. You know all those pictures I keep of you guys on my desk right?" A nod, good. "Well, I usually have to remind many a young uniformed officer that you are only seventeen and more importantly, MY daughter. Practically have to mop the drool off the floor."

"Really? Even that cute Irish type with those gorgeous eyes and even hotter ass?"

Did my daughter just say that? Reminder: keep her away from the station house as much as humanly possible.

"Kiplihan? About 6'4"….dark hair…yeah? He's the biggest offender." Smooth. "This Nick idiot doesn't know what he's missing. He's just looking to satisfy his lust, not his heart. He might have said he loved you…but no man in his right mind would do anything like that to a woman he truly loved."

"um…Dad…and don't freak out okay…I need to tell you this."

Uh oh…can't be good. "I'll do my best. But, uh, I don't want to wake anyone. So, shoot." Just stay calm no matter what she says. Do NOT upset her.

She nervous. "I would have done ANYTHING for Nick. I still would. Just being with him, kissing him, touching him, made me crazy. Like I couldn't think straight. Like my brain wouldn't work, you know?"

"Like nothing is real. But all you know for is that it all feels right. Yeah, that's love alright."

A smile, thank God. "Yeah. But…here's what might totally make you flip. I don't know how to say it…"

"Don't be afraid…just say it."

"Okay. Well, it's just that….I really cared for him…loved him ,thought he loved me. I was all ready to…uh, have sex with him."

I could die…right now. You could kick me in the face and I will still be sitting here, stunned.

"I knew just wanting to was wrong. But I wanted him, needed him. I needed to show him how much I loved him."

No, now I'm sure. I've been shot. I'm….numb. "Okay. Go on." Don't shy away from me, I've got you…tight.

"I really had to work up the courage and I kept telling him I wanted to, but I just wasn't ready….but soon. He said he understood and he would make it perfect…like flowers and candles perfect."

Oh Kat. I pray your first time will be that perfect.

"And that perfect evening was supposed to be last night. I was gonna tell Mom that I was going to my friends Jackie's to spend the night…some huge test to study for. And I would have been smart enough to be at her house, I mean, they do have that nice pool house that Jackie stays in."

"You knew we'd check it out. Hey, at least you're honest." Again with the tears. I'm sorry this dickweed breathes the same air she does.

"Dad, you're uber cop. sniff Jackie was gonna let us use her room. Private and all. And…I don't know after that. But it was gonna work, as long as everything went along the schedule…..I knew it would…and then he would know….and I'd know…God, I'm rambling."

Ha, I do that when I'm nervous too.

"But anyways….all to schedule or else we'd be busted, big time. So, the plan….Nick always meets me at my locker right before study hall. So, when he wasn't there….he's always there first…I wasn't too worried. I knew where to look…storage closet, kinda our hide-out."

What is it with my kids and closets? Didn't think you could inherit ideas?

"You like to hide out in closets too huh?"

"Daddy, please. I didn't get the idea on my own. Mom was telling me this story about a closet….some blue-eyed boy…hands everywhere…"

"Point taken. Guilty. So…you went to your hide out…and?"

"So I pushed the UNLOCKED door open, I called out for him…and that's when I saw…I saw them….."

I can't take much more of making her relive all of this. It's even harder to listen through the hysterical sobs.

"And when he looked up…and saw me…the look on my face must have been priceless… and then he said….he said…"

"I know, I know. It's okay." Don't make her relive it anymore. God, she's as much as victim as anyone I see on a daily basis. Only I can't arrest this loser for being an asshole.

"I'm so sorry…sorry I wanted to sleep with him at all. But most of all, I'm sorry I still love him. Why….after all he's done to me…"

Word…uh, a little help please…

"Kat. This is going to sound crazy, probably dumb, but don't be sorry you still love him. You probably always will still love him just a little. He was your first real love and, ironically enough, he stomped your heart out of your chest."

"Well, when you put it that way…"

"No, pain is part of the whole love package. Really."

"And somehow I don't think confessing this to you, really means a whole lot. Just practice."

"Sorry kiddo. I have no power there."

"I know. Still, kinda weird to say all that stuff out loud. I just wish….I don't think it's fair. It's like…Nick gets away with it, you know."

"Kathleen. You can't hide anything from God. Nick will get his in the end. He betrayed your trust and broke your heart. Probably isn't going to go over well." I hope.

"If you say so Daddy. Oh well, guess it's back to more losers for me…..that seems to be what I'm good at one, come all…play the "break Kathleen's heart for kicks" game…it's a hoot."

"Kat. You will find someone who loves you more than life itself, someday. You're too wonderful of a girl…a woman not to. But you're just seventeen, don't worry about finding him…let him find you. And if someone EVER does this to you again…"

"You'll make him…less comfortable?"

"I'll rip his windpipe out andput itaround his neck like a tie."

"Nice. Subtle."

"Thanks…oh, listen. If you don't "feel well" today and don't wanna go to school, I'll sell it to your mother. I'm sure she'd go for it."

"As much as I should take you up on that, I won't. That means they win. If I don't stand strong and hide, that makes me the victim right? And victim I am not. But thanks anyway Daddy. Love you."

"Love you too Kat."

"So….it's like almost six….and I need to get ready…and I fear that if you see what clothes are in my closet, you'll have a stroke."

"Sure….and what is in there?"

"DADDY!"

Shut the door…quickly. I'm sure I could have been struck with a flying hairbrush or something. Wow, it really is almost six o'clock…no wonder I'm tired. I'm still kinda worried about her…but, she's a Stabler, she's strong….she'll make it. Either that or she'll kick Nick so hard he'll have to have his balls surgically reinserted.

Well….back to bed…ah, Kathy. Still out. Wore her out good, I am the man….okay, now for the sneak back into bed. Geez, I see my little furnace hasn't quit working. She finds her way back to my shoulder and relaxes against me. Maybe it's her way of thanking me. But I should be thanking her…for everything. But how to say it….

Hmm, I hear diamonds are always a sure bet……