AN: We both know that it's been forever. Can anyone say writer's block? Ahhh...for those of you who have stayed with us, thanks a lot! We owe you!

Elizabeth was bored. Extremely bored. She wanted to do something! She wanted to go back to school, as crazy as it seemed. School. She shuddered. Now that she thought about it, she wasn't sure if she wanted to go back to her school. Elizabeth knew that as soon as she walked through those double doors, she would be bombarded with questions.

"Where were you?"

"Are you okay?"

"I heard that you were in the hospital, and that you talked to cops. Is it true?"

And so on. Elizabeth wasn't sure she could handle it.

In a way, Elizabeth mused, I guess I want to start all over. It'd be easier than facing everyone back at school.

Right now, Elizabeth was at home, absently flipping through channels on TV. Nothing good was on, so she walked over to a nearby shelf and grabbed a random DVD. Elizabeth looked down at the case. Pirates of the Caribbean. Good enough.

About a half an hour into the movie, her father bounded into the living room, a grin on his face. Elliot was ecstatic. Father Joseph was in custody. Elizabeth seemed to be making progress. His case against Kathy was strong… everything was going as well as they could be.

He noticed the T.V was on and saw his daughter dozing on the couch. He smiled softly and moved closer as he studied her face that was now relaxed in sleep. God, he still couldn't believe this had happened to his baby girl. His sweet baby girl.

At least she finds peace in her dreams, Elliot mused. He couldn't even begin to fathom what she went through while she was awake. Having everybody look at her sympathetically. Having a secret that should never have formed. Elliot shook his head. It was too much of a burden for any child.

Elizabeth stirred slightly and sighed, a smile coming to her face. Elliot smiled himself. She'll be all right. She's a Stabler. She'll get through this. Elliot moved to turn off the T.V, but was stopped by a muted sound of protest.

"I was watching that…" Elizabeth mumbled groggily. Elliot snorted, but left the movie on.

"Looks like you were watching the inside of your eyelids to me, Liz," he teased.

"Haven't you seen this movie a hundred times?" Elizabeth grinned and threw a couch pillow at her father.

"No way! Only fifty times." Elliot caught the pillow easily and hit Elizabeth softly over the head with it.

"You wanna watch with me?" Elizabeth continued, scooting over to make some room for Elliot. Elliot glanced at his daughter and shrugged his shoulders.

"Why not?" he crawled onto the couch and immediately, Elizabeth was in his arms, giving him a hug.

"Thanks daddy." Elliot smiled and placed a kiss on Elizabeth's head. The entire movie was silent, save for the laughter of Elizabeth and Elliot as they tried to impersonate Jack Sparrow.

"Mr. Holland, why am I here?" Casey asked tiredly. Mr. Holland, Father Joseph's lawyer, had asked for a meeting. Casey shot a dirty look at Father Joseph. She couldn't help it. This man had destroyed a little girl.

"We've come to ask for a plea bargain." Mr. Holland said. Casey snorted derisively. She spoke up before Mr. Holland could continue.

"A plea bargain? Mr. Holland, we have your client's DNA matching the rape victim. We have record of your client fleeing from the police. And as soon as your client is identified in the lineup, we have a rock-solid case. No bargain will be made." Casey said firmly.

She stood to leave, but was stopped by Father Joseph.

"This was my first offence!" he said wildly. "I am a man of God! Show some mercy!"

Casey glared back at him.

"Did you show any mercy on the thirteen year old girl whose life you destroyed?" she hissed.

She opened the door and motioned to the officer to take Father Joseph back to his cell. Casey flipped open her cell phone and quickly dialed Cragen.

"Captain, I need you to get Elizabeth and Elliot down to the precinct for a line up." She could hear Cragen sigh on the other end of the line.

"Can we really ask that of Elizabeth? I mean, so soon…"

Casey felt her chest tighten painfully. She didn't want to cause Elizabeth any more pain, but the sooner the trial was over, the sooner Elizabeth could get on with her life.

"I'm sorry Captain. But she needs to do this."

It was around seven o'clock when Elliot got the call. He and Lizzie had fallen asleep on the couch, and his cell phone had awoken them both. Elizabeth groaned and rolled over on the couch as her father fumbled for his cell phone. She giggled quietly as Elliot stumbled off the couch and banged his knee on a coffee table.

Swearing softly, Elliot answered the phone with a gruff 'what!'

"Yeah… what? She has to… why now?"

Elizabeth listened to parts of the conversation. It didn't sound good. She sat up slowly and rubbed the sleep from her eyes. Elliot nodded and sighed into the phone.

"Okay… yeah. We'll be there in a few minutes…" Elliot snapped his phone shut and glanced over at his daughter with regret in his eyes. Elizabeth felt uneasy.

"Is everything all right?" she asked softly.

Elliot sighed and kneeled in front of his daughter.

"Casey…" he began. "Well, she wants- she needs you to pick Father Joseph out of a line up."

Elizabeth seized up at this. She'd have to see her attacker again! She began totear up, but something in her stopped the tears from spilling over.

I'd have to see him at the trial, she reasoned with herself. This will be good…practice.

Practice. Who was she kidding? She just wanted to get used to seeing him. She just wanted to get over her fear. Well, this is a good as time as any…

"I'll do it." Elizabeth said firmly. Elliot smiled softly, leaned forward and placed a kiss on his daughter's forehead.

Cragen paced back and forth as he awaited Elliot and Elizabeth. Munch and Fin were silent; they were wondering how Elizabeth would be able to handle this. Soon, they heard Elliot's worried voice coming through the doors.

"Are you sure you can do this?" he asked as they entered. Elizabeth sighed.

"Yes, daddy." she replied exasperatedly. Elizabeth glanced up and saw the other detectives.

"Hey Uncle Munch!" she said cheerfully. But her happiness did not reach her eyes. She fooled no one with her joyful demeanor. Elizabeth reached forward and gave Fin a hug.

"Hey Uncle Fin." Fin grinned and ruffled Elizabeth's hair as she pulled back.

"Where's Olivia?" Elliot asked, noticing his partner's absence.

"She's at court." Cragen replied. "Lizzie, are you ready?"

Elizabeth took a deep breath to steady her nerves and nodded.

"Follow me." John said. He held out his hand and Elizabeth took it. She could feel her heart pounding and already knew that she wouldn't be handling this experience as well as she thought. She smiled back at her father as she stepped into the room and watched John close the door. She smiled over at Casey, grateful for the ADA's prescence.

"Just remember, you can see them, but they can't see you…"

"No coaching, detective." The other man- she was assuming that it was Father Joseph's attorney- said.

"Elizabeth," Casey offered, "Ignore the jerk in the suit, okay? Do you know any of these men?"

She wanted to collapse. He was there. He was there! Holy Mary…she wasn't ready for this. She couldn't do it, couldn't face him, couldn't…

"N-n-number…t-three…"

"How do you know this man?"

Elizabeth realized that her voice box had taken over…was this happening? Really happening? The man who had raped her was separated from her only by petty glass!

"He…he raped me."

"Thanks, Lizzie." Casey offered, "You can go back out now."

Elizabeth walked out with confidence. She'd done it. He was behind bars, and he wouldn't be able to hurt her again.

She would kick his ass in court, too, so help her God.

She would make the right decisions.

Until next post, adios! Please review!