Chapter 7 - Munch

Okay, I was going to wait to post anymore chapters, but I got so many reviews I just had to post another chapter! Thanks to LawandorderSVUfan, Krystal Redfield, christopher-meloni-freak, LivElRocks a lot, Katydidit, qt-angel, and viol8dbyalizzard for reviewing, I really appreciate it!And just to answer a question someone asked, this story isn't even close to over. I still have like at least twenty chapters up my sleeves. Maybe more...

Somewhere there's a stolen halo
I used to watch her wear it well
Everything would shine wherever she would go
But looking at her now you'd never tell
Someone ran away with her innocence
A memory she can't get out of her head
And I can only imagine what she's feeling when she's praying
Kneeling at the edge of her bed
And she says take me away
Then take me farther
Surround me now
And hold, hold, hold me like holy water, holy water
She wants someone to call her angel
Someone to put the light back in her eyes
She's looking through the faces
And unfamiliar places
She needs someone to hear her when she cries…

Munch

"Night Liv." I kissed Olivia on the top of the head and went over to the guest room. I had let Olivia sleep in my room because it was the only bedroom with a queen mattress. I wanted her to be as comfortable as possible.

I purposely left the door open as I climbed into the bed. I didn't even bother changing, I just slept in the clothes I'd been wearing for the past twenty hours. I noticed the light green glow of an alarm clock across the room and I caught the time. It was 4:39.

Fatigue over-taking me, I shut my eyes and went to sleep.

--XXX--

"No! Stop, please! Why are you doing this? Stop!"

I shot straight up out of bed, fully awaken to Olivia's whimpering and pleas. Quickly throwing the covers off of me, I ran across the hall to check on her. I flipped the light switch on to find her tangled up in the sheets, pure terror on her face.

"Liv! Liv!" I ran over to her and shook her shoulder, trying to wake her up.

Olivia bolted upright, letting out a scream as she did so.

"Liv, it's just me. You're okay." When she realized what was going on, she immediately latched onto me. She was clawing at my back, desperately attempting to feel some sense of comfort.

"It was just a nightmare, Liv. You're all right." I blinked away the silent tears I started to cry. I loved Olivia like she was my blood relative. Seeing her in this pain killed me.

"I was back there again," she cried. "And he was on top off me…"

"I know Liv. I know." I held her tight against myself as she relived everything again. It only took her a few minutes to calm down this time. Once she was completely cried out, I talked to her.

"Are you okay?" Olivia was sitting with her head against my chest. When she looked up at me, her innocent, big brown eyes made my heart melt.

"Better."

"You want to try and get some sleep? You should be rested up for tomorrow." Olivia slightly winced when I said that. I knew she wasn't looking forward to giving her statement.

"Will you stay with me? At least until I fall asleep?" I heard the pleading in her words and again found it impossible to refuse her.

"Of course." I brushed her brown locks away from her face with my hand.

A few minutes later, Olivia was curled up in the fetal position, her head on my lap, finally asleep. I considered moving her so that I could go back to my bed, but I didn't want to take the risk of waking her up. God knows she was probably not going to get much sleep anyway, what with the night terrors that'd wake her up, and I didn't want to add to that. So I just closed my eyes and fell asleep as I was.

In the next three or four hours that we both tried to get some sleep, Olivia woke up almost every other hour or so in a cold sweat, screaming in fear.

After I had just coaxed her to sleep for the third time that night, I looked at my watch. It was about eight-thirty in the morning. I gently placed a pillow under Olivia's head in place of my lap. Moving slowly, so as not to disturb her, I got out of the bed. Just before I left to take a shower, I stole one more glance at Olivia. Her expression was pained, her mouth open in silent pleas.

Resisting the urge to wake her from the nightmares, I took a quick shower and dressed in my work clothes. Feeling close to collapsing from fatigue, I decided to put a pot of coffee on before checking on Olivia again.

Just as I had poured myself some coffee, I turned around to see Olivia standing in the doorway that led from the kitchen to the dining room. She was leaning her head against the frame, her eyes following me.

"Hey Sleeping Beauty." I took a sip of my coffee as I greeted her. "Coffee?" I held my mug up towards her.

"Sure." She crossed her arms and picked her head up. She looked as tired as I felt. Her hair had that slept-in feel, as did the hospital scrubs she was still wearing.

As I handed her a cup of coffee, I had to bite my tongue to keep from suggesting that we stop by her apartment to pick her up some clothes. I remembered how she had reacted when I even mentioned her apartment last night, and I didn't think anything would have changed over-night.

"What?" Olivia slightly cocked her head as she studied me, realizing I was watching her.

"Need clothes?"

"What?" She smiled and pinched a fold of the blue material of her shirt between her fingers. "You don't like these?"

I just chuckled, putting my coffee mug down. "Seriously. I don't know if you're my size, but I could try and find something for you."

I grinned, glad that I finally got Olivia to laugh. Honestly, I wasn't much when it came to comforting people. I was just the smart-ass that sat in the corner to crack a joke every now and then or went to deal with a perp or suspect. Comedy was the only thing I really had going for me, so I was glad that I could at least lighten the situation somewhat with it.