Title: Too Little. Too Late.

Author: Ebony-Jayne

Notes: The truth is out. Now come the consequences.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters or the show or the storylines on the show. I do, however, own the characters that I make up so please don't steal them. Any resemblance to anyone or anyplace is a coincidence.

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Chapter Eight: Torn

Olivia watched as Casey reached over the table and picked up one of Janine's hands. She squeezed lightly and looked up at Olivia. Their eyes connected and both women realized that the other was barely holding it together. Once Janine's sobs had quieted to the occasional sniffle Olivia broke the heavy silence that had fallen over them.

"Thank-you Janine. For being honest with us. I do have to place you under arrest though," Olivia said quietly.

"I know you do," Janine replied raising puffy red eyes to meet Olivia's.

"Ok. Janine Ellington you are under arrest for the murder of Alleigh Jade Halloway. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to you…"

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"Well that's not exactly what I expected," Cragen said to Elliot as they watched Olivia arrest and Mirandize the suspect.

"I'll say," Elliot replied.

Olivia and Casey led Janine out of the interrogation room and handed her off to some young cops to take to a cell.

"She obviously thought she was doing the right thing. Can we make her a deal?" Cragen asked.

"I'll talk to the D.A. and see what I can do," Casey brushed past the guys and headed for the door.

"I'll be back in a minute," Olivia told Elliot and Cragen. She took off after Casey.

"Well it's nice to see them getting along so well isn't it?" Cragen said to Elliot.

"Yeah. It's about time," Elliot replied.

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Olivia caught Casey as she was headed out of the building.

"Case!" Casey didn't stop walking as Olivia called out to her. "Casey," Olivia grabbed her elbow and turned her around. "Are you going to be OK?" Olivia asked awkwardly.

"You mean am I going to go home and cut again?" Casey sniffled a little.

"Uh…yeah," Olivia nodded.

"No. I'm going to go to see Arthur Branch and see if we can cut Janine a deal. Then I'm going to come and tell you guys if we can or not. Then I'm going to go home and prepare my case. And eat a lot of ice cream. And maybe drink a little bit…" Casey smiled thinly at Olivia. "I'll be fine. Thanks Liv," she said seriously.

"Good," Olivia smiled at Casey. She could now see in the red-head's eyes that she was telling the truth.

"Do you think that Alleigh would have found someone else if Janine hadn't helped her?" Casey asked.

"I think she probably would have. And if all else failed she would have done it herself. Well, I've got to go and tell Alleigh's parents what happened to their daughter," Olivia gave the elbow she was still holding onto a squeeze before letting the A.D.A. go.

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"Mr. and Mrs. Halloway. We have a development in Alleigh's case," Olivia told the people in front of her.

"Did you find out who killed her?" Madeline Halloway asked, linking hands with her husband in anticipation.

"Yes we did. But I should tell you that the person did it because Alleigh asked her to. This was a mercy killing not a random one," Olivia told them.

"Who?" Gavin asked.

"Janine Ellington," Olivia answered.

"What! No! She's been so good to us since Alleigh died! Why? Why would she do this to us!" Madeline broke down.

"What do you mean Alleigh asked her to?" Gavin asked.

"From what we can tell Alleigh was severely depressed. The self-harm and the assisted suicide were a direct result of it. She asked Janine to smother her and then hang her to make it look as though she was murdered," Olivia explained.

"Oh god," Madeline turned and began sobbing into Gavin's chest.

"What's going to happen to Janine?" Gavin asked.

"We are going to apply for a minimum sentence. An assisted suicide can be classed as manslaughter," Olivia told him.

"Manslaughter? For killing my child? No, I want her done for murder. She murdered my daughter!" Madeline sobbed.

"I'm sorry. It was intentional manslaughter. Not murder," Olivia apologized.

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An hour and a half after Madeline and Gavin left Casey returned from the District Attorney's office.

"Good news. He said to charge her with man two. Minimum of three years," She told the detectives.

"Man Two? I was hoping he'd agree to drop to murder two. That's great Case. The parents weren't happy that we weren't looking at Murder though," Olivia told her.

"Didn't think they'd be too thrilled," Casey went quiet.

"Excuse me?" a little voice came from behind them. They turned and found themselves face-to-face with Catriona, Bridgette, Catriona's father and two other girls.

"Hi. Can we help you guys?" Olivia asked.

"Um we just wanted to tell you guys that Alleigh's funeral is tomorrow afternoon and that you're welcome to come," Catriona held out a small card with the details of the funeral on it. "If you want to that is," she added.

"We'll be there," Olivia assured the girls.

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