Someone in the same situation
Chapter 1 – Meeting Amy
Precinct
It had been a really long and trying day and for Detective Olivia Benson it was about to get much worse.
"Detective Benson, do you know anyone who was raped at the age of 14 and went on to live a normal life after admitting what happened to her? Do you have any idea how their families coped with the knowledge that everyone in the neighbourhood knew what had happened?" Martha Reeves asked Olivia.
"No."
"Then you can understand why we're not going to continue this, we're a respected family, we can't."
"Cope with the shame?" Olivia finished the sentence. "You can't ignore what's happened to Della Mrs Reeves, this isn't something that she'll wake up one morning and no longer remember chances are it will be with her for the rest of her life, having some form of closure may help her deal with things."
"I'm sorry Detective, there's nothing you can say to change my mind."
"So you're just going to let the guy who raped your daughter get away with it so he's free to do it to someone else?" Olivia asked.
"You're not going to change my mind. Goodbye." Martha replied standing up and leaving.
"The woman has a point." Detective Elliot Stabler replied when Olivia told him what had just happened.
"I never thought you'd agree with her." Olivia said sitting down in disbelief.
"I don't I just think it would be better if Della had someone to speak to who had been through the same thing, aren't some of the rape crisis councillors rape victims?" Elliot defended himself.
"Yes, I'll call them now see if they can help." Olivia said picking up the phone, just then ADA Casey Novak joined them.
"I think I may be able to help." Casey said grimly and Olivia put the phone down.
"You weren't?" Elliot asked worriedly.
"No, but my sister was, maybe she would be able to change their minds." Casey replied softly.
"You never mentioned it before?" Olivia asked.
"It's not something I like to talk about; some things are kept hidden, what happened to Amy isn't the families favourite topic of conversation."
"Amy? Which one's she?" Olivia asked trying to place her.
"The small one, she's the youngest."
"You really think she'd be willing to help?" Elliot asked hopefully.
"Only one way to find out, I'll give her a call now if you like." Casey replied and Olivia handed her the phone.
"Hi is Amy there? It's Casey, her sister." Casey asked over the phone. "No? Ok do you know if she'll be in tomorrow morning say around 9:30…………She will? Great, can you tell her I'll be stopping by, it's about work………the internal review board? …………No, it's to do with my work, can you just give her the message? …………Ok, thanks bye." Casey hung up. "Internal review board?" She asked out loud.
"What?" Elliot asked.
"I said I wanted to speak to her about work and her room mate asked if it was to do with the review board. I wonder what she's done now." Casey replied sitting down.
"What line of work is she involved in?" Olivia asked.
"She's a cop, Vice squad last time I checked."
"Meaning?" Elliot asked knowing that involvement of the IRB was never a good thing.
"She's not exactly the best behaved Cop; in fact she could most likely give you a run for your money and win. You'll like her I bet, you'll find out what she's like tomorrow when you meet her. 9:30am Berkley View apartments." Casey answered. She headed towards the door and Olivia followed.
"You never mentioned this before." Olivia said catching up with her.
"Like I said its not one of my favourite conversation pieces, but I'm sure Amy will be willing to help. She was able to deal with the whole thing better than my parents; maybe speaking to her could help change the Reeves' mind. Or at least help Della come to terms with it, I better get going, I'll see you in the morning." Casey replied hurrying off to the elevator.
Next day
Outside Amy Novak's apartment
"Amy lives here?" Olivia asked as she and Elliot met Casey outside the apartment building, Casey responded with a nod. "I think I'm friends with the wrong sister." She finished.
"I always wondered how she can afford to live here; I mean the apartments are huge. You both ready?" Casey asked opening the entrance door the other two nodded and followed her into the building.
"What she never asked you to be her roommate?" Elliot joked.
"We had enough of one another growing up and she has two roommates anyway." Casey replied showing her ID to the security guard at the front desk.
They were greeted at Amy's door by a soaking wet man stood wrapped in a towel and he had a big welcoming smile on his face.
"Hi, come in, Amy's just in the kitchen." He said allowing them to walk past him.
"I wouldn't mind seeing that face every morning." Olivia whispered to Casey who nodded in agreement.
"Jack I said I'd get the door, hi." Amy said walking into the lounge, straight away Elliot and Olivia noticed the differences between the two sisters, Casey was over 5ft 9 and Amy was just over 5ft 1, Casey was a slim redhead and Amy was a stocky brunette with sparking big brown eyes full of laughter, physically there were as alike as chalk and cheese.
"Well I've already got it, is this about the suspension?" Jack asked Elliot who shook his head. "In that case I won't be needed so I'd better go get ready for work." Jack nodded and left them alone.
"Amy I'd like you to meet Detectives Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson from the special victims unit, Elliot and Liv meet my younger sister Amy." Casey introduced everyone.
"Coffee?" Amy asked her guests who nodded and Casey followed her into the kitchen to help and question her.
"Last night it was the review board, now it's suspension, what's going on Amy?" Casey demanded when they were out of earshot from Olivia and Elliot.
"I've been suspended and I'm facing a review board looking into my conduct on a recent investigation." Amy replied getting some cups from the cupboard.
"Do I even want to know what you did?" Casey asked sensing it wouldn't be good.
"Punched a pimp in the face, in my defence he really beat up this girl and he grabbed my ass. Don't worry though I've got the support of my team and I'm filing a suit against the pimp for sexual harassment since he's charging me with assault." Amy replied casually.
"And you didn't think to tell me this? I'm a lawyer for goodness sakes, I could have helped you." Casey wasn't impressed.
"I've got a lawyer, Jack is dealing with things for me, and likelihood is the assault charges will be dropped if I drop the harassment charge. I'll get a slap on the wrist and things will stay as normal. Now shall we get back to business?" Amy asked knowing that her avoiding the subject would infuriate her sister.
"So you're a cop?" Elliot asked Amy once they were sat drinking their coffees.
"8 years now, it's not the job my parents wanted for me but I enjoy it." Amy replied just as Jack emerged from his room fully dressed in a navy suit, Olivia and Casey looked at each other and smirked he really was handsome.
"I'm going to work; I'll let you know if anything develops, I won't be late home so if you're cooking dinner I wouldn't mind having." Jack started.
"Leo already got in their first, home made pizza." She replied.
"Then I pick cheesecake for desert, and here's $20, buy yourself something nice whilst I'm at work." He joked handing her the money.
"Thanks, I could get used to this, $40 each morning, Leo did the same, see you tonight. And I promise not to spend the money on ice cream to I can eat myself to death following boredom from spending the day cleaning up after you two pigs." She smiled putting the money in her pocket as he left.
"Ok honey, I'll see you later." He smiled giving her a peck on the cheek and leaving.
"He thinks its funny me being suspended; I'm home all day to play mum and wife to him and Leo. So what's the reason behind this visit, from what Leo told me last night you said it was work related?" Amy asked sitting down next to Elliot, Olivia looked at Casey who answered.
"There's this case we're working on, a 14 year old has been raped and her parents have decided not to pursue it. They don't think that she can live a normal life after it; in effect they're worried about brining embarrassment upon themselves. They're of a high social standing in the community." Casey explained.
"It makes me sick when they're like that, what about the girl?" Amy asked disgusted.
"We haven't been able to ask her, we think it would help if the family could speak to someone else who'd been through the same thing." Casey answered.
"And you want me to do it because I have been through it and come out on the other side relatively normal." Amy said.
"No pressure, if you don't feel like you can do it then we'll get onto the rape crisis centre." Olivia added.
"And they'd probably call me, I'm involved with it, it's ok having loads of councillors but they're not much use if they don't really know what they're talking about. I'll do whatever I can to help. The only problem is I can't set foot in a police house unless I've been arrested or ordered in until my suspension is lifted."
"Its fine, we'll deal with that, if you don't mind me asking what have you been suspended for?" Elliot asked being nosey.
"I punched a pimp in the face because he grabbed my ass; it was to do with the case I'm working on. I'm not worried about it really, I'll get a telling off and possibly sent to anger management but the guy deserved it. I know for a fact I'd happily do it again too."
"I'm sure he did, and if a pimp grabbed my ass I'd probably hit him." Elliot smiled.
"I said you'd like her." Casey replied with a grin.
"We'll call you when we've set up a meeting is that ok with you?" Olivia asked finishing her coffee.
"I'm not going anywhere; just call me when you need me." Amy replied.
Precinct
"I can't believe she punched a pimp, I mean she's tiny." Elliot said for the tenth time that morning, he was now reading Amy's service record. "This is an impressive record." He added.
"Why?" Olivia asked wondering what was keeping him so entertained.
"Medals of honour, aced her Detectives exam, been in trouble as many times as me too despite only having been a cop for 8 years. I can't believe she and Casey are related."
"They are pretty different especially in appearance; from what she's told me Casey's more like her older sister and brothers. I've called Mrs Reeves and I've set up a meeting for this afternoon."
"Great, how many siblings does Casey have?" Elliot asked.
"I wouldn't know; I've just spoken to Detective Novak's boss at vice, he see's no reason why she can't help us out as long as she's not actually involved in interviewing anyone. I promised I'll be ensuring you two keep a close eye on her." Captain Cragen replied.
"Will do boss." Elliot replied.
"From what I've been told you two should get along like a house on fire." Cragen added leaving the two detectives alone,
"What does he mean by that?" Elliot asked.
"Both have a knack for getting into trouble over your job." Olivia replied without giving the answer a moments thought.