Sorry it's taken me a while to get this up, been hectic last week, I've barely had time to do my uni work let alone this. Anyway here is chapter 11 -the final part of Someone in the same situation. Enjoy
Chapter 11 – Conclusion
Manhattan Rape Crisis Centre
"Tonight I'd like to welcome a new face to the group Casey Novak sister of our very own Amy." The councillor said, Casey was with Amy at one of her support group meetings, it was only a week after the incident at Casey's apartment and Casey had realised that part of the problem was that she still had unresolved issues concerning what had happened to her sister and so she'd decided to go to a meeting. After listening to other relatives of victims tell of what they went through it soon came round to Casey's turn. "Casey why don't you tell us about your experiences of what Amy went through?"
"I felt guilty, five older siblings and not one of us thought about picking her up from her soccer match. I mean my basketball practice finished just before, I could have been there in time to walk her home. But I didn't, none of us did, myself, my sister and brothers all did what was expected of us and let her walk home on her own. She'd done it before and it was still really light. But then it got dark and she wasn't back, she was never late, we called her friends' houses but she wasn't at any of them and it kept on getting later and later. We were about to go looking when the police turned up looking for our parents. They weren't in, George, Cody and I were the only ones at home, my parents were on vacation. The policeman told us that she'd been found lying in a ditch somewhere by someone out walking their dogs and they'd taken her to hospital. It was when we all got to the hospital that they told us she'd been raped, I remember the nurse speaking to me and Sophie and telling us that she was in a bad way, the guy who'd raped her had beaten her up pretty badly. When we went into the room she was barely recognisable, the 13 year old girl who I'd gotten up for school that morning by dragging her out of bed had gone, she wasn't there anymore, that sparkle had gone from her eyes. The next day my parents got back and she had to go to the police but she wouldn't let any man go near her, she screamed if one of my brothers came within a foot of her, it was horrible and there was nothing any of us could do to make us better. It took ages for her to even sit next to one of my brothers at the dinner table. Then there was all the routine police stuff, statements, even an ID parade but there wasn't any DNA evidence, as an ADA I've seen cases go to court that are identical and things work out well. A recent case showed me that there were things both myself and Amy needed to deal with, that's why I'm here tonight. Part of me still sees Amy as a victim, the girl I found knocked out after drinking herself stupid because of how she felt. I just want to be able to see her as my little sister again." Casey said reaching out and squeezing Amy's hand.
"Amy how does that make you feel?" The councillor asked.
"It helps me understand a lot, but in the last few weeks I've realised that I really do have a problem, there are a lot of things that I haven't been able to deal with until now, it's taken being there for someone else in the same situation to finally come to terms with my own experience of being raped and move on. It shows that you can even fool yourself into thinking you're alright but you can't fool anyone, Casey didn't miss a trick."
"Ok Casey what do you hope to get out of this experience?"
"I know from past experience and my work that there's no quick fix, I know it will take time but I want to be there for Amy and for us both to move on from this properly."
"Any you Amy?"
"Pretty much the same, I've been through this before both as a teenager and a councillor, but I want it to work, I don't want to be scared anymore, I want to be able to live my life and do my job without worrying constantly."
"Good, I'll look forward to seeing both of you next week."
- - -
Office of ADA Casey Novak
"Hey Case!" Amy announced barging into her older sister's office three days after their first counselling session; she was holding a piece of paper and smiling like a mad woman.
"You know some of us work all day, I don't get to spend four our days trying to distract other people from their work."
"I'm still waiting to be reassigned, it's not my fault NYPD can't find a suitable place for me is it."
"Ok did Jack propose or something? Or did he ask you to go steady?" Casey asked.
"For your information we are going to try the whole relationship thing again, taking it slow, I know it's pointless since the other week but that was a big step and neither of us want to rush things."
"Hopefully it'll be second time lucky for the pair of you, he is a nice guy from the dealings I've had him."
"Any you think he looks cute with no top on." Amy replied.
"True but I know you saw him first, I'm single I can make observations like that, I want to make sure he's right for you I don't want my sister dating a hobbit do I?"
"Suppose not, but the reason I'm so cheery is because I've gotten a letter from Della, I just called by the centre and there it was, do you want to read?" Amy asked sitting down on the sofa in Casey's office.
"I'll let you."
"Dear Amy, I just wanted to thank you for all you did for me, I know it can't have been easy for you to think about what you went through whilst you were helping me. I thought I'd let you know that you were right about going to court being the hardest thing I've ever done, we've decided to move out of the area to make a fresh start, we're not running away mum and dad think things will be easier somewhere new. And apparently the new school will be much cooler than the one I'm at. Well about the hard thing I went back to school the other day, I was so nervous, people all knew and stared but it didn't bother me because I've faced harder people than them. Anyway I've been going to the counselling service, mum and dad have been going too, its upset them watching me go through it all, and they think it's something that will benefit us all. But I'm sure you know that anyway, I could tell your sister was upset by what you went through. Anyway, I just thought I'd check in, I hope your cold is better – thanks again for lending me the coat by the lake, and I hope you got the mud out of your jeans. I'll never forget you, and maybe one day I'll be able to tell you how I'm doing in person, maybe when I become a cop. Until then. Thank you, you really made a difference. Love Della." Amy read.
"She's right, you did make a difference, I'm proud of you Amy. And not just because how much you've changed these last few weeks." Casey said sitting down next to her sister, "I mean none of us other 5 Novak's have ever punched a pimp, or live in a prestigious apartment with a hot lawyer and a handsome doctor." Casey smiled.
"True, but none of you have ever managed to lie to mum and dad for as long as me, they have no idea I haven't been at work for weeks, and the anger management, god help me if they find out about that. Can you just imagine their reaction? It'd be like telling them I was going to become a man or something. And then there's the counselling with you at the centre, they'd have a fit if they found out either of us were going."
"Your secret's safe with me, I owe you one for making sure Della testified. And let them find out, I don't think going would harm them."
"Thanks, but I can't see mum going to a session, the Manhattan centre isn't exactly popular for the social group she's in. Are you hungry I'm famished?" Amy asked.
"If you're buying I'm eating." Casey said standing up and grabbing her coat.
- - -
Precinct
"You know you guys are pigs!" Olivia said storming off after Elliot, Fin and Munch had annoyed her, Cragen had been watching them gang up on her for the last hour; he knew she'd stormed off for effect and to plan her revenge. Sure enough that afternoon each of the trio wound up with a sign saying 'I am a pig!' taped to their backs, complete with a nice picture of a pig only he didn't think to make them aware of what she'd done. It was whilst the four team mates were mocking each other that Cragen made a decision, he wasn't sure how it would go down but he had to try it.
- - -
"Hey Casey, Hi Amy how's it going?" Elliot asked spotting the ADA and her sister entering the office.
"Trying not to go mad with all this free time, it's good to go and annoy Casey and disrupt her work. You do know you have a picture of a pig on your back?" Elliot reached behind him and pulled Olivia's sign off.
"How long?" Elliot asked Olivia who'd began to laugh.
"Only two hours." She replied giggling.
"I've heard from Della, she's doing fine, they're moving out of the area but the fresh start should do her plenty of good." Amy replied.
"And the anger management?" Olivia asked.
"I've noticed that my sister is less angry as a result." Casey replied.
"Anger management, you get to take it all out on cushions not as satisfying as hitting a person but it does help." Elliot smiled.
"Hello Amy, do you have time for a quick chat?" Cragen asked spotting her.
"Sure Captain." Amy replied following him into his office.
"I better get off, I've a mountain of paperwork on my desk, I'll see you both soon." Casey said to Elliot and Olivia as she waved goodbye to her sister.
- - -
"You know Amy would make a good addition here." Elliot said to Olivia when Casey had gone.
"Someone for you to boss around or someone to stare at?" Olivia asked not looking up from the file she was reading.
"Boss around. Seriously she's a lot of the skills needed to work here, she was wasted at Vice, and then traffic's no place for her."
"Yes but assignments aren't up to us, Cragen does the hiring and firing around here, why don't you go talk to him."
"I will as soon as he's done with Amy, besides it'll be good for you having another woman around the place, you can chat about girl stuff." Elliot added poking her with a pen to get her full attention.
"Yeah, like how best to kill you and plead diminished responsibility because we're suffering from PMT, she's connections to some pretty good lawyers you know, and I'm sure Casey would support us, she's quite protective of her baby sister, so are her brothers apparently." Olivia replied taking the pen from him and throwing it in the bin.
- - -
Next day
"You all moan that we don't have enough detectives on this squad, and I'll admit it I don't usually listen but recent cases taken into account I feel that we need someone with experience in special victims to join the team." Cragen told the office.
"I think Amy Novak would be a good person for the job." Elliot said.
"Trained councillor, been with vice for 3 years." Olivia added.
"Currently waiting for a new job to be assigned to her." Elliot continued.
"Liked by our ADA, which is always a bonus for getting warrants at any time of the day or night." Olivia stated.
"Will you two just give up and let me finish?" Cragen snapped, "It's not up to you who I have on this squad; however I have made a note of what you've just said. And that's why from tomorrow Detective Amy Novak will be our new detective for the period of her probation. I arranged things with her when she was here yesterday."
"What then?" Elliot asked.
"If she passes then it will be permanent." Cragen replied heading back into his office.
"Finally another woman." Olivia sighed.
"You think she'll be able to handle us?" Elliot asked.
"Three older immature males trying to annoy her, with her having 3 older brothers I think it's fair to say she'll have been in a similar situation before." Olivia replied.
- - -
So Amy joined the SVU – Obvious ending I know, but I always struggle with how to end these things. Anyway I hope you enjoyed this story this is my first SVU fan fic and I'm thankful for the good reviews. Let me know if you'd like to read about Amy's adventures with the special victims unit. And as a final note, I don't own any of the SVU characters, and I never will. Until next time. Emma