A/N: I believe the date for this chapter is August 9.

Ben was asleep on the couch when Fin came by. After letting him in, I led the way into the kitchen, not wanting our talk to disrupt Ben's sleep. He had been getting very little, what with waking up every night with nightmares. I handed Fin a cup of coffee. "So, what's up?"

He shrugged. "Just seein' how you and the kid are doin'."

I looked towards the living room, the dark outline of the couch just visible. "He still won't talk and wakes up every night, screaming and crying. I've even debating taking him to Huang or someone." My gaze shifted to the cup between my hands. "When we were down in Baltimore, I stopped by his school to get his records transferred to a school here, for September. Been looking in the paper for a larger place, somewhere where he'll have his own room, 'stead of the couch. Haven't found anything yet."

"I might know someplace. Buddy from Narcotics is lookin' for a smaller place; he just got divorced. I'll give him a call."

Nodding, I said, "Thanks." I took a sip of my coffee.

"You okay?"

That's a good question, I thought, mildly serious. "All right, I guess. Just tryin' to keep up with Ben, mostly." It was a lie, and I knew it.

Fin did too. "Don't feed me that crap."

I kept my eyes on the swirling going on in my cup.

"Look, you need a break, you call me, I'll watch him. You go out and do whatever the hell it is you do to relax."

"I don't want a break."

"You're going to, and you're gonna call me."

There was no arguing with him once he had his mind set on something. "All right."

After a few minutes, "Cragen's worried 'bout you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, really. And I'm gonna tell him you're doin' good. Bt if I see anything wrong, he's gonna know about it."

"Yes, sir." I threw a mock salute. The warning glare was in his eyes and my gaze dropped back down to my coffee. I felt like a little kid being reprimanded, or at least in the presence of a formidable adult. Which is half true, I thought.

We sat in silence for what must have been an hour. Finally, Fin looked at his watch then back at me. "I gotta go. Work."

I nodded. "Thanks for stopping by."

"Oh, Benson told my to tell you to bring Ben in tomorrow, whenever is good. She wants to see if maybe Elliot can get him to talk."

"They can try. I haven't been able to get him to."

Hands in his pockets, he was quiet for a moment before he said, "Do me a favor. Don't run from this. The pain." And then he left, the door closing quietly behind him.

Don't run.

Okay.