Chapter 8 "Fancy Dress"

"So, here we are." Elliot said as he nervously glanced around his kitchen. Jessie stood in the doorway, awkwardly shifting her weight from leg to leg.

She couldn't deny that she was beyond nervous and she wasn't even going to bother trying to hide it.

Elliot walked over to her and pulled her into a strong hug. The car ride home had been quiet and awkward as they both thought about the events of the day. Olivia had blind-sided them both and things just happened so fast. Jessie was beginning to realize that she was now in a relationship. It had been a while since she'd dated.

"We live together!" Jessie exclaimed in aw. Elliot chuckled.

"Yeah, we sort of jumped a few stages of a normal relationship, huh?" Jessie nodded into his chest and tried to laugh.

Jessie and Elliot had gotten to know one another well in the month that they'd been living together. Elliot's favorite color was dark blue; he liked basketball, and loved Italian food. He knew Jessie also loved Italian, she was a baseball fan, and her favorite color was cerulean blue. But for some reason Jessie still felt like Elliot didn't really know her at all.

"I'm not good at the whole relationship thing," Jessie blurted out, pulling herself away from Elliot. She shook her head. Elliot really didn't know her. He'd been living with a stranger. "I'm gonna go take a shower." She mumbled and quickly headed up the stairs, leaving a very confused Elliot behind.

Jessie took her time in the shower, letting the events of the day sink in. She tried her hardest not to think of Fin but her thoughts seemed to always go back to him. She tried to just shrug it off but she realized that it wasn't going to be that simple.

Jessie just had to remember that she'd left a kind hearted brave (not to mention gorgeous) man downstairs, probably confused, who really liked her. She'd already messed up with Fin so why let herself screw up with Elliot? Jessie sighed. She had a tendency to screw things up.

Jessie got out of the shower, put on her pajamas, and walked out of the bathroom toweling her hair. She stopped and dropped the towel when she saw Elliot sitting on the edge of her bed in his pajamas.

At first neither moved, just stared at one another, then Elliot stood up and began walking toward her. Jessie met him in the middle of the room.

"Hey," Jessie whispered, keeping her eyes on his face. She wouldn't allow herself a moment of weakness to look at her feet even though she badly wanted to!

"Hi," Elliot smiled and then sighed heavily. "Jessie, I understand this is crazy and sudden, trust me I feel that too, but…" He paused, taking Jessie's hand in his. "I feel something for you that I've forgotten I could feel. I know all this is a little scary but don't you think it would be wrong for us not to even try?" Jessie beamed.

"I've gotten into fist fights with gang members three times my size but relationships scare the hell out of me!" Jessie muttered and they both laughed.

Jessie looked into Elliot's eyes, trying to get a read on him. Trying to see what he was really feeling. His face was relaxed and strong but his eyes were filled with longing, concern, and something that was almost…gentle. But not as gentle as Fin's, Jessie thought.

Jessie was so mentally shaken by the thought of Fin that she immediately wrapped her arms around Elliot and pulled him into a deep kiss. Neither broke the kiss until Elliot started moving the pair toward the bed. When Jessie bumped into the edge she pulled away.

"What's wrong?" Elliot asked, his voice low and husky.

"I…we…er…I…" Jessie stammered. She couldn't tell him what she knew he needed to know. What he had a right to know. She just couldn't bring herself to say it all out loud yet….

"I don't want to do this unless I know its right. I want us to be in love." She whispered. Elliot smiled and pulled her close.

"That's no problem baby," He said sincerely. "I'll wait as long as you want." Elliot kissed her forehead and started toward the door.

"Elliot wait!" Jessie pulled out the covers on both sides of the bed. "Stay with me?"

Elliot grinned and turned off the light. Jessie and Elliot crawled into bed, Jessie snuggling into his chest, and him wrapping his arms around her. A few minutes later they were both happily fast asleep.

Jessie and Elliot spent the next week building a strong foundation for their relationship. They proved to the Captain and to themselves that they weren't going to let their relationship get in the way with their work. They knew they were breaking a major rule but as long as it didn't get in the way of any of their cases no one seemed to mind.

Every now and then, though, Jessie would catch Elliot giving her those sappy looks. She always knew when he was looking her way because John would say something about suddenly feeling the urge to vomit.

The weekend came quickly that week and the detectives had Saturday and Sunday off as long as a major case didn't come through. They were rummaging through papers at their desks, making sure that they didn't leave anything behind that they needed for the weekend.

After Elliot was satisfied that he had everything he walked over and sat on Jessie's desk.

"Got any plans for tomorrow night?" He asked as she continually looked through the mounds of paperwork she'd already accumulated.

"Saturday? Nope." Jessie quickly answered him. She was a little distracted. "Ahha! Found you, you little bastard!" She held the piece of paper up high over her head in triumph. She'd been looking for it for almost an hour!

"Good," Elliot said while giving her a funny look. He shook his head. "Anyway, yeah, dress up in your fanciest clothes because I'm gonna take you out to a nice dinner." Jessie cocked an eyebrow and shook her head.

"I'm Southern. I don't do 'fancy'."

"Aw come on baby," Elliot pleaded. He walked around the desk, putting an arm around her. "I want to wine and dine you." His eyes got big and he started to pout.

"I don't drink." Jessie said flatly.

"You don't? Not at all?" Jessie shook her head.

It was true. Jessie liked the fact that she had control over herself and the thought of getting so wasted that you wake up naked in some stranger's bed with a headache and no memory never appealed to her much. She never even experimented in high school when getting smashed every weekend was the 'it' thing to do.

"Well, that's fine. I'll water and dine you, I don't care." Elliot turned to Olivia. "Liv, tell this woman she needs to let me take her out tomorrow night." Jessie elbowed Elliot hard in the gut. He groaned and glared at her. Olivia laughed.

"You don't want to go?" Jessie shrugged.

"Why not?" Elliot demanded.

"Its sort of embarrassing." Jessie mumbled.

"Oh come on!"

"Fine!" Jessie yelled back. "Idon'thaveadress." Jessie said as quickly as possible. Olivia raised an eyebrow.

"What the hell did you just say?" She asked chuckling.

"I don't own a dress! Happy?" Jessie raised her voice louder than she intended and quickly regretted it as John and Fin burst into laughter.

"You're a twenty-six year old woman with no dress?" John asked, bewildered. "My ex wives could of learned from her." He said to Fin.

"Well, back in Texas I never found much use for one!" Jessie defended herself.

"What did you wear out on occasions?" Olivia was stunned. She'd never heard of a woman with no dress. She herself had more than ten dresses in her closet for every occasion you could possibly think of!

"What occasions?" Jessie laughed. "The last of my friends married when I was twenty-three and since then I've only been to funerals. In Texas, as long as it looks decent, you can wear jeans to funerals."

"Wow," Elliot shook his head and laughed. " Olivia, do you think Jessie could fit into anything of yours?" Olivia nodded.

"Bring her by my place two hours before you want to go out and I'll find her something." Olivia offered. Jessie's eyes went wide.

"What about shoes? I can't wear my boots or tennis shoes with a nice dress!" Jessie pointed out. She was bound and determined not to go out to a fancy restaurant. Hell, she thought, I don't even know how to act in no place like that!

"I wear a size eight." Olivia smirked.

"Damnit! Same here." Jessie said, feeling very glum. Olivia beamed.

"Its settled then!" Olivia was so excited. She was going to make Jessie look even more stunning then she already was. Elliot wouldn't know what hit him! She'd have him falling in love by the end of the night.

Olivia glanced up at Elliot who was gazing down at Jessie with a look Olivia recognized. Elliot used to look at Kathy with that same sense of adoration. Wow, Olivia thought, maybe he's already fallen in love.

"That's it! I ain't goin!" Jessie exclaimed.

Jessie was standing in Olivia's bedroom in front of her full-length mirror. Olivia had put Jessie in a tight spaghetti strapped navy blue dress, done her hair up in some bun thing, and put her in some navy blue heels.

"Oh yes you are!" Olivia said firmly, placing her hands on her hips.

Jessie looked awesome! Her bangs fell around the curves of her face and Olivia did her makeup with black eyeliner and mascara with some smoky eye shadow. Olivia didn't understand why she was so self-conscious!

"Tell Elliot I've come down with a bad case of the plague or something to that effect." Jessie said miserably, sitting on the edge of Olivia's bed.

Jessie had never been one for the girly thing. She could count on her fingers and toes how many times she'd gotten really dressed up in her entire life. She was just a down home country girl who used to work the family farm. There was no place for dresses on the tractor. She supposed that's why she never really thought of herself as pretty. She thought of herself as fit, tough, in shape, and even mean or almost cruel, but never pretty.

"Suck it up! He'll be here any second!" Olivia pulled Jessie to her feet and helped her keep her balance. Jessie wasn't very good at walking in heels. Olivia put her black shawl over her shoulders and handed her a little black bag.

Jessie smiled at Olivia and gave her an unsteady hug.

"Thanks Liv," Jessie gave her a wide smile. "I may be acting like a stubborn terd but I do appreciate this." Olivia hugged her back and giggled.

"I have a feeling Elliot's going to appreciate it just a little bit more."

A few minutes later Elliot buzzed in and Olivia let him up. Jessie didn't know why the heck she was so nervous. It was Elliot! She'd been living with the man for nearly a month! She'd slept in the same bed as him every night since the great closet episode! Maybe it was the dress. Or the fact that she hadn't been on a date in about seven months.

Olivia opened the door and let Elliot in and then yelled for Jessie to come out of the bedroom. This is it, Jessie thought, taking a deep calming breath.

She walked into the living room with mock bravado, willing herself to walk steadily in the impossible heels. Jessie was stunned by what she saw standing in the doorway.

Elliot was dressed in one of his best suits (the ones he didn't wear to work) and boy did it make him look good! Jessie grinned as she saw the bouquet of red roses in his hand. Roses were her favorite flowers.

"They're beautiful Ell," Jessie said, walking toward the door. Elliot's jaw had literally dropped when he saw her and he was just then regaining his composure. My God, he thought. She's pretty all of the time but she is absolutely breathtaking when she's all gussied up.

"Not even as close to as beautiful as you." Elliot said sincerely. He leaned down and placed a lingering tender kiss on her cheek. "Lets get going. Our reservations are for eight." He said when he straightened back up.

Jessie ran back (nearly rolling her ankle) and gave Olivia one more quick hug.

"He looks amazing! Thank you!" She whispered frantically in her ear and rushed out the door. Elliot gave Olivia a thumb up and then looked toward the ceiling, as if also thanking God, closed the door, and they were off to one of the nicest Italian restaurants in Manhattan.

Elliot and Jessie arrived at the restaurant right on time for their reservation. They ordered their drinks, both sweet tea (Elliot wanted to respect the fact that Jessie didn't like alcohol) and ordered their dinner.

"Elliot, this place is wonderful!" Jessie smiled, taking a sip of her tea. "Thank you for talking me into coming. I'm really glad you did." Elliot grinned.

When they had walked in Elliot felt as if every eye had turned and stared at them. Jessie seemed to be oblivious at how radiant she was. Her beauty wasn't the kind that was outside appearances only. She had something inside her, something extremely unique, and it just made her shine. Maybe it was her strength, courage, empathy, patience, compassion, the list could go on and on for Elliot. Words couldn't describe her! And the funny thing was Jessie was thinking around the same things about him.

"You look amazing." He said softly. "You look beautiful every day but tonight you're just…glowing."

Jessie smiled and willed herself not to blush. She wanted to just shrug it off. She just didn't get it! To her, the person she stared at every day in the mirror was nothing special.

"I'm serious Jess," Elliot reached across the table and took her hand, tracing her fingers with his thumb. "You're beautiful."

Before Jessie could even think of anything to say Elliot's cell phone rang. She could tell he didn't want to answer but they both knew it was probably urgent.

"Stabler." He said in a low gruff voice. "Alright." He sighed. Jessie sighed also and motioned for the waiter to explain that they had an emergency and had to leave. Elliot hung up the phone, put money on the table, and said he'd explain in the car.

"Alright, what's going on?" Jessie asked when they walked out of the restaurant.

The one thing Jessie hadn't been prepared for when she decided to move to New York was how bitterly cold it was. She hadn't thought to bring a coat. Like I have a coat nice enough to go along with this dress, she thought.

Elliot looked over at her and knew she had to be freezing. He took off his suit jacket and slipped it over her shoulders. She smiled gratefully. They climbed into Elliot's car and cranked up the heat.

"Munch and Fin got a call about a rape. A young woman about twenty. She went through the rape kit fine but when Olivia was called to the hospital to take her to the station she flipped out." Elliot rubbed the back of his neck. "She's at the station now but basically wont talk. Don called. He said he wants you to try to talk to her and calm her down." Jessie nodded.

"Why you?" Elliot asked. Jessie sighed.

"I have a feeling you're about to find out."

Jessie and Elliot arrived at the station in record time. They only got caught up by two traffic jams! Jessie was starting to understand why so many New Yorkers seemed to have a bad case of road rage.

When they walked through the door Olivia was relieved.

"Nothing I saw helps!" She said, running her fingers through her hair and plopping down in a chair. "Did you two get to eat?" She asked.

"Almost." Elliot replied sadly. He'd been looking forward to the chicken he'd ordered.

"Thought so. Fin got you two some burgers." Olivia pointed to the bag on Elliot's desk. He looked at it, very disappointed.

"Where's the girl?" And as soon as the question left Jessie's mouth the door to the interrogation room burst open and an angry woman stomped out, being closely followed by Fin and John.

"You left her alone with those two? Good job!" Jessie said sarcastically and rolled her eyes.

"They were our only options till you got here," Don said as he walked out of his office. "Olivia already pissed her off."

"You're damn right I'm pissed off! I want to leave!" The woman shrieked.

"Slow your roll okay! Just calm down!" Jessie said a little more rudely then she probably should have.

"Who the hell are you?"

"Detective Jade Harper? And who are you?"

"Angela Hooper." She barked.

"Care to sit?" Jessie said with a mock smile that, if the situation had been different, would had made her laugh.

"You don't look like a detective." Angela said as she sat in the chair Jessie had offered her.

"I'll take that as a compliment." Jessie replied, pulling John's chair over to her desk and sitting in front of Angela.

Jessie opened the file that was sitting on her desk. Angela was cleaned up now apparently because the Polaroid's she was looking at was strikingly different from the girl she saw sitting in front of her.

Angela had jet-black hair and deep brown eyes. In the photo's whatever makeup she'd been wearing was smeared all over her face and the clothes she'd been wearing was coated with mud and torn in various places. She had a nice shiner and a few cuts and scrapes along her arms and her knuckles were cut. This chick had put up one hell of a fight.

"So, I've heard you aren't really wanting to talk to us about what happened?" Jessie tried to keep a professional air about her but it was hard when she was so uncomfortable in that stupid dress! She had never talked to a victim in a dress! First time for everything is right, she thought.

"I just want to go home." Angela whined.

"I understand this is stressful and terrible okay? I know what you're going through, trust me, but I can't help you unless you help me." Jessie pleaded.

Angela remained quiet. By then the rest of the squad had congregated at Olivia's desk and were listening intently, not wanting to miss any details.

Jessie and Angela had come to a sort of a stand off. Both staring at one another with intensity that almost choked them both.

"You fought him?" Jessie asked softly. Angela nodded. "Why fight so hard if you're just going to give up?" Jessie glared at the girl. She realized that this girl was tough. She'd probably been through a lot in her life and her pride was wounded, among other things.

"Do you know what its like to be raped? To be violated? To have your virginity ripped away from you?" Angela yelled loudly.

"Yes! I do!" Jessie yelled back. And the whole precinct got deathly silent. So silent that you could hear cars whizzing by stories beneath their windows.

Elliot stood up, his whole body stiff, trying to comprehend what he just thought he heard. Fin looked at Jessie a bit shakily. Fin knew he and Elliot were both feeling the same things. Horror, anger, disbelief, and an abundant of other emotions Fin couldn't quite identify. It couldn't be, he thought. She'll explain. It can't be what I'm thinking.

Jessie looked over at the five people that were staring her way, giving them confirmation with her eyes. Elliot looked like he might vomit. Fin looked down at the floor and swayed just a bit where he stood only to have John put a firm hand on his shoulder to steady him. John had the look on his face like he'd just heard the saddest thing in his life and Olivia had begun to cry silently.

Don gave her a nod. Not even he knew the whole story. Now they were ready to hear the story and Jessie was ready to tell it. It was time for Jessie to share the story of the worst experience of her life.