Title: Shadows In The Dark

Author: Ebony-Jayne

Notes: The first of many of Ella's secrets is revealed. The start of the domino effect so to speak… Sorry to those who found the last chapter confusing. I know Olivia is a little out of character but she seemed like the best candidate to be hostile toward Ella.

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 Two: Helena

"I was just reading my book and Helena came in. She said she needed to talk to me. So I put the book down and she just blurted it all out. She said 'Daddy's been raping me Mom!' He was raping his own daughter!" Amy Hale sobbed.

"Ok. Amy did she give you any details?" Olivia asked gently.

"She said it's been going on for about four years. It just explains so much! The eating disorders, the fighting and bad grades at school and the self destruction she seems so hell-bent on achieving," Amy looked at Olivia desperately. "76 times she said. God I must be such a bad mother not to have noticed!" Amy couldn't speak anymore her whole body shook as she sobbed. Olivia knelt beside her, pulling her into her arms.

"You're not a bad mother Amy. When teenagers really want to hide something they can be extremely good at it. Trust me. I used to be the master," Olivia told Amy. Amy let out a little laugh at Olivia's last comment and Olivia grinned. That was what she had wanted to achieve.

"Ok Amy. This is Shannen Middleton she is a family counselor who specializes in victims of rape and their families. She's going to take you to get a coffee while we speak to Helena ok?" Olivia explained, pulling back to look at Amy.

"Can't I be with her?" Amy asked.

"She told one of our detectives that she'd rather do this bit alone. She said that she doesn't want you to have to hear it," Olivia told her.

"Oh. OK," Amy looked hurt.

"Amy this isn't abnormal. She'll probably tell you in time but the Detectives are going to want a lot of detail. That's what doesn't want you to hear. It's nothing you've said or done," Shannen told Amy. "C'mon. Let's go get that coffee," she smiled.

"Ok," Amy agreed and headed off with Shannen and Olivia headed to talk to Helena.

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"Hi. My name is Olivia Benson," Olivia held out her hand.

"Helena Hale," Helena replied shaking Olivia's hand quickly.

"Ok Helena. Could you tell me what you told your Mom before?" Olivia asked gently.

"No," Helena replied.

"No?" Olivia asked, surprise briefly registered on her face before she quashed it.

"No," Helena repeated.

"Can you tell me why not?" Olivia inquired still in her gentle tone.

"Because I don't want to," Helena told her. She set her jaw in a gesture of stubbornness.

"Helena I understand that you are upset and hurt and are feeling really bad right now-," Olivia began.

"You don't have any clue whatsoever Detective! NONE! So go to hell. I. DON'T. WANT. TO. TALK. TO. YOU!" she yelled.

Olivia was taken aback. She continued to try and get Helena to open up but the teenager refused to say another word to her.

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Elliot, Ella, Casey and Cragen watched as Olivia struggled with the teenager. When she told Helena she understood how she felt Ella let out a stream of air though her teeth.

"Oh. Very bad move Olivia. She's going to totally clam up on her now," she said to her sister.

"You should talk to her Ellie," Casey said quietly.

"You sure you want to open up that can of worms?" Ella asked guardedly.

"If it helps that poor kid to heal then absolutely," Casey replied. Ella nodded and turned to Cragen.

"Can I have a go at talking to her? I have a feeling I can get through to her," she held her breath waiting for the answer.

"I don't see why not. She's not budging for Olivia," Cragen rapped on the window to get Olivia's attention. She came out and glared at Cragen.

"What?" she snapped.

"Stevens is going to have a shot at her," Cragen told Olivia shortly.

"All due respect this is my interview and I don't need her help," Olivia glared at Ella.

"All due respect, Detective, it isn't your call to make. Go ahead Stevens," Cragen gestured to the interview room.

"Thanks," Ella went in and closed the door behind her. Olivia looked about ready to explode with anger.

"Just watch Olivia," Casey said quietly. "Just watch." The unusual sadness in Casey's normally upbeat demeanor melted Olivia's anger away and she turned to the mirror to watch.

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"Hi. You're Helena Hale right?" Ella said as she sat down at the table opposite the young girl. Helena didn't answer and refused to look at Ella. "Ok. Well I'm Ellie Stevens," no response. "Y'know I was 11 when it started. He used to tell me it was because I wasn't pretty enough or because I wasn't skinny enough. So I tried so hard to become those things so he wouldn't do it anymore. I realized too late that that was exactly what he wanted me to do. Funny how I fell for it but my twin never did. She was always the savvier one of the two of us. I ended up bulimic, and addicted to prescription painkillers. Boy was I a sight," Ella paused.

"Who? Who…did it to you?" Helena asked.

"Our step-dad," Ella answered.

"For how long?" Helena was staring at Ella with newfound curiosity.

"Seven years. I got married and moved out when I was eighteen," Ella told her.

"I'm anorexic. I can't stop. How did you stop?" Helena asked. She reached across the table and began to play with Ella's silver charm bracelet.

"Not voluntarily," Ella told her. "My older brothers and sister and my twin dragged me to a rehab clinic literally kicking and screaming. I didn't want to get better," she told her.

"But you did. And now you're helping people like you?" Helena smiled a little.

"Yeah. I guess I am," Ella smiled.

"The first time he did it I was 12," Helena told Ella. She proceeded to pour her heart out as the pretty redheaded Detective listened intently and reassured her.

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Behind the mirror Casey stood away from the others watching her sister and trying to hide the tears that were creeping down her cheeks. She jumped when she felt a warm hand slide into hers and looked up to see Olivia looking at her in concern.

"I'm sorry," Casey said raising her other had to wipe at her tears. "I'll just never forget how bad Ellie was back then. Or the way she looked at me when we had her admitted into that clinic," Casey's voice broke.

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Once Helena had gone home it was 2pm. Ella was looking tired and drawn.

"I'm going to lay down for a bit," she said softly, raking a hand through her long hair.

"Ok," Olivia nodded. Ella left and walked into the crib. She wrinkled her nose, it was just as nasty as the one at her old precinct. She chose a bed that sat against the wall and lay down. She snuggled up facing the cold brick wall and let the tears flow. It wasn't long before she felt someone lift the blankets and slide in behind her. An arm circled her waist and a hand stroked through her hair. Ella turned around and cuddled into Casey and eventually cried herself to sleep.

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