"In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives who investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories."
It comes with the Badge
SVU-obsessed: Thank you for your helpful hints, if you would, could you re-read it and see if it's accurate now? I'd greatly appreciate that. Thank you tons for the info, and thank you also for being kind about it. I kept hoping to get an episode with Elliot's wife in it but I ended up having to guess and I haven't seen that Olivia episode. I wish I had, I love her. Thanks again. ~TE~
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Last time:
Detective Stabler shook his head. "No, there must be some mistake...I'm not here for my ex-wife...I am here to see Detective Benson. Is my wife here also?" He looked extremely confused at this point, which was a bad combination with lack of sleep and emotional distress.
The doctor nodded, staring curiously at the Detective. "She came in just a few hours ago, she's stable for the most part...We were lucky to get her in when we did..." 'How can this guy not know his ex-wife's in the hospital?'
'What? What has Kathy done?' Elliot looked very worried. "What happened to her? Is she okay? What'd she do?" How could this all be happening at once? He had to see Olivia.
"Didn't you know? I assumed the precinct called you...Cragen said he would when we called him..." The doctor frowned. "She was admitted for attempted suicide."
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Chapter One
In Shock
Elliot looked at Kathy lying in a hospital bed unconscious. Her wrists were tightly bandaged up almost to her elbows. She looked way too pale compared to her usual self and all the life was drained from her body. If he didn't hear the constant beeping of the heart rate monitor, he'd think she was dead. 'She's here for attempted suicide? Was it because of our argument? How could I have been so heartless...? Why didn't I notice the signs?
Another doctor, a female doctor, walked in. "Detective Stabler, are you here to see Detective Olivia Benson also?" She was about average height and a bit heavy. Her eyes were a cheery brown and hair was auburn up in a bun. She was wearing maroon scrubs and had a bright smile on her face. She tried to look jovial, but even that much joy was sucked away by the hopelessness that hung like a palpable gossamer screen throughout the room.
He nodded gravely. "Yes, how is she?" Not sure if he wanted to hear the answer, Elliot braced himself.
She frowned. "Not well I'm afraid; she's in a coma..." The doctor looked like delivering that news hurt her too. Elliot appreciated the sympathy somewhat.
'A coma? God, no! Why now? Why Olivia? This can't be happening! Not now!' Elliot rested his head in his hands wearily. "Can I please see her?"
She gave him a sympathetic smile and nodded. "Of course. I'll take you there now. I'm Doctor Herrera, her physician." She bit her lip lightly and led him up to her room. It was dark inside, illuminated only by the moonlight in the window. "You can stay as long as you wish...she came in yesterday and added you to her family list...that also means you can make medical decisions for her..." The Doctor smiled halfheartedly. "I am truly sorry." With that, she slid out quietly, closing the beige metal door behind her without more than the click of the latch.
He smiled falsely and nodded politely. "Thank you." As soon as she closed the door, he rushed to her side. "Olivia..." He watched her for a long moment, trying to come to terms with her condition and what the nurse had just told him. 'You knew what was coming...you made sure everything at the hospital was in order...you knew he was after you and that didn't stop you from letting me leave...you always said not to change your life for a perp...Maybe you should have just this once.' Her eyes were closed, and she looked like she was just sleeping soundly. "Can you hear me?" 'Of course you can't...' He took her hand gently. "I'm so sorry. I forgot to lock the door, and I didn't get back as fast as I could. I'm so sorry I let you down Olivia." Elliot rubbed his thumb against the back of her hand for a long moment, savoring the soothing and warm touch. 'At least she's alive...unlike the other victims...' He kissed her hand softly. "I'm sure Munch and Fin will be in here shortly...I hope you won't mind all the attention. I know you never liked it when men paid too much attention to you. You always blew off Cassidy and the other men who were interested in you. Maybe if I had paid more attention you would be fine right now."
Olivia was non-responsive, as expected, but Elliot stayed by her side. He started to cry after a while; she was very pale. 'Why can't you just be sleeping? Why can't this all be one big nightmare? Why can't I just wake up and see her lying next to me?' Sitting by her side for a bit longer, Elliot sighed. He had considered returning to Kathy's side, but he knew she would wake up. Somehow, he believed he could wake Olivia up if he talked to her long enough, if he just stayed there to hold her hand she would find her way back to him.
"Olivia, Kathy attempted suicide today...it sure has been a hard day. I wish you were here, so I could really talk to you. You have to stay with me Olivia, we were just starting to get settled together; you can't leave me. What will I do without you? I need you. You're my partner in all ways I'd like to think. I care about you more than you could ever know...you can't die before I get my chance to tell you..." He knew life didn't go that way. Bad things happened to good people...but he just wished he could make them right. No one, and especially not Olivia Benson, deserved to be attacked by that bastard.
Fin and Munch walked in slowly. "How is she?" Both of them looked very grim and yet hopeful at the same time.
Elliot rested his head on the bedrail. "Not good. She's in a coma...and no one knows when she may wake up...she may never wake up..." He looked at her with a look of utter despair as he said those words, just reaffirming his greatest fears.
Munch swore quietly. "Elliot, I'm sorry. Cragen told us to tell you that you can take as much time off as you want...Everyone at the precinct is worried about you, and we're here for you if ya' need us."
He looked up, his eyes bloodshot. "Thanks. Did you get Jerry?" He looked pathetically hopeful and his bloodshot blue eyes were pleading for an affirmative response.
Fin nodded. "We caught him within an hour of Olivia's attack. Every cop in the surrounding precincts was looking for him. Lennie caught him."
Elliot smiled faintly. "Briscoe's a damn good cop." He looked melancholy, but pleased by the proceedings of the capture.
Munch nodded. "He got in a few punches before his partner arrived, and he claimed there was a struggle. No one held it against him."
He laughed lightly. "Who would? Everyone likes Olivia..."
Fin looked at him. "You're right about that, and if I were to guess I'd say a certain cop I know might even love her."
Stabler smiled softly. "Yes, you'd be right in that guess. Who wouldn't love her?"
Munch put a hand on his shoulder. "She'll pull through, don't worry over it. Do you want anything? Coffee?"
Elliot remembered stopping for coffee before going to Olivia's and fresh tears came to his eyes. "Um, no coffee...thanks anyway though."
Fin grinned. "You look more like you could use some whiskey...when the hospital closes we'll take you out for drinks."
Stabler nodded. "That sounds good." He smiled faintly, 'Maybe alcohol can get rid of this emptiness inside of me...' Truly, Stabler knew only Olivia's recovery would cure that pain.
Munch frowned. "We heard about Kathy, do you want one of us to watch her?" John looked rather skeptical about bringing up his ex-wife in the conversation after all he'd been through, but he thought it best to ask anyway.
Elliot nodded. "Would you?"
Fin smiled. "I got it. John might scare her when she wakes up." He punched his partner's shoulder jokingly and walked out with a comical grin.
Stabler stared at Olivia for a long moment. "She looks like she's sleeping, doesn't she?" He ran a hand through her short hair with a faint smile. She looked so content lying there, far more at ease than he'd ever seen her...except last night.
Munch nodded. "She does...if only she were just sleeping."
Elliot nodded. He kissed her forehead softly and brushed her hair away. "I forgot to lock the door when I left..." The pain sprung anew, another tidal wave crashing against the corroding walls of his sanity. He'd put protective details on her before, why hadn't he done it yesterday? He should've, maybe if he had... 'No, maybe is not something I want to think about. What happened is irreversible no matter what.'
John walked up behind him and put a firm hand on his shoulder. "Don't start blaming yourself, that won't help you or her."
Detective Stabler nodded. "I know, but I can't help it. I promised to protect her, I said I would lock the door..."
Munch frowned. "Let's get that drink, it's getting late and I'm beginning to think more and more about how much we could all use that drink."
As Elliot looked at Olivia again, he wiped fresh tears from his eyes. "Damn it. Why her? She's an angel. She puts these guys away to help other women, and never once thinks about protecting herself. She has always been a good cop, never once ruffed anyone up or went past what she knew she could do. Always protecting those women, children and men...she didn't have a selfish bone in her body."
He sighed heavily. "It happens to the best. You can't pick the vic Elliot, you knew she was knowingly endangering herself. It was her choice, and she decided that getting Jerry was more important. It doesn't make you responsible, or her foolish, it makes her a very good cop. It also helps me believe that she'll pull through."
Olivia lay there silently, not stirring, and just the sight filled Stabler with so much anger. "Let's get out of here." He kissed her cheek again and smiled. "Sleep well Sweetheart." 'Don't give up on me Olivia.'
Munch didn't comment on Stabler's pet name for Olivia. Walking out with Munch right behind him, they went to pick up Fin. Elliot broke the silence. "Hey, isn't Yom Kippur coming up soon?"
Munch nodded. "Yeah, actually, in a week and a half." He was surprised Elliot remembered that he was Jewish. 'Poor Elliot. Kathy and Olivia both in the hospital in one day...how does he do it?' He knew the answer, he doesn't.
Fin walked out of the room when he heard them come down the hall. "She is still out..."
Stabler nodded. "Okay." He figured she'd be out for a long while after seeing her wounds. He found out the kids were still at her parents' by the doctor, and that relieved him somewhat. At least they didn't see their mother hit rock bottom. What blew him away was, they gave her custody because he wasn't around enough...and now she tried to commit suicide...
***
After a few shots, Elliot's nerves buzzed lightly. His worries seemed somewhat lighter, and his headache was gone...until tomorrow morning. "I should have seen it coming. Jerry always used to make crude comments to her...and then he threatened her...but I never saw it...I knew she was uncomfortable around him. Yesterday, she went to the hospital and added me to her family list...she knew he was after her. She knew it and yet she didn't say a word."
Munch nodded. "That's Olivia. She's done that before when her life's in danger. She doesn't seem to care at all as long as the perp gets put away. Remember the crazy stalker guy from back when Cassidy worked for us? He knew about Serena and everything, and she still used herself as bait...she doesn't let the perp control her life."
Stabler's eyes looked bloodshot. "I still should have seen it coming..."
Fin patted his back lightly. "Let's get home, you could use the sleep."
Elliot looked at him, his blue eyes filled with despair. "Where? I don't know if I can go to Olivia's house..."
Munch patted his back. "We'll drop you off and help ya' get settled down."
After a long pause, Detective Stabler nodded. "Thanks you two, you've all been a great help."
Fin nodded. "Let's go."
***
He had snuck into the hospital easily, and found Olivia's room without too much trouble. Leaning over her bed, he took in her scent. She smelled so sweet; it turned him on. She looked like she was just sleeping. Running his hands over her breasts, he sighed heavily. His look-alike had been taken in to custody today. They were searching his apartment as he stood there. Too bad they thought they had him, because he would have plenty of fun. Stroking her cheeks softly, he placed a white rose on her breast and smirked. "Sleep well sweetheart."
***
Elliot sat up in Olivia's bed. He couldn't get the image of Olivia's torn and bleeding body from his head. He stood up. 'Something is wrong...' He went downstairs and nervously paced the kitchen for a moment.
After a few moments, he pulled on a pair of pants, a collared shirt, and his jacket and headed out the door, meticulously locking the door behind him. He couldn't bear to sleep in her house while Olivia was in a coma at the hospital. When he got in the car, he checked to make sure all the windows were closed in the front of the house, and drove off towards the hospital. He couldn't stand being away from Olivia when she may wake up any moment.
Stabler arrived quickly at the hospital around 3:15 am and walked up. "I know visiting hours are over...but I was told I could stay with my partner. She's in a coma...and I don't think I can sleep unless I'm near her."
The nurse looked sympathetically at him. "Of course Detective, what's her name?"
He said a silent prayer of thanks that he would be able to see her and smiled faintly. "Olivia Benson, Detective Olivia Benson."
She smiled politely. "Right, she's in urgent care." When she pulled Olivia's file from the top of the stack, she noticed his surprised look. "We try and keep the cops files on top after all they do for us."
Elliot smiled halfheartedly. Just the simple thought of that lightened his mood more than he expected. "Thanks." Walking with her to Olivia's room, she made polite conversation.
"It says here that, assuming she wakes up, she will be physically ready to leave in two weeks."
Stabler looked down. "If she wakes up...Olivia will. She gets through everything."
The nurse nodded politely to him when he stepped into the room. "If you need anything, call the front desk. The cafeteria is on the first floor in case you get hungry."
Elliot nodded. "Thank you Miss." He walked over to her bedside; she actually looked better to him. Something caught his eye. A white rose lay on her breast. 'White rose...Jerry!' Kissing Olivia's forehead softly, he apologized for the briefness of the visit and ran downstairs, dialing his cell phone as soon as he got out of the building. "Fin! It's Elliot...the guy you got isn't Jerry."
On the other end of the line, there was some groaning and a heavy sigh. "Elliot, it's 3:30 in the morning, can't this wait?"
He shook his head. "No, Jerry's still loose."
Another exasperated sigh. "How do you know? Didn't we tell you earlier that we have him in custody?"
Elliot held the rose up in the moonlight. "He left her a parting gift."
Fin sat up in bed. "You mean the rose." Another long pause, "That's right! He always leaves a rose on the body! I completely forgot his MO!"
"Bingo. Can you get down to the station?"
After a short period of bustling around, Fin spoke again. "Yeah, I'll call Munch too."
Elliot sighed. "Thanks Fin."
Laughter on the other end of the line surprised Elliot. "You owe me Elliot."
He nodded and chuckled softly. "Yeah, I guess I do. I see you in a bit."
"Alright, peace." A click told him Fin had hung up. Elliot turned around and looked up at the hospital windows and blew a soft kiss. 'Sleep well, I'm thinking about you...' God he missed her so much already. His heart ached.
Getting quietly into his car, he started the engine and headed for the station. 'I'm going to personally put this bastard away for you Olivia...' He drove off as a light drizzle started to fall.
***
By the time Elliot made it to the station around 4 am, Fin was waiting and it was pouring outside. "John is on his way."
Stabler thanked him. "Let's get inside, I don't see any end to this downpour."
Fin nodded. "I hate rain."
After a silent pause, Elliot nodded. "So does Olivia." His voice seemed more wistful than it ever had before; this incident was changing his life almost as much as it was Olivia's.
The other cop smiled faintly. "She'll pull threw, she always does." Elliot nodded and walked into the building, flipping on the light switch. The main room slowly lit up and it looked rather eerie. It was completely empty.
He laid the rose on his desk and stared at it for a moment. "He left it for her, on her bed."
Fin swore quietly as Munch walked in, looking exhausted. "What in the world made you want to get me up and 3:30 in the morning? Have you become some kind of sadist?" He saw the rose. "Oh, I see. Well, where do you want to start looking?"
Elliot frowned. "That's just it, I have no idea. I was hoping you two would have some clue."
Munch stared at the rose for a moment. "You know, in his apartment we found an address book...his mother lived on the North side, near that floral shop that just opened."
Fin looked at him. "Is that by the bank on 1016 East 6th street?"
Without hesitation, Elliot swiped up his keys. "Let's get going, I don't want to waste any time." He walked out, flipping the lights behind him. Getting into his car, he peeled out of the lot and headed towards the bank.
Munch frowned. "We'd better follow him before he hurts himself." Fin nodded and the two got in their squad car, following Elliot.
***
'Why won't these nightmares go away? I want to wake up! I need to help catch Jerry!' Olivia's brain was screaming at her body to get up, to move, but she lay helpless. She could hear doctors talking about her vitals improving faster than expected, and she heard Elliot earlier. She had wanted to reply so badly, but she was stuck inside her own body. All she could remember was pain, and fleeting inside herself for protection. 'I was raped...Jerry was there...' She felt a little weight come off her shoulders. 'If I can just remember everything about that night...maybe I can wake up...' She pushed threw her memories, no matter how graphic, in search of those few critical pieces she was missing.
***
Elliot walked into the apartment after kicking the door open. Fin and Munch were right behind him, with their police issues drawn. Elliot yelled down the hallway. "POLICE! COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP JERRY!" Fin ran towards the fire escape.
"Clear." Fin yelled out. He heard John and Elliot yell clear in other rooms and then a loud bang. Walking out, he noticed Elliot had kicked open another door and was aiming his gun at something.
"Fin, Munch!"
Munch pulled out a warrant and grinned. Walking in to the room, he saw Jerry lying on the floor with his hands on his head. Elliot was standing on his back. "This is a warrant for your arrest, but since you're fighting back so hastily, we're going to have to defend ourselves."
Elliot laughed as he kicked Jerry in the side. "You sound like Lennie now Munch."
Fin laughed too. "That's more of a compliment than an insult."
Jerry gritted his teeth and took a heavy breath. "Get the fuck away from me! I know my rights! You can't do this!"
Elliot pulled his head up by his hair and looked firmly in his eyes while Fin cuffed him. "You lost all your rights when you went after Olivia."
Munch yanked him from the floor and pushed him towards the door.
With a broad grin, Jerry laughed. "Go ahead, take me away. I've already had my fun with Olivia."
Elliot punched him in the jaw. "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have the right to an attorney, if you can't afford one, the court will appoint one for you..."
***
Doctor Herrera waited patiently in the lobby as she watched Elliot walk quickly in. Grimacing, she prepared to deliver the news. "Elliot, I'm sorry to have to say this, but according to the lab results of all of Detective Olivia Benson's injuries, we've found it's almost certain that she will never be able to bear children."
Elliot looked momentarily confused. "Why are you telling me this?"
She flushed slightly. "I assumed you two were...together. Not to mention, since her mother is deceased, you are the only listed family member."
He nodded. "We are actually together, I guess you're right. I...uh, thanks." He didn't look very thankful, but forced himself to look past it. 'Would Olivia want to have children after that anyhow?' "How is she doing otherwise?"
Doctor Herrera smiled faintly. "Not much change, but any change at all so far has been for the better so not all hope is lost..." She tried to look sympathetic, but he could tell that she had little hope for Olivia's recovery.
Detective Stabler watched her for a long moment. "Hope was never lost. Olivia's going to pull through, it's just a matter of when."
She seemed touched by the sentiment and smiled. "Of course. My apologies Detective Stabler."
Unsure if he could handle seeing her, Elliot drove back to the precinct to find Cragen awaiting him. "Elliot, can I speak with you in my office?"
Elliot nodded and followed him in. A young woman was in the office; she smiled politely and greeted him.
Cragen introduced the lady officer. "This is Detective Ryan Jamerson from the 31st precinct."
The detective held out a hand. "You can just call me Ryan. How do you do?"
Elliot smiled politely. "I'm fine, thank you Detective Jamerson, it's a pleasure to meet you, and I'm Detective Elliot Stabler."
Cragen waited for a moment. "Detective Jamerson will be your partner until Olivia recovers. After, I'm thinking of adding another team to SVU. Jamerson will be one of the two if everything goes as planned."
The female detective looked straight in to Cragen's eyes. "I know what rape looks like first hand Sir, I think I can stomach it." He handed her a file.
"Here's your first case Detective." He nodded and granted them both leave.
Jamerson walked out, reading the file. "Seven year old girl found in a garbage can. Raped, murdered. Cause of death was heart failure."
Elliot shook his head in remorse. "How did she die of heart failure? Isn't that a little far fetched?" He could feel his temper rise a bit; it would be even harder to control without Olivia with him.
Ryan looked up. "Not quite...it says in the file that the perp drugged her...the drug inhibited her ability to breath...so when he raped her, she went in to cardiac arrest and died because of lack of oxygen."
Stabler sighed heavily. "This is going to be a gruesome one."
Looking up at Elliot, she smiled. "Shall we start with the parents?"
Nodding, he examined his temporary partner for a moment. She had grey eyes that looked like storms. Each one it's own individual tempest. Endlessly thick dark brown hair fell in front of her eyes as she read the file. Her tresses were wavy and moved as with her as she walked. Her smile was soft and her skin reminded him of porcelain. She looked like a doll, not a cop, to him. Elliot wondered how she managed, looking so thin and fragile. She was wearing a bright blue shirt with a black camisole underneath. Her chest was rather small, but she was thin. Black jeans and a navy blue jacket finished off her ensemble. She was wearing white tennis shoes that must have been brand new. "Let's get out of here." As they approached the car, he smiled. "I drive."
She chuckled lightly. "Sure thing." Getting in to the passenger's seat, she waited for him to get in. Absentmindedly, Ryan ran her finger over the face on the picture. The girl was Hispanic, and looked so adorable. Her hair was braided into pigtails and she was wearing a blue dress with flowers on it. Ryan's heart went out to her poor mother. Elliot started the car.
"You sure you can handle this?"
Ryan looked at him, as if offended. "I'm quite capable Elliot, it's just that I feel bad for her mother. No mother wants to hear that her seven year old daughter was raped and murdered."
He nodded. "You're right on that one. Where's the apartment?"
Jamerson glanced at the report. "It says she lived at 413 East 3rd Street. The little girl had on one of those medical bands. She had diabetes. Without that, we'd still be searching for a mother."
Keeping his eye on the road, Stabler nodded. "Sure."
"What's wrong?"
He continued driving. "Nothing."
"Look, I know what happened to Olivia looks bad...but she'll get past it. I know."
Unwilling to think too deep into that comment, Elliot nervously returned to his driving and they drove for a while in silence. He broke it. "So, what happened to you? You said you were raped?"
Detective Jamerson snickered. "Yeah. When I was twenty-two. It tore me apart. I was always going to parties and did some stuff with a couple boys so most people I told about my rape said I deserved it. The guy picked me up outside a party one day and held me captive for four days." She looked out the window. "He got me pregnant...but also saw to it that I could not have another child after that the way he maimed me."
Elliot's ears perked up. "Wait...did he stab you? More specifically...between your legs?"
Ryan's head whipped around. "How the hell did you know that?" She didn't know whether to be frightened or suspicious.
He grimaced. "That's the same perp that raped Olivia. We have him in jail awaiting trial."
Her eyes returned to her window. "I see."
Elliot stopped the car and parallel parked at the corner. "We're here." Getting out of the car and locking it, he walked up to the doorstep. Ringing the buzzer, he announced himself as a cop.
Ryan joined him as the door opened and she wrapped her arms tight around herself. "It's chilly."
Detective Stabler turned to her. "Maybe it's just the memories..." He knew just the memory of finding Olivia made him cold.
A shorter woman with long black hair looked at the two. "Hello, can I help you?"
Ryan smiled. "Yes, I'm Detective Jamerson, this is Detective Stabler."
Her eyes went wide. "Are you here about my Rosalinda? Is she okay? Oh no!" She raised a hand to her mouth. "What happened to her?"
Detective Jamerson put a hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, let's talk upstairs."
As they headed upstairs, Elliot whispered to Ryan. "Don't be so easy on her, it won't make it any easier in the long run."
Ryan gave him a heavy stare. "Let me do my job."
He muttered under his breath. "It's my job too." His thoughts wandered to Olivia. 'It's her job too...but she can't do it because of me.' He shook his head. "Hey, since it seems you can handle this...mind if I go down to the hospital to see Olivia?"
Detective Jamerson's expression softened. "Not at all, go on ahead. I can handle this." She continued up the stairs as Elliot called and asked Munch and Fin to bring another sedan here for Miss Jamerson to take home. He paused. 'Is it Miss Jamerson?' He couldn't recall seeing a wedding band, but he didn't recollect the absence of one either. Shrugging, he pulled a u-turn and headed back to midtown, to the hospital.
***
Once Mrs. Rivera was calm, Ryan sat next to her. "I just need you to look at this photograph and confirm that this is your daughter." As she got the picture from the file, she was glad the girl had one on file at the doctor's office because she would not have shown the body to any mother. "Don't worry, it's a professional photo from the doctor's office."
When Mrs. Rivera looked at it nervously, she burst in to tears. "Yes, that's my Rosalinda..."
Ryan grimaced. "I'm sorry Mam."
Mrs. Rivera looked up at the Detective. "Who did this to my baby?"
Detective Jamerson looked at her sincerely. "That's what we're trying to find out. Was there anyone who might have wanted to kill Rosalinda?"
After a long moment of deep thought, Mrs. Rivera looked up at Ryan. "Only two people knew her and where that sick that I can think of." The woman shuddered lightly. "A teenage boy who used to baby-sit her didn't like her much. She told other girls that he was a bully or something like that and he couldn't get a job around the area. The only other person would be...her father. He's married...and he won't pay child support or acknowledge us. He said if I ever talked to his wife that he would kill her." She started to cry. "I spoke with her yesterday..." She sobbed heavily.
Ryan frowned lightly. "Thank you Mrs. Rivera. I promise you I will get this guy, for you and your little girl. Can you give me the names of those two men?"
She nodded slowly. "Matteo Sanchez and Ricky Simon."
Writing down some notes, she looked back up at the poor woman. "I'm going to need their addresses and telephone numbers if you could."
Mrs. Rivera stood. "I'll go get those. One moment." She was in so much pain, Ryan felt horrible for being the bearer of bad news, but bringing this family justice would make her feel somewhat better.
When she returned with an address book, Ryan jotted down the information and stood up. "Well, if there is anything else or anyone else you happen to remember, call us." She handed her a card. "And if we need anything else we will call you. Again, I'm terribly sorry for you loss Mrs. Rivera."
She smiled weakly. "Thank you for helping my baby."
Ryan nodded and showed herself out, smiling when she found another sedan waiting for her. Like she guessed, the keys were resting on top of the exhaust pipe. She got in and drove away.
***
Elliot stared at Olivia for a long moment. "Sweetheart, I've got a temporary partner for now." He smiled falsely. "She reminds me a great deal of you." He rubbed his thumb over her soft skin. "I miss you so much Olivia. Come back to me, and to all of us down at the station."
***
When Ryan returned to the precinct, Elliot was waiting. She held up her notes. "Two possible perps."
Cragen examined the notes. "Good. Munch, Fin I want you two to check out this Matteo punk. Stabler, you and Jamerson get Simon."
Ryan walked out of the room and down the stairs. "Olivia must be a real nice girl, everyone is trying their hardest lately."
Elliot smiled. "She was one of the cops who would fight even if it meant her own life, that's why she's in a coma. A perp took interest in her, and he escaped jail before his trial and attacked her."
Jamerson frowned as they got in the car. "I'm sorry that you all had to go through this. I have been looking for the bastard since he raped me. If I had found him..."
Stabler laughed for a long moment. "Now I know why every tells me not to blame myself, it's hard to listen to without saying it."
Ryan chuckled softly. "Yeah, but if you're thinking it, you might as well say it."
Elliot shrugged and continued driving towards 1512 Seventh Avenue, the address of the potential perp. When he put the car in park, Ryan got out and left her jacket in the car. When Stabler gave her a questioning look, she laughed. "I don't want to chase him in a jacket. It has bad aerodynamics and it's restraining."
Detective Stabler laughed. "Maybe this won't be such a bad pairing after all. It could be good for me."
Ryan winked and the two headed for his apartment. "NYPD here to talk to Ricky Simon." The buzzer let them up and his wife answered the door. She was a nice blond lady about 5'3". She seemed rather homey to Ryan.
"You're a Detective?"
With a partially annoyed look, Ryan nodded. "Yes. Is your husband home?"
She showed them in. "He will be home in fifteen minutes or so. I'm his wife, Cristina."
Ryan smiled. "We are investigating some rumors about his employer and we need to ask him a few questions, privately."
Cristina nodded. "I have to do some grocery shopping anyway. Would either of you like a cup of coffee?"
Stabler smiled. "No, thank you though."
Ryan was about to say 'yes', but the look Elliot gave her convinced her to decline. "No thank you Mam."
Elliot laughed. "How come you don't call me Sir?"
She raised her dark brown eyebrow. "Sir implies respect." She laughed lightly. "No, I was raised in a military household, anyone older than me in Sir or Mam."
Stabler nodded. "How old are you?"
Cristina laughed. "Men never learn. Didn't your mother ever tell you it's rude to ask a woman's age?"
Elliot laughed. "She can call me unworthy of respect and I can't ask her age? Besides..." He grinned. "She's my partner."
Ryan laughed. "I'm twenty-seven."
Stabler laughed. "Then it's Sir to you Detective Jamerson."
She rolled her eyes. "Yes Sir, Detective Stabler!"
Cristina smiled. "You two get along well. Do you enjoy your job? I always wanted to be a police officer."
Ryan grew somewhat solemn. "We investigate sexually based offenses, so it's not a walk in the park."
Elliot rolled his eyes. "We also handle corporate affairs."
Jamerson's eyes went slightly wide and she nodded. "That's right, the two units merged a couple months ago."
Cristina smiled. "I see."
Elliot looked at his watch, just as the door opened. "Ricky Simon?"
He looked from Ryan to Elliot before turning around and running back downstairs. Ryan leaped up faster than Elliot and ran down the stairs in a sprint. "STOP! POLICE!"
Elliot caught up at the corner and helped her pin him and cuff him. He smiled at her. "Nice catch."
She laughed. "It's all in a days work."
Ricky looked at the two. "What do you want?"
Elliot smirked; he loved interrogation. "Obviously you know or you wouldn't have run."
He looked at Detective Jamerson for a long moment. "You don't look like a cop."
She pulled out her gun and aimed it between his legs. "Wanna test my aim asshole?" She put the gun away when he flinched. "That's what I thought. Now tell us where you were three nights ago around seven pm."
Ricky rambled for a while. "I think I was on my way home from work."
Elliot grinned. "What time did you leave work?"
"Umm...about six I think." He sighed heavily. "Look, can we do this somewhere else and without handcuffs?"
Ryan nodded. "If you cut the bullshit and stop running like a sissy."
He frowned and Elliot took him back to the sedan. "Ryan, tell Mrs. Simon that she can pick up her husband around eight am tomorrow at the precinct."
She went back up to the apartment, grabbed Elliot's trench coat, which he'd removed on the run, and relayed the message without any explanation. Hurrying downstairs, she got in the car and Stabler headed for the precinct.
***
Elliot walked into the interrogation room, and too many memories surfaced when he saw Ricky try and sweet talk Ryan. He punched him in the jaw. "Shut up and just answer the questions."
Ryan blushed slightly and sat down. "What time did you arrive home?"
He paused. "Around eight?"
Elliot laughed. "Where do you work?"
"Down on Broadway, why? Am I under arrest? I want a lawyer!" Ricky looked rather distraught when no one acknowledged his claim.
Ryan laughed at his cowardice. "No need to get a lawyer, this is just routine questioning."
He laughed. "Your friend over there just punched me!"
She shrugged. "You hit on me, that's called sexual harassment. Deal with it. Now, how in the world do you take two hours getting from Broadway to your apartment? Oh that's right, you stopped on your way and raped this little girl! She was walking home from her friends house two buildings down but you got to her first. Do you like barrettes and pink bows? Do those kinds of things turn you on? How about pigtails?"
Elliot smiled silently. 'She's good...she may be able to crack this guy without tag teaming him.' He walked out. "I am going to see how the ordeal with Matteo is doing."
Ryan showed him a picture of Rosalinda. "You know the one thing you messed up on Ricky? She was your fucking daughter!"
He pushed the photos away. "I didn't do it. I don't have a daughter."
She grinned. "Then consent to a DNA test."
Looking trapped between a rock, being Ryan's interrogation, and a hard place, getting caught via DNA, he frowned. "What do I have to do?"
She grinned and showed him to Alex. "Wanna take over?"
Alexandra Cabot, the ADA, smiled. "Surely. Thanks Detective."
Ryan smiled. "No problem. Where'd my partner wander off to?"
Alex pointed down the hall to the other interrogation room. "He's trying to help Fin with Matteo, the kid only understands Spanish."
Jamerson cracked her knuckles. "I see." With a faint smile, the two parted and Ryan walked up to Fin. "How's my partner doing?"
Fin turned and smiled. "Hey Ryan. Neither of us can really understand him but from what we gather, we think he saw something, or heard, that he won't tell yet. Probably playing dumb because the real perp told him to."
Ryan grinned. "I know Spanish, let me talk to the kid for a minute. By the way, Alex is handling the real perp now, her father. How sick can these people be? He claimed he didn't even know it was his daughter!"
He laughed lightly. "Wait for the insanity plea." He rolled his eyes. He smiled. "I'm proud of you, we all are. Most cops can't stomach these type of crimes. Go on in there and help Elliot out."
She nodded. "I can understand why most cops can't handle this stuff, but I'm in for the long haul if Cragen will have me."
Fin smiled. "He's talking about adding a team, so you will have a partner to train."
Ryan laughed. "Shut up Fin." She patted his back as she walked in to the interrogation room to translate for Elliot.
"Go get 'em." Fin walked away with a sly grin on his face and winked.
"Well?" Ryan looked up at Elliot.
Elliot shrugged. "You tell me what he's saying."
"¿Qué sabes acerca de Rosalinda?"
Matteo frowned. "Sólo un poco. Su padre estaba enojado con su madre sobre su esposa. Yo no sé si él la podría matar pero es posible."
Ryan frowned. "Gracias chico, hizolo ve algo?"
"No. ¿Puedo salir yo ahora?"
She nodded. "Sí, pero primero, necesitas darme su dirección."
He wrote down his address and nodded. "Aquí, chao." He walked out slowly.
Ryan turned to Elliot. "He said he didn't know much, only that her dad was mad at her mom for talking to his wife and that he didn't know if her father would kill her but it was a possibility."
Stabler shook his head. "I knew I should have taken a foreign language."
Jamerson pretended to be admiring her nails and grinned. "I am a pro. I also got Ricky to break."
Elliot laughed. "Rookie. Now, did you get a confession?"
"I left him with the choice of DNA sample or confession the hard way. He's with Alex giving the sample now. He's guilty; I know it. The funny thing was, he didn't even know it was his daughter."
Stabler nodded. "Go figure. That's got to be a blow for him, regardless."
Ryan shifted lightly, becoming more distant. "A man like him doesn't have a heart." She waved, putting on a false smile. "See ya' tomorrow. Stay safe." Walking out of the precinct, she drove home silently.
***
Elliot sat in front of Olivia's bed. "We got another one. Ryan, my temporary partner, she's a good cop. She nailed the perp today. I still miss you so much though. You have to come back Olivia. You have to...we all need you, and if you didn't meet Ryan then you'd be missing out on a good friend. She's ready for this kind of stuff. She could use a female role model for her to learn from though. One like you Olivia...come back, please." He gripped her hand tightly and fell asleep in his chair in the hospital.
***
Ryan tried to endure the nightmares; they haunted her nightly. 'No! I said no!' Fighting, kicking, and screaming...it happened all over again every night. When she sat up quickly, soaked in fear-drenched sweat, she sighed. 'I hope poor Olivia never has to go through something like this.' She walked sleepily in to her bathroom to shower. She wouldn't be able to sleep again tonight.
***
Elliot watched Olivia. He heard that Kathy had been released this afternoon. She would have picked up the kids right away. He sighed; he wished he could have been a better husband to her... 'and a better partner to Olivia.' His heart ached watching her lying there. 'I'm waiting Olivia, no matter how long it takes, I'll be waiting.'
***End Chapter One***
