"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

__________________________________________________________________________

Last time:

A chill went up Ryan's spine. 'Sean?' What did he want with her cell number? 'Is he after me again? How could he have known about Alex and me? Did he know Alex?' She shuddered. 'I have to talk to Casey about the entailments of a restraining order.' Getting in to the shower worriedly, Ryan frowned. 'If Alex knew him, maybe he was after her too.' The warm water did little for her nerves as she washed her hair. 'I thought he was long gone. Bastard. I'll get him for what he did...'

__________________________________________________________________________

Chapter Eight

Debt of Innocence

Fin sat down at his desk and frowned. Elliot was off for the next two days and that left him as the odd man out. Starting on the paper work for Munch and his last case, he sighed. The black coffee tasted refreshing sliding down his throat and helped wake him up. Ryan was due, along with Munch, any moment. It was almost time for lunch, and they'd elected to go out together.

As he reached for his cell phone to call the, around 12:15, he noticed a girl sitting nervously at on one of the benches just outside of the bullpen. He stood up and approached her. She was repeatedly biting her upper lip and rubbing the underside of her right arm. Her long brown hair was tousled and unbrushed. Fin leaned down slightly. "My name's Detective Tutuola. Can I help you?"

She quickly pulled the sleeve of her grey sweatshirt down over the track marks her heroine addiction had left. "I-I don't know. M-maybe."

He frowned. When she finally looked up at him, something about the girl's appearance looked familiar. She had strikingly dark doe-like eyes that held his attention for a long moment. "What's your name Miss?"

Keeping his gaze, she laughed. "Not Miss, that's for sure. My name's Grace."

Fin sat next to her. "What's your last name?"

She scooted away from him. "It doesn't matter. I can't say here."

He nodded. "Okay. Who sent you here?"

Grace turned back to him. "A policeman. I told him I needed to report a rape and he directed me here."

Fin smiled faintly. "That's good. This is the SVU, the rape unit. Will you please come with me Grace?"

She nodded slowly and followed him over to his desk. He motioned for her to sit. "Now, when were you raped?"

          Grace bit her lip again and fidgeted anxiously. Fin could tell she was aching to get a hit. He would keep her here as long as he could. "Two days ago."

Fin assumed that she probably didn't go to the hospital because she was high at the time but it couldn't hurt to ask. "Did you go to the hospital afterwards?"

She shook her head negatively. "I couldn't. They would've found out."

"Found out what?"

Grace frowned. "I wasn't using if that's what you think." She sounded very serious. Her brown eyes were defiant. "I'm, I'm pregnant. I quit when I found out three weeks back and it's still killin' me."

Fin nodded. "That's good, that's real good that you quit." She shrugged and started to fidget again. "Did you know the man who raped you?"

She shook her head. "I was at my boyfriend's apartment tryin' to get him to quit too. When I walked out of the apartment, he was watching me through the window. I blew him a kiss but as I started to look back at the street, this guy grabbed me."

He scribbled notes down as she talked. "Do you think your boyfriend may have seen him? Or knew him?"

Grace nodded. "I know he must've seen him, I don't know if he knew him or not."

Fin smiled. "Can you give me your boyfriend's name and address?"

She gave him a weak smile. "Yes. His name's Roberto Rodriguez. His lives at 1644 West 88th street. Um, could you give me a ride there? I really don't want to walk, I'm so paranoid now-a-days."

Staring at her for a few moments, still struggling to figure out why she looked so familiar, and nodded. "Sure." He headed out to the lot with her. As she walked beside him, he noticed she was taller than most and rather skinny, though that was probably from drug use. She was wearing a pair of Levi's that were starting to wear thin. Her grey sweatshirt was concealing a black halter-top that accented her pale skin. "Hey, do you have siblings?"

Pausing for moment as she buckled her seatbelt, she shook her head. "No. I have no family."

Fin couldn't help but pick up on the denial there, but shrugged it off. "Do you need any help staying clean? It's really important to your child."

She nodded. "I know. I'm doing fine."

It hurt Fin to think that poor girl was trying to fight this alone with her boyfriend using. He'd seen it tear people apart, and this girl seemed so fragile. She reminded him of a doll. 'That's it!' He turned to her as he made a quick right hand turn. "Do you know Detective Ryan Jamerson?"

Grace stared at him for a moment and shook her head. "No. Why?"

He smiled at her. "You remind me of her somehow. You look a lot alike, except she's got grey eyes and she's a bit taller."

Shrugging, Grace pointed out the right side of the car. "It's right there."

Fin pulled in to a sharp parallel parking spot and smiled. "Did I scare you?"

She shook her head. "Nice job though." Getting out, she walked up to the building and looked upward. Yelling, she smiled. "Bobby!"

No one replied. Grace frowned and walked upstairs. Fin followed close behind her. When she opened the apartment door, Fin got a run of adrenaline. Her face contorted with dismay. "NO!"

Fin rushed in and saw the dark skinned man in his late-twenties lying on the floor unconscious. The needle was still in his arm. Flipping his cell open, Fin called 911. "This is Odafin Tutuola, badge number..."

***

Ryan walked in to the station with Munch. "I can't believe it. I know he did it. It was him and we can't get that damned warrant because we don't have enough on him."

Munch frowned lightly. "It's okay. We'll get some more evidence against him and then we'll get the warrant and arrest the bastard."

Nodding slowly and absentmindedly, Ryan couldn't help but be slightly depressed. "Where's Fin?" When he shrugged, Samantha grabbed her cell. Calling him, she leaned against her desk lightly.

"Tutuola."

Samantha smiled. "It's Sam. Where are you?"

He swore lightly under his breath. "I won't be able to make it. I'm at the hospital with a victim. Her boyfriend's ODed."

Ryan frowned. "I'm sorry. Call us when you get off and we might still be at lunch."

Fin laughed. "Maybe. Okay, well, I have to go and get back in there."

She nodded. "See you later." Hanging up the phone, Ryan shook her head. "He's a no show. He's at the hospital. Where do you want to go?"

Munch shrugged. "Anywhere with food."

Ryan laughed lightly. "Hey, why don't we pay Olivia a visit? I know Elliot's with Kathy's parents going over her will and such so Olivia might be kind of lonely."

He acquiesced and smirked. "She may dislike the intrusion."

Samantha turned to him as she grabbed her leather jacket and batted her eyes. "Do you really think I care? She'll like it." Taking the keys, she headed out of the station with Munch.

***

Olivia nervously looked through the peephole in her door before opening it with a smile on her face. "Hey you two!"

She opened the wrought iron door and smiled. "Come on in!"

Ryan noticed she was wearing a baby blue t-shirt, which plunged a little lower than what she usually wore in public, and a pair of loose and very comfortable looking jeans. "You look good!" Samantha hugged her softly and smiled as Munch trailed behind them.

Olivia glanced at her watch. "I have to leave to pick up Elizabeth, Dickie and Kathleen around 2."

Munch noted that it was 12:45 now. "We won't be that long, we just thought we'd pay you a visit."

Smiling, Olivia led them in to the kitchen. "You want coffee?" Ryan got up and started making some with a smile.

"Don't let us be a bother Olivia. I know where everything is."

Olivia shook her head and chased Ryan back around the island and started to make a pot of coffee. "Munch?"

John smiled. "Coffee sounds great."

Ryan glanced at the latest issue of Cosmopolitan, right next to Parenthood magazine, and laughed. "You read these too?"

Olivia nodded. "I think they're every girl's guilty pleasure."

Munch glanced at the cover and sighed. "Not Cosmo."

Ryan gave him a falsely innocent look as she grabbed the sugar and Coffeemate from the cupboard. "You drink it black don't you John?"

He nodded. "It's the only way."

Sighing, Ryan added sugar to her cup and laughed. "It's a male thing obviously."

Olivia nodded and grabbed a jug of ginger ale out of the fridge. "You have no idea how hard it is to go without my morning coffee. It's torture I swear."

Ryan laughed again. "I can imagine."

Pouring herself a beverage, Olivia smiled. "Have either of you had lunch yet?"

John shook his head. "Actually, that's where we were headed after this." Ryan nodded her agreement as she drank from the coffee cup.

Olivia smiled. "What would you like?"

Samantha shook her head. "Oh no, we can't intrude."

John laughed at her false courtesy and turned back to Olivia. "I don't know, what were you intending on having for lunch?"

She grinned. "A peanut butter and pickle sandwich."

Ryan cringed. "Tell me you're joking..."

Olivia nodded. "I am. Honestly I was just going to heat up some leftover chicken noodle soup and barbeque ribs maybe."

John grinned. "Well, unless the ribs are completely kosher, I think I'll go with chicken noodle soup."

Ryan nodded. "Me too, if you're offering, I eat chicken."

Olivia laughed. "I was offering." She pulled a large Tupperware bowl out of the fridge and poured it into a pot sitting on the oven. "It'll be ready soon."

Samantha frowned. "Sit down Liv, you're making me nervous. You're the one who's pregnant."

Glancing down at her obtrusive stomach, Olivia acted surprised. "Oh! Would you look at that? I had no idea!" Rolling her eyes slowly, she gave Ryan a 'don't-treat-me-different-because-I'm-pregnant-or-you'll-regret-it' look. Ryan took note.

The chicken noodle soup finished the three detectives sat around the table eating contently. Making short conversation and enjoying the soup, Ryan smiled.

"So, Munch, where do you want to start looking for evidence to get this warrant?"

John shrugged. "I was thinking the vic. Since the beginning I've been getting a feeling that she's hold out on us. She might talk."

Ryan sighed. "She won't talk to me or you. You're male and I remind her of her little sister." Rolling her eyes, she recalled when Karen had told her that.

Olivia laughed. "She honestly said that?"

John nodded. "It was quite amusing."

Ryan glared daggers at him. "It was amusing for you. Her little sister lives in Queens."

Olivia looked up. "Did you ever ask the vic why she couldn't talk to someone who looked like her sister?"

Samantha shook her head. "I figured because it was too hard to tell her little sister she was raped. Maybe she hasn't even told her."

Benson shook her head. "Will you two let me talk to her? I've got a hunch."

Munch frowned. "Aren't you on maternity leave?" He motioned to her stomach.

Jamerson laughed. "Is that really a question?"

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Just let me talk to her. It'll help you both out."

John nodded. "Sounds good. Sam, you have her number right?"

"Uh, yeah. Somewhere in here." Samantha flipped open her phone and began to search. "Karen Wright, right?"

"Yeah." John laughed lightly at the homonym. "Can you drive yourself down to the station house Olivia?"

Giving him a noxious look, Olivia stood up. "I'm not dying guys. I'm fine, look." She turned around a few times, not even leaning backward to support the weight of the child.

Ryan smiled. "Do you two have a name picked out yet?"

"I don't know. I haven't really talked to Elliot about a name. The kids like Kyle though."

John watched her face light up when she talked about Elliot's children. "I hear you're taking on the whole family."

Olivia looked puzzled. "Why not? They're great kids and I owe Elliot my life. He saved me when Hobson attacked me. I would've died."

A silent pause of remorse filled the room and Ryan stood up. "Well, let's go down to the station then." She held her cell phone up to her ear. After a few moments, she began to talk. "Hello. Karen Wright? This is Detective Jamerson, remember me?" Karen responded. "I was wondering if you could come down to the precinct and talk with a fellow detective of mine. She'd like to talk to you about the case." More talking from Karen caused silence to hover over the room yet again. "Great. Thank you so much. Uh-huh. You too. Okay, bye."

Looking up, she nodded. "Let's go." John handed her the keys and Olivia grabbed hers.

"Do you think Cragen will get mad?"

Ryan paused. "Olivia, Cragen always gets mad. Don't worry about it. I'll take the heat for even bringing the case up around you."

She nodded. "Okay. I'll call Maureen to pick up the kids from school."

***

Karen bit her lip nervously "I used to feel safe in my own home. I used to like it when men thought I was attractive. Now, my husband wants a divorce because I can't make love to him without crying."

          Olivia frowned. "I know how you feel."

          She sighed heavily. "No, you don't."

          Benson raised her shirtsleeve up enough to reveal the fading scars from her handcuffs. "Yes, I do. I'm afraid to sleep with Elliot at night...but I'm even more afraid to sleep without him by my side."

          The vic nodded. "Okay. I get your point." Karen stared at the table. "What do I have to do?"

          Olivia looked sadly at her. "You have to testify against him...in open court."

          Tears sprang anew. "I can't."

          Detective Benson took her hands. "The guy who raped me, and seven other women, was on trial, but since I didn't testify, he was only convicted of six out of the eight counts; I doubt my fellow SVU Detective will ever forgive me for it. You need to testify. Do it for you, and for any other victims who wouldn't...or couldn't...come forward.

Karen shook her head, "You don't understand." Wiping her eyes softly with a tissue, she sniffled slightly. "He threatened to hurt Heather if I did anything."

Realization dawned on Ryan as she watched and listened. "She knows him."

"Olivia will get her to talk." John looked very sure of Olivia's ability so Ryan took comfort in that and continued to watch.

"That's why she didn't want to talk to me. She kept thinking of her sister and how much danger she was putting her sister in."

John nodded sadly.

Olivia frowned. "Who is he Karen? We can protect your sister. Once he's in jail, he won't be able to hurt her or you."

Karen looked doubtful. "What if he doesn't get convicted?"

"Look." Olivia looked up at her earnestly. "He will not hurt your sister."

"Okay." Karen folded her hands together slightly. "It was my best friend's boyfriend, Kenneth James."

Ryan sighed with relief. "I thought she was going to say Jamerson."

"That's just what you'd need right now." John smiled somewhat halfheartedly and put a comforting hand on her shoulder.

***

Knocking on the door of the house, Ryan frowned. The drizzle that had started on their way here was getting heavier. "Mr. James. Police, open the door."

"Mr. James!" John twisted the knob of the door and it opened. "Let's check it out. We have the arrest warrant."

Ryan nodded. Walking in, she cleared the living room and kitchen. "Clear."

John had drifted down the hallway and she decided to check out the backyard. She heard John yell clear a few times from inside as she nervously walked out. She cried out in surprise as someone grabbed her. She kicked him hard in the shin several times. "JOHN!"

Munch ran out to see Kenneth James with a knife to Ryan throat. Samantha's eyes weren't scared, but calculating. Surprising James, she elbowed him in the ribs and bent down, ducking out of the line of fire. Without hesitation, John let off two rounds from his clip.

"Shit." Ryan rolled out of the way and stood up. Standing up and checking Kenneth for a pulse, she frowned. "It's really faint. Call EMS and I'll see what I can do."

One bullet definitely hit his lung; all she could do with that was compress that one. Against all conscience, she tried to save his life. The second bullet had broken his clavicle and gone through his deltoid muscles. She tore off her collared shirt, she had a small bra-top underneath. Pressing her black shirt against his bleeding chest, she tried to slow the tremendous amount of blood that was seeping from his wounds. John tossed her his shirt too and she used it to cover the other wound. He was still on the phone with EMS.

John finally got off the phone and assisted her with compressing the wounds. What had started as soft rain was now a downpour of drenching rainfall. "He's loosing a lot of blood."

Ryan's hands and arms were drenched in blood and she knew she had it on her face too from tying her hair back. Kenneth was breathing laboriously under her and his eyes were closed to keep the rain out. He opened them for a moment and looked straight at Ryan. "Thank you."

"Don't thank me. If I had a choice, I wouldn't be doing this." She looked up at John. "Can you handle this? I'll show EMS out here."

He nodded, knowing that she couldn't stand this guy anymore. EMS came in shortly after she left and picked up where the two had left off. The paramedic thanked them. "You saved his life."

"Damn." Samantha looked upward at the storm clouds, letting her white bra-top get even wetter, not caring any longer. Short little hairs that framed her features were now weighted against her face from the rain. The long cascades of coffee that she'd tied back were dripping rainwater now. She was drenched. The cool rain soothed her ragged and threadbare composition. John stood about six or seven feet away, waiting for her. The rain had soaked him too, and now he stood under the patio with a jacket on. She spread her arms out slowly and continued to stare upward. For about another ten minutes she stood like that. Finally, she turned back to Munch. Her mascara had dripped down her face and blood still clung her to porcelain face.

"Let's go Sam." He put an arm around her and escorted her to the sedan, taking the key from her. "I'll drive." Opening the door for her and then walking back around, he turned the heater on immediately because Ryan was shaking furiously.

***

Fin ran out in the downpour. John had called him ten minutes ago and asked him to help him carry Ryan in. She was sleeping. Fin saw her walking slowly towards the steps up the station. "Sam!" He took his jacket and wrapped it around her. "Are you okay?"

She shook her head. "I need to get the blood off."

Munch was standing by the car still and shook his head. "I have to go talk to IAB. I shot the guy. He had a knife to her throat."

"Okay. Don't worry about Samantha, I've got her." He led her in to the station house. "You want to wash up?"

She nodded weakly. "I have a change of clothes in my locker." Sam walked over and pulled a pair of jeans and a tank top out. Fin walked her in to the bathroom and turned the shower on.

He put his hands on her shoulders. "Are you sure you're okay?"

Samantha gave him a half-smile. "You're not going to see me naked. Sorry."

Unable to contain a laugh, he nodded. "You sound fine to me. I'll make some coffee or something so you can warm up." He walked back out in to the bullpen as Ryan peeled off her bloody and wet clothing.

***

Olivia smiled as she set the table. Everyone was going to be home for dinner tonight. She'd had to buy a new dining room table but it fit fine. Setting five places and trying to hide her joy, she called Elizabeth and Dickie down for dinner. "Liz, Dickie! Dinner!"

Kathleen walked in with another girl about her age right behind her. She smiled and introduced her. "Olivia, this is Rebecca, I was wondering if she could stay for dinner."

Rebecca shook Olivia's hand politely. "Nice to meet you Mrs. Stabler." She had cheery green eyes and long blond hair that fell to her chest. Her skin was pale and slightly freckled. She didn't really seem as mature as Kathleen, but Olivia knew she was more than slightly biased.

Olivia laughed. "No, no. I'm Olivia Benson."

Kathleen smiled, thankful for Olivia's honesty. "Can she stay?"

"Of course. I probably cooked too much anyway. I still don't know how much to cook." She sighed heavily and placed a hand on her abdomen, her stomach growing each day. "Could you set the last setting for me Kathleen? I have to go get the twins. They obviously didn't hear me.

Climbing wearily up the stairs, she heard Kathleen talking to Rebecca. "She's so sweet. She and my dad get along perfectly. They're going to get married someday, but they act like high schoolers about it."

Rebecca smiled. "I'm glad she's great fun. She seems nice. How far along is she?"

Kathleen grinned, enjoying talking about her little brother. "Five months. Olivia will make a great mother; she's so excited about it. She's good to us too. I'll show you my new room after dinner."

Plates clambered around. A silent pause filled the air. "Don't you ever miss your mom?"

More silence. Kathleen's voice audibly sobered. "I think of her every day. I know she wouldn't want us to grieve though. I have to be strong for Elizabeth. She cries every night. I cried a lot at first, but I think it's better for me to stay strong for her and Dickie."

Rebecca nodded. "That's good."

Olivia, feeling guilty about eavesdropping, ran up the stairs faster. She opened the door to Elizabeth and Kathleen's room. "Liz." She was sitting at the desk with the lamp on. A schoolbook sat open in front of her and she looked utterly distressed.

"Olivia, I can't eat until I finish my math homework, but this is impossible!" She looked up sadly and gave defeated sigh.

"Here, let me see." She sat on the bed next to her. "What kind of math is it?"

Elizabeth frowned and showed her the problem. "I have to find out how big that angle is."

Olivia smiled. "Ah, geometry. Well, how many degrees are in a triangle?"

"One-hundred and eighty." Transcribing the triangle on to her paper, she shrugged. "I still don't know what to do."

"Look here." She pointed to the square angle in the corner of the triangle. "What kind of an angle is that?"

Elizabeth sighed. "A right angle."

Olivia nodded. "How many degrees is that?"

"Ninety." She filled that in on her paper. "And this one is sixty. So the last one is..." she thought for a moment, "Thirty."

"Exactly. Now what's part B?"

Elizabeth sighed. "Find the area." Her voice was accompanied by a very unhappy groan. "I hate this math."

Olivia smiled and hugged her softly. "What's the formula for the area of a triangle?"

"1/2base times the height."

"Good." Olivia motioned for her to write it down. "Now, that's the base?"

Elizabeth frowned. "I don't know."

Olivia pointed to the book. "Look. The two triangles' bases total thirty-six. So what's half of thirty-six?"

Entering it in to her small basic calculator, she smiled. "Eighteen."

"Correct." She watched Elizabeth write it down. "And so, nine is the 1/2base part."

"Umhm. Now all you need is the height."

Elizabeth sighed. "That's given. It's twelve. So the answer is..." her nimble fingers pressed the calculator buttons urgently, "One-hundred and eight."

Olivia smiled. "See? Is it that hard?"

Shaking her head, she stood up and closed her book. "Can we eat now?"

That's when Elliot came home. Kathleen could be heard downstairs talking to him. "Go say hi to your dad first."

She took off downstairs. "Daddy!"

Olivia walked out and smiled at him from upstairs. She was wearing a black tank top that was getting too tight and a pair of navy blue sweats. Olivia knocked softly on Dickie's door and opened it. He was playing Playstation 2. "What game you playing?"

He turned around. "Halo."

She smiled. "You any good?"

Dickie frowned. "I can't beat this level. Oh well. Is Dad home yet?"

"He just got home. Why don't you go say hi?" Before she could say anymore, he tore off through the doorway and ran downstairs.

"Daddy!"

Elliot groaned softly as he picked Dickie. "Did you do all your homework?"

He nodded. Olivia turned off the game and the lights then headed downstairs. As she stepped off the last step, Elliot embraced her. "Hello Beautiful. Haven't seen you all day."

She hugged him back. "That's sure a nice greeting. You must be hungry."

Kathleen laughed. "I'll put the drinks on the table. What do you all want?"

Elizabeth smiled. "I'll help. I want milk!"

"I want orange juice." Dickie was already sitting at the table.

Rebecca somewhat nervously followed Kathleen. "Do you have any apple juice?"

Olivia smiled. "I have everything in there. I can't have coffee so I decided I'd see what else I like. There should be some apple juice left."

Elizabeth walked out. "What do you two want?"

Elliot smiled. "Water's fine."

"I'll have some ginger ale if it's not too much trouble."

Elizabeth gave her a scolding look. "You're not a guest Olivia. It's our job to set the table. Dickie's supposed to have trash-duty but he never does it."

"Do to!" He shouted from the dining room.

Olivia couldn't help but laugh. "Okay. Thanks Liz."

Elliot kissed her. "You didn't think I'd let them cop out of their chores did you?"

"I don't know." She walked in to the kitchen and opened the oven. Inside was a rib roast and she had macaroni and cheese on the stove. "Elliot, honey, can you give me a hand?"

Rebecca smiled. "I'll put the mac and cheese on the table."

Olivia thanked her quietly as Elliot grabbed the large metal pan out of the oven. "Thanks." She began to cut it and he took the knife from her hand and kissed her.

"I've got it."

Rebecca could be heard from the dining room. "I see what you meant about high schoolers."

Olivia laughed lightly. "Fine, I'll sit down." She went and sat at the head of the table, across from where Elliot was to sit. Kathleen sat on her right, with Rebecca next to her. Elizabeth was on her left.

"Are you going to say grace for us Olivia?" Dickie looked hopeful.

"Well," she was definitely caught off-guard by this. She wasn't Catholic, was she even allowed? Would Elliot be mad? "Sure honey."

Kathleen took Rebecca's hand and offered Olivia her other hand. Elizabeth did the same with Dickie's hand. Olivia nervously took their hands as Elliot set the roast down and sat down in his chair. "Thank you God for this lovely meal. Thank you for such a great family to share it with. I thank you for helping Elizabeth with her math and for Kathleen's friend Rebecca's visit. I pray that everyone enjoys the meal and that you bless it. Amen."

Elliot looked up. "That was lovely."

Rebecca blushed. "I don't usually say grace, except at Thanksgiving and such."

"I know the feeling. It's something I've picked up around Elliot and these kids." Olivia smiled understandingly.

"Pass the mac and cheese." Dickie sat up in his chair anxiously.

As soon as everyone started eating, a cell phone rang. Olivia and Elliot both reached for theirs. Olivia's cell phone holder was clipped on her pants. "Benson."

"Stabler."

Elliot raised a hand to indicate it was his phone. "Is she okay?" Olivia closed her phone and looked concerned.

Kathleen turned proudly to Rebecca. "They're both cops. They work together."

"I've always wanted to be a cop." Rebecca looked at Olivia. "Is it really hard?"

Olivia smiled sweetly. "I love what I do. It's not easy, and it's not always very cheery, but I love it. I can't picture myself doing anything else."

Elliot looked up. "That was Tutuola."

"And?" Olivia looked anxious.

"John and Samantha apprehended a perp today." He sighed heavily. "John shot him when he held Sam at knifepoint."

Olivia's face fell. "Oh no."

"Fin said she was covered in blood and drenched when she came in. He said she's sleeping now." Elliot took a heavy drink of water. "I'll take you down tomorrow if you want to see her."

"Elliot." She looked at him sternly. "I can still drive and besides, I have to drop off the kids. I'm not dying! It's just a baby. Sheesh." Picking up her silverware, she began to eat again. "Did Fin say whether Ryan got hurt or not?"

"No." Elliot took another bite. "He said she's fine, just shaken up."

Olivia nodded. "Who wouldn't be?" She remained quiet for a moment. "She had to save him didn't she?"

Elliot nodded. "'Fraid so."

Blushing, Olivia apologized. "I shouldn't talk about work at dinner. How was your day Kathleen?"

Rebecca was watching both Elliot and Olivia, as they talked back and forth, amazed. Kathleen smiled. "Well, I did well on my physics exam today but I am really dreading my Algebra II test tomorrow."

Elizabeth piped up. "Olivia knows math. She helped me with my math today."

As Olivia grew increasingly embarrassed, Elliot stared at her from across the table. "Oh really? She didn't just give you the answers did she?" Elliot teased.

"Nope. She showed me how." Elizabeth ate another bite and drank from her milk glass, getting a small milk mustache.

Kathleen frowned. "My math's a lot harder than yours Liz."

Elliot cleared his throat. "We know Kathleen. Dickie, what'd you do today?"

Dickie smiled. "I got an A on my vocabulary test."

"Great job!"

Rebecca and Kathleen began to chat about teachers. When Kathleen finished and went to clear off the plates. Elliot stood to take care of leftovers and Elizabeth let to finish up her math homework. Rebecca smiled. "How long have you and Elliot been together?"

Olivia put a hand on her stomach. "Five months or so."

She smiled. "How long have you been a cop?"

"Over eight years. Elliot and I have been partners for about six I think." She smiled and drank from her glass. "Are you really thinking about becoming a cop?"

"Yes." Rebecca nodded.

A genuine heart-warmed smile crossed Olivia's peachy lips. "That's terrific. Listen, if your parents will let you, I'm sure Captain Cragen would let you spend a day at work with one of us. Maybe Ryan since I'm on maternity leave."

Rebecca smiled. "Is it a boy or a girl?"

Olivia blushed. "A boy." Elliot smiled from the doorway, the look on her face was so motherly and joy filled that his eyes started to water slightly. Embarrassed, he walked upstairs to play a round of Halo with Dickie.

Kathleen came out. "Ryan's really sweet too. She solved Maureen's rape. Maureen and her have kept a weekly lunch date since. They get along great; they're not too far apart in age either. Maureen's never really had someone her age to talk to around the house."

Rebecca shifted slightly at the open and blatant mention of something as serious as rape. "I'd love to do that sometime. I'll ask my parents tonight."

"How are you getting home?" Olivia picked up three glasses and headed for the sink.

"I was just going to walk. It's not far." She brought in the remaining glasses as Olivia loaded them in to the dishwasher.

Olivia stood up slowly. "I won't have a pretty teenager like you walking home at 9:30 at night."

Rebecca flushed lightly and smiled. "It's not far, honest."

"Good," she grabbed her keys, "Then I'll be right back. Kathleen, if you want to come you can. Run up and tell your dad though."

Kathleen headed upstairs as Olivia handed Rebecca her coat from the coat rack and grabbed her own leather jacket that was becoming increasingly too small. "He said hurry back." Kathleen grabbed her own jacket and the three headed out.

***

Ryan kneeled in front of the cot in the crib and started to pray. She felt guilty for falling asleep without praying. "Lord, please protect Mom, Daniel, Grace, Olivia, Kyle her son, Elliot, Maureen, Kathleen, Elizabeth, Dickie, Don, Fin, John, Sean, Mariah, Father Kingery and especially Alexandra. God, keep Alex safe for me. I need her back so bad." Crossing herself, she sat on the cot, and finally noticed Fin standing in the doorway with a cup of tea.

"Want some tea?" He didn't say a word about her prayer. Fin respected her space and stayed on charted territory with her.

"Yes, thank you." She took the cup comfortably. She liked Fin. He was a great guy. He seemed to understand Ryan's physical borders and personal boundaries. "You don't have to stay with me, one of us should get some rest."

Fin nodded. "I agree; you should lay down."

Ryan rolled her stormy eyes. "That's not what I meant."

He shrugged. "Could've fooled me."

"Is Cragen still here?"

Fin shook his head. "Nah. He left about thirty minutes ago."

"Oh." She took a long sip of the warm tea that soothed her throat and warmed her. Her long brown hair was up in a bun and still rather wet. Sam was wearing a baby pink tank top that accented her dark hair and pale skin. What he'd thought were jeans turned out to be black dress slacks that didn't look very comfortable to sleep in.

"You know, I've got a pair of clean sweats in my locker if those would be more comfortable."

Ryan smiled. "That sounds nice actually, if you don't mind."

He shook his head. "Not at all, be right back."

After he left, Ryan decided to go out to the bullpen and finish up some quick paperwork since she wasn't tired enough to sleep yet. The door to the station house opened and Ryan glanced at her watch. 'Who would come in here at 10 at night?'

Her eyes went wide. The pale skinned girl with brown eyes and brown hair sparked so many memories. Her eyes held the same shock and surprise that Samantha's did. "Um, I'm looking for Detective Fin Tutuola."

Sam shook her head slightly. "Uh, he's right here."

Fin walked around the lockers and smiled. "Hey Grace, what's up?"

"Gracie?!" Ryan stood up and walked over to her. "What in hell happened to you?"

Grace frowned. "I don't know you." She looked at Tutuola, "Can we talk in private?"

Sam's pale skin got redder as she balled her hands in to fists. She grabbed Grace's arm and pulled her sleeve up. "You're a junkie now? What the hell went wrong Gracie?"

Fin looked at Ryan for a minute. "Sam, I need to talk to her privately. Here." He handed her the sweats. "Get changed."

Giving Fin a slightly angered look but doing as she was told, she headed for the locker room. Pulling the pants on, she sat down on the bench and shook her head. "Gracie, Gracie, Gracie."

By the time that Samantha walked back out, she was gone and Fin was alone. "What the hell? You just let her leave?! That was my little sister!"

Her grey eyes looked far more tempestuous than usual. Fin nodded. "She didn't want to talk to you Sam. I wasn't going to hold her here like a criminal. She's a victim."

Sam sat down in her desk and took a drink from her tea. "She didn't believe me when I called home and told her I was raped. She said I was probably asking for it. It's her fault I never pressed charges. It's her fault I'll never receive justice."

Fin sat down in a chair next to her. "Hey, she was victimized too. Maybe she feels guilty about not believing you. Her own boyfriend told his supplier that he could have his way with her if he'd give him a little more crack."

"She's a druggie. I was an aspiring law student." Ryan couldn't keep the pain from her voice.

"That doesn't change anything and you know it."

Ryan stood up, no one spare Elliot and Casey had witnessed her anger before but it was definitely a change in her appearance. Her lovely porcelain skin reddened and her eyes shot daggers. Her tone of voice was firm and commanding. "It damn well DOES!" She glared at Fin. "I had a future! She has NOTHING! I had a fiancé and an aspiring career! SHE has nothing! NOTHING!" Ryan leaned against the wall and sighed. "She had my mother and father to baby her all her life. I had nothing from them except for doubt." Her chest heaved a sob. "She had someone who believed her and what did I have? Nothing."

Tears slid down her paling face. "Shh." In a motion that was somewhat foreign to Fin, he hugged Samantha against him. "It's okay. Don't worry"

"You know," Ryan pulled her gun out of the holster and stared down the barrel for a long moment, "It's a damn good think that I'm Catholic or this would look really tantalizing right now."

Fin grabbed the gun and slid it from her hand. "Don't. Think of how many girls could never find justice if you did that. They'd never get solace Sam."

Samantha nodded, sobbing softly. "I know...I know."

"Now," he stood slowly and helped her up, "Let's get you to the crib."

Walking weakly, she accepted his support and comfort. "Thank you Odafin."

Fin was caught off guard by the sincerity of her voice and the use of his full name. "I haven't done anything."

She smiled faintly and lay down on the cot. "Are you staying over tonight?"

He nodded. "It's already 11, no use in heading home for a little over three hours of sleep."

"Here." Ryan sat up and patted the cot. "I won't let you sleep in the bullpen."

At first, he was going to argue, but he gave up and lay down next to her. She laid her head on his chest sleepily and smiled. "You smell good."

He smiled faintly as his sleepy eyes drifted closed. "Thanks Sam, you smell flowery."

Giggling softly, her breathing settled and she fell silent. Fin assumed she was asleep and he brushed some of her loose hair from her face. "Sleep well little ballerina." He gave a final soft smile before falling asleep himself.

***

Elliot flipped on the lights of the crib to wake Ryan up and was pleasantly surprised. "Isn't that cute?" Quietly walking back out, he got Don and John to come see.

Don laughed faintly. "Hey you two! It's seven o'clock! Get your lazy asses up!"

John chuckled faintly. "Fin, when you said you'd take care of her, I didn't know this is what you had in mind."

Much to everyone's surprise, Ryan flung a pillow across the room and hit Cragen in the shoulder. "Go away." She looked exhausted to Elliot, but he shook his head and walked up to the cot. Mercilessly, he began to tickle Ryan's stomach.

"Get up!"

She sat up and screamed in surprise. Kicking at him, she abruptly woke Fin who grumbled a few swear words before sitting up and giving Elliot a death glare. "Can't a guy get some shut-eye around here?"

Cragen laughed. "Evidently two people can at the same time on the same cot."

Ryan grumbled. "I'm up." She ran a hand over her eyes, smearing her make-up slightly.

Fin was the first to actually stand up and stumble in to the locker room. Ryan laid back down. "I don't have anything to do today." She pulled the sheet over her head. "Munch and I got the bastard yesterday."

John laughed, "He's alive. I'll think we'll go pay him a visit."

Samantha sat up. "Fine dammit, make me get up why don't you?" Unhappily she prepared to go to the hospital and confront the very man who's live she'd saved the night before.

***

Olivia grinned as she sat down across from Maureen. "So how's Columbia been?"

Maureen beamed. "It's going well. I'm thinking about a major still but I know I want to go to med. school so that narrows it down."

"I suppose so." She handed her sugar for her tea, "What kind of doctor?"

"Pediatrician." She smiled. "I love children, I always have, and I'd love to help them." Maureen glanced at her watch. "It's already 1pm? Wow, I have to get back to class in about and hour and a half."

Olivia smiled. "I'm glad you stopped by. I'll be sure to tell Elliot."

Maureen finished off her glass and nodded. Standing, she hugged Olivia and carried her glass to the kitchen sink. "I'll try and come by this time next week."

Embracing her again, Olivia nodded. "It does get slightly lonely without anyone to talk to."

"I can imagine, but it's good for the baby." Maureen smiled and motioned to her swollen abdomen. "I can't wait to see my healthy baby brother."

Olivia smiled and handed Maureen her coat as they reached the door. "Drive safely. Ryan told me to tell you that she won't be able to make this week's meeting. She's bogged down with a trial and has a few personal things to attend to."

Maureen nodded. "Thanks for relaying the information." She hugged her friend once more, waved from the walkway and got in to her car.

As she drove away, Olivia felt her lips tug upward into a smile. Elliot was so lucky to have such lovely kids. Grabbing her own car keys, she decided to go grocery shopping and refill on food. It went by so fast now with the three additions to the family.

***

Casey Novak gave John Munch and Samantha Jamerson a cheery smile as they walked in to the station house. "I've been waiting for you two. Mr. James's lawyer has basically begged me to deal down to sexual misconduct. You two did a great job on this case. Congratulations."

          John bowed falsely. "Thank you. Thank you very much." Casey rolled her eyes.

          "I'll need you two to testify in court of course, the trial date in next Thursday."

Ryan frowned, "Are you sure?"

"Positive. Sorry if it's inconvenient." Casey frowned sympathetically.

"It's not a problem." Grabbing her keys, Samantha glanced at her watch. It was half-past seven. They'd spent all day searching the perp's room and talking to him. It sure left a mark on your conscience when you interrogated a guy in a hospital bed. "I'm going to call it a night. If you need me, you have my cell number."

Waving slowly, she sauntered out of the station house. Fin walked in to the bullpen. "Is Ryan going home?"

Casey grinned. "Poor boy. Did you get the brush off?"

"It's not like that." He glared at her. "Her sister was here. She wanted to talk to her."

John looked up. "I didn't know that you knew her sister."

Fin nodded. "She was raped. I handled her case."

Casey looked up. "Grace? Grace Wesley? She's Jamerson's sister?"

"Yeah."

Realization dawned on her. "That's who she reminded me of."

Fin nodded again. "Yeah." He grabbed his jacket. "I'm going to head home too. See you both tomorrow."

***

Ryan locked the door to Alex's-her-apartment and set her purse down exhaustedly. Next Thursday was her day with Mariah. Frowning, she checked her messages. There were two.

"Alex, this is Ashley, the your realtor. I was just making sure everything's okay with you. You haven't visited the manor since you bought it a month ago, the 'for sale' sign is still up. Give me a call at 555-4498. I haven't seen you around lately and it'd be great to have lunch. Well, bye."

Samantha frowned. 'Manor? What manor?' She'd have to e-mail Alexandra about it. The next message began shortly after.

"Alex, it's Sean again. I haven't been able to get a hold of you or Ryan. Could you give me a call? She has a day with Mariah coming up and I want to talk to you about legal action against these visits. I really don't want her coming around. If you could give me a call soon, that'd be great."

'Legal action?' Ryan threw her jacket in to a chair. "Bastard." Pouring herself a glass of scotch, she sat down at the kitchen island and sighed. Letting her hair of out the French braid she'd put it in, she felt exhausted. Finishing off the glass, she stripped and climbed in to bed. "I miss you Alex. My prayers are with you. God, keep everyone safe for me. I'm too tired right now. You know the list. Olivia, Alex, Elliot, the kids, Mariah, John, Don and Fin. So on and so forth. Amen."

Crossing herself lazily, she laid down. She was asleep before her head hit the silken pillowcase. She slept all night, and into early morning without any disturbances. Then the phone rang.

***End Chapter Eight***