"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
Note: I don't own Victoria's Secret, Ford F-150, Chevy trucks or any other brand name products that have been listed so far in this story and I definitely don't own SVU, if I did Casey Novak would be dead already (lol).
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Last Time:
"I'm home! Guess who's here?"
Mariah shouted. "Mommy!" from downstairs. Voices ran together but Olivia discerned that Ryan had come to pick up Mariah. She stood up slowly, straining in effort. Olivia hated her lack of mobility; she really shouldn't have gone shopping. Oh well. She walked slowly downstairs with the kids to greet the arriving parties.
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Chapter Eleven
An Unexpected Turn of Events
Ryan looked up at Olivia. "You didn't have to get her anything, I'm sorry if she was any trouble..."
With a soft smile, Olivia laughed. "Oh no, it was my pleasure." She glanced over at Mariah sleeping on the couch. It was now 5:30 and Elliot was upstairs playing Halo with Dickie. Elizabeth and Maureen were out shopping for Christmas gifts and Kathleen was upstairs on the phone.
"Hey, Olivia..." Samantha's grey eyes darted nervously around, "Can I talk to you?"
Olivia gave her a bemused look but nodded. "Of course. What about?"
"Alex."
A stunned silence hung between them. They'd come to the agreement that even if they both knew about Alex's real situation, they wouldn't talk about it too much in order to prevent it leaking to Zapata, or anyone else for that matter. It was the first time one of them had even mentioned Alexandra Cabot to the other since Ryan had given her Alex's e-mail address. Now she could tell that what Ryan had to talk about was serious. "Call her Christina."
Ryan nodded in understanding. "I love her. The house I'm staying in now, the new furniture I just bought, it was all her money. It was all meant of us not me." She looked downtrodden as she drank from the glass of club soda. "Fin sort of asked me out tonight. I didn't know how to react."
Olivia was surprised. "Fin? Our Fin?"
"Yeah, as opposed to all the other Odafins you know." She nodded with a faint smile. "He's a great guy and I sort've like him...but I cannot forget about Alex. I love her! It tears me up not knowing when she'll write again, what she's doing, where she is or when the hell I'm going to see her again! I can hardly stand it!"
"I'm sorry." Her heart went out to her fellow detective. "I truly am. I miss her too." She handed her the paper sitting on the table. "Cesàr Velez is the only one left that's connected to Zapata. The last guy is being indicted on multiple accounts of murder and much more. He won't get out when he's convicted. He was Zapata's superior. That leaves only Velez. If you put him away for good, she should be able to return."
Ryan looked up. "I'm considering transferring units for awhile. With Serenity in the unit, we've an odd number. Maybe if I just stayed out until you returned, then it'd be even and I'd have had time to calm down a bit..."
Olivia looked her in the eye intently. "Do you really think that will get rid of it? That once you're out of the unit you'll stop thinking of Alex? You won't. You never forget what happens once you've been in the Special Victims Unit. Ask Monique Jefferies in Vice or Cassidy in Homicide...they know. You never forget. No matter what happens, these ghosts will never leave. Quitting won't solve anything."
"I know," she sighed, "It's just that I need some time away from Novak. I can't stand the fact that I sort of think she's nice. She can't be nice because she has Alex's job. I can't bring myself to be civil to her and she deserves better from her colleagues. On top of all of that, I'm afraid of being around Fin too much. I like him too much already. I trust him, I just don't trust myself."
"Oh." Olivia nodded slowly. "I see. Talk to Cragen about it, he'll know what to do."
Ryan sighed. "I'm considering transferring to the DEA."
"Really?" Olivia looked surprised. "I didn't picture you working for them."
She laughed. "Well Elliot always said I didn't look like a cop and I'm good undercover...not to mention I'll be up to date with the Velez case."
Olivia stared at her sincerely. "Don't mess things up with Velez. You and Alex both need that case to be open and closed."
"I won't." Ryan's hands started to play with her keys slowly. "I'd better get going. Mariah and I are off to see Sleeping Beauty on ice." A grin crossed her face. "She doesn't know yet."
Olivia laughed. "Yes she does."
Upon turning around, Samantha saw the excited and bright-eyed face of her daughter. She smiled. "You excited?"
The three-year-old ran up and hugged her mother. "Thank you mommy!"
Ryan stood up. "Thank Liv. It means a lot to me that I can talk to you, that I can trust you."
Olivia smiled and started to get up. Sam shook her head, "I know where the door is. You should really stay off your feet more often."
With a resigned sigh, the sixth-and-a-half-month pregnant cop nodded. "Alright. Drive safe. Come see me again soon, eh? It's nice to talk with another adult."
Sam laughed. "Tell Maureen I can make lunch on Wednesday and to call me Monday-ish."
Olivia nodded and waved. "No problem." She hugged Mariah. "Thanks for being such a good girl."
Mariah beamed happily. "Bye Liv'ya !"
***
Ryan sighed wearily, she had court tomorrow morning and she knew she had to sleep. Glancing down at her exhausted daughter sleeping lazily in her room, she wrapped her robe around her form and headed to her own bedroom.
She opened the door to her balcony and took in the cool night air. Letting her robe fall away and reveal her royal blue silken gown. Every brush of the wind reminded her of Alex. She craved just hearing her voice. Then the phone rang. Not her cell, the house's phone. She'd only hooked one up in her bedroom just yesterday. She wasn't even sure of the number yet. Answering it hesitantly, she greeted her caller. "Hello?"
There was dead silence on the other end. Chills ran up her spine, she couldn't stand it. "Who's there?"
Soft sobs traveled through the phone. It was a woman crying. "Hello? Who is this?"
She heard a click and a dial tone followed soon after. Ryan was unnerved now. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep. Walking slowly back in to her daughter's room, she smiled at the sight of Mariah sleeping peacefully. Brushing her curly blonde locks away from her face, Ryan took comfort in the serenity of her daughter. Lying next to her, the street-hardened detective fell asleep quickly and peacefully, completely forgetting the distressing phone call she'd received.
***
John smiled as Ryan walked in to the squadroom. "Ready for court?"
She was wearing a button-down red shirt and a black business skirt. "I hope so."
"They told me that the defendant wants to thank us."
Ryan turned to him. "Fuck no. He comes near me and I'll shoot him."
Elliot turned. "Munch already took care of that last time."
Arching her eyebrow and giving Elliot a reproving look, she stood from her chair. "Let's go. I don't want to be late. I have to talk with the captain after this."
John nodded. "No problem."
"Ryan," Elliot began, "Does is have to do with you and Olivia's conversation last night?"
She nodded affirmatively.
He grinned. "I always thought you didn't look much like a cop."
Sam smiled back at him before walking out of the station house. John didn't ask questions on the way to the courthouse, he knew he'd find out soon enough.
***
The defense grinned as he began to interrogate the first detective, John Munch. "Is it true that my client held your partner at knifepoint?"
John nodded, "That's correct."
"Could you indicate to the court who said partner is?"
Pointing to Sam, who was sitting in the first row of pews, the defense nodded. "Let the record show that he pointed to Detective Ryan Samantha Jamerson. Correct?" Both Ryan and John nodded.
"Now," a sly smirk crossed his face, "Have you ever heard of the term 'suicide by cop'?"
John gave an affirmative nod. "Yes, I have."
The defense continued. "And does it seem plausible that this was the intent of my client when he seized your partner and held her at knifepoint?"
"It's possible."
"So, why didn't you just shoot him dead? Or let him die after shooting him?"
John chuckled cynically. "Because I knew he'd end up in court this way. I'd much rather true justice be found than the tainted justice that would have occurred had I killed Mr. James."
Casey Novak smiled softly and nodded. John was an excellent witness. Every answer left no doubt in the jury's mind.
***
Friday was slow for the SVU team. Casey had dropped by to deliver the news of Kenneth James's guilty verdict. Ryan thanked her and smiled. "I've got an announcement to make. Two actually."
Munch looked up. "Oh really?" Elliot turned his seat around with interest and Serenity took her eyes off her papers. Her eyes were filled with the curiosity of someone who felt like they were eavesdropping.
Fin smiled and leaned back. "Spill."
"Right." She took a deep breath. "I want you all to know right away, I'm transferring for the duration of Olivia's maternity leave. I'm transferring to the DEA. I need a break from this, going to work every day and seeing how ugly life is, not to mention an odd number of detectives can get ugly. I'll be returning when Olivia returns if all goes well. I apologize if I'm unknowingly hurting anyone by doing this." Her soft grey eyes fell on Odafin.
Munch smiled at her. "Good Luck."
"Say hello to Andy Stratford for me, he works up in there too." Elliot grinned. "Be sure to come back to us though, we'll miss you."
Fin looked back down at his paperwork, without saying anything.
Serenity gave a half-smile, nervous about her own interjection. "You're going to leave me here with all these guys?"
"Sorry," Ryan laughed faintly, "You'll have Novak, and Munch."
Munch gave her a sarcastic laugh and rolled his eyes. Elliot grinned the goofy grin he had when he was making or laughing at a jest between the unit. It was a definite contrast to the aggressive cop she usually saw. Ryan wished she'd seen more of it in the six months she'd been there. No one smiled very much around here; it was hard to.
"Secondly," Samantha began, "I'm inviting you all to my new house for Christmas, and actually it's on Christmas Eve until Christmas day. I know Christmas is only six days away so you're all invited. I have enough bedrooms for all of you to stay the night incase you're all wasted." Soft chuckling wafted through the bullpen. Cragen was standing in the doorway, smiling. "Fin and Olivia can give you directions. They know where it is. I'll be accepting donations, presents, first born children and human sacrifices."
John grinned broadly, he had definitely left a mark on her sense of humor over the past six months. Elliot shook his head and smiled. Fin suddenly had to cough several times. Captain Cragen was laughing faintly and Serenity was appalled.
Ryan's eyes met John's. "You can bring Chanukah presents if you want also. I won't have any crosses up or anything, just the Christmas tree and presents. I'll be cooking, and since I'm a vegetarian there will be things other than red meat to eat. I hope you all come. The party starts at six, bring alcoholic beverages and desserts." Sam glanced at Cragen. "Invite George too, he doesn't ever talk about family. I wouldn't want him lonely on Christmas."
Casey had crept in to the bullpen at sometime during her statement for the second time this morning. Fighting back a smile, she sobered as she approached the detective. "You're transferring?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah."
"I can't help but feel I have some part in this." The brunette looked guilty.
Ryan laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "You're invited too. The only role you played was encouraging. I know you're a great person and I'm treating you unfairly due to your replacement of Alex. Maybe if I quit for awhile, I'll be okay with it upon my return."
"Oh," Casey nodded. "Alright. That puts me at ease a bit. So I'm still invited to the Christmas party?"
"Yup," She nodded.
Casey smiled. "No snobs?"
A soft laugh, actually somewhat happy, came from Jamerson. "Unless you count yourself."
"Ouch." Casey grinned. "Sounds great."
Unexpectedly Ryan Jamerson found herself in a friendly hug from the ADA. She smiled softly and returned the embrace. "I'll see you around. I have to go talk with the DEA about my transfer."
Fin stood up, "Let me walk you to your car."
Ryan understood that he wanted to talk. She hadn't told him anything prior to this announcement. She knew it was rude but she couldn't help it. Sam couldn't bring herself to tell him any other way. As the two reached her pick-up she turned to him. "I'm sorry Odafin. I really am."
"Look," he looked in to her eyes intently, "I just wanted to say good luck. I'll miss you Samantha."
She blushed. "What I was going to tell you, about Christina..." Sam looked back in to his eyes and smiled. "She's Alex. Alex is in the WPP. She's not dead." Her voice was hushed and discrete but excited as well. "That's who Christina is."
"Sam..." Fin kissed her lips softly. "Stay away from Velez or you'll mess things up for Christina and you."
"I can't do that Fin." She shook her head and smiled. "I can't." Hugging him tightly, she climbed in to her car and started it. As she drove away, he stood in the parking lot watching her. He looked hurt and Samantha felt guilty about it. She couldn't help it, it would've happened sooner or later, right?
Sighing, she headed for the DEA building and her new job.
***
Saturday came all too fast. December 19th and she hadn't finished Christmas shopping. She still had to buy a gift for Alex and for Elliot. The presents for Olivia, John, Fin, Don, Casey, Maureen, Kathleen, Dickie, Elizabeth and even Serenity were already under the tree. Four nicely wrapped presents with bows and ribbon awaited little Mariah. John's gift was nicely wrapped in blue with silver bow and ribbons.
She'd been up since seven, when the furniture was delivered. She felt rather foolish walking out in her bathrobe and slippers. The deliverymen seemed to have found it amusing enough though. All the furniture was sitting in the main entryway and she knew she'd catch hell for not having them put the corresponding pieces upstairs when Fin, Elliot, and Olivia arrived.
As she stepped out of the shower, she grinned at the sound of the doorbell. "Speak of the devil." Pulling on a pair of underwear and a bra, she ran in to her room. Grabbing her jeans and quickly stepping in to them, she buttoned the white shirt she'd pulled on moments ago before finally running downstairs. "COMING!"
Rushing to open the door, she smiled when she saw Elliot, Fin and Olivia awaiting her. She embraced Olivia softly and allowed Elliot and Fin entrance, "Come in, come in!" She lingered behind with Olivia. "I'm transferring Monday."
"Good to hear." Olivia looked genuinely pleased with the turn of events. "I'll be able to talk to you more often without talking about work."
Ryan smiled. "I'd never thought of that, good point." Fin and Elliot turned to her with a look of disbelieving despair.
"You had them leave all the furniture downstairs?"
"Yeah," Sam blushed embarrassingly, "All except the bureau and the beds go downstairs anyway."
She pointed to the three separate piles. "This piles for the living room. This is all for the den," she motioned to the second pile which was slightly smaller than the first. "And this all goes upstairs," Elliot and Fin's eyes fell on the third (and largest) pile.
"Upstairs you say?" Fin sighed. "Alright. Come on Elliot." He grimaced and began to lift one of the headboards.
Ryan smiled. "I have rugs so Olivia and I can move some of the lighter stuff around downstairs." She turned to Olivia. "Shall we start with the living room?"
Olivia was gazing around with her lips slightly parted in amazement. She didn't realize Ryan had been speaking to her until it all fell silent and she noticed her three fellow detectives awaiting her answer. "Huh?" She blushed, "I was hoping we could start with a tour. This is definitely a magnificent manor. How could you afford this?"
The grey eyes of her female colleague dimmed. "Alex bought it before..."
Elliot nodded. "I see. Well how about a tour?"
A soft smile replaced her frown and she nodded. "Of course." Walking with them to the right, she motioned to the first of many large rooms. "This is the living room." Hardwood flooring and a lovely fireplace and mantel accented the room. White Monticello-like paneling added a refined appearance and the leather couch sitting in the middle helped. She smiled. "I've started to set up this room but I haven't gotten far." A 52in. plasma TV sat across from the couch and to the left of the large fireplace. Monticello windows allowed the waxing sun's rays to shine through. A doorway to the right of the Ryan led to another room. She guided them in. "This is a smaller room, I think I'm going to eventually purchase a pool table for it. What do you think?" The same wall and floor patterns adorned this room but it was empty spare the smaller, less bravura, chandelier.
Olivia beamed. "It's lovely."
Fin smiled. "It's massive."
Escorting them in to a larger room, not unlike the first, she turned. "This is the dining room." A similar chandelier from the entryway hung from the ceiling. The walls were a soft off-white and peach hybrid that glowed warmly. The floors were made of a lovely mahogany pattern with a flower in the center of every square. More Monticello windows allowed light to flood in to the room. It was gorgeous. 'Pretty large for a dining room,' Olivia thought. A china cabinet was against the wall on the left. The light from the windows hit is just right from the other side of the room. A large table, looked like either mahogany or pine perhaps, was sitting dead-center under the chandelier. It was polished to perfection with not a smudge on it. A lace doily was in the middle on top of a pale white tablecloth. Twelve chairs made of the same wood with white cushioning surrounded the table. "I hope you'll all be eating here come Christmas."
"Actually," Elliot smiled, "Olivia and I have cleared it with all the kids and we were hoping Maureen could come too."
"Oh!" Sam laughed. "I already invited her. Of course she can! I wouldn't be able to stand just Mariah and me here on Christmas. The more the merrier. Christmas is about family."
Fin wandered over to two identical wooden doors about ten feet apart. "Where do these lead?"
Sam walked in front of the one nearest him. "This one is the maids' bedroom and the other bedroom is for the chef."
"Chef?" Olivia arched her eyebrow curiously, "Interesting."
Elliot shook his head. "I bet IAB will have a field-day when they see how far above your paycheck this place is."
Sam shook her head. "Witness Protection talked to them. They won't check the account used to furnish the house or the house itself. They know that it's all Alex's. I left it in her name, even if she is 'dead.'"
Taking them through a small hallway to the kitchen, she smiled. "This is Rick's kitchen. Don't touch anything, I haven't asked him to deactivate the booby-traps."
Olivia laughed. "He a good cook?"
"Great!" Her eyes went wide with amazement. "Just amazing."
Ryan headed to the left. "In here's the den, where Olivia and I have some setting up to do." Several wall-mounted lamps lit the room. Large red velvet drapes covered the windows. She cringed. "I haven't risked opening those yet due to dust allergies. I think I'll tackle that tomorrow."
Olivia noticed upon entry that she was walking on marble flooring down. Lovely black marble with red and white veins coursing through it covered the floor. The walls were darker wood that Olivia didn't recognize and no furniture, spare a settee and small bookshelf were to be seen. "This is amazing. Everything matches."
"Yup," Sam beamed, "It's every girls' dream home. No wonder Alex bought it." She blushed when she noticed Fin and Elliot's faces. "One more room and then upstairs." A slight twinge of guilt hung over her. They'd all known Alex for much longer than she, but she had received all her belongings? Biting her lip, she led them in to the study. Plush hunter green carpet covered the floor. The walls were painted a terra cotta brown and accented the floor in a very earthy way. The desk was made of pinewood and a low coffee table was as well. A brown leather couch and loveseat were also encompassed in the large room.
"I love it." Olivia grinned. "It's fabulous."
Ryan leaned in and whispered. "The master bedroom is to die for." She grinned and turned to the men. "Upstairs then?"
Fin smiled. "Lead the way."
Elliot helped Olivia slowly up the stairs and Ryan smiled. "Right or left first?"
"Hmm," Olivia glanced down the two corridors, "Left first."
Sam grinned. "The master bedroom's to the right. Guess the best is last." Talking down the dimly lit hall, she opened the first door on the right. "This is Mariah's bedroom." The walls were already painted pink.
"You've been busy painting eh?" Fin smiled. The room looked infinitely better than the whitewashed one he'd seen less than a week back. Pale pastel pink with a blue sky painted on top of the ceiling accented one another. A cute white bed set was already set up. Pinks bedspread with Sleeping Beauty on it. A pink canopy hung atop the four-poster bed. A white nightstand, a white dresser and a full-length mirror decorated the rest of the room. A doll crib with dolls in it and a palace sized perfectly for Barbie dolls were also strewn about.
Olivia smiled. "It's so adorable. Mariah's the sweetest girl. You've really raised her well."
A frown crossed Ryan's gentle features. "Christina gave me the name of an attorney so that I can fight for custody."
"You're going to fight huh?" Olivia nodded. "I'm glad. She needs you. That father of hers seems like a prick from what you've told me."
With only a slight nod, Ryan continued down the hall. On the left was a bathroom decorated with a beach theme. Seashells decorated the walls. Soft blue was the main color and even the hand towels matched already. It was so adorable. Although the two men really saw nothing interesting, Olivia grinned. The attention Ryan had paid to such detail was amazing. "You should really have become a decorator. Do they pay more than cops?"
Sam shrugged. "Dunno." Chuckling softly, she shooed everyone back in to the hall. The next room on the left was the room Fin had slept in. It was decorated like a harbor. Lighthouse wallpaper and an afghan decorated the room. A gentle blue ocean scene was depicted on the bedspread with a large red and white striped lighthouse illuminating the water. The whitewashed walls had pictures, wallpaper, and seashells on them that really brought the scene to life.
Fin smiled. "You've done more with it. It looks even better than before."
Nodding she walked back down the hall and pointed to the last room at the very end of the hall. "I haven't decorated that one yet. Most of the furniture is for that room or the empty room on this side. The room on the right up there is another bathroom. It's decorated in a soft green that I liked a lot."
Olivia grinned mischievously. "Do I get to see the master bedroom yet?"
Ryan shook her head. "Nope. Almost. Only two rooms and a bathroom left."
"Hey," Elliot smiled, "Fin and I will start moving some of the stuff up now, okay? This seems like a girl-bonding moment."
Fin laughed. "Sounds good. Let's get started."
***
Ryan had just shown Olivia the two rooms on the right side of the house. The lovely oriental style room and the cool and collected Alex's-old-apartment-furniture room. Olivia had been delighted. Now was the master bedroom. Opening the door, Sam grinned. "It's just amazing!"
The four-poster California king sized bed was amazing. It was made out of solid cherry wood. The bedding on top of it was just as beautiful. Like she and Ryan had discussed on the phone a while ago, a raisin and ebon black contrast of satin and velvet decorated the bed. It looked like something out of the Victoria's Secret catalog. In fact, Olivia would almost go so far as to say that was where she ordered it. Olivia swore there were at least ten pillows on that bed, excluding the random and mismatched smaller pillows that added their own personal flare to the room.
The room was definitely Ryan and Alex. She could see in the delicate black satin curtains that hung from the four-poster bed that Alex would approve. The curtains, which were a thick cranberry with golden lace over them, were definitely a reminder of the past ADA.
The bathroom was done in a beautiful Chinese/Japanese theme. Cherry blossoms were carved in to the glass of the shower stall. The huge Jacuzzi tub was surrounded by different pink soaps and decorative oriental designs. The curtains were white on a black wrought iron rod and Olivia loved it. Japanese (or perhaps Chinese, she couldn't tell) symbols decorated the walls. Candles and lanterns hung about. "I love it."
Sam's face was so proud and excited that Olivia couldn't stop smiling back. "I can't wait to show Alexandra when they put Velez away."
Olivia nodded. "She'll love it." Hugging Ryan softly, she smiled. "Shall we start downstairs?"
"Sure," with a slow nod of compliance, the two headed downstairs.
***
It was far past sunset and snow was falling hard when the three detectives finally finished working. Rick, the cook, had prepared a large meal for the three of them and Elliot had left to get all four of the kids to join them. Olivia had agreed it was good for them to know the house a bit before they came over for Christmas.
Olivia smiled. "So how are you going to fit all thirteen guests in those three rooms?"
Ryan laughed. "I've actually planned it all out. Mariah can sleep in my room with me. You and Elliot are going to be in a room together. Since each room has a fold out couch in it too, I've got Munch and Fin in a room. Elizabeth, Kathleen and Dickie are in Mariah's room. Her pullout is in the closet right now though. Don and George are in a room and that leaves Serenity, Casey and Maureen in a room together. Elementary dear Watson." A grin crossed her lips.
Pausing to analyze all that, Olivia nodded. "Good work Sam. Must be all that time on the job." She laughed. "I don't know about Casey and Serenity in the room together. They might become friends."
Sam shuddered at the though. "Oh well."
Fin had been silently sitting in one of the new chairs in the den. "Wait, I'm sharing a room with Munch?"
"Well..." Ryan nodded, "Yeah, that's the gist of it."
"Fine," he fumed. Glancing at his watch, he frowned. "Shouldn't Elliot be here by now?"
Like clockwork, the doorbell rang and the butler, whose name was Peter, answered it. Elliot and all four of the kids piled in. Maureen smiled and hugged Ryan. "What a beautiful house! My goodness! It's gorgeous! I love it!" Kathleen was begging for a tour, as was Elizabeth and Maureen. After promising them one following dinner the large group sat down to eat.
The food was delicious and filling. Ryan gave the girls a tour whilst insisting that Olivia stay off her feet. Elliot and Fin started to watch the news and Olivia finally gave in to Ryan's demands and played a game of checkers with Dickie.
Just as Dickie claimed another of her pieces, Elizabeth came running down, followed by a much slower Kathleen, Maureen and Ryan. Elizabeth grinned. "Ryan bought us presents Olivia!"
Dickie turned. "Me too?" With an excited nod, Elizabeth ran to the tree. Dickie soon followed. Maureen smiled as she sat next to Olivia. Kathleen sat on Olivia's right and Ryan took a chair.
Olivia raised an eyebrow. "Presents?"
Sam grinned. "There's one for you too if you want to run up and shake it."
Maureen laughed. "You went all out didn't you?"
"Yeah," she sighed, "I think Alex would've liked it."
"I think so too." Olivia smiled at her.
***
Ryan sighed heavily. "Mother, I'm sorry I'm late!"
No response. Dreading what she'd find, Ryan ran down the hall of the apartment searching each room for a sign of her mother. Finally she found her. Sighing with relief, she woke her mother from her sleep and smiled. "Merry Christmas Mom."
Her mother smiled up at her. "Merry Christmas Samantha. Are you going to come over this year?"
"Actually," Ryan smiled. "No. I'm having you over. I'll drive you home after the party but I want you to meet all my friends mother. All the detectives will be there and more. You must come meet them."
She sighed. "I don't know."
"Mariah will be there."
"Oh, alright." Her mother smiled. "Where will I sleep?"
Ryan smiled as she walked in to the kitchen and prepared to make dinner. "I have a pullout couch set up in my room and an air mattress if that doesn't work."
Smiling genuinely as she wheeled herself in to the kitchen, Samantha's mother smiled. "Thank you Samantha."
Sam turned for a moment and looked at her. "It's nothing. The room is upstairs though so I'll have to carry you."
"If you insist. You could just set the air-mattress up downstairs."
As she sprayed Pam in to the frying pan she shook her head. "I won't have you sleeping down there when everyone else will be downstairs. Just let me dote on you for once, alright?"
Her mother nodded reluctantly. "If you insist."
"I do." She smiled.
***End of Chapter Eleven***
