Summary: Noah has a tough time with a bully at school and Elliot steps in to make him feel better.
AN: TW: bullying, violence, reference to a slur for a gay individual
It's times like this when Olivia wishes parenting wasn't so hard. Her heart aches right now. She just picked up Noah from school and he seemed down, really down. She knows something must have happened after school. He sulked to the car in the pick-up line and she can swear she can hear him sniffling in the backseat. Of course, he's getting to the age where the last person he wants to share anything with is his mom. So, all of her questions are met with silent shrugs or head shakes.
When they get to their apartment, he wears his sunglasses inside and all the way to his room. He doesn't slam his door, but Olivia hears the lock click behind him.
She can't stop herself from knocking and trying to ask him again what is wrong, but she is met with "leave me alone," and "I don't want to talk about it."
Resigned to waiting him out—he'd get hungry soon—she returns to the living room and sits on the couch.
Elliot's sitting at his desk at OCCB filling in his tardy paperwork when his phone buzzes.
Eliot
can u come ovr
please
He expected the incoming text to be from Olivia. After their difficult phone conversation on Thanksgiving, they'd implicitly resigned themselves to texting, just short messages, checking in really. The more he thought about her comments, the more he knew that she was right. They really had a lot to talk about and he knows that would inevitably put off those important conversations in favor of a different form of connection if they let themselves go there. As much as he wants that connection—to hold her, kiss her, make love to her—he knows that all of that would be much better once everything was out in the open. But he'd already make it awkward and he wasn't sure how to get them back on track.
Noah's name preceded the messages, though, not Olivia's. He gave Noah his number at Thanksgiving dinner, after they'd had pie, telling him that he could call or text him whenever. But his message felt ominous.
Immediately Elliot dials Olivia's number.
"Hello?" Olivia answers, flipping through her Netflix app.
"Hey Liv, is everything okay?"
"Yea," she answers, confused. "Why?"
"I got a text from Noah asking me to come over. I just wanted to make sure everything was okay."
She sits up and looks back to the hallway as if she would see Noah standing there ready to explain but is met with a closed door. "He texted you? I didn't know he had your number."
"I gave it to him at Thanksgiving," he admits nervously, rubbing the back of his head. "I think the kids put their numbers in his phone, too. Should we have asked you first?"
"No, no, it's alright." She sits back, thinking about this. She's not sure how she feels right now that Noah's texting Elliot rather than telling her what's going on. This is what I wanted, right? I want Noah and Elliot to bond, right?
He can sense her hesitation over the line, but knows he needs to ask before he just shows up and he can't let Noah down. "So, uh…do you mind if I stop by?"
She knows that she's going to have to think about this some more and some conversations with Dr. Lindstrom are in her future about allowing Elliot to really step into Noah's life. "Yea, that's fine," she pauses and then decides to fully commit. "I think something happened today at school. He went straight to his room and locked the door when we got home. He won't tell me what's going on."
Elliot's thankful that Olivia's not mad at him, not berating him for crossing some boundary, but opening the door to her life just a little more. "Okay. I'll text him back. It could be a little while though. I have a few things to finish up here."
"He's fine El. At least, I think he is."
"I'm sure he's fine, Liv. He's just a kid, so everything feels so much worse."
She sighs and sinks deeper into her couch. "Yea, you're right."
"Okay, I'll see you soon."
Elliot hangs up the call and switches back to his messaging app.
I'll be there soon.
Looking over his paperwork, he decides that Noah needs him and that can't wait, but this crap certainly could.
"Hey Sarge!" he shouts up to Bell's open office door, as he grabs his jacket and keys, "I've gotta run."
It takes about half an hour before Elliot knocks at Olivia's door.
"Hey, I thought you were going to be a while?"
He grins and waves off her concern. "Nah, it was just paperwork. That can wait."
"Speaking as a former Sergeant, Bell is going to fire you," she jokes as she lets him in.
His eyes twinkle devilishly, showing more of his ornery smile. It's boyish and full of white teeth. Her heart flutters. She'd missed his smile this past week. She'd missed him.
He walks backwards into her apartment, asking "Noah's room this way?" he asks as he thumbs down the hallway.
"Yea, just to your left. Let me know if you need me."
"We'll be fine, Liv. I'm an old pro at this," he assures her as he raps gently on the door.
Swallowing, Olivia turns towards the kitchen to pour herself a glass of wine. She can hear Elliot knocking on Noah's door, asking him to open the door.
"Noah, it's Elliot. Can you let me in?"
He hears the boy shuffling to the door before he hears the lock flip open. Noah doesn't actually open the door, but Elliot takes the opportunity to slip in the room.
"Hey bud, what's going on," he asks as he walks deeper into the room.
Noah's laying in his bed, his back to Elliot. His shoulders shrug and answers quietly, "Nothing."
"Awe come on now. You asked me to come over and you're in bed at 4:45 in the afternoon. Something's going on."
Noah doesn't answer. Elliot steps closer and takes a seat at the boy's desk chair, dragging it right up next to the bed. It's small and Elliot's crouched uncomfortably, but with five kids of his own, he's fit himself into kids sized furniture more than a few times.
"You don't have to tell me, but can you at least roll over, look at me?" he asks softly, hoping that once Noah actually looks at him that he'll crack and spill his woes.
He can hear Noah breathe in and can practically hear the grinds whirling in his brain. But soon enough Noah turns over, curling himself into the fetal position with his sheets pulled up over his head.
"Noah," Elliot says as he tugs gently on the sheet. "Pull this down, let me see those bright blue eyes."
Another deep breath comes before the sheets rustle and slip from the boy's face.
"Oh Noah, what happened?" Elliot tries to keep his voice calm, but his heart is pounding and his anger is rising.
Growing stronger by the moment is a dark bruise around Noah's left eye.
Noah sniffs, tears welling under Elliot's intense stare. "Nothing."
Elliot schools his features, knowing that Noah won't tell him anything if he's tense or anxious. All of his victim and children's training while at SVU comes back, rolling through his mind: soft tone, calm body, no judgment, and so much more.
"Noah, come on, you can tell me."
Eventually, Noah answers hesitantly, "Trevor."
"Who is Trevor?"
"A big kid in my class. He was held back last year and he's bigger than the whole class and picks on everyone."
Elliot recognizes that Noah's small for his age, so most kids in his class are much bigger than he is. But if this kid was also a year older, it's not going to be a fair fight.
"Is Trevor the one that did this?" Elliot asks, the back of his finger rubbing Noah's cheek and wiping away a rogue tear, right under the bruised skin.
The story starts to spill out of Noah, already tired of being kept in. "Yes. After school I was talking with my friend James and I was asking him if he wanted to come over this weekend to play video games. And Trevor overheard…and," Noah sniffs again, "Trevor told James that he shouldn't come over because I was a…a…not nice word…and that I'd try to kiss him."
Elliot's teeth grind together as his blood boils and he takes a few calming breaths himself. He knew that kids could be cruel, but he hadn't expected to hear this. That kids are still using vulgar slurs about sexuality and taunting two boys for being friends or even more if that's what they were.
"I'm sorry Noah. No one has the right to call you names. Not about anything."
Noah nods, a couple more tears rolling down his cheek and soaking into his Spiderman sheets.
Elliot wants to scoop the boy up and cuddle him to his chest, but he wants to get the rest of the story first. "Can you tell me how this happened?"
"James told Trevor to shut up, that I was his friend and that he was gonna tell the teacher about Trevor using the bad word."
"That was good of James to stand up for you two."
"Trevor pushed him down to the ground and he skinned his hand. So, I pushed Trevor back, but he's so much bigger that he didn't fall. He got so mad that he hit me."
"Where were the teachers?" Where are these teachers? How did no one see this?
"I don't know," Noah shrugs, "I didn't see one."
"It's okay. What happened after he hit you?"
"I uh…I don't know because I started crying," Noah's eyes flitted to his bed, not wanting to look at Elliot while he admitted this part. "I tried to stop but he started laughing at me, calling me names and my eye really hurt," he answers, more and more tears coming.
"Noah, can you sit up? I want to give you a hug if that's okay."
Noah nods, sniffling, and sitting up. Elliot can tell he's trying to stop crying. He pulls the boy up to his lap, holding him tightly to his chest and rubbing up and down his back.
"I'm sorry that he was so mean to you. And it's okay to cry. I know how bad it hurts to be hit and to be embarrassed like that."
He can feel Noah's shoulders shake a few times and wetness seep into his shirt over his shoulders.
"Hey now, it's okay, bud…it's gonna be alright" he says soothingly, knowing that really all he can do is just hold Noah and comfort him while he cries it out. Something no one ever really did for him.
It takes a few minutes before Noah pulls back from Elliot's neck, mumbling softly, "Thank you for coming over."
Elliot's heart breaks at Noah's quiet thank you. "You don't have to thank me for that. I will always be here for you bud."
Noah nods and sniffles.
"Can you tell me why you didn't want to tell your mom?"
He just shrugs, "I don't know…She would just make a big deal out of it."
"Well, this is a big deal. Someone assaulted you. That's very wrong."
"I know…but I just…I just want to forget all about it."
"Okay. Okay." He rubs up and down Noah's arms before helping him back onto his bed. "I hate to tell you this, but that bruise isn't going to go away for a few days so your mom's gonna know."
"Yea," his shoulders sag, "I figured."
"How about this: I'm going to go get you an ice pack for your eye, it will make it feel better, and I'll tell your mom? Is that okay?"
"If you have to," Noah whines, knowing that Elliot's going to tell his mom no matter what.
"I think I do. She just wants to make sure you are okay."
Elliot walks into the kitchen and opens the freezer.
"What's going on?" Olivia asks him in a hushed tone, rushing over from the couch.
He decides not to give her all the information right now, knowing that her questions and the explanation will take too long, and Noah's eye has to really hurt now after crying, he wants to get the ice pack to him quickly. "What else? A school yard bully, but he's got a pretty good shiner coming in on his left eye."
"No!" She covers her mouth with her hand as her eyes snap open. She'd figure his sunglasses were to hide his tears, not a black eye.
"Hey, don't," Elliot turns and rubs Olivia's arms soothingly, like he had Noah's a few minutes ago. "He's fine, just embarrassed and I think he's in a little pain."
She swallows and nods, tucking her lips in.
"I told him that I'd tell you and bring him an ice pack."
"They are in the top drawer, behind the ice trays," she points to the open freezer. "And there is children's Tylenol in the bathroom cabinet. Take him some of that with some juice."
"Okay," Elliot nods, opens the fridge, and snags a juice box after grabbing an ice pack.
Sensing her anxiety rolling through her, he sets the ice pack and juice on the counter and pulls her to him. He hugs her tightly, and gently kisses the top of her head. "Liv, he's going to be just fine. This sucks, I know. But he will be alright."
She inhales deep, letting his scent soothe her. She nods into his neck, noticing that it was already a little damp, before pulling back. "I know, I know," she says looking at his chest, "You better get back in there."
Squeezing her tightly to him, he leans down and tells her, "I have an idea, I want to take him somewhere tonight."
"Where?"
"Do you trust me?"
She looks up, his blue eyes piercing into hers in their close proximity. "Yea, El. I trust you."
"Okay then, leave it to me," he says smiling. He gives her one last squeeze before he grabs the pack and juice and heads to the bathroom for the Tylenol.
"Here Noah, take these really quick," Elliot instructs, holding out two small chewable children's Tylenol tablets and the juice box. Noah takes the two pills and chews them quickly before chugging the juice.
"Ugh," he whines, pulling a disgusted face. "Those are so yucky."
Elliot smiles. His own kids were almost 50/50 on children's medicine. Kathleen and Dickie were the only ones that would take it without complaint, the other three usually took more persuading.
"I know, but it will help. Now hold this up to your eye," he hands over the wrapped-up ice pack. Noah reaches for it and lifts it gingerly to his eye.
"We are going to sit here for about 10 minutes, let that thing work its magic, and then I want you to change into some gym clothes."
"Why?"
"You'll see," Elliot answers smiling.
As much as Olivia trusted Elliot, her curiosity was getting the better of her—it was being helped by her concern for Noah and the small sting in her heart at the fact that Elliot is going to be the one getting him through this issue.
When Elliot steps back out of Noah's room to let him change clothes, Olivia asks, "Where are you two going?"
Knowing that he's not going to actually be able to keep his plans hidden from Olivia, especially since this the first time he's taking Noah somewhere on his own and after the day he's had, Elliot huffs heavily out of his nose. "I'm going to take him to my gym."
"Elliot," it comes out as a warning as much as it does a question. She knows that Elliot's gym is more than a few machines and free weights, there is a boxing ring and several bags too.
"You trust me, Liv," he reminds her.
"I do, but –"
"No, please. Let me do this, please," he begs, "I did this with both Dickie and Eli, once they had their first physical encounter with a bully they needed to get some anger out. You know the feeling. Anger and embarrassment and regret fills you and you just wished you pounded your bully into the ground. Noah needs to let that out now so it doesn't grow. I am just gonna take him to my gym and teach him how to hit the bag, let him work it out, and then we will go get food. I promise I will bring him back in one piece."
Skeptically, Olivia questions, "You are sure this will work?"
"Yes. It worked with my boys. And it worked for me."
"And you will bring him back to me in the same condition?" she asks anxiously.
"Yes, just a little stinkier," Elliot answers with a grin.
She snorts at that, a small smile crossing her lips. "Okay. I'm trusting you here."
"I know, Liv. But I promise everything will be just fine."
"Elliot," Noah's soft voice breaks their conversation. He's peeking out of his room but hasn't stepped out yet.
"I'm in here bud, come on," he waves Noah into the living room. "Bring that ice pack with you."
"Ok," Noah dashes back into his room for the ice pack, placing it over his face before he finally walks into the living room. "Hi mom," he says sheepishly.
"Hey baby," Olivia greets him gently, "Are you good going with Elliot for a little while tonight?"
"Yea, I want to go with him."
"Alright. Have a good time. I'll be here when you get back."
It takes them a little while to get to Elliot's gym. Elliot can tell that Noah's anxious, not sure what to expect on this excursion. But he's certain that this will work. It will allow Noah to get some of his pent-up anger out of his body, and work out the remaining aggression in a safe way. It was one of the good things that his dad did with him, setting up a punching bag in the garage and teaching him to punch. His dad, however, couldn't ever rid Elliot of his tendency of hitting not bags when he got too angry or overwhelmed. Despite his own anger control issues, Elliot successfully taught Dickie and Eli how to punch a bag to relieve tension and anger when needed and it seemed to help, especially Dickie. Dickie had inherited his father's anger and desire to hit things. Eli on the other hand preferred running and kicking a soccer ball, but on occasion, he'd see Eli step into the basement followed by the unmistakable sounds of his fists hitting the bag.
It didn't take long to tape up Noah's fingers and teach him how to hold his fist, steady his weight, and hit correctly. He was a natural. Possibly his dance allowed him to have more muscle control than his own boys had ever had. Regardless, Elliot could barely contain his happiness as Noah eagerly listened to his instructions and was able to implement them in just a few tries.
"Just like that Noah, steady yourself on your feet and punch with your entire body," coaches Elliot while kneeling behind a punching bag, holding it in place.
Noah's small, taped up fists make solid contact with the bag a couple of times.
"Great job, Noah, you are a natural," he cheers him on, a proud grin on his face. Despite the mild ache in his knees and back, Elliot's so happy to be here with Noah, teaching him something new and sharing one of his favorite hobbies with Olivia's son.
Noah smiles at him when he finally pulls back, wiping the sweat off his face with his wrist, his hand wrapped up in tape.
After a few more hits, Elliot stands, with a groan and his knees cracking a bit. "Alright, come on, it's about time to go."
"Awe, do we have to?" Noah whines, really enjoying the new activity and the one-on-one time with Elliot.
"Yea, we still have to get dinner," Elliot says as he wraps his arm around Noah's shoulder. "Plus, I think your mom is pretty worried about you."
"She worries a lot."
"Well you are her son. I worry all the time about my kids…and I worry about you, too."
Noah follows Elliot back to the cubbies holding their jackets and Elliot's gym bag. Elliot takes a seat on the bench and Noah follows his lead, sitting next to him.
"Elliot, do you think James will be my friend after this?"
"I don't know James, so I can't say," he answers honestly, then asks, "How long have you been friends?"
"Since first grade."
"That's a long time to be friends."
"Yea, but…I think I like James more than that."
Elliot smiles, remembering each of his own kids' first crushes. Dickie was the youngest, coming home from his first day of kindergarten swearing up and down that he met the girl he was going to marry. He played with her most recesses for the next two years, but by the second grade his friends had convinced him that "girls were yucky," and it wasn't until middle school that he had another crush. His other kids were about Noah's age, nine, maybe ten, when they started noticing that they liked some kids in a different way than others.
"That's okay. Have you talked to James about it?"
"No, but I don't think James likes boys. He told me he had a crush on Sophia. She's in our class, too."
"Ah, I see," Elliot nods, and thinks about how Olivia would handle this conversation. He knows that she, like Maureen, has adopted the gentle parenting approach, talking about feelings and explaining things the best you can. He's had some practice in this with the twins, so he tests it out now. "How does that make you feel, Noah?"
"I don't know," Noah shrugs, looking at his shoes. "Sad, I guess."
"That's a fair feeling. I've been sad when someone didn't like me back."
"But I still want to be his friend. He is really funny and we have fun playing games."
Elliot places a hand on Noah's shoulder, squeezing gently. "James gets to decide who he wants to be friends with."
"I know," Noah answers dejectedly, fear of losing his friend sneaking through.
"You might be able to call…or text him about playing video games and see what he says," Elliot offers gently, not wanting to break Noah's heart, knowing he really wants to keep his friend.
"But what if he's mad at me? It's my fault he got pushed."
"How is it your fault?"
"Trevor was picking on me. He wouldn't have pushed James if Trevor hadn't been making fun of me."
Elliot turned Noah's face towards him gently, looking the boy in the eyes, "No. Trevor is the only one who is at fault here. He shouldn't have been teasing you, he shouldn't have pushed James, and he shouldn't have hit you."
"But, if I wasn't—" Noah tries to interject.
"Don't you finish that sentence Noah Benson," Elliot says with a slight growl, frustrated at how a bully could make this young boy second guess anything about himself. "There is nothing wrong with anything about you. Being gay or bisexual or anything else is just fine and it's not a reason for someone to tease you or hurt you. Do you hear me?"
"Yea, I hear you," somewhat taken aback by how serious Elliot was now having just been having a fun time hitting the bags.
"I mean it. I never want to hear you feeling bad about yourself. I happen to like you just the way you are. And I'm proud of you for standing up for yourself."
"Okay."
"Okay," Elliot says with a definitive nod, "So, what do you want for dinner: burgers or pizza?"
"Pizza, duh."
"Duh! Why did I even ask?"
It's close to 9:00 p.m. when Elliot brings Noah back home. The boy's spirits are clearly lifted from the afternoon.
The bruise on Noah's face is much darker now and it's the first time Olivia's finally seeing it. She has to stop herself from commenting on it when he walks in the front door, smiling and laughing.
"Hey guys! Did you have a good time?"
"Oh yea! It was so cool! Look!" Noah lifts up his hands, still wrapped in tape.
Olivia's eyes flit to Elliot quickly, questioning. Elliot mouths "He's fine," with a quick wave of his hand.
She looks back to Noah, smiling big. "That looks so cool, like you are a real fighter."
"He's even got the shiner to prove it," jokes Elliot as he ruffles Noah's still damp curls. "You better go get cleaned up. I think it's close to your bedtime."
Noah offers a half-pout and then shuffles off down the hallway. Olivia waits until she hears him shut and lock the bathroom door before turning to Elliot, looking expectantly. "So?"
"So, what?"
"Elliot, please tell me what's going on with my son," she pleads in a rough whisper.
Elliot looks back in the hallway to make sure Noah wasn't within earshot. "There is a kid in his class, Trevor-–"
"Oh, I know about Trevor. He's been a pain in Noah's side all year. Ripping up his assignments, stealing his books, and whatnot. I've been to the school no less than three times this year so far about that menace."
"Well, it looks like you are gonna need to go back up there. He was teasing Noah and another boy named James about making plans to hangout this weekend. I think he may have used the, uh, f-word to describe Noah."
Olivia gasps, "Oh Noah, my sweet boy."
"Then when James stood up to Trevor, he pushed him. So, then Noah tried to push Trevor back, but apparently Trevor was too big for Noah to do any damage. And Trevor punched him."
Her eyes flare up in anger, but she keeps her voice low. "I will call the school on Monday, and Trevor's parents. This has gone too far. That little bast–," she stops herself, "kid needs to learn a few lessons."
"You should, and I think you might want to talk to Noah about James. I thought Noah was more embarrassed because he cried after being hit. But after our little boxing session tonight, it's more than that. He's upset about maybe losing his friend. Though, I think he does like James more than just as a friend."
"Ah, I don't think James likes Noah like that," Olivia says, thinking back to the few times that James had visited their house. Though, they were kids and she had no idea how nine and ten-year-olds thought and acted when they had crushes.
"Noah said that, too. But he was really worried about James not wanting to be his friend anymore because of what Trevor said and did."
"I'll talk to him."
"I told Noah that it's James' decision as to whether he still wanted to be his friend. But I suggested that he text or call James and see if they can play together this weekend. I think it could give them a chance to talk about what happened before they are back at school on Monday."
Olivia hugs him, she can't stop herself. She holds him tight, so thankful for Elliot at this moment. She knows that she's a good mother, but it was so nice to have Elliot step in to help, doing something she would have never thought to do. She felt as if she had a partner, a co-parent almost. Not only a man who would take Noah to play baseball or to eat ice cream, but someone who could handle the hard stuff, who wanted to handle the hard stuff.
"Thank you," she says into his neck as she squeezes him tight to her, "Thank you for knowing what to say and taking him to your gym."
He rubs her back. "You got it, Liv. I was happy to do it. I'm just sorry that Noah's having a rough time."
"It won't be the last time," she adds sadly when she pulls out of the hug.
"No, it won't be. But once we get Noah a set of gloves, he can join me anytime," he offers genuinely.
She smiles at him, "I'll start looking around for kids' gloves."
"Actually, I'll snag him a pair for Christmas…I mean, if it's alright that I get him a gift," Elliot wavers, still not exactly sure where he and Olivia stand after his disastrous ask out.
"I think that would be a perfect gift."
"Good. Alright, I better get out of here, let you get Noah tucked in," he says as he squeezes her bicep and heads towards the door.
"Thanks again, El."
Hand on the knob, Elliot turns and looks back at her.
Olivia sees him turn around. "What is it?"
"I just…I miss talking to you," he rocks on his feet anxiously. "And we can't, you know…move this forward unless we are talking," he finishes awkwardly.
"You're right," she bites her lip, knowing that the ball's in her court. "I'll, uh, call you soon?"
Elliot smiles and nods, "Looking forward to it."
