Chapter 23

About 3 weeks later..

Liv was on her way home from work. It's only been two weeks since El has been at an advanced training from the FBI and she has talked to him almost daily but she still missed him like crazy.

Not only as her boyfriend, but also as her partner at work. It wasn't the same without him and the case she was finally able to close today was a tough one.

She didn't get home a lot this week because she was working almost 24/7.

She stopped at her favorite chinese restaurant to get some take out and ordered way too much because she was starving. She didn't have the time to eat anything the whole day.

Although she missed Elliot, she knew it was good for all of them that he had been sent to LA. After everything that was going on with Kathy, a little distance was good for Kathy to learn how to cope with it.

It was raining like crazy. So she made her way inside her building as fast as she could but when she reached her apartment door she found an unexpected visitor.
"Hey Sarah, are you alright?" she asked worriedly.

Sarah was soaking wet and her eyes were red and swollen. She looked up at Olivia, shook her head and started to cry. Liv kneeled down next to her.
"Let's get inside. You need to get out of these cold and wet clothes."

She opened the door and Sarah followed her inside. Liv put down her things and turned around to look at Sarah.
"Your whole body is shivering, come on. Let's get you into dry clothes." she touched her slightly on her back and they walked over to Liv's bedroom. Liv put out some clothes and a towel and left the room after smiling at Sarah comfortingly.

A few minutes later Sarah came back to the kitchen in Liv's dry clothes. She was still shivering and trying hard not to cry again. Liv handed her a cup of tea and they sat down on the couch.

After a few minutes just sitting there, sipping their teas, Liv asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

Sarah looked up and a single tear ran down her cheek.
"I think so, but I don't know how." she looked down again and started to cry silently.

Liv moved closer and hugged her after putting both of their cups on the table. Sarah snuggled up next to Liv and started to calm down.
"Honey, I do have to call your mom. I am sure she is really worried about you."

Sarah sat up jerkily.
"No, don't call her! She will be so mad and she won't listen to me. Please, can I just stay here?" she asked beggingly.
"I would go nuts if you were my daughter and I wouldn't know where you are. I'll try to talk to her and maybe she'll be fine with you staying here for a while. But things will get worse if we don't call her, okay?"
"Okay." Sarah finally said.

Liv kissed her head gently and got up to get her phone. She was glad that Sarah agreed to call her mom, because Liv knew she had to do it and she wouldn't like to do it against the girl's will.

"Hey Kathy. This is Olivia. I wanted to.."
She couldn't continue because Kathy interrupted her.
"I don't have time for this right now!

And honestly I don't want to talk to you at all. So just leave me alone!"

Of course she couldn't even listen to her for a second but Liv was on a mission and she had to ignore Kathy's behavior.
"Sarah is with me. She was.."
"She is with you? Why is she with you? And why didn't you call me earlier? Don't you know how worried I am? No, of course not. You don't know what it feels like to worry about your own child."

That's enough, you don't say things like this because it hurts and is below the belt.
"Okay. Stop right there! Yes, she is with me, in my apartment. I don't know why because I called you straight away.

I came home from work and there she was, sitting in front of my apartment, soaking wet and all in tears. I let her in, gave her dry clothes and some hot tea, so she won't get sick and then I called you."

Kathy didn't say a word.
"Well, Sarah asked me if she could stay for a while but I wanted to talk to you first."
"I don't want her to be with you! I want her to be home! Let me talk to her. That's family matter!"

Liv put the phone down and took a deep breath.
Calm down. It won't help Sarah if you start a fight with Kathy now. You have to stay above such things, Liv told herself.
"Sarah honey, your mom wants to talk to you. Do you feel like talking to her?"

Sarah nodded.

"She is willing to talk to you, just a minute." Liv said with her friendliest voice.

"Why are you even asking her if she feels like talking to me? If I want to talk to her I'll talk to her. That's none of your damn business!"

"Alright. Here she is." Liv said while handing the phone over to Sarah.

"Don't be so fucking arrogant! She is my daughter, not yours. Stay out of my family business!"

"As she said, here I am.

Can you just stop treating her like this? I am the one who showed up here, I am the one who didn't tell you where she was. Scream at me but let her out of it.

I didn't want to make it worse for her by coming here but I needed to come here. I need her right now."

Liv stood next to Sarah not knowing what to say. She was so flattered but she also knew that this could make it all worse.

For Kathy it must feel like a punch in the face. Well, more like 10 punches.

Sarah couldn't look at her, so she looked down on the floor. She knew she made things worse for Olivia but she really needed her right now. From all the people in the world she wanted to talk to her, only her.

"Mom?" Sarah asked worriedly.

"I am still there. I … How did she turn you against me? You used to dislike her. You were always on my side. How did she make you change your mind?"

"Wow. I really thought you couldn't fall any deeper. I have never known her. I heard the things you said about her and I believed you. Then I got to know her and she is totally different. Nothing you said is true. And you made me turn against you, yourself. I can't believe the way you act, mom!

This is so not right. You just don't treat people like this. No matter how much you dislike them or how different they are. People should respect each other!"

"Don't talk to me like that. I am not a liar! I am your mother!"

"I am gonna hang up now, mom. I am so exhausted. You know where I am and that I am safe. Bye."

"Sarah! I swear if you hang up on me…" but she wasn't able to say more because Sarah had already ended the call.

"I am so sorry, Liv. I didn't mean to cause you even more problems. I just…" she hid her face in her hands and shook her head.

"I am so embarrassed of her. You deserve so much better. I am sorry."

Liv moved closer and pulled her into a loving and comforting hug.

"Stop worrying so much sweetie, I am fine."

They walked over to the couch and Sarah snuggled up next to Liv again.

"I didn't even ask you if you want me here. I can go if you want me to."

"Stop it, silly. Of course I want you here. Just try to calm down, okay. Everything will be okay."

"Thank you. I wouldn't know what to do without you."

"You're so very welcome, sweetheart."

A few minutes later Sarah was fast asleep. Liv's phone started to ring and she tried to get up without waking her.

It was Elliot. She was sure that Kathy had called him.

"Hi." she whispered while tip toeing out of the room.

"Hi. I am really, really sorry. Are you okay?" he asked caringly.

"I am fine. Really." she said, still whispering. "I worry more about Sarah and Kathy. This call was pretty intense and Sarah wasn't feeling good before."

"Where is she?" he asked.

"She fell asleep on the couch. Well, actually on me. I am glad she didn't wake up when I got up."

"I love you. You know that, right?"

"I do." she said with a smile. "I am sorry that she has called you. How is Kathy by the way?"

"Well, I would say somewhere between deeply hurt and furious."

"God, I am so sorry. I should have stopped Sarah. She said some pretty hurtful things, although she didn't mean to hurt Kathy.

It's just, well they were both hurt and angry and... they mostly fought about me and I am sorry about that. I shouldn't come between them."

"Stop it. Don't you see that you haven't done anything wrong? Never! It's not your fault that my daughter adores you and my ex dislikes you. Kathy has destroyed it herself. I am just sorry about how she treats you and that you have to take care of my daughter after a very exhausting week."

"I am fine. I like having her here. I just hope she will tell me what happened tomorrow. She seemed to be pretty hurt and disappointed."

"So she didn't say what happened?"

"She said she wanted to talk about it but didn't know how.. and then we called Kathy and well.. she was pretty exhausted afterwards, so I thought I should let her sleep."

"You are amazing. Thank you so much.

So it really is okay for you if she stays the night?"

"Sure it is. I like having her here and I wouldn't force her to go home if she doesn't want to."

"Thank you. I will call Kathy and tell her that Sarah will contact her tomorrow."

"Thank you. Tell her she is fine and safe.

I know she neither likes nor trusts me but maybe it'll help her to know."

"I don't even want her to feel better after what she did. How can you still sympathize with her?"

"Because she is hurt too. Sure, she could calm down a bit but it isn't easy for her either."

"I still don't get it. You are too good for this world"

"I am not and you know that. Thanks, for calling her again. I think I'll reheat my take out now, I am starving. Haven't had the time to eat today."

"I really need to come back home. Someone has to take care of you."

"I am looking forward to it." she said smiling.

"Good. Enjoy your food and sleep well later."

"Thank you. You too."

She heard soft steps outside her bathroom while getting ready for bed.
"Sarah, you can come inside if you want. I put out a toothbrush for you."

The door to the bathroom opened slowly.
"Thank you. I'm.." she stopped and looked down.
"It's okay honey. I am finished here. You can come to my bedroom after you are finished if you want. Okay?"
Sarah smiled shyly and nodded.

A few minutes later there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in!"

Sarah entered the room and just stood there, not able to say anything.
"You wanna sleep with me, here in my bed?" Liv asked caringly.
"Only if it's okay for you."
"Of course it is." Sarah smiled and crawled into bed next to Liv. She cuddled up next to her and started to smile brightly.
"This shirt smells exactly like dad."

Shit! She was so used to wearing his shirt at night, that she didn't think about how this would be for Sarah. But before she could say anything Sarah said, "I like it. It makes me feel safe."
Me too, Liv thought.
"I owe you an answer." Sarah said.
"You don't owe me anything but I want you to know that I am here for you, whatever it is."
"I know. I put you through so much trouble and you didn't push me to tell you what's going on even once."
"Well, you will talk when you're ready." Liv said while caressing her head gently.
"I am ready now if you are not too tired."
"Of course not."

Sarah sat up, opposite of Liv.

"Alright. So today after school Lauren and I met to hang out. We went to a park with some coffee and just enjoyed spending time together.

We...we kissed for the first time ever and I thought I would never feel happier but then a man approached us. He was furious.

I didn't know what was going on at first but then I understood.

It was Lauren's dad, he screamed at her like a crazy person, said things like, she was a disappointment and that this was disgusting and that she won't destroy his and the whole family's reputation." she stopped, trying to calm herself. Her hands were shaking like crazy.

Liv carefully took them in hers and soothingly rubbed her thumb over the back of them.
"Liv," she said looking up in Liv's eyes, "it was so horrible. I felt so miserable and Lauren was a mess. I felt so sorry for her. How could he talk to her like that? We weren't even doing anything wrong, right?

I mean it's okay to like girls, why did he have to be so horrible?"
"Of course not, sweetheart. It is more than okay to like girls, always remember that and let no one ever tell you something different. It's just that some people can't understand it, they think it's abnormal and bad but that's not true. Everyone is allowed to love whoever they love, no matter what gender they are."
"Liv, he .. he was so mad. He screamed at her like crazy and she had to go home with him immediately. He didn't even let her say goodbye.

He acted like I was infectious. I really felt like I was. The way he looked at me… No one has ever looked at me like that before."

Tears started to stream down her face again. Liv brushed them away gently, feeling so sorry for the young girl.

"Later she texted me from her brother's phone, saying that she is grounded and that her dad said she isn't allowed to see me anymore. He even wants to take her out of our school." She couldn't hold back anymore and started to cry heavily into Liv's shoulder.

After a while she said,"What if I won't see her again? I don't even know how she is because he took her phone and computer. He totally isolated her. I don't wanna lose her, Liv." she said crying again.
"Oh my sweet girl. I am so sorry. We will find a way to make you feel better."
"I don't know how. If I could at least talk to her."
"Let's try to sleep now and talk about it tomorrow. You can't do anything at the moment and I know this is not what you want to hear right now but sometimes the world looks better after a few hours of sleep."
"I hope you are right."
"I can promise you that no matter how this goes on, I am here for you and I will help you get through this."
"You are the best." she said almost asleep. Liv stroked her back until she was asleep and after a while of thinking about what the young girl had just told her, she fell asleep herself.