A/N as I am in the U.K. I don't really know the timescale or laws around Covid in the US so sorry if some of this is wrong.
"I'm bored"
"I know sweetie"
"I wanna go to school."
"I know baby."
"But you get to go to work and see your friends."
"You could FaceTime Jesse and Billie, I'll text Amanda."
"But they're babies." Noah whined throwing and catching a tennis ball. "And Lucy comes over so why can't I leave."
"Lucy is being really careful too. It's not the same as being in school is it?" His mother explained. "It's not fair!"
"I know sweet boy, but I don't want you to get sick and end up in the hospital. I had enough of that when you were a baby. Your lungs are weak so if you get the nasty virus you might get really sick and that scares me." Olivia moved to hug her son. She was getting the uncomfortable Covid tests twice weekly, wearing her mask constantly, trying her best to stay 6 feet away, although that wasn't always possible if she needed to comfort a victim, her hands were dry and sore from being washed so often. "I've not left this stupid apartment for 25 days!"
"I know it sucks Noah, finish your school work then shall we see what's on Disney . I'll make us popcorn?"
"Whatever."
This was so hard. It shouldn't be like this. Noah should be at school, or playing in the park, or having fun at the movies. But all of a sudden the world was in the grips of a worldwide pandemic. Olivia had been worried for a while she'd followed the news;
In China,
In Italy
In the U.K.
and now it's was here. In New York City and the advice from Noah's paediatrician had been clear but severe. Keep him inside, the city wasn't safe. Too many people, too close together, it would be too easy for him to get sick. And he might not get better. His lung problems shouldn't get in the way of his life. That's what she'd been told when he was a baby, that was until a worldwide pandemic, a respiratory illness, and all of a sudden he was vulnerable, and all of a sudden there was a threat that she could loose her precious son. And she couldn't let that happen. He mattered too much. All those years ago, after the worst year of her life she'd been given the most unexpected but precious gift. A son, a beautiful baby boy. Baby boy doe who became Noah Porter-Benson. She thought that ship had sailed. She'd always wanted a baby but thought her biological clock had stopped and then she got her Noah. He may not have grown in her body but love not blood makes a family.
Olivia loved her appartement, it was a good size for Manhattan, but this last month it had become a prison for her sweet boy. It shouldn't be like this. Her job was to protect her little boy. Even if protecting him meant holding him captive. She felt like mother Gothel from tangled, one of Noah's favourite films. The evil character locking her child in a tower. It shouldn't be like this.
Olivia was pulled from her thoughts by her phone ringing and making her jump.
"Benson."
"Hey Captain, it's Amanda, listen I know you've clocked off for the day but Maddison Byrne is here and she'll only talk to you."
Liv sighed audibly.
"I know Liv I'm sorry but she's practically hysterical. I'm really worried about her."
"Okay. I'll see if I can get Lucy to watch Noah." Liv said and hung up.
"Work?" Noah asked.
"I'm so sorry sweetie. I'll make it up to you." Liv told her son.
"Maddie. I'm so sorry this happened to you again. Is there someplace safe you can stay?" Liv said kindly to the teen blonde victim who had been raped twice by friends of her boyfriend.
"I was gonna stay with Grandma but I'm scared of making her sick. She has MS. But I can't stay a Levi's because they know where I am." Maddie told her. "I guess I could stay with my Aunt Julie, she lives in Staten Island."
"That sounds like a good plan, we can get a squad car to take you down there if you have a mask."
"Thank you Olivia."
"You're welcome sweetie, if you need anything you have my number, I'll be in touch." Liv smiled and got one of the unis to take her to her aunts place."
"You doing okay Liv?" Her friend and collègue Amanda asked.
"I'm fine," Liv said
"Liv?" Amanda asked knowing Olivia was lying. Olivia was about to reply that she was okay then realised who she was talking to. "I'm fine but Noah is struggling. Remember how sick he was when he was little? Well it created scaring on his lungs so he is vulnerable to Covid.." Liv started.
"...and it's making you anxious?" Amanda finished for her.
"Well yes, but his paediatrician told me to keep him indoors. Totally. There's too many people in the city and if he caught Covid or would probably kill him. He's not left the apartment in 25 days and he's angry and I feel like the worst mom ever holding him hostage. I mean if we lived in rural Montana or something we'd be okay but in the city... online school, no park, no dance classes. He keeps telling me it's not fair and I agree, but I can't take that chance. And we have no idea how long it's gonna last."
"I can get Jess and Billie to FaceTime him?" Amanda told her friend "I suggested that but he complained that they're too little. I quarantined Noah when he had measles but he was just a baby then. It was much much easier." Liv sighed.
"What can I do?" Amanda asked "what do you and Noah need?"
"I wish I knew." Liv smiled "We'll be fine Amanda, today was just a hard day. I should get home."
"You go. Give Noah our love. Sorry for callin' you in."
Amanda was sat at her desk the next morning before Liv arrived. "You okay baby girl?" Fin asked. "Just thinkin' 'bout Liv and Noah. I was thinking maybe we should send them a care package or somthin'." Amanda said. "What kind of stuff?" Kat another collègue asked. "I dunno, some craft projects for Noah. Somethin' for Liv too. A nice candle or a bath bomb." Amanda replied. "So he's not allowed out at all?" Kat asked.
"Nope, the city's not safe apparently." Amanda said.
"What about the beach?" Kat asked.
"What?"
"I've got a friend from college. Her parents have a beach house in Suffolk county. It's the middle of nowhere, it'd be perfect for them to get away for a few days and there's barely anyone around." Kat smiled. Amanda and Fin looked at each other. It was well over five years since Olivia's kidnap to a beach house in Suffolk county but something like that would never leave a person. They couldn't send her back there. She'd had flashback and nightmares that had almost broken her. "Sound like a great idea." Said ADA Dominic 'Sonny' Carisi who'd come over. Amanda opened her mouth next "That's a really sweet idea Kat but Liv really hates the beach."
"Who hates the beach?" Carisi asked "we should ask her anyway."
"Look" Amanda said "something happened to Liv before the two of you started working here. It involved a beach house in Suffolk county, it's not my story to tell but I think it's for the best that Liv doesn't go back there."
"Right got ya'" Carisi said and Kat nodded in agreement. "What about the mountains?" Carisi asked. "My niece Mia did a season up there as a chalet girl, a lot of the chalets are totally empty at this time of year. People ski in the winter and hike in the summer but for now it's like a ghost town. I could get Mia to ask around, she got to know the owners pretty well?"
"That'd be great. Thanks Carisi." Amanda smiled. "I'll text her now."
"Mommy look, there's a box here that says N. Benson. That means it's for me but Lucy wouldn't let me open it until you got back." Noah smiled excitedly as soon as his mother came through the apartment door. "That's great Noah, just let me take a shower and change clothes then I'll give you a big hug and we can take a look at that box." Liv smiled. Keeping 6 feet away from her son.
It shouldn't be like this. She should be able to give her beloved son a hug as soon as she came through the door. She should be able to start on dinner then take a shower and change. Now strip off almost as soon as she arrived. Olivia had never been the type of woman who washed her hair every day. She didn't have the time and her hair was healthier for it. Until now. She couldn't believe how much shampoo she was getting through and how easily her hair got greasy. It shouldn't be like this.
"Noah, we should really leave this box for a couple days."
"Mom look." Noah said pointing to a note written in sharpie on the cardboard box. Liv, don't worry I cleaned everything in this box.
"Okay, but we're still washing hands as soon as it's opened." Liv smiled and passed Noah the scissors. He open the box excitedly. The first thing was a craft project. He smiled "this is cool mom. Sequin art, who's it from?"
"I don't know." His mom replied although she had a few guesses. Her squad most likely, maybe Casey, perhaps even her old captain Don Cragen. "Oh my gosh mommy look." He pulled out a pretty large box which said on it my home ballet bar Liv sighed when she realised it would be something she'd have to assemble but she'd figure it out for her darling Noah. It was pink and plastic but he was over the moon. There were a few other craft projects, books and candy bars in the box and a list of online Broadway dance classes. There was also a picture that said me and Billie and Noah and Frannie from Jessie. Amanda, her squad. Liv smiled and made a mental note to text Amanda. There was also a envelope with Liv's name on it. She opened it while Noah was preoccupied with the books.
Hey Liv,We know Noah is struggling right now so we tried to come up with some little things to make him smile. We also booked a week for you at the chalet next week. Don't tell us you have to be at work. You know we're not busy right now. We can cope without you! And we'll ring if we need you. No ones been in the chalet for a few months. It's up in Windham mountain about a 2h drive from the city. It's on the middle of nowhere. You'll be able to take Noah out plus apparently it's beautiful. Go and have fun and family time Liv, and that's an order. We'll see you at work tomorrow then you'll take Noah out to the mountains. The details are on the back of this paper. Amanda, Fin, Kat and Sonny. P.S Jessie misses her Noah and Billie says hi No-waLiv smiled. Her wonderful collègues, who had become friends, who had become family. The first thing she'd do was ring Noah's paediatrician, only then would she tell her son. A half hour later she had her answer "hey, Noah, I know you're bored being stuck in the apartment. How would you like a little vacation?" She asked her son.
"A vacation?" He asked "where?" Noah's main experience of vacations had been quick trips to warm beach areas, usually in the Caribbean, and that one time his mom had taken him to Disney World. "Not too far away, a cabin in the mountains. Just for a week, it's safer than the city so when we get there we can go for walks and play outside." Olivia told him earring her the biggest smile she'd seen since Christmas. "You'll still have to do some schoolwork, and I'll have some work stuff but it will be a change of scenery. Tomorrow Lucy will come over and I'll have work but after work I'll pack quick and then we can go!"
"Awesome!"
"Mask on." Liv smiled passing him his mask. She'd scoured the internet trying to find a ballet mask suitable for her son but most just had pointe shoes on so she'd had to settle for a pack of 5 child sized masks based on Broadway shows. He picked up his Hamilton themed mask and pulled it onto his face. "All packed?" She asked her son. "Yeah and I made a playlist of show tunes to play on the way."
"Great." Liv had spent 30 minutes earlier disinfecting the car. Noah scrunched up his nose as he got in. Luckily there had been no one else in the underground parking garage. The drive had been fun, they danced and sang to all of Noah's favourite musical theatre tracks. Not that Liv would have ever done that in public. She was a tough cop but driving upstate she let her hair down a little
"When I grow up
I will be tall enough to reach the branchesThat I need to reach to climb the treesYou get to climb when you're grown upAnd when I grow upI will be smart enough to answer allThe questions that you need to knowThe answers to, before you're grown upAnd when I grow upI will eat sweets everyday on the way to workAnd I will go to bed late every night" they sang. Matilda was one of Noah's favourites. He'd done a group dance to revolting children for the last dance recital and Liv had got them tickets to see it around Christmas time and Noah had loved it. He wanted to see Hamilton next, despite watching it almost weekly on Disney. Liv wasn't sure it was entirely appropriate but at least it was slightly educational. Maybe? She couldn't remember how historically accurate it was. It had been a long time since she was in history class. She looked over at her son practicing his ballet arm positions, shoulders down, chest up, long neck. She loved watching her son dance, she loved the natural joy on his face when he danced, she loved that he didn't care what the other boys said, he loved ballet and wasn't going to stop just because Jackson said it was girlie. Her little Billy Elliot.
"Wow this looks beautiful." Olivia pulled up in front of the chalet. There was no snow in that area but if you looked up at the peaks they were white. The pine trees looking like they were dressed for a wedding. The views of the lights of New York City were incredible but the mountains upstate were something else. Liv loved the views. She'd always lived in cities so she loved the views in nature. "Are we staying in that huge house?" Noah asked. The chalet was a good size but to a child who was used to Manhattan apartment sizes it was like a mansion. As soon as they stepped inside Liv smiled there was a small note on the kitchen counter.
Hello Olivia and Noah, welcome to Windham mountain! I cleaned this chalet a few days ago. Sonny Carisi told me that you are worried about Covid so I have filled the fridge and cupboards with some groceries (don't worry about the money, a guy called Fin paid) in the bedrooms there are swimsuits for the both of you and the hot tub out on the deck behind is full and warm. If you need anything ring me. I manage the chalets here and work at the grocery store down in the town. We have a few take out joints too. If you wanted to come down to the village you should be fine. We've had very few cases. Have a wonderful stay! Brigit Monroe"Hey Noah, go look out on the deck?" Liv told her son. "Mom they have a jacuzzi!" He yelled excitedly. "But I didn't bring my swimsuit."
"Don't you worry. There's one in the upstairs bedroom for you."
The next day, Liv woke up relaxed and well rested. "Mom, I've got a football can we go play catch outside. Please." Noah asked.
"Okay sweet boy, let me shower and I'll fix us some breakfast." She poured out lucky charms for her son. She never usually let him have something with so much sugar in, but hey, they were on vacation. She grabbed some muesli for herself.
Soon they were out in their casual clothes and sneakers, playing catch in the huge backyard of the chalet. Noah was running around, throwing his head back laughing, squealing and not worrying about anything.
Just the way it should be!
