A/N: We finally get some insight, so this may be a trigger warning. In case you couldn't tell, I love Fin!

Chapter 14

Serena was sitting on some comfy cushions laid out on the floor very close to Fin while he sat on the low sofa, his elbows on his knees so he could hear anything she might say. "How do you want to do this baby? I need to record you, but if you're going to sign to me, then I need to get an interpreter in here so it's all official."

I can do this. I can do this. My name is Serena and this is Uncle Fin who would rather die than hurt me. That mantra was running through her head as she opened and closed her mouth several times. It had been over two years since she spoke to another person, and almost that long since she heard her own voice in private. She wasn't sure if it would even work anymore.

"I...it...it'sssssss o, o, okay Uuuuncle Fin." She remembers developing the stutter one day shortly after she was taken. Her head was spinning and she was freezing. She couldn't seem to concentrate on what she was trying to say. It was right after that she stopped speaking out loud. Every time she tried when she was alone, she just kept getting stuck on words, not even predictable letters. "I c-c-can…..talk to you." That seemed to take a lot out of her. Fin didn't make any faces or comments. In fact, he went on as if it were any other day and any other person. She was really grateful for that.

"Good, cuz I was hoping it would be just you and me. No worries just take your time and tell me anything you want." Fin talked into the recorder stating his and Serena's names and why they were there. "Now, that man out there. The one who asked you "Where's Andrew." Do you know him?"

"Yes." That wasn't so bad.

"Is he the man who kidnapped you?" Fin knew that this Andrew guy was with Serena at the park, but he had no idea to what role he or this perp, whose name he knew was Amir Whitlock, had in her captivity. He made sure to keep all his thoughts to himself lest he be accused of leading the witness or something later on. He wanted to know just how much Serena knew about the perp that wouldn't shut up.

"No" she said as she vigorously shook her head. "A-A-Amir just c-came….to the sssssscelebrations. He n-n-never mmmmmmissssssssed one."

Well, I was right. She does know him. "Celebrations? Like dinner parties? Holidays? Barbeques?" Fin inquired, hoping to God that she meant something as innocuous as that. In reality, he knew better.

"No" again nearly shaking her head off her shoulders. "I, I, I….mmmm..." I can do this. There's no more and you don't want there to be anymore. You have to save the next girl, like the elites. "U-Uncle FFFFFin, he t-took p-p-pictures. Amir sssssaid that if The Doc-doc-doctor deccccided to p-play dirty, he w-wanted to to to mmmake sure he wasn't the only, only, only one g-g-going down." She caught Fin's eyes and pleaded with him to understand, and being the seasoned detective that he is, he did.

"So, Amir would come to Andrew's parties and take pictures of you. Is that right?" he asked for the recorder sake.

Serena nodded, but when Fin pointed to the machine, she said "Yes" barely above a whisper.

"These parties or celebrations that you're talking about, were other kids there?" Head shake. The next question he couldn't phrase any other way, but he knew how smart Liv's baby was before she disappeared, so he was hoping that hadn't changed much. They always spoke the truth to her and he wasn't going to change that now. "Were there men and women having sex and Amir was taking their pictures for insurance? Like if this doctor got caught and decided to rat Amir out, he would point the finger at others too?" Fin knew he could be accused of putting words in her mouth, but he had to clear this up. He was hoping maybe there was some type of orgy swing thing going on. Again, hoping but he knew better.

"Yes and n-no. No w-w-women. Just the mmmmmmmmen." She couldn't look at Fin any longer and he saw a single tear fall down her cheek that she quickly swept away. He wanted to get her out of here, so he can bash in Amir's head before Elliot and Olivia got a hold of him. He wasn't going to push her any more.

"Thank you, Baby Girl, for talking to me. I know how hard that must have been for you. You did great, and I'm not just talking about here in this room with me. We can stop. Now I know just how to deal with that asshole in the other room. Do you want me to get your mom to come in here, or do you want to walk out with me?" He didn't want to face Olivia with this information, at least not now. He would get Serena to Liv so they could leave, he'd tell Elliot and go from there.

"No t-t-trouble now?" she asked as she looked towards the still open door. Just like her mother, she was always worried about everyone else.

"Don't you worry about me. I got it covered" he replied as he lightly brushed her cheek and she didn't flinch.

"C-can wwwwweeeeee go home?" she asked. Fin just nodded and stood up, waiting for her to join him as they walked out of the room together.

-SVU-

For Olivia, time had stopped the minute her daughter disappeared into the interview room with her coworker. She hadn't moved a muscle, just stood and stared at the doorway. Elliot stood behind her and kneaded her shoulders. She barely felt it. It barely registered in her brain that someone, presumably Rollins, had cleaned up Serena's mess from the floor. It didn't matter that her squad was staring sideways at her. It didn't matter that she was being completely unprofessional. She wasn't a cop right now. She was a mother, the mother of a...victim.

"She's with Fin" she said out loud to no one in particular.

"Yes" replied Elliot.

"She'll be okay. It's Fin" she spoke as if she were just trying to convince herself not to rush in there.

"Shit" she heard Elliot breathe out behind her head. It was odd considering she didn't see a trigger for it. She heard them a second before they walked in. It was 2:00 and there stood Chief Dodds, ADA Barba, Rico, the FBI agent who had been working the task force for Serena's case and Charles Messing, the liason from the Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

"Lieutenant" greeted Dodds. "Sergeant, congratulations" he turned to Olivia and shook her hand. "So, what do we have?"

Before anyone could answer, Rico spoke up. "Where's the kid?" There was always something about this agent that irked Elliot. He acted like he was doing them a favor by doing his job and he did the bare minimum at that. Olivia once said he probably resents the fact that the cops were still running the case and keeping it active, showing him up on his job. Elliot heard him mention once that it's rare that cops kids are kidnapped and he hoped to God he wouldn't catch another case like this again because it was a battle of the hardheads.

"She's giving her statement to Detective Tutuola. She'll be out in a bit" replied Elliot who let go of Olivia's shoulders and now stood face to face with the FBI agent. "I'll keep you posted."

"Well, Lieutenant, we came here to get some answers so if you'll excuse me, I'll just go and help out your detective" Rico decreed as he tried to make his way around Elliot. They were pretty evenly matched physically, Rico was an arrogant ass and Elliot knew he could match him there as well, but Elliot had home field advantage as well as he wasn't letting this asshat anywhere near Serena.

"No, Agent Rico. You will not. Detective Tutuola has a rapport with Serena and given everything she has been through, he will be the only one questioning her, so why don't you go back to your office and we will send you the report." Elliot now crossed his arms and locked eyes with the agent, ready to do battle. His unit, his kid.

"Lieutenant Stabler, forgive me but you don't have a say in who questions that child. That is for her parent" interjected Dodds and all eyes turned towards Olivia, who was only half-listening as her eyes were still waiting for Serena to emerge. She did turn her attention to the group of men when she felt their scrutiny.

"Chief, she may not have the last name of Stabler, but I speak for my kid. No one but Fin is questioning her sir, and that's final" he interrupted before Liv even had a chance to gather her thoughts. Everyone was watching this exchange, so no one noticed that Fin and Serena were standing in the doorway. Serena smiled when she heard Elliot's words. She knew the truth. That was one of the first things The Doctor told her.

"Chief, Serena hasn't spoken a single word since she returned. I have no idea how or if Fin is getting anywhere in his questioning, but Elliot is right, no one else will be speaking to her" Liv moved to stand beside Elliot. "And yes, Lt. Stabler can speak for her sir."

"Listen Stabler. You will not keep me from doing my job so either you move, or I go around you" threatened Rico.

"Take a single step Rico, and I will drop you. The consequences don't matter. See, I have over 30 years on the force and I'll be happy to take you out, then take my full pension and retire to my Jersey beach house, so try to go around, take that step." Elliot knew Rico wouldn't, but the threat was real. His kids were all grown, except for Eli who was a happy ten-year-old living in Connecticut with Kathy and her new husband. Elliot got him one weekend a month, all of July, last week of August and every other holiday year. The only reason he stayed on the force this long was standing right next to him. When it came to it, he would ask Olivia to retire with him. After all, she had 25+ years and she will want to spend the next however long a time taking care of Serena, so he really had nothing to lose.

It was a stare down and both men were itching for a fight. "Chief Dodds, The Bureau would expect the courtesy of a full report as soon as it becomes available. If this Doctor Carlson can lead to anything else, we will need to speak to the child." With that, Rico turned to leave.

"Well, Olivia" said Messing, taking that as a hint. "I'm so happy you and your daughter are reunited. If there's any other way The Center can assist, just let us know." He smiled, shook Olivia and Elliot's hands and departed. Liv liked him. He genuinely cared about his job and the missing kids.

"Stabler, we need to…" Chief Dodds began to speak but that's when Serena spoke up.

"C-c-can wwwweeee? Can wwweeee g-g-go beeeeeeeach? P-p-pleease?"

All eyes turned on the child who was silent up until now. Liv ran over, trying not to make a big deal of her words but thrilled nonetheless. She looked to Fin who nodded. "What do you mean baby?"

"P-p-pllllleeeeeeease c-c-can wwwee go bbbbeach? O-o-open, out outside. El, Elllliot, rrrreeeally?" she seemed to beg but in light of the gathering of stern looking men, she didn't want to move from the doorway or Fin's side. She wanted to go so badly. In her mind, a beach house meant open windows that let the sun and wind come in, screen doors, and being outside all day, maybe even at night. No more dark, closed walls. She relished that idea and surely Elliot wouldn't have made it up.

"Of course you can. In fact, Liv you're on leave so why don't you head on out. I'll take care of your paperwork and call my mother to tell her to expect you both by dinner" Elliot spoke directly to them knowing his words would cause a stir, but he didn't care. Serena asked him for something and by God, he was going to do his best to give it to her.

"El, we couldn't impose on your mother like that and on such short notice." She didn't mind Elliot speaking to defend Serena, but she would not be spoken to as a subordinate (even though she technically was) being told where to go and what to do, especially in front of the squad and the chief. "That doctor still out there plus this perp…" she was in full argument mode but all it took was two words from behind her.

"Please Momma" they were perfectly clear and spoken in such a way that everyone in that squad room would have moved Heaven and Earth to make it happen. Liv could only nod, all arguments lost.

"That's settled. Rollins take my jeep and drive them home please. Liv, I'll call my mom now and tell her you'll be on the road shortly. I will see you tomorrow night, but it'll be late by the time I get there." He looked towards Serena and held out his right arm which she promptly ran into. Liv joined her on Elliot's left side. Neither seemed to care who was watching or whispering, which was everyone. "Drive safe and I'll see you tomorrow night" he claimed as he kissed Serena on the top of her head, then turned around and did the same to Liv.

As they approached the exit doors, Serena stopped, turned, and ran towards Fin. "U-unnnnncle Fin" she was suddenly at a loss. She wanted to thank him and hug him and tell him to be careful because those men were dangerous and she loved him, but nothing came out.

"Baby Girl, take care of your momma. Get some sun, eat some food, and…" he leaned down close to her ear and whispered, "Be free." This garnered a smile and another quick peck on the cheek. Olivia approached just then and once again put her arms around his neck.

"I seem to be thanking you a lot today, Odafin" She kissed his cheek as she pulled away.

"Don't think about anything Liv. We got it. Just...enjoy Baby Girl." he smirked and winked. He knew as well as Elliot that as soon as the door closed behind them, Dodds was going to pounce and they would be grabbing Mr. Whitlock and showing him exactly how they felt about him.

And he was right.

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