Chapter 35
Olivia's left side was full of pins and needles and her right hand felt like it was in a vice. She heard a constant beeping, but it was her hand that brought her out of sleep. When she opened her eyes, she looked right into her mirror image. Serena was awake!
"Good morning my love!" she exclaimed. She swears she's never seen a more beautiful sight than when her daughter looks at her. She looked as if she could hardly keep her eyes open, but she was conscious. Liv looked towards the glass and saw Elliot standing guard with a look of relief on his face and a sheen in his eyes. The nurse wasn't at her station, so Liv assumed she went to get the doctor. The machines were making different sounds than they've made for the last four days and she could only hope that was a good thing. Before Liv could contemplate that anymore, she saw Dr. Egan come in with the nurse and prepare to enter the room.
She greeted Olivia with a curt nod and handed her a pair of hospital scrubs. "This room is about to be filled with several doctors, nurses, and other professionals. I didn't think you would want to hang around in your underwear." Liv could make out a crinkle in her eyes, indicating a teasing smile behind her mask.
Liv forgot that she removed her clothing in an effort to keep any outside contaminants away. She shifted and graciously took the pants. As she moved to get up, the grip on her hand tightened and Serena had her eyes open wide. "Shh, baby. I told you I would not let go and I won't. But I didn't mean quite so literally honey. I am not going anywhere, I just need to get dressed. Elliot is the only man who gets this view" she joked as she turned towards Elliot and winked. He graced her with a smile, and she was able to extricate herself enough to throw the pants on before climbing back in.
She kept that promise because before long the room was a flurry of activity with each of her doctors coming in to check. Unfortunately, with the exception of Dr. Egar, they were all male which put Serena on edge. It was evident on her heart monitor. "Okay wait" Liv commanded. "Is it necessary that you all come in and perform the same tests? You've been checking her monitors for days, rechecking her blood pressure and looking at her isn't going to make anything clearer. Dr. Egar, please?"
"She's right gentlemen. I gave her a thorough check when she woke up. We will run new bloodwork and any other tests as necessary, but all of us poking and prodding will only upset her and set her back. We will coordinate outside." Liv let the doctors fight amongst themselves as she gave her daughter her total attention.
"One squeeze for yes, two for no. Okay?" Squeeze. "Good. Are you in any pain right now?" Squeeze. "Where?" When Serena furrowed her eyebrows, Liv realized her mistake. "Sorry. Okay, let's see. We'll just run down the list I guess." Before she could start, Dr. Egar came back in.
"Can I begin?" When Liv checked with Serena, she felt a squeeze, so Liv nodded. The doctor began her list of questions, most of the answers were an unfortunate yes. Luckily, Serena was adept at letting a machine breathe for her, so she was able to relax her lungs which in turn helped her whole body. "Serena, the other doctors all agreed to act as consults from now on. They will continue to monitor you through the glass as necessary so you will see them coming and going. Eventually, each one will have to...touch you, one at a time, but you don't have to worry about that for now and you will never be alone with them or made to feel uncomfortable. Do you understand?" Squeeze. "However, Dr. Kendall is waiting outside, and he does need to be in here with you. I will stay and of course, your mom won't leave your side. Can I ask him to come in now?" Liv liked the way she gave Serena the option, even though she really had no choice in the matter. It helped give her back some power, some control and Liv truly appreciated that.
Serena looked at her mother questioningly. "Dr. Kendall is Maddie's brother baby. He is a burn specialist and it was he who found the source of your infection. Maddie called him for us and that's how we ended up in this special hospital just for children. I trust him sweetie and he's right out there with Elliot." She pointed towards the glass that Serena noticed for the first time. When she saw Elliot, Liv could tell from her eyes that she was trying to smile. She raised her right hand full of tubes for just a moment to wave. It made Liv smile when Elliot made a face and waved like an idiot. She felt Serena's chest move in a way that told her she was amused. "She's laughing at her goofy daddy. I am too!" Liv joked which only prompted Elliot to act goofier. With Dr. Kendall smiling next to the man she loved, Liv said, "Come in Dr. Kendall."
When Maddie's brother was all covered and entered the room, Serena's grip on Olivia tightened. He seemed to sense her discomfort and spoke up. "You can call me Antoine. My sister calls me Ant Man. She liked to tease me when we were kids." When Serena crinkled her eyebrows, he took that as a good sign and continued. "I don't know what she's told you, I mean, I know she loves to talk about me all the time. I'm the cool sibling after all, she wishes she was the cool one." When Serena made that sound again, Liv laughed too.
"We adore Maddie, Antoine. You definitely have some competition for cool sibling."
"Hmm, we'll check that again before you leave. May I come closer Serena?" Squeeze. "I'm not going to hold anything back from you, and I am not going to tell your parents something that I will not tell you. This is your body and you are old enough to know everything about it. In turn, I want you to let me know anything that hurts or doesn't feel right in any way, even if you think it's stupid or doesn't matter. Agreed?" Dr. Kendall expected Olivia to give him her daughter's answer, but none was forthcoming. Instead, Serena was studying his face. Her eyes were working along his features from his eyes to his mouth to his stance. She then flicked to Elliot outside the window. After taking some time, squeeze. "I like that. You took time to think, to assess and make an informed decision to the best of your ability. I promise to do right by you, even if you may think it's wrong at first. I need you to trust me. I know that's very difficult, but you can always have Maddie kick my butt. She can you know. Plus your dad out there, he's scary."
Through the intercom, they heard Elliot speak. "Her Momma can kick my ass doc. She's scarier." Squeeze.
Dr. Antoine Kendall proceeded to tell Serena about how he removed all the dead skin from every burn and treated them properly. They would need to be medicated and dressed, some for longer periods than others. They would feel raw for a while, then itchy, and that meant she would heal lots better than she would have before. The burn on her rectum, the reason for this specific hospital stay, was particularly tough. He is concerned that she may need a skin graft, but it is in such a place that since no one would see it, the graft isn't totally necessary. They would play it by ear. Then, it was time to check and redress her burns and she panicked a bit.
"I am going to show your mom how I do things, because it will be her job to continue after you get out of here. I'm sure Maddie will help, but moms are better. Hey Dad?" He said over his shoulder, finally turning towards Elliot. "How about you go get this lovely lady a cup of coffee, maybe a bagel?" Everyone knew he had to check Serena in some very intimate places and she didn't need an audience. Elliot also didn't want to seem like he didn't want to be there, which he really didn't need to watch but this gave him an excuse. He caught Serena's eye and waved before finding Liv's eyes and blowing a kiss. They both smiled and waved back, watching him go.
-SVU-
Serena was on the last of her 11-day hospital stay. Since the day she woke up in the isolation room, she has made unprecedented progress. When Dr. Kendall went to examine her burns that morning after Elliot left on his "coffee run", she had to be sedated. She trusted him to a point based on the fact that he was Maddie's brother and her parents seemed to trust him, but she still couldn't let anyone touch her, especially in such private places. No one objected though since she was still in quite a bit of pain. After that day, Liv and/or the nurses cleaned and changed her dressings until she got to the point where she could change many of them properly herself.
When Olivia had to help change the dressing on Serena's arm nine years ago, she almost wasn't able to. The scarring and discoloration turned her stomach, broke her heart, and made her so angry all at the same time but she managed to push through because her daughter needed her. That night on the patio when Serena showed her forearms to her was ten times worse. The fireworks were bad, but they were an accident. These wounds were deliberate and repeated. After Serena was sedated and Antoine meticulously described how to treat and dress each burn, Liv saw her daughter's entire body, which she felt was like an extreme violation. Serena never wanted her, or anyone to see. Other than her face, there was barely a spot on her that wasn't scarred from stitches or some sort of burn. She saw her upper half in the bedroom when Serena whipped off her towel, but fuck…her inner thighs, her buttocks, her… It was almost too much for Liv to bear. She stopped trying to participate and just stepped back to watch. For each dressing, she only did a few and had the nurses do the rest. It was a relief when Serena was able to treat most of them on her own.
She was being weaned off her antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and pain killers. Since they were all given intravenously, she never had an objection to them; however now that she was getting ready to go home, she would rather go without than take anything in pill form. Dr. Egar and her team didn't object, she was stronger now. The entire hospital knew that anyone who would come near this child had to remove their white coat. Dr. Regan got the full brunt of Serena's reaction when he first went to examine her and that's when Liv remembered herself and explained. She didn't mind anyone on the team in small doses because Liv never left her side. The only time she slept was when the drugs made her, and she fought the effects with everything she had, no matter what the doctors tried to say or do. Her saving grace was that otherwise she was a model patient so as long as she was healing properly, they would take her sleeping anyway she could get it. Nature will always take over. The only thing keeping her from being released, was a session with the hospital therapist. Her entire team couldn't understand why Olivia hadn't made that a priority after what she had been through. She was only home for two weeks before all this happened! Anyway, Liv knew her daughter and she had a feeling this session wasn't going to go as smoothly as the rest of her stay. Not to mention, Serena reverted back to being non-verbal as soon as she woke up. She hadn't said a word since she passed out in the car.
When the therapist walked into Serena's room introducing herself, Liv watched her daughter do a quick assessment (she was doing one too). They were told that Dr. Wells had a wonderful way with children and Liv could see why; she was practically one herself! She looked to be right out of grad school or something. She was dressed in jeans (as were many of the doctors here) and wore her hair in a high ponytail. Trying not to judge her by appearance, Liv welcomed her.
"Hi. I'm Olivia, this is my partner Elliot. Nice to meet you." Serena gave Liv side eye. "Uh, I'm sure you're aware that Serena hasn't spoken since our arrival, so I'm not quite sure how your session will go. She signs though and I'll be happy to translate."
"That's okay Olivia. I know all about Serena and don't worry, we will do just fine." Dr. Wells smiled and made herself comfortable. "It's usually better for the child to speak without the parent present. I'm sure in your line of work, you can understand that."
Liv decided she really did not like her at that point. "Well, I can tell you that you do NOT know all about Serena because if you did, you would know that given the circumstances she doesn't like to be alone in the same room with strangers so good luck with that." Before the doctor could formulate a response, she turned towards Serena. "We'll be right outside and yes, I will leave the door open." She kissed her forehead, waited for Elliot to do the same and walked out the door, propping it open much to the chagrin of Dr. Wells.
Once they got to the waiting area, Elliot spoke. "Damn Liv! You went all Badass Benson on that poor girl! I liked it!" As soon as Serena was released from isolation to ICU (where she didn't stay long), he had to go back to work. He had yet to put his papers in because now he was waiting for after Carlson's trial. He wanted to make sure he had his badge to protect his daughter when he needed it. Once Serena was out of immediate danger and Olivia was thinking clearly, she told Elliot about the molar cap. Rikers' doctor found not just one, but two and they had to sedate Carlson before examining him for fear that he would activate them. Elliot was right there when they woke him up afterwards. After spouting about illegal searches and violations, which raised the lieutenant's blood pressure, The Doctor just had one more thing to say.
"You're used to beating confessions out of your perps and coercing the intimate details out of your victims, but not this time. I'm sure you've seen her scars and you may have even taken her to get a medical exam, but no one will be able to determine what was used or how. Other than Charles, which was a fluke, she hasn't described anyone or the celebrations has she?" Seeing the fury roll of Elliot let him know he was right. "In fact, unless you get my Heaven girl to spill the details, which I know will never happen despite the small confessions she may have been pressured to disclose, those two years will remain a mystery. Whatever she has said in her so-called statements only scratched the surface. Anyone who saw that room, and you were there Elliot, knows that I am not exaggerating. Olivia will never know the depths of her pain, the torture she endured. Those wonderful days and all that occurred will remain between just the two of us. This conversation didn't even happen." He looked so smug that it took every ounce of control Elliot possessed not to run forward and beat the crap out of him. "That child will have pain, physical and emotional, nightmares, hell daymares and be haunted by me forever."
Elliot shook off that memory. He wanted to be present right here with the woman he loves, taking their daughter home. Olivia smiled and hugged him. It had been too long since they could just breathe each other in and relax. "I just want to take her home and get back to some kind of normal before it all goes to hell again. Is that too much to ask?" Olivia had barely left the hospital; only for a shower every few days if Elliot, Fin, or Maddie (with Bernie) were available to stay with Serena. Oddly, Elliot and Fin had to remain on the other side of the room, outside of arms reach. That was the biggest change for them since they were the only men she could be next to after she was rescued. Liv hadn't slept at home for the last 13 days. Right now, she was content as she stood rocking in Elliot's arms with her eyes closed for the longest time. They were interrupted by Dr. Egar, who was holding the release papers waiting for the shrink's signature. Before they could discuss anything, they heard clapping from behind them. They all turned and saw Serena standing in her doorway with a pissed off face that mirrored Elliot's so much that Liv would have laughed out loud under different circumstances.
She clapped again to make sure she had their attention before waving them in. As soon as the three of them stepped foot inside, Dr. Wells stood in confusion and Serena began emphatically gesturing. All eyes were on Olivia.
"I don't understand what you mean by that sweetheart."
"No, no Liv. Come on. Please? You know I can't follow." That was the part that Elliot hated most; Serena stopped talking and started signing and Liv was the only one who could understand her. The doctors said there was no physical reason for her silence, and he knew her head was messed up and she just had to work through it. Didn't mean he had to like it.
Liv sighed. "She asked if Dr. Wells was a real therapist or was this some sort of test or joke." While everyone glanced at the doctor, Liv locked eyes with her daughter who continued.
**A/N: Serena's signs are in italics and should be read as if Olivia is simultaneously translating.
"This is the last thing, the last thing before I get to go home so this has got to be some sort of joke. I mean you leave and all she does is stare at the door as if willingly it to close and when it doesn't, she turns back and doodles on her pad. She has to be doodling because neither of us is making any sounds. I'm sure as hell not going to volunteer anything so I wait-forever. When she finally decides to look at me she asks, "Do you have the desire to harm yourself or others?" Seriously?"
Liv chanced a glance at the therapist. "Why would you ask her that?" Before Dr. Wells could answer, Serena was gesturing again.
"Really. I fought like hell to survive in the dark to get back to you and then I fight again here. I know what the doctors said Momma, I know I almost died, I was really bad. I felt it, in a way still do. Anyway, I didn't go through all that to think about offing myself now. What the fuck Momma?! I'm done, this is bullshit. I'm not talking to her anymore, so to speak. She turned towards her pediatrician. Can I go home now?"
Elliot was chuckling and shaking his head, causing all heads to turn to him. He knew it wasn't funny, but he couldn't help himself. "She even curses in sign!" to which Liv shot him a look of daggers. "If I can't get you to hyphenate your name, I need to at least get Stabler on your birth certificate angel. That fire of yours is all me, and I proudly claim it. Whaddya say Doc? Can we go home?"
-SVU-
Dr. Egar didn't say a word before handing Serena's release papers over to Dr. Wells to sign. To save face, the therapist spouted the same speech Liv and Elliot have both heard and given hundreds of times. How important it is for victims to get help. Talking about what happened is the biggest part of the healing process. Once her speech was over, she signed her name and bid them all good luck and farewell. Now, Serena just stood in the middle of the sand with her face turned towards the sun. She was still underweight, weak, pale, and exhausted, but she was on her way. Olivia was inside taking a comforting shower while Elliot was cleaning off the grill. It was late on a Tuesday afternoon and he had to go back to work in the morning. He took today to bring Serena home. He was out of excuses after this, so he was taking full advantage of the day.
Bernie walked over to her granddaughter and put a sunhat on her head. "Darling, I know how much you love the sun, the way it feels on your face, but you haven't been exposed for so long and it's dangerous. You not only need plenty of sunscreen, but a hat will help." She put her arm around her shoulders and they both basked in the freedom. After a few, Serena leaned her head against the older woman, bringing a tear to her eye that did not go unnoticed. "Oh sweetie, I just found you and I almost lost you! Please dear, don't do that again. Stay with us, okay?" Serena smiled, nodded, and leaned into her grandmother.
After dinner was quite peaceful. Serena sat at her mother's feet working on the beautiful picture that she and Lizzie had begun on Independence Day. Liv was going over her notes and reports as she had to appear in court first thing Thursday morning. It was a brutal case involving two women and one abusive boyfriend and she needed to be sure of her facts so she wasn't accused of being out of work too long or something. She had cases to finish, victims who depended on her for closure and she wouldn't let them down. Elliot was talking quietly with his mother because she would be in charge of Serena whenever Liv wasn't around. He remembered his childhood and he knew things were different, but he couldn't help it. Technically Serena didn't need watching, she was more than capable of caring for herself, but after everything, she was still a thirteen-year-old girl who shouldn't have to.
Serena clapped to get her father's attention. Liv stopped what she was doing to speak. "Elliot, do you think Lizzie and Kathleen would come back and hang out again? I know we didn't say goodbye the last time we saw them but maybe you could ask? I would really like her to help finish this picture. Gramma said we can have it framed."
Liv answered immediately. "Honey that was all my fault, but while you were in the hospital, I did speak with all of your new siblings and apologies were made on all sides. They all wanted to come and see you, but we agreed it wasn't the best idea in the hospital. However, this is their home and they shouldn't feel they need to be invited to visit. I will call first thing tomorrow but I'm sure Lizzie and Kathleen would love to spend time..."
Elliot cut her off. "No Liv, we talked about that….whatever. If you want to call them, of course but how many times am I going to have to tell you? This is your home now too and if you have a day when you don't want the company, tell them. It's been brought to my attention, by several people, that they are adults and don't need coddling."
-SVU-
Elliot was on the phone with Carisi regarding developments in another case when Bernie walked over to say goodnight before retiring to her room. After putting his detective on hold, Bernie turned and pointed to Olivia. When he looked, there was Olivia sitting up on the couch, surrounded by paperwork, passed out. Her reading glasses were crooked on her face and her mouth hung open slightly. It made Elliot smile. He thanked his mom and bade her goodnight and finished up with Carisi, telling him he would be there in the morning.
When he approached the couch, Serena looked up and he pointed. When she turned around and saw her mother, she got a sad look in her eye. "What's the matter angel? She just fell asleep is all." She held one finger up to her father indicating he should wait a moment while she ran to her room. She came back carrying a spiral notebook.
"She's exhausted because of me. She didn't really sleep well in the hospital and when she did, it couldn't have been restful squished on that bed with me" she wrote.
They were so much alike. Serena blamed herself for Olivia's exhaustion and Liv blamed herself for not doing enough to help Serena. "You two are gonna be the death of me" he said simply as he kissed her forehead. Now that she was home, she didn't flinch at his proximity. "Come on, help me get her to bed and make her comfortable." When he put his arms under Olivia's knees and around her back to lift her up, she began to stir.
"No, El. (mumble)….No sex-day. Too tired." That brought the biggest smile and exhaling laugh sound from Serena that Elliot hadn't seen or heard in a while. He just shook his head and he might have blushed. Liv may have been comfortable talking about sex with the kid, but he sure as hell wasn't.
Serena helped tuck Olivia in and returned to organize the living room, so all her work was once again neat and filed properly. When Elliot came out of his bedroom, he caught Serena's eye and flicked his head towards the bathroom. She rolled her eyes and dropped her shoulders. "None of that" he admonished as she dragged her feet to walk. Several things were made clear as a condition of her release and relieving herself regularly was a close second (just behind getting regular restful sleep). She figured since that wasn't going to easily happen, she had no choice but to follow the bathroom request. She had to make sure toxins didn't have a chance to build up and since that particular burn, the cause of it all, was still angry and painful to touch, but healing better than she could have ever imagined. She was always extremely conscious of it of course, but now she had an even less desire to use the toilet than she did before. It always hurt like hell to move her bowels, and now she was just afraid to. That on top of…
She waited outside the bathroom while Elliot did his customary toilet check, shaking his head as he chanced a glance at her. He still had no clue what the hell he was supposed to be checking for, but she still wouldn't go voluntarily and if this helped, then he would do it. He knew it wasn't just him; she had Liv do it too. She watched his actions and stood on her toes just inside to check for herself. She really had to go since she has been eating a lot more, but she dreaded it. At the hospital, she had a catheter to reduce the risk of exacerbating the infection and to keep it clean and untouched. This time, she couldn't quickly squat and release, she had to sit and quite possibly push. She looked towards Elliot who stood in the hall as always with his arm and leg visible. Her stomach was flipping and she knew, she had to go.
Elliot heard a stifled whimper which almost made him turn around, but he refrained. The sound came again and he was shaking, trying to resist the urge to go to her. "Honey, you okay?" He remembered she stopped talking so he wouldn't get a response. He heard her taking deep breaths that sounded like she was trying to keep in tears before hearing the sound of the special water tool the doctor gave her to use instead of toilet paper. Finally, he heard the flush and the sink as she washed her hands. When she came out, she was walking slowly and had her sleeve stuffed in her mouth. He couldn't see her face since she had her head down. He grabbed her elbow and when he saw her eyes, they were swimming in tears. "Angel, what…?" She pulled away and walked outside. He followed.
He came up to her and tried to pull her hand away. He never understood why his Benson women never wanted to cry out loud. It was so natural yet they both held it in as much as they could. When they did cry, it was always done as quietly as possible. He managed to unstuff her mouth and she let out a sob that made him wish he didn't. "That must've hurt. I know the doctor said your burn was in the worst place possible, but it is getting better. Didn't it hurt more before?" He had to be right, right? A healing burn has to feel better than a raw, infected one so why was she crying in obvious pain now and not before? She was just shaking her head from side to side, trying and slowly failing to hold in her tears. He didn't know what to do since she rarely hugged him before and she hasn't made any physical contact with him since she entered the hospital. Carlson's words popped back into his head. It pissed him off that The Doctor was right, they may never know the full extent of her suffering. It killed him to see her holding it all in. An idea came to him. Kathleen used reverse psychology all the time. He turned around and walked inside, making himself comfortable on the couch.
Serena was immediately on his heels, which told him she was in fact distressed because she never gave up an opportunity to be outside, with or without company. She stood before him taking very fast, shallow breaths and he just held his arm out. She stuffed her sleeve back into her mouth and gingerly curled into his side. As soon as he let his arm fall to her back, he felt her body shake with sobs. Silent, deep sobs that he felt and barely heard other than her struggle to breathe. "It's okay angel. It's okay." He tried to soothe and calm her. She finally put her arm around his chest and grabbed his shirt, holding on tight so he took the opportunity to wrap his other arm around, enveloping her and she sunk into him.
She cried for quite some time. He was always very cognizant of her fragile emotions and mental state, but she walked, ran, and played with what he thought was ease but was heinously mistaken. Fucking Carlson! When he saw the sheer number of doctors, when they were told to prepare for the end, the long list of IV meds she was given, it hit him then. His youngest daughter was a monument of strength. She must have had the highest level of pain tolerance of anyone on the planet. Now, the simple, natural act of taking a shit hurt her to the point of tears. He couldn't stand that. He just held on tight, she held on tighter.
Something was shaking his arm. No, not something, someone. Liv. He opened his eyes to see her trying to wake him quietly. Her smile did it. "Come to bed" she said simply. He went to move when he remembered Serena was wrapped up in his arms. Liv looked at her and fruitlessly tried to tuck the errant strands of hair behind her daughter's ears before catching his eye.
"She's okay" he said as he lifted her up and took her with him. Instead of depositing her in her own bed, he tucked her into theirs. Liv climbed in next to her and he wrapped himself around both of them.
-SVU-
Elliot heard his phone doing the buzzing dance on the nightstand. 4:45am. He scrambled to answer and, in the process, got his fingers caught in Olivia's hair, waking her up too. He had already hit the answer button but didn't say hello just yet.
"I'm sorry luv. I didn't mean to wake you, especially this way." It took both of them to extricate his fingers and it was Liv who reminded him that he was on the phone. "Shit. Stabler." Rollins called to informed him that their case had a new development and he was needed. She loved hearing the terms of endearment between her superior officers; catching the brief moments of the life they now shared. They deserved it.
He sunk his head back into the pillow and held his fingers on the bridge of his nose. "Go. They need you" said Liv sleepily. "I mean, we need you too, but we'll get along" she sighed and shifted her position in bed. He just stared at her. She spoke again with her eyes closed. "I'll see you tomorrow morning. I'll stop at the precinct before court."
He brushed his fingers across her forehead, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I miss this. Soon, I won't be getting these early morning phone calls. Soon, I won't have to leave you." That made her open her eyes. She leaned forward and kissed him. She missed this too.
"Soon. But not now so go. I'll see you tomorrow." She cuddled down back into her pillow and he smiled as he moved to get out of bed. "Wait" she said suddenly, propping herself up on her elbow. "What happened with Serena last night? She just got home, why was she crying?"
"You knew she was crying?"
"I'm her mother Elliot. Wanna tell me why?"
"I can only guess. I told her to go to the bathroom. I checked and waited as usual, but I heard her whimpering and trying to hold in her cries. I wasn't about to go in while she was sitting on the toilet Liv. Anyway, when she came out, she had her sleeve stuffed in her mouth but was clearly very upset. I think yes it hurt to go, but I think she was more scared to go. I'm not sure if that makes sense, but that's the feeling I got from her." He was still at a loss.
"Okay" said Liv, thinking. She decided to get up when Elliot went into the bathroom. She made him some coffee to go. They hugged and had a proper goodbye before he head into the city.
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