AN: I hope you are enjoying this.

D: Law and order svu and its characters are not mine.

CHAPTER 33. YOUR OTHER PARTNER

— He also loved you very much. — he says stroking my arm. A feeling somewhat similar to happiness comes to me. It's not that I doubt that he loved me, but the fact that his own son says it makes it even more special.

—I know. — I say placing my hand on his.

— Did he ever dare to tell you? — He asks me with some doubt on his face.

— tell me? —

— That he loved you. — A slight smile appears on his lips. I know the answer to his question but I don't know if I should tell the truth, after all, I don't think he's talking about the same sense of love that I am. The memory of the pair of words he whispered in my ear is present. Loud and clear.

—He wasn't one to talk his feelings. But he always took care of his partner. I knew. — I answered without completely lying to him. He didn't usually talk feelings.

—He own me 50 bucks then.— The boy says letting out a little laugh. —He should have told you. He did confess it to me recently.— Now the doubt invades me. It seems he is actually talking the same sense of love that I am thinking. —He… he was in love with you. — Richard clarifies himself.

—What? — is the only thing I can say.

— Well ... you see ... — he adjusts himself in the bed to see me in the eyes while he struggles to find the right words to speak. —Since my parents separated, and I grew up we had better communication... he started to treat me as a man instead of a child. — He tries to explain pushing his tears back. —and, I don't remember what was happening but, he was so upset and…I remember well that he told me that he needed you so much.— A lump lodges in my throat. —I asked him and he just didn't denied it. He was in love with you and he needed you. I bet him he wasn't brave enough to tell you. —

—I… I need him too much now. — I answer him trying to retain the tears that have accumulated in my eyes. I can see how he takes a breath to speak again but suddenly a voice interrupts us.

—Benson we need you. — we turn towards the door and see Samuel watching us. I quickly wipe my tears. — I'll be there. — I say a little annoyed. He nods and just disappears again.

—Sorry I didn't want to... I think I should go. — Dickie gets up.

—Don't apologize. I'm fine. — I put the photo in the box and place the guitar on top of it to help him.

—Thanks Liv. — I get up and walk behind him to the door, we go down the stairs carefully and walk to the elevator.

—Do you have a car? — I ask before he can get on the elevator.

—No ... but I will order a taxi ... thanks ... ahm ... I will see you again right? — He asks me with an expression full of doubt. I really don't know what to answer him. At this moment I don't know what will happen today or in the future.

— It will be nice. You know where to find me. I express with affection.

—Okay. — he nods. — Goodbye. —

—Goodbye. — he hurries to enter the elevator and I see him disappear behind the doors. A feeling of loneliness invades me again, but before I let it hit me I walk back to the office.

—Liv ... you better come in now. — Munch tells me with a worried face. I turn to the office he points to and I can see Samuel annoyed at the door, I approach.

—What is it?—

— She doesn't want to talk to any of us.— he complains. I look through the glass and I see a young woman crying inconsolably.

—Is she the victim? — I ask looking towards Fin who only nods.

—She doesn't want to talk to any man. —Munch explains. Suddenly the image of the young woman from my nightmares invades me. 'She needs you.' I hear Elliot's words as a memory. I take a deep breath and decide to enter the room. The poor woman is frightened by the noise of the door. She looks at me with fear and tries to wipe away her tears.

—Who are you? — she asks.

—I'm Detective Olivia Benson ... I'm here to help you.— I say trying to make my voice sound calm.

—No ... you do not want to help me. You are blaming me for what happened to me…— a certain anger and doubt invades me.

—No, we want to help you. What makes you feel that way?—

—That detective… he said that if I didn't help you he would accuse me of intervening in an investigation. — the girl's voice breaks. —I don't want... I can't say anything.— She begins to cry desperately again. I can feel how my blood heats up with just the words she just mentioned. This idiot doesn't know how to work here and I'm really not in the mood for training him.

—No, we will not accuse you of anything sweetheart. — I approach a chair and sit next to her, as soon as I have the opportunity I take her hand and try to calm her. She needed some minutes but soon she is calmed. Little by little she begins to develop and I listen carefully to her words. A terrifying story that manages to put a lump in my throat several times, but nevertheless I stay strong. I feel that need that I had not felt long ago: I want to help her.

I spent some hours with her trying to make her rembeber as much as she could. I write down the details that seem relevant to me and make sure to order some food for her. I managed to convince her to go down to the doctors office so we can have her rape kit done. I accompany her till the end.

—We are going to do everything possible to catch him.— I express putting my hand on her shoulder. Earning a smile from her. —Now you need to rest. Do you have someone to stay with? —

—Yes ... my sister is outside. — she points through the window to find out another young woman was already waiting in one of the chairs. I accompany her and they hug each other tightly.

—Thanks Detective. — I ask a patrol car to take them to their home and I say goodbye to both. I walk down the hall to my desk and I start to read each and every detail.

—How did it go? — Samuel's voice distracts me and reminds me of that anger. —It took you a while.—

—Well ... after what you did it was not easy.—

—What? ... Look, she didn't want to tell me anything ... she was evading the…—

— Listen to me. I don't want to hear your reasons. Here you are going to learn to work with victims not with corpses and if you are not prepared for it. There is the door. — I say annoyed before he starts to give me a speech.

—You can't tell me what to do or not in my case... if I remember correctly the one who disappeared here was you. And now you WILL LEARN TO WORK WITH me because your other partner is gone. —

TO BE CONTINUED

AN: Let me know what you think so far. Thanks for reading!