AN: OK SO, REMEMBER THIS STORY WAS WRITTEN YEARS AGO. DOCTOR BERESFORD IS AN ACTUAL CHARACTER OF THE SHOW. HE APPEARS IN SOME CHAPTERS (I DON'T KNOW WHICH ONES EXACTLY) AND HE WASN'T ANYONE IMPORTANT BUT FOR SOME REASON I USED HIM FOR THIS FIC AND HE JUST STARTED TO HAVE HIS OWN PERSONALITY WHILE I WROTE HIM. SO... HOPE YOU LIKE HIM.

D: LAW AND ORDER SVU AND ITS CHARACTERS ARE NOT MINE.

CHAPTER 52 EXACTLY THE SAME

—Doctor Beresford? hello.— he approaches me with a smile.

—How are you Olivia?—

—I've been better.— I answer without much encouragement. He stops in front of me and takes his time to look at me. It has been a long time since someone looked me in the eyes without making me feel fragile, he does not see me with pity.

—The cold doesn't help, uh?— He says trembling and trying to warm his hands with his gloves.

—Not much.— I accept that the cold is terrible, although, I'm not sure if my skin is frozen by the environment or it is just for my not-so-new zombie state.

—Are you shopping?— He says in a funny way pointing to the supermarket.

—Yes.—

—Me too. Do you mind if we do it together?— He says starting to walk towards the entrance. I just nod and follow him.

—I've never seen you around here.— This has been my groceries shop for a while by now and I have never seen him in it. I don't think he even lives in this neighborhood.

—I am just passing by.— He accepts. —It is the only place where I can find a decent Parmesan cheese.— He explains. I give hi a doubtful expression. Parmesan cheese uh? Now I feel like buying one myself.

I take a cart so I can take everything that I had already thought of buying. Then, I start walking through the corridors. He follows and makes sure to take his cheese when we pass beside it and then he just keeps walking by my side.

—How are you doing with your pregnancy?— He asks me without fear or pity. which makes me feel good.

—Fine. I think.— I say while placing two boxes of cookies in my cart.

—You think?. Did they detect any abnormality?— I can notice his tone of concern, different from what I have become used to, this was more of a medical concern.

—No.— I hurry to answer having a strange need to make him get rid of that concern. —I haven't gone to a doctor... yet.— I try not to see his reaction and continue focus in my purchases, filling my cart with every crave that comes to me.

—I see. Have you not found anyone with whom you feel comfortable?— I stop and turn to look at him with doubt. I really know that it is not the reason but it does not sound as bad as an excuse. —I mean, very women seek to be comfortable with the doctor who will take care of their pregnancy.— He gives me the reason for his question.

—Sure. I was planning to talk to a doctor who was recommended to me. I was just waiting for the holidays to pass.—

—Good. You really should. You are... like a month and a half by now?— He says trying to do the math.

—Yes ... something like that.—I keep filling my cart with things, so many that in the end, when I get to the checkout counter, I look at it with fright. I had never filled one this much.

—Cravings?— He asks taking a strawberry ice cream that is on top of the whole mountain of things.

—Yes.— I say starting to put everything on the moving tape so that they can charge me.

—This is not healthy.— He suddenly begins to remove them taking them back to the cart.

—Hey!— It puzzles me that he does that.

—I'm sorry Olivia, but it is my duty as a doctor to help you eat properly.—

—You are not my doctor.— I fight back.

—Look, let me put this way. You are a police officer right? If you saw that someone is stealing a woman's purse, would you say "I'm not a robbery police so I won't help her?"—

—Of course not.— I complain. —But this is different.—

—It's exactly the same.— He takes a nearby basket and begins to remove various things from my cart.

—Why are you stealing food from a pregnant lady?— I complain.

—I'm not stealing from you, you haven't bought it yet.— He defends himself so calmly while continuing with his task. —Look, honey it's not good for you. It's not pasteurized.— He says taking my little jar of honey.

—Ok. You do the shopping for me then.— I say with evident annoyance. An annoyance he just ignores. He doesn't take it badly or even as a joke. He pulls my cart out of the line and goes back to the aisles focusing on hanging my choices with healthier ones.

I can't complain, not really sure why, but I just follow him around trying to take note on every change he does. I soon start asking questions and he explains why some foods are terrible for pregnancy. Until he finished choosing everything carefully, the mountain did not diminish much, he simply exchanged the bad for the appropriate. At least those products that actually had a healthier alternative.

—Ready. A perfect food for a future mother.— He says going back to the line. —This I'll let you keep.— He says showing me he has let the ice cream inside the cart. He helps me put everything on the tape and the young cashier begins to pass things through the price marker. Healthy food is expensive.

—Let me walk you.— He tells me while we leave the store carrying carrying too many bags each.

—Thank you.— I start walking towards my building, trying to keep my balance, which costs me a bit of work due to the weight of the bags and the slippery of the sidewalk.

—Here.— I say reaching the entrance of the building and trying to get my keys out of my coat pocket.

—Let me help you.— He says kindly taking even more bags from my hands.

—Thank you.—

Soon we are in my apartment, placing the pile of bags on the kitchen's counter. I can't help but take the box fiber cookies and other things that he chose, and open it desperately to start eating.

—Do you want some Doc?— I ask him with my mouth full.

—No thanks.— He gives me a slight smile. —You can call me Kyle.— I sure look funny with inflated cheeks and swallowing like crazy.

—I'm not used to it.— I express sincerely. I have always called him Doctor Beresford and, although it is not the first time that he have told me to call him by his first name, I have already gotten used to the whole Doctor thing.

—Well, as you feel better, Detective.— I let out a little laugh trying not to spill the food out. Touché. I take out a glass and fill it with milk.

—You haven't had breakfast, huh?— He guesses.

—No. I had no food.— I explain. —Are you sure you don't want something?— I ask him again.

—I already had breakfast.— He assures me.— I will only take this one.— He says taking the Parmesan cheese —I'm leaving now. I have to go to work.—

—On Christmas Eve?— Not even I am working today. —Mercy hospital is demanding.— I say.

—Not the hospital. Actually today is a day off from the hospital. I have a private practice at Central Park east.— He explains. He is silent for a few seconds and I can see an idea appear in his eyes. —If you want you can come with me and I can check you up.— He offers with sincerity in his eyes.

TO BE CONTINUED...

AN: I KNOW I'VE BEEN UPLOADING ALMOST EVERYDAY AND MAYBE IT IS DIFFICULT TO KEEP UP. BUT I REALLY WOULD LIKE TO FINISH UPDATING THIS SOTRY SOON SO I CAN FOCUS ON THE OTHER ONES I'VE LEFT HANGING. I'D LOVE TO READ YOUR OPINIONS SO FAR.

STAY SAFE! XO.