A/N Hey so here's the next chapter. I have quite a bit planned for this story but it might take a while to get to some of the main plot points so please be patient with me.
"Grandpa!" Maria called out as she ran through the the squad room towards Don who promptly picked up the girl.
"Hey, Honey. How you doing?" Don asked the little girl.
"I'm ok, thank you. I start school on Monday." The five year old stated excitedly.
Don smiled proudly and said: " I know. You're going to have so much fun and learn lots of new things. I bet you will make lots of new friends as well. Where's Livy?"
"I'm right here." Liv mad eher presence known by walking over to the duo and taking Maria from her 'grandpa' and placed her on the ground. "You shouldn't pick her up like that. You aren't a spring chicken any more, Cap."
"I resent that statement." Cragen scoffed, slightly insulted. He looked over at Elliot who was a few feet away. "I knew these two were coming for a visit but that doesn't explain why you're here on your day off." He pointed out with one eyebrow slightly raised.
El walked over to the small group and shrugged nonchalantly. "After I set up Maria's room last night we arranged to have lunch. I thought I would tag along and see how you're coping without your two best detectives."
"Hmmm, sure. We're coping perfectly fine." The captain assured looking between Olivia and Elliot suspiciously before looking down at Maria who clutching onto his hand. "So what do you want to do?"
Maria went to reply but was stopped by Casey who came waltzing into the bullpen. "Unfrotunately, anything fun will have to wait. I need to do some trial prep with Maria before she takes the stand at Dwyer's trial."
Olivia gaped at her friend and colleague. "Excuse me? No one said anything about Maria having to testify." She pointed out pulling the child towards her, suddenly feeling very protective.
Casey realised she wasn't looking at Detective Benson, dedicated and professional cop, instead she was stood face to face with Olivia, a Mama Bear prtecting her cub. "She's the only one who can ID him. Without that we hardly have any evidence against Dwyer. Do you really want him to get away with what he did?"
"She was being kept in the basement of his fathers shop! What more do you need to convict him?" Olivia exclaimed and picked up Maria, who flinched a little at her voice being raised. "She's not testifying." And with that, Liv stormed off towards Don's office.
"What was that about?" Casey asked looking between Cragen and Stabler.
"She's trying to protect Maria from any more trauma. Facing that man will only set that girl back emotionally. She's had nightmares evey night since Liv took her home from the hospital. Huang's got an appointment with her later this afternoon." El explained. "Casey, I don't think Maria would cope well if she had to face that scum again-"
"I get that but she's our only witness who can put Dwyer in that basement during her time being held prisoner. We need her to put him where he belongs. Doesn't Liv want that?" The ADA confused by her best friends attitude. "Look, if I send Maria out here, would you watch her while I have a word with Liv? Without that little girls testimony I could lose this case and I want that bastard rotting in prison as much as any of you guys do."
The two men nodded and Casey followed Olivia's pasth to Don's office. Once inside the room she smiled at the sight in front of her. Olivia was sat on Cragens chair with Maria on her lap, the elder brunettes hand running through the youngers hair as they sang 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' quietly. The part of Casey that consdiered herself Liv's friend hated to break up the heartwarming moment but, eventually, they lawyer in her took control and decided the only way to get Olivia to agree with what needed to be done was to put the scenario into perspective. The red head sighed before making her presence known. "Maria, Grandpa Don and Elliot want to show you somthing real cool in the children's room. I need to have a really important chat with Olivia but it's going to be really boring. I will come and get you when we're done, ok?"
Maria looked between Caseys soft green eyes and Olivia's warm brown ones before finally settling on her foster waiting for comfirmation that it was ok for her do as Casey said. Olivia shot Casey a look before placing the child on the ground. "Go on, Baby. I won't be long. Maybe after we can make a picture for Garndpa and Aunt Casey after I'm done."
The child nodded and left the office, unknowingly leaving the two women in an uncomfortable silence.
"Liv, I am sympathetic-" Casey decided to break the tension but was quickly interrupted.
"Cut the the crap, Novak. You don't know a thing about what that child has been through. You're not the one who has to sooth her nightmares every night. As her mother I am making this decision and she isn't testifying against that monster-"
"With all due respect, Detective Benson, you need to start thinking like the professional detective I know you are. You're always telling the victims-"
"Maria is not a victim! She's my child-" Now it was Casey's turn to do the interrupting.
"She's not yours though is she?!" She spat before she could even think about the words that just left her mouth.
"How dare you?!" Olivia growled, her voice deep and menacing. She slowly walked towards the woman she considered her best friend, not once breaking eye contact. She stopped just icnhes from the other woman, just inches apart from being nose to nose. "She's mine. I don't care what anyone says. Her biological parents failed her, the NYPD came close too. I'm not putting her in a position that can detroy her all over again. That's what being a mother entails so don't you ever question me on that ever again. Do I make myself clear?" She spoke clear and slow so that there was no way Casey could miss a single word of what she had just said.
They held eye contact for another few moments until Casey was the first to crack. 'God, why am I such a bitch. Sometimes you really need to watch your mouth, Novak, or one day you're going to find yourself in deep shit.' She thought to herself.
"Liv I'm sorry that's not what I meant to say. You have to remember that at the moment you're only Maria's temporary foster parent, until you adopt her you don't have a say in wether or not she can or can't testify0"
"Are you seriously threatening me right now?" Olivia asked, exasperated.
"Of course not, Olivia. Although, the DA could go to ACS and they will have to make sure that Maria testifies. I'm sorry but if that happens it will be out of my hands."
The detective come mother sighed, warring with herself before she finally nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry. You're right. She has to testify. I just...I hate seeing her in so much pain and seeing Dwyer again will only make it worse-"
"I know but she's got you, me and the rest of the unit behind her. With our love and support she will get through it. I love that little girl as if she really were my niece so I would never do anything to intentionally hurt her." Casey begged with her eyes for her friend to believe her.
"I know. I'm sorry I got so mad at you. You're just doing your job. I don't know why I went off like that. I'm always telling vitims how much better they will feel after testifying against their attackers, I dont know why it's so different this time." She huffed as she swiped at a stray hair.
"Because this time you're thinking like a parent, not a detective. This time the victim is your child and you're going to have to deal with the aftermath of the trial. You and Maria will have so much support and I know with you by her side, she cand do anything." Casey praised.
Olivia smiled a genuine smile and wrapped her arms around her friend/sister. "Thank you, Casey."
"You're welcome. Now how about we go and see to that child of yours?"