A few hours later Munch, Fin, Cragen and Casey were all seated around Olivia's hospital bed. Fin and Cragen occupied the couch with Munch and Casey in chairs brought in by the nursing staff.
"So you got his DNA. Did he put up any type of fight?" Olivia asked.
"1PP is a madhouse. Their trying to keep it out of the papers, but good luck with that and of course IAB is involved." Casey said. "They are trying to play the story out as Gains resigned due to a family health emergency requiring all of his attention; the press is already suspicious."
"I would love to see lieutenant Tuckers face right now. All this right under his nose. He shouldn't have wasted so much time trying to ruin our careers." Olivia said.
"True dat." Fin said.
"Don't worry Liv you're not missing much. We didn't even get the chance to serve the warrant." Munch said disappointed. Olivia's closed lips puffed out and her eyebrows joined in her signature look of confusion.
"Why not?" She asked. Before anyone could answer the door of the room opened revealing the back of an orderly. He entered pulling a stretcher containing Penn who was now laying flat with her broken arm still lying across her chest and her broken leg propped up on several pillows. She was sound asleep.
"What's this?" Olivia was still confused but now for a different reason.
"Did I forget to mention Zoe arranged for you two to share a room? She knew you would want to talk and since neither of you have permission to leave your beds this was the best option." Munch said. At the other end of the stretcher was another orderly, a doctor and a couple of nurses including Mel.
"How is she Mel?" Fin asked. Mel held up a finger indicating he needed to wait. The group waited quietly while Penn was settled and the doctors and nurses checked her over. Once done all but Mel filed out of the room.
"Sorry doctors are thorough but tedious. Any way, you wanted to know how she is doing? Much better according to her chart. Her breathing is stable, her internal injuries are healing well, she has no signs of a head injury and she shows no sign of infection. Now due to the muscle damage around the fractures she is burning up insulin at a startling pace so she needs close monitoring for that. Otherwise it is just the broken bones we are waiting on to heal then she will be back to normal." Mel explained. "She has been through a battery of tests so she will sleep for awhile, most likely until some time tomorrow. Do any of you need anything? Olivia is your pain under control?"
"Yes the pain is under control. Lowest it's been yet." Olivia answered sincerely.
"Good, very good. I wont push anymore medication then, but if it gets worse you or one of your friends need to call. Your already a hero Liv, you don't need to prove it to any one here."
"Thank you Mel." Olivia said smiling. Mel left the room while the group continued their conversation.
"So why did you not serve the warrant?"
"He was tipped off by a friend in the DA's office that we were getting the warrant so he came to the squad room and surrendered himself. He gave us a DNA sample and a full confession." Cragen answered.
"So lets hear his side of the story." Fin said curious. Munch, Casey and Olivia nodded encouragingly.
"It is just as we suspected. Lawson was a detective in Oregon, divorced with three kids. He came to his brother asking for help but he found out Dawson was dying instead. Dawson had already become the deputy police commissioner but had not disclosed his illness to anyone for fear of losing his post. Dawson had always done everything to help his brother so when Lawson told him that his ex-wife's boy friend was beating his kids and that he needed help getting them out Dawson immediately jumped on board. It was his way of helping his brother one last time. They switched places; Dawson went back to Oregon and Lawson stayed in New York. Lawson claims he doesn't know what went down in Oregon or how his ex and her boyfriend ended up dead. When the kids showed up and told him what happened he tried to call his brother, but it was two late, Dawson had already laid the false trail and disappeared. He said they had planned the kidnapping and the false case so his ex couldn't find the kids but that was all. To preserve plausible deniability Dawson never disclosed the details of the false case or where he planned to go. We showed him the death certificate from Canada and that was the first time he knew where his brother had died. The real Dawson never had kids so he had to keep them out of sight until the false case blew over and the kids aged enough that they were not immediately recognizable, then he told everyone he had three kids he never knew about with a woman from his past and that she had died so they came to live with him and his new wife and daughter."
"So if Dawson, who is really Lawson, didn't commit the murder what will he be charged with?" Olivia asked processing everything she had just heard.
"Right now the only charges he can get are impersonating a police officer and hindering a police investigation." Casey answered.
"But those are both mid level misdemeanors. His only punishment will be community service and losing his job. Doesn't seem to fit." Munch said.
"The bigger charges will come from Oregon. Branch thinks they will go for conspiracy to commit kidnapping, child endangerment, obstructing justice and if they can make it stick conspiracy to commit murder. He will be extradited and serve at least fifteen years in prison." Casey explained.
"And the kids? Where will they go?" Olivia asked thinking of the sweet-faced Mia.
"ACS already has custody of them. They will get a temporary placement while ACS tries to find a living relative who is willing to take them." Cragen answered. No one spoke for several long moments. Olivia scanned the room glancing at each persons face for a second before resting on Penn's sleeping form. She thought of the conversation had between her and Penn in the container about friends and family. She could not help but smile. Penn had been right; her team had found her and now they were here with her. She turned back to face everyone.
"You ok Liv?" Casey asked concerned. Olivia was not immediately sure what she meant by that until she realized that tears had started gently rolling down her cheeks.
"I'm fine. I was just thinking of something Penn told me." She answered. "Listen guys I want to thank you for being here and…. you know…. saving me…us…for saving us. You guys are the closest thing to family I have ever really had and-"
"Liv stop. We are a family and you're our family. We were not going to stop until we found you and Penn. She had your back in that container, that makes her one of us. Now we have both of your backs." Cragen said reassuringly. Olivia's smile grew larger while the tears flowed faster as everyone seconded the captain's statement.
"Thank you." All Olivia could manage was a whisper as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.
Meanwhile outside the door, which was slightly open, stood Eve listening to everyone's remarks. Tears were silently sliding down her cheeks as she fought to contain the sobs in her chest.
Back inside the room, Munch had cracked a terrible joke making everyone laugh. Olivia wiped her tears on the bed sheets as she laughed. After that the mood became considerably lighter.
Outside Eve backed away from the door and walked to the nurse's station. She pulled a sealed envelope out of her pocket and handed it to the nurse and asked her to put it with Penn's personal effects. She thanked the nurse then walked away towards the exit. As she passed the room where the SVU squad was a loud group of laughs could be heard through the door. Eve quickened her pace as a fresh wave of sobs and tears over took her.
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Some time later, the SVU squad was still sitting around Olivia's bed eating take out and swapping stories from their previous work assignments. Mel had been in and out checking on both Olivia and Penn, who continued to sleep despite the occasional out burst of loud laughter. The last time Mel came in, she broke up the gathering.
"Ok everyone, sorry to be the wet blanket but visiting hours have been over for a very long time and Olivia needs to sleep."
"I'm not really tired." Olivia informed her.
"Not yet your not but you will be." She held up a vial and needle.
"My pain level is really low Mel, no need for pain meds."
"I'm glad your pain is low." Mel said cheerfully. "However your brain is healing and the best way for that to happen is to shut off all conscious and voluntary functions and the only way for that to happen is to sleep." Mel explained. "And since you said yourself that you are not tired I am giving you something to make you tired." She drew the liquid from the vial into the needle then pushed the needle into the IV line. "Gang you can stay till she is out than out yourselves. Olivia I know you've heard this before but if-"
"I need anything call."
"Well yes that but I was going to advise you not to fight the medication." Mel finished her work before leaving the room but not before giving the group a smile.
"Alright everyone say their goodbyes so Liv can get the rest she needs." Cragen said standing up.
"Thanks again guys. Seriously I ah..p…p…p…p…reci…at…e it." Olivia said yawning.
"Sleep tight Liv." Munch said.
"See ya girl." Fin leaned in planting a kiss on her forehead.
"Are you coming Casey?" Cragen asked seeing her still on the couch.
"Not yet. I'm going to stay a little while longer. Once she's asleep I'll go." She answered.
"Make sure you get home and get some sleep. No excuses." Cragen said sternly.
"I will, promise." With a final smile and wave the men left.
"You don't have to stay Case." Olivia said.
"I know but I want to." She responded.
"Thank you." Casey watched as Olivia fell asleep quickly. She got up, crossed the room turning off the lights before returning to the couch and settling in.
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The room was quite except for the steady beeping of the two heart monitors in the room. Casey had fallen asleep on the couch after Hannah provided her with a pillow and blanket during one of her rounds.
In the early hours of the morning the darkness was broken by the door being opened then closed again. A tall figure stood by the door for a moment then moved towards Penn's bed. His features became visible by the soft light from the instrument panel on the wall. He made his way to the head of the bed stopping when he reached her uninjured arm. Cautiously he took the hand into his watching Penn's face for movement.
"Penn." He said softly. When he gained no response he started talking. "I'm sorry this happened to you. I was beside myself with grief when I first heard, even Beth was on the verge of a nervous break down waiting for news. I tried to visit you sooner but Zoe made things difficult. She slugged me actually, quite the right hook she's got. I came to realize she was right to not let me see you, I was acting on emotion so after I calmed down I knew I could never visit you with everyone around but I had to get something's off my chest. I'm glad your career is going so well and I wanted you to know that I've watched you since you joined the department and I'm…I'm…ahh…I'm proud of the way you developed. I never once interfered or pulled stings on your behalf, you have achieved everything on your own and I am very proud of you for that. I know that you have come to know me as a family friend but you should know you have and always will be more to me than that." He sighed and reached up to her face with his free hand. Softly he rubbed his thumb across her cheek affectionately than he leaned in kissing her on the forehead. Standing back up he smiled, reluctantly released the hand he had been holding than retreated from the room.
Olivia watched silently as Walker Holbrook left the room swiftly swearing she heard the unmistakable sound of a sob as he did. She lay there for a moment watching Penn sleep trying to process everything she herd until the pain medication pulled her back into a deep sleep.
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Olivia was awoken suddenly late the next morning. Her head was aching and the now dull pain was felt in the usual places. She was also starving. Scanning the room she noticed the neatly folded blanket and pillow on the couch were Casey had been sleeping. Seeing that the sun was up she assumed Casey had gone home for a shower and a change of cloths. Across the room she saw that Penn was still sleeping causing her concern. Mel had told them she would likely sleep for a long time but it was going on twenty-four hours. As her brain started to wake up the conversation from early that morning consumed her thoughts. Phrases like beside myself with grief, never pulled strings or influenced any decisions, seen me as a family friend, more to me than that, kept running through her mind on a continuous loop while the image of commissioner Holbrook leaning in to kiss Penn then walking out played. She had so many questions that she knew she might never get answers to. In the blurred corners of her vision Olivia saw movement across the room from her. She blinked her eyes several times to clear her thoughts and vision. She quickly locked onto the source of movement seeing Penn shifting slightly in her bed. Olivia pushed herself to an unsupported seated position. Having successfully gotten that far she decided to keep going by turning her body so her legs hung off the side of the bed. After taking a moment to fight the slight increase in dizziness, she took a determined deep breath in then pushed herself into a standing position. With her socked feet on the floor and nothing supporting her she felt exhilarated.
"What are you doing?" Penn's quite, groggy voice issued from the other side of the room. Olivia looked up to see Penn's head turned towards her watching.
"I wanted to come see you so we can talk." Olivia answered grabbing her IV pole.
"You can see me from your bed." Penn argued. "I doubt the doctor would want you up without supervision."
"I'm not going that far." Olivia quipped. She walked slowly and carefully towards Penn's bed. "This way we can talk without having to yell." She reached the chair in front of Penn's bed and sat down.
"And they never said I couldn't." she said fidgeting in the chair trying to get comfortable. Although wearing gym shorts brought to her by Casey she still had the hospital gown on top making her feel very exposed and a little cold. Penn recognized the problem and threw her one of the extra blankets from under her broken leg.
"Thank you." Olivia said a little embarrassed. "I under estimated how revealing these hospital gowns are and how cold this room is." She quickly wrapped the blanket around her legs then pulled it up to her chest. "Much better."
"Your welcome." Penn said smiling. She couldn't help but feel relieved to see Olivia up and talking and even out of bed considering the situation they had been rescued from.
"How are you feeling?" Olivia asked. Penn looked up and down her own body before responding.
"You mean beside the obvious? I feel good. From what my sister told me I was barely hanging on for a while."
"I thought you were dead. After you blacked out in the container you stopped breathing, at least I thought you had, but I couldn't help you. Then when I woke up here Zoe came to see me and told me you were alive but in rough shape. She didn't give me a lot of detail." Olivia recalled.
"She didn't want to stress you out." Penn explained.
"I appreciate that. I wasn't in the best state to handle two many details." Olivia said. Penn sensed an immediate change in topic was needed.
"So what have I missed?" she asked eagerly.
"A lot I imagine. What do you remember?" Olivia asked.
"Nothing really. Everything from the last time I blacked to now has just been a jumble of bright lights, different people talking and screaming, pain and black holes." Penn answered. "Do you have the energy to retell it all? Or did those ten steps tire you out?"
"I think I can summon the strength." Olivia quipped with a grin.
"Good. Let me just get comfortable here than." Penn pushed the button on the side of the bed in order to sit herself into a more upright position. She grimaced and winced the whole time. Once she was up far enough she moved her right arm across her chest holding her ribcage.
"Don't move around two much." Olivia scolded.
"You should talk." Penn replied through gritted teeth. Olivia rolled her eyes.
"I didn't get hit by a car then dragged who knows how far. I'll call Mel for pain meds."
"No. Don't bother. She will only bring me codeine which makes me nauseas." Penn said.
"Why don't you get something stronger?" she asked.
"I'm allergic to any opioid based drug." Penn told her teeth still gritted.
"I'm sorry. You must be in agony." Olivia said sympathetically.
"I can handle it. I just need to sit still for a moment." Olivia waited patiently for Penn to indicate she was ready.
"Ok. I'm good. Give me the news."
"Are you sure?" Olivia asked concerned. "We don't have to do this now. There will be plenty of time."
"I'm fine mother hen. Please start and don't leave out any details." Penn said.
"Ok." Olivia was still concerned but could tell it was a losing battle. She remembered being in the same position just a few days ago, so she started giving every detail of the case and other happenings. When she reached the part about the early morning visitor she skipped over it.
"Wow! Crazy stuff. I called it though when I told you this case was a doozy." Penn said once she finished.
"Yes you did." Olivia responded.
"Hey did the police commissioner visit you? Because I have some strange flashes of someone who looks just like him standing over me. Once when I was downstairs and last night I think." Penn asked.
"No he never visited me, but Cragen said he was here checking in on us both." Olivia answered quickly.
"Must have been a nurse or doctor who looked like him." Penn said convinced that Olivia was hiding something. The two sat in silence for several minutes. Olivia assumed Penn was processing and digesting the information so she did not interrupt.
"You are probably tired and I should get back to bed before Mel comes in." Olivia finally said.
"Sorry I'm not tired, I was just processing everything." Penn responded.
"It's a lot to comprehend. Don't worry though not all our cases are like this." Olivia said.
"You mean you don't get kidnapped and hung from the ceiling of a shipping container every week?" Penn said sarcastically. Olivia let out a good hardy laugh.
"No. Shot at, hit, bled on and cried on yes."
"I can handle that stuff." Penn said. "Thanks for being honest."
"That's what partners are for. Besides, I need to thank you for helping me. Without those EMS skills of yours I never would have made it. Your good under pressure, I think that's why we will work well together." Olivia said. Penn had to look away for a moment to clear the tears forming in her eyes.
"You can thank Zoe. When she was in med school I always had to be her patient, plus I spent enough time in hospitals that I picked up on stuff." Penn explained. Olivia laughed as the image of a young Penn with multiple IVs stuck in her arm played through her mind. "I know I am new but Olivia know that I have an immense amount of respect for you and the work you do. I'm excited to work with you and the SVU squad and know that I got your back." It was Olivia's turn to look away as tears welled up in her eyes. After Elliot's abrupt departure Olivia had been left with a large hole in her life. She knew one day she would get another partner what she did not expect was her next partner would start to fill that hole. She was so over come by emotion it was awhile before she could look at Penn again. She was about to respond when the door of the room opened reveling Mel pushing a cart with medicine and food. Once she cleared the door and saw what was in front of her Olivia knew she was about to get her ass chewed out.
"OLIVIA!? What do you think you are doing? I was unaware Dr. Clifton said you could be out of bed!" She did not yell but Olivia and Penn could tell she was angry. "You could have fallen or passed out or pulled your IV out or opened your stitches or dislodged the pins in your arm or one hundred other scenarios. Now lets get you up, carefully, and back to bed." Olivia knew not to fight or argue. She allowed Mel to help her back to her own bed while she chastised her. Penn sat in her bed trying to contain her laughter wincing in pain with every laugh.
"Now I'm happy you feel well enough to get out of bed, but no more cross room adventures until I talk with the doctor. And you!" Mel said turning to face Penn. "Don't think I don't see you sitting up over there! I'll be over in a minute to deal with you." It was Olivia's turn to laugh as Mel finished settling her in. As promised she shifted her attention to Penn continuing her reaming. When she finally left both Penn and Olivia returned to fits of laughter.
"She's not one to mess with." Penn observed.
"Um…no…she isn't." Olivia said through a mouth full of food. Penn relaxed into her pillows smiling.
"Ugh. Ok. Can't do it. This stuff is awful." Olivia said pushing the tray away. "For the first time in days I actually feel like eating and I get this."
"Be happy you get the chance to eat." Penn said enviously.
"Sorry." Olivia apologized. "That was insensitive. When will they take that out?" Olivia asked referring to the small yellow tube protruding from Penn's nose used for feeding.
"Soon I hope, but first they want to make sure the surgical repair they did to my stomach is healed. Than it will be Jell-O for a while. I'll be lucky to eat anything resembling that by next month." Penn answered. "Liv I'm playing with you. Eat. I know your hungry. I'm not so you shouldn't be either."
"Did someone say food?" Fin, Casey, Munch, Cragen and Melinda filed in through the door carrying bags of take out.
"My night in shinning amour." Cragen was the first to notice Penn.
"Well look who's awake. How are you feeling?" he asked.
"Like I got hit by a car." She answered.
"Yeah that sounds about right." Munch said. Every one had a good laugh at his comment while starting to hand out food. Fin stepped away towards Penn while everyone found seats.
"Hey I've been wanting to say something for a few days now." He said to her. "Thank you for having Liv's back and I'm sorry for not trusting you. You clearly belong here with us and I trust that you have my back and I've got yours." Penn smiled and nodded while she fought back a fresh wave of emotion.
"Fin what did you order?" Munch asked drawing Fin's attention away. Everyone settled in with their food for a morning of good conversation, laughter and bonding. Penn was so happy to be welcomed into this tightknit group so quickly. For the first time in a long time she truly felt wanted.
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Morning quickly became afternoon and the squad was still siting around Olivia and Penn's beds.
"…So than Fin elbows the guy in the face and drops him. As the guys laying on the ground holding his nose Fin leans over him and says "Opps my bad cus."" Munch finished his story and everyone burst into laughter.
"Yeah man I remember that. Told the captain it was…what?" Fin asked laughing.
"You told me it was a muscle spasm." Cragen answered. Everyone laughed again. As the second round of laughter died down Olivia couldn't suppress a large yawn. She shifted subconsciously trying to get comfortable sending pain through out her body.
"Ugh!" she complained.
"I'll call Mel." Melinda said making her way to the door.
"Normally I would protest but with or without meds I'm going to fall asleep." Olivia said before another big yawn and a wince.
"Hey at least your making progress. Two days ago you lasted five minutes." Casey said reassuringly.
"True." Her eyes drifted closed as Melinda returned to the room followed by nurse Mel. Cragen quickly brought his second finger to his lips while pointing to Olivia with his other hand.
"I see. Glad that the pain isn't keeping her awake." Mel whispered. "How long ago did the other one go out?" she gestured towards Penn who was sound asleep in her bed.
"Around an hour after we got here. She woke up once but was out again pretty quickly." Casey answered.
"Not surprising." Mel replied. She quickly checked over Olivia's vitals before pushing the pain meds into her IV.
"We'll go and let her get rest." Cragen whispered getting up from his chair.
"I'll call if anything changes or she wakes up asking for someone." Mel responded.
"Thank you Mel. Bye guys." Olivia whispered never opening her eyes.
"Go to sleep Liv." Cragen said from the foot of her bed.
"Umm..ok." Olivia answered with a smile. The grouped shared a smile as they made their way out of the room. Nurse Mel was now checking over Penn's vitals and hanging a bag of yellowish liquid that ran into her IV.
"If she wakes up tell her we'll be back tonight." Fin said pausing in the doorway. "Oh and thanks for taking such good care of our girls Mel."
"My pleasure." Mel whispered and smiled.