Olivia felt weak, the memories all came rushing back to her full force! She closed her eyes willing them to go away and leave her alone but they wouldn't it all came back.
What an A-, no daughter of mine get anything lower than an A. She felt it like it was happening on. Her mother raised her hand to strike her, time after time! She stood still knowing that if she moved it would only make matter worse. Mom I'm sorry I'll do better! She had cried but she didn't stop she just downed more beer and continued her punishment. Now go to your room, no food for you, you worthless free loader.
"Detective Benson, are you ok?" Shanice asked looking at Olivia's white face.
"Sorry I kind of zoned out, thanks Mel" Olivia said and was walking out the door. Olivia desperately wanted to get out, she walked across the road to the bar and sat down. Looking around she saw people looking at her rolling her eyes she got up and walked out. The night air was cool against her skin, it felt great walking she allowed the tension the painful memories to fade away. Olivia jumped when a sleek black convertible drew up bedside her.
"Hey want a lift?" she heard a soft voice ask. Olivia was stunned, behind the wheel was Shanice Valentine.
"Ok" Olivia said and got inside with her. There was something about this girl that drew her to her like a force pushing her towards her.
"So why were you walking when you have the car?" Shanice asked rolling up the window and turning onto the road.
"I just needed to clear my head, this job gets so sick at times." Olivia confessed with a shy smile and Shanice yawned. "Are you tired?" Olivia asked as Shanice tried to stifle the yawn.
"Well, I'm kinda but I need to get something to eat, would you like to join me for pizza?" Shanice asked.
"I guess so" Olivia answered running a hand through her hair.
"Okay so where can I find pizza hut?" Shanice asked with a smile, Olivia was now becoming the woman she thought she was caring and kind.
"Ok at the next intersection turn left then take the first right… never mind I'll show" Olivia said.
The rest of the drive was silent except for the directions which Olivia gave and soon they were sitting in a comfortable chair enjoying pizza. "So Miss-"
"Come on call me Liv you make me sound old." Shanice blushed.
"Sorry Liv why did you become a cop?" She asked biting into the pizza with a vengeance, it was delicious and if her mom saw her she probably would freak, but she couldn't help it she was addicted to junk food.
"I wanted to help people." Olivia offered.
"Come on that just so textbook book, what the real reason you became a cop?" she asked smiling.
Olivia didn't speak, how could she tell this rookie that she became a cop so that she could seek revenge for the man who had taken away something from her than not one could replace or that to feel safe from her mother?
Shanice didn't have to hear it but she knew that the reason Olivia became a cop ran deep like it was the blood that circulated through her body. "I understand, I'm sorry" Shanice offered and placed a loving arm on Olivia's hand. Shanice half expected her to pull away but she didn't instead she gave her a shy smile. "For me I became a cop because it was like just apart of me I can't explain it, my parents thought it would die and sent me to law school but that didn't help it after a while the court room got boring and I wanted to be apart of solving the problem" Shanice said her eyes getting this look of pleasure as she spoke about the job she loved.
"Wow you are passionate about the job" Olivia said slowly removing her hand, but she didn't know why as she attempted she felt this deep longing to hold onto the rookie hand, it was like a weird connection.
Shanice felt it, she couldn't explain it but she felt it, a feeling like she was finally home. "Yes, some-one has to do it and I love it" the waitress came and collected the money and was gone. Olivia took the time to look at her watch and notice it was time to get going. "yea it getting late, where should I leave you?" Shanice asked taking up her purse.
"You can leave me at the precinct I've got something to go over, before I get a search warrant for the Smith residence." Olivia said as they walked to the car.
"If you want I could help you" Shanice offered.
"Thanks, but I think you need to rest tomorrow is going to be big" Olivia replied.
"So what about you? Don't you need your rest?" Shanice asked before she could stop herself.
"Okay but you better be bright eyed and bushy tailed in the morning or else…" Olivia let the warning hang in the air with a smile on her lips.
"Okay, but my tail isn't bushy until, hey I don't have a tail but my eyes are always bright" Shanice said laughter lacing her every word. The laughter was infectious and soon Olivia found her self grinning.
The office was almost empty except for too men the uniform guards on the night shift. "Det. Benson don't you ever take a break?" he asked as Olivia and Shanice walked. "Please don't drag this little one in you bad habits" the guard said giving Olivia a pointed look.
"Come on play fair, Val asked to stay with me" Olivia said and made her way to her desk