Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Episode: Ruling Class

Disclaimer: All right you all know the drill. The characters contained within are not mine. They belong to NBC, Dick Wolf productions and whoever else may have reserved right to them, so please don't sue me. Not that I have anything of any value to pay with anyhow. laughs On with the story.

Chapter 2

Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler responded to the call at the hospital. When they were told it was a student attacked by bullies they were perplexed.

"If this is just a kid that was beat up by bullies why call SVU?" Elliot asked.

The doctor replied, "It was the injuries sustained and the reason he gave as the bully's motive. Multiple blunt force trauma to the groin and ribs. He said the bullies were going to 'clean him out of the gene pool'. The parents and the teacher who chased off the bullies are with him in room 212."

On the way Olivia sighed, "Bullies, the ruling class of the schools. Trying to get rid of anything they don't understand or don't consider normal. Disgraceful."

Elliot knew about bullies from his own school days, although he was the one standing up to them and defending weaker kids. "You're preaching to the choir Liv." He knocked quietly on the door of room 212 and entered. He saw three middle-aged adults, two men and a woman, standing around a teen-aged boy in a hospital bed, tears still leaking from his large, doe-like brown eyes. "I'm Detective Stabler; this is my partner Detective Benson. We'd like to ask you a few questions and it it's all right Detective Benson would like to speak to your son privately."

The boy's mother looked down and asked, "Joseph is that all right?"

Joseph nodded softly and the three adults left with Elliot as Olivia pulled up a chair beside the bed and spoke in a calm, soothing tone. "Hey Joseph, my names Olivia, do you want to tell me what happened?"

Joseph sighed softly, "I was going home and got jumped by three guys who said I had been selected to be removed from the gene pool and started to kick and gas pedal me until Mr. Hayes chased them off. Why me, I never did anything to them, why'd they come after me?"

Olivia had never heard of a gas pedal but it didn't sounds at all pleasant."It's okay Joseph, this isn't your fault. What's a gas pedal Joseph?"

"Your legs are held apart by one or two people and then another rams the flat of their foot into your crotch."

Olivia suppressed the urge to wince at the thought of that happened to anyone, male or female. "What were you doing so long after classes? I'd think anyone would try to get out of school as soon as they could once the day was over."

"I was logging in a few extra hours for my work experience class credit. I've been assigned as an assistant librarian. I shelve books, cut clippings for the periodicals, keep the place neat, stuff like that," Joseph gave a small smile. "One of the few places a nerd like me is safe."

"Can you tell me who attacked you?" Olivia asked keeping on the subject.

"No, I can't."

"Why not? If they attacked you, you must've gotten a look at least one of them," she continued when Joseph broke in.

"It's not a matter of seeing them or not knowing who they are. If they're found out they'll know that I squealed and I'll be even worse off!" The tears were once again free flowing. "Even if they're caught their friends will come and finish the job. And even after that I'll be known as a squealer and everyone, except maybe my closest friends will shun me," He gave her a pleading look. "Please don't make me tell."

Meanwhile Elliot talked with Mr. Hayes and Joseph's parents. "Has Joseph ever had problems with bullies?"

Joseph's father, a large, burly man, with a bushy bear, a stark contrast to his skinny fresh-faced son, spoke, "He's come home with bruises he's gotten at school, but he won't tell us anything. He's afraid of being a squealer."

Elliot turned to Mr. Hayes, "Mr. Hayes, did you get a look at any of them?"

Mr. Hayes shook his head sadly, "They were wearing hooded sweatshirts with the hoods up to hide their faces and they ran off when they saw me."

Elliot have them one of his business cards. "If you or Joseph thinks of anything else give me a call at this number." As he left with Olivia he asked, "Did the kid give anything?"

Olivia shook her head saying, "He may know who attacked him, but if he does he's took scared to say who."

Elliot muttered, "Damn. Teacher didn't get a good enough look to give an ID either. Maybe the other back at the station will have some ideas as to what to do."