Chapter 3 Meeting Brendan

This part is when Olivia walked into the hospital in the early morning.

Olivia walked into the hospital and her partner, met her at the front desk. Elliot led her to the elevator and started to tell her the information.

"A teenager was found in her apartment, beating and raped. They searched the apartment and found her baby," Elliot started, Olivia gasped. "His fine, his unharmed. We think the guy got spooked by the PD and took off before touching him. The doctors don't think the girl going to make it."

"Any family?" Olivia asked as they elevator doors opened.

"Both parents died in a car crash back in 98, only child"

"Grandparents?"

"None, the victim was all alone," Elliot replied as they stopped in front of ICU. Olivia looked through the window at the girl. She was no older than 18, her brown hair was sprayed against the pillow. A tube was down her throat, helping her breath. Her face was full of cuts and bruises.

"He did a real number on her," she said softly. She turned to Elliot, "witnesses?"

"A lady in the apartment next to her heard some yelling and the baby crying then the yelling stop, she rang 911" Elliot replied. Olivia nodded looking back through the window, she looked at the machine.

"Detective Stabler?" a female voice asked. Olivia turned around and saw a female doctor standing there holding a clip board to her chest.

"Yes?"

"I'm Dr. Hannah, you can see the baby now," the doctor replied and led them up to the nursery. The detectives changed into scrubs and walked into the room. Doctor Hannah led them over to a crib, Olivia looked in the crib. A 7 month old lay there, staring up at Olivia with green eyes. Olivia smiled as she reached in and stroked the baby hand.

The female detective just stared at the baby and took in his looks. The brown hair like his mother, and bright green eyes. Olivia smiled as he took her finger and put it in his month and sucked. "You hungry buddy?" she asked,

"We tried to give him bottle but he wouldn't take it," Dr. Hannah said.

"Could I try?" Olivia asked as she looked at the doctor.

"Sure I get the bottle, have a seat in the rocking chair," the doctor replied walking over to the nurse and whispered something in her ear. Olivia carefully reached into the crib and lifted the baby out. She walked over to the rocking chair and sat down, the baby started to nuzzle at Olivia breast,

"Whoa buddy, you're not going to get anything from there," Olivia said. Elliot laughed when he saw the baby to grope Olivia.

"Least he knows what they are," he laughed. Olivia glared at him. Dr. Hannah came back with a warm bottle and handed it the detective.

"Here you go sweetie, food," Olivia said dragging the rubber tit along the baby cheek. The baby immediately opened his mouth, Olivia put the rubber tit in his mouth and he started sucking violently.

"You're a natural; you got children of your own?" Dr. Hannah asked.

"Yeah, three."

"Wow three, you and your husband must be on your toes."

"No husband. Wife," Olivia replied not looking up. The baby looked at Olivia with his green eyes. She didn't even know the infants name, "what's his name?"

"Brendan," Elliot replied. They were interrupted by Dr. Hannah beeper, she looked at it.

"I got to go, I'll check back in later," she said

"Okay," both detective's said and the Dr. ran out.

"I better ring Cragen, tell him what's going on," Elliot said and Olivia nodded as she started to rock. "You going to be okay?" he asked

"El, I've done this plenty of time, just go," Olivia replied and Elliot nodded before leaving the room. "It just me and you sweetie," she said to Brendan.

After Brendan finished his bottle, he fell back to sleep. Olivia watched him as his raised and fell with his deep breaths. Olivia remembers holding her children as they slept. They always smelt like breast milk and baby smell.

"How did you go?" Dr. Hannah asked. Olivia looked up,

"He finished the bottle and went straight to sleep, poor baby. His probably been through hell." Olivia stroked the boy cheek. His reflex was to open his mouth and suck the finger.

"Here," Dr. Hannah said handing Olivia a new pacifier. Olivia smiled as she took the pacifier and offered it to the baby. "I have bad news on his mother," the doctor said. The detective looked up, "she didn't make it."

"Shit," Olivia cursed under her breath as she stared down at the baby. He was now on his own. No living relative. Olivia gently stood up and placed Brendan back in the crib and covered his small body. "I'm sorry baby," she whispered. "We'll find a family for you."

"I've called children social service. There coming to collect him and put him in foster care," Dr. Hannah said quietly. Olivia nodded, her heart was breaking. This baby was going to be in the system at a young age. He wasn't going to have any memory of his mother, at all.

"I need to inform my boss. I'll be back," Olivia said and walked out of the nursery. She grabbed her cell and dialed not Cragen number but some one else.

"Novak."

"Casey I need your help."