Title: Stones in the Road

Series: Give a Little Bit

Author: Megan Faye

Rated: PG

Disclaimer: I don't own anything here.

A/N: Sequal Give a Little Bit This song just reminds me of a picture of Mariska Hargitay, and inspired this story.

A/N 2: ADA's may not make more than the defense, but if you look at the people they defend, and how much those people bring in; they get paid when guy gets off. I know that from watching The Practice. They make the same in Theory. In reality, if the government isn't paying you, pay check aren't always regular. Its also not every day Trevor gets a case...or if he'll even atke the case is questionable

John looked Hannah over. Her skirt was straight, hair neatly braided down her back, Star of David was on, and shoes were tied. She seemed ready for school, but something was nagging at the back of his mind. She looked like all the other little girls on the play ground. Hannah would be getting glasses later in the week, but there wasn't anything he could do to change that now. Something was missing.

"I don't have a school sweater," she said, shyly.

"I've ordered one for you for winter; its too warm right now for one."

"Papa?" John knelt in front of the little girl. "Would you have lunch with me today?"

"I'll be here at noon, unless I have to go investigate a crime scene. I will call the school if I'm not able to make it."

"I'm scared."

"Of what, Short-cake?"

"I'm a lot smaller than the other kids."

"Good things come in small packages. The class is small, only 4 other kids. The teachers won't let anyone pick on you. I promise."

"Okay."

"Hannah-banana, I've got to get into work now. Would you like me to walk you into the class room?" She shook her head. Before John was able to stand, Hannah threw her arms around his neck in his first hug from the girl.

"I'll see you later, Papa," she whispered.

"I'll be here at 5:00, Short-cake." She nodded and headed in to the school. John realized what was missing. He was. John wanted to walk her to the class room, sit with her, read a book with her, but she'd be doing that with someone else today. John took a deep breath and headed off to his car.

He'd met the young girl just a few weeks ago, and she'd undergone such changes in that time. While in foster care, she'd seen a psychologist every day for a few hours, helping her understand that she was now safe, and would soon live with a new family. John visited her every day he was allowed. He brought her new clothes, taught her a bit about being Jewish, and read books with her until they asked him to leave. Every day, before he left, he told her she'd get to live in his home soon, go to school, and spend time with other little girls her age. She would have a clean bed every night, good food, and she would be loved. Hannah held tight to his promises through the foster care, and was still in shock that John had come through.

There were more hurdles to come; court dates. She would have to appear in court against her father. After that is done, she'll have to appear in court again for adoption purposes. On top of that, her birthday would be in a few months, right in the middle of everything. John had only been to two birthday parties for little girls; Allie's parties. He would have to come up with something extravigant for Hannah. John Munch was determined to raise her with every bit of spoiling he could give her without turning her into a brat, although a brat would be better than the shut-down child he first met.

John sighed and pulled into the station house parking garage. He saw Elliot's car, and pulled up next to his friend.

"Hey, John, how's it going?"

"Not too bad. Just dropped Hannah off at school."

"First day?"

"Yeah."

"Ouch. You need to take some time, there?" Munch rolled his eyes. Elliot looked into John's car. "Now there's something I never thought I'd see."

"What's that?"

"You have a car seat."

"Its a booster. Hannah weighs in at a whopping 57 pounds. She's also short. According to the law, she's supposed to ride in a booster, so I got her a booster." Elliot stiffled a laugh. "You have a problem?"

"Its just...weird...hearing you talking about car seats. Oh, how the roles have reveresed. Oh, that's a nice one, too."

"Only the best for my Hannah."

"John, that booster seat cost more than my first car."

"Its top of the line." John slipped his jacket on over his gun holster. "C'mon. Don'll have kittens if we're late."

Olivia looked around her house. Toys were scattered everywhere, Allie was hiding, Eli was screaming, and she hadn't stopped and sat for more than a minute in 7 hours since Elliot left for work. There was something that smelled up the apartment badly, and she couldn't figure out what it was. All Olivia wanted was for her children to sleep, so she could clean up, take a shower and relax.

"Eli, sweetie, you can't be hungry. You just ate." She tried feeding him, and he refused. He burped once, his diaper was dry, and he was tired. Allie was still no where to be found. Suddenly, worked seemed like a vacation. Rose and Kathleen were in Seattle so Rose could meet with a group at Microsoft in Redmond, Lizzie and Dickie were back in Princeton, and Maureen was camping with Luke Olivia called Casey, but only got voice mail; she had court. Out of sheer desparation, she called upon the only person who would understand. Kathy. Kathy knew what it was to have a toddler, and a new baby. Kathy knew what it was to feel completely alone while Elliot worked more hours than needed. Olivia knew he was working hard on Hannah's case, getting as much evidence together as he possibly could, so there would be no other choice but to put him in prison for a very long time.

Kathy would be there soon, Allie was still hiding, and Eli's screaming had reached mythical perportions. She was thankful when there was a knock on the door.

"Let me take him," Kathy offered gently. Olivia was more than happy to hand of the screaming baby.

"Allison is hiding."

"Does she still do 'Shave and a hair cut?' I did that with my kids, and I have a feeling Lizzie and Maureen passed it down."

"What?"

"SHAVE AND A HAIR CUT!" Kathy called out loudly.

"Two bits," came a very soft muffled response. Kathy followed the voice.

"Shave and a hair cut," she said again.

"Two bits!" Kathy opened the hall closet and produced a laughing toddler.

"Maureen and Dickie were my hiders." Olivia looked like she was about to cry. "It gets easier. Go shower, I'll get Allie a snack, and Eli down."

"How?"

"You have a yoga ball?"

"Yeah."

"Large one?"

"Yeah."

"Roll it out here, and go shower." Olivia rolled the ball from her closet and made a mad dash for the shower.

The hot water sprayed down over her. It was the most welcomed feeling she'd ever experienced. Truth was, it had been 2 days since Elliot had been home, or since she'd been able to shower, or sleep for more than 2 hours at a stretch. Olivia looked at the clock, and decided a bath would be okay. She needed to shave her legs, and soak a while. Olivia switched the water over from spray to faucet and sat down. It had been way too long since she'd relaxed in the tub. After the tub was full, she cleaned herself up, shaved, and decided just 10 more minutes, and she'd relieve Kathy for the afternoon. Half an hour with her wild child, and loud baby were more than she could inflict upon an innocent woman. Olivia closed her eyes, just for a moment. When she opened them, the water was cold, and two hours had gone by.

"Shit!" Olivia whispered. She toweled off, threw on a clean pair of sweats and a t shirt. She expected the apartment to be unchanged, but her discovery was very welcomed. Eli was sleeping in his swing, Allie was coloring at the table with Kathy, and the apartment was cleaned up.

"Hey," Kathy said, smiling.

"Oh my god, thank you."

"Fall asleep in the tub?" Liv blushed. "I did that a few times when Elliot had the kids. Treasure those times; they are few and far between."

"It wasn't this stressful when Allie was born," Liv said, eyes pooled with tears. She flopped into the recliner. "She was an easy baby; slept well, hardly fussed, and now I can't keep up with her. Eli hardly sleeps, Elliot is breaking in yet another new partner, and because John's working less, Elliot is working more...he's on a case that's got half the precinct pissed off, and the other half sick...everything with my father..." Olivia started to cry. She was exhausted, and even after a bath and a nap, she needed more. She needed Elliot to take her babies for a few hours while she slept, ate, and god forbid, read a book that had chapters. Kathy took the stressed out cop in her arms and soothed her.

"I went through this, too, Liv."

"Does it get easier?"

"Only when they're old enough for day care." Olivia laughed lightly. "Liv, I have the rest of today off. Would you like to get some coffee? We'll pack the kids up, let Allie tear up the park for a while, get some sun on you."

"We went to the park a few days ago to meet John's foster child, Hannah."

"And I'll bet you felt better."

"Oh, God, yes. Out is better than in." Kathy patted her shoulder and searched for Allie's shoes and a stroller.

"Where's the double stroller? All I see is the travel system."

"We had so much going on that we didn't get one yet."

"You don't really need one. Allie's almost too big, aren't you Chipmunk?" Allie nodded from the table where she colored. "I have about 4 hours until my session with Dr. Randels, you need to get out of the house, Olivia Stabler." Olivia nodded and wandered back to her room to change. She felt so much gratitude towards the woman whom she once hated so much.

"Hannah-Banana!" John said as the girl ran into his arms. "How was school today?"

"Not too bad."

"Did you enjoy the movie?"

"It was okay," she said softly. She still hadn't let go of his neck. "You didn't call."

"Yes, I did, Short-cake. Let's talk to your teacher." John stood, took the girl's hand and walked into the school. "Why don't you play with the other children for a moment." Hannah wandered a few feet away.

"Mr. Munch," the woman greeted with a smile.

"I asked you to tell her that I was unable to make it to lunch today."

"She didn't ask if you were coming. I figured she forgot." John snorted.

"She's 9, not 2. Hannah asked me to lunch on her first day of school, and you were supposed to relay a message that I was called to investigate a crime scene. She's never been loved before in her life the way a child should be loved. You've read her files. She's brilliant, and sweet as can be. When I ask you to relay a message to Hannah, you should have enough respect for both of us to relay the message."

"I'm sorry-"

"Next time, you'll do better." Munch rolled his eyes, and took Hannah's hand gently. "I'm sorry I missed lunch, Hannah. I had to investigate a crime scene." Hannah whispered something. "What did you say, Hannah?"

"Do you still like me?" For the first time since meeting the child, John lifted her into his arms and hugged her tightly.

"Of course I still like you, Hannah-bear. And in addition to liking you, I love you. You're my Hannah! Who else will stay up till midnight to have hot chocolate with me? I'm sorry that you didn't get the message. We'll try again tomorrow. Would that be all right?" Hannah nodded into his neck. "Would you like to get an early dinner at the park?" She nodded again. "That's wonderful. Fin wants to join us, but we can keep this a duet if you like."

"I like Fin. He makes you laugh like no one else, Papa," she said, brilliant smile returning.

"There's my favorite smile," he said, grinning. "Well then, Hannah-bear, let us be off like a herd of turtles." She giggled as John set her on her feet and took her hand.

"So, how did the oral report go?" Olivia asked the twins as she drove back from the bus station. "Dickie, I wanna know the dirty little details about Langan."

"He's not sleezy."

"He's not? News to me..."

"Mom, his only goal is to get a fair trial, and a second chance for the people whom he believes deserve a second chance. He's defended some sick people, and he knows that, but he is trying to get them into where they need to be; some need psychiatric centers, some need medical facilities, and yes, some just need prison. He just wants the people he defends to have a fair trial." Olivia took a sharp breath.

"And Casey wants to put away the perves you and Dad deal with until they rot in prison."

"Why? Does a 17-year-old boy who was raped his whole life who rapes one girl deserve life?" Dickie asked his sister.

"Two wrongs don't make a right."

"And he who is without sin casts the first stone."

"Hey, this isn't the class room, and I don't want your little sister listening to this. You can do that in your father's squadroom later. It'll be good for you and the squad. What class was this for?"

"Government. We were discussing what our parents do for a living, why, and how it affects the world. Obviously, you guys were the talk of the class. But when it came down to it, neither of us wanted to interview you guys; there are things we just don't want to know. Y'know?" Olivia nodded. "I asked Lizzie who would she interview, why, and how it affected you and Dad. Casey and Trevor directly work with your cases, and without going into gross details, we got basically the same thing; people out there suck at life. Some need help, some need prison, and some need to just get laid."

"Trevor?" Liv asked.

"Casey," the twins said together. Olivia chuckled.

"Trevor and I are meeting for lunch tomorrow across the street. Is it cool?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"He's cool when he's not being a total nerd."

"You'll have to tell me more about him. All I know is the dirty little man at the office."

"And all Kathy knew about you was that you were a woman who spent 12-18 hours a day with her husband," Dickie reminded her. "There's always more to the story." Olivia's mouth clamped shut. He was right.

The trial had begun one month after John was allowed to take in Hannah. She'd changed so much over the two months since they pulled her from her father's apartment. She'd grown an inch, put on weight, got glasses, and saw a dentist. She was healthy, and saw a counselor as often as she could. John had become the best friend she'd always prayed for, and she'd become the Daddy's Little Girl that John always wished he'd had. Hannah was uneducated, but sharp as a tack. John knew that with tutors, she could catch up quickly to the other children. Reading was the big struggle for the moment.

The trial had set her back in school. Every day was another day closer to the day she would have to go into the court room with her father and give her statement. Hannah would have to relive the things he did, and other men did to her. She would have to tell everyone, including her new Papa. John met with her counselor after each session, and even went into a few before the trial to answer any questions Hannah had for him. The nights she saw her counselor were tough on both of them, and she would go straight to bed after. John would wake her up early the next morning with her favorite breakfast, to reassure that she was his Hannah-bear.

The day of her testimony, she paused at the door to the court room. John knelt by the child.

"Hannah? Are you all right?" She shook her head and buried herself in his arms and chest. "I know you're scared, Short-cake. You've been so brave this last month."

"I don't want to see him."

"I don't want you to see him either, Hannah," he said gently. Remember what we talked about with Dr. Polaskis? You keep your eyes on me, or on Casey Novak. She's going to talk to you second. When the first lawyer talks to you, just watch me. Keep your eyes on my eyes. You've already told me your story, and I know what happened. I've already testified in court, so I can stay right there. If for any reason, they ask me to leave, Uncle Elliot is there, Don is there, and Fin is there. They will be there for you."

"Please don't let him talk to me."

"He isn't going to be allowed to. Just look at my eyes. Got it, Hannah Banana?" She nodded into his shirt. John pulled a hanky from his coat pocket and wiped her face and glasses down. She smiled as she put her glasses back on.

"Papa?"

"Yes?"

"Why'd you pick me?" she asked, looking down at the nice dress she wore.

"Because you needed a father who loved you, and I needed a daughter to love." She took his hand and he pushed the door open. "Your honor, I'm delivering Hannah Grace Richten."

She was absolutely white when John picked her up and stormed out of the court room. After Casey asked all the questions she had, the defense attourney tried to tear her apart. Hannah was calm, answered everything she could, and managed to get through most of the questions. It wasn't until her father stood and called her a 'dirty little whore,' and told the court she begged him to do her, that things got ugly. She froze when he yelled. John watched for a moment; Casey yelled, the judge yelled, and Hannah threw up. John rushed up, gathered the shaking girl into his arms and took her out of the room.

"You were so brave, Hannah," he soothed as he brought her into Casy's office. John mopped her forehead with his hanky again. "Its over now, Hannah-bear."

"Can we go home now, Papa?"

"In just a few minutes. Casey needs to come in and talk to me. She'll let us know when we can go home." John and Hannah turned when they heard the door open and close. "Tell me we're done."

"Well, he managed to tie the noose andhang himself with it. Judge said it was a full confession; 5 counts of rape of a minor, child abuse, neglect, endangerment. He's not getting out of Sing-Sing for a while."

"You mean he'll get out some day?" Hannah asked, eyes wide with fear.

"No, sweetie," Casey said. "Can I talk to John for a moment? Olivia is right out side." Hannah nodded and stepped out. "Judge allowed him to go into general population."

"They'll kill him."

"Judge Donnelly knows that. She doesn't want him out walking the streets, and is turning a blind eye to what happens to dirt bags like him. He'll be someone's bitch by the end of the day."

"Good."

"Next court date is set for Monday, October 11th." John closed his eyes and rubbed his forehead.

"Don't make me put her through that again-"

"Its her adoption hearing, John. Hannah Grace Munch-to-be!" John chuckled. "Go get your daughter."

"Today is a good day," Don said, passing the soda around the porch of his house. Elliot, Liv, and all of their children were there; the kids were splashing around in the pool whil Liv held Eli and Elliot had Alexander. Rose was teaching Hannah the art of creating the biggest splash while Fin and Munch argued JFK, yet again.

"Today is a very good day."

"I'm goona go grab more dip," Don said, pulling the empty bowls from the table.

"Need a hand?"

"Sure," he said, leading Casey into his kitchen. "This one in that bowl." He placed a jar in front of her while he dug in the fridge.

"Today is...I was glad I could do this one for John." Don nodded. "Hannah deserves him."

"Munch has really cooled off a little. He's happier than I've ever seen him."

"You're pretty happy," Casey said as she threw the empty jar away.

"I have a family that I've wanted for a long time. Marge wasn't able to have kids, and Olivia's been like a daughter to me for, damn, 11 years. With that came the grand children, great grand children, Elliot, Liv's other family..."

"When it rains, it pours."

"I guess."

"Don?"

"Hmmm?"

"I'm glad you got what you were looking for," she said, hand brushing his. "It seems we're all searching for something, and so few people seem to find it. You did. Liv and Elliot, John and Hannah...Kathleen, Rose and Alexander. Even Lizzie and Dickie are well-adjusted now.

"What are you searching for?"

"I don't know," she answered softly. "I thought I knew what I wanted, but I don't know any more." Don rested a hand on hers.

"When you find it, you'll know, Casey." She smiled.

"You know," she said, not wanting the contact to end yet. "You're too damn young to be a great grandfather."

"I'm not your great grandfather." Casey laughed. "Let us return to the hungry people before they revolt."

Sorry its a short chapter; having blocks due to work related crap...oh well, now that I lost my job, I have time to write!