I finally got around to writing this chapter. Yes, it's been a long wait and I'm terribly sorry. :( But don't worry, I haven't forgotten about this story!
Of course, I want to thank everyone that's taking the time to read and especially review! I wasn't able to thank the people that didn't have a FF account personally, so THANKS! You guys always bring a huge joy to a crappy day! And thanks to those that added them into favs and the alert list! :D
I'll stop babbling now, Enjoy!
Disclaimer: if the characters were mine, I wouldn't be agonizing every week. LOL
Your friends will know you better in the first minute you meet than your acquaintances will know you in a thousand years.
-Richard Bach
"Gunshot wound to the abdomen, already gave him 2 bags of O neg in the ambulance. Heart went into V-fib once, shocked and steadied him on the ambulance."
"Please ma'am, you need to stay here."
"Is he going to be alright?"
"The doctors will take good care of him," the nurse paused as she noticed the badge, "Detective? Stay here please, I'll tell you if there's any news."
Olivia watched as the nurse vanished behind the flinging doors where Elliot disappeared behind just seconds ago. She slumped into the ugly green chairs in the ER waiting room, frantically going through scenes in her head. They caught a case where a five-year-old little boy was found dead with signs of abuse. After a few sleepless nights, they discovered the mother was the most likely suspect, her motive being that the little boy was the follow-up of her rape. Elliot was just knocking on the door, announcing the arrest warrant when shots fired. He tumbled down the stairs. Olivia got the feeling that the other officers had managed to get the mother under control but she wasn't sure. She was already at her partner's side.
Olivia chuckled wryly when she felt wetness under her eyes. It was déjà vu all over again. Or at least part of it. It was the first case they worked on together, the one that got them starting to trust each other, the irony being that this might be the one that would separate them forever.
"God, Benson, get a grip on yourself. The paramedics just said that he was stable."
"For now."
"You can't loose hope yet. El's too stubborn to loose this fight,"
Olivia let out a frustrated sigh as she buried her head in her hands, desperately trying to silence the debate firing away in her brain. She wasn't ready for this. She needed the assurance that El was going to be alright. She needed to know she wasn't going to be alone. Before realizing, her mind was conjuring up the memories from the past, subconsciously reassuring herself that Elliot was going to be alright.
The next few days were composed of chasing lead after lead, trying to untangle the messy ball of thread. Nights were copies of days without the running around, Olivia tossed and turned at night, going through each strand of evidence in her head, Elliot hadn't gone home in days. It was sleepless in New York as they liked to joke, trying to lighten up the dark atmosphere.
Their hard work had finally paid off when they had got a solid lead. Social services had investigated Daniella's mother, Tanya Summerstone, a few times in the past for suspicion of child abuse but was never able to make a case. Plus the grandmother, Miranda Summerstone was there and able to watch out for Daniela.
They were interrogating Tanya when Craven interrupted and handed Elliot a file.
"Tell me about the event that happened almost 8 years ago." Elliot said after skimming through the file.
Olivia kept a steady gaze on Tanya while wondering what was in the folder that was tightly clutched in Elliot's hands.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Tanya replied.
"Tanya," Elliot started soothingly, "tell me what happened that night."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Look, I want to go now if you're not going to arrest me." Agitation was evident in her voice.
Elliot slid the open file towards Tanya, "November 13, 1989."
Olivia's heart sank a bit, having a clue of what was going on as she watched Tanya's gaze flicker away from the file, shaking her head, denying every word that was coming out of Elliot's mouth.
"You were sexually assaulted by your colleague that night."
"No. No. Shut up. Just shut up!"
"It says here in the file that there was evidence that he didn't use a condom."
"Please, just stop!" Tanya begged as she was shaking in her seat.
"You got pregnant, didn't you?" Elliot pushed softly, "He's Daniella's father, isn't he?"
"Yes!" Tanya suddenly exploded from the stress, "Yes! That sonovabitch raped me and left behind Daniella! I didn't want her, but it was too late to abort when I found out that jackass got me pregnant. They say the baby is the only good thing that comes out of a rape. Good thing my ass! Daniella was a daily reminder of what happened to me. How was I supposed to look at her and not see that sonovabitch? I couldn't stand the daily torture anymore, I did what I had to do!"
Olivia stiffened in her seat. She took Daniella's autopsy photos and placed them one by one in front of Tanya. She watched as Tanya tried to squirm away from the photos before finally breaking down into sobs when she accidentally caught a glimpse. She silently pushed away from the table and made her way out of the interrogation room.
"Detective!" Olivia saw Miranda Summerstone coming her way, blocking her only way to escape, "What's going on? What's going to happen to my daughter?"
"Mrs. Summerstone –"
Olivia cut off her partner, who had followed her out of the interrogation.
"You knew all along," she said quietly.
"I beg your pardon?" Mrs. Summerstone obviously didn't like Olivia's tone.
"Exactly how long have you known your daughter killed her daughter?" Olivia was restraining the urge to yell at the elderly woman that stood in front of her. She could sense Elliot stiffing up behind her, ready to move if anything happened.
"I don't like what you're implying, young lady."
"You knew what was happening to Daniella, that's why you called social services. " Olivia said, utterly ignoring the 'young lady' comment, "You obviously love Dani, so why didn't you do justice for her and turn your daughter in?"
"Do you know how hard it is for Tanya?" Mrs. Summerstone's voice was shaking with sorrow and anger, "I had already lost one little girl, I couldn't loose another."
"With all due respect, ma'am," Olivia said coolly, "You lost your daughter a long time ago."
She made her way around the elderly lady, she needed a place to calm down, to think things over and the roof was the only place there was in the whole precinct. Olivia pushed open the heavy door and stuck a rock in the crack to prevent it from locking her outside all night. Why was she so rattled? She knew the moment she got the green light to transfer to Sex Crimes, it was something that was going to come up every now and then. Was she really not prepared?
"Hey."
Olivia squeezed her eyes shut at the sound of her partner's voice. After what just happened, of course he'd come chasing after her.
"It's amazing up here, isn't it? You can see the city but be away from the noise." Elliot said as he stepped besides her.
The two stood in silence, Olivia was grateful that Elliot didn't ask about what just happened. But then again he was screaming the question very loudly.
Olivia broke the silence, "Do you think Tanya really hated Daniella that much?"
She kept her gaze straight ahead when she felt Elliot look at her.
"Maybe, maybe not," Elliot said after a few seconds, "I don't know how she felt when she saw Dani, but no mother can hate their own flesh and blood to want them dead."
They fell into another round of silence. She broke it again.
"My mother was raped," Olivia started quietly, "then she had me." Olivia leveled her gaze with Elliot's shocked eyes, "I am my mother's Dani."
"Olivia…I'm so sorry. I didn't know. I wouldn't have made you join the interrogation if I knew."
Olivia waved a hand to stop Elliot's fumbled apology, "I know, you're not that huge of a bastard as they say you are."
"They?" Elliot echoed. Olivia let out a wryly chuckle at his mock hurt.
"You and the captain are the only ones that know, so..."
"Yeah, you're secret's safe with me." Elliot ensured.
"Thank you." Olivia had a feeling that she could trust Elliot to conceal her past and not let it become the latest office gossip. She was learning to trust him.
"So you gonna tell me who's 'they'" Elliot asked after a while.
"Can't," Olivia chuckled, "Who knows what you're going to do my informants."
Elliot laughed, "You're cool. I think I can stand having a girl as my partner."
Olivia smiled, "I think I'll be able to tolerate you."
They both laughed.
Just in case some people are still "huh?"-ing on what just happened in this chapter, there are two major story lines in the story. One in the present and one in the past. I'm not sure how I'm gonna play the whole thing out yet so bear with me.
And yeah, El got shot. Don't shoot me! If you do, there won't be any more coming chapters. *evil snickers*
I'd love to hear what ya'll think so don't hesitate to click the review tab! :D Have a nice one!