A/N: Sorry It's been so long since I updated, it's been a crazy couple of weeks. I've been working and I've been sick(I have POS, so that can be a bitch). I'm working on updates on my other stories too for those who are still interested.
Kathy Stabler's Residence
Queens, New York
Friday, September 19th
8:30 a.m.
"Thanks for coming with me, you guys. I think I would have chickened out if I went by myself" Kathleen announces after putting her backpack in the back seat of Taylor's black Mazda6.
"No problem. That's what friends are for, right?" The brunette consoled, reaching from the backseat of the car and giving her friend a warm smile and reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Thanks, Cass" Kathleen wanly returns her smile. "Are you sure you guys aren't missing any important tests or anything?" She looks between the driver's seat at Taylor and the backseat at Cassie.
"We told you it's cool. We can make a girl's day out of it. It's our Senior year, Katie, we deserve a little down time" Taylor reassures.
"Yeah, especially considering the circumstances, Kath. We're here for you, babe…" Cassie inputs, igniting a spark of laughter throughout the car.
"You guys are the best" Kathleen replies, loosening up for the moment, unworried for the first time all morning. The girls had decided to spend their day in Manhattan, that way they could take Kathleen to the doctor, then have some down time. Taylor and Cassie knew that no matter what the results turned out to be, Kathleen would need them and they intended to be their for her.
EOEOEOEOEOEO
16th Precinct
Manhattan, New York
Friday, September 19th
9:45a.m.
"Warner still hasn't called with those results yet?" Elliot asks his partner, Marissa Hollis, as he sits down at the desk across from her. He watches as she stares at the picture on her desk, obviously unaware of his presence and the question he asked. He tosses the file on her desk in order to gain her attention. She looks up at him quizzically.
"You still with me, Ris?"
"What? Oh, yeah, it's just-" She pauses for a moment, unsure of how to continue.
"The case getting to you" Elliot replies, all too aware of how the cases dealing with young children can hit close to home, especially when you have kids of your own.
She nods in response, "How do you do it, Elliot? Better yet, how did Liv deal with it? I think on days like this I can see why she went a different route…" He feels for the brunette in front of him. He watches as her eyes gloss, obviously fighting back the tears that threaten to overcome her. Before he can respond, Cragen's voice interrupts him.
"Stabler, Hollis, I need you to get over to the ME's office, Warner's got something for you on the Mullen case"
EOEOEOEOEO
Medical Examiner's Office
Manhattan, New York
Friday, September 19th
10:05a.m.
"The boy had definitely been sodomized repeatedly, but the perp was smart enough to use a condom"
"So being that the Sodomy was repeated, it's probably someone he knew, maybe a relative?" Marissa concludes, trying to place together pieces that may help them solve the case.
"That's not all I found. The little boy had bruises, some old, but most of them fresh in places that could be covered easily by clothing. I believe that the blunt force trauma to the head killed him instantly." Melinda Warner informed the detectives, ending her analysis.
"Thanks Melinda" Elliot replies before heading for the door behind Marissa.
"No problem, just nail the bastard who did this" He nods in understanding before exiting the room.
EOEOEOEOEOEO
16th Precinct
Manhattan, New York
Friday, September 19th
12:20p.m.
Munch and Fin had gone to pick up the parents of Nathan Mullen for questioning. Elliot and Marissa had gone out to question friends, neighbors, basically anyone who had contact with the victim. Cragen comes out of his office, at the same time Elliot and Marissa walk into the precinct.
"What have you got for me?" Cragen asks upon spotting the detectives.
"It seems the Nathan's teacher, Leslie Whitten, had gone to the home of Nadine Pierson, a few months back, she said Nathan had come to school with some questionable bruises" Elliot explains, walking over to his desk with Cragen and Hollis in tow.
"Well, why didn't she report it then?" Cragen questions.
Marissa picks up where Elliot left off. "She said that she met with his mother. The mother chalked his bruises up to 'boys being boys' and being a mother two boys herself, she bought it"
"What the hell? What gives her the right to make that call? She should have reported it!"
"That's what I said too, but the teacher claims it was a one time thing, she saw no other signs after that" Elliot adds.
"Probably because mom got smart and started bruising him in places no one would see"
"Nadine Pierson may not be our perp, but she could still be an accessory" He hands a file to Elliot for him to look at. "It seems the stepfather, Royce Pierson has some priors. He's a registered sex offender, he had no business being around Nathan, let alone living with him"
Elliot reads the reports carefully before handing them to his partner. "Unbelievable. And the mom knew this?"
"That's what we are going to find out. Fin and Munch are gone to pick them up as we speak, so until they get back, dig into the mother's background a little more. See if we may have missed anything" Cragen commands before retreating back to his office. Elliot's cell starts ringing. A smile immediately appears upon his face after seeing the name of his wife flash across the screen of the phone.
"Hey, baby. What's up?"
"I just wanted to see if my incredibly sexy husband would be interested in joining his wife for lunch?"
"Aw, baby, I would if I could but I'm in a middle of a case right now"
"Oh. Is it the same one from this morning?"
"Uh, Yeah…" His somber mood returning quickly at the mention of the current case.
"That bad, huh?"
"Yeah, that bad…" He smiles slightly at his wife's ability to read him, even over the phone.
"You think you'll still be able to meet me and the kids for dinner? It was your idea Mr. Stabler."
"Shit, I forgot all about that…I'll try my best, but I'll call you ahead of time to let you know for sure"
"Okay. Love you"
"I love you too. Bye" After he ends the call, he looks over at his partner to find her looking at him and smiling.
"What?" He asks furrowing his brow, interested in her interest in him.
"Nothing. It's just the way you interact with Liv. It's something to see. Big, bad Stabler all cute and cuddly with the wife" They both laugh at the thought.
"That's funny because Munch and Fin usually say the same thing about Liv. Bad ass Benson becoming a mom and wife? My wife, no less?"
"Do you miss her? As your partner?"
"Yeah, but I won't trade it for the world. I gained a hell of a lot more than I lost when I married her…""I never knew you could be so sweet Stabler! I'm guessing that's some of the charm you used on Liv to get her into bed" He gives her his famous cocky Stabler smile, before responding,
"Wouldn't you like to know" She rolls her eyes,
"Yeah, right, Stabler, I don't think I'm your type. And you are definitely not mine!" They both laugh once again, both relieved to be able to talk about something other than the case, at least for the moment.
EOEOEOEOEOEO
The girls rode back to Queens in silence. Ever since they came from the clinic, Kathleen had been quiet. Neither Taylor or Cassie had wanted to push her, they knew she needed time, so they abided by her unasked request for space.
"What am I going to do?" Kathleen whispered audibly.
Neither Taylor or Cassie could answer her. In someway, they knew it wasn't really a question for them, it was more of a question to herself.
TBC