Thanks again to everyone who reviewed! I'm not so good at writing Trevor, so my apologies if he seems a bit out-of-character in this chapter. I hope you enjoy it anyway!

The next day at school, Abbie was in an awful mood. It was really kind of ironic, because it was the first time she'd had a full night's sleep in months, and sleeping was supposed to make her feel better, not worse. But she was angry at herself, angry that she'd taken the medication that she hadn't wanted to, angry that her willpower had worn thin, angry that they'd been right and the sedatives hadn't hurt her, angry that she needed them to begin with. Angry that, now that her body realized how good it felt to sleep, she'd have to take the medicine every night now. One less thing she could control.

"What's the matter with you?" asked Olivia, quirking an eyebrow as Abbie stomped into science class and dumped her books on her desk before plopping into her chair, scowling.

"Nothing," snapped Abbie. "And don't you even think about saying another word. You don't tell me anything, so why should I tell you?"

Olivia looked surprised for a moment, then narrowed her eyes and folded her arms, and Abbie felt bad. She was right, but sometimes she needed to learn when to keep her mouth shut. They hadn't even known each other a week, and Abbie couldn't expect Olivia to be spilling her secrets. And from what she knew, they were pretty serious ones.

So Abbie sighed and repeated the words she hated to say, the words she'd said twice to Olivia in the span of two days. "I'm sorry."

Olivia uncrossed her arms. "Apology accepted."

Abbie sighed. "I had a doctor's appointment yesterday." It was a peace offering and she hoped Olivia would see it as such.

Olivia nodded sympathetically. "I hate doctor's appointments, too. Except I haven't had one in years."

Abbie could see why, but wisely decided not to say so. She was learning. Well . . . sort of.

This was something she knew Olivia could appreciate, so Abbie offered her something else. "It's having a stranger's hands all over your body."

Olivia shuddered. "It's having anyone's hands all over your body." Then Olivia seemed to realize she'd said too much and looked at the ground.

Abbie sighed. She understood all too well. "I know," she whispered.

Olivia caught her eye and gave Abbie a wan smile. Then she sighed too and took out her science textbook, indicating that the conversation was over.

Their science teacher came over to them. "Homework," he said.

Abbie shook her head. She hadn't been able to focus long enough yesterday to do her homework, but she had a note from Dr. Picard explaining the situation. She handed it to Mr. Prinze, who frowned as he read it but nodded almost imperceptibly.

He turned to Olivia. "And you?"

"No, sir," said Olivia sarcastically.

"Of course not. What would this world be coming to if Olivia Benson actually did her homework?"

Olivia shrugged. "Life happens sometimes. Are you going to send me to the office and give me a break from this stupid class or can I get back to what I was doing?"

Mr. Prinze sneered. "What were you doing?"

"Conversing intellectually," she said, articulating the words, trying them out on her tongue.

Abbie laughed. Obviously the phrase was courtesy of Alex Cabot.

It seemed to work, because their teacher glared a moment longer at Olivia before moving on.

Olivia leaned back in her chair and folded her arms, smirking.

"Smart ass," remarked Abbie good-naturedly.

Olivia grinned. "And proud of it."

Abbie smiled back and started the homework she hadn't completed. She could concentrate better now, after taking the sedatives. And that made her angry. Abbie Carmichael didn't back down that easily. But last night, she'd actually listened to her body over her mind and folded. She didn't do that. At least, she couldn't do that again.

Olivia stayed a safe difference away from Abbie as they completed their homework in silence.

They spent lunchtime in the library with Alex, who needed to study for some history test, and the boys. Trevor had offered to help her study, but the assistance he was offering was more redolent of flirtation than actual schoolwork. He kept trying to kiss her and she kept giggling and pushing him away. Finally, she said, "If you want to stay put, then stop that. Otherwise, you're gone."

Trevor shut up and started his math homework.

Abbie bit back the urge to warn Alex to be careful, because she knew only too well the dangers of an overly possessive boyfriend. Trevor didn't seem possessive now . . . but you never know.

Elliot and Olivia were splitting a bag of Doritos underneath the table because they knew the librarian would kick them out if he noticed them eating in the library. He liked to prowl like a cat and keep everyone on their toes.

Abbie went back to last night's science homework that she still hadn't finished, trying to ignore the two happy couples beside her. Trying not to think about the happy couple she'd once been half of – or, at least, it looked that way from the outside. From the inside, it was another story altogether.

Olivia seemed to notice Abbie's discomfort and gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze. Abbie flinched at the unexpected touch and then got angry at herself for what seemed like the hundredth time today. Why was she acting like such a victim? Why was being so close to Olivia reminding her so much of him? She wasn't a victim. What had happened had happened, but it was the past now, and she had to let it go.

They all jumped at a deep voice from behind them. "Okay, everybody out."

"Why?" demanded Olivia, turning to face the librarian.

"Eating in the library."

"But we didn't do anything," complained Trevor.

"I don't care. All of you, out," ordered the librarian.

Olivia stood up and got in his face. "No."

His eyes practically bulged out of his head. "What did you say?"

"I said no. The library is a public place, therefore we're allowed to stay here. If you don't want anyone eating in the library, put a sign on the door. We can't know the rules if you don't tell them to us."

"You know the rules," growled the librarian.

Olivia looked up at him with as innocent an expression on her face as she could muster. "I don't think we do. Abbie's new here; she doesn't know."

"She wasn't eating in the library. You were."

"So they should be allowed to stay." Olivia folded her arms and smirked, knowing she'd won this one.

Abbie couldn't help but laugh as the librarian scratched his head and walked away, leaving them for the moment. Elliot grinned and gave Olivia a high five. "Smooth."

Olivia made a face. "It's boring here anyway. Let's go take a walk."

Elliot laughed. "You're pathetic, Benson."

"Thank you," she said proudly. "I try."

"Could you two either be quiet or leave?" snapped Alex. "Some people are trying to get some work done."

"And some people are trying to talk," replied Olivia mildly.

"You're just trying to be adversarial," commented Alex.

"That's right," agreed Olivia with a smirk.

Elliot took her arm, eliciting a whimper. "Sorry," he said quietly, which infuriated Abbie. How could they treat her injuries with such nonchalance? But she had her own problems to worry about.

Elliot led Olivia out of the library and Abbie considered following them, but decided against it. She sat back against her chair and went back to her homework.

Trevor started to thread his fingers through Alex's hair and she playfully batted his hand away. "Some people are trying to study," she repeated.

He grinned, parroting Olivia. "And some people are trying to play with their girlfriend's hair."

"Well, those people should leave the library."

Trevor pouted, but obediently got up and left the library.

Alex stared after him, then turned to Abbie with amusement written all over her face. "Well, that was unprecedented."

Abbie smirked. "Don't you love a guy who listens to his girl?"

Alex pursed her lips. "That means he loves you."

Abbie shrugged, almost wistfully. "I wouldn't know."

Alex gave her a long look, then went back to her work. Abbie wondered for a moment if she'd said too much, then pushed the thought aside and did the same.

Abbie caught up with Alex and Olivia during English. The three of them and Elliot sat together, and it was nice to have a "group". It was also nice to be the smartest "group" in the class. Alex was just good at everything, and Olivia and Abbie were both relatively good at English. Elliot wasn't, though – he usually copied Olivia's notes.

"So, you're coming to the sleepover on Friday?" asked Alex as she rummaged in her binder for a sheet of lined paper.

"Yeah," answered Abbie. She'd thought about it and decided it would be nice to spend some time with her friends. She just wouldn't sleep. Problem solved.

"Hey, what sleepover, and why am I not invited?" demanded Elliot, but in a playful tone.

Olivia punched him lightly on the shoulder. "You're a guy," she said, as if that explained everything.

"So?"

"So, my parents would murder me if they thought I was having boys over!" exclaimed Alex.

"Mine, too," Abbie agreed, glad to have something in common.

Olivia shrugged. "My mom would throw me a party. She'd say, 'Yay, you're growing up! The sooner you find a guy, the sooner you can get out of my life!'"

Elliot squeezed her hand. "That's not true."

Olivia gave him a disdainful look. "Yes, it is."

Elliot leaned over and kissed her cheek. "She takes you for granted."

"Yeah."

"She shouldn't."

Olivia gave him a wan smile.

"I don't," said Elliot.

Olivia sighed. "And that's why I love you."

Their English teacher materialized beside them. "Let's save the make out session for after school, ladies and gentlemen," she said with a wink. "Homework?"

Alex, Olivia, and Elliot handed Ms. Berg their homework. Abbie just hung her head. She had the note from Dr. Picard, but she didn't want to use it. It felt too much like she was being manipulative, even though she knew she wasn't. But all she wanted was to be normal, and exploiting her circumstances wasn't the way to do it.

"No homework, Abbie?" said Ms. Berg gently.

Abbie shrugged and shook her head.

But surprisingly, her teacher didn't give her a hard time. She just nodded sympathetically. "Okay, have it for tomorrow then."

Abbie let out a deep breath as Ms. Berg walked away. She'd managed to evade a punishment for not doing her homework – again. But she didn't want to. She just wanted to be a normal teenager, but maybe she didn't even know what that meant anymore.

"What happened to your homework?" asked Olivia curiously.

Abbie shrugged. "Why did you do your English but not your science?" she countered.

Olivia smirked. "I did my science."

"No, you didn't."

Olivia rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I did."

"Then why didn't you show it to Mr. Prinze?"

Olivia shrugged. "Because I wanted to annoy him."

Abbie couldn't help but grin. "Well, it worked."

"That's her life mission," commented Elliot. "Annoying her teachers."

"Annoying the annoyers," agreed Olivia.

"Annoyers –" began Alex, but Olivia cut her off.

"I know, Ms. Webster," she said, rolling her eyes. "It's not really a word. Save the grammar lesson."

Alex grinned and went back to copying the note off the board. Olivia heaved a theatrical sigh and did the same. Elliot just sat back in his chair and looked at Olivia. "You'll photocopy that for me, right?"

Olivia punched him lightly in the shoulder, then smiled. "Of course."

The first thing Abbie did when she got home from school was flush her sedatives down the toilet. She couldn't afford to become dependent on medication and she couldn't take it anymore. They made her feel better and she didn't want to feel better. Whether it was because she wanted to be adversarial or because she felt she didn't deserve to be happy was anyone's guess, but the sentiment was there anyway.

She felt a perverse sense of satisfaction as she watched the pills swirl down the toilet and disappear. She would never have to worry about them again.

And that night, as she tossed and turned in her bed, unable to sleep, she felt good. Because she knew she'd brought this on herself. That meant she was in control. And that was all she wanted.

All she'd ever wanted.

So . . . would you like chapter six? Review if you would!