Monday, November 25th. 6:30pm.
Things were heated up at the precinct. Olivia was doubting her abilities of leading the squad. Nick felt that Amanda was pissed at him because he knew more about her past life than she ever wanted to reveal to him. Fin, even though he showed his support to his partner, was really scared that something might happen to her under his watch, and he wouldn't be able to protect her as he should. He was being more of a protective big brother than a partner. And finally Amanda was not only suspended due to her behavior with her superior, but she also was in great danger.
Gazing away, Amanda on the passenger seat was looking out of the window. She wasn't really focused on what was happening around her. Her mind was absorbed by the fight she had with her boss and mostly by Mike Miller, the monster who hurt her three years ago and changed her as a person forever. Amanda didn't really know how to handle things anymore. She was genuinely petrified. Even though she was deeply grateful that her colleagues had fought for her and had her back, Amanda was hopeless. She knew that if Miller wanted something from her, he would get it by any means.
Fin next to her driving the car, brought her back from her thoughts, "Where did you go?" Asked Fin smiling.
Amanda shook her head to get her focus back and replied while cracking up a fake smile "Nowhere, i'm here...".
"You sure you're okay?" Fin asked her showing his concern.
"Yeah..." Amanda replied lacking of conviction.
Fin focusing on the road, wanted to ask Amanda a question. A question he judged being a little risky, because he was kind of anticipating her reaction.
Fin decided to ask her anyway "Amanda... Miller clearly thinks you send the letter to IAB... and that would explain why he's pissed at you...".
"What's your point Fin? you wanna know if i sent it ?" Amanda said calmly, interrupting Fin's reasoning.
"Did you?" Asked her Fin.
There was something about Fin that made Amanda trust him. She never knew what was it exactly, she simply knew that she can trust him with basically anything. He wasn't the judgy type of guy, so it made it easier.
"... Six months after i got here... things were okay with work and stuff, i was slowly putting my past behind me. One day on the papers, i saw Miller's picture. A whole article about him, saying how brave he was, one of the best cops that Atlanta has ever had... but it was all loads of crap... of course. I'm pretty sure he bribed the paper to publish this. It made me sick to my stomach... i couldn't stop thinking about what he did to me. I was out of my mind... so i decided to get justice somehow... i started digging into his life, i tried to find if there were any other victims... you know... besides me... and i found three. I contacted each and one of them, explained to them the whole thing, i told them all they had to do was to press charges and he'd get away for good... but they refused. They were scared obviously. He probably bought their silence too. And that made me even more sick... i couldn't take it anymore. After all the lives he destroyed, he still gets away with it. And since i knew he would never pay for it, i decided to mess with the most precious thing he owned...his reputation. so yeah... i wrote that letter... and sent it to IAB. You know how they take very seriously any accusations against any law officer. Even if there were no evidence, they'd still investigate. And of course the story would go public and his reputation of a great sergeant would go six feet under..." Explained Amanda with a knot in her throat.
"Damn... and that son of bitch played it cleaver and resigned..." Replied Fin utterly blown away with what Amanda just confessed to him.
"Exactly." Replied Amanda dryly.
"But wait... How does he know that it's you who sent it?" Asked Fin intrigued.
"That bastard knows that the other victims would never talk. He had them wrapped on his fingers. And i'm the only one he couldn't reach. So he probably got scared that i'd open my mouth... and now he wants to shut me up once and for all." Replied Amanda dryly.
"But what he doesn't know, is that you're not alone..." Replied Fin showing his support to his partner.
Amanda smiled without saying a word.
Fin arriving down Amanda's building, parked the car in front of the entrance.
"You should probably tell Liv about the letter..." Suggested Fin.
"She's smart, she probably has figured it out by now." Replied Amanda.
"Don't be hard on her... she has a lot on her plate right now, and the last thing she needs is her squad against her..." Explained Fin calmly.
"... I know..." Replied Amanda while rubbing her forehead, then added "I got a headache... i'm gonna go up and get some sleep.".
"I'll be here all night if you need me, i'll call you every hour to check on you... you better pick up!" Fin said reassuring his partner while cracking up a smile.
"Okay daddy !" Said Amanda smiling.
...
Monday, November 25th. 9:00pm. The special victims unit squad room.
Olivia Benson had a rough day. She was locked up in her office making herself busy with paperwork.
Shortly Nick showed up at the office's door.
"Liv, got a minute?" Asked Nick.
"Sure, come in. Anything new?" Replied Olivia.
"The rapist Becky hired, he calls himself Jack Russel... probably a fake name. I got in contact with him on the net, pretending to be a desperate forty five year old woman, willing to pay a thousand bucks cash to see her cheating husband dead. He fell for the trap and gave me an address to meet him up, tomorrow two pm." Explained Nick.
"Nice work Nick." Replied Olivia.
"We'll pick him up tomorrow with Fin." Said Nick determined.
"He might be armed Nick. We gotta play it smooth. He won't like it if he sees two cop looking guys approaching him. Things might turn wrong. I'll go first and introduce myself as the client, and you guys will stay put, on my signal, we strike." Explained Olivia.
Nick wasn't too fond of Liv's idea, but he admitted that she was right.
"Got it, sergeant." Replied Nick, then added "How is Samantha?".
"I went to see her earlier at the hospital, she's still shaking but she'll be okay. Her brother came by to see her, i talked to him and he told me that he'd lost contact with their parents, they kicked him out of the house the day he came out..." Replied Olivia.
"Damn..." Said Nick in shock.
"Yeah... Samantha was glad to see him, he offered to take her with him to Los Angeles... There's still a good chance for her to turn the page and live a good life." Replied Olivia.
"Hopefully. You should go home Liv... and get some rest. You look exhausted." Suggested Nick.
"I will... I have to do something first." Replied Olivia.
"Good night." Said Nick while leaving her office.
"You too." Replied Olivia.
...
Monday, November 25th. 10:00pm. Amanda's building.
A car parked behind Fin's. He looked back at the rear view mirror and noticed a familiar face getting out of the car.
Olivia getting out of her car, approached Fin's car.
"Hey, is everything okay?" Wondered Fin.
"Yeah... i just needed to talk to Amanda. Everything's alright here?" Asked back Olivia.
"It's Clear." Replied Fin.
"Good." Said Olivia, then headed to the building's entrance.
Once behind the door, Olivia was highly anxious, she knew that Amanda wasn't gonna be thrilled to see her. After a long hesitation, Olivia finally found the courage to knock on the door. Few seconds later, Amanda opened the door with a surprised unwelcoming look.
"What are you doing here?" Amanda said sharply.
"Can we talk?" Demanded Olivia hoping Amanda won't turn her down.
Amanda stepping away from the door, let Olivia get in then said "Want anything to drink?".
"I'm fine thanks." Olivia replied.
Amanda headed to the couch and sat down. Olivia followed her and sat in the chair facing her.
"Hum... i wanna apologize... Things have been rough lately for all of us... and i feel like i'm losing control... i really shouldn't have told Nick about... you know. It wasn't up to me to tell him. And about what you said earlier... it's not true. I never tried playing the super cops with you... i genuinely wanted us to be good friends..." Explained Olivia while looking down, then added while smiling "I mean we're the only two ladies in the middle of all these guys... so we need to stick together...".
Amanda not breaking eye contact with Olivia, remained motionless and silent.
"I'm tired of arguing... i know i betrayed your trust... and i'll make it up to you, i promise. I'm really sorry... i hope you can forgive me... " Continued Olivia, then added with watery eyes "There are so many things going on... there's too much pressure... i feel like i'm losing it...".
Amanda very calm, and noticing Liv's despair, took a minute before speaking then said in a reassuring tone "It's okay Liv... You're not alone... I know you can handle it... we're here to help you out. And i apologize too for... all the things i said... i didn't mean them... i know you were trying to do what's best for me, and i appreciate it, i shouldn't have reacted this way...".
"Let's start from scratch, shall we?" Suggested Olivia smiling while wiping away a tear.
"Sounds about right." Said Amanda smiling.
"Good. I better go now..." Said Olivia While standing up, then added while heading to the door "See you tomorrow first thing in the morning, Nick got in contact with Sam's rapist, we're gonna get him.".
"Wait what? But... my suspension?" Replied Amanda showing her confusion, while standing up.
"What suspension?" Smirked Olivia, then added " Sleep well.".
"Oh... you too!" Replied Amanda while scratching the back of her head.
...
Tuesday, November 26th. 2:00am. Amanda's apartment.
Amanda deeply asleep, got awakened by a loud ringing phone. Thinking it was Fin, she grabbed her phone without looking at the screen and answered saying, with a tired voice "Ugh Fin ... keep calling me like that and i will kick your butt big time...".
"Hello honey..."Mike Miller said, interrupting Amanda's threats.
Amanda froze, her eyes wide open.
"Missed me?" Continued Mike trying to intimidate Amanda.
Amanda sitting in her bed, took her courage between her hands and blurted out "Son of a bitch, you think you're scaring me?".
"Oh sweet Mandy... i can't wait to see you..." Said Mike smirking, then added "I'm coming for you honey and don't forget that i don't need your permission to get what i want...".
"Stay away from me or i swear i'll kill you!" She Shouted out with an angry voice, then hung up the phone and threw it away.
Amanda bringing her knees to her chest, curled up in a ball and sat there petrified, cold tears falling down her face.
