DISCLAIMER: The copyrighted characters of any TV program, movie, or published work of fiction are the property of their owners/creators. In this case, Law and Order SVU and Dick Wolfe. No copyright infringement is intended and nothing is being made. The original characters, situations, and story are the property of the author.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Feedback is greatly appreciated (good or bad). Single quotes indicate thoughts. The subject is sensitive and I will stick to the medical facts as best I can.
ARCHIVING: Only with the permission of the author.
OUT OF NEW YORK
Chapter 16: Batter Up!
"All but three bodies are accounted for." Chief Barker said to the growing crowd of reporters. He read from a sterile white piece of paper. Nothing was written on it but the phrase, "Besomber,befirm,becalm." Words he chanted silently in his head has he pretended to answer questions regarding the victims.
"We have 7 fatalities, there are 10 victims at various hospitals in the three state area." He paused and looked through the crowd. He hoped to find a familar face. He recognized some of the reports, but not the familarity he was looking for. "8 others were not present in the structure when the explosion occurred."
"Have they found the couple seen leaving the building?"
"Are they persons of interest in the explosion?"
"We are getting reports that Humanaire is claim responsibility for the bombing."
"Whao!" Abbie stepped in front of the Chief. "Who said this was a bombing? THere has been nothing confirmed about a bombing. The only thing we can confirm is that there was an explosion here at this building and people are and where trapped inside."
"With you and the rest of the DC elite present, it would seem obvious that there was a terrorist attach or elidged terrorist attack." A young well known male reporter from CBS said with authority.
"Last time I checked Mr. Somer, it does not mean because many of the people inside this building had friends on the hill that this was a terrorist attack. It just means that a lot of people care about the people that live here. Its a community whether the victims worked for the government or for Sally's pies."
"She running for office?" Chief Barker asked Alicia Redding, Abbie's second chair.
"No. But if she were." Alicia said with pride. She stepped towards Abbie, who saw her approach.
"More will be explained in our next briefing at 06:00." Abbie turned and walked towards the large bulldozer that was beginning to clear the debris left in piles by the cranes.
"How do I get an interview with her?" Dan Somer asked Alicia.
"YOU don't. I think your better off just staying behind the yellow tape sir." Alicia motioned for the two officers to help him back on the other side of the security tape.
"She'll want to talk to me one day." He shouted.
"No, she'll want to shred you to beef jerky." Alicia said under her breath. She placed her hard hat on her head and walked towards Abbie. Reaching her boss, she handed her the other hard hat she had been carrying.
The shadows moved in all directions across the gray walls. There was no break in their movement. Alex tried to sleep, but the images of Olivia haunted her. She shook her head trying to erase what she continued to play in her head over and over. She could do nothing but cry.
"You okay?" Elliott awoke when he heard the muffled snobs.
"Yes." Alex said trying to gain control. "No, I am not. I have screwed up so bad. Wasted so much time being scared and now I am more scared."
"Huh? Scared of what?" Elliott was trying to wake up, rid himself of the morning fuzzy. He looked at his watch. 2:34 am. 'It's not morning.'
"Scared I wont see her again. Scared that I spent so much time not showing that I loved her so I would not get hurt that..."
"What? Are you stupid? You wont get hurt. But it was okay to hurt her?" Elliott was up now both mentally and physically. He was pacing the room. Alex watched him through watery eyes going back and forth at the foot of her bed. "I told her to stay away from you both times. You were trouble. I can't wait to tell her I told her so." Elliott was shouting.
"Elliott please. I know I was wrong i know I hurt her over and over, I just couldn't. I just couldn't bring myself to understand how someone so wonderful as her could love someone like me."
"Nether can I." He said curtly. "But she does. I was finally getting her to walk away from you and then, you showed back up."
"She didn't stay long. She took me home. She told me that she loved me but we couldn't be together." Elliott just looked at her. He let her words and his stare collide.
"I know my actions told her the same thing." Alex began to get angry. "God, Elliott how do I make this right? How do I get her back?"
"Alex, we don't even know where she is! You, you , you. That's still all you are talking about. My partner for 13 years is lying in a hole somewhere alive or God forbid dead and all you can think about is you."
"Listen to me you self rightous ass. You are just as much a headache for her as I am. She came home many a night ranting at what a over grown gorilla you were." She hoped he was getting as mad as she was. "You bullied her for the first three years. And now since she wont take your shit you bully everyone else."
"This coming from the cold ice princess! This is rich. I really enjoyed peeling her off the barstool just so that I could sober her up enough to go home to her owe place instead of ending up at yours. Wrecked again!" He had stopped just at the foot of the bed. He was leaning over as far as he could without losing his balance. "You'd kick her to the curb one day and then stroll into our squad room dressed like the she devil so she would go running back."
"Enough!" Both Elliott and Alex turned. A very stern Liz Donnelly stood in the doorway. "Alex you need to rest." She walked towards the bed. "Elliott you need to go back to the site. Things are happening fast." She reached above his head and turned on the TV.
The reverberation from the board hitting the pipe was becoming harder and harder to take with each swing. Her desire to get out of the grave was greater then her strength. She needed to rest, but her brain wouldn't let her.
"Give it a good one, Olivia." Serena cheered from the stands. Olivia stood at the plate trying to control the butterflies in her stomach. She was excited. Her mom never came to a game, sober.
"SWOOOSH." The ball moved past her. She never moved.
"Keep your head in the game , Benson." Coach yelled.
Olivia set her steely eyes on the pitcher. Her look so intense, the pitcher threw the next pitch in the dirt just before home plate.
"BAWL!" The umpire yelled. Olivia stepped back from the plate. She took a couple of practice swings and stepped back into the box. She gave the pitcher her full attention. Mistakenly.
'She's cute. Kinda skinny, but nice..."
"STRIIIIIKE."
"Come on Benson. Get your head in the game." Serena was standing now. She started walking down the bleachers.
The pitch was released. The ball spun towards Olivia. She steady herself, took a batter step forward...
"Son of a %$^&*!" Olivia missed the pipe. She spun around and fell. She landed on her back. The force of the impact ejected the board from her hand. It slid and landed tettering on the edge of the "gap." Olivia just laid there exhausted.
"I'll just rest a bit." Eyes closed, she rubbed her forhead hoping for relief. The ringing in her ears and pounding in her head, was not forgiving. Her tired body was no match for her panicing brain.
"So, concusion, broken left arm, bruised eye socket and multiple lacerations." Dr. Ronell reviewed Alex's chart. "From what I hear your a lucky lady."
"So they tell me." Alex fidgited to get comfortable. "Have they brought in any others from the site?"
"There has been two others. Still some trapped, but you need to worry about getting well." The doctor place the stethoscope on Alex's chest. She could hear a faint wheeze in Alex's lungs. She moved the scope to another spot and heard the wheeze a it louder.
"You know you'll be out of here in no time." Liz said. "Then you can come back to New York and work for me or with me I mean."
"Clerk for you?" Alex said somewhat offended.
"No, I stepped down from the bench. I figured it was time to get back to the other side of the table." Alex looked confused. "As a defense attorney."
"Oh. That's, that's interesting. So the bad guys get a great lawyer." Alex gave a wry smile.
"Some of those bad guys are good guys." Liz said. She leaned into Alex's space a little more. "I have been calling you here in Washington to meet with you, but your secretary, we should hire her, that you were busy doing this and that. A very busy person."
"You should have called my cell. Wait, you just came up here to talk with me, not because of the explosion?" Alex was pouting.
"No, Cragen called me this morning, well at 1 am. Told me to turn on the TV." Liz looked down at her hands resting on her lap. "Next thing I knew I was exiting 95 and at the front door of the hospital."
Alex reached out her hand, shaking it slightly to give Liz direction. Liz reached up and took it in hers. She then raised her head to look directly at Alex revealing the tears that were falling.
"Is holding my hand that painful?" Alex tried to make light of the moment.
Liz chuckled. "No, it's knowing I still can." She placed her other hand on top of the already joined pair. "You are my daughter. I never made time for children. Never thought I could be a good parent. But in the years of watching you grow into your own strong woman and knowing I was a part of that, made me realize, I didn't have to give you life, I could just help you shape your own."
"I had missed you when I was gone. After my mother died, I felt lost and alone. I would buy the New York Times, just in hope to find a photo of you or your name in an article. You were a steady point for me, even a thousand miles away."
Both women looked at one another and smiled. A slight knock on the door did not cause them to break their conversation, although there were no words.
"'cuse me." The roundly nurse said. "I have to give you your meds and check your wounds." She placed her "bucket" of medication and bandages on the bed tray.
The large bucket teeth opened slammed into the pile of the rubble. It wiggled back and forth filling its jaws with building parts. Groanning and popping noises rung out as the broken buildings parts dislodged from it's self.
Olivia stepped out onto the balcony. The view was spectacular. Warm air glided across her face wrapping itself around her. She took a deep breath and smiled. THe sun moved from to cloud and kissed her body with its light. She grabbed the railing with both hands and swayed back and forth with the sound of the waves.
"Such a beautiful noise." She said in sing-song tone.
"Such a beautiful woman." Trevor moved to stand behind her. Olivia stiffened. She began to panic. Without turning around she swung herself over the railing, and letting go of it began to fall.
Sorry all. I have been tying to get college pas done for daughter #2. THey went off yesterday! Now i can get back to the story.