"Yeah sweetie, c'mon in," Rose said walking around the bed.
"What are you doing up here?" he asked closing the door behind him.
"Oh nothing, I was getting a little cold so I came up to get a sweater," she said sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'm glad that you brought Olivia to meet everyone."
"Yeah, she seems to be getting along with everyone really well. Everyone keeps telling me how much they love her." Mark sat down on the bed next to his mother. Rose looked down at her lap as a silence filled the air. "Are you okay?" Mark asked softly, rubbing his mom's back. He watched as his mother's eyes began to water slightly. "Mom, what's wrong?" She shook her head lightly. Mark wrapped his arms around his mother, pulling her into a hug. She softly rested her chin on her son's neck as she wrapped her arms around him. "I'm sick baby," she said softly. "And I can't fix it." Mark felt his stomach sink down to his feet as he released his mother, and brought her face in front of his. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she took her son's hands in hers.
"Mom," Mark said softly as his eyes fell sullen. "Mom, no."
"Oh, sweetie," she said wrapping her arms around her son's neck. She felt Mark cry lightly into her shoulder. After a few minutes, Mark pulled out of his mother's hug. He wiped his eyes, and cheeks before holding his mother's hands in his.
"Mom, who knows?" he asked, his voice sullen and soft.
"Your father. I wanted to tell everyone, but with it being Christmas Eve, I don't want to ruin the atmosphere," she said, her eyes still watering slightly.
"Mom, you have to tell them," he said.
"I know, I will. Just not right now," she answered.
"Mom," Mark began, before looking down to his mother's hands, which were tightly embraced in his. "How much longer?" He heard his mother sigh lightly before feeling her hands tighten even more in his. He looked back up to his mother's face, her eyes said and slightly wet. "Mom," he prodded.
"Four months," she said softly, in almost a whisper. She watched as Mark's eyes dropped to the floor, as he lost all sense of strength. "Darling," she said as she scooted closer to Mark and pulled him into a tight embrace. For what seemed like forever to both mother and son, they hugged and cried. After a few minutes, Ruth released her son and framed his face in her hands, wiping away his tears with her thumbs. "I love you-and your brothers and your sisters. I love your father. I would never want to leave you in this way. I want to have the memories that I would have had even if I wasn't dying." Mark sniffled before leaning in and kissing her on the cheek lightly.
"Ok," he said softly before standing up in front of his mother, taking both her hands in his. She stood up in front of her son. "I love you mom." Rose smiled before rubbing Mark's shoulders.
"Okay let's get back down there before we miss something. Something is bound to get broken with all of our little munchkins running around. Plus, I have yet to sit down with your beautiful girlfriend," she said smiling before heading toward the door. "I couldn't ask for anyone better for you."
"Yeah, she is pretty amazing," he said with a smile as he followed his mother out of the room. They walked downstairs and into the living room where the majority of the family was standing and sitting, talking in small groups. Mark walked around the couch and over toward Olivia who was talking to his father and oldest sister. He wrapped his arm around her waist before kissing her. She smiled as they parted before she felt Mark pull her into a hug. "I love you," he whispered in her ear as he held her tight.
Olivia stirred in her sleep later that night. She opened her eyes slowly to find herself alone in the bed. She sat up and looked around the dark guest room for any sign of Mark. She slid her legs around to the side of the bed for slowly standing up. She grabbed Mark's dress shirt off of the floor beside the bed before walking slowly and quietly out into the hall, being careful not to wake anyone. She walked toward the stairs, taking each step slowly and softly. She heard voices coming from what she guess to be the kitchen downstairs. She slowly walked down the hall, but stopped when she heard Eric and Mark's voices in the kitchen, both talking rather softly. She leaned up against the wall.
"How long have you known?" she heard Mark ask.
"A couple of months. She went into the doctor's and when her tests came back positive the doctors were concerned. Before we knew it she was going in for chemo and radiation every three to four days," Eric answered, his voice soft and sad. There was a silence before Eric sighed. "It should have been me instead of her."
"Dad, she would never want that," Mark said.
"True. She's too damn tough to let this stop her, and too damn kind to want this to happen to anyone else. I can't sit here and wait for her to leave me. I can't sleep knowing that one day she isn't going to be there or make us dinner and realize that I will no long need two plates." Olivia looked down at the floor before quietly turning away and walking down the hall and up the stairs. She climbed back into the bed before rolling over to her back. She stared at the ceiling as a small tear rolled down her cheek.
Olivia woke up the next morning to find Mark asleep beside her. She glanced at the clock on the bedside table-9:04 am. She slid across the bed slowly before softly cuddling up next to Mark. She felt him stir as he wrapped his arm around her waist, and continued to sleep. Olivia drifted back to sleep for another hour until she felt Mark release his grip on her and get out of bed. She rolled over and slowly opened her eyes to see Mark standing over their suitcase. He turned around after a few moments to find Olivia awake, still laying in the bed, slightly propped up by all of the pillows.
"Well good morning," he said with a smile as he walked back toward the bed. Olivia smiled as she sat up. She scooted to the center of the bed as Mark climbed back into the bed. He leaned in and kissed her. She brought her hand to his jaw as the kiss deepened slightly.
"Merry Christmas," she whispered as they parted. Mark turned and opened the drawer of the bedside table and pulled out a single, small white square box with a gold and red ribbon tied around it.
"For you," he said handing it to her. Olivia smiled as she took the small box from him. "Merry Christmas baby." Olivia untied the bow and slowly opened the lid to the box to find a silver diamond banded ring with small diamonds embedded in the band. She looked up at Mark, stunned at the present. Mark slowly reached up and took the box from Olivia. "Even though it's a little childish, I wanted to buy you something that shows you what you mean to me," he took the ring out of the box and took Olivia's hand in his. "By you wearing this, you have my absolute promise to always love and support you. I will always be there for you and will never do anything to hurt you. This promise ring, if that's what you want to call it, is a symbol of my promise to you, forever. I wanted to get you something that you could wear and look at everyday and know that I am with you, and that I love you." He slid the ring onto her right, ring finger. Olivia smiled lightly as she leaned forward and kissed Mark.
"Thank you sweetie. I love it. And I love you," she said kissing him again. She laughed as she felt Mark push her back and lean over top of her. She felt his lips on hers and he kissed her. "Okay! Okay!" she said laughing, sitting up. She got up off of the bed and walked over to the suitcase. She unzipped the top pocket and pulled out a shirt box, wrapped in red wrapping paper with a smaller box on top. "Ok, so Merry Christmas baby," she said walking back over to the bed and handing him the present. She walked back over to the suitcase and pulled out her dark pants. She listened as Mark unwrapped the present. She pulled on her black jeans which fit her snuggly around her thighs and fell to the floor. She pulled off her cami and changed into a white v-neck shirt and slid her arms through the sleeves of a fitted light denim jacket. She turned around to find Mark lifting off the lid of the shirt box, revealing a white polo shirt with red and brown stripes.
"Olivia, nice babe!" he exclaimed lifting up the shirt out of the box. Olivia laughed at his exclamation.
"You like it?" she said walking toward the bed.
"Oh my gosh yes, are you kidding me," he said placing it back into its box. He lifted the smaller box up off of the bed and opened the lid revealing a gold and silver watch. The same watch that he had pointed out in a window display downtown earlier in the month. "Are you serious right now?" he said looking up at her. Olivia nodded and smiled as she stopped next to the bed. Mark took the watch out of the box and clasped it around his wrist.
"Does it fit?" Olivia asked. "Because if not, the guy say that the links just sort of click off the links if you need to make it smaller.
"It's perfect," Mark said looking up at Olivia. A smile came across his face as he stood up on his knees so that he was level with Olivia's eyes. "Thank you baby." He kissed her lightly, as he rested his hands on her hips. He felt her arms rest on his shoulders and her fingers lightly caressing the back of his neck. Suddenly a knock sounded at the door, causing Olivia and Mark to jump a little. They looked at the door which opened slowly.
"You kids awake?" Rose asked peeking her head slightly around the door.
"Yeah, mom. Come on in," Mark said. Rose walked around the door and into the room. "Merry Christmas." Mark got up off of the bed and walked over to his mother.
"Merry Christmas sweetie," Rose said hugging her son after kissing his cheek lightly. Olivia smiled watching Mark hug his mom. "Olivia, darling. Merry Christmas," Rose said with a smile after releasing Mark.
"Merry Christmas Rose," Olivia said as Ruth hugged her too.
"The little ones are all downstairs waiting for everyone to come down so they can open their gifts," she said with a small laugh. "Eric is cooking away in the kitchen, but it's basically a help yourself kitchen so just grab you want." Olivia smiled as she looked over to Mark who was pulling on a plain black t-shirt.
"Mom, I am just going to throw on some pants here and we will be down."
"Okay, well I will see you guys down there," she said smiling before turning and leaving the room. Olivia turned around and began making the bed as Mark finished getting dressed. There was a moment of silence before Mark zipped up the top of his bag.
"Olivia, my mom has cancer," Mark said plainly as he turned to face Olivia who was placing the pillow up against the headboard. She looked up at Mark, his demeanor had changed, and there was sadness in his voice, which was acceptable considering the circumstances. "She told me yesterday, when I left to go upstairs and find her. This is my last Christmas with my mom." Olivia felt her eyes begin to water slightly, but did everything in her power to hide it so that he knew that she was there for him during this hard time. "I just thought that you should know what's up."
"Mark, I'm-I don't even know what to say. I'm just so incredibly sorry." She walked toward him, sympathy in her voice. She wrapped her arms around Mark's neck and embraced him tight. She felt his chin rest lightly on the side of her temple as his arms wrapped around her waist. "I'm here for you, no matter what happens okay," she said softly.
"Thank you," he said releasing her. "I love you so much right now like I don't even think that you know." She smiled lightly before standing up and kissing him lightly. "I'm going to go downstairs."
"Okay. Let me make up my face a little bit and I will be down," she said.
Mark kissed her on the cheek before walking out of the room. Ten minutes later Olivia walked out of the bathroom and downstairs. The young kids were all seated in the middle of the floor practically buried in all of the different colored wrapping paper. Olivia walked into the kitchen to find Eric standing over the stove.
"Good morning Miss Benson," Eric said as Olivia walked into the kitchen. "Merry Christmas."
"Merry Christmas to you," Olivia said smiling.
"Can I get you anything? Eggs? Pancakes? Waffles? Rack of Lamb?" he asked sarcastically. Olivia laughed as she shook her head.
"I'm good. I was actually just going to bother you for a cup of coffee," she said.
"No bother at all, but considering I am like buried in grease here, how do you feel about getting it yourself?" he asked nodding to the coffee pot on the counter.
"Oh I don't mind at all," she said walking over to the counter. "Thank you again for having me. I'm not used to doing the whole family, Christmas thing," she told him as she poured coffee into a mug.
"Olivia, you are welcome whenever. Ruth and I love seeing our son and since you are the primary reason for his happiness, you are absolutely more than welcome," he said looking up from the stove. Olivia smiled as she placed the coffee pot back on the holder.
"Thank you," she said as she walked into the living room.
Olivia walked into the squad room in the early afternoon, the day after Christmas to find Elliot coming through the side doors with Fin.
"Hey," Olivia said walking toward her desk.
"Hey, how was Christmas with the parents?" Elliot asked as he draped his jacket on the back of his chair.
"Good," Olivia said smiling. "How was uh, Christmas in the Stabler household?"
"Let's just say I have wrapping paper coming out of my ears," he said smiling. Olivia laughed lightly as she opened the top drawer of her desk and pulled out a red envelope.
"Merry Christmas," she said standing up and reaching over the desks, handing him the card. Elliot ripped opening the envelope and pulled out the card. After reading the front, he opened the card to find a 75 gift card to one of Elliot's favorite restaurants in Queens. "I figured you and Kathy could get out for a night."
"Nice. Thanks Liv," he said. Olivia smiled before walking over to the coffee station.
Two hours later Elliot and Olivia climbed out of the squad car after pulling up to a taped off crime scene that was swarming with CSU technicians and uniformed officers. They ducked under the crime scene tape and were soon greeted by another cop.
"You two from Special Victims?" he asked walking up to them.
"Detective Benson," Olivia said holding up her badge. "My partner Detective Stabler," she added motioning to Elliot.
"Body was found in the dumpster in the alley around eight this morning when the garbage collector came around," the officer said leading them to the alley. "M.E. is examining the body now." Elliot and Olivia walked away from the officer and into the alley.
"Morning," Warner said looking over her shoulder. "I know your case load is heavy detectives but this one is definitely yours. Meet Allison Voschel," she said handing Elliot the victims driver's license in an evidence bag. Elliot and Olivia both squatted down beside Warner. Bruises and abrasions covered the victim's body, but the most apparent wound was seen on her temple just to the upper right of her eye. "Body temp measurements and rigor puts time of death late last night early this morning. There's not gravel or dirt on the front of the body so she wasn't killed here. Heavy bruising on her thighs with apparent semen so I'll run the rape kit.," Warner told them.
"Any idea what she was hit with?" Elliot asked.
"Not sure, but whatever it was it was likely what killed her, knocking her unconscious and causing her to bleed out. I'll know more after autopsy," she replied.
"Alright. We'll check out the residence and get John and Fin down here to canvas," Elliot said standing up. Olivia nodded good bye to Warner before following Elliot out of the alley.
Four hours later, Elliot, Olivia, John, Fin and Cragen stood in the squad room and discussed their newest case. Olivia sat on the surface of her desk, her feet resting on the chair while her colleagues stood around the LCD display board.
"Victim's name, is Allison Voschel, 18 lived with her parents and was a senior at Hanover Day School. Killed sometime last night between the hours of eleven and one. Body was dumped in the dumpster of an alley off of Lexington," Elliot said.
"Body shows signs of physical abuse prior to her murder, which, according to Warner's preliminary autopsy reports, was caused by a fatal blow to her head. No weapon matching the wound pattern or with the victims blood on it was found on the scene," Olivia added before picking up her ringing desk phone.
"We talked to her parents, who can't think of anyone that their daughter had a problem with at school. Her biological father died when Allison was eight, and two years later her mother married Edward Morrison. As of right now, they are legally separated but he came to Mrs. Voschel's home to talk to us. Allson was a straight A student, president of the debate team, varsity swimmer on the swim team, she did it all," Elliot said.
"What about a boyfriend?" Cragen asked.
"If she had one, her parents didn't know about him," Elliot said.
"Whenever Olivia is off of the phone, go and talk to the principal at Hanover Day. Find out if there were any scuffles between classmates that the Voschel's don't know about," Cragen ordered. "John. Fin. Head over to CSU and light a fire under their asses. It's been hours since the body was found, they have to have something." Just as Cragen finished, Olivia placed her phone back on the receiver.
"That was Warner. She wants to see us in her office ASAP," Olivia sat sliding off of the desk and putting on her jacket. Elliot walked around the desks and grabbed his jacket before following Olivia out of the squad room.