Hi guys! I am SO sorry it's taken this long to update this! I have been in the process of moving into my own place...watching season 14s finale was not a great idea on my first night on my own in this house, every time I entered a different room I expected 'Welcome home detective' 0_0 scary stuff! But I'm back and I do have a few chapter pre written so hopefully I can catch up and stop you guys hating me for making you wait...please? :) ha okay here goes, enjoy

x C

The two Bensons sat quietly in an uptown coffee shop, Olivia just taking in everything about Danielle and Danielle with her head dipped a little; still reeling from the death of her flatmate.

Since that day just under a week ago when they first spoke, the teenager had come to see her birth mother at every given opportunity. Cragen was being extremely lenient with her over the past few days; letting her out of the office whenever Danielle decided to turn up unannounced, which was now becoming a daily occurrence. Although the girl had undoubtedly become attached to the women that only a week ago she had found out was her mother, Danielle rarely said much when with her. Liv had expected as much though with current circumstances; the teen had had a lot to take in! They both found each others company soothing regardless and for now that was enough. However there was one thing that had been playing on the detectives mind; Danielles foster parents.

"How do your parents feel about you seeing me?" she questioned outright, the 18 year olds head twitched up as if it was a shock being asked that, but she soon looked back down to her hands.

"It doesn't matter what they think, I'm an adult" she told her matter-of-factly but with a hint of a grudge. Olivias eyebrows furrowed and her head tilted a little in an attempt at reading the girls expression.

"Do you not get along with them?" she asked softly, Danielle pursed her lips. Olivia was right; that was a grudge!

"We don't really talk any more, they were okay while they had me" she began as she picked at the edges of her nails, nervous. "then I moved out and I guess they didn't like that I could take care of myself."

"I'm sure that's not true" she commented, trying to make her daughter feel better , but with no avail. Danielle tutted and shook her head.

"You ever tried living with a control freak who only ever thinks something's a good idea when it was her that thought it up?"

Liv raised an eyebrow...she could relate.

"My mother was a raging alcoholic and resented me every single day that I was living with her" she informed her. The teen looked taken aback, shocked.

"I'm sorry" was all she muttered before the space between them became silent again.

"Have you tried to take to them?" she pushed, not wanting to feel like she was turning her daughter against the people who were kind enough to bring her up by meeting her in the first place.

"I've tried talking, I've tried screaming, I gave up about 6 months ago." she said sadly "They don't care about me, I don't care about them."

She wouldn't press any further on the matter, Liv didn't think it would help things in the slightest; at least she had tried.

"We've got a sighting from 15th through 18th the evening of Louise's death. A man said to be in his early 20s looking shifty and following a young girl for around 3 blocks. A woman says she would recognise him in a line up, lets get some CCTV and find him" Fin announced to the rest of the team. They jumped to it pretty sharpish all leaving in twos in different directions.

"Liv" Cragen spoke sternly before she had the chance to walk out of the precinct with Elliot. She swivelled on her heel to be facing him.

"Captain" she reported reluctantly, knowing he would be watching her closely during this case and for a while afterwards.

"Are you sure you a ready to carry on in this case? I can put Fin and John on it if needed?" he offered, at least he was offering and not insisting. Liv took a quick glance at a photo of Danielle which had been taken down from the board almost immediately and placed on her desk.

"I'm gonna be fine Captain" she assured him with a half smile and followed her partner out of the squad room.

"Okay so 4 men fit the description that the witness gave us, they're on their way in. We've got Mark Geovana; 24, Gregory Harris; 22, Ryan Stevenson; 20 and Lukus Raymont; 25." Munch pointed to each photo stuck to the board as he spoke, the teams reaction was almost simultaneous as the last name was said.

"Lukus Raymont...any relation to our vic?" Elliot spoke up, but Fin cut in before any suspicion could arise.

"Different family; we checked that straight off" he confirmed, the room became silent for just a moment then Liv stood to her feet.

"Right, well they're here..." she spoke with authority, hands on hips and ready to shoot out of the room. "Let's question them"

It took over 3 hours to question the first 3 men, all going in the same bland way; 'where were you on the night of the murder', 'do you know this girl' etc etc and none of the interviews went anywhere interesting. It had been over a week now since Louise Raymont was murdered and it felt like they would never solve this! It usually took days, hardly ever this long, but no one would speak up. No one seemed to care! Until they got to their last guy, the team had thought about thinning the investigation down, left too long and it could turn cold. None of them wanted that.

"Gregory Harris?" Liv asked as she entered the questioning room. The young man nodded but said nothing. "You know a Louise Raymont?" she added, he shook his head, defiantly.

Elliot pulled out a photo of the victims pale, lifeless face and thrust it in front of Gregory.

"Maybe this will jog your memory...you know her?" he almost demanded, getting impatient of all of this questioning coming to nothing. To their surprise the 22 year olds eyes widened momentarily, then he regained his 'hard man' composure. Both had noticed though and gave one another a hopeful glance.

"You seem shocked, you recognise her?" Liv pressed firmly, again he shook his head. "Not much of a talker are we Greg...can I call you you Greg?" she asked in a mocking tone.

"Haven't got a lot to say" he replied and for a second Olivia could have sworn he gave her a smutty smile, she retorted and stepped back letting Elliot carry on.

"Where were you last friday night?"

Gregory licked his lips in and sat up straight in his seat, feeling confident.

"I was with my girlfriend all night" he told them and for a moment the detectives exchanged glares once more, feeling like they had lost again. Then the young man let out a little laugh and Livs face flicked back to him sternly.

"Something funny?"

"No not at all, it's just...I don't get why you're asking me. I was with her all night...ask her, she'll tell you" he said, that horrid smile still plastered over his lips.

"Okay, we will. What's her name?" Elliot asked, wanting to show him who was boss.

"Danielle Benson"