Love, she thought Nick had actually used the word Love when referring to her. Amanda laid in her bed quietly looking at her bedroom ceiling. Her brother was staying in her guestroom.
Amanda couldn't think straight, she trusted Nick but for some reason she was furious with him. A part of her even if it was just a small part was scared. What if Kim was telling the truth? What if Nick had really sleet with her, what if the baby, her niece or nephew was his? How could she ever look at Nick again?
"wait, what? Amanda get a hold of yourself" she thought to herself "whatever you thought was happening with Nick was probably not so, like he said he only considers you a friend, he probably meant love as in friend love"
"Ugh, how could I been so stupid?" she said to herself as she tried hard to go to sleep but her mind wouldn't let her
She thought of how he stood up for her in some cases when nobody believed her. She thought of how he defended her from that loser Nate and how he worried for her when they got out of work late so he would walk her home. How he hugged her and made her feel better when everything happened with Kim. She had to admit it was tough working with him at the beginning how they argued, how she didn't want him in her life but she had gotten used to him being overprotective of her. Once they got through all that there were times she was sure he liked her or times where she thought they almost kissed and now all that was gone and it made her sad.
That night she dreamt of his smile, the way he looked at her, the way only he could make her laugh.
"Morning sis" came a voice from her hallway
"Morning Jo" she answered
"I'm gonna shower I'm planning on meeting a friend, and after going to talk to mom about Kim"
"yeah, you think that's a good idea?"
"yeah, you know I have to, someone's gotta knock some sense into her, Kim is playing her, just like she played you and everybody around her"
"alright I'm gonna get ready for work too"
"hey sis don't stress about it anymore, it is what it is….and about that guy you work with…hear him out cause I truly doubt what Kim says"
"what guy?" she says innocently
"don't act dumb, I know you lil sis" he says laughing as he walks into the bathroom
He was right she thought there's no real reason to be mad at Nick. We don't even have the DNA results yet. She needed to be mature about the whole situation because if for some reason the DNA did somehow come back positive, obviously Nick would be in their lives forever and on top of that she had to work with him.
At SVU
Amanda was sitting at her desk. Nick was at his. He didn't know what to say to her or even how to approach her. He didn't want to upset her more so for the meantime he stayed away from her.
A man came rushing in.
"I need to speak to Amanda Rollins" he shouted
His eyes were red and he was erratic.
"Amanda Rollins!" he shouted again
"Ok sir calm down, what can I do for you?"
Nick came up behind her out of habit to protect her. Amanda felt him behind her and her stomach did a little flip to know he still cared.
Olivia also came out to the commotion and put herself in a defensive position.
"Like my detective said, what can we do for you?" she said
"you locked my girl" he said as he fell down on his knees "why?" he started to weep he was obviously on drugs
"I'm sorry who?" said Amanda
He handed her a crumbled picture, it was Kim.
"Oh, Kim, how do you know her?"
"that's my girl man"
"oh"
"damn she said you were a Bitch but why you gotta lock her up"
"she commited a crime"
"watch your mouth" interrupted Nick as he started rolling up his sleeve
"Nick it's fine" she placed her hand on top of his to calm him down
"Look I don't know what you want from us but Kim is at Rikers if you want to see her go there" said Olivia
"What about my baby?, what's going to happen to her?"
"wait your baby?" said Nick
"Yeah, cause it's obviously not yours" came in Melinda with a folder in her hand
Amanda sighted in relief
"Ok so you're the father, what's your name?"
"yeah, man my name is Corey and I want to see Kim"
"Look all we can do is tell you where she is and that's she's probably going to be there a while, if you want to see your child, I suggest you call this number" Olivia handed him a card "you need to get cleaned up before the baby arrives"
"aww man come on" he gets up to walk out "danm you guys are cold"
"Great my sister really has great taste in man, I hadn't even thought about the poor kid, if Kim is found guilty where is that baby going to go?"
"well, there's your mom" said Olivia
"There's no way in hell, I would let my mother raise Kim's baby"
"well there's also….you"
"I don't know I mean I would love too but I don't know if I'm ready to be a full time mom"
"well there's still time, Kim's trial isn't for a few weeks, so let's not get ahead of ourselves" said Olivia "Everyone back to work"
Amanda looks over at Nick who quietly walked over to his desk. She follows him and stands next to his desk.
"I'm sorry"
"uhuh"
"Come on, Nick, don't make me beg"
He made a silly smile.
"why didn't you believe me?"
"I did believe you, I just was confused about everything and I'm sorry"
He stands up and hugs her. "You have to know I would never do anything like that to you…..Look at me" he lifted her chin up and looked into her eyes while he still held her by the waist with one arm "I would never hurt you"
"I know" she smiled
Olivia and Fin who were watching smiled at the exchange.
"you two lovebirds done" said Olivia
Amanda and Nick backed away from each other. Amanda looked down as her face turned red. She felt shy about being so affectionate towards Nick in front of her coworkers. She didn't want them to know she had feelings for him. Even though something told her they probably did think that.
"Amanda step into my office" Olivia said laughing
"yeah, Boss" she answered also laughing
In Olivia's office
"what's up Liv?"
"I talked to Barba today, he said to let you know to be prepared to testify"
Amanda's expression changed her smile faded
"I know it will be hard to go against your sister, but you're a key piece to the whole ordeal"
"I know" tears began to fill her eyes
"Amanda, we're all here for you, your partner Fin, obviously Nick and myself"
Amanda blushesd at the mention of Nick
Olivia noticed.
"I don't know what's going on with Nick but it's obvious you both care for each other"
"Liv…."Amanda started
"Amanda I'm talking to you as a friend and I'm not here to judge or question or interrogate you…..I have no problem if you are in are in a relationship"
"we are definitely not in a relationship" laughed Amanda
"well he certainly looks like he wants to be" Olivia laughed "he's been divorced for a while now it's time he starts moving on, and to be honest he needs to get out more I can't seem to get him out off his desk" she laughed
Amanda laughed too
"we're just friends…..I meant that's how he sees me you know"
"do you have feelings for him?"
Amanda hesitates "I don't know I mean I've thought about it but come on we're too different"
"Amanda don't let fear stop you, believe me I know what I'm talking about, give him a chance, you never know he might just be the one" she walked over behind her desk
Amanda thought about it. Maybe Olivia was right maybe Nick was the one.
"Thank you Liv"
"No problem" she smiled "close the door when you leave"
Amanda walked out. She looked over at Nick who had looked up at her.
"Don't let fear stop you" she whispered to herself