A/N: Once again, apologies for the delay in uploading the next chapter. The story gets darker from here, and deals with a child abuse theme. Honestly, I debated about going down this path (introducing a case etc), but it's what the muse wanted. And what the muse wants, the muse must get! As always, I hope it's a good read and thank you for past and future reviews; hugely appreciated!!
Disclaimer: Sent my letter to Santa today, requesting ownership..... *fingers crossed*......
Chapter 3
Alex moved to collect the empty glasses but was prevented from doing so by Olivia's hand on her shoulder, "Stay."
Alex turned her head and smiled before sitting back on the couch and snuggling into Olivia, their fingers intertwining as they enjoyed the closeness. After a few moments of sitting in silence and listening to each other breathe, Olivia gently released her left hand and brought it upto Alex's face, gently brushing a stray hair aside and allowing her brown eyes to meet the cool blue. Slowly they moved towards eachother and their lips met. At first the kiss was soft and hesitant, little more than a peck but it soon became something else, a war was waging between their lips and tongues and several moans of pleasure escaped from each woman as the intensity grew. As the kiss grew deeper, hands began exploring bodies and just as Alex began unbuttoning Olivia's shirt their passion was interrupted by a low vibrating sound followed by a ringing.
"Dammit," Olivia said, breaking away and scrambling for her cellphone, "Sorry," She apologized before hitting the TALK button.
"It's okay," Alex assured her, taking a breath and sitting back against the arm of the sofa.
"Benson," Olivia said, hoping she didn't sound too out of breath.
"Liv? You okay? You sound out of breath," The voice on the other end of the line said.
Olivia thought fast, "Just got back from a run, El. What's up?"
"It's almost midnight?" Elliot prodded, "Are you sure you're okay?"
Olivia grinned over at Alex, "I'm okay, Elliot. But I repeat, what's up?"
"Okay. We've got a case," Elliot said, "Seven year old girl abused by her mom and step-dad."
Olivia's grin disappeared, "Where?" Alex cocked her head to one side when Olivia's expression fell. Balancing the phone between her ear and shoulder Olivia reached for her notepad and Alex handed her a pen, so she could take down the address, "I'll be there in ten," Olivia hung up and looked sadly over at the attorney.
"Got a case?" Alex queried, getting up from the sofa and heading to grab Olivia's coat.
Olivia nodded, "Seven year old abuse victim," She replied sadly, following Alex and allowing herself to be helped into her coat. Alex gently ran her fingers through Olivia's touseled hair and kissed her softly on the lips, "Need me to come?"
Olivia shook her head, "I think that would raise a few questions that I'm not ready to answer yet....." She stopped herself, hoping that Alex didn't take any of that the wrong way. She was fortunate and Alex seemed to understand what she was saying and responded with a nod, "Anyway, you'll probably get a-" She was interrupted by the ring of Alex's phone, "...Call too."
"Cabot," Alex answered, "Uh huh. Yes, sir. I will be there right away," She pressed END and pocketed her BlackBerry, reaching for her own coat she commented, "Looks like our night isn't over, Detective."
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Catching seperate taxis, Olivia arrived first due to a lucky run of green lights. Almost as soon as she exited the vehicle, she spotted paramedics rushing a gurney toward the waiting ambulance. Her heart sank when she saw the tiny body under the sheets, the little girl's face covered by an oxygen mask. She held up her badge to one of the paramedics, "I'm with Special Victims, which hopsital are you taking her to?"
"Mercy," The woman replied, lifiting the back of the bed into the van and closing the doors.
"Will she be okay?" Olivia asked.
The officer shrugged, "I hope so, Detective, but she's beat up pretty badly."
Olivia frowned before thanking the ambulance officer and heading to the stairs of the apartment building.
"Benson, Special Victims," She flashed her badge again, this time to the uniformed officer standing guard.
"Third floor, ma'am," The young man said.
"Thank you," She replied, heading into the foyer and up the stairs. As she turned the corner on the third floor landing there was no mistaking which apartment she was headed for. As soon as she approached the doorway, the stench hit her. The stench of stale cigarettes, alcohol and body odour engrossed her senses and she fought the urge to gag. She saw Fin holding onto a woman that was thrashing about.
"Calm down, lady," Fin said, tightening his grip on her arm and glad that she was cuffed.
"She deserved it! Little bitch!" The woman screamed.
Elliot stood directly in front of her, "Lady, nothing a seven year old can do warrants what he did to her," The words were mild but the tone was seething with disgust for the disheveled woman before him, "Take her out of here," Elliot instructed and Fin nodded, shoving her roughly toward the door.
"Let's go," He almost growled.
"Get your hands off of me!" The woman said, then she spotted Olivia, "You, tell this asshole to let go of me! I didn't do nothin'. The bitch deserved it!"
Fin shook his head at Olivia who was still trying to understand what had happened, "I'll see you down at the precinct," Was all he said before leaving the apartment. Olivia made her way toward Elliot.
"Hey, Liv. You missed all the excitement," He said, his tone completely void of humor.
"What the Hell happened?"
Elliot sighed, "Lydia Meldin, who you just met," He nodded toward the doorway where they could still hear the woman's ranting, "And her fiance, Bryan Dorsett got into an argument, something the neighbors say is a regular thing, Lydia's seven year old daughter, Sara wanted it to stop so she put her hand on Bryan's mouth when he hit her, sending her flying through the glass door to the hall," Elliot pointed to the broken glass door, where some shards obviously had blood still on them.
"Oh, God," Olivia said, feeling sick. After all her years working SVU, she thought she would be used to it but every case still affected her. Some more than others and this was one of the more. Huang told her it was a good thing, as awful as she felt it meant that she was still feeling for the victims and hadn't become jaded, when you stop feeling, Olivia, it's time to quit he had told her on several occasions.
Elliot shook his head, " And that's not the worst of it,"Olivia looked at him, "You heard Lydia. She's on HIS side. Claims the kid deserved everything she got."
"How could a mother do that?" Olivia didn't want to believe it, but she knew all to well how possible it was.
Elliot just shrugged, "I'll never understand it."
"Where's Bryan now?"
"Munch already hauled his drunk ass down to the station," Elliot replied, "Where we should head, there's not much more we need from the scene that CSU can't get. You ready to head down?" Olivia nodded, she wanted to hear direct from the scum the reason why her seven year old daughter deserved to be shoved through a glass pane.
As the detectives were heading down the stairs they ran into Alex.
"Alex," Olivia said, hoping her tone was neutral.
"Alex," Elliot said with a nod.
"Detectives," Alex greeted them both, "What have we got?"
Elliot answered, "Seven year old girl in the hospital after being thrown through a glass door by her mom's fiance," Alex's expression paled, he continued, "And to top it off, according to mom, the girl deserved it."
Alex shook her head, "And just when you think you can't be shocked anymore..."
Elliot nodded, "I know. We're heading back to interview the mother, you wanna ride with us, Counselor?"
Alex glanced at Olivia who nodded, "Thanks, Elliot. Saves me getting another taxi."
The silent communication between his partner and their ADA, along with a slight change in Olivia's breathing when the blonde came up the stairs did not go unnoticed by Elliot but he said nothing. Now wasn't the time but he was definitely curious.