A/N: Two new chapters in one night, woo! Originally this one and the previous were one really long one but I felt they would be better split up... anyway, I hope you like it. Reviews are sweet!!

*Once again, darker content dealing with child abuse*

Disclaimer: Yeah, still not mine. Yet..... *holds out hope*

Chapter 4

The ride to the precinct was fairly uneventful, the only conversation was Elliot filling the women in on what happened before they arrived, by the end of the trip both women were even more disgusted as more sordid details of little Sara's short life were shared.

When they walked in, they saw Munch and Fin sitting at their desks, Munch on the phone and Fin filling in some paperwork.

"What's up?" Elliot asked.

"Scumbag lawyered up," Fin answered, "And you know Legal Aid wont be here 'til morning so we can't touch him 'til then," He shrugged, "But Mom waived her rights so she's all yours," Fin waved his hand toward the hall that led to the interrogation rooms.

Olivia hung up her coat before following Elliot into Interrogation 1. Alex stood with Cragen and watched via the one way mirror.

"I told you, that little bitch deserved it! She got what was coming to her," Lydia spat out in response to Olivia asking her what had happened.

Elliot leant on the wall next to the window, arms across his chest letting his partner ask the questions. Olivia sat opposite Lydia, eyes flashing with rage but she managed to control herself. Mostly.

"What can a seven year old girl, weighing less than forty five pounds possibly do to deserve a beating from a man weighing over a hundred and fifty pounds? What could she have possibly done to deserve to be laying in a hospital bed with life threatening injuries?"

Lydia leant forward across the table, "She was born filthy. She deserves nothing less."

Olivia blinked, " How can you say that about your own child?" Elliot took a step toward his partner.

Lydia sighed in an over-dramatic way before answering, "She's a bastard child, I should never have allowed her to grow in me."

Olivia cocked her head to one side, Elliot put a hand on her shoulder.

"So you and Bryan weren't married. It's the twentieth centruy, lady. Having a child out of wedlock isn't the sin it once was," Elliot said, hoping that's all it was. Hoping she wasn't going to say what he thought she was about to. He was out of luck.

"That girl," Lydia seethed, "Is NOT Bryan's blood. I was raped and she was the consequence," The word she was almost spat from the woman's mouth.

Olivia stood up and shook Elliot's hand from her shoulder before walking over to stand well inside Lydia Meldin's personal space, she ignored Elliot calling her name and confronted the woman, "She has a name. That you gave her. And she is a little girl who needs to be loved and cared for, regardless of how she was conceived. And I will guarantee here and now that she will get that love she deserves and you, you will get life in prison. If you're lucky," The words came out as a growl, deep and threatening but the pain and emotion behind them were unmistakable. Olivia straightened up and turned to face a concerned Elliot, "I'm gonna take a break," She said before heading out of the room.

Lydia just blinked and looked at Elliot, "Did she just threaten me? Did that bitch just threaten me?"

Elliot shook his head, "No, ma'am. She just predicted your future," With that he followed his partner.

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Behind the glass, Cragen and Alex watched the whole thing unfold and the Captain couldn't help but notice the ADA holding her breath when it became clear where the conversation was heading. He couldn't be sure but he also thought he heard her muttering "nodon'tsayitdon'tsayit" under her breath.

"Everything okay, Counselor?" He questioned, gently.

A little startled, Alex quickly regrouped, "Yeah. It's just, it's a tough one, Don. How can someone say that about their own child?" That wasn't a lie. She really didn't understand it.

Neither did Cragen, "I don't know, Alex. Are you sure you want this case? You've just come back and - "

Alex cut him off, "I want it. I am going to do everything in my power to get these oxygen theives put away for a very, very long time," Her gaze was rock solid and he knew she would keep her word.

"Glad to have you back, Alex," Then he noticed her gaze change, growing concerned, as Olivia left the room on the other side of the window, "Go on. She could do with a friend."

Not sure what to think, Alex just nodded and left the room to find Olivia.

---------------------------------------------------

Walking down the hall, Alex saw Elliot leaning against the wall just outside the door to the ladies' bathroom.

"Liv in there?" Alex asked.

Elliot nodded.

"She okay?"

Elliot shrugged, "This one's a bit personal for her."

Alex nodded sadly, she knew how Olivia was conceived but she didn't know much more than that.

"You should go in, make sure she's alright," Elliot said, his concern for his partner obvious.

Alex nodded again and took a breath before slowly opening the door, "Liv? It's me."

She spotted Olivia in front of a basin, the faucet running and the Detective was splashing water onto her face, "Hey," She said softly, not sure what she should do next. Olivia turned off the water and faced her.

"Sorry. It's just..." Olivia searched for the right words, "A little, um, close to home, y'know?"

Alex nodded, "Of course. Anything I can do?" She took a couple of steps toward Olivia. Olivia shook her head before allowing herself to fall into Alex's embrace. She whispered into her ear, "Just make sure that bitch and her fiance get what's coming to them."

"I will, Liv. I promise," Alex soothed, running her fingers over Olivia's hair.

"One more thing?" Olivia looked into her eyes, "Don't let Sara be one of the kids who get lost in the system. Get her into a good family, the family she deserves." Olivia almost pleaded with the attorney.

"I will," Alex repeated. And she meant it. She held Olivia for a few more moments before they were interrupted by a rap on the door. Olivia pulled away and wiped her eyes.

"Everything alright in there, Liv?" Elliot's voiced sifted through the wooden barrier.

"Yeah, I'm good now," Olivia answered, spashing her face once more before smiling a grateful smile at Alex and exiting the bathroom. She was confronted by Cragen and Elliot.

"Is this case going to be too difficult for you, Olivia?" Cragen asked.

Olivia shook her head, "No, Captain."

"Good to hear," her boss said before leading everyone away from the bathrooms and heading to his office.

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Back in the squadroom, Olivia and Elliot sat at their respective desks and Alex leant against Olivia's.

"I'm going to call the hospital, see how Sara's doing," Olivia announced lifting the receiver. Alex and Elliot nodded their approval.

"Hello, yes this is Detective Benson calling from Special Victims. Yes, I'm calling about a seven year old girl brought in approximately two hours ago, Sara Meldin," Olivia paused, listening, "Okay, but she's stable? Yes. Do you think she will be able to talk tomorrow? Okay, thank you Dr Peterson, I will come by in the morning," She hung up and sighed.

"How's she doing?" Elliot asked. By now Munch and Fin were also listening from across the aisle.

Olivia frowned, "Dr Peterson says she's stable but heavily sedated. Three broken ribs, some internal bleeding and they had to remove a kidney, plus all the cuts from the glass," Her voice cracked ever so slightly, "But he expects her to have a full recovery. Eventually."

Elliot just shook his head silently. Alex stood up, "They are not going to get away with this, no way in Hell. And," Alex looked at Olivia, "Sara is going to get the life she deserves," she stated.

Before anyone could say anything else, Cragen stepped out if his office, coat and hat on, "It's after two am, guys. Nothing more we can do tonight and we've got both suspects in custody so I strongly urge you all to go home and get some sleep," Nobody was about to argue and everyone collected their things and made their way out of the building.

Standing on the sidewalk infront of the precinct, Fin sighed and turned to Munch, "Don't waste your breath. I'll drive you home," He said with a frustrated shake of the head, "Liv, Alex? Need a ride?" He offered, knowing Elliot had his own car parked around the corner.

Alex shook her head, "Thanks, Fin but I'll get a cab," As if to prove her point, she hailed one almost as she spoke. Saying goodnight the blonde attorney slid into the yellow vehicle and gave the driver instructions.

Olivia shook her head and shoved her hands into her pockets, "I'm gonna walk. Could do with the fresh air," She announced. Concerned, both Elliot and Fin looked at her and both went to protest but she cut them off, "I appreciate the concern, really but I walk home most nights, you guys know that," She offered a small smile, "And really, I need to get out and breathe for a bit." The guys both nodded, knowing there was little point in trying to force her. Soon everyone was going their seperate ways and Olivia was walking alone, her mind going over recent events. Her mind raced with thoughts of the little girl, her awful mother, before drifting to her own complications and finally, settled on thoughts of Alex. She was a little confused, why had Alex left so suddenly? She didn't even try to talk her into sharing a cab with her or going out for yet another coffee or..... her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a bright light coming up behind her and the sound of a car slowing down. Reaching slowly for her handgun, she turned around.

"You know it's not safe to be walking alone at night, Olivia," The smooth voice said as the door opened.

"Alex, you scared the shit out of me. Forget something?"

Alex scooted to the far side of the backseat and patted the leather beside her, "You."

Olivia shook her head, but slipped into the cab anyway. When the car was moving, she faced Alex in the dark, "I turned the guys down for a ride, so why am I in here?"

"Because you can't resist me," Alex said, a little playfully.

Olivia shook her head once more, "I'm not going to be very good company tonight, Alex," She warned.

"I know, Olivia, that's why you're coming home with me."

Olivia cocked her head to the side, "Not sure I understand?"

"You shouldn't be alone tonight, Liv. This has hit you hard and it's not fair--"

"I'm always alone," Olivia interrupted, somewhat sadly, "And I deal."

Alex reached out for Olivia's hand and held it, "You shouldn't have to. And before you try and protest, I'm not expecting anything from you Olivia, Hell, you don't even have to look at me, but I will not let you be alone tonight," her tone was firm and Olivia knew there was no escape. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

"Thank you," Was all she said and the rest of the trip to Alex's apartment was done in silence.