Cragen would give Amanda and Fin two days to really dwell into it all and it would turn out to be all they needed. Amanda managed to intercept a conversation about a shipment who was coming to New York within a few days. They used the term 'los ganados' which apparently meant cattle but they had also talked about niños that even Amanda knew meant children. Cragen decided they had to intervene before these kids got to any potential customers and the entire squad got involved. They learnt that the men had bought a few properties all over town. It looked like they were setting up shops around that would front their dirty business. One of these properties were a bar that they seemed to pay extra attention and money on to restoring. According to the ground plans the bar had a huge underground storage area that could be used for their shady business. The aim was to close this one down before it even got started. Amanda had saved all the screen names and ip addresses from the website and would hand it over to the Child pornography media room once they were down. Maybe they would be able to locate some of the children exploited on the site and hopefully track some of the pedophiles down. They would focus on the children that might be coming to their town soon.
A new intercepted conversation let them know the shipment was arriving in two days. They had a date. They still wasn't sure exactly what the shipment would exist of but Cragen decided they had to be there and he called in SWAT. Dana had warned them these men were deadly so they were in need of help to bring them down and get the shipment in safety. They met with the SWAT team leader and went over the ground plans with him. They had two possible routes for the truck to arrive. They were hoping for no gunfire at the front of the building since there was a potential risk for civilians to get hit then. If they arrived from the back, which was more logical cause that's where the shipping dock was at, it would be safer for everyone involved. There was a large empty lot behind the building and low buildings around where they could put snipers. They had eyes on the building for the next two days. Keeping track on everyone going in and out. Acuzio Vega and Victor Garza were spotted at the sight the day before the shipment was arriving. They seemed to be housed at the location which told them there were rooms probably furnished either on the ground floor or more possibly in the basement where they planned to keep the kids.
Amanda was feeling the anticipation building up and had spent the two last nights at Fin's place. He was good at curing most anything she felt and he didn't disappoint this time either. They had a steady breakfast at a place near the station and then headed in. Olivia and Nick looked as controlled as Amanda felt and there was obvious tension in the squad room this morning. The shipment was arriving around noon so they still had time to go over the plan one more time. The SWAT team would take the lead. The SVU team would hold back. They would be on the ground, behind the first wave of SWAT. Some abandon cars would work well as cover, both from sight and bullets if it came to that. The headed over there with hours to spare just in case and the building they were set up in nearby were buzzing already when they got there. They checked in with the team leader and everything was set. They had eyes all around the neighborhood and Vega and Garza had been spotted along with another unknown Hispanic male. Vega had been spotted having a cigarette at the back of the building. He had a rifle on his back so it looked as though they were gearing up for something.
They took their positions with plenty of time to spare. Fin, Amanda, Olivia and Nick were all dressed in vests and heavily armed. All of them were hunched down by a car. They were all plugged into the SWAT teams channel and heard everything that was said. Another male - white, average built - arrived by car a quarter to twelve at the front of the building and disappeared inside. Not soon after he came out at the back with Vega and the unknown Hispanic as company. They assumed Garza was still inside. They were all armed and seemed to be waiting for something or someone. Vega lit another cigarette just as one of the SWAT team's outlooks informed the team that a white van was spotted further down the street. An older Chevrolet box truck, three men in the front, roll up rear door, "Devon Moving Company" on a sticker on the side. They all knew this could be just a regular moving truck but something told Amanda that this was it. This was what they were waiting for. The suspense was getting to her. She felt Fin's hand on her padded shoulder and turned to him. He was looking away though but his touch made her calm down a bit.
"It's turning. Package has arrived," came the voice over the intercom. The white van soon came into their sights. It didn't drive right up to building though but parked sloppy on the empty lot. The men jumped out and Vargas and Herrera were indentified quickly. They didn't seem armed. The men greeted each other and headed inside.
"Scotty. Terrance. See if you can reach the van," came the SWAT leader's voice over the intercom. Amanda who had the spot furthers out turned to see the two men coming through the alley and approaching the van. It was parked a little to the side but if they went for the back door they would be spotted if someone looked out from the building. She saw them check the front but apparently there was no door to the back from there because the man jumped out again quickly. Amanda saw him signal the team leader. She knew priority one was to get those kids out of there unharmed and if they could get them out of the there right now it would be the best.
"Stand by. Fingers on triggers," was heard over the intercom just before one of the men went around the van to the back door. Amanda held her breath as the man struggle with the handle. It seemed to be unlocked but still stuck. It made a sound when it finally open and everyone had their eyes on the building waiting for gunfire. Nothing happen though as the SWAT member rolled up the door. Amanda saw only brown moving boxes but it didn't take long until a child was spotted. She arrived from behind a row of boxes, tried to block the light from outside with her hand. She was no more than ten years old, long dark hair, filthy clothes. Even if it was awful to get confirmation they were smuggling kids in it still gave Amanda a sense of relief. This hadn't been for nothing. They were making a different here today.
Behind the girl another face popped up, and then a third. Thankfully the children remained quiet. He helped them out one by one and handed them over to his SWAT team member who was waiting to the side of the van. Emaciated children were soon standing in the yard. Most barefoot, ages from ten down to only five, all Hispanic looking, both male and female. Amanda felt a sense of even more relief as she saw another SWAT member wave them out into the alley. Just as the twelfth child was lifted out a scream was heard from the building. Not soon thereafter Vargas emerged and Amanda hunched down as shots started ringing out. As the initial shock quickly ran off her she looked back over at the van. She saw the SWAT member on the ground, his partner grabbed his vest and pulled him away from the gunfire. The man down looked to be still alive thankfully.
The SWAT team responded quickly to the gunfire. Vargas and two other men were already out in the yard. Vargas went down but the two others hid behind various object and shots started ringing from the building. The SVU team held their heads down knowing that now that the children were safe they should leave the SWAT team to do their job. But no one knew about the 13th kid yet. Unlucky number thirteen. Amanda was the first who spotted him. A teeny tiny creature emerged out of the van. No more than seven. Dark, almost black, short cut hair. A ripped shirt, shorts, barefoot.
"The kid," Amanda screamed over the gunfire and struck Fin over the arm. She caught his eyes briefly as his head came around to look at where at she was gesturing. She turned back to the young boy and everything seemed to go in slow-motion. The gunfire was making holes in the van and seemed to force the boy forward to the opening. She wanted to scream no or get down but knew even if he could hear her he would probably not understand her.
"He's going out," she screamed looking at his scared little face. She looked to the building. Vargas was down and at least a few of the others because the gunfire was thinning out. But she knew they wouldn't hesitate to shoot at the boy. Instinctively, at the same time as the boy jumped out of the van, without much concern for her own life she took off. Fin saw her go and grabbed for her but caught only air. He called out her name but to no use. She didn't even try to keep her head down or fire back, just aimed to get the boy out of harm's way. She felt a bullet graze her right thigh as she ran. It stung bad but didn't slow her step down. She was determined to get to him. Another graze further down on her leg and it made her stumble a bit. She'd locked eyes with the boy though who was standing paralyzed right below the van. He counted on her and she knew she couldn't let him down.
Out of the corner of her eye she saw a man with a gun step out into the yard. He was aiming for the boy with his automatic weapon. He would be hit by bullets from the SWAT team but as he fell to his knees he squeezed the trigger and bullets ran out aimed right for the boy. Amanda got there seconds before though. Took a bullet aimed for the boy's head in the abdomen. If this had been normal bullets the vest would have taken it. But it wasn't. It was cop killers. It went into her side and shot straight through getting stuck in the vest on the other side of her body, just inches from the boys head. The pain was immensely but she stayed up right. Got the boy in behind her body as a second bullet entered her. This one straight to the chest.
The impact of the bullet made her go backwards. Somehow she managed to stay upright long enough to get herself and the boy behind the van. Fin was screaming her name on the other side of the yard as he saw the two go down in a pile behind the van. Olivia was holding on to him but he had no intention of going anywhere. His legs couldn't carry him right now and he knew that if Amanda's chances had been slim, his was next to non-existing to reach the van without being shot. Fin tried to look away for a bit but had to look back over at the van. Neither Amanda nor the boy was moving. He heard the SWAT team leader yelling in the intercom. From the front of the building SWAT was shooting in teargas and soon the smoke came through the building. Two men came out with gun and hands in the air screaming in Spanish. The SWAT team moved in on them. Fin got up as fast as he could. Olivia was right behind him and passed him as they ran across the yard. She landed on her knees right by Amanda's side just seconds before Fin got there. Amanda's eyes were closed but as Liv grabbed a hold of her, her eyes jolted open.
"Amanda," she screamed just as Fin landed on the other side of Amanda's down body. Liv saw the boy's scared face, grabbed a hold of him and pulled him out. He was holding on to Amanda's hand.
"Check him," she screamed at Nick who came up behind her and she handed the boy off to him. He seemed unharmed. Fin was screaming at Amanda to talk to him as he was ripping her jacket and vest open. Liv helped him as carefully as possible to pull it over her head and get her arms out. They felt Amanda shiver slightly as they moved her. And then they immediately saw the blood all over her chest.
"Fuck," Fin breathed as the revelation hit him. Cop killers. The bullets had gone through her.
"Paramedics. Get a bus over here," Liv screamed with panic in her voice to everyone and no one. Fin ripped Amanda's shirt open and put his palm down over the wound. Liv saw blood pouring out her side too and tugged at the shirt. Fin moved his knee down in-between Amanda's legs so he could get a better angle to push down on her wound.
"Another one here," Liv told Fin with panic in her voice as she found the second bullet hole and covered it with both her hands.
"Need something to…" Liv couldn't find the words but Nick was on it. He was pulling of his own jacket and vest so he could get to his shirt. He handed the jacket to Liv who immediately pushed it to Amanda's side wound. He tore his shirt over his head and handed it to Fin. His light blue shirt turned red a little too fast though as it got bundled and pushed hard against Amanda's chest.
"You'll be fine," Fin told her. "Stay with me Amanda. Hold on. Look at me." Fin kept screaming, keeping his head above hers so he could look down into her eyes. It looked as she tried to say something but then she coughed instead and deep red blood dwelled up her throat. He'd never felt so useless ever before. There was nothing he could do to stop the blood from coming. Her face was calm though. Her eyes still, staring straight up into his.
"Just look at me Amanda," he told her. "Stay with me. The paramedics will be here. They'll help you. Stay with me Amanda." He brought up one of his hands and stroked her cheek gently. He colored her cheek red with her own blood. He stroke away her bangs from her face and leaned down and kissed her forehead briefly.
"Stay with me," he repeated and caught her eyes again. He shifted hands and pushed down even harder as the blood wouldn't stop coming. He didn't know what else to say than 'stay with me' cause it was all he wanted. As three other words were forming in his head he saw her eyes starting to slowly close.
"No," he screamed. "Stay with me." But her eyes kept closing and before he could say it she was gone. He never got to say I love you.
As she fell down she felt unable to move. She could hear bullets ringing but they seemed distant. The sound hit her like she was in bowl. The boy. She tried to move her hand, tried to get a hold of him. She found his hand underneath her and when she felt him grab it she could relax. He was safe. At least he was safe. She closed her eyes and drifted off as pain overtook her body and mind. It seemed as only a second but then suddenly all gunfire had stopped and she could feel someone yanking at her. At first everything was blurry but then she saw Olivia's face hovering over her and then came Fin. Fin. She was happy to see him. He didn't look happy though. He was saying something to her, she saw his lips move and she could hear him but she couldn't understand. His eyes kept going downwards.
She felt him yank at her and as they moved her slightly the pain shot through her body. When she saw his face again he looked even more concern. She could hear Olivia's voice in the distant but again had no idea what she was saying. She saw Fin shift above her and she felt his body against her own. He pushed down on her chest and it felt as though he was digging inside of her. Maybe he was. Maybe she was badly hurt she was able to think. He looked like she was. She wanted to calm him down. Wanted to tell him she didn't feel any pain anymore. That she was fine. She figured she probably wasn't but she didn't want him to be in pain. Sweet Fin. She tried to clear her throat as the taste of iron in her mouth was overwhelming. But then whatever it was that was blocking her throat came down and it made it hard for her to breath. She felt her body jerk as she coughed and then the small dots of deep red that hung in the air for what felt like minutes. Fin's face dropped even further. Well this sucks, she thought. As though he'd heard her he touched her cheek. She couldn't feel it as much though but she saw it. And then he leaned down. Kissed her forehead. She wished she could feel that.
His lips kept moving as she saw his face again. She wished she could hear what he was saying. All sounds were gone now. All she heard was her own heartbeat against her eardrums and even that was fading fast. She wondered why her life wasn't rushing in front of her eyes if this was the last seconds she had on earth. Weren't the highlights of your life supposed to rush in front of your eyes as you pulled your last breath? But then it dawn on her. The highlight of her life was in front of her eyes already. Fin. He was the best part of her life. She'd never had anything better. Fin. She felt at ease looking up into his big brown kind eyes. I love you Fin. She thought as her vision started to become blurry. She felt tired. Happy. But tired. She wanted to keep looking at him but she couldn't fight it any longer. She had to rest her eyes now and the next second she was gone.