Author's Note: And now, the confrontation with Kathleen. It took a little while for me to come up with this and I'm still not too happy with it in places but I think it'll be okay. Basically, she's going to be your cliché teenage brat: selfish, uncaring, and more than a little stupid. I'm not going to make her crazy like on the show. I never really bought that plot line. It just seemed like the ol' "aw, she's just PMSin'" thing on steroids.

So, this chapter will also feature El, Liv, and Lizzie…yes, Lizzie. They need to do more with her on the show. The most action she's got (that I can remember) was that semi interrogation thing El did with her in Swing (was it Swing?) and that's weak. She should be the Stabler daughter that doesn't screw up before getting successful so I'm going to use that in here. Hope you guys enjoy.

Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"

She blearily came downstairs in her bra and panties, her head throbbing and her stomach reeling. After her mom had gone off to the hospital and the twins had fallen asleep, she had gone into the city with her crew.

They had hit at least five clubs (all the stamps blurred together after a while) and it had obviously been a pretty good time. She vaguely remembered drinking some fruity thing that Trav had pushed off on her and had she danced on a bar? It seemed like she did but that could've been a dream…

The clacking of laptop keys made her groan and squint towards the kitchen table. Lizzie was like Maureen on crystal meth: always working, always caring about people, and never getting into trouble. Kathleen sometimes hated her but she was good for a few things. Her hangover remedy, for example.

"It's in the fridge. The aspirin's in the drawer next to the back door."

Kathleen nodded and eagerly chugged the foul tasting liquid. It smelled like shit and tasted like old catfish but it would sober you up in a heartbeat. Since dad was coming over to get his stuff, the last thing she wanted was to get caught wasted or semi-wasted, it depended on the day.

"Can't you do that shit someplace else?" she complained as the typing resumed.

"I was here first and it's your own damned fault you're messed up.", Lizzie replied with a surprising amount of backbone.

Usually Dickhead was the one to be mean like that.

"Oooh, someone's being a bitch today. Where's Dickhead?"

"Dickie is at Andrew's in a Guitar Hero tournament. I'd be there too but I have to finish my mythology project and keep you from choking on your own vomit. Go put some clothes on. Dad and Olivia should be here soon."

Kathleen's ire immediately rose and she glared at Lizzie.

"What's that bitch-"

"Shut up, Kathleen!"

"That bitch shouldn't be here! She's the reason mom and dad are breaking up anyway!" Kathleen spat hatefully, expecting Lizzie to just huff and walk away like she usually did.

To her surprise, she stood up and glared right back at her, hands on her hips.

"That bitch, as you so elegantly put it, has kept dad alive for the last decade and she didn't do anything to screw up their marriage! They did it on their own! No, mom did it! She threw dad out! She started screwing anything with a heartbeat and she's the one that's busted up the family! Not dad and certainly not Olivia so don't you dare sit your drunken, crack snorting ass down and blame her!"

The front door opened and shut but neither of them heard it. Dimly, Kathleen realized that Lizzie had the Queens Princess tone and movements down pat but… wait, she knew?

"Of course I know! I do your laundry! I found your stash and you're lucky I didn't turn you in! Crack, Kathleen?! Really?! You got the nerve to bring that in here?! Ooh, you are so lucky that Mom doesn't give two shits about us…"

"That's not true!" Kathleen denied vehemently.

Why did people keep saying that? Every place she went, she could hear the whispers, the pity…

"Look around, Kathleen! Where is she?! Why am I tearing you a new one?! Why do Dickhead and I have to cover for you at school all the time?! Huh?! I'll tell you why! Our mother fails at life! She pushed dad away because of her own insecurities and screwed us all out of a normal childhood! And now, you're going to make the same mistakes she did!"

And then, she huffed and left, stomping extra loud up the stairs before brutally slamming the door, sending pain lancing through her head like a flaming sword.

A white t-shirt hit it and she glared towards the source…

…and paled as she saw her dad and a very hurt looking Olivia standing in the kitchen doorway.

//////////////

In Vino Veritas certainly applied here.

Olivia had always had a feeling that Kathleen despised her but she never had an idea as to why so she had just dismissed the notion. Now, she did. She thought of her as a home wrecker, as nothing more than a glorified streetwalker who stole her father. For years, she had smiled in her face and now…

"El, I should go."

A gentle but very firm hand on her forearm held her in place.

"No, you're not going anywhere. Is what Lizzie said true, Kathleen?"

"Dad, I-"

"Is it true?!"

Years of being his partner let Olivia discern hurt and not rage in his tone. She understood. His kids were his whole world. He'd do anything to protect them and every time of them did something stupid, it broke his heart.

To hear about Kathleen's substance abuse must feel like double whammy because it made him think of his own childhood with his mom and dad. Looking to show support, she squeezed his hand reassuringly.

Kathleen noticed and glowered at her as she pulled the shirt on.

"Looking cozy, aren't you?" she sneered.

"Look, your mother may let you get away with murder but you will not speak to Olivia like that while you're around me, do you understand me?!" Elliot snapped.

"Oh, so I get yelled at for telling the truth?!"

"You don't know a goddamned thing about the truth, obviously! How long have you been shoving that shit up your nose?!"

"It's none of your business what I do! It's my body and I can do what I want with it!"

"Not while you're my daughter! You're getting treatment!"

"You can't force me to do it!"

"I can't but the rest of the cops can. See, if I call them, they'll find your new stash and lock you up.", Elliot informed her darkly as he got his phone out.

"You let Maureen walk away from what she did!" Kathleen screeched, sounding exactly like her mother.

"She wasn't doing drugs!" he replied as he walked out of the room, talking to dispatch.

Olivia watched as the panic filled her gaze but felt no ounce of pity for her. Kathleen had made her bed and now she had to lie in it.

"Well, now you get what you want. Since I'm the only one that sees you for what you really are, nobody can stop you from stealing dad. How can you live with yourself knowing that you ruined a marriage?" Kathleen asked her coldly.

Olivia turned to leave but then looked back at her with a small smirk.

"If I do so, I'll visit you in rehab and tell you." she zinged before joining Elliot in the next room, who now had his head in his hands.

Joining him on the couch, she put a gentle hand on his back, noting how firm it was and how his body heat seeped through his jacket.

He let out a ragged sigh but placed a grateful hand on her thigh.

"I'm here, El."

"I know. Thank you."

He didn't have to thank her for being with him.

She couldn't be anywhere else.