Disclaimer: NBC and Dick Wolf own them.

Author's Note: My story is meant to entertain and not necessarily educate that's why I decided to take some liberties (medical and whatnot). Thanks for pointing that out, but I stretched the situation to fit with my story plot ;). On with the next chapter . . .

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Chapter Eleven: Back to School

Cragen residence:

Two weeks after Olivia's accident she was finally given a clean bill of health. The stitches on her arm were removed a week ago, and her concussion was gone without any more side-effects. The only thing she was still dealing with was some minor discomfort from her healing ribs. She was actually looking forward to school. Ever since her accident everyone seemed to be overprotective and doted too much over her for her liking.

Olivia didn't know if it was a blessing or a curse, but because she had to stay home that meant that someone had to be with her throughout the day. Her sister; Casey couldn't do it because she had school. Don couldn't do it because he had to work. That only meant one thing, her crazy uncle John was the appointed babysitter/nurse. Following John's advice Olivia was temporarily moved to a downstairs bedroom because the stairs were too difficult for her to climb with her injuries.

Olivia's bedroom:

Olivia was just getting out of the shower when someone knocked on her door.

"Coming," Olivia yelled as she reached for her bathrobe.

"It's me Livvy," Casey announced from the other side of the door.

"What's up Case?" she asked as she moved aside to let her sister in the bedroom.

"Well I just wanted to make sure you were getting ready okay," she smiled at her sister as she went to sit on her bed.

"I'm fine," Olivia said as she started drying her wet hair.

"Wow it's been a long time since I've been in your bedroom. It's so much different than you use to have it in Manhattan. You've really changed," she said looking around taking in all the posters Olivia had taped up on her walls, and the darker bed covers along with her collection of books, and racks of CD's on the sides. She still had her old computer desk but it was now covered with bumper stickers from her favorite bands so was her laptop.

"Yes, well we can't all have a pink room full of glitter, and stuffed animals," Olivia joked.

"Tool, the Cure, Bad Religion, the Dandy Warhols, the Chemical Brothers, Puscifer . . ." she read off the names of the bands on Olivia's CD collection.

"What did you expect, Madonna, Britney Spears, Mariah Carey, Shakira, and Rihanna? I don't think so dear sister, that's all you," she laughed.

"Right, I forgot how little we have in common," Casey said looking down at her hands.

"I don't mean to sound rude, but is there a point to your lovely visit? I know you didn't come in here to compare music choices," Olivia said looking at Casey from her vanity mirror.

Casey laughed, "Wow I'm glad to see you didn't lose your snappy wit when you took that fall."

"Touché," she laughed as well.

"You know everyone's been asking me about you, so has Elliot." Casey told Olivia trying to gauge her reaction.

"That's nice," Olivia said shrugging her shoulders.

"That's nice? I tell you a guy asked about you, someone who's hot by the way, and that's all you can say to me?" she asked incredulous to her sister's flippant dismissal of the situation.

Olivia sighed, "What do you want me say?"

"I don't know. Do you like him?" Casey asked as she moved behind her sister to help her brush her hair when she noticed Olivia wincing when she tried doing it herself.

"I don't even know the guy, Case," she said after thanking her for her help.

"That's not an answer," Casey said raising an eyebrow.

"Well I can't answer that. I barely spoke to him at the hospital and before that he didn't exactly leave me with a good impression of him," she said as she applied lotion to her face.

"You know those were accidents Livvy. Plus I even knocked some sense into him; literally." Casey laughed remembering the black eye she gave Elliot.

"Wow you used the word literally? Is it me or is school actually making a difference in your little mind? Careful, there sis next thing you'll know you'll be lumped in with the nerds instead of the popular crowd like you've been wanting," Olivia said while laughing.

"Brat," Casey lightly tugged on her hair. "Besides, I already have friends and in the same grade as me, thank you very much who happen to be plenty popular; Connie, Mike, and Chester. I mean Fin, and Melinda are my friends too, plus Elliot, but they're more your friends because they're seniors like you. Anyways, but you know that Elliot willingly gave you his blood, and he was super thoughtful and careful with you when he carried you to Melinda's car then to the ER. He even bought you those flowers, and that little bear that's on your bed to make you feel better. If that doesn't say he's interested I don't know what can," she said while pointing to the brown teddy bear that was on Olivia's bed.

"I know that Casey, and I'll always be grateful to him," she sighed. "I'm just not ready for anything serious or semi-serious with anyone," Olivia held her hand up when Casey tried to interrupt. "Yes, I know that what happened with Nick was over a year ago, but still. All I want is a little time to find myself."

"Are you sure you're not still hung up on Nick? I mean you did go out with him for a long time," she asked worried to find out Olivia's answer.

Olivia burst out with hysterical laughter which caught Casey by surprise.

"That was a good one Case. Thanks, I needed that, but don't make me laugh too much . . . hurts my ribs," Olivia said while wiping the tears from her eyes.

"Huh? What's so funny?" Casey said puzzled.

"Oh Case, don't worry I'm not harboring any romantic feelings towards Nick. If I ever see that dick anywhere near me I'll do more than just key his car or punch him," she said with strong conviction.

"Good, I'll help you if you need to bury his body or any evidence. I can even say that so will Uncle John, but I can't say daddy will. Hmm, but he might just look the other way," Casey said which caused them both to laugh.

"Where is dad anyway?" Olivia asked because she didn't see her father all day yesterday.

"He's still at the station because they caught a big case so everyone there is working overtime; you know how it is," Casey reminded her.

"Yeah," Olivia sighed. She loved the fact that her father's job made a difference in the community, but she sometimes hated it because that took him away from his family.

"Come on, finish getting ready. Uncle John made us breakfast, if you need me just yell," Casey said on her way out of Olivia's room.

Kitchen:

"I can't believe it. I must be dreaming. She turns the sound down. Says, "I am heaving this is a freakshow" and I am screaming . . ." John sang.

"Ah, I see you've broadened your taste in music," Olivia laughed as she entered the kitchen.

"Can't get that damned song out of my head and it's your fault," he protested.

"Hey, thanks to you I'm lulling myself to sleep with Pink Floyd in my head so don't come bitching to me cause I don't have any sympathy for you my friend," she said which caused Casey and John to laugh.

"You look nice Livvy," John said when he noticed that she was wearing a white Boho dress that had three-quarter length flared sleeves which were accented with red embroidered flowers. She matched the dress with her white platform thong sandals, and a thin platinum tennis bracelet she got for her 16th birthday. Her hair was straight with a few thin braids in between. The outfit really showed off her hair that had many different shades of golden blond, and brown colors expertly dyed in.

'Teens always worried about their appearance,' he thought chuckling.

"Thanks," she smiled at him.

"Yeah, Livvy, you look great. Are you sure you're not dressed to impress a certain boy?" Casey slyly added.

"What?" John squealed after spitting his drink all over the table.

"Eeeewwww, gross!" Casey jumped up trying to wipe her clothes.

"No Casey," Olivia rolled her eyes. "This is how I always dressed, so don't try to make something out of noting."

"What boy?" John managed to ask after he stopped coughing.

"Nobody," Olivia quickly tried end the particular set of questions that were sure to follow.

"Come on, Livvy. Is that any way to refer to your future husband?" Casey laughed when she saw the looks of surprise on both John, and Olivia's faces.

"What's that now? Oh man, Don is not going to be happy about this," John rambled. "Once he finds out I knew about it, he'll kill me. Yup, I'm a dead man."

"Calm down. Case was just joking, weren't you?" Olivia said as she kicked her under the table.

"Ouch, yes! Man, can't anyone in this family take a joke?" Casey complained as she rubbed her sore shin.

"That wasn't funny Casey. You nearly gave me a heart attack," he reprimanded her. "You know your dad doesn't want you girls to date anyone especially without his consent."

"Jeez, I already said sorry. Now why is that again?" Casey asked.

"Well with what may or may not have happened with Livy and her ex Nick, your dad doesn't want you girls to get hurt," John explained while giving Olivia a soft reassuring smile.

"Right, how could I forget?" Casey rolled her eyes. She was annoyed that she wasn't allowed to date because of what happened to Olivia. It's not that she didn't have sympathy, she did. It's just that she found it unfair for the rules to apply to her because she hadn't had a chance to experience anything for herself whether it was love or heartbreak.

"Shit, we're going to be late for school," Olivia said as she looked at the clock.

"Oh great, it's going to cut into my showy entrance time," Casey whined.

"Bye girls," John said laughing. "Oh, and Livvy, don't worry I won't tell your dad about your new boyfriend. Say hi to Elliot for me when you see him," he casually mentioned then he winked at her.

"Ha-ha, good one," Casey laughed as she high-fived John.

"Hmph," Olivia groaned as she walked out of the kitchen. She was never going to live that down now.

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Song was "Freakshow (Mix 13)" by the Cure.