A/N: Hi guys, I just want to apologise for the lack of updates, if you follow either of my twitters, you'll know my laptop charger packed in and died, so my laptop is dead. Thankfully, my lovely partner has allowed me to use her laptop. I want to thank everyone for reading and reviewing, it really means a lot to see your feedback, and I love reading what you think is going to happen. As always, if you have time to review once you've read, please do. Thanks :)

I stood in shock, Alex had to push me out of the front door. My insides were churning, I felt sick, but most of all, confused. What was this woman doing with photos of me? She was a victim, I couldn't start talking about myself. I felt a warm hand on my back, Alex. She held me up all the way to the car, I fumbled for the keys in my pocket, I was numb. I got in and just sat there, drowning in the silence.

"Liv, I'm sure there's an explanation for it. Maybe she has a little girl who looks just like you."

I couldn't even smile at Alex's attempt at comforting me; "Alex, that's me. The baby in the photos, is me."

I turned the key in the ignition and drove back to the one – six, the whole way back my mind was blank, yet the voice in my head nagged at me. Something was off about Mrs Parks, something I couldn't put my finger on. She seemed so cut off when it came to her attack; I had to ask myself a few times if she would purposely want me to see the photos, if they were placed there strategically. If she had something to say, she didn't seem like the type of woman who would hold back if she had something to say.

Alex seemed just as mystified as me, she stayed silent for the entire journey. I could feel her eyes on me, desperate to ask me if I was sure. I was. One hundred percent positive.

I stopped the car and looked at Alex, "You think I'm crazy don't you?"

Alex smiled, "No, I don't. Liv, I just, to be honest, I don't know. I'm as confused as you are."

I laughed, it was a case of laugh or cry, "How do I talk to her? She's a victim, I can't just turn up and ask why she has photos of me," I paused looking for clarification, "Can I?"

Alex looked at me, "I don't think you should be thinking about this now, like you said, she's a victim, you've got to work her case with a level head."

I agreed, "I know."

We got out of the Crown Vic and headed back in, I looked straight ahead and saw Alice, the sketch artist. Her ginger locks hung in tight curls around her pale face.

"Olivia." she greeted me.

"Hi." I managed back, I felt my arm raising to shake her hand.

"I'm here to talk to Grace." she told me. I clenched my teeth, I had almost forgotten about Grace in the mess that was those photos. I nodded softly, but it must have been obvious I'd lost track of time, and victims. "So, where is she?"

"She's popped out for lunch with her mom, she'll be back any time soon."

Alice gave a slow, not so trusting nod. "Right, is there anywhere I can wait?"

Feeling the hot blush of embarrassment rise into my face, I realised I was still a mess. "You can head to the soft interview room, Grace knows the room, I'll bring her to you when she arrives."

I sat down, slumping into my chair; I couldn't seem to shake the confusion. I felt a hand around my arm, pulling me upward. I saw Alex, smelt her perfume, and willingly followed.

"It's time to snap out of it Liv." she said to me blankly.

I said nothing, my head was spinning, I felt hot vomit burn up my throat, tears filled my eyes, the room spun and with nothing to hold to, I felt my body slump.

"Olivia? Liv, can you hear me?" Alex's voice rung through my head; she shook me softly, "Liv!"

I fluttered my eyes, and opened them; "I'm okay." I managed.

"Alex, take her home. She can't work today." Cragen, his voice was bellowing in my head.

"I will, I'm sure it's just stress."

"Nothing's wrong with me. I skipped breakfast, that's all." I hated the fuss, "I just need some air, I'm fine!" Alex seemed to cling to me, I felt like a child being escorted out of the building. She looked at me with sad eyes. "I'm fine." I snapped.

"You're not Liv, let me take you home."

I didn't argue, I didn't do anything.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea!" Alex said to me as I cracked open the bottle of wine. I poured a glass, and offered Alex one. After a nod, I poured her one too.

"I'm off for the rest of the day, and assuming you're my new partner, so are you." I smiled softly. "I know today hasn't been the best, I just need to work through this."

"Do you want to talk it through with me?" she asked.

I did, but instead I wanted to show her. I wanted to show her the photos and show her I wasn't going mad, that the photos were of me. I got up and opened the bedroom door, I got down on my hands and knees pushing boxes out from under my bed until I found what I was looking for. I took it back in and put in down on the couch between my seat and Alex.

"What's that?" she asked me.

"These are all the photos that my mom had in her apartment." I lifted the lid of the shoe box, I took out some of the photos; then picked through them until I found three. "Look, Lillian had all three of these in her hall. Tell me I'm mad now."

"I never said you were mad." she took the photos and looked through them.

"I only have two options, ask her, or don't."

Alex looked at me and finished her wine, I could tell she was uncomfortable, but I needed someone to talk to. I was about to open my mouth to speak when a light knock at the door filled the silence. I got up and opened it, I saw a young girl stood before me. She had piercing blue eyes, long chocolate brown hair, and sadness in her eyes.

"Detective Benson?" she asked.

I nodded, "Yes... can I help you?"

"I have a message for you." she looked like she wanted to tell me a lot more than she was.

"Who's it from?" I asked, but I got no answer. She handed me the letter, then turned. The back of her shirt was smothered in blood. "Wait!" I called out, the girl turned around and gave me a small smile.

"Yeah?" she asked, I was amazed she was still standing, that's if it was her blood.

"What happened to you?"

The girl shrugged, "Nothing." she gave me a smile and began to walk away again.

"What's your name?" I called back.

"Marni. Miss Benson, is something wrong? You're looking at me funny."

"Are you okay? Are you in pain?"

"Okay, you're starting to creep me out..."

"You're back is covered in blood, what's happened?"

That's when I heard something I didn't expect, Marni turned to face me. She smiled softly, "It's okay Miss Benson, I don't feel pain."

I stood dumbfounded, she must have seen the look of further confusion and concern spread across my face. "What do you mean? Has someone hurt you?"

"It's possible I'm injured, but hurt, no." Marni said sweetly. Again, she looked at me, more than happy as a stranger on my door step to explain herself, "I have a congenital insensitivity to pain. Some people say it's a bad thing, and doctors tell me to be careful, but to be honest, I don't mind it. I'm really sorry to have bothered you Miss Benson, I hope you enjoy you're evening with your girlfriend."

I stood completely shocked, everything from the hours before seemed to disappear. Alex stood at the door smirking a little at the girlfriend comment. My words failed me as for the first time today I cracked a smile. "Marni, come in and let me have a look at your back. You've bled a lot, you might need to go to the hospital."

"Are you sure?" the young girl asked.

"Trust me." I said softly, "And Alex is my friend, not my girlfriend." I smiled as Marni blushed.

She entered my apartment careful not to lean on anything, she looked around and smiled. "It's so warm in here." Marni looked to Alex, "Hello." she smiled to her. I watched in what you could call fascination as the young girl instantly trusted both myself and Alex.

"Let me take a look at your back." I said softly.

"Miss Benson, you should read the letter. You might not want to help me once you've seen it."

I looked even more confused now, I peeled open the letter not knowing what to expect. Then I saw the letters printed in the centre of the page. Clear as day and impossible to run from.

"I should leave. I'm sorry, she said if I didn't give it to you, I'd be in a lot more trouble." Marni edged towards the door.

"No, Marni you stay." I said, I handed the letter to Alex. "She's claiming she's my mom. She knows I saw the photos, she wanted me to see them." I paced back and forth, before I lost it, "Marni, who gave you this? I need you to tell me her name!"

"Lillian did. Mrs Parks. She told me to deliver this to you, and if I did it successfully, then... that bit doesn't matter. I shouldn't have delivered this to you. I'm really sorry."

"Tell me, if you delivered it successfully, what happens?" I asked feeling the blood boiling inside me again.

"She uses a belt, I was selfish, you never had to know. I'm so sorry. I could have taken the punishment. I mean, it's not like it ever hurts. I'll leave..."

I couldn't let Marni finish, hearing her almost broke me. "It's okay. Calm down." I soothed. "You haven't done anything wrong, sweetheart, you're just caught up in the middle of all of this." Marni seemed to look even more saddened, "Stay, let me look at your back. This isn't your fault, none of this is."

Marni lifted her shirt, still trust stay firm in her eyes, "She's mean, I don't want to disrespect her because she housed me when my family was, when they passed away. She's sour, she harbours so much anger because of, well, I think it's because of her mom."

I looked at Marni's back, the lashes on her back were not as deep as I first thought. I noticed old scars and my mind went mad. It started working over time; "Has she said anything about her mom?"

"Not so much any more, she used to. Specially when she tries to gain your trust. She told me her mom forced her to give up her one and only baby. I'm assuming that means you."

I looked at Alex, "We need to patch up Marni's back."

"Miss Benson,"

"Call me Olivia." I said softly, my next plan of action already forming in my mind.

"Olivia, I know I don't have any right asking you this, but please don't let me go back to Mrs Parks."

I looked at Marni, my heart almost melted; "I won't let you go back to her. You can stay here tonight."

Alex must have spotted that glint in my eye, she knew I was planning a swift get away. She pulled me over to one side, "This is a really bad idea Liv."

"I'll only be gone an hour, stay here please. Make sure Marni's okay."

Alex didn't have a lot of choice, I was in the car and on the way to Lillian Parks' house before Alex had found a shirt for Marni out my closet. It didn't take long for me to get there, I pulled up and knocked on the door.

As Lillian answered, my power and my anger fell apart.

"Hello dear." she said sweetly.

"Don't. Just don't. Who the hell do you think you are? You have no right to diminish my mom's memory!"

"I am your mom!"

A/N: So what do you think? Is Marni genuine? Or is it all just a game? Who is Lillian Parks? And is she really Olivia's mom? Is this all game play? Let me know what you think!