*WARNING implied/lightly described rape/sexual assault*

Part 4

"Rollins, so nice we could finally make this work."

"Yeah, captain, it's been a while," Amanda nods in agreement as she carefully settles herself into the opposite booth.

"Please, I haven't been your captain for a while now, call me Don," Cragen insists as he glances at the menu in front of him.

"I guess, but you're still calling me Rollins," Amanda laughs lightly as she glances at her own menu.

"At least call me Cragen then," he pleads jokingly as he peers up from his menu to study the blonde. He might not work SVU anymore, but that doesn't mean he forgot the signs.

"Alright, Cragen it is," Amanda replies, laying her menu down on the table as she bites down subtly on her lower lip.

Cragen watches as the detective's gaze wanders from the menu to the window, seemingly lost in her own mind.

"So," he begins after a beat of silence, "How's everything going?"

"Hmm?" Rollins inquires, her gaze shifting back to her former captain.

"How's everything going? With the unit and, you know, you?" The retired captain prompts again.

"Oh, it's been fine," Amanda assures him, her gaze moving back to the window, "There was the whole Lewis thing, again. Liv's got a kid now. Fin's the same. Amaro is back now and we've got a new guy, Carisi. We had Lieutenant Murphy as a CO for a while. Liv's CO again," Amanda nods as she lists off the events of the past few months in as little detail as possible, trying to shift in her seat as little as possible.

"Alright," Cragen responds, unable to tamp down his desire to push for more information, "And what about you? How's everything been for you? You still going to meetings?"

"Yeah," Amanda replies shakily, her eyes trained on a blue car stopped at the intersection near them, "I ran into a bit of trouble, but I'm still going to meetings and I've got it under control."

"Uhuh," Cragen nods, "And, uh, what did you think of this Lieutenant Murphy?"

"He's…fine," Amanda breathes, now shifting her gaze back to staring at the menu. Cragen just nods in response. There's always more when it comes to Amanda Rollins.

He decides to enlighten her on his latest travels as they eat their late lunch, drinking coffee and catching up like old friends.

During a pause in conversation after the waiter has cleared their plates, Cragen watches the detective carefully as she takes a shaky breath while gazing out the window.

"Captain?" Amanda asks, turning her head so that their eyes meet for the first time that day.

"Yeah, Amanda."

"If I were to ask you for your professional opinion on something, would you tell anybody else?" Rollins asks, the tone in her voice nearly giving the former SVU captain chills.

"If I knew it weren't immediately endangering your wellbeing, then no. And that's not because I'd feel a duty as a former SVU officer, but also as a friend," Cragen responds, staring thoughtfully at the young blonde.

"Okay…" Amanda trails off, the lucidity of the answer still bringing doubts to mind.

"I'm not going to tell anyone, Rollins," Cragen insists firmly, hoping that the blonde will still choose to confide in him.

"Uhh, well…hypothetically…," Rollins states shakily. Cragen nods his head skeptically, motioning for the blonde to continue, "Let's say two people sleep together," Amanda begins. And already, Cragen is preparing himself for the worst. "And Person A didn't really want to sleep with Person B, but Person B had a good reason for why they need to sleep together. And-" Amanda falters, acknowledging that what she's saying probably makes very little sense.

"Amanda," Cragen interrupts, "What is this good reason for… nonconsensual sex?" he pushes.

"Well," Amanda drawls, pausing for a moment, "What if the stakes were a lot higher? Like life or death. Like if we- they don't sleep together, they could die. Or get in really big trouble or…"

"Amanda," Cragen interrupts again, "Did this Person A want to sleep with Person B? Did Person A want to have sex with Person B?"

"No," Amanda shakes her head, "No, they didn't."

"Okay, and did Person B know this?"

Amanda nods.

"And did Person A tell Person B that they didn't want to have sex?"

Amanda nods again.

"What did Person B do when they heard this?" Cragen asks, turning the speaking back to Rollins.

"Well," Amanda breathes, "They told Person A that they had to do this or else everything and everybody would be in danger, that they… had to make it look real. Then they slept together."

"And while they were…sleeping together, did Person A continue to tell Person B they didn't want to sleep with them?"

Amanda nods her head.

"Okay, and what did you want to ask me about this…hypothetical…situation?" Cragen asks tentatively.

"Would you consider this situation to be rape?" Amanda asks, her eyes locking with the former officer apprehensively.

"Yes, I would," Cragen states, "If someone sleeps with someone else whom they know doesn't want to sleep with them, no matter the reason or the justification or if the person agrees with the justification when looking back, it is rape," Cragen says definitively, looking the young detective in the eye.

"Thanks…Captain," Amanda says awkwardly as she watches the waitress bring a check and her former captain sign it.

"Anytime Amanda," Cragen nods, "Let's do this again sometime."

"Yeah, sure," Amanda agrees as she drags herself out of the booth, "I'll see you later," she calls out as she exits the cafe quickly.

Cragen waves to the blonde before he watches her disappear behind the door. Amanda, he thinks, what have you gotten yourself into now?

He pulls out his phone staring at the contact in front of him. Should he call her? Give her a heads-up that there might be something to look into concerning one of her detectives. No. Amanda reached out to him, he can't dishonor his agreement. Rollins is an adult, she can take care of herself. He'll make sure she is.

Cragen stays seated in the restaurant booth, finishing off his coffee as he continues to stare at his phone. Screw it. The former captain opens up his texts, sending a quick message.

Cragen: Hey Liv, do me a favor and keep an eye on Amanda.

Liv: Is something up?

Cragen: It's not my place to say. Just have her back, Liv.

Liv: Sure thing Captain.

Cragen sighs as he puts his phone back down on the table. What is it with those two insisting on calling him Captain?

Reviews and suggestions are welcome, but no pressure. I hope you're enjoying the story :)