"Double Time" Sequel to "Stepping Time" (Highly recommend you read Stepping Time before reading this sequel)
The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.
Author's Note (Especially for laurel hardy) Characters guide-Primary SVU Characters Olivia Benson, Alex Cabot Primary Original Female Characters Army Lt. Col. Erin Mathison, Attorney Angie Secondary SVU and L&O Characters Elliot Stabler, Casey Novak, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn Secondary Original Characters Jeff Stockton, Amelia Stockton, Dylan Mathison, Petraeus (Erin's Chihuahua), Senator Rushing, TJ McCoy
Thanks for reading and the reviews for the first 19 chapters. Love and appreciate the reviews and it means so much that so many are reading this sequel.
#-#
"Double Time" Chapter 20
"Hey," Olivia mumbled softly still awakening. "How long have you been up?"
"Just a few minutes. I heard my phone beep. Text from the CAO. Meeting them at the church instead of the funeral home and a few minutes earlier. They're now expecting more people than the pretty large turnout they thought before," Erin replied.
"Are you working on your remarks again?" Olivia asked as she headed to the bathroom.
"No, was reading and watching online some of the local coverage about her death and the funeral today," Erin said, pushing her chair out from the desk and standing up. "I got you a coffee too when I went downstairs. Figured you would be up soon."
"Thanks babe. I need it. Be right out," Olivia added.
Erin propped a couple of pillows against the bed headboard and leaned her back against them, her legs stretching out over rumpled sheets and covers. She handed Olivia her coffee as she settled in the bed next to her.
"I'm glad we pushed breakfast back to 10:30. I sent a text to Abbie to let her know," Erin said.
"And you've really only been up a few minutes? And how did you carry two coffees on crutches?"
"Good morning babe," Erin smirked, pressing her lips to Olivia's.
"Ok," Olivia smiled, breaking the kiss, "I know I haven't been exactly helpful with complying with your recovery instructions, but please tell me you are going to use or at least bring your crutches with you today."
"I am. I can't put enough weight on it yet to get up the steps to the podium in the church. I'm thinking if you all are still good with coming you should probably get to the church by like 1:30."
"Of course we're coming Erin," Olivia said, squeezing Erin's hand. "And I know how to get to the church even without the GPS."
"It's a big church…very old, but solid stone. And when you stand up at the podium you see rows and rows of pews and then there's a balcony that extends over the pews towards the back. I'm nervous already," Erin admitted. "I didn't cry when I was speaking at my mom's funeral yet I'm afraid I am going to here."
"Babe, I've been to a few funerals where men in uniform choked up speaking and I felt for their pain, their grieving but certainly didn't find it unprofessional…And you said you were pretty much in a fog…like I was too…when your mother died. I didn't really cry until like a week after she died. The first few days I did the arrangements and worked, it didn't seem real."
"That's true. My mom died on a Sunday morning and by Wednesday morning she was buried. That Friday when I went to her house, and for the first time since her death there was no one else there, was when I lost it," Erin sighed heavily. "That's when it was finally real to me and I wasn't on automatic pilot anymore. I don't know…Mom's death was so unexpected and certainly Cassie's wasn't but…"
"But you knew it could happen to you or any you were serving with," Olivia added.
"Yeah," she replied resting her head on Olivia's shoulder. "I am so glad for her family, that there were so many people at the visitation yesterday…and selfishly for me too…it kept me from losing it," Erin said softly then took a long sip from her coffee. "I…well you know if you are killed by an explosion, hit by shrapnel…often there's not much left to bury…And I know for her family it would have…"
"So they were able to see her body?" Olivia nodded.
"Yeah, visitation was open casket. She was dressed in her Class A uniform. And I was next to her parents most of the time. I had so many people talk with me about how they knew her and how long they knew her and some that didn't know her at all…just wanted to pay their respects for her service," Erin swallowed hard.
"Did they ask you a lot about her as a soldier and the time in Afghanistan?"
"I had more, mostly her friends from college, telling me about like what Kelly told me, that Cassie wanted to make a career of it now, become an officer. That she really felt like we were making a difference. And how much she looked up to me," Erin chuckled uncomfortably. "I did have one pretty old guy, a veteran himself, I guess he's a distant uncle, tell me that women need to stick to being nurses and jobs that will keep them out of harm's way in the military."
"What did you say?" Olivia smirked.
"I listened to him ramble about 'back in his day,' which was after World War II but before Korea, and then when he was done I smiled and thanked him for his service," Erin sighed. "Kelly was there of course and her parents were with her the whole time, and friends in and out throughout the day. Great people. But Kelly heard what he said to me and about lost it, so we took a little walk outside and sat and talked for a while."
"You know there are some, probably more than I'd care to admit, that in your position, especially being injured and all who would have just sent flowers and maybe made a phone call to the parents."
"I can't imagine not being here, since I could be," Erin said firmly.
"Which is one of the many reasons I am in love with you," Olivia smiled.
"I so love you Liv. And I am so glad you are here with me, helping me through this," Erin said wrapping her arm around Olivia's shoulders. "I have to sit up front with the family at the church, but I can ride with you all from the church to the cemetery and sit, well probably stand, with you all there."
#-#
Abbie laced her fingers with Olivia's as they watched and listened as Erin began speaking from the podium in the massive church. The five of them were sat in a pew about halfway back. Abbie and Serena on Olivia's right and Alex and Angie on her left.
"Thanks," Olivia mouthed softly to Abbie, squeezing her hand. They had each wiped a few tears away and had even laughed with so many others in the packed church when the long time pastor had spoken about Cassie and the Weston family. It was obvious he knew them all well and had taken much time in preparing his sermon and remembrance of her life.
"…I had just returned to Camp Phoenix and Cassie caught up to me in the dining hall. She was wearing that ear to ear grin, but yet I could tell she was a bit nervous," Erin continued. "I asked her to sit down and she said, 'Ma'am you know how some of those schools and community centers that we've been to don't really have any supplies," Erin paused as the pastor grinned and some people in the crowd laughed obviously having some familiarity with the story.
"I said yes," Erin smiled. "And Cassie said, 'Well I kind of mentioned to my mom and dad that, you know some school supplies and things like that are needed over here and then they mentioned to my pastor and…'
Erin took a deep breath. "That first wave of supplies, because of her and through you back here totaled about five pallets. She couldn't go out on every mission to deliver them, but on the ones she wasn't on the soldiers that did, took pictures, and you will see some of those later. The faces of those you and she gave hope and opportunity…"
"Did you know about that?" Alex whispered in Olivia's ear. Olivia nodded. "We talked a lot this morning, before and after breakfast."
As Erin limped slightly on one crutch back to the front pew after finishing, Cassie's father embraced her tightly, tears filling his eyes.
"She did really, really well," Abbie said softly, still holding Olivia's hand. They could see some tears staining Erin's cheeks as Mr. Weston pulled away to take his turn at the podium.
"She did," Olivia replied, fighting back tears herself once again.
#-#
Abbie, Serena, Alex and Angie stood outside the SUV soaking up the bright sunlight as people continued to exit the church. Olivia stood at a side exit next to the pastor's parking space waiting for Erin.
"Well hello again Abbie, ladies."
"Officer Trent," Abbie smiled and then introduced the officer to Serena, Alex, and Angie.
"Danni please. I'm up on point with my partner for the processional to the cemetery," she said pointing to her motorcycle in front of the hearse. "I'm sorry for your loss. I didn't realize when we talked last night, Abbie…"
"It's fine," Abbie said and then explained why they had all come.
"Awww look," Serena said pointing toward the side exit where Erin stood now wrapped in a hug, her head resting on Olivia's shoulder.
"Please tell her if I don't get the chance that my partner and I thought she gave an amazing eulogy. We're both vets and that's why we volunteered escort. I've worked with him ten years and not much chokes him up," Danni sighed. "But both of us, between what Erin said and Specialist Weston's father."
"They both gave great remembrances, celebrations of who she was," Alex said.
"And the funny stories too," Serena chuckled.
"I know," Danni said looking back and seeing the pallbearers loading the casket in the hearse. "I need to get back. Nice meeting you all."
"Abbie you've got the keys right?" Angie queried. "Think maybe you should drive. I think Erin could use a little more of Liv's shoulder on the way to the cemetery."
"Good idea," Abbie said climbing into the driver's seat.
"I'm glad Erin is letting her emotions out with Liv and really talking to her," Alex said.
"Me too," Angie agreed. "But she's only been back here a week and it's been chaos and a lot of bad for her lately, so I understand just trying to have some fun, some laughs and trying to relax some."
#-#
"Damn Carmichael…thank you for the waterproof, smudge proof everything proof mascara," Erin chuckled, looking into the mirror of her makeup compact as soon as she and Olivia climbed into the Yukon. "I still look a mess, but I'd be looking like a psychotic mime or something if I had used my mascara."
"Trust me Erin there wasn't a person around us who didn't shed a few tears during that service. And certainly we all did. You did wonderful and so did her dad," Abbie replied.
"I'm not a big church, religion person, but I thought the pastor did a really nice job too," Angie interjected. "But you and Mr. Weston were awesome. Even if I wouldn't have known anything about Cassie coming in…You both just did a great job of telling her story."
"I'm glad I didn't lose it while I was speaking," Erin sighed heavily. "But in the pew when David…Mr. Weston…was speaking and he spoke of Kelly and them together. Well Kelly started crying and Mrs. Weston reached over and grabbed her hand and held it the rest of the time David spoke."
"That is so good she finally reached out to Kelly in a sincere way," Serena said.
"It is. And I tell you it really helped me having you guys out there in the crowd."
"Did you see us when you were speaking?" Alex questioned.
"I did, but I saw you put your arm around Liv and you had a couple of tears and Liv had her head down and I didn't want to choke up then, so I looked at that cute old lady with the pinkish hair that was across the aisle from you all," Erin smiled as the processional sped up slightly to a slow crawl.
"Wow," Serena smiled looking in the passenger side mirror. "Took us a bit to get out of the parking lot and there's still so many cars behind us. That's so good."
"Well the cemetery is only a few minutes away and the route we're going goes through Cassie's neighborhood and by the house she grew up in, where her parents and siblings still live." Erin said. "The graveside service will be pretty brief. A couple of prayers, the firing of three volleys and Taps."
"We're not in a rush Erin," Serena said sincerely.
Erin nuzzled her head against Olivia's shoulder and they all looked out the windows as they edged slowly down side streets, many with people standing on the sidewalks or sitting in lawn chairs with signs and American flags.
"You all still up for some food and drinks after we're done at the cemetery? I could use a little or maybe a lot of both," Erin asked.
"I brought your bag with a change of clothes," Olivia said, kissing Erin on the top of the head. And the hangers for your Blues."
"I'll text Danni to see a good place to go nearby or how to get to those places she told me about last night," Abbie said. "Erin, the cop that busted that woman last night is up front on the escort."
"Really," Erin laughed.
"I know," Serena smiled. "If she wasn't a cop and didn't already have a girlfriend, I might be a bit suspicious of her seeming interest in my other half."
"Oh shut up you two," Abbie grinned. "She volunteered to do this today because she's a veteran."
"She didn't see me take Alex to the floor last night, did she?"
"Erin you need to stop fretting about that already," Alex said sternly. "And for the record Officer Danni Trent and her work partner were very impressed with you today. He's a vet too."
#-#
"Ok," Erin sighed climbing into the Yukon. "I'm not crying anymore today. I'm sorry it took me so long to get back here. Hell, where's everybody else?"
"Serena and Angie are walking around. Turns out there's a couple Southerlyn headstones they stumbled upon right over there," Olivia smiled. "And Alex and Abbie went to talk to Danni."
"I feel a little better then."
"Erin honestly, we're all here because we want to be. Stop worrying like you're inconveniencing anyone," Olivia said sternly. "That so many people wanted to talk to you here too, makes me even prouder. You talked about Cassie up there today and how many lives she touched and you did the same with these people with what you said and did yesterday and today."
"That's the sweetest most loving deserved reprimand I have ever received," Erin smirked. "And I certainly won't now be impatient myself even though I'm starving and really want a beer."