Olivia couldn't think straight and all she could do was stare at the young girl. She reminded her of the hardest thing she had ever had to do 13 years prior.
JUMP BACK 14 years ago:
Olivia had pushed 1 more time and gave birth to a beautiful little girl. The child had been a healthy 7lbs 2oz and was 19 inches long. Olivia looked at her wishfully. "I'm sorry little one but I can't keep you. With my work schedule and the circumstances around how you were conceived there is no way I could be a good mother for you. Know that I love you with all my heart and will never forget you. I hope you have a good life." She told the baby before handing her to a nurse and signing the papers. The child was no longer hers. The adoption had been a closed on and Olivia had the records sealed behind a lot of read tape. The hour she handed her child to the nurse was the last time anyone had seen a truly happy Olivia Benson. She locked a special place in her heart for the little girl and moved on Eventually signing on for SVU unit. On the outside her squad family saw her as a hard ass detective. On of their best. On the inside her heart never forgot the little girl and broke a little more each day. She never did have another child. She had never gotten over giving her child up and walking away.
RETURN TO PRESENT TIME:
" I need some fresh air. Let me know when she wakes up?" Olivia said to her partner.
"No problem. Liv, are you ok? You had such a faraway look a few minutes ago." Elliot asked.
"I'm fine. Just tired." She said giving her customary answer when she was anything but.
Elliot just let it go knowing she'd talk when she was ready. Something about this child was tearing his partner up on the inside. He was going to find out. When a nurse came in to check on the child Elliot asked her to watch the child for a bit. He wnt to one of his contacts at the hospital. "Who is this child?" He asked.
The contact looked at him and smiled, "Her name is April Marie Johnson. She's 13 years old. She was given up the day she was born by her mother." She replied.
"We already know that. I want the real story that's behind all the red tape." Elliot persisted.
"I'm not supposed to say anything about this, but I was there the day she was born. All I know is her mother gave her up because she was a child who was conceived due to a rape. The rapist was found dead." The informant stated.
Elliot dreaded the next question but had to ask anyways. "Who is the mother?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"April was born as April Marie Benson. She is the child that your partner gave up nearly 14 years ago tomorrow." Was all the informant stated.
"Thanks." Elliot said headed back to April. His partner had a child. One she had given up years ago. No wonder she was so good with the victims. And no wonder she had so much baggage that she was emotionally closed off even to him after 12 years of partnership. This explained a lot. As he sat with the child he wondered if Olivia knew who she was.