Sorry about the long wait, life happens. Anyway, chapter 75, right where we left off. And thanks to all of you still reading.

Chapter 75

"Lady, what the actual fuck?!" Joe started the minute that Joanie opened the door to her house. She was perturbed at the fact that he was there uninvited and so early; barely seven-thirty. She quickly hurried him inside before the neighbors started to stare.

"Have you no manners or sense? Banging down my door so early. What is this about?"

"What this is about is the fact that I'm running around with the face of a goddam rapist!"

Joanie had to think fast… "What do you-"

"Don't bullshit me lady! I did some research on that Harlan Lewis and it shocked the fuck outta me! That woman wasn't his comrade, she was his victim…his VICTIM!"

"Look, I don't know what you think you heard-"

"Heard? It's still all over the internet! You almost had me stalk and drive a woman crazy who didn't deserve it!"

"She killed my son!"

"HE KILLED YOUR SON!" He screamed those words at her, making her jump nearly out of her skin. Seeing how he affected her, he took a beat to calm himself. "How could you honestly look at that woman and blame her for what that monster did? Not just to your son, but to her?"

"She led my son on for years…broke his heart-"

"So you do this to get back at her?!"

"You don't understand…"

"Oh I understand, I understand that you didn't tell me because you want that little girl; Serena. Nevermind what you were willing to do to her poor mother to get her. Well guess what? I'm out!"

"What do you mean you're out? We had a deal,"

"Screw you and the deal," He said as he went into his coat pocket and pulled out an envelope full of money, throwing it at her. "Take it, it's all there."

"Wait a minute," she said as the money hit the floor. "you can't be serious,"

"Lady, and I sincerely mean this; work it out, get help, I really don't give a damn. But, stay the fuck away from me, you psycho!" He said as he turned and started to walk out. But Joanie couldn't let it go.

"You can't do this!"

"Really? Get help... Seriously!" And he walked out of the front door, slamming it as he left.

Joanie bawled her fists, holding them tightly at her sides and screamed at the top of her lungs. She was so angry. "Who the hell does this guy think he is?"

…

"You've got to be kidding me!" Amanda said, pretty much blindsided as she walked into work and found Eugenia sitting outside her office.

"I wanted to talk, and I didn't think it would be wise to show up to your home."

"You thought right, but it's not too wise to show up here, either." Amanda said as she unlocked and walked inside, Eugenia following and shutting the door.

Amanda stopped as she removed her coat at the coat rack. "Unless you've come to apologize, we don't really have much to say to one another, so..."

"...please, just let me..."

"Why? So you can lie to me again?"

"Amanda,"

"...that is what you did, you lied to me…about having cancer? I heard everything."

The realization of what Amanda had been implying suddenly hit Eugenia like a brick, though she gave no outward cues to let Amanda know this. She would admit to nothing until she knew exactly where this was going.

"Faking cancer?"

"You really wanna go this route?" Amanda said, smiling incredulously while trying to keep her voice down. "You were talking to Catherine and I heard you. You were talking about getting my babies away from me,"

Now Eugenia was worried. There's no way she could have heard that conversation; but then how does she know?

"In case you need reminding, I am their mother!"

"And Darrell was their father, Amanda. There are legacies to protect!"

"Legacies?" Amanda said, not believing her own ears. "I have agreed to everything you wanted- private schools, Jack and Jill, even the christening that your son didn't believe in, because I respect those legacies and I want them to grow up being part of them; I've never tried to shy them away from embracing their culture!"

"Yes, unfortunately in every way but the biggest one,"

"That's all that's important to you. Your son found someone who loved him beyond anyone or anything else in this world and it doesn't matter. I happen to be white; I can't change that! Even Darrell knew that you'd have a bad reaction to us so he tried hard to keep it light, we both did. But we fell in love. Why isn't that enough for you?"

"I-"

She cut Eugenia off when her office phone suddenly started to ring. "I have to take this, some of us have to work for a living." She said as she picked up the receiver and covered it. "See yourself out... Amanda Rollins…"

…

After yesterday, he was just completely worn out mentally. To already be worried sick about his fiance, only to be called on what may be her body, just for it not to be…

He'd spent the rest of the night trying to get in touch with Carolyn. He called all of her friends, he tried places he knew she would frequent, even tried her cabin upstate, but he couldn't pin her down anywhere. Now, standing out back in the alleyway, he stared at the cell phone in his hand. There was one last-ditch call he could make, and honestly he had been dreading it since last night.

"Just do it, Nick…" he said in his head. But it was evident why he was so hesitant. If they said that Carolyn had been missing work, then what? It seemed like he paced around that alley for hours, but in reality it was just a few minutes. Finally, he stopped and swallowed the lump of dread that had lodged itself in his throat and called her work.

He was heartbroken to hear, minutes later, that not only had Carolyn not been at work, but they had no idea that she'd even left. Apparently, they too had been calling her cell phone only to be met by voicemail that was met with no return calls.

Now he had no choice but to call her family.

"Did the fresh air help?" Fin asked as Nick appeared in the frame of his open office door.

"Nit really," he said quietly then came into the room. "I just told Carolyn's family that she's missing…"

"Nick, we don't know that yet,"

"I know it. I couldn't even leave her a message this morning. Her mailbox was full, which means she must be getting calls from everyone. Not to mention that her work had no clue that she was even taking a few personal days. Come on Fin, does that sound at all like Carolyn to you?"

"No." He admitted truthfully. Somberly. "Nick, I'm sorry. I should have listened to you-"

"There's no time to apologize. I already called the missing persons bureau, they're sending their detectives over to meet me. Her family is gonna be here later, I just want her found, and to be okay."

…

"Today is going to be a great day!" Stanley told himself in the mirror while he admired himself. Today, he'd become king -at least in his mind. He'd be taking over for Harlan; reclaiming the throne that was so wrongfully taken away by one rotten whore of a woman. Not only would he continue the legacy, but he'd get his revenge on Stabler in the process.

"Get the girls. That's what's important and the key to it all, Stanley. No more fuckups!" He had to admit, last night was indeed a huge fuckup. He let Kathleen go. Well, in his defense, he had to. "...who knew the little bitch would be so weary?" Though I'd be weary too if I were out there. He thought and chuckled to himself, then grew serious again.

"Fuck you, Elliot Stabler!" This time, he wouldn't fail; in Harlan's name he wouldn't. He put his baseball hat on his head, gave himself a wink and the guns in the mirror, and set out to start his day.

…

Joe decided that going up to Olivia's door and simply knocking would probably end badly for him, but what choice did he have? Besides, the husband was gone, he'd seen him leave; that would at least guarantee that he wouldn't be beaten to death. Still, he had to work up the nerve. This was, after all, Harlan's victim he was about to meet and hopefully apologize to. Now pacing back and forth from where he stood at the corner of the block, he stopped and pulled on his hood to cover his head, preparing to walk to the house.

Just as soon as he got up the nerve.

Inside…

"...well, do you need me to go with you?" Olivia asked Kathleen as they were talking to each other over the phone. She was looking for a snack after having just nursed Fin.

Kathleen was slipping on her sneakers. "No, it's okay. My friend Jess is gonna meet me there and drive me home after. I'm just so glad that this isn't coming out as a lecture,"

"You're doing what's right for you, Kathleen. Even if some people don't or won't understand it."

"Thanks for understanding; a little goes a long way." She said gratefully, making Olivia smile. Anyway, I'd better get to the gym, but, dinner this weekend?"

"We'd love it, I'll tell your dad."

"Great, see you guys Saturday."

Smiling, Olivia sat her phone on the counter and tired of searching, she shut the fridge then turned towards the pantry. She was in there about a minute before she came out with a bag of popcorn under her arm and a pack of oreos that she was digging into and had popped one in her mouth when the front doorbell rang. Sighing her hunger, she rolled her eyes as she reluctantly put down the snacks beside her phone, before picking it up then grabbing another cookie as she made her way to the entryway.

When she arrived, she could see through the glass panels at the top of the door that whoever it was that was standing outside was wearing a Hoodia with their back turned to her. She thought this was odd and very cautiously approached the door.

"Can I help you?" She asked, nervously.

Joe turned around to the door, with his head down. "I'm looking for Olivia Benson?"

Just what exactly could this man possibly want with me? She wondered as she pulled on the doorknob, making sure it was locked. It was. Then, thinking about her next words…

"Can I help you?" She reiterated in a sterner tone.

Joe was silent for a short moment. "I'm gonna look up, but I don't want you to like, freak out."

"Freak out?" She opened her phone and had 9-1-1 ready to go, her finger on the button. "What are you-?" She started. He slowly pulled back his Hoodia as he lifted his head to her. When she saw his face, her heart dropped to her feet and she was so glad that this reinforced door and the security cameras were between them.

You are real! Olivia uttered in a terrified shock under her breath, as she stared up at him through the glass. It felt unreal to be looking at him, up close. He looked exactly like…

"Please, let me explain," he said, his hands raised in surrender. He meant her no harm and needed her to know that, but she was scared out of her mind.

"I'm calling the police!" She cried, the phone already to her ear as she went to the safe built into the end table and entered the code, pulling out a gun and loading it.

"9-1-1, what is your emergency?"

"Ms. Benson…I swear," he said looking around the small window, trying to see her. "I'm not here to hurt you. I just need five minutes. Look, here's my ID," he said desperately as he held it up. "I've never done anything even remotely bad…well except what Mrs. Cassidy paid me for, but I thought it was a good thing…"

"Hello, are you there?" Came from the 911 operator on the phone in her hand.

What he said registered with Olivia, "I'm sorry, my baby got hold of my phone." She said almost robotically before she hung up, texting Elliot just as fast.

[If you don't hear from me again, here's your suspect] she wrote then looked up to the door and snapped a picture of him and his license but she didn't send it. Instead, she closed her messaging app, keeping the text as a draft.

Joe didn't dare protest. She was scared and he didn't blame her. He was a weird man, a stranger showing up at her door with the face of a man who literally tried to destroy her. He stood there in place as she opened the door.

"I sent your picture to my husband," she said, more as a threat than a warning, the gun on proud display. "He's FBI so you will be hunted! Clear?"

"Crystal."

…

Remembering how his wife was two years ago, he doesn't regret what he told Olivia back then, but now wonders, why? Why didn't he tell her the truth, that they didn't think Bronwyn would ever wake up again. Olivia was free from everything she'd been through. If he had told her the truth back then, it would have consumed her. Harlan was dead, and as far as Olivia knew, so was Bronwyn. Neither of them would ever be a threat to her again.

Yes, the FBI was keeping watch on Bronwyn, ready to prosecute if she ever did awaken, but no one thought she would. Still, looking at the situation now, Olivia had a right to know, and him, wanting to make everything better for her; help her healing, basically he lied to her. Now, the freak has opened her eyes, returned to the living (so to speak), and he is no closer to telling Olivia now, than he was when he sincerely thought Bronwyn would never wake up. God, you couldn't write this shit! He thought as he stared through the glass, into her room.

Watching. It was just a formality up until now. Watching. He was never supposed to be here; like this. Two years. Two-fucking-years and suddenly she just rises like a damn Phoenix. Elliot wondered now, how much of the old Bronwyn was still in there as he stared at her through the window of her cordoned-off room.

"...and how long has she been…?" Elliot started. He was at the hospital with Jack Kelsey, his friend in the bureau who had given him the call, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of dread as he stared at her from outside the room.

"Awake? Just since this morning,"

"She do anything?"

"Nothing. She just sits there staring, like she's contemplating. She's been in a fucking coma for two years, and now you can tell that her mind is going a million-miles-a-minute. Jack stressed as Elliot tensely watched the newly-awakened Bronwyn Freed.

She was thinner now, and completely colorless. She looked almost scary with how much weight she'd lost in the two years she'd been unconscious.

"I'm going in…" Elliot said through a tight jaw as he stepped to go through the door to Bronwyn's room.

"Stabler, maybe that's not a very good i-"

"You don't know that monster. You don't know the hell she's brought everywhere she's gone,"

"It's up to the Feds now, let them han-" Jack began but Elliot had already opened the door and was on his way inside. Kelsey shrugged his shoulders and reluctantly followed him. When they entered, a nurse was inside, just finishing her third check of Bronwyn's vitals this morning.

"SA Elliot Stabler," he said, momentarily holding up his badge before putting it in his jacket pocket. "This is SA Kelsey. Can we have the room please?"

The nurse stood, unsure what to do and she just looked back and forth from Elliot to her patient. "How did you get in here?"

"Ma'am, this is official FBI business- the room. Please." Elliot reiterated his request and the nurse nodded apprehensively before she took her things and exited. Bronwyn meanwhile, simply stared at Elliot and Jack, confused as to who they are.

"Do you remember me, Bronwyn?" Elliot asked as he walked around the room to her bed where she sat up.

After a moment of looking at Elliot and then Jack, Bronwyn cocked her head and asked, eyeing both men, "should I?"

Elliot and Kelsey both looked fixedly at each other with an apprehensive, ticked-off gaze.

…

"This is a fucking joke!" Elliot fumed, as he sat in the driver's seat of the SUV.

"Maybe you should ca-"

"Amnesia?"Elliot said, cutting him off. "Of all the excuses in the world, she fakes amnesia?!"

"The doctor doesn't seem to think she's faking-"

"That doctor's an idiot; She's faking and I know it!"

"Stabler, maybe you're a-bit-too invested…"

Dialing on his phone, "If she had done to someone you love what she'd done to my wife…

"What are you doing?"

"First, I'm calling the bureau. I wanna know exactly how fast our doctors will get to her. Then, I have to tell my wife, and pray that she doesn't divorce or murder me!"

…

"Nick says Carolyn is missing, what's going on?" Olivia said to Fin as she walked into the squadroom.

"Apparently, she just disappeared. Nick thought she took a few self care days but…"

"My god!"

"It's a lot to digest…I take it he didn't tell you?"

"No, he said he had to go but that we'd talk later." She said, growing silent and taking on a faraway look. Fin noticed and after a moment he called to her to bring her back

"...Liv?"

"I'm sorry, I was just…"

"Harlan?" Quietly, she nodded yes.

"There's so much ugly in this world; so many people who just want to cause pain. Fin what if-"

"We're not gonna think about it, okay?" He said calmly. "We just have to believe that somehow, she's safe."

"Yeah… um, Haru,what?"

"It's gonna take some time to get a DNA test, in the meanwhile, she's waiting and preparing herself for if she is their mother and what that'll mean."

"Time will tell, right?"

"Seein the girls today?"

"No. I've got a visit with the shrink this morning and it couldn't have come at a better time. I'll see you."

…

In Bronwyn's hospital room, she was asleep while the guard stood outside the door…

"What the hell did you say to me, woman?" Harlan replied angrily as he turned, skulking toward Bronwyn who backed up a step.

"I just meant that...I..." she stammered nervously just before he slapped her hard across the face, the strength of the hit knocking her to the floor.

I'll deal with you later, right now, you get to watch me teach this one a lesson!"

Bronwyn watched in horror as Harlan snatched the other woman up from the floor, bent her over the sink, pulling up her gown as she begged him not to. The woman began begging Bronwyn to look away when Harlan wouldn't stop and began violently fucking her while threatening Bronwyn with an even worse fate if she dared look away. Bronwyn didn't dare disobey him, no matter how disgusted she was at what was happening in front of her or how long it took to stop. The woman was relieved when Harlan finally came and pulled out. Then she sank to the floor, sobbing at this new humiliation while Harlan zipped his pants and taunted her before grabbing Bronwyn by the neck and yanking her out of the room, slamming and locking the door behind them. Moments later, Harlan screamed profanities at Bronwyn before he began to mercilessly beat her amidst her screams.

Suddenly, Bronwyn shot awake, breathing heavily and so afraid as she came out of the dream. She'd been having them for the last two years, and they never became any clearer on just who the woman, or this Harlan person was. But even more importantly, why was she there and why was she dreaming so vividly? She'd been trapped with these dreams for two years- that's how long they told her that she'd been comatose. She still can't believe it, two years of her life, just slept away. Nothing to keep her company but the terrible dreams.

Then there was the man who came to see her today. He seemed almost angry when she begged his apologies upon telling him that she didn't know what he was talking about. Why have the doctors been so secretive around her and why is she handcuffed to this bed? Was it for her own safety? Did this Harlan person somehow hurt her too?

…

Poor Joanie. All her efforts, and now she was stuck without a Harlan. Where the hell would she get a replacement? It was God's grace that she'd come across Joe but now he's gone and left her; suddenly grew a conscience.

What do I do now? It's not like she can just go and order up another doppelganger…

"SHIT!" She exclaimed, suddenly realizing something. She'd been so pissed about Joe quitting in her that she didn't think of one thing…the most important thing; what if the nimrod had gone to Olivia?

"So what now?" Olivia asked Fin as she eased the door to Serena's room partly closed. She had gotten her and the baby down at the same time and now she was in the kitchen, deciding what to cook for dinner. Fin had called to tell her that for once, the city had been on it's game and notified Haru that the DNA tests would be performed tomorrow. Olivia wondered if it would only prove what Haru had been saying; that she is the mother to both Emiko and Plumm.

"Now it's a matter of waiting for the results. I only hope they're what Haru wanted."

"I know she just wants what's best for them,"

"But…"

"...but I worry. Those beautiful little girls are so mixed up. What if Haru can't deal with it? I know she said she's ready for anything, but… she hasn't met them, Fin, she has no idea how affected they are. What if it's all too much for her?"

"Liv, I know how invested you are in those girls, but you gotta give Haru some room. I got a good feelin about her, she'll do the right thing for them."

"We can only hope,"

"Been meanin to ask, you okay?"

"I'll be fine; a lot on my mind."

Fin wondered what she meant, but also knew that when she was comfortable doing so, she'd share. "Wanna talk about it?"

"I'm still trying to absorb it…rain check?"

"You know I'm here."

"I know, and I love you for it," Olivia said and hung up.

If anyone had told Olivia that Joanie would go to such lengths…

The last couple of years hadn't been easy; after the court hearing, Olivia was dead set on keeping Joanie as far away from Serena as possible, but when Brian's birthday came around, Joanie's first without him, Olivia took pity. It was Elliot who really gave her the push; not that Joanie ever took that into consideration with how Olivia knew the woman felt about Elliot.

But here she was, freaking out. This was definitely one of those times where she could really use a hard drink, hell, she could use ten as she wondered if she could get off on an insanity plea if she…

"Don't think such thoughts Olivia!" She warned herself as she sat down at the island counter and began browsing a cookbook as her phone rang. Looking at the display, she grinned as she ignored it. She wasn't ready to drop the hammer on Joanie, because despite what people thought, Olivia hated confrontation.

"...but the old bitch just keeps pushing!" She said, just as Elliot made his way into the kitchen.

"Where are the kids?" He said as he came and planted a kiss on her cheek before he went to wash his hands.

"Napping. You've been gone for a while- most of the day actually…We're having takeout tonight!" She grinned as she shut the cookbook.

He turned off the water and got a paper towel to dry his hands. All this time he'd been away from the house and he still had no idea how to broach this subject. Buy some time, Elliot. She's not ready to hear- No, it can't wait, and she deserved to know, and he didn't want to go through another period of not talking because of just this. Who was he kidding? There was definitely going to be a period of not talking once she heard what he had to say. He'd be lucky if not talking was all she did.

"I really don't mean to be that woman, but aren't you on parental leave from work?"

"Yes, and I'm sorry, I really am. So much is taking my time away from home; and that's no excuse…"

"Baby, It's fine. I haven't exactly been Suzy Homemaker," she smiled, easing his mind.

"I guess we're both pretty bad, huh?"

"We're both doing the best we can with the current circumstances," She caressed his cheek and he laid a sweet kiss to the heel of her palm.

"I love you!" He said, looking deep into her eyes. "I love you so much, and I don't know if I say it enough but I do. I uh, I really need to talk to you." He said gloomily with a look of sadness and worry in his eyes.

"Elliot?" her mouth forming a rictus. "What's that look?"

"All day I've been thinking of asking you to not completely lose it and-"

"Honey, you're scaring me,"

"I should have told you this two years ago. I should have just been honest, and I'm sorry; I only wanted to protect you…I never thought she'd wake up-"

"…what are you saying?" She asked, already having a feeling that deep-down she already knew. But it couldn't be. She was dead. She died from her injuries, that's what Elliot told her; that's what he said…"

"Liv," he said, holding her hands in his. "Baby, Bronwyn's alive."

"That's not funny Elliot."

"It's not meant to be." He struggled to get the words out. "Two years ago…I lied to you, and I'm so sorry, I never thought…"

He went on talking but she tuned him out and just looked at him in silence; really looked at him, searching for some sign that this was a joke as she snatched her hands away from him. He had to be playing a very sick, and twisted joke; one that any minute, he would admit that he was fucking with her.

So why wasn't he admitting that he was fucking with her?

…

Tbc…