A/N: I hope you all didn't think I was abandoning this story! There is no way that could happen, it means too much to me. I've been reading so, so much (to the detriment of my eyes and who needs streaming anyway?) but I have to get back in the groove and motivated to write on my own once again. Hopefully, this helps. Enjoy!

Chapter 47

They sat on the patio, coffees long gone cold. Serena was keeping her distance since this morning's argument with her mother. She was currently with Bernie in Gladys' house doing what Liv knew not. The girl knew Elliot went to the city early this morning to meet with Barba, but she didn't know he was already home; or if she did, she was choosing not to acknowledge. Olivia understood her anger and she was loath to upset her more, although she knew it couldn't be helped now.

"We have to tell her Liv" Elliot said, not for the first time. "The sooner the better, especially after I tried to keep you both in the dark before. She of all people has the right to know." He watched his love close her eyes and try to regulate her breath. They talked for about an hour in the garage before there was nothing more to be said and Liv went to shower. The discussion could have continued of course, but they both needed the break.

Taking a deep breath, Liv stood and made her way next door. She knew she was free to walk inside, but she knocked anyway, hesitating just a moment before opening the door. "Serena, I need you to come home please."

"I'm not going to keep having…" the girl froze mid-sentence when she saw her mother's face and Elliot's downcast look right behind her. The heavy sigh could be heard down by the security gate as the three walked back to the house. Once they were back on the patio, Serena turned around quickly. "What?"

"Angel, I want you to…" Elliot began but was interrupted.

"No, Elliot. What? What now? What more do you want to pile on?" He realized that she didn't seem scared. In fact, it looked like she was suppressing great anger, but she was also resigned to whatever was coming.

"Carlson was granted a mistrial. The jury was tainted after everything." He took a breath and when he didn't get any type of response other than impatience, he continued. "We've been in a bubble this weekend here, caring for you but what happened is all over the news, in the papers, online. I'm sorry angel, that's not something I can control. But don't worry, Carlson remains in custody as if his trial hasn't happened, Barba said it'll be damn near impossible to find a jury that can either keep open minds or who are ignorant. This isn't going away; unfortunately, it'll drag on but we will…" He stopped when he heard her laughing. Looking over at Olivia, she had a confused and scared expression that mirrored his own.

"Good" she said as her laughter quieted. "Now everyone can leave me alone and we can all move on with our lives." She stared at Olivia with the same expression Liv uses to stand her ground with overbearing colleagues. "Are we finished?"

"No!" they shouted in unison, surprised that the kid didn't so much as flinch at their outbursts. "How can you say that, much less expect us to leave it?" Liv asked indignantly.

"Seriously? I've been saying this whole time that I didn't want anything to do with this. I didn't want anyone to know, let alone go to court to have things on public record! Then look what happened! I said he would never talk, and I said neither would I and now neither of us has broken our promise and I'm done. I don't have to do it anymore. No one in their right mind would ever make me go back into a courtroom so I'm good." She stood with raised eyebrows and her hands on her hips as if she was expecting it to actually end there. Her parents were speechless and before they could gather their comebacks, Serena spun on her heel and headed towards the beach.

She walked as calmly as she could, especially since she couldn't walk fast. The pain between her legs seemed to grow with her emotions and today has been one roller coaster of a day, not to mention she's been in constant motion all day just so she didn't have to stop and let her thoughts invade. She looked up to squint at the sun as it cast shadows to her left. She was looking forward to winter here; she often wondered what snow looked like on the sand. She stopped in her tracks when she heard a commotion coming from Manny's house as a taxi pulled up. This community was mostly summer homes of older people who've been here forever and there were a handful of young families just starting out. Only a few live here year-round. She and Manny were the only full-timers who were teenagers. According to what she could gather from eavesdropping (was it considered eavesdropping if the elders blatantly had full conversations right in front of you?) the locals didn't mind the extra security one bit. Everyone felt safer with the checkpoint, even if they had to present ID and obey other security protocols. Well, everyone except Ms. Adelaide apparently as she could already be heard complaining about her cab being late and having to vouch for it after all that.

She saw a tall, thin man wheel out a suitcase while carrying a duffel over his shoulder. It could only be Manny's father. The man was smaller than his son, way smaller than Elliot and even Fin. If she had to compare, he was built more like Detective Carisi, which for some reason she found utterly amazing. Manny always said he used to be thin but he built himself up so much that she just assumed his father would be like him.

While she was fixed on the man loading the taxi. She was pulled from her thoughts. "Girl! I don't know how ya got your hooks in 'im, but you will stay away from my Salomon. Coming in here and throwing all our lives up all around! Get off my property!" Ms. Adelaide screamed as she exited the house carrying her purse.

"Mama! That's enough!"

"Grandma please!" Manny and his dad shouted in unison. Funny enough, Serena stayed calm.

"I don't know what I did to make you so upset with me but as I said before ma'am, Salomon is my friend. He is kind, caring, and considerate. He is funny and goes beyond to help those he cares about, and it seems he cares about me. I treasure that and I promise to never do anything to dissuade him or make him regret it. Also, I'm standing on a public beach." The older woman just stood there gaping as if she was trying to translate the girl's words. Serena had no idea where she got the courage to be so bold. She was never a smartass to adults, but this woman! God, I hope Manny doesn't get in trouble for it, again.

"Mama, come on, you're going to be late for your flight." Serena heard Manny's father intervene while her friend walked towards her.

"I'm sorry" She whispered. "I thought she was going to Florida tomorrow?"

"We had a big blowout. I'm just so tired of her ignorance or arrogance or insolence…whatever the word is, which you would know. Even my dad stepped in and Grandma felt betrayed and that started a whole other argument." Manny paused at that and Serena stood still and waited for him to continue. "Anyway, I checked in at school and the next thing I know, she made arrangements to go to my auntie today. Said she couldn't stand to be around the lot of us anymore." They watched the cab drive away as Ms. Adelaide pointedly didn't look back.

"I'm sorry. I never meant to be the catalyst to a family disagreement; for your grandma to leave her own home just because you're friends with me."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" came a deep voice from the left. The kids looked over as Manny's father approached. Serena instinctively took a step back but if the man noticed her discomfort, he didn't show it. Instead, Manny took a step to the side, so he stood partially in front of her. "Serena, right?"

"Yeah. Pop this is Serena Benson or is it Serena Stabler? I'm not sure whose last name you use" he asked as he introduced them. "This is my father, Miles Tierney."

"Your full name is Salomon Tierney? Cool!" Serena exclaimed to confused looks. "Umm, there was another who was an astrophysicist essential in developing NASA's cooling system technology, but I think he may have spelled it differently. Never mind." By the end of that sentence, her voice was so low it was hard to hear and her eyes were burning holes in the sand. Fricken nerd alert.

"Well son, you said she was smart. Nice to meet you young lady, finally!" He said it so warmly that Serena looked up but didn't move when he held his hand out to shake. She hated meeting new people, especially men, and although she wasn't too uncomfortable right now, she wasn't about to shake a man's hand, even if he is Manny's father. He didn't seem to take offense and let his arm drop to his side and continued. "I hear that my mother hasn't been very sociable towards you and I apologize on her behalf. This boy means the world to me and if he's cool with you, so am I. Plus, no one deserves that."

"Thanks Pop" Manny said.

"Yes, thank you Mr. Tierney. It's nice to meet you as well but you don't need to apologize. You did nothing wrong and Ms. Adelaide was just being herself. No one should be told they can't be themselves. No harm done."

"Well thanks for that young lady. I have to get to work, I'm lucky I'm on the second shift but please know that you are welcome here anytime. The pups too." When Serena nodded, he clapped Manny on the back and walked towards his car.

"Don't you have to get to work too?" she asked.

"Nah, my little ninjas don't start until 3:30 when school is in session but if you thought I was going to work, why are you creeping up on my deck?"

She went right for it. She knew her parents' stance on the matter, now she needed to hear his. Later, she'll tell her little group. She's hoping someone will see her viewpoint and respect it. "The defense called for a mistrial and the judge had to grant it. After everything that happened on Friday, there was no way the jury could put all that aside. They were all huddled in their box praying not to be shot but they could still hear everything." She was talking faster than he had ever heard her. "Steven all but admitted to what he did to me and he was shouting right at The Doctor, I was shouting, accusations were made all around. Even without all the drama, reasonable doubt would have been on record for just that. Not to mention, he is at the disadvantage of the media. The Doctor's name is everywhere, there's no way he'll get a fair and unbiased jury. At least not now and he knew that. He had to have known that because Steven was right there, IN the courtroom. If I was looking up as I walked in, instead of trying not to flip out, I never would have made it to the witness stand because no matter the disguise or how far away he stood, I will never forget his face, his voice and grip…" She had to pause and take a deep breath.

"You sound like you have a real connection with him." Manny kept his voice even, even though his insides were screaming. He knew she was tired and hurting so he just plopped himself down knowing she'd sit as well. It took her an awkward minute, but when she did and she looked at him in question, he clarified. "Not this Steven guy, The Doctor. Now hear me out" he said as it looked like she was going to interrupt. "You've said that you never wanted to go to court, you never want anyone to know anything and hey, right there with ya on that. You've mentioned promises between the two of you and the way you talked about him just now, about how unfair it is that his name is in the media. That's a connection." He stopped so she could take that in.

When her silence went on too long, he continued. "Look. I can't imagine, no one can. I can empathize to a point because we can't compare, and I can support you. Especially that. I'm not gonna judge, or blame, be disgusted or make accusations, nuthin like that. I am just going to listen, try to understand, accept and be your friend. My concern isn't him or the trial, it's you."

She opened her mouth a few times to speak, but no sounds came out. Manny didn't want her to start to hyperventilate again so he put his arm around her and drew her head closer. The only way he knew she was crying was when her tears hit his shoulder, otherwise, she was still and quiet.

A barely whispered, "Thank you" was heard over the waves.

-SVU-

If "Mother of the Year" awards were given out based on the words and actions of a single day, Liv would be the farthest from being nominated. She'd be banned for life. Every other day, she felt she was doing a pretty bang-up job with Serena, just not today. First, she argued with her over dying and then wanting to die. Who does that? Was her daughter suicidal? No, she really didn't think so and she remembered what Serena said at the hospital, she fought to stay alive and come home and she wasn't about to do anything to ruin that.

"What the actual fuck, Liv?" Yeah, Elliot was having the same thoughts. "You know we can't just sit back and let that sick bastard walk. That's what'll happen; it's heading that way." He sounded as distraught as she felt.

"I know, El but like it or not we are going to have to let things settle. You said Barba doesn't expect a new trial date for quite a while, months maybe years, so Carlson's not going anywhere but…" Liv stood with her arms crossed over her chest staring up the beach. She could clearly see Serena sitting next to Manny on the sand. From her vantage point, she could not see his arm around her shoulder and she certainly couldn't see that her daughter was crying. Elliot stood next to her, both blatantly staring. When he turned towards her with a raised eyebrow, she continued.

"But" she continued pointedly, "She needs more than we can give her; I can't DO anything more. She'll never go to therapy. I would have to drag her kicking and screaming, which of course would damage her more and make her hate us. She wouldn't even talk if she was strapped to the chair so it would be a waste of everyone's time and efforts. I don't know what it is El, but there's something, something… all I can compare it to is Stockholm's but it's different. Ugh, my head hurts." She began rubbing her forehead so Elliot knew she wasn't just being dramatic (not that Olivia ever would.)

"Yeah, I agree but not with everything. It's you, Liv. She only gets so worked up with you and you give it right back but it's because she loves you so much and she knows you love her with all that you have. I'm not even at least on even footing but a close second, and I'm more than good with that." He smiled when he got a smile out of her. "You and I, our experiences, even if she never spills any more details, we are the only ones qualified to help her now. Yes, we, she will need professional help but right now, she needs status quo, even if it's just an illusion. She doesn't want to disappoint you luv. She doesn't want us to treat her like a victim because she doesn't want to be one and who knows? Maybe whatever attachment she has with him doesn't make her feel like one. Maybe it gives her sanity or a sense of control in some way. Whatever it is, we may never understand it but you're right. We need to make the hardest choice and just stop-for now."

Olivia turned into his chest and held on tight, still watching her daughter. "Maybe we can figure out a way to get a professional in on these group meetings she has every night. Or something, I don't know, and I don't like feeling this helpless." They stood that way for a while longer until they saw the kids stand up and head their way. Serena didn't seem able to stand up on her own and that was extremely disconcerting to Olivia, but she resisted the urge to run towards her, instead watching as the young man she called her friend use both his arms to help her up and then he turned around suddenly. It was then that he reached around, and she did a very pathetic jump onto his back.

"Hey Ms. Olivia!" the young man said once they were close enough. "She needed a ride home and I am happy to oblige." He started laughing at his own pun when Serena sighed heavily over his shoulder, shaking her head. Elliot and Olivia were doing exactly the same thing.

"Hey everyone!" They all turned to see Maddie come through the back of the house. "Serena! Look at you child. Hmm, come inside and let me see." That's all she said before turning around and heading inside.

"Isn't that Ms. Bernie's aide?" Manny asked, confused. Wasn't it weird that this woman just came and gave orders without questioning?

"She's more than that, Manny" Olivia said.

"She's family" Elliot completed.

The young man simply stared before walking Serena indoors and depositing her directly onto her bed. "Okay then. I have to go to work, but I'll see you in group later. Just do me a favor and chill for a while. Like, take a nap or something, okay?" He only headed out when she smiled and nodded.

Maddie observed everything as only she could. "So, is someone going to fill me in or am I supposed to guess?"

"Well, Momma you fill her in because I don't want to hear it again. Elliot, I need to pee." Serena kept her head down while she gingerly walked to the bathroom. It was odd, but the ache, she still wouldn't classify it as a pain, seemed very intense today.

While Serena did what she needed to, Olivia told Maddie everything, from Serena being practically catatonic all weekend, to walking with a limp to the fact that Manny had to carry her. She had just enough time to barely mention the mistrial before Serena and Elliot were back, but Maddie knew the emotional implications of that.

"Okay, Elliot can you please find my Bernie and let her know I'm here? I'm sure she'll be thrilled. And you missy, talk to me."

When Elliot left to find his mother and to give the ladies some privacy, Serena spoke. "Nothing to tell, Maddie. It's been a crazy few days but I'm good." As she saw the incredulous look on the aide's face and before her mother could interrupt, Serena held up her hand. "I have had a hell of a lot worse on more than one occasion. Usually, I just lay around until it all passes but I've been up and moving quite a bit for the last two days and I admit that I may have overdone it. Plus, my brain feels like a carnival, so I really just need to take Manny's advice and chill for a bit. I appreciate it Maddie, but please don't fuss."

"You know I'm not leaving you alone when I know you're in pain right?"

"I'm not asking to be left alone. I don't need to be. I'm just asking for everyone to stop fussing and trust that I can handle it."

"But you shouldn't have to "handle it", not when we can…" Maddie didn't get to finish before Serena stood up, not without effort.

"Done. That's it. Simple. Done. I'm going to sit outside." Maddie seemed ready to fire back but Liv put her hand on her arm to stop her. They followed as the teen held onto the walls and whatever else she could in order to make walking easier until she got outside. This time though, she opted for the single lounger and brought her headphones.