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Disclaimer: Reference in the story to dialogue in the s23 finale. Property of Law and Order SVU.
Following the appointment with her OB-GYN, Liv arranged a meeting with her therapist for later that day after work. She then contacted Lucy who agreed she would stay at Liv's apartment with Noah until she returned home at around seven. Once Liv had made the arrangements she placed her phone back in her handbag and found herself feeling significantly calmer. She just needed to get through the day.
Liv drove to work and arrived at the precinct shortly after nine, steeling herself for the day ahead as she walked up the steps and into the building. She let out a deep breath before stepping into the squad room, where she was met with a round of applause from the detectives and uniformed officers. Choruses of 'well done, Captain' and 'nice collar' reached her, and she thanked them with a polite smile before heading towards her detectives. Fin and Amanda were sitting at their desks and were facing her, awaiting her approach. As Liv walked towards them Fin rose to his feet and approached her.
"You okay, Liv?" Fin asked, his gaze meeting hers. Liv offered him a small smile and a nod.
"I'm fine Fin, thank you" she assured him. Fin nodded in response.
"Amanda said you got three broken ribs?" he continued. Liv nodded once more.
"I do" Liv replied. "And provided I don't laugh, sneeze or breathe, I don't notice them at all" she smiled. Fin smiled back and nodded.
"If it's any consolation, DiAngelo wasn't lookin' too hot himself when he was booked in" he added quietly. Liv's smile faltered. "Relax, it wasn't me" he added quickly. "When you were arrestin' him you dislocated his right shoulder" he advised, trying but failing to suppress a smile. Liv sighed lightly and nodded.
"Under the circumstances I'd say we're even" she added quietly, adjusting her hold on her bag. Fin nodded in agreement.
"Liv" said Amanda, prompting Liv to turn towards her. "Captain Peterson from the Bronx SVU is in your office" she explained. "He got here about twenty minutes ago, said it's urgent" she advised. Liv nodded and looked up towards her office, where the older male Captain was pacing with a serious expression.
"Thanks, Amanda" Liv responded, before walking calming towards her office and opening the door. "Hi, Bill" Liv greeted warmly, extending her hand. "Sorry to have kept you" she added apologetically.
"Not at all, Liv" Bill responded, offering her a warm smile as he shook her hand. "I apologise for coming in unannounced first thing on a Monday morning" he added as Liv walked towards her desk, placing her handbag on the ground beside her desk and draping her coat over the back of her chair. "But this really can't wait."
"Okay" Liv said slowly, easing herself gently into her chair and wincing slightly as her lower ribs ached in protested. "So how can I help?" she asked, as Bill sat down opposite her.
"I hear you arrested Luca DiAngelo on Friday morning" Bill said with a smile, as he held up a local newspaper which featured the news of his arrest. "Congratulations" he added sincerely. Liv nodded in acknowledgement. "Your sergeant told me you were injured during the arrest" he remarked. Liv swallowed hard and nodded.
"A few broken ribs is a small price to pay for getting someone like DiAngelo off the streets" Liv replied. "At least, that what I tell myself when I breathe in too hard" she added with a smile. Bill nodded sympathetically in response.
"One of my detectives was reading about DiAngelo's arrest, and the details of his crimes reminded her of a couple of cold cases" Bill advised, before handing Liv two manilla folders. "Amelie Drake and Sierra Foster. Young blonde women, mid to late twenties, living and working in the Bronx" he advised. "They were raped and murdered three months ago in the exact same way your perp committed his crimes" he advised. Liv flicked through the files and then looked up at him. "There's also a couple more cases with similar MO's from earlier this year, late last year" he explained. "I think your guy is responsible for them" he explained. Liv nodded slowly in response.
"The mother of DiAngelo's son lives in the Bronx, he sometimes stays over" Liv said slowly. "It's possible that he also targeted victims in the borough" she considered, as she continued to go through the files. "I could've taken these photos at our crime scenes" she breathed. Bill nodded slowly in response, and Liv looked up to meet his gaze. "I suggest we set up a joint task force to investigate these crimes and any others you believe might be linked to DiAngelo, to build the case against him" she explained. "I'll call One PP to update them, and I'll call Brooklyn SVU, Queens and the other boroughs to see if they have any similar cases" she advised.
"I agree" Bill replied, as he rose from his seat. "I'm gonna send you over two of my detectives, Harding and Sanders. These were their cases" he explained. Liv nodded. "And if you need anyone else, you just let me know" he advised.
"I will, thank you" Liv responded, as she rose to her feet to shake Bill's hand. "I'll keep you updated" she assured him.
"Please do" he encouraged. Liv nodded in response and watched as he walked out of her office. She then turned towards her window and gestured to Fin and Amanda, who got up from their desks and headed in to join her.
And so, within minutes of arriving SVU Liv was engaged in a setting up a multi-burough taskforce in relation to the prolific Luca DiAngelo. She spent the majority of the morning chained to her desk, making calls to the Captains of all SVU's in the city, together with the DA's office, 1PP and various medical examiners. Fin orchestrated the taskforce from their squad room, working with the Bronx detectives and comparing details of their cases. Carisi arrived in the late morning and liaised with their colleagues from the other boroughs, and then returned to his office to liaise with the DAs from the various boroughs. Liv had not left her desk in hours, and she had not been disturbed by any of her detectives, whom Amanda and Liv were taking control of to enable her to focus. It was only when she heard a familiar knock at her door she realised it was nearly three o'clock in the afternoon, and she felt utterly drained.
"Yeah" Liv called, brushing her hair back with her hand and leaning back slightly in her seat, as Amanda entered her office.
"Hey, Liv" Amanda said with a small smile as she walked towards her. "We just ordered lunch from the deli, I got you your usual" she advised, as she placed a brown bag upon her desk. Liv could smell the toasted sandwich and her stomach growled in anticipation.
"Thanks, Amanda" Liv responded gratefully, as she opened the brown bag and began eating the french fries. "How's it going out there?" she asked.
"Good" Amanda replied. "We're confident the Bronx cases are the work of DiAngelo" she advised. "There was a bootprint in blood at one of the scenes, so we're comparing that to all the shoes he owns" she advised. "Forensics should come back to us within the next day or two" she explained. Liv nodded in understanding and unscrewed the lid on the apple juice and took a few tentative sips.
"I just have a few more calls to make then I'll come out and we can discuss where we are" Liv advised, as she continued to sip the apple juice. Amanda watched her closely and nodded in response.
"There's no rush, Liv, everything's under control" she assured her. Liv looked up at her and lowered her drink.
"I'm sure it is" Liv said gently. "I just want to see where we are then update the other captains" she advised. "I'm multiple calls every hour" she said with a sigh. Amanda nodded sympathetically.
"Why don't you take a break?" she suggested carefully. Liv looked up and met her gaze.
"That's not necessary" Liv said confidently. "But thank you" she added with a smile. Amanda nodded slowly in response, before sitting down in the chair opposite Liv.
"How did it go this morning?" Amanda asked cautiously. Liv swallowed hard and nodded, lowering her gaze from her friend's momentarily. The day had been an almost complete distraction from the news of her pregnancy, until this moment.
"Everything is fine" Liv replied, looking up at Amanda once more. "I've got some leaflets, a prescription, and an appointment for two weeks' time" she explained. Liv watched as Amanda visibly relaxed and she smiled.
"I'm really glad to hear it" Amanda responded. Liv smiled gently.
"So was I" she advised, her voice nervous yet sincere, swallowing hard as she spoke. Amanda waited a moment for Liv to compose herself.
"Are you gonna tell Barba?" Amanda asked softly. Liv smiled nervously and averted Amanda's gaze, leaning back in her seat for a moment and swallowing thickly. Amanda waited patiently for her to continue.
"Not yet" Liv responded quietly. "The doctor said that given my age the... there is a higher risk of genetic abnormalities or conditions, some of which are life-limiting" she explained. "She recommended Amniocentesis and I have decided to have it" she advised. "It can't be done until fifteen weeks, and the results take about three to come back, so..."
"So you're going to wait six more weeks before you tell him?" asked Amanda gently, concern and surprise present in her tone. Liv swallowed hard and blinked, unable to look at Amanda as she continued.
"If there is anything to tell him" Liv continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "Then, yes" she added, finally meeting Amanda's gaze. Her friend looked up at her with a look of sympathy and concern, and it almost broke the little composure that Liv had left. "Amanda, please don't-"
"I'm not" Amanda assured her, smiling gently. "I'm not" she added. "I get it, Liv, I really do" she continued. "I know how scary this is for you, and I know you're worried about telling Barba" she added. "It is your decision" she assured her. "But you don't have to do this alone" she said gently. "He would want be here, and to support you through this" she advised. Liv swallowed hard.
"I can't" Liv said quickly. "I can't... tell him until I know that... that there is going to be something to tell him about" she continued, her voice quiet as she spoke. "There's no reason for us both to have to go through losing..." the continued, swallowing hard as she felt tears burn in her eyes. She let out a deep breath and shook her head. "No. No, I... I can't" she added simply. Amanda watched Liv for a few moments before nodding sadly in response.
"I understand" Amanda said gently, not wanting to argue with Liv or upset her further. "You know you're not alone, right?" she said softly, offering Liv a smile. Liv met her gaze and returned her gentle smile.
"I know" Liv replied. "And I appreciate your support, Amanda. I really do" she assured her. Amanda smiled once more and reached across the desk, squeezing Liv's hand briefly, before rising to her feet.
"I'll be in the squad room if you need anything, okay?" Amanda asked. Liv nodded in understanding, thanking her once more and watching as she left the room.
After Amanda left Liv's office, Liv sat in a stupor for several minutes, as she subject she had been desperately trying to avoid returned to the forefront of her mind. Her stomach clenched almost painfully and she put the remainder of her lunch in the bin, ignoring the waves of panic-induced nausea which were overcoming her. It came as almost a relief when her phone rang, and she found herself speaking to her chief for the third time in as many hours, updating him on the position so far.
Liv made a series of other phone calls before heading into the squad room and obtaining an update on all cases they felt were likely to be the work of Luca DiAngelo. So far there were thirteen across four boroughs, with another five possibilities which were currently being looked into. She returned to her office to update all the other captains, which took a considerable amount of time. It was only when she was about to call the DA's office once more that she realised it was quarter to five and she was running late for her appointment.
"Damn" Liv breathed, as she quickly rose from her seat and grabbed her blazer.
Liv pulled on her blazer and bent down to pick up her handbag, adding several files, her laptop and her phone. She turned away from her desk and was about to leave her office when she felt a sudden wave of dizziness overcome her. Her limbs felt heavy, her heart was pounding, and she found herself feeling incredibly light headed. Liv gripped the edge of her desk instinctively and lowered herself slowly back into her seat, taking in several deep, restorative breaths in an attempt to regain her composure. After a couple of minutes she felt slightly better, and she eased herself out of her chair slowly and with caution, breathing in and out slowly as she made her way out of her office and into the squad room. She called out to her detectives to announce her departure, advising them she was available on her cell, as she removed her keys out of her bag and hurried out of the building.
Liv arrived at Dr Lindstrom's office two minutes before her appointment, hurrying breathlessly up the staircase and ringing the bell. She planted her hand on the side of the building and took several deep breaths to steady her breathing, before the sounds of his voice appeared over the intercom.
"Hi, Dr Lindstrom, it's Olivia" she announced, as her therapist greeted her and buzzed her in. "Thank you" she responded, before opening the door and heading up the staircase.
As Liv reached the top of the staircase the door opened and Dr Lindstrom stood before her, his kind eyes watching her patiently.
"Good evening, Olivia" he greeted her warmly, standing aside and inviting her in.
"Thank you for seeing me at such short notice" Liv responded, as she followed him into his consulting room, placing her bag down by the leather seat she sat in and shrugging off her blazer.
"Of course" he responded warmly, as he sat down opposite her.
Liv took a moment to centre herself, finding the dimly lit room with sage walls incredibly soothing, the silence which fell a stark contrast the to endless noise of the squad room.
"I read about your case, Luca DiAngelo" Dr Lindstrom announced, drawing Liv immediately from her thoughts. She blinked herself out of her stupor and waited patiently for him to continue. "The article said you arrested him, and you were hurt" he explained. Liv felt a knot form in the pit of her stomach, and she nodded automatically.
"It was just a few broken ribs and some bruising, it's nothing" she said dismissively.
"That doesn't sound like nothing" Dr Lindstrom said gently. Liv met his gaze and blinked. "Being assaulted by a violent serial rapist must have brought back some difficult memories for you" he continued cautiously. Liv suppressed the images which appeared in her mind, digging her fingernails into the leather armrest and shaking her head.
"That's not why I'm here" Liv said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. Dr Lindstrom watched her for a moment before nodding.
"Can you tell me why you are here?" he asked softly.
Liv swallowed thickly and felt her resolve falter. She had been waiting nervously for this appointment all day, and now it had arrived she found herself unable to speak. She lowered her gaze from her therapist's and smiled nervously.
"Why don't we start at the beginning?" Dr Lindstrom encouraged. Liv inhaled an unsteady breath and looked up to meet his gaze.
"I slept with Barba" she confessed, the words falling from her lips before she could stop them.
If Dr Lindstrom was surprised he concealed it well, his eyes never leaving hers, his expression unreadable as always.
"Okay" he replied slowly, waiting patiently for her to continue.
"It was just one time" she continued quietly, her nervousness reducing with her admission. "But our relationship was already so complicated, and this has made it even more so" she explained.
"Have you and Mr Barba talked about it?" Dr Lindstrom asked. Liv let out a nervous laugh and shook her head.
"No" Liv admitted, crossing her arms around her abdomen as she spoke. "No, we haven't. Not really" she continued, the words flowing easily as she continued to speak. "The morning after we agreed we needed to, and that we would discuss it over dinner, but he has been working out of state since" she explained. Dr Lindstrom nodded in understanding.
"How long has he been out of state?" he asked.
"A few months" Liv replied, relaxing into her seat.
"Do you regret what happened between you both?" he asked.
"No" Liv replied immediately, shaking her head as she spoke. "No, I don't regret it. And he doesn't either" she continued. "We'd met in a bar after a court case, and we argued" she explained. "I didn't want to leave things like that so I went to his hotel, we talked, and..." she continued, looking up at Dr Lindstrom as she spoke. "It just happened" she said simply. Dr Lindstrom nodded in understanding.
"We've talked about Mr Barba before, in previous sessions" Dr Lindstrom began. "You indicated that there is a mutual attraction" he explained cautiously.
"Yeah, there was. There is, I..." Liv continued, faltering slightly as she spoke. "We've always had this... intimacy" she explained, "I feel a connection to him that I haven't felt with anyone before" she explained. "He's an honest, honourable and decent man" she advised. "I confide in him about things that I don't discuss with other people. Not even you" she explained.
"And that's why you felt so betrayed by him when he agreed to defend the killer of your ex-partner's wife" Dr Lindstrom said gently. "Despite you asking him not to" he added. Liv nodded in agreement.
"He said he was protecting me" Liv advised. "Elliot crossed the line when interviewing the suspect. Any other defence attorney would've ripped me apart for allowing him to be involved" she explained. "Rafa was worried that my position would be compromised" she continued.
"But if he was the attorney, he could ensure you would not be subject to that type of criticism or attack" Dr Lindstrom explained. "So he was protecting you" he added gently. Liv swallowed thickly and shook her head.
"I didn't ask him to protect me" she advised, repeating the words she had said to him that night in the bar.
"You didn't have to" Dr Lindstrom replied, prompting her to look up at him. "It's clear that he thinks of you in as high a regard as you do him" he explained. "The fact you feel able to open up to him speaks very highly of him" he added, nodding his head as he spoke. "Relationships built on that level of trust are intimate by nature" he explained. "The fact he did something to protect you, at his own expense, shows how deeply he cares for you" he advised. Liv shifted in her seat, uncrossing her arms and staring at Dr Lindstrom. "But you're still angry at him" he said slowly.
"I'm not angry" Liv replied, shaking her head sadly.
"Disappointed?" he suggested, Liv considered the question before sighing lightly.
"Perhaps. Yes" she responded. Dr Lindstrom nodded.
"It is completely understandable that you would feel disappointed" Dr Lindstrom said gently. "The more we care about someone, the more it hurts when they do something we asked them not to" he stated. "You asked him not to do something and he did it. His intentions were noble, but you still feel betrayed" he advised. "And yet..."
"And yet" Liv repeated, smiling softly and lowering her gaze from Dr Lindstrom's. A comfortable silence fell between them for a few moments. "Amanda thinks that us sleeping together was inevitable" she added. "She even implied it was what we both needed" she continued.
"And what do you think?" Dr Lindstrom asked. Liv took in a deep breath as she considered the question.
"I think our relationship has always been complex" Liv replied slowly, meeting Dr Lindstrom's gaze as she spoke. "There's been this emotional, intellectual intimacy between us, almost from the beginning" she explained. "We went from colleagues to friends, confidantes" she continued. Dr Lindstrom nodded encouragingly. "Sometimes I would touch his back, or his arm, and he'd put his hand on my shoulder, or hug me" she continued. "We'd have drinks or dinner together, especially after a difficult case" she explained. "It feels like we've spent years dancing that line, but never actually crossing it."
"Until recently" Dr Lindstrom stated. Liv nodded slowly in response. "Have you and Mr Barba spoken much since that night?" he asked.
"He's been in Boston ever since, and will be for another month or so" she advised, clasping her hands in her lap as she spoke. "We've exchanged some texts, and we FaceTime every Friday" she explained. "He and Noah get on really well" she added, her expression softening as she spoke about her son. Dr Lindstrom smiled and nodded.
"Have your feelings towards Mr Barba changed at all, since that night?" he asked cautiously. Liv considered the question for a few moments before meeting his gaze once more.
"No, they haven't changed" Liv replied gently. "They are the same as they always have been" she explained. "I just understand them better now" she added, smiling sadly.
Dr Lindstrom saw tears glisten in her eyes, and she looked away from him, taking in an unsteady breath. He waited a few moments to enable her to regain her composure.
"Have you told Mr Barba how you feel about him?" Dr Lindstrom asked gently.
"No" Liv replied, her eyes fixed on a spot on the wall to his left. "I can't" she added quietly.
"Why can't you?" he asked gently. Liv shook her head.
"It's complicated" she whispered, digging her fingernails into her palm to stop herself from crying.
"Why is it complicated, Olivia?" Dr Lindstrom asked softly, prompting her to turn slowly towards him and meet his gaze.
Liv swallowed hard and tried to ignore the feelings of anxiety and panic which were rising within her, as she prepared to utter words she had not yet dared to speak.
"Because I'm pregnant" she said quietly, her bottom lip trembling slightly as a single tear ran down her cheek.
Liv inhaled a shaken breath and wiped her cheek, as Dr Lindstrom leaned forward with a packet of tissues. She took one and dried her eyes, before leaning back in her seat and calming herself. When she looked back towards Dr Lindstrom he was watching her with patient eyes and a calm expression, both of which she found incredibly comforting.
"It's alright, Olivia" Dr Lindstrom soothed. "How far along are you?" he asked, glancing down towards her abdomen, which gave no sign of her condition.
"Twelve weeks" she said quietly. Dr Lindstrom nodded.
"That must have come as quite a shock to you" he added gently. Liv let out a nervous laugh and nodded.
"You have no idea" Liv continued, screwing up the damp tissue in her hand. "I found out on Friday" she explained. "When I apprehended DiAngelo he resisted arrest. He kicked me twice in the stomach. I was in so much pain, I..." she faltered, breaking off slightly as she remembered collapsing in the alleyway with debilitating stomach cramps. "Amanda rushed me to the hospital. They thought I had internal bleeding, so they did an ultrasound and instead of bleeding they found a..." she continued, her throat tightening as she spoke.
"A baby" Dr Lindstrom offered. To her confusion, Liv found herself feeling tearful once more.
"Yes" she agreed, sniffing slightly and staring at her hands. "I was in pain and bleeding, and I passed out" she continued. "I woke up a few hours later, and they kept me in hospital for observations for most of the day" she explained. "I had a threatened miscarriage" she informed him. "I was discharged and I... I spent the whole weekend thinking I was going to..."
"I understand" Dr Lindstrom said soothingly, prompting Liv to swallow thickly and continue.
"But I didn't" she added tearfully, looking up at him as she spoke. "The bleeding stopped, the pain stopped, and I was fine" she added. "But given what happened a miscarriage felt inevitable" she explained. Dr Lindstrom nodded in understanding. "I had an appointment with my OB this morning, and... and everything is fine" she said, smiling softly, before becoming tearful once more. "Sorry" she said breathlessly. Dr Lindstrom leaned forward and passed her the box of tissues.
"You have nothing to apologise for, Olivia" he assured her, as she took two more tissues. He waited a few moments for her to dry her eyes and compose herself. "How did you feel when you found out that everything was alright?" he asked, deliberately avoiding use of the word 'baby' in an attempt not to distress her further.
"Relieved" Liv responded immediately, nodding as she spoke. "I felt this excitement and relief just wash over me" she explained. "And then I felt terrified" she added, her smile faltering. Dr Lindstrom nodded.
"Which is completely natural and understandable" Dr Lindstrom assured her. Liv swallowed hard and nodded in response. "I take it you haven't told Mr Barba yet?" he asked gently. Liv shook her head.
"No" she replied, her voice heavy with emotion. "No, I haven't" she repeated, looking up and meeting his gaze as she spoke. "My OB explained that, given my age, there is a higher risk that the..." she continued, faltered as she spoke, unable to speak that certain word. "There is a higher risk of genetic abnormality, or a condition which could be life-limiting" she explained. "She recommended Amniocentesis, but I can't have the procedure until I reach fifteen weeks, and it'll take three weeks for all the results to come back" she explained. Dr Lindstrom nodded in understanding.
"The chances of your baby having one of those conditions are higher for a person your age than someone younger" Dr Lindstrom explained gently. "But they are still incredibly rare conditions" he advised. "You are much more likely to have a healthy baby than a baby who has one of those conditions" he said soothingly. Liv swallowed hard and nodded.
"I'm forty-eight years old" Liv said tearfully. "The fact this even happened is..." she continued, breaking off as she could not find the word. "I have to be sure" she added.
"Of course" Dr Lindstrom replied gently. "And you want to be sure before you tell Mr Barba?" he asked softly. Liv nodded.
"If... if the results show that... that the-" she began, breaking off as she spoke.
"The baby" Dr Lindstrom offered gently. "You can say the word, Olivia" he said softly. He watched as Liv's jaw clenched and she visibly stiffened, before taking in a deep breath.
"There might not be anything for me to tell him" Liv explained quietly. "It would be cruel to tell him before."
"Cruel?" Dr Lindstrom repeated. "How so?" he asked curiously. Liv swallowed hard and met his gaze.
"Do you remember I told you about the Drew Householder case?" Liv asked. Dr Lindstrom considered the question and recalled the name and details, and nodded slowly in response.
"The baby born with Mitochondrial DNA Depletion Syndrome" Dr Lindstrom responded. "The baby whose death Mr Barba expedited" he added. Liv nodded.
"It haunted him. What happened" Liv said quietly. "He was so overcome with guilt that he quit his job – that he loved – and moved state" she explained. "I can't drag him back here to make the same decision" she added tearfully. Dr Lindstrom's expression softened and he met her gaze.
"You believe that by telling him now he may have to be involved in making a decision to-"
"Yes" Liv interrupted, not wanting him to finish his sentence. "I can't do that to him" she added. "I won't" she stated with conviction. "It would destroy him" she said quietly, her eyes tearful and her expression pained. "I can't put him through that" she added.
"So you want to be responsible for making the decision – if such a decision needs to be made" Dr Lindstrom said gently. "Alone?" he asked. Liv nodded.
"Yes" Liv said quietly. Dr Lindstrom nodded slowly, and considered his next words carefully before speaking them out loud.
"Because you want to protect him" he stated. Liv looked up at him and met his gaze.
"Because I don't want to cause him any unnecessary pain" Liv clarified. Dr Lindstrom nodded in understanding.
"But what about your pain, Olivia?" he asked gently. Liv swallowed hard and shook her head.
"The only thing that would hurt me more than having to make that decision, and going through that, is knowing that Rafa had to deal with it too" Liv explained. "It would be selfish of me to tell him about this only to take it away a few weeks later" she stated.
"And is that what you want, or what you think you owe him?" Dr Lindstrom asked gently. Liv swallowed hard.
"It's the right thing to do" she said simply. Dr Lindstrom waited a few moments to see if she would continue, and when she did not, he posed a question with great caution.
"What do you think Mr Barba would do, if he did know that you are pregnant?" Dr Lindstrom asked. Liv swallowed hard and tears shone in her eyes.
"He'd get the next plane over from Boston" Liv said tearfully. "He would listen, and counsel me, and..."
"And support you" Dr Lindstrom said softly. "Don't you think you deserve that support, Olivia?" he asked gently. "From someone you trust, and care for, and confide in?" he continued. Liv shook her head with conviction.
"It's not about what I want or what I deserve" Liv responded. "It's about doing the right thing" she stated. "I can't cause him any more pain."
"What about your pain?" Dr Lindstrom asked gently. Liv inhaled deeply and faced him with a tearful expression.
"I'm fine" she responded, leaning back in her chair and adopting a confident expression. "I'm fine."