Part Two:

"Olivia!" Faith reached for her. "Olivia, I feel like I'm dying."

"It's going to be ok!" Olivia insisted worriedly, "You're going to be fine,"

The door to the house on the other side of the street, the one recognized as Dawn's house, opened and Claudia, Dawn's mother rushed out. "What's going on? What's wrong?" She saw Faith being put into the ambulance. "Oh my god! Faith!"

Olivia blocked her from rushing to Faith, "She's going to be fine. Stay back."

"What happened?"

Olivia looked down but didn't say anything.

"It was Faye." Claudia growled, "I could kill her! Where is she?!"

Olivia restrained Claudia, "My partner took her down to the station. We arrested her for child abuse and obstruction of justice."

***

Claudia paced back and forth in front of the door. Elliot stepped out and shut the door. "How is she?"

"She's going to be ok," Elliot said softly.

"What happened?"

"Faye shoved her into the stairs."

"Oh god!" Claudia covered her mouth, "I could kill Faye!"

Elliot gave a dry chuckle. "You may not want to say that around a police officer." Claudia sighed and nodded, "She has a few broken ribs, she's very lucky that her lungs weren't harmed. She's going to be sore for a long time, but she's going to be ok."

The doctor came out of the room, "Detective Stabler? Can I talk to you?"

Elliot nodded farewell to Claudia, "What's up Doc?"

"This girl has a concussion. She is very lucky that she didn't make that worse. But also she has a broken wrist and ligature marks on her wrists and ankles."

"From... the beating the other night?"

"No." The doctor shook his head, "These are new. She didn't have them five days ago."

"The mother." Elliot shook his head knowingly.

Olivia walked out of the hospital room, she saw Elliot talking with the doctor. "What's up?"

"Broken ribs, bruises, a concussion, broken wrist."

"All that from the fall?" Olivia asked stunned. "The broken ribs, the bruises, the broken wrist I get, but she didn't hit her head."

"No the concussion is old." Elliot shook his head, "So are the bruises, the wrist, and the ligature marks."

"Ligature marks?"

"Between now and the last time Faith was in here, she was tied up."

"The wrist injury must have taken place about two weeks ago. She didn't receive medical attention for it," The doctor flipped the page in his book, "It was set very well for an amateur, but it should've been looked at. It's healing crooked, the only way to fix it is to break it again and have it set by a doctor and have a cast put on."

Claudia stepped up. "Can I see her? Is she awake?"

Olivia turned to her, "Yeah, she is. Hold on, ok?" Olivia looked at Elliot and motioned for him to follow. They stepped into Faith's room.

Faith looked up at them half asleep. "Am I going to die?"

"No, sweetie. You'll be fine." Olivia soothed.

"I'm sorry… I didn't tell you about my wrist and my concussion."

"It's ok," Olivia put a hand on her shoulder, "Don't worry. Sweetie, look at me, did your mother do that? Did she give you the concussion and break your wrist?"

Faith blinked a tear out of her eye. She closed her eyes and looked away. She nodded slowly. "She- She shut my wrist in the door,"

Elliot's eyes widened, "Purposely?"

She nodded, "It was my punishment."

"Did your mother tie you up?"

She shook her head, "No."

"Then who did?"

"My sister. She tied my wrists behind my back and my ankles together and left me in the closet." Faith answered coolly, "I screamed and screamed until I lost my voice. No one cared, no one did anything. My mom untied me in the morning… said that the school would be suspicious if I didn't go."

"Faith, do you have a father?"

"No. He was gone before I was born. I'm a one night stand baby, my mother wanted an abortion but my grandmother wouldn't let her." Faith sighed, "I sometimes wonder what he was like. What he looked like. What his name was. Where he came from. I don't imagine you know what that feels like… not knowing who your father was."

Olivia stared behind Faith at the white wall of the hospital room lost in thought. How ironic you should bring that up… I do know how it feels. And it sucks, I know.

"Do you have any other relatives in the area?" Elliot asked noticing Olivia's reaction to Faith's speech on patriarchal identity.

She shook her head, "My grandmother died three years ago and my mom's family lives in San Diego. She only had the one sister."

"Do you think you would be safe with the du Matins?" Elliot asked, "You're still a minor."

"Whenever I need to get away from my mother, like when she's been drinking, I go over and sit with Dawn and Claudia." Faith cracked a smile, "Claudia would give me hot chocolate and food if I was hungry. I love Claudia."

"We think she should be appointed as your legal guardian."

For the first time since they'd met her Faith gave them a smile. A smile so pure and full of hope that Elliot couldn't help smiling back.

Olivia and Elliot moved to the door and reached for the door handle. Elliot pulled back and Olivia opened the door. She closed the door behind her and Elliot. "Claudia?"

She was gone.

"Claudia?" Olivia repeated. She looked around the waiting room in silent confusion. "Where'd she go?"

"I don't believe she's not here." Elliot furrowed his brow. "She was hell-bent on getting in to see Faith."

"She followed me to the hospital. Did she jet?"

***

The police officer opened the door to Faye's cell. Claudia stepped in, "I'll be right over there."

Faye laughed, "Enough act! I'm no hardened criminal."

The police officer shrugged. A second officer walked up to show him a file. "I'll be right back." He walked off with the second police officer.

Claudia turned around to face Faye, "Shut-up Faye!"

Faye frowned, "Claudia,"

"Why, Faye? Can you tell me why?"

"Why what?"

"You know damn well what I mean." She took a deep breath and let it out easy. She turned around and started to scream, "You could've killed her!"

Claudia grabbed Faye by the throat. Faye sputtered, "Claudia are you crazy?"

"You almost killed my daughter!" She screamed, "You almost killed her!"

The Police officer rushed back to the cell and ran into the cell. After a short struggle he pulled Claudia off of Faye. "You took my daughter," she kicked randomly at Faye, "You gave her your name and you nearly beat her to death!"

"Oh blow it out your ears Claudia!" Faye smiled a wicked grin.

"I'll kill you!" She still struggled against the police officer as he pulled her out of Faye's cell. "I'll kill you! I'll kill you! I'll kill you!!"

***

Olivia and Elliot walked into the squad room, "We lost Claudia. We left her alone for two minutes and she disappeared!"

"I can't believe it." Elliot shook his head, "She was so concerned about Faith, I can't believe she'd just up and leave!"

Munch leaned back in his chair and chuckled.

"What's so funny?" Olivia asked sitting at her desk.

"I know where Claudia went." He then added in a sing-song voice, "And you're not going to like it.

"You wanted Claudia to be Faith's temp guardian, right?"

"Yes…" Olivia admitted hesitantly.

"That's going to be very difficult. She's in jail."

"What?!" Elliot demanded, "How… when?!"

"Shortly after she talked to you she came down to Faye's jail cell. She tried to strangle her. And when Officer Mcolyski tried to pull her out of the cell she screamed five times that she will kill Faye."

***

Elliot rubbed his head. He had a terrible head-ache. Claudia sat across the table, patiently waiting for Elliot to speak. "Why?" He said at long last.

"She nearly killed her. She nearly killed Faith. She has to pay for that!"

"Why don't you leave the justice to us? She'll be indicted, she'll serve time."

"How long?" Elliot didn’t answer, "See? Not long enough! I want her to suffer!" She raged.

Elliot put a comforting hand on Claudia's. "She won't get away with it. We can get her on attempted murder and we can take out a restraining order. I know that doesn't make up for 16 years of anguish, but it's a start."

Claudia shook her head. Tears welled up in her eyes, "I love Faith. I will do anything for her."

"Why are you attached to Faith? I mean I don't even know if I'd go that far with my nieces."

"You want to know why, Detective?" Elliot nodded, "Because she's my daughter."

Elliot leaned back, stunned, "Well…"

***

Olivia was sitting in the chair next to Faith's hospital bed. Olivia looked at Faith. She looked so innocent yet wise and knowing. She was just a child, yet she was already an adult. How long did you put up with this? If we hadn't come to you how much more would you have had to take? I'm sorry that we didn't get to you sooner. Before this had to happen…

Olivia wanted to hug Faith, she wanted to make sure that Faith would never have to endure pain this intense (be it mental or physical) ever again. Unfortunately, there was no way to protect someone from everything that could go wrong. Even parents can't prevent their children from screwing up. Olivia, who had only knew this girl for less than a fortnight, and after this case was over would probably never see again, wanted to protect her from the world.

She thought for a moment that the sympathy that she felt was a maternal sort of affection. However, under closer scrutiny she realized that it wasn't sympathy at all, but in fact it was empathy. Empathy for a mother who drinks, but while Olivia's mother wasn't violent like Faye, she had had to protect herself every now. Empathy for never knowing her father. The occasional fits of anger for being deprived of a father, though she never truly blamed her mother.

Her train of thought was broken by the ring of her cell phone. She shook her head, "Benson," she answered.

"Hey it's me, Liv."

"Oh, hey Elliot, you still talking to Claudia?"

"No, I just left her, I'm in the car." He paused, "Wait until you hear this! Faith is not Faye's daughter."

"She's not?"

"No, she's Claudia's."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, look, meet me at the bullpen."

"Ok."

***

Elliot met Olivia in the hallway. "Ok, I'm here. Let’s go in?"

She started towards the door. "Olivia, wait, one more thing."

She turned and walked back to him, she smiled, "Yes?"

He leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers. He only had this one shot, he thought, better make it good. Much to his surprise (and liking) Olivia opened her mouth to allow the kiss to deepen. Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms went quickly to her waist.

Elliot wished that he could stand there forever, blissfully in Olivia's arms. She smelled nice today, it was a familiar perfume, but he really liked it. It tickled his nose a bit but wasn't overpowering.

Elliot smiled against the kiss and for the first time, he realized, he loved this woman. Olivia, I love you.

Olivia was the one to break the kiss. Elliot watched her for a reaction, the deepened kiss was a good sign, the arms around his neck was a good sign. But he needed to hear it. She didn't move or smile. But she didn't frown or cry, so that was comforting.

"You ready to go in?" She asked as though nothing had happened. She walked towards the squad room door. Elliot stood dumbfounded. No reaction at all? None? Olivia giggled, "You coming?"

Was this bad? She didn't say anything… what does that mean in woman language? Oh crap! "Yeah," he answered, "I'm coming."

"It's true." Munch announced as Olivia and Elliot walked into the squad room. "When did Faith say her birthday was?"

"January 23^rd, 1987. Why?" Olivia asked.

"Faye Night, one child, name Pamela September 7, 1986. Claudia du Matin, two children, twins, names Dawn and Faith."

"Our Faith?"

"Eye color: green," Munch read.

"Uh-huh." Olivia nodded.

"Hair color: brown."

"Uh-huh." Olivia nodded.

"Well not very many other baby features can help you identify her."

Elliot looked down at the baby picture of the twins, "What's the date on the twins?"

"October 16^th, 1987." Munch answered, "Why?"

"What's today's date?" Elliot asked, running over to his desk and picking up his calendar.

"Elliot, what is it?" Olivia asked confused.

"May 23^rd. You know what that means?"

Olivia still had no idea what Elliot was getting at, "That I have to send a birthday card to my niece?" She offered.

"No, it means that Faith is still 15. She cannot have legal consensual sex."

"Well she didn’t know that!" Olivia exclaimed. "As far as she was concerned, this morning she had a mother and sister, now she has a different mother, a twin-sister, and she's seven months younger than she thought she was."

Munch sat his desk looking at a picture of Faith and then back to the picture of Dawn, "I don't see it. They don't look alike. They've got different eye colors."

"They're fraternal twins. Fraternal twins don't have to look alike."

"Oh," Munch looked at the pictures again before putting them down on his desk, "I still don't see the resemblance."

"Yeah, and neither would they." Elliot nodded. "No reason to suspect."

"This doesn't answer one question."

"Liv," Elliot put a hand on her shoulder, "This doesn't answer any it makes more."

Olivia continued, ignoring Elliot's last statement, "What the hell is Faye doing with Faith?"

"Oh!" Elliot exclaimed, "I've got an idea, I know this is a wild concept. Why don't we just ask Claudia?"

Olivia glanced around.

"Liv, would you spend an afternoon wondering about how a book, that's on the table next to you, ends, or would you pick it up and read it?"

"Um…"

"Liv, Liv," Elliot got Olivia's attention, "Liv, you're a great detective, you know that, but sometimes you try to detective some things that don't need to be detectived."

"Detective isn't a verb, it's a noun, Elliot."

"I know that!"

Munch watched them walk out of the room. "You know, it's too bad that Elliot's married."

"Munch, I never knew you swing that way." Fin responded with a smile.

"I meant it's too bad for Olivia."

***

"Why don't you tell us the whole story?" Elliot offered.

"What's going to happen to Faith and Dawn now?"

"We're not sure yet. Faith is still at the hospital and Dawn and Pam are still at school, will be for," Olivia looked at her watch, "four more hours, we've got time to arrange it. Do you have any relatives in the area?"

Claudia thought for a moment, "No, I don't."

"Are you lying?"

"No!"

"If they don't have somewhere pleasant to go to, we'll have to send them to a half-way house, you know? And I don't want to do that to your girls."

"And Pam will be there?" Claudia looked upset, "With Faith and Dawn?"

"No…" Olivia answered, "Faith admitted that Pam has deliberately caused her physical harm."

"Oh damn it." Claudia started to sob, "I did this to her. It's all my fault. If it wasn't for me… oh god…"

"What happened?"

"I got pregnant. I was 17, my mother was furious, I was having twins and she said I could only keep one of them. And Faye was my friend, she was my neighbor, she was 21, married- briefly to Pam's father- and she offered to take one of them in." She hid her face in her hand.

"So who's the father?"

She started to cry, and screamed, "You think I remember? You're talking about a guy I fucked once sixteen years ago!"

"Was he your first? Every girl remembers her first time." Olivia insisted.

"Do you remember your first?"

"Bobby Cadwell… or Carver… or was it Billy?"

"Liv," Elliot raised his eyebrows at her.

"It was 1981 I was at a party!"

"You don't even remember his name?"

"You do?"

"Yeah! Suzie… Michaels… Roberts… something like that!"

Olivia turned to Claudia, "We see your point."

"It's my fault! I gave her to Faye! I put my own daughter in danger!"

"You didn’t know," Olivia comforted, "You had no way of knowing this would happen."

Claudia buried her face in her arm and wept. Olivia put a comforting hand on Claudia's back.

A cell phone began to ring. Elliot picked up his cell phone, "Stabler." He put his cell phone away, "It's you Liv."

She stood up and walked to the corner of the room. She closed her cell phone, she addressed Elliot, "That was the captain, he wants us to go back to the school. Dawn's at the nurse's office."

***

"She's back there," The Nurse indicated a door at the end of a short hallway.

Olivia opened the door. Dawn sat up confused, "Where's my mom?"

"That's a long story. Let's start with yours." Olivia sat down.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No," Elliot assured her, "You can lie back down, we'll be here for a little while."

"Well…" Dawn started.

"Oh and we know you're pregnant, so you don't have work around that," Olivia told her.

Dawn sighed and closed her eyes.

"Is there something you're not telling us about the party?"

"Sort of."

"Either you're withholding information or you're not." Elliot said, "It's black and white. Yes or no?"

"Well, Kerry's little brother was there, Herman." Dawn said draping her arm over her face, "Herman has always had this crush on her. Faith said that when she left the party Herman followed her out but they parted company shortly before she was attacked."

"How shortly?"

"I don’t know! I wasn't there! I was at Kerry's having sex!"

"See, that wasn't so hard." Elliot leaned back in his chair.

"Do you have somewhere to stay? Any relatives in the area?" Olivia asked soothingly.

"Why? What happened to my mother?"

"She's in jail."

"What?!" Dawn sat straight up abruptly, "Why?!"

"She tried to strangle Faye." Olivia paused, "Dawn, I don't know whether this'll be good or bad for you right now, but… Dawn, Faith is your sister."

"I don't understand."

"We're going to let your mother sort that out for you later." Elliot said, "Do you know where we can find Herman?"

"What time is it?"

"1:30." Olivia told her after glancing at her watch.

"You're in luck, this is the only period of the day that I know where to find him. Well, in five minutes anyway. He'll be in the library."