The Undercover Rookie [A Bensler Fanfiction]

1

Olivia shot up in bed, her chest rising and falling rapidly, as the nightmare she just experienced flashed through her mind once again. Seeing the man she once loved in any shape or form made her anxious and also angry. So fucking angry.

"Liv?" a voice whispered as her bedroom door opened. Olivia turned quickly to look at her roommate.

"I'm fine," Olivia breathed, her voice quaking as the words left her throat.

"Are you sure? You were crying in your sleep..." Stephanie replied quietly, as she padded across the carpet and to Olivia's bed.

Olivia pulled her legs up to her chest and buried her face in her loose pajama bottoms.

"He really fucked me up, Steph. My first real adult relationship ended with him breaking my heart and berating me in front of our entire class," Olivia breathed. She turned her head and rested her cheek against her knees.

Stephanie reached out and ran her fingers over Olivia's back.

"He was a dick that used you, Liv. I know that it's hard to forget, but you need to try. You are exhausted at work, and drinking cup after cup of coffee is making your anxiety worse." Stephanie frowned.

Olivia nodded weakly before sighing softly.

"Maybe I need to go back to therapy. I have insurance now, so I don't have to pay completely out of pocket."

"I'll help you research your options later. Until then, I'll lay on the other side of your bed. If you have another nightmare, you won't be alone," Stephanie smiled. She kissed her friend's temple before standing and walking around the foot of the bed.

Once both were laying down under the blankets again, Stephanie fell asleep quickly. Yet Olivia still hadn't calmed down enough to fall asleep herself.

///

Stephanie and Olivia drove to the precinct together. After being dorm mates in college, then getting into the academy together, now they were partners. They walked into the precinct together and eventually sank down at their desk with cups of coffee. Stephanie watched Olivia closely as the morning progressed. 

At nearly noon, Olivia's name was called. She stood slowly, and Stephanie stopped her paperwork and watched as her partner wandered back into the desk sergeant's office.

"You asked for me?" Olivia asked, as she sank down into a hard chair. Sergeant Lee looked at Olivia and frowned when she spotted the dark circles under her eyes.

"Benson, are you okay?"

"Yes, Sergeant. Just didn't get a lot of sleep last night... is that what this is about?" Olivia asked worriedly.

"No. This is about an undercover request that was placed on my desk this morning."

"Huh?" Olivia questioned nervously. Sergeant Lee opened the file on her desk before looking up at Olivia.

"This is a request for a younger officer that has good shooting skills."

"Like, I guess sounds like me. But don't they want someone with more experience? I've only been here since September," Olivia frowned as she fought off a yawn. 

"Yes, but you are my most promising officer. If you accept this position in the undercover operation, it will look great on your application to become a detective. To even be allowed to take the exam," Sergeant Lee explained. 

Olivia ran her fingers over the tight bun at the nape of her neck. She wanted to say no, but knew that if she rejected the offer, that it wouldn't look good for her. Sergeant Lee picked her out of the entire precinct full of young officers that would fit this request perfectly.

"Officer Benson-"

"I need to make a few arrangements-"

"You can't inform anyone of what this operation entails. All you can tell anyone is that you are going away on assignment and won't be back for a while."

"How long?" Olivia asked. She hated the idea of leaving Stephanie and her mother for a month. She and Serena had just gotten back to a good place, and she didn't want to jeopardise that.

"I can't give you a definite answer, Olivia. Anywhere from two months to a year."

Olivia felt tears well in her eyes, but she blinked them away quickly. She pretended to scratch her cheek after one tear managed to escape her eyes.

"I'll accept," Olivia breathed, yet she was terrified of what exactly would happen. 

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir," Olivia replied gently.

"Good, I'm glad to hear that. Now, go tie up any loose ends you have. At six, come back in here and I'll lead you upstairs to begin your briefing of the situation and create your identity."

///

Olivia went to the hospital to see her mother. Once Serena came outside and joined her on a bench, Olivia passed her a bag with the lunch she had picked up.

"So, what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you two days in a row?" Serena mused after taking a bite of her sandwich. Olivia looked down at her hands and swallowed hard.

"Mom, I'm going away on a special assignment."

"Special assignment?" Serena mumbled, as she placed a hand over her mouth as she chewed.

"That is all I can tell you, and honestly, that is all I know myself," Olivia whispered. Once again, tears were welling in her eyes. She didn't want to leave her mother behind, especially if she didn't know when she'd come back. Even if she'd come back.

"Olivia-"

"I need you to check in on Steph for me, Mama. Make sure she's doing okay, and she'll do the same for you," Olivia sniffled.

"No, Olivia. I don't appro-"

"I'm scared, Mama! And the last thing I need is for you to scare me even more!" Olivia cried as she stood and turned to face her mother. Serena stared at her only child before putting her bag to the side and standing.

She wrapped her arms around Olivia's body and hugged her tightly to her body. 

"I don't pray, and you know that... but I will pray for you daily. We just got to a point where our relationship is good, and if you die... I will never be the same. So please be safe and make me proud. Okay?"

"I love you, Mama," Olivia sniffled as she clung to her mother's body.

"I love you too, Liv."