Hope

Part 1

"Liv look at me."

She couldn't. She just stared at the table as tears stung in her eyes. She was trying desperately to hold herself but she could feel her shoulders shaking and strangled sobs coming from her throat. She tried to slow her breathing but couldn't.

"It's over, okay? You're safe now."

She didn't feel safe. She'd stayed silent the whole time and now Lewis was off of her all she wanted to do was scream.

"Liv I know you're hurt okay- but the cavalry's going to be here any second. I know you Liv. You don't want everyone on the team to see you like this."

She still hadn't said a word and wouldn't look up from the table.

"Liv, do you want me to cover you up?"

She groaned at the thought of anyone touching her.

He knew how important it was for her to know she had control here. For her to know he would do whatever she wanted. That she got to choose what happened next.

"Liv, I'm not going to touch you unless you tell me that's okay. I can't move you until I find the key for these cuffs so for now, do you want me cover your up?"

Her knuckles were white from the way she was gripping the table. She nodded.

"Liv I need to hear you say yes. I need to know it's okay to help you."

"Yes" She whispered hoarsely. "No one else can see me like this"

"Okay Liv, I'm just coming behind you and we're going to get you covered up okay?"

She made a noise from her throat to signal that she understood.

As gently as possible he helped cover her up. He heard start properly crying and his heart broke. The way she flinched at being touched. He didn't want this to be how she thought of him touching her. Once her jeans were back in place he heard her say "thank you"

It stung to hear her thank him when he could feel how uncomfortable she was. He came back round in front of her and tried to reassure her again.

"You're going to be okay Liv, I'm going to get you out of here now okay? Just give me a second to find the keys." He untied the hand that was roped down as he spoke. She looked at up him for the first time as he finished speaking. Her eyes were red and her cheeks were streaked with tears. "Please don't leave me El"

Without thinking he cupped her chin in his hand and said "I'll never leave you again Liv. I'm going to get you out of here as fast as I can" She nodded, before realising she'd been so focussed on not falling apart she hadn't mentioned Amelia. "Elliot you need to help Amelia first. I'm fine, I can be fine here for now"

Elliot spun round to see who or where Amelia was and saw the young girl with her arms tied above her head. She'd buried her face into her arm looking away from where Liv was and he was sure her eyes were shut.

"Hey Amelia, my names Elliot. I'm a police officer. You can open your eyes- you're safe now." Amelia slowly opened her eyes and stared at Elliot. "Are you hurt Amelia?" She shook her head.

"Is... is she hurt?" Amelia stammered. "Honestly Amelia, yes she is. She's being very brave though. I'm going to untie you and I need you to sit here for a moment- keep those eyes shut for me again so I can help her. And then I'll get all of us out of here safe okay?" Amelia nodded tentatively.

Elliot started to free Amelia and she carried on talking quietly. "That's what she told me to do too. She said I was going to be okay, and no matter what happened to keep my eyes shut and not look at what was happening. I could hear him hurting her."

Elliot stopped for a brief second to take in the child's words. Liv was here to protect her, but no one had come to protect Liv. He quickly finished freeing Amelia and asked her to sit tight before crossing back over to Liv.

"You saved her Liv"

"I tried to" She responded before looking away from him again. She didn't want to cry in front of him again.

Elliot gently but quickly untaped her legs before heading over to Lewis who was sprawled unconscious on the floor to locate the key. He pulled it out of his pocket thinking about all the ways he wanted to see that man suffer. But he left him there knocked out cold because in this moment Liv was more important. He uncuffed her and watched as she rolled her wrist which was already purple with bruising. She tried to push herself up from the table and step away from it but as she did she felt her legs weaken and stumble back into Elliot's arms. He lowered her gently on the floor and she sat with her back leaning into him, her breathing frantic.

"I'm okay" she whispered "I'm okay. I'm okay" it sounded more like she was trying to convince herself of the fact because Elliot could see she was far from okay. "Like hell you are" he replied. He could hear the sirens pulling up outside and wanted to get her out before units swarmed the place. He held onto her tightly, stroking her hair. "You're safe Liv. I'm going to get you out now." She nodded and went to stand but it was clear she was still unsteady on her feet. Elliot put his arm round her and guided her to standing. She reluctantly leant into his shoulder for support. She didn't turn to look at Lewis, she didn't think she could handle the sight of him right now.

"Amelia, honey, we can go now okay. You can open your eyes and come over here."

Liv saw Amelia curled up in the corner with her head buried between her knees. She tentatively looked up before approaching them both. Liv spoke before Amelia had a chance to.

"I'm fine honey. You don't need to be scared anymore. You did a really good job at keeping your eyes closed"

Elliot had no idea how Liv sounded so calm and assured, he certainly didn't feel that way. Liv leant on him heavily for support as they started to make their way out of the building, she was trying not to show it but he could see she was in pain, like occasional sharp intake of breath catching in her throat was giving her away. As they got to the top of the stairs he stopped and said gently into her ear. "Let me help you Liv. I can carry you until we're almost outside and then you can walk okay?" He knew she wouldn't want to be seen as being hurt or vulnerable, he knew she needed to walk out of here- but he also didn't think she would make it down these stairs in her current state. "El I'm..." he cut her off quickly. "I know Liv, you're fine, but for just a minute no matter how fine you are, you need help- so let me help you" She reluctantly gave in and let him scoop her up effortlessly, still just as strong as he'd always been. Amelia followed them meekly down the stairs. For just a second Liv let herself lean her head into Elliot's chest. She wasn't fine. She was the most far from fine she'd ever been.

"It hurts" she said it so quietly it was barely audible. He couldn't cry, not here, not in front of her but he felt his eyes sting. He held onto her a little tighter and gently replied "I know it does Liv. I promise you we're going to stop it hurting okay?" He felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. He was sure it would be Cragen the troops would be in here by now if they hadn't seen his car outside. He held liv firmly in one arm, like it was the easiest thing in the world- and answered the phone with the other.

"I've got them and we're coming out now. We need a bus and can you get Liv some privacy?"

"El I don't need a..."

Elliot cut her off by saying "Okay Cap" before he hung up the phone

"He's sending them in to get Lewis now"

Liv nodded and gestured for him to put her down. She didn't want anyone to see how hurt she actually was. Elliot kept his arm around her waist for support and as much as she wanted to walk out by herself she really didn't think she could.

A unit of men burst through the doors in front of them, clad in bullet proof vests with their guns raised. They stopped and Elliot raised his one free hand as did Liv. Amelia hid herself behind Liv's legs, holding on tightly. The unit signalled them to pass so Liv grabbed Amelia's hand and gently reassured her until they finally reached the outside of the building.