Open Your Eyes

Chapter 1

Claudia's PoV

"Summer, the bus is about to come! Are you ready?!" I quickly called out while trying to get all of my stuff together. 

I had been working at some law school studying at the kitchen table as my exam was coming up soon. I take night/evening classes at NYU while I still work at the SVU department. I was lucky and very fortunate to have a captain and fellow co-workers who were understanding and supportive. 

However, I was blessed to have my best friends that have my back throughout this whole journey of trying to finish law school that I unfortunately had to quit years ago. The reason, Summer. 

Around five years ago, my cousin gave birth to Summer when she first came here to the US with her boyfriend at the time. However, him and her soon got arrested when Summer was three months old for drug abuse. Since then, they both lost custody as they couldn't get clean and chose the drugs. I took Summer in and practically raised her as my own. I was there for the first steps, first words, potty training, the first day of head start, etc. Summer was basically my own as I already thought of her as my own. 

I worked with the Criminal Intent department since around 2001 and until back in May of this year, 2005. After an incident during one mission, the department had to call in the SVU since the guy we were going after was also one of their suspects for a case. 

That incident, I was kidnapped. I don't remember much. I know he didn't try to do anything. I was mostly by myself being watched on a camera. After a bit, I was found. Mentally traumatized and scared. 

That's when I met Elliot. 

He was one of the first officers that came in when they found me. He was actually understanding along with Olivia, his partner. They had to interview me when I was getting checked out in the ambulance. I just went ahead and got it over with. 

Afterwards though, he rode in the ambulance with me since my boyfriend Brad was at work and couldn't get off at the time. We talked. Mostly about family and our kids. I could tell that his kids were basically his world. Just like how Summer was mine. 

I met his youngest, Eli, when I first started. I watched him for a bit while him and Olivia were out trying to interview a suspect. Plus, he's in Summer's head start class, so it puts me at ease that Summer's got a friend. 

It also turns out, we see the same psychiatrist, Dr. Abby Sullivan. She helps me with the anxiety that I deal with while with him, anger issues. 

I have seen Elliot angry. One time though, I couldn't say I blame him. A suspect we tried to interview started talking about his kids. I tried to calm him down by getting the chair that he was about to throw and then I tried talking to him. It worked. Shockingly. 

Another thing that makes Elliot angry. My boyfriend, Brad Taylor. 

From the moment they set eyes on another, they hated each other. 

It all started when I was in the hospital. It took Brad almost six hours to come and visit and when he did, he was flat out drunk. 

Then another time, Brad and I were out after work with my co-workers. I had ordered some tacos to eat. Brad started complaining about the environment and how dull it was. As we were about to leave though, Brad and I were already arguing due to how he was degrading the waitress. Soon, he started yelling that I was controlling him and being a downer. Apparently after I ran outside, Elliot had a few choice words for him.