Love and Litigation - An Alex Cabot/Law and Order SVU fanfiction

Chapter 17

After two days in the hospital, Luke was finally home. As much help as Rollins had been, she was near smothering him. Her guilty conscience had her waiting on him hand and foot, and that made him uncomfortable. He'd grown up taking care of himself and was fully capable of doing so now. Even if he did have one hand in a cast. 

"Come sit down a second." 

Amanda took a seat beside him, waiting to see how she could be of service. 

"I'm going to say this as nicely as I can---" 

"I'm driving you crazy." She interrupted, and his mouth turned up into a slight grin. 

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry. I just want you to rest and not overdo it." 

As she tried to get up, he grabbed her by the hand.

"It's not that I don't appreciate it. I do. It's just that I've been taking care of myself since I was 15 years old. I don't like being dependent on somebody else." 

"I get it. You and I are a lot alike that way. You know how I was brought up." 

She was right. Amanda and Luke had a similar upbringing. Both with irresponsible parents, both with abuse in the home. Luke tried never to think of his family. As far as he was concerned he didn't have one. His people at work, they were his family. And these days he felt fortunate to have anybody at all. 

With one eye still swollen shut, he wrapped his good arm around his friend. Forever secure in his presence, she buried into his chest and hugged him back.

"I love you, my brother. I don't deserve you." 

He squeezed her tighter and gruffly rubbed his hand up and down her arm. 

"I love you too, baby sister."
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A few days later:
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Luke's bad eye had finally started to blossom back open, and the pain lessened with each passing day. Earlier this morning, Olivia had to called to check in with him and see if he felt up to coming down to the precinct. Without asking, he already knew what it was about. He could only imagine the tongue lashing Amanda had received, and now it was his turn. 

Moving slower than usual, he pulled on a pair of denim blue jeans, a red plaid button-down shirt, and some sneakers. It was cool out, but he didn't have the energy to fight with this sleeves on his jacket. He'd barely been able to get the long sleeves of his shirt over his bulky hand cast. 

After driving to the station, he parked his car and walked up the steps. As soon as he got inside, he was swarmed with his well-meaning co-workers. Fin, in particular, gave him a good once-over. 

"How does it feel to be the ugly one now, Dawson?" 

"I'd say you know the answer to that better than anyone, Fin." 

From across the room, Amaro spit his drink out. Luke smirked and gave Fin a pat on the chest. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Olivia standing in the doorway of her office waiting for him. Not wanting to delay the inevitable, he followed her inside and stood awaiting his fate. 

"You can take a seat." She offered, closing the door behind her. 

"Nah, it's alright. I've been sitting for days." 

A serious look covered her face as she, herself, took a seat. 

"I was going to wait until you were back at work, but this can't wait." 

He waited for the hammer to fall. 

"Amanda told me everything. About the gambling debt, about the incident in the alley, everything." 

Luke stayed silent. 

"They're the ones who attacked you, right?" 

"I mean, I can't be sure of that because he had a mask on--" 

She kept an eyebrow arched at him. 

"but, yes. Most likely." 

"It's bad enough that I have Rollins sneaking around, but now you too?" 

Luke took a seat and told Olivia everything. He told her how Amanda had come to him asking for help and about the money he lent her. He also told her about the incident in the alley and how he'd pulled his gun. 

"You're lucky all they did was beat you up. What the hell were you thinking?" 

"She's my partner, Liv." 

Olivia's face turned somber, no doubt thinking of the partners she had over the years. Knowing she most likely would've done the same thing. 

"We've known each other a long time, Luke, but you're putting me in a tough spot here. Rollins is on desk duty, and you are too when you come back." 

Accepting her decision, Luke rose from his chair and started out the door. 

"Is there anything else I should know about?" 

He turned to look at her. 

"No, Captain. That's it."