Everything Changes

Does This Darkness Have A Name?

Melinda Warner was, and always had been a private person because she and her sister Charlotte had been raised by their parents to keep to themselves because asking for help was a sign of weakness.

That was why, after fifteen years of association with NYPD SVU, she'd only ever let loose a few details, for example that she was married with a daughter, or that she'd served in the Gulf War and that she'd also studied abroad in France when she was younger. She'd even said once that Charlotte was a buyer at Saks and made a serious killing off her career.

It wasn't that Melinda didn't trust anyone from the SVU because she absolutely did, but playing things close to the vest was just the way she was.

The only person who had ever cracked her shell besides her husband, or even Olivia, was Fin. There was just something about him that she'd always found gentle and reassuring. He knew all of her secrets, and she, all of his; it was like they'd been married in another life, or something. They were definitely best friends in this one.

As a result of their bond and how long they'd known each other, he also knew about how her husband Miles had recently divorced her after years and years of terrible fighting and failed marriage counseling. Melinda standing by their daughter, Amaya, when she came out as gay and admitted that she was in a committed relationship with another woman was the straw that broke the camel's back, or, in this case, Miles' back.

The whole divorce got settled very quietly, and Isaac had packed his things up and left. Melinda and Amaya were doing their best to find a 'new normal,' although it was going to be a long time yet because the divorce was a week old.

Today was the first chance she had to catch her breath, but she didn't want to be alone.

The only person she would be able to talk to was Fin.

"How are you doing, Melinda?" asked Fin as they sat down on a bench by The Ramble's main walking path in Central Park.

"Sad that my marriage is over because we were married for thirty years, but relieved that the fighting is done. Is that wrong?"

Thinking of his own failed marriage, Fin shook his head. "No. I don't think it's wrong."

"Will it ever get better?"

"Yes, but not right away. You've gotta give it time." he told her. "How's Amaya?"

"Taken aback because she's never known me to be alone before, but relieved that she and her family can be together without having to worry about Miles' remarks and sneers."

"At least she's some kind of happy, though." Fin remarked. "Her girlfriend is Jessica, right?"

Melinda nodded. "Jessica Goldberg, and she has two little ones called Ezra and Hannah. They call me nana."

Fin snickered. "You're getting old, Mel."

"Please." she scoffed, nudging his shoulder with hers. "You are six years older than me, Odafin."

Before the detective could come up with a good retort, Melinda hushed him and stood, ears fixed on a sound that had just gotten her attention.

"Fin, do you hear that?"

He stood and also had a listen. "Uh-huh. It sounds like someone crying... like a kid..."

The words were still hanging in the air when Maggie Blue and Frannie Mae came crashing through the brush, not even five feet to their left.

"Isn't that Maggie Blue and Frannie Mae?" Melinda asked as she tried to process what she was looking at.

"Yeah, and they both look freaked out, so we gotta be careful."