More Than Surviving

Where It All Started ~part 1~

    “I want to go home.” The words were mumbled by ten year old Natalie Campbell as she clutched at her stomach and leaned against her teacher's desk. Her red hair hung in her face, hiding her pale face and pain-filled eyes. Her tummy hurt, really bad, and her arm hurt.

    “And I want to go to the moon. It just ain't happening, sweetheart.” Ms. Taylor raised an eyebrow and set her red pen down. “Time to accept that. Now take your seat.” She motioned towards the rows of desks and stood, putting her hand on the girl's back.

    “But Ms. Taylor,” Natalie clenched her teeth as the pain in her tummy got worse, and she hunched over to try and make it stop. “It hurts!”

    “Natalie, please take your seat so that I can start class. If you're still feeling ill after math, I'll send you to the clinic.” Ms. Taylor crossed her arms and tried not to huff out her annoyance.

    Natalie could tell the teacher was getting irritated, so she groaned and took a step towards her desk. She doesn't register her world tilting, and she doesn't feel it when she hits the floor unconscious.

The hospital

September 7, 2005

    “Is she conscious?” The first words Detective Olivia Benson lets out are directed at the head nurse in pediatrics. Thankfully, the tall woman starts leading her and her partner, Detective Elliot Stabler, down the hall.

    “She was awake last time I checked in on her fifteen minutes ago.” Nurse Janie Court veered right, bringing the detectives to a closed door. The blinds were twisted open, and Olivia studied the child in the bed. From where she stood, she could barely make out her features. Red hair, pale face. She looked too small, but that could just be the blanket that looked too big. Janie looked at the chart in her arms. “She passed out at school, before class had even started. The x-rays-”

    “Excuse me, please let me through.” A woman with dark hair and two children trailing behind her pushed past the nurse and detectives.

    “Ma'am, you can't go in there…” the nurse tried to protest, blinking in confusion.

    “The hell I can't. That's my sister!” The little girl clutching onto her mother's shirt scowled, her dark eyes giving away her worry.

    “Octavia Blake, watch your language!” The woman scolded the child, and shot a look at her son when he snickered. “You hush, Bellamy.”

    “But Mama!” Octavia looked up at her mother, her bottom lip trembling.

    “Just hold on.” The woman turned to the three slightly stunned adults and thrust her hand out. “I'm Aurora Blake. I'm listed in Natalie's records as her emergency contact.”

    Olivia nodded and took point, taking the woman's hand in her own. “Detective Olivia Benson. This is my partner, Detective Elliot Stabler.”

    Aurora nodded once, tilting her head just slightly. “And why are you two here? Is Natalie in trouble?”

    “No ma'am. We were assigned to her case.” Olivia shifted her weight.

    “Case? What case? What happened?” Aurora tensed up, looking in the room to study the redhead. When on one said anything, Aurora scowled. “Okay look. I get that I'm not family or whatever, but my best friend just died and left that little girl with her alcoholic, abusive father. We're all she has left.” the woman put her arms around her kids.