I'm right here....

Chapter 6

The alarm blares at 5:30, waking both Mariska and Kelli from their peaceful slumber. "Damn it" Mariska curses, slamming her hand down on the alarm clock and reluctantly getting out of bed to get ready for the day."No" Kelli whines, her voice still raspy and weak from the constant vomiting brought on by her treatments.

"Stay" Kelli pleads, "Baby I've gotta go- we have to go and tell Cragen, 'member?" Mariska says, gently helping Kelli up and to the shower.
Reluctantly Kelli allows Mariska to help her into the shower, as the two stand in the bathroom waiting for the water to warm Mariska admires her wife's soft curves and beautiful sexy body. Kelli notices her wife's staring and begins to blush as Mariska moves closer and kisses her with much passion. The two get in the shower together, soaping each other up and allowing the sensual moment to be soaked up as the warm water washes away suds and any trace of stress.

Mariska POV

I dress in the sexy ocean blue lingerie that Kelli lives to see me in and slip my uniform over it, checking the uniform belt as I button the shirt. I pull my hair up into a high pony and go to wake Cheylee, who is unamused at the early awakening. I walk to the guest bedroom and flick on the light, going over to Cheylee and trying to shake her awake.

"Cheylee, honey we have to get up" I say gently She groans but sits up, rubbing her eyes and brushes the hair out of her eyes.

"good morning lovely" Kelli says cheerfully, handing her a pair of leggings and an old tee.

Cheylee rubs her eyes and shuffles to the bathroom to change as Kelli and I sit on the sofa rehearsing what she is going to tell Cragen and the team.

"Ready hun?" I ask as Cheylee emerges from the bathroom, she shrugs "ready as I'll ever be."

We head to the car and drive to the precinct, Cheylee making a beeline for the coffee cart and nearly knocking Munch off his feet.

"Eesh" Munch says, slightly alarmed at nearly spilling coffee on his uniform, " why the hurry kiddo?"

Cheylee doesn't respond, just shrugs and beads to the extra chair next to my desk. With my own coffee in hand I sit down at my desk and take Cheylee's hand, "what's wrong baby girl?"

"N-Nothin'" she whispers, her voice nearly breaking as she tries to pull her hand from mine with no avail.

"Honey" my free hand trails the sleeve of her sweatshirt and gently tugs up, Cheylee's eyes going wide with fear as she noticed what I am trying to do.

"Baby doll, I noticed this morning there was a little fresher blood on your arm when we woke you up, did any thing happen last night that you aren't telling us?"

She freezes and her breath hitches as I finish my sentence, and I feel my eyes tear up as I whisper "Something did happen, I know from that fear look in your eyes. And honey" Cheylee looks up at me, her green eyes filling once again with tears as she begins to hyperventilate.

"Baby doll" Kelli interjects, Cheylee looks to her, her eyes filling with tears that slowly slip down her cheeks as her hand finds its way to Kelli's.

" Did you do something last night?"
Kelli asks, gently giving in to the pressures and wrapping her arms around Cheylee as she cries.  She nods, her body visibly shaking in fear as I slowly lift the sleeve of her shirt up to reveal her scarred arms.

"I'm not gonna  touch unless you say its okay sweetie" I murmur taking in the extent of her mutilation.

"Baby why didn't you wake us?" Kelli asks, hoping for an answer other than a shrug.

"I d-didnt want to b-bother you" she whimpers, curling up so her free arm locks around her knees.

"Oh love" Kelli says, " you never could bother us........ "

"Did you clean them? " I ask, rubbing slow circles on her hand in a vain attempt to soothe her. She shakes her head gently.

"Can I?" Kelli asks, she nods signing " gently please? "With that one small hand gesture, my heart shatters and I can't stop the tears. I turn away and try to collect myself as Danny walks by and pulls me to his desk.
"Mariska what happened?" I shake my head and gesture toward Kelli, "What happened to Kelli?"
I shake my head again, gesturing this time toward Cheylee, " What happened to Cheylee hun?"

"S-She-I-She" I start to say, but the tears take over as Danny shushes me."Easy sweetheart. Easy. Deep breaths yeah?" As I start to calm down, I explain what happened and soon Danny has the same heartbroken feeling I do.
When I return to my desk Kelli is only starting to clean the cuts on Cheylee's forearm, I sit and reach for her free hand, smiling softly

"Baby you're being so brave" I soothe. She looks at me, giving me a soft smile before her eyes fill with tears and her hand reaches for the pad and pen. I let go of her hand and allow her to write.

"Hey" I turn around quickly to see Danny checking his pager and nodding for me to follow him "I'll be back in a bit love, stay with Kelli."

He gently grabs me by the arm pulling me into Cragen's office. "Liv, sit down"

Danny guides me to a chair and sits as well, which signals to my brain that,something is very wrong.

"what's up captain" I accuse knowing something is wrong.

"We found something, Cheylee's dad had a sister" Cragen says, clearly struggling to finish the sentence

"So? What's that have to do with me?"

" She wants custody" my heart jumps to my throat "custody?" I ask, baffled Like sole custody?"

Captain nods, "but she has a record, one huge offence that we could use against her" Cragen offers, "so do it, use it and say she isn't a viable option for a parent. What was the offence anyways?"

My head is spinning and I can feel my breathing start to quicken. Nausea overwhelms me.

Danny notices and grabs my hand "breathe love" he instructs, wiping the tears that started to fall. I obey his instructions, trying to breathe normally and keep the nausea at bay. "Prostitution"