Never Meant for This

Chapter 2 - Then, Unexpectedly.

-DISCLAIMER-
I own none of the characters mentioned unless stated otherwise. All rights go to Dick Wolf and NBC. This story is fictional and solely for entertainment purposes. Please take into consideration that the following scenes may be triggering for some, and contain descriptions of a sexual assault and rape. Please read at your own risk. While this story and its events are fictional, sexual assault/rape is real and happens daily. If you or someone you know is being sexually abused, there are many ways to get help, including the National Sexual Assault Hotline. You can reach them at the number 1-800-656-4673. No matter what you are facing right now or have faced in the past, remember that you are never alone and that there are always people willing to help. Now that that is out of the way, enjoy Chapter 2!
AN: Sentences that are in italics are Olivia's thoughts. Some words that are italicized aren't her thoughts but are just used to emphasize words.

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-May 4th, 1:10 am, Olivia's Apartment-

I knew it.

She knew that her evening was going too smoothly. Cases like these require round-the-clock working, you can't just put this type of file down until the next workday. You only have two options with it; you either get it done the first day it's given to you, or you work until it's finished, no matter how long that may be.

Without even having enough time to change back into her work clothes, she ran outside of her apartment and saw Fin sitting in his car. He was exactly where Cragen said he would be. She jumped in the passenger seat and tried to listen to Fin's endless questioning about "What took you so long?" and "Don't you ever check your phone?" but found it difficult to listen to his lecture. The one-sided conversation eventually ceased into silence after Fin realized that she was no longer listening. Moment later, Fin asked what Cragen had told her over the phone. "Not much. He said that there was a problem, that I had to get back to the precinct ASAP, and that you were on your way back to my apartment to pick me up. Mind telling me what this is all about?" she replied with haste, running her hand over her exhausted face. With a heavy sigh, he started, "Liv, another girl has been attacked. She came into the precinct right after we left. Cragen called me in, but she said that she'd only talk to a female detective." She began to feel uneasy because just as she'd predicted, the attackers struck again. I shouldn't have stopped working. I might've been able to prevent this. They remained silent for the rest of the car ride back to the precinct as Olivia tried to process this new information. We're going to get these bastards, I promise.

-May 4th, 1:40 am, 16th Precinct-

Fin parked his car and inquisitively looked over towards Olivia. He could see that she was thinking about something intensely and was intrigued. "What're you thinking about?" Startled by the personal question, she simply replied, "The case." He noticed her hesitation and decided to push it a little further. "Baby, I've known you for 17 years. I also know when you're holding something back." Even though she was annoyed by his persistence, she decided that it would be easier to just tell him what was on her mind. "I feel like we missed something. We had to have, right? Criminals aren't ever this careful, especially a rapist." She could see the expectancy in his eyes like he already knew that it was what she was going to say. "CSU went over that place with a fine-toothed comb and a magnifying glass. If there was something there we would have found it, you and I both know that. Try to not be so hard on yourself, we're all working as hard as we can to solve this case, including you." She knew that he was right, but she couldn't help but feel that it was partially her fault that another girl was raped. Maybe if I'd stayed later and worked on the case a little longer, I would have been able to find something that could have stopped this?

Pulling her out of her interminable thoughts, Fin abruptly said, "Ready to go inside?." "Yeah, let's go," she replied, her voice barely louder than the buzz of the passing airplane in the distance.