Endless

50 Days Before

50 DAYS BEFORE

"Stabler!" I turn to find my partner coming towards me with a hot dog.
"Thanks man," i look down at the hot dog he has just placed in my hand, "where's the relish?" He looks at me weird, as if i am speaking a different language.
"What do you want relish on your hot dog for?" he questions.
I sigh, god i miss her, "No reason this is fine." i force a smile and follow my partner as we walk back to the queens station house.

Detective Michael Willis, is 5'9" has blonde hair which he spikes up, which is aparently a cool thing for a 32 year old dad of one to do these days. His green eyes win over the ladies we question and he has a new orleans accent that makes them swoon. We have been partners for 3 years now and have fallen into a comfortable rhythm, He's really the only mate i have in New Orleans. Being back in New York feels like home, it feels safe, even though I'm not here with her, i do get to see my kids more often and Kathy has been real good about allowing me to see Eli whenever i want; but i just can't help but feel like a part of me is missing.

The Queens captain walks in and hands Mike and I yet another case. Our serial rapist who has been breaking in children between the ages of 7 - 26 and storing them underground somewhere, for sex trafficing, just keeps moving across the country. We just can't seem to pin him down, and its driving me insane. We have no witnesses, no evidence, just the names of 20 plus children that have gone missing over the past 6 months.

"Stabler, Willis. My office." the captain turns and strides into his office, his voice not commanding the space the way Cragen's always had. We follow him, he turns and perches on the edge of his desk, his head in his hands. "Where are we on finding this guy, or guys?"
I sigh out of frustration, "honestly captain we have jack shit on this guy, or who he's working with, or for, or where he is hiding them."
"Well you need to figure something out fast, otherwise I'm sending you back to New Orleans and we will take over. You have 30 days."
I narrow my eyes at him ready to shoot something rude back at him, when Mike notices and answers quickly.
"We are on it Captain, come on Elliot lets interview this new victims family."

We turn on our heels and head out of the station in silence, my head steaming and my anger about ready to bubble over.

* * *

"Mom, mom." Noah says cheerfully as he pulls on my pant leg, I smile down at him.
"What baby?"
"Time to see P now." he says bouncing on his toes, he's become so fond of that girl and she absolutely adores him. She has such patience; she will read and draw with him for hours without getting bored. He still gets a little upset when she won't share his fairy bread with him, but he's too young to understand her problem with food.
"Yes baby, time to see P now."
"Yay!!" he races towards the elevators at full speed.
"Baby stop and wait for me," i yell so he can hear me. I hear his shoes squeek on the floor as he comes to a hault, and the padding of his feet as he comes back to stand in the doorway to the squad room. He has his hands on his hips and his eyebrows raised; he looks much older than his 4 years in that moment, and i wonder where the time has gone.
"For the record mom i am a big boy, no longer a baby." he says, i just smile, Fin, Amanda and Nick burst out laughing at my cute boy.
"Okay big boy shall we go and see P then," he nods and smiles, "okay guys my phone is on if you need me."

We head over to the hospital, Peyton is being discharged today, she has gained 5lbs in the last 5 days which she is really unhappy about, but it means she can leave. We do have to put her into a treatment facility for at least the next week so she can work through some of her demons. Then she'll stay at mine so Noah and i can help her with her food. I look into my rearview mirror and listen to my son jabber on about everything he has to tell Peyton once we get there, he is over the moon about having a big sister.

We pull into the hospital carpark and i have to remind Noah not to run due to the cars around us, so instead he grabs my hand and practically pulls me to the front doors. Once we reach the front doors he breaks into a full on sprint towards Peyton's room as he now knows the way off by heart, i have to jog to keep up with him. We reach her floor, i slow down to a walk as i can still see him in front of me, i watch as he skids round the corner into her room, only to hear her laugh filter out into the hallway and settle in my heart.

I stroll into her room, to find them sitting on the bed, Noah perched perfectly in her lap and Peyton reading him their new favourite book. She looks up at me as i enter the room and her smile stretches from ear to ear. "Hey," she says with so much happiness in her voice.
"Hey, are you ready to go?" i question, watching her face drop slightly.
"Ready as i'll ever be i guess," she sighs and drops her chin to rest upon Noah's head, "I'm just really going to miss this munchkin." she turns to me tears in her eyes, "and you of course, you've given me a second chance when you had no reason to."
"Everyone deserves a second chance, especially someone who has been delt such a horrible hand as you have." I move towards the bed and place a kiss on her head.

"Well we had better get moving my friends," i say hating to break up this precious moment. They climb off the bed and Peyton grabs her bag of clothes, i brought for her. We begin to walk down the hallway and my heart warms as i watch Noah quietly walk up next to her and lace his fingers with hers.

God he is going to miss her.