Saving Myself (Law and Order)

Chapter 24♡

(Amanda's P.O.V)

It was 7am. I got up as Carisi kissed me. "Morning. I had better get the girls up and ready." Going to the girl's bedroom, they jumped up. Hugging me. "Morning girls! Let's get ready for school hey?" They went into the bathroom. Making their beds first, I asked them what clothes they wanted to wear. "I'd like to wear my dress with my pink shoes please." Billie gave me her outfit as Jessie got in the shower. "I love that honey." As they chatted away, I thought about Nina. I wondered if she was doing ok. "Mommy.." Billie kissed my cheek. "I love you." She was sweet. As soon as they were sorted, Carisi had breakfast ready. "You have cornflakes Billie." She ran to the table. Looking really happy. "And you have toast Jessie." She thanked him along with Billie." Getting some coffee, I made some toast. Carisi then asked if I was ok. "I'm good. Are you ok?" She sipped her drink. "Yeah. I'm good babe." When they were finished, we dropped them to school. "See you two later. Bye!" They waved as we made our way to work. Liv texted Carisi. "We have a new case." Going to the unit, we saw Liv. "Hi. Are you ok?" She shook her head. "Some guys are around the area. They are targeting young girls." Liv seemed distressed. Taking her to a table, I asked her what was up. "I think Ariel isn't feeling great."

Flashback to the morning...

(Olivia's P.O.V)

"But why do I have to go? I'm not going!" Ariel was starting to be more vocal and it was stressful. Me and Elliot had found a good school for her and she was due at registration.. but she wasn't going. "Because you have to learn sweetie." Seeing her backpack on the floor, I heard Paige. "I've got her Liv." Elliot went to see to her. "What did your therapist say?" Her hands were shaking. "None of your business." She shut her bedroom door on me. I had no idea on what to do. Going downstairs, I saw Paige. 'Come on you little cutie. Let's take you to Grandma's." Elliot asked if I was ok. "She's still up there." Elliot said to go and drop off Paige at his mom's. "I'll try. Go." Paige was a good girl all the way over to Nancy's. Kissing her cheek, I knocked on the front door. "Hi Nancy." She hugged her granddaughter. "Hi sweetheart. I'll see you later on Olivia." Kissing her forehead, I waved goodbye.

"So that's what basically happened Amanda." I sympathized with her. "Maybe Ariel is going through a phase. She is 14." Olivia explained that she's not been attending therapy either. She normally goes every Friday. She's not been." Elliot came looking for us. "Babe. You need to see something." We went over to the desks and Elliot stood with Carisi and Finn. "We've found someone called Charlie Brentwood." I saw Liv's eyes fill up with tears. "Finn.. Ariel knows him. This morning.. she refused to go to school." Elliot could see that I was going to fall. "Liv.. listen to me. Babe.." Finn found out more details. "She didn't attend registration this morning.." Ariel was developing a lot. "That means she could be ANYWHERE!" Elliot tried to calm me down. "We'll find her Liv." As everyone went to get more information, I saw my best friend just look.. so.. frozen. "I've got something. This Charlie is at a house on Pennywood Street. It's number 256." Olivia looked at Elliot dead in the eye. "Follow my orders Olivia." I listened to my boyfriend. As we got ready, we all got into the cars..

"I just want my goddaughter to be ok." Carisi said the same. It was quite light outside. We heard music blaring.. as we got out of the car, Liv saw us. "Olivia.. go." She stormed in. "NYPD!" Lots of teenage boys and girls ran in the house. Elliot and Finn grabbed one. "Do you know a girl called Ariel Winters? Tell us what you know!" I could see that Liv was upset.. and worried. "I don't know nothing. My mate is just throwing a party." Elliot sneered at him. "Yeah.. and what is the name of your friend huh?" I searched for Ariel with Olivia. We found her in a bedroom. "Sweetheart." She had a cigarette in her hand.. "Tell me what's happened honey." She laughed. "I told you that I wasn't going to that stupid school." Olivia kneeled down to look at Ariel. "I know why you're here Ariel. You came to see Charlie. Sweetheart, we just wanna help." She blew the smoke in my face. "Nobody can help me."

As we dragged Charlie out, he turned back. "Babe! Just don't listen to them." She looked at me.. "I didn't want to be found." Olivia tried to hold her, but she refused. "Ariel. Come on. Just talk to me. Be vocal.. at your own pace. Where's your notepad and paper?" Amanda tried to calm her down. "Stuff the pen and paper. Get away from me!" She got up.. running towards the door. Olivia took her arms.. comforting her. As she protested.. "GET OFF! YOU DON'T CARE! GET OFF NOW!" No matter how much she protested... we just waited for her to calm down. "I hate you." Turning away from us, Olivia didn't give up. She held on to her. As Elliot walked back into the house, he saw cigarettes and drugs.. Liv looked at me. "Let's just get her to a hospital." As she stood up, Liv held her. I stroked her shoulder. "We'll take her." As we drove to the hospital, she was silent.

She looked very different as well. She had ripped jeans on with a dark black t-shirt. She always had her backpack with her... but she didn't have it. "Just.. talk to me." Olivia parked the car. We went to the hospital. "Why do I have to be here?" Ariel shouted. "Because we need to get you checked out." She was covered in bruises as well.. which was unusual. As the doctor checked her over, Olivia seemed very worried. "What if someone has sexually assaulted her Amanda? She's been smoking. And drinking." She was meant to be at school. "Hi Ariel." She said hi. "Well, you need to drink water since you've been drinking." Rolling her eyes, Liv started to become concerned. "Let's take our time." Ariel then asked if she could go. "Of course you can." She went into reception. I was worried. She lit another cigarette. Smoking.. "Sweetie. You do understand that you can talk to me about anything right?" She nodded her head. "I know." Liv then came outside. "Yeah. I think you should talk to her. Thanks Barba. I really appreicate it. See you soon."

We then took her home. We needed to know more about what was going inside that head of hers.