Disclaimer - I do not own SVU

A/N - This is au. I only have the first chapter planned out so please be patient. This chapter is a background chapter.

Eighteen year old Don Cragen watched several people pass him as they entered the store. One guy stopped in front of him.

"I just moved into a new house and need some help moving the bigger furniture. I'll pay you ten dollars an hour and a good meal."

Usually Don wouldn't have agreed, but this guy seemed nice and he could use a good meal and a little cash.

"Sure"

He followed the guy to his truck and they drove to his house. The first thing he noticed was it was a small house with two other houses connected to it. In front of the house was another truck filled with furniture. On the way to the guy's house he had learned his name was Gary Benson and he had four kids.

Walking into the house Don saw the four kids and Gary's wife. Gary walked up behind Don.

"Don this is my wife Serena, my nine-year old son Simon, seven-year old daughter Vanessa, two-year old daughter Charlotte, and my youngest one-year old Olivia. Everyone this is Don He is going to help me move the furniture."

Don nodded his head and followed Gary out to the truck. After they moved all the furniture Don sat down to eat lunch with them. Olivia sat beside him in her high chair. She held her hands out then dropped them down.

"She wants to sit in your lap." Serena translated.

Gary nodded to Don and he nervously took Olivia out of the high chair and sat her in his lap. Then all the sudden there was shots ringing out one hitting Gary. Don fell to the ground careful not to hurt Olivia while dogging bullets. Don instructed the rest of the kids to follow him the five of them crawled to the sliding wall that separated the three house and lead to a small closet like room.

Finally after what seemed like hours they heard the sirens and calls of all clear. Don yelled. "Don't shoot I'm coming out with children." Then he slid the door open.

The cops put their guns down. The one in front called out. "Stabler call social services."

Don and the kids were taken to be questioned then a woman walked up to them. "Hi I'm Lee Thompson the kids social worker."

Don was holding Olivia on his hip with the other three standing in front of him. "What's going to happen to them?"

"Well they'll be placed in a foster home then hopefully adopted."

Don looked down at the kids asking an unspoken question. His answer was Charlotte holding her arms up to be picked up. Don bent down and put her on his other hip.

"What if I want to adopted them?"

"Well normally it would be a long process, but a judge friend of mine owes me a favour. There will be lots of paperwork. To start you'll have to fill out a form then you'll have a week to prepare for them. Until then they will be placed in a home. If you pass the test then you'll be their foster parent until the adoption goes through."

"Okay, I can do that."

"Good. Now just come and fill out the form and then come back in a week or before then if your ready."

After signing papers, hugs, goodbyes, and screaming for him not to leave Don was off to find an apartment and a job.

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