She staggered through the door of her apartment, dragging the grocery bags with her. The next step was to find out if there had been anything left in her fridge to rot; she was pretty good about keeping it empty. This was the first time in a very long time that she remembered going out to get food that she might actually get to eat; not clean out of the fridge in a couple months.

It was also her first real vacation in years. She had the time on the books and it was time. Olivia had worked the special victims unit for just under thirteen years. She took time off when forced, sick or undercover; but things had changed.

The department was changing and she was slipping away from it; work just wasn't the same. A new partner and another rookie new and green; both at least ten years younger than her. Munch and Fin worked together, chatting with them in the squad room; not trying to work with them.

Watching the two rookies together was a silent reminder that her partner the one she knew had her back was gone. There were times she didn't blame him, was happy for him but she missed him. The rookies were meant to be a team when she left, she knew it; they knew it. It was part of the reason that prompted her to take some of the time she racked up over the years and get some focus on her life.

Spend some time relaxing, living and doing things for herself. The job was someone else's problem for the next two weeks minimum. Olivia put her groceries away and fished out the book she had picked up before settling on the couch to read.

She wasn't one chapter in when her phone rang, glancing at the ID she groaned; she'd been on vacation officially three hours. " Benson."

" Olivia I'm sorry, can I put you on the phone with somebody; its a kid. Munch and Fin are on their way out to the place now but it may take some time; we need to keep her talking." She could hear the stress in her Captian's voice.

" Rollins can't handle it?" She didn't want to be difficult but this was part of the reason she never had any time off; the concept of saying no had never truly sunk into her brain.

" No she cant, she doesn't have the experience talking to kids you do. Please Olivia, keep the little girl on the line till Munch and Fin talk themselves into that house. We are walking into a special division of hell in this one."

" Put her through, I'll talk to her." She wanted to growl at herself but she'd rather spend the time on her couch talking to the kid rather than feeling guilty for refusing it later. She heard the phone click, static and then a new line engaged. " Hi my name is Olivia, what's your name?"

" Julia." A soft voice replied from the other end, she flashed back almost five years earlier, the little voice had a heavy accent and was just as terrified; a new Maria.

" Hi Julia, where are you?" She kept her voice warm and gentle.

" In my room, with Maggie."

" Who's Maggie?" Almost dreading the answer.

" My baby sister." She heard soft sniffling. What ever kind of people raised these kids were definitely nailed on neglect; leave a baby with her kid sister.

" Where are your parent's Julia?"

" I don't know, they don't come see me very often; they take Maggie now." More sniffling. " She's cuter."

" I doubt that, I bet your pretty cute. How old are you sweetie?" She wasn't going to fight for a location, Cragen seemed to think Munch and Fin knew where they were going.

" I'm five, but I'll be six real soon." Olivia smiled at the pride in the little girl's voice.

The conversation meandered for almost an hour, Olivia fought to find topics to keep the child interested in talking to her. Slowly she knew the girl was beginning to trust her, asking when they were coming to get her and where she would go; if she could stay with her sister.

Suddenly there was crashing and squealing on the other end. Olivia tensed instinctively, speaking softly into the phone. " Julia?"

" Its alright Olivia, we got em." Fin's voice came on the line before it was cut off.

With a sigh she put the phone down and stood, moving around her apartment. She felt restless, being at arms length from a kid after talking to her for so long was miserable. Olivia wanted answers and yet a part of her was glad not to be there. Changing into sweats she slipped through the door and went for a run.

She took a new route, it was almost dusk and she didn't want to go through the park. The cop part of her brain told her to stick to the lit trails. Skirting the park she followed the lit path around it, running until she was exhausted; finally rounding back to her street.

There was a nice ache in her body as she slipped through her home, dead bolting the door and heading for a hot shower. The wonderful thought of unplugging her alarm clock forefront in her mind. There would be no wake up call in the morning or midnight call out; two weeks of normal life.

She stepped under the hot water thinking about it. Living a normal life, being able to build a normal routine based around her home and some of her own priorities. It could be nice, at least for a while; but then she knew she would miss the job. But there were days when she knew it would be easy to follow Elliot into the private sector.

Stepping out of the shower she donned her tank and shorts heading towards her bed. It felt wonderful to curl into her nest. Olivia felt herself settle immediately, there was wonderful peace in owning her time for a while. She fell asleep planning her week.

A banging on her door dragged her from her sleep several hours later; she wanted to scream. For once it wasn't her phone or her alarm; she would put money on it being a coworker. The knock was typical of a cop, taught in the academy and annoying as hell; no one slept through it.

Making it to the peep hole she glanced through, narrowing it down to three people; Fin, Munch or Cragen. She sighed pulling the door open for her Captain, not the first on her list. His face showed his exhaustion, as did it show on his companions.

" Olivia I need a huge favour." She nodded, wishing she'd grabbed a sweater, pulling the door back. Cragen entered first followed by a little girl carrying a baby and keeping just a step a head of an older woman. She watched feeling half asleep and dazed.

Closing the door behind the little group she grabbed her sweater from where she'd thrown it earlier. Turning she faced her boss and the strangers in her home, just before midnight. Olivia waited for someone to start explaining, watching the woman begin to examine her home.

" Olivia, we've had a slight issue. We need to place the girls for the night, together and some where they will be comfortable. I thought of you." Cragen explained, gesturing to the little girl holding the baby.

The kids were in hospital pjs, the girl was scrawny and grubby. Olivia just stared, she heard what was implied; her brain just wasn't ready to comprehend it. Her brain was still struggling when the other woman broke in. " Olivia, do you mind if I look around?"

" Go ahead, I'm really not set up for kids." Almost relieved when the woman moved off to snoop; her attention focused on Don Cragen. " I'm not approved as a foster parent."

He stepped closer, his voice low. " I know, you didn't see those kids at the hospital though. The second they were separated they both started screaming. Separating them will only traumatize them more."

" But there are protocols. I can't just keep them, I mean not legally; eventually they have to go into the foster system if their parents aren't fit." She just stared at her Captain who was already shaking his head.

" This is different Olivia, they will make an exception. I gave her your jacket."

" Its all the background we could ask for. I've read it over and inspected your place. It is not perfect but we do not want to further traumatize the girls. If you can keep them together I feel your home is suitable for the time being.

I've known Don for years and trust his judgement as well as my own. My bosses have approved the situation; this one is very unique. If you are uncomfortable with it then please say?" The woman reappeared, coming from the bed room.

Olivia shook her head silently, more than slightly stunned. "No, its fine but my home isn't really set up for kids."

" I understand I really wouldn't expect it to be. Don lined up a play pen for the baby and the girl is old enough to sleep in a bed. I will be doing twenty four hour checks; expect to see me at least once a day. As a case is built more firmly I'll have more answers; we play this by ear." The social worker never even gave her name, she looked exhausted.

Olivia nodded silently, Cragen slipped away. She turned her attention to the little girl standing in exactly the same spot she had since arriving. " Hi are you Julia?"

She earned a nod. " I'm Olivia, we talked earlier today. Would you like to stay with me for a while?"

Another nod, Olivia felt a little reassured; and overwhelmed.

" I'll get you to sign here and then I'll let you settle in for the night. I need to work with Don on a few things; I want to get back into that house tonight." The case worker handed her a form, Olivia skimmed them quickly and signed.

She handed them back as Don reappeared with a folded up play pen, he leaned it against the couch. She waited, wondering if they were going to tell her anything else. They didn't simply turning and walking to the door.