A Strong Fragility Chapter 8

I don't own SVU or the characters associated with SVU.

The heat was always an irritant for Martin Reyes and his moods were easily affected by the long summers and short winters or lack thereof. They had met in Florida, fell in love in Florida and created a life in Florida. It was home to Maria ever since leaving Honduras as a child and she had grown to love her new home. It was easy to fall in love to the sounds of crashing waves and salty air. It was easy to fall apart to the sounds of shattering glass and breaking nerves. Florida was home to Maria now and she was desperate to go back home where she felt comfortable. Comfortable despite the heat, the humidity and her husband's low tolerance for either.

Maria quickly learned about marriage and about being married to Martin Reyes. Their marriage consisted of many inconsistencies that she chose to ignore and even defend. This was her life now, this was who she had chosen to be, who she had chosen to love. Her marriage consisted of please yes, sometimes; and please no, others. She remembered the first time she had begged him. She had admitted to infidelity while talking in her sleep, this is what he informed her of when she was harshly awoken by his angry hand. Maria would come to learn how quickly he could control her every move, every thought with just one finger and one thumb on either side of her jaw. He would watch her tolerate the pain, his eyes staring her down while she refused to cry. His fingers often left bruises, causing her to fear sleeping when overly tired. Maria had begged him to let go, pleaded with him. It had worked. That time.

Maria could hear activity behind her and she tried to open her eyes. They were so heavy and she felt so exhausted that her efforts were futile at best. She wondered if Martin had found her; had come for her. He would most likely play the part of the worried, concerned spouse. He was so very good when he needed to be. She could feel her body begin to shake in anticipation of his touch, his hands on her. Again she tried to open her eyes and again she gave in to her inability to pull herself from the haze she was drowning in. If he was here, he would wait until she was awake. He would wait until she knew for certain that he had found her. He would wait until she looked into his eyes before he would hurt her.

Maria didn't know what she was going to do; how she would live with the anticipation of Martin's love connecting with her already broken body. She had left him once before, not long after they had left Florida in favor of his family home in New York. She told him she didn't want to move, he punished her. The cold air burned her lungs before numbing as winter came early this year. She would adapt, eventually. It wasn't the outside temperature that scared her but the indoor heat. Her body burned when he touched her, loved her, hurt her. He never wanted her as much as when she was broken. They say love hurts. They...were right. If she left, he would find her. She waited until her husband's breathing evened out and she left. She was so tired of ducking and dodging, begging and pleading; so tired of apologizing. She said she was sorry often and she so often was.

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Detective Wendy Williams tried to be understanding and she tried to be patient, but the fact was she needed Maria to consent to getting a rape kit done. She had every intention of not only finding her husband but charging him with the attack on his wife and the evidence they needed would be gathered during the exam. Maria had refused each time Detective Williams asked. There wasn't much time; Maria didn't care.

Olivia looked up as the Queens detective spotted her towards the back of the cafeteria. She could read the woman's mind as she made her way towards her.

"Let me guess, Maria is refusing." Olivia kept her eyes steady on Williams, but her voice seemed to jump everywhere.

"Does she not understand that we need the evidence the kit will provide when it comes time to make these charges stick against her husband?" Williams was angry and Olivia just glared at her over her coffee cup. "I get that she's scared and that she's already been through too much, but if she wants us to catch this son of a..."

"She doesn't want us to catch him. We catch him, he will eventually catch her and she knows this." Olivia waited for Williams to get on board with her. "What if we can't make this stick? What if he walks? Maria understands."

"Talk to her. She trusts you. We need this sooner than later, Benson. You know this." Detective Williams seemed pissed that Maria would talk to Benson and not her. She was pissed that Olivia was able to get through to her victim, essentially running her investigation. She also knew Benson was the only way she had of getting through to Maria.

"Any leads on finding her husband?" Olivia worked to keep her voice steady. "We really need to find him before he realizes she's here."

"Let him come here, that'll make our jobs that much easier."

Olivia stared Williams down. She waited until she was ready before stating her opinion knowing this case was not hers and not hers to run. "You let him come here you let him control everything. You heard what that girl told us in there. You need to find him before he finds her."

Williams got to her feet, clearly resenting the way Olivia talked to her. "Will you please talk to her? We will find Reyes and when we do I will want to put this whole thing to bed and move on."

"Don't forget there is a child involved here." Olivia tossed her coffee into the trash as she watched Williams wave her off as she left the cafeteria. She felt as if her hands were tied by not being able to proceed the way she thought necessary. Olivia knew she would be criticized for being too involved with the victim. She knew that was the fine line she was walking right now and she knew how important the rape exam was despite the trauma Maria had already been through.

Olivia sat back down at the table closest to the window in the quiet cafeteria. She stared outside focusing on nothing in particular as her thoughts took her back to Vicki Sayers. Maybe she did get too involved with the victims, allowing them to take a piece of her heart each time. Or maybe others, such as Detective Williams didn't get involved enough. It was a delicate line that Olivia so often walked and sometimes her balance wavered.

"Leave me alone."

"Vicki, drop the gun."

"No, I...I have to protect myself."

"I'm going to protect you, Vicki. I promise. Now drop the gun. Now. Now!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

"You're under arrest for criminal possession of a weapon."

"Please don't do this to me. Please."

Olivia closed her eyes tight against the memories not too old, and still very fresh in her mind.

"I'm the one who was raped and you're arresting me?"

"You're lucky I didn't shoot you with that gun in your hand."

"How else am I supposed to protect myself?"

"By helping me catch the guy who's been attacking you."

"He's too smart. You're never going to get him."

"I will if you trust me."

The sounds of sirens filtered into Olivia's thoughts and she realized Williams was waiting for her to talk to Maria. She hated making Maria suffer any more but she hated even more the thought her husband getting away with it and having the chance to finally kill her. She pulled out her phone knowing she would find him before he realized Maria was here. If he were responsible for hurting Maria, he would know to look for her in a hospital. And chances were he knew she wouldn't have gotten far in her condition. "Fin, I think we look here for him. He'll be looking for her and he'll eventually find her here. Find the kid, you'll find him."

Olivia closed her phone and forced herself to her feet. Vicki was another one she had wanted to check on from time to time. She made a mental note to do just that as soon as she knew Maria was safe.

"I'm sorry, Vicki. I pushed you. I just don't know if we have any time left."

"What does that mean?"

"He's escalating. He nearly killed you with that bottle. Next time he will."

"I'm scared."

"That's why I need you to talk to me. You haven't changed your clothes and I can see you didn't shower."

"You said I shouldn't."

"I know you want to catch this son of a bitch as much as I do. So, come on. I'm going to take you to the hospital, all right?"

"It's not too late?"

"We can recover evidence up to ninety-six hours after the attack."

"Will you stay with me?"

"For as long as it takes."

Olivia made it to where Williams was pacing outside of Maria's room. She fielded the almost angry glare from Williams at first but then decided to call her on it. "You got something to say to me, let's hear it."

"She's had enough time, Benson. You're wasting time. You can get through to her and you're wasting time." Williams was angry and had no problems letting Olivia know. "What are you protecting her from?"

"How long have you been Special Victims, Detective?" Olivia had no problem going back at Williams. "Doesn't matter. You protect the victim. Always."

"You want me to do what?"

"Stop hiding. Your never going to be free until you start living your life."

"I can't."

"You can't let Harris control you anymore."

"Now this is my fault?"

"It's...it's never a victim's fault. Rapists have a sick need to feel powerful. Now, the only way to stop Harris is to take that power away."

"He will kill me."

"Vicki, if I have to live with you for the next twenty years, I promise you he's never going to touch you again."

Olivia walked away from Williams and entered Maria's room. She took a few minutes before announcing she was there. Maria eyes were open but she wasn't there and Olivia hated bringing her back. "Maria."

"I'm not doing it, Olivia. They can't make me. Can they make me?" Maria was scared and her voice shook when she spoke.

"No, Maria. They can't make you." Olivia sat down on the bed, immediately taking Maria's hand in her own. "You came back to the city and you asked for me because you wanted me to help you. Am I right, Maria?"

"He will find me. Olivia, he always does and this time he will kill me." Maria tried to pull away but Olivia stopped her. "I have to get out of here, he will find me."

"Maria, listen to me. Listen to me." Olivia's voice was enough to get Maria to settle down and once she did Olivia continued. "I will not let him near you, but you've got to help us. He will eventually kill you, you are right, but you can stop him."

"I can't. Olivia, he will come here and...I have to leave now." Maria tried to pull away again and this time Olivia let her. She cringed when Maria cried out in pain and once again settled down.

"I know you're scared, I know. Maria, let me help you." Olivia held her breath while Maria stared at her. "Did Martin Reyes rape you?"

Maria shook her head, but said nothing.

"I will put him away when I find him. Do you understand, Maria? I will put him in jail for a very long time. Do you want me to find him?"

Again Maria shook her head. "What about Mikey?"

"I will find him." Olivia grabbed Maria's hand once again. "Do you trust me?"

Maria shook her head and pulled her hand from Olivia's to wipe away the tears that began to make their way down her face.

"Okay, I need help, Maria. I need you to get this exam done. It will help when we do find your husband. It will help put him away for a long time." Olivia wondered just how much time Martin Reyes would get and she knew a lot of that depended on Maria.

"But he's my husband. They will not arrest him." Maria began shaking and Olivia could hear the fear in her voice.

"Doesn't matter. He raped you." Olivia leaned closer to Maria. "Please, Maria. Get this exam done and let me do the rest."

Maria closed her eyes after letting her head fall back against the pillow giving Olivia plenty of opportunity to take in her injuries. She wasn't so sure Martin Reyes hadn't intended to kill his wife this time. "Will you stay with me?"

"I will stay with you for as long as it takes. The whole time, Maria." Olivia waited while Maria worked through her fear. When Maria shook her head, Olivia let out a long breath of relief. "Okay, I need to go talk to Detective Williams."

"No, Olivia! Don't leave!"

Olivia immediately heard the young, scared girl on the phone years ago. Her heart instantly reminded her of how scared she was for this little girl then and it wasn't any different now. She felt Maria's fear and it only fueled her determination to find her husband and save Maria from the life she had come to accept. "I will be right outside this door. I won't leave you, Maria. Trust me."

Detective Williams pushed herself off the counter where she was growing increasingly impatient. "Well?"

"She's agreed, but I will stay with her." Olivia dared Williams to object.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Detective. Don't you see the conflict here?" Williams turned to go into Maria's room but stopped when Olivia stood in her way. "This is not your case, or your victim. We'll take it from here. I appreciate your help."

"Conflict? You see me holding her hand through such a frightening , humiliating experience as a conflict?" Olivia kept her voice low but her emotions were running high. Only Fin grabbing her arm kept her from grabbing Williams.

"Detective Williams. We found a car registered to a one Martin Reyes parked three blocks from here. Thought you may want to follow up on that." Fin physically pulled Olivia further away from the other detective knowing she would react to his words as well.

"He's here." Olivia's whispered words gained a nod from Fin.

Williams pulled her phone from her pocket, staring at Olivia the whole time. "You want to babysit Maria Reyes then go ahead. I will find her husband and close this case down."

"Remember, there is a child involved." Olivia's tone was pure frustration and Fin did his best to calm her.

When Williams walked away Fin explained in detail what was found and when and by who. Olivia was right to believe Reyes was quicker than he was being given credit for. She was right to believe he would come looking for his wife and she was right to believe he was close. "Amaro is with her partner, neither seem too interested in anything other than the collar."

"Fin, where is that boy?" Olivia was torn between getting out there and staying with Maria. "I promised Maria I would find him and bring him to her safe."

"Amaro is trying to find him, Liv. We'll find him." Fin watched as the hospital staff was heading towards Maria's room. "She needs you."

Olivia knew Maria needed her and she promised to be there with her, for her the entire way. "It's hard to fight with your hands tied, Fin."

"So, then you use your feet. That's what I intend to do." Fin walked away. He was just as angry and frustrated as Olivia was and it only reminded her of how hard he worked to find Maria when the animal was Richard Dwyer. Another monster, another name, but Maria was the same girl. He wanted her safe just as much as Olivia did.

Maria looked up, meeting Olivia's eyes when she opened the door. Olivia felt the fear that was consuming Maria and she felt the anger that was quickly consuming her.

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Maria Recinos was beautiful, young and oh so easy to love. Martin smiled at the memory of how innocent she was, how naïve, and how taken with him she was. He married her right away and she became Mrs. Martin Reyes and she then became his. That's the way he saw it; that's the way it was. He accepted when she challenged him, disagreed or flat out rebelled against him. He allowed her to try him. He allowed her until he didn't.

He thought her that much more beautiful when she carried their child. She would sing to the unborn baby and he often wondered what she was singing. She looked so happy and Martin knew it was him that had made her that way. She wanted a baby and he gave her what she wanted. He allowed her to sing to the baby however she wanted to. He allowed it until he didn't.

Martin could see his wife so clearly just by looking at their son. It irritated him that Mikey resembled his mother more than he looked like him. His dark hair and dark eyes only made him miss Maria every time he laid eyes on his son. Mikey was a good looking boy and it wouldn't be long before he would begin to grow into the man he was expected to be. Martin hated that he heard his son cry for his mother; he hated that his son cried at all. He hated crying and Maria learned quickly. He allowed her to cry when she needed to. He allowed her that release. He allowed her until he didn't.

He taught her not to cry by punishing her when she did. She learned to take her punishment without a sound and for a while he was proud of his wife. Then he wasn't. He worked to break her and always succeeded. She was his wife, she promised herself to him for life. He intended to hold her to that promise. She tried to leave once before. He had tried to kill her then, but couldn't. He loved Maria too much to ever let her go and he wouldn't. She promised to never try again. She begged and then she promised. He loved to hear her beg him. She begged him to stop and then she promised not to go. She feared him and that was necessary, he knew. He didn't like hurting his wife, but he couldn't risk her leaving him. She promised to never try to leave him again. She kept her promise...until she didn't.