1-2-3 Years...
Author's Note: There are few bookmarks throughout the chapter. They are mostly for picture illustrations for that particular scene composite by the talented Ms. Marisol. If you click on the picture you'll be back at the point of story where you were reading. The bookmarks will also reveal some background facts about where I got the idea from. I hope you enjoy the little perks that I have added for the reader in my webpage.
Chapter Ten
The colors of the fall were everywhere. The sun was setting and the color of the horizon too blended perfectly with the color of the season. Fallen leaves chased everywhere and wind found you no matter which direction you walked in. The streets were filled with people with light sweaters and jackets. Jena too was clad in a black turtle neck sweater with knee length leather jacket as she went to visit the grave of her friend. Once she was in a visible range of the tombstone, Jena stopped and watched the lonely figure seated on the bench by her friend�s grave.
Jena froze. She had come to her friend's grave to recuperate after that morning's events. Events that she had predicted to be the end of all her worries, but which had instead opened a Pandora's Box that she wasn't sure she wanted to open.
<<Monday Morning>>
The morning had started with a tiff with her girlfriend. She insisted that Jena stop being stubborn and let cops talk to Eve. Even though upon her girlfriend�s insistence she had called up the precinct and told them that she was bringing Eve in, her girlfriend was still behind her to make sure that she kept the appointment. Knowing her, she wouldn�t have but her lover who at times had an almost allergic reaction to any kind of dramas was too insistent for Jena to even try and pretend that it slipped her mind.
�I can come with you, if you want.� She said once again reminding Jena of her dreaded appointment.
�No, that�s okay. I am taking Jennings with me.�
�You are taking your lawyer with you?� Jena�s craziness still surprised her at times.
�I am going to the police station, I just need to make sure Eve and my rights are protected.� Jena had already made a little back up plan ever since Friday night, when Eve�s accidental meeting with Olivia had resulted in her revealing to her girlfriend that cops were still trying to question Eve. The fact if she had told before would have exactly resulted in what was happening then. That was she had to comply with the cops.
�You don't need to protect your rights from the cops. They just want to nail the son of a bitch who killed Ray. Let them do their work.� She knew that Jena wasn�t telling the truth. But she also wasn�t the kind that ever pried on Jena�s lies.
�That is what you think.� Jena knew that her lie was already caught. But she wasn�t sure if her girlfriend would approve of her plan, so she kept it to herself.
After few minutes of talk on the same topic, Jena�s girlfriend got Eve ready and left for work. Then Jena took Eve and went to the precinct.
When she reached the Captain of the Special Victims Unit greeted her. She was introduced to the ADA Novak, and the Detective Stabler and Tallulah, she had already met, or slammed her door at. Olivia wasn�t there.
After they took sometime to brief her how and what kind of questions would be asked to her daughter, she allowed Eve to be alone with the Psychiatrist Dr. Huang. She stayed in the room on the other side of the glass watching her daughter with everyone who was introduced to her. They all sat and watched and listened to the questions intently. Even though Jena was a little relieved that Olivia wasn�t there, she couldn�t help but wonder why Olivia would miss the chance to see Eve. Especially since she had gone to the trouble of chasing Eve to their Inn, as she had concluded was the reason behind the supposed accidental Friday run in.
Just when Jena was convinced that her ex had actually used her head and not joined the questioning, the door opened and in walked Olivia with Alex in tow.
�Good that you are here. You want to go in and take a crack at Eve with George?� The Captain�s comment was directed towards Alex.
�No, I�ll go.� Olivia volunteered eagerly.
�No, you won�t.� Jena�s voice pierced through from behind Fin and Elliot. �You are not questioning MY daughter.�
Casey who wasn�t in on the gossip about Olivia was shocked to hear Jena�s tone but remained silent. She figured Olivia must have played the role of bad cop to persuade Jena into bringing in Eve.
�That is okay Ms. Rollins she is not.� Elliot reassured as he hurried to his partners side. �Look Liv, we DON'T want to loose this chance. She bonded well with Alex before; let Alex take a crack at her. Otherwise it will be a waste.�
Olivia reluctantly allowed Alex to go to the interrogation room as she watched Eve through the glass.
�She completely refuses to talk about her dad.� Casey made the obvious observation after listening to Alex and George go in circles trying to extract information from the little girl.
�I told that to your detectives.� Jena said eyeing only Olivia.
Jena might have changed her mind about Eve, but she certainly hadn�t changed her hostility towards her ex-girlfriend.
�Does she know what she is doing?� Casey asked.
�Yes.�
�Yes.�
Both Olivia and Jena answered at the same time.
�She knows exactly what she is doing.� Olivia continued, as Jena remained silent. �She believes in the misconception that if she doesn�t talk about it, it somehow didn�t happen.� This time the accusatory glare was directed from Olivia to Jena.
�It is not a misconception. It is a very good way to deal with some pain that hurts like hell. When the pain becomes secondary she will talk about it, but for now, she won�t budge.� Jena explained for her daughter.
The Captain pushed the button to indicate that they could wrap up the interrogation.
�I am sorry Ms. Rollins but we just had to try at least.� Cargen offered apology.
�Mr. Jennings can I have the folder?� Jena said without acknowledging the Captain�s apology and directing to the lone stranger in that room. �Could you also please wait outside with Eve? I will be out in a moment.�
Mr. Jennings did exactly as he was told. When he left Alex entered.
Olivia knew Jena was up to something and whatever it was; it concerned her so she kept her stare steady at her ex-girlfriend.
�Ray was my best friend. I want his murderer locked up as much as any one.� Jena who turned to everyone else started her speech. �I hope I have proved that I wasn�t trying to obstruct anyone�s investigation by trying to keep my daughter away from the police. She is not ready to talk about it, and even though I know that she knows, I am sorry but I won�t allow anyone else to poke and probe her.�
Every one remained silent in understanding. Regardless of how bitchy Jena came to their beloved Detective, her concern was genuine of any mother.
�Rest assured Ms. Rollins that we would not be pursuing you or your daughter any more.� Casey said approaching Jena. �I need to leave right now, but you have my assurances.�
�Thank you Ms. Novak.� Jena shook the ADA�s hand just before Casey left the room.
�You have my assurance too.� The Captain spoke.
�I appreciate all the assurances but I like to make sure that it is done. So, for now this� Jena held up the paper in the air for everyone to focus on. ��is a restriction order for Detective Benson to stay away from Eve.�
�What?� Olivia voice echoed her shock. �You can�t do that.�
�Yes, I can and I am going to stop you from stalking Eve. It is one thing to stalk me, but to follow Eve to the Black Swan Inn. What were you thinking?� When Jena had warned Olivia to stay away from her daughter she had meant it. And now she was going to make sure she did.
�Wait a minute here.� Alex spoke breaking the glare of the two women. �May be I can explain here. The whole Black Swan Inn ��
�Alex, please it�s of no use.� Olivia cut Alex�s defense. When Jena was angry, reasoning never worked.
�No, let me explain. You have no grounds for restriction order.� Alex the lawyer was determined to defend her girlfriend who was falsely accused. �No one is stalking you or Eve.� Alex said with confidence.
Alex knew that meeting Eve in the Inn was an accident, since she was the one who dragged Olivia there. And also the fact that Olivia had told her that she hadn�t seen Jena since the hospital scene. She figured if Jena was in a mission to drag Olivia in her life, through outrageous measures, she wasn�t going to sit back and watch silently. Especially since she was armed with a court order and law was her arena where she was ready to battle for her girlfriend.
�No one is stalking anyone?� Jena asked rhetorically.
A sadistic smile appeared on her face as she turned to Olivia. Olivia looked away. She then turned to the Captain and the two male Detectives in the room. They all avoided direct eye contact with both Jena and Alex.
�Looks like you are the only one in the dark.� Jena couldn�t believe that Olivia was actually stupid enough not to tell her girlfriend about what she had been doing. Jena wanted to hurt Olivia, but she had never wanted to cause a friction in Olivia�s love life. But, now that it was about to, there was nothing she could do to retract. She had to continue with her course of attack. �Detective Benson has been repeatedly barging in on my daily life.� Jena said with a triumphant smile. She was already the bitch; she figured she would play the part to the fullest. �Trying to persuade me to allow her to talk to Eve.� Jena added just in case Alex didn�t misconceive the reason behind Olivia�s visit. �I have every ground for this court order.�
Even though Jena had tried to buffer her attack, unfortunately the worse was done. Alex didn�t snap. She only turned her head to her girlfriend with whom she had just spent the 48 heavenly hours. And who had also driven like crazy the moment she had heard Elliot�s message. Olivia kept her head looking away from Alex.
Even Jena�s stare was transfixed on the silent and brooding Olivia. Except unlike Alex, Jena knew that look too well. The look that said if Alex wanted answers, she needed to have a lot of patience. Patience that the Detective's colleagues rooted for as their gaze shifted from still turned away Olivia to her now embarrassed and hurt girlfriend.
Alex was a patient person. She had been very patient with Olivia too. But now she was hurt. And hurt and patience were two feelings that never went hand in hand. So hurt Alex left. Olivia remained silent.
With the events of the morning fresh in her heart, Jena wasn�t surprised by the presence of the visitor on her friend�s grave. She knew why Olivia was there. She wanted to confront Jena for her actions. Jena certainly regretted the unseen consequences that had resulted but the forgiveness she sought was not from Olivia. She stood still contemplating weather or not to give Olivia what she had come for. Just then Olivia looked up from the name on the tombstone she had been staring at and saw the pair of eyes watching her.
Once upon a time ago, when those two same pairs of eyes had met over a distant for the first time, they had both lost their hearts to each other in that very instant. But now as their eyes remained transfixed both carried bruised, scared and burdened hearts that pained more as every second ticked passed. Unconscious smile that had escaped the first time they had seen each other were left too far away in their past. The distance that was the enemy then was now their only solace to keep some kind of sanity in their bleeding hearts. So, Jena decided let the distance be and broke the stare. She turned and left.
�There you go Ray. Jena leaves once again.� Olivia said blinking rapidly refusing to let her tears fall. �But this time she went too far. I am not going to take it sitting down.� Olivia got up with determination. �I am sorry Ray. I am going to break my promise to you.�
�I kept my promise Ray. You know I did.� Jena said once she was back in her car. �All I wanted to do was for her to leave Eve alone. Causing any kind of tension between her and Alex wasn�t what I set out to do. I hope you know that Ray. I hope you know this is not my doing. I did not break my promise.� Jena needed to make that clear. That was the reason she had come to visit her friend's grave that evening. "I promised you that I would never try and take away her happiness. And you know I didn't do this. I didn't do it when I could easily have done it so please Ray, I hope you know. If she lost Alex, it is because of her not me."