Disgraced

Chapter 1: Mystery Woman

Disclaimer: I do not own the recognizable characters. I make no money off of this work. But if Dick Wolf needs someone to scab until the writer’s strike is over.

A/N: I had horrible writer’s block and I probably still do but this idea came to me and I wanted to see what people thought. I hope you like it.

“Excuse me,” a woman’s voice caused Olivia to look up at the doors of the squad room. The woman appeared to be in her early thirties; she had long brown hair and dark blue eyes. The woman was flanked by two small boys.

Olivia rose from her desk “Can I help you?” she asked. The woman looked nervous and the children were still as statues and just as silent.

The woman cleared her throat “Yes,” she said quietly “I’m looking for Elliot Stabler.”

Olivia glanced around quickly. Elliot was still in interrogation with a guy who they were pretty sure had murdered and raped his own wife and her sister. Elliot was invested in getting a confession from this guy. She looked back at the woman “He’s busy right now but I can help you,” she extended her hand “I’m his partner, Olivia Benson.”

The woman shook her hand and forced a tiny smile “Beth Hudson,” she introduced “Thank you but I really need to speak with Detective Stabler.”

Olivia nodded and lead Beth and the two boys to a nearby interview room “I’ll tell him where you are as soon as he has a free moment,” she turned to leave when one of the boys tugged on her pant leg. She knelt down in front of the boy and smiled softly at him. But the second her eyes met his, she froze. His eyes, they were unmistakable. She turned to look at his brother; the other boy was identical in every way. They both had those eyes, Elliot’s eyes.

She cleared her throat which suddenly felt dry “What is it sweetie?” she asked.

“Can I have some juice please?” he asked politely.

“Me too,” his brother added.

“Sure,” Olivia said quickly, trying to stand up. Finally she managed to get to her feet though her legs felt like rubber “I’ll be right back,” she informed Beth as she hurriedly left the room.

Olivia headed straight for the interrogation room. Casey, Cragen and Elliot were standing outside, staring in at the suspect and talking in low voices. She rushed up to them and interrupted without really caring “Did he confess?” she asked.

Elliot was the first to look over in her direction. He could tell at first glance that something was up “Yeah…” he told her “Is everything alright?”

She reached out and grabbed his arm “No, yes, I’m not sure,” she babbled as she pulled him with her towards the interview room.

“Liv,” Elliot said in utter confusion “What’s wrong?” he wrenched his arm out of her grasp.

Olivia stopped and turned to him “There’s a woman in there who wants to talk to you,” she pointed towards the interview room “She’s got two little boys with her.”

“Can you handle it?” Elliot asked “I need to talk to Casey. She’s actually thinking of giving this guy a deal.”

“She said she needed to talk to you,” Olivia told him. She took a step closer and lowered her voice “Did you ever donate sperm?”

Elliot stepped back and looked at her in astonishment “No… and what does that have to do with this woman… or anything for that matter?”

Olivia mentally slapped herself. She had to be mistaken. She had simply over reacted “Nothing,” she said apologetically “Sorry,” she shrugged as she watched him walk towards the interview room. She followed but kept her distance.

Elliot entered the room to find Beth sitting at the table with both boys in her lap “Hello,” Elliot greeted.

Beth looked up at him “Hello yourself,” she said. She smiled as he took a seat across from her “It’s good to see you again.”

Elliot stared at her in confusion “Have we met before?”

Beth’s eyes began to water “How can you say you don’t remember me?” she asked in a hurt voice.

“I’m sorry ma’am but I don’t know who you are,” Elliot said apologetically.

“It’s Beth, Elliot. Beth Hudson. I know it’s been six years but I thought I made more of an impression,” she was nearly crying now. Her sons clung to her and began sniffling as well.

“I really am sorry Beth,” Elliot told her “But I really don’t remember you.”

She stood up and set her boys down on the floor. She crossed the room and slapped him “How dare you!” she shouted “It was the most beautiful and meaningful nights of my life and you can’t even remember me?! You jackass!”

Olivia stepped into the room, ready to come to her partner’s defense and slap the cuffs on Beth. She reached for the other woman’s wrists but Elliot stopped her “It’s okay,” he told her softly “She’s just upset.”

“Damn right I’m upset,” Beth spat out. She gestured to her children “I came here for a reason,” the two boys stood, one on each side of their mother “This is Joshua,” she pointed to the boy on her left “And this,” she pointed to the boy on her right “Is Timothy,” she looked up at Elliot with pure anger “They’re your boys. I thought you had a right to at least get the chance to know them.”

Elliot and Olivia stared dumbfounded at Beth. Elliot’s jaw nearly hit the floor “There… there’s… no way…”

Just at that moment, Cragen knocked on the door of the interview room. He opened it and poked his head in “Elliot,” he began “Kathy’s in my office, she needs to speak to you. She says it’s urgent.”

Elliot through his head back “I’ll be right there,” he told Cragen. He turned back to Beth “I’m sorry Ms. Hudson but you must have me confused with someone else.”

“Like hell I do,” Beth growled at him “If you don’t believe they’re yours, take a paternity test. I’m not leaving until we come to some sort of agreement,” she pushed past Elliot “Maybe your wife would like to know what kind of man you really are.”

Elliot tried to go after her but Cragen had already barred her way. Beth began to kick and scream while her two boys watched fearfully. They retreated under the interview room table as their mother hurled an angry tirade about child support and philandering jackasses who wouldn’t acknowledge their mistakes.

It wasn’t long before Kathy came out of Cragen’s office “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Oh,” Beth said, noticing Kathy’s pregnant stomach. She turned back to Elliot “How many more bastards do you have out there?” she asked bitterly.

Olivia came up behind Elliot “You okay?” she asked.

“I don’t know anymore,” he murmured, putting his head in his hands as the squad room descended into chaos around him.

“Elliot,” Kathy demanded “What is going on? Who is that woman?”

“I’ll tell you who I am!” Beth shouted at the top of her lungs as she pounded against Cragen’s chest “I’m the mother of this son-of-a-bitch’s children!”

“Is this true?” Kathy asked angrily.

“No,” Elliot said firmly “I didn’t… I mean they can’t possibly be mine.”

“You heartless bastard!” Beth cried.

“Officers!” Cragen called to two uniforms standing by the door. The two men came over and took control of the unruly and violent Beth “Put her in a holding cell until we sort this out,” Cragen said breathlessly.

“You son-of-a-bitch!” Beth called back as they dragged her away “You son-of-a-bitch! You can’t get rid of me that easily.”

“Captain,” Olivia said quietly, stepping forward “What are we supposed to do with the kids?” she pointed behind her at the two boys hiding under the table.

“Have Warner run a paternity test. Tell her to get the results back here by the end of the day,” Cragen sputtered, still trying to catch his breath, angry that his squad room had been disrupted in such a manner. “Let’s get this settled as soon as we can,” he half glared at Elliot.

Elliot shifted uncomfortably when he remembered that Kathy had come to talk to him. He pulled her aside and into Cragen’s office while Olivia went to try and coax the two boys out from under the table. It was going to be a long day.