rebuilding a life

After a week in the hospital Clarissa was finally able to go home after recovering from the alcohol poisoning and other minor injuries she got over her time with William lewis.

Over the next 5 years things began to change for the Benson family. Olivia became captain. Amanda left the squad and became a professor teaching about serial killers. Fin officially became Sargeant. Members of the squad changed. Olivia had put Clarissa in therapy to help deal with her trauma from william lewis who was still alive and serving his original sentence along with extra years for his 2 previous escapes. Noah was going in to the 3rd grade and Clarissa was starting the 4th grade.

That morning olivia was frying some eggs and bacon for her kids as they were both getting ready for school. Noah came out first and took his seat at the island counter and smiled at his mom. "Morning buddy." Olivia smiled as she set a plate of food in front of him. "I got all your stuff in your backpack by the door. You ready for your first day of 3rd grade?"

"Yes mama." He replied as he dug in to his food.

She smiled and ruffled his hair slightly "now remember I'm taking you and your sister to school but Lucy will pick you up afterward and I've told her she can take you guys for ice cream." She said giving her son a little bit of a goofy face.

Noah giggled and said "yes! Chocolate with sprinkles?"

She nodded "anything you want just don't overdo it ok?" She then noticed Clarissa hadn't come out yet and she sighed as she made her way to clarissas room and knocked on the door before walking in. "Clarissa hunny come get breakfast we have to leave soon." She said seeing her now 10 year old sitting on the bed stareing at her hands. Clarissa didn't respond almost like she couldn't hear olivia. Olivia walked closer and sat beside her. "Sweetheart?" She said as she pushed a few locks of her brown hair behind her daughters ear.

Clarissa jumped slightly startled "i...I'm sorry mama what did you say?" She said coming out of her transe like state.

"Just that you need to come eat breakfast....sweetheart are you alright?" Olivia asked

Clarissa nodded "yeah mama I'm ok really" she said with a fake smile.

Olivia looked at her phone as a text came from fin about a case and then Olivia realized the date and sighed "you know what why don't I call you in today and you can come hang out in my office today?" She suggested.

Clarissa shook her head and looked at her mother "no mama. Really I'm fine." She continued.

Olivia hesitated a moment but nodded and kissed clarissas head "ok my love. Come on let's go get your breakfast ok?"

Clarissa followed her out. Clarissa was still pretty quiet the rest of the morning. As olivia pulled up to the school Noah got out first and waved to his mother running towards a couple friends. Clarissa was about to get out when Olivia touched her arms gently. "Listen if...if you have a hard time today you call me ok and either me or Lucy will come and get you early alright?"

She looked back at her mother and nodded slightly "I'm ok mama." She said before leaving the car and walking to the front doors of the school. Olivia watched a moment before pulling away from the school.

***

Olivia arrived at the precinct 15 minutes later and walked in checking her phone once more before sliding it in her pocket and saying good morning to the squad. She went to the coffee pot to make a cup as fin came up to her. "Hey liv you alright?" He asked.

She made one of her nervous stressful chuckles and said "yeah fin don't worry." She hesitated than said. "I'm just worried about Clarissa. She seemed a little off this morning and then I realized it's the 5th anniversary of when she was taken."

"Damn. I'm sorry liv. You sure you wouldn't rather take a personal day?" He asked.

"No fin I'm good." She half smiled.

He nodded "ok." He sighed knowing how she liked to avoid things when it came to herself.

"So update me on the case." She said leaving the break room with him.