Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

VIRGINIA

"Doesn't another DA normally handle stuff with you guys?" Virginia asked playfully.

"Yes but he unfortunately had to recuse himself." She nodded in understand and gathered her things into a leather briefcase.

"Well I'll get these to a judge and call you when they're ready okay." Liv nodded and walked out of the office.

For the rest of the case Manhattan SVU called upon ADA Virginia Fredrick. She was a nice woman, sarcastic, sassy but kind none the less.

Normally they just ignored her, the other ADA's, SVU they really only focused on each other. She'd been envious for a while.

It was her dream to work with, or even talk, to Rafael Barba. He'd been a hero of hers for years. Her grandma kept a picture of him on her mantle. He was the reason she chose this job.

But, surprisingly enough lieutenant Olivia Benson must have taken a liking to her because every couple of weeks she got a call from SVU. Her caseload was heavier than an anvil but she enjoyed every second of it.

In fact today she was called into SVU to discuss an ongoing case. She wore pants, a top and a blazer. Both casual and professional at the same time. Her hair was in a bun, her eyelashes curled, her feet in high heeled shoes and her makeup done.

She was alone in the elevator going up and once she was off she went straight to the lieutenant's office. She walked confidently, knocking on the slightly open door and letting herself in.

She was more than surprised to see a man in her office. She smiled awkwardly.

"Hello lieutenant, you called me here for the McDalton case. Is now a bad time?" She asked.

"So you're the one making my caseload lighter than usual." He wasn't facing her but she could practically hear the smirk.

"No, no. Actually this is perfect timing ADA Virginia Fredrick, ADA Rafael barba, Barba this is Virginia Fredrick." Her eyes widened as he finally turned towards her.

"Lovely to meet my new competition.” He said, sticking his hand out. She grabbed his hand and shook it.

"Likewise Mr.Barba." She stared into his eyes as she spoke. She was absolutely inthralled.

"Please, Rafael." She took her hand back and blushed ever so slightly.

"Virginia." She geared a cough behind her and turned towards Liv. She was snapped back to reality.

"Nice meeting you Virginia." Rafael said as he left the office.

"You too, Rafael." She smiled in his direction as he left.

She stepped back and sat down as Liv stood and shut the door.

"So the McDalton case. Virginia? Virginia?" Her head snapped up, but she was still in shock.

"I just met Rafael Barba. Oh my gods. I can't believe I'm on a first name basis with Rafael Barna. Rafael." Liv looked at her confused.

Virginia seemed to realize as she looked back up. She laughed awkwardly and smiled at the ground.

"Sorry, he's one of my hero's, I've always wanted to meet him." Liv smiled at her.

"I don't think I've ever seen you starstruck Virginia." She said laughing at the young girls enthusiasm.

"Sorry, anyway the McDalton case." They went back to work quickly. Virginia was still dazed from the earlier interaction.

Maybe she'd be seeing him again soon.

Chapter Text

VIRGINIA

Virginia was nothing if not a dam good actor. Her whole life she’s been pretending, pretending to be happy, to be safe, to understand, to be okay with the subtle sexism of her job.

Of course today was no different, she pretended to be happy, pretended to be safe, pretended not to see his face in the crowd.

She kept her head down and sped to the office. She pushed inside the building in a blur, not even saying hello to Carmen. She put everything she had on her desk and sunk to the floor.

Her skin was flushed and she was out of breath. She brought a hand to her face and let out a shaky breath.

She stood and raised her head to face the door. She could see him in front of her, she was startled and she jerked back.

He smirked and walked closer, she stumbled back and whimpered.

“Hey there slims.” His face twisted into something ugly as he took another step.

She let out a soft scream and pushed back into the wall. It was by the Grace of the gods that Carmen knocked on the door.

“I’m sorry Virginia, I didn’t know you had company. I can come back if now is a bad time.” She said sweetly staring at the man.

She shook her head rapidly and stood up straighter.

“No, no, sorry Carmen he was just leaving, wasn’t he.” His smirk fell and he glared at her, turning to walk out.

She let out a breath of relief and faced Carmen. 

“Thank you Carmen, if you see that man again please let me know. Also please call Lieutenant Benson and tell her I’m on my way.” She voice was shaky as she spoke.

Carmen looked at her, concern written clearly on her face.

“Are you all right Virginia?” She asked kindly.

“Yes, thank you again Carmen.” She gave a curt nod as Carmen left the room.

She took a breath to steady herself, she must’ve spent at least 20 minutes curled up in a ball by her office desk. She eventually stood back up and hailed a cab.

Normally she’d walk, she enjoys the brisk morning air. She didn’t want to chance it this time, not with him lurking around.

She made her way into Manhattan’s 16th precinct with a confident smile, even though on this inside she was screaming.

She strolled into the precinct and made her way to Olivia’s office. Like always she knocked and opened to the door without waiting.

“Virginia, Carmen said I should be expecting you. So, is this about the Stevens’ case?” She smiled politely.

“No actually, this isn’t business it’s personal. I need help getting an order of protection.” Liv’s eyes widened, shocked.

“Are you alright, against who?” Olivia leaned forward quizzically.

“I’m fine, it’s a man named Riordan Watts. I can’t file it myself, so I need you’re help. I used to have one but it expired recently.” Liv seemed confused but didn’t question her.

Virginia took a deep breath.

“Did he threaten you in any way, harass and or abuse you?” She knew this was just parent of the procedure doesn’t mean she liked it.

“Not recently, because of the last order.” Olivia nodded, wrote something down and looked back up.

“And what’s your relation with him?”

“Nothing by blood, look this is all in the other order, I just need help extend it. I’m not allowed to do it for myself. I asked.” She looked down, confidence faltering slightly.

Liv took her glasses off and sighed. She nodded and looked up to her.

“I can get this to Barba, he can get an extension.” Her heart skipped a beat.

She didn’t want her hero to look into her past, but she didn’t really trust anybody else. She nodded and stood, thanking Liv before leaving the office.

It was only a few days later, when Virginia was on her way to court, that Rafael showed up. Clad in an expensive, pristine suit and his signature smirk.

Virginia grabbed her bag and was about to head out the door. Rafael slipped into her office. She turned around and was startled to see him there, she laughed softly at herself.

“Hello Rafael, I’m just on my way to court. What can I do for you?” She smiled in his direction and his smile faltered slightly.

“It’s about the order of protection, I filed with the court. Judge denied, said that it’s been long enough that he isn’t a threat anymore. I’m sorry.” Her smile fell.

She looked down and grabbed her things more frantically. She violently stuffed files into her bag and approches the door again.

“Thank you Rafael, but I’ve got to get to court.” She walked past him and didn’t look back.

Chapter Text

The week had been long, She’d lost a case and gotten a new one. A difficult one.

A young girl had been raped and murdered by the 'nice man next door'. She was 12, an age Virginia remembered vividly. Is was when she lived with the Johnson family.

The same family that fostered Roirdan Watts. She would never forget him.

Back then, when she was only 12, Riordan was 17. The family wasn't home much, so they left Riordan to babysit. It didn't go over well, to say the least.

Anyway, back to the case. The guy did the usual admit what you can't deny, deny what you can't admit. He was friendly, he babysat her, he never had sex with her.

"Mr.Miller, you said you never had sec with the victim, Is that right?" She asked.

The fat bald man smirked at her, he was wearing an old wifebeater along with what looked like a suit jacket and slacks. He leaned back in his chair, smug.

"Never." She smiled nodded.

"Of course. People's exhibit 12B." She went to her bench grabbed an evidence bag and brought it to him.

"If you never had sex with the victim, then why was your seminal fluid kind on her her clothes?" She looked into his eyes. His facade was starting to crumble.

"People's exhibit 4C. Why, Mr.Miller was vaginal fluid DNA matching the victim found on your underwear? On the inside of your underwear?" He was practically trembling at this point.

"That's what I thought. The people rest your honour." She smirked and walked back to her bench.

The defence called an expert witness, of course. Dr. Morrison, the ME on her case.

"Dr. Morrison, is it possible that the clothes found in said laundry basket could have been contaminated. The DNA from one article passing to another?" The attorney asked.

The doctor leaned forward towards the microphone.

"It is, but it's highly unlikely given the circum-." The attorney cut him off.

"Thank you Dr."

The judge sat behind her bench, the bailiff brought a piece of paper to her.

“Jury, have you reached a verdict?” The foreperson nodded.

“Yes you’re honneur, on the count of sexual misconducts the first degree we find the defendant, guilty. On the second count of murder in the first degree, we find the defendant, not guilty.” Virginia sighed.

The lawyer beside her and the defendant hugged.

“So ordered. The defendant is remanded into custody for sentencing.” Virginia grabbed her things.

She turned around, the victims parents were sobbing. She swallowed thickly and left the court room.

She went straight to her office, not stopping for pleasantries along the way. She plowed into her office, shit the door and collapsed into her chair.

She opened the bottom drawer and pulled out a large bottle. Single malt whiskey, she predicted bourbon, but who was she to complain.

She grabbed a glass from the same drawer and filled it. She took a long sip and swallowed slowly, enjoying the burn. She sighed.

The case affected her more than she’d like to admit. It came back to Riordan, it always came back to Riordan. When she was younger, before him, she’d had bad homes before.

Ones that wouldn’t give her food, said she ate too much. Between ages four to six she’d lived with the Thomas’, they had bee worse. Gary Thomas, her foster father, had enjoyed burning her.

Cigarettes and cigars, sometimes he’d even invite over his friend to have fun. Her case worker had said she was fine. She’d been from home to home for years.

She thought she’d hit the jackpot when she lived with the Johnson family, they let her eat whatever she wanted, whenever she wanted. They didn’t hurt her like the others, she even got her own room and a new lightbulb!

Until they left her with Riordan, he always sat too close, he was always a little too friendly. She didn’t like to think about that, the Johnson’s didn’t hurt her, but he did.

She took another long gulp of her drink and closed her eyes softly. Wishing away the dark thoughts threatening to drown her. She took a few deep breaths.

She couldn’t hear anything, a hand flew in front of her mouth. Her eyes flew open, and she tried to scream. Any other hand pulled back the chair, then wrapped around her waist.

She was thrown upwards as the hand tightened. Just as one left her mouth it returned with a wet cloth. She struggled to breath but wasn’t given a chance as she slowly drifted off.

Chapter Text

When Rafael left his office that night he was more than disappointed. Not in Virginia, but in himself. She was a sweet girl and a good ADA, he was just sorry he couldn't do more to help her.

He didn't see her the next day, which was understandable. But now it had been almost three days since he'd last seen her and though he'd never admit it, he was worried for the young woman.

He needed to go to SVU for a case anyway so when he got there he'd just talk with Liv, maybe she knew where she was. He walked into the offices as he normally would carrying on as usual until he had to leave. Before the time came to go he sat down with Liv.

"So, how's Virginia doing?" He asked as casually as he could but concern seemed to seep off of him. She cocked her head to the side in confusion.

"Actually I was going to ask you that. I haven't seen her in days." The both shared a look of concern.

"I'm gonna call her office, stay here." Olivia said.

She picked up her phone and dialled Virginia's number. She waited a moment and stared at the phone anxiously. There was no answer, so she called Carmen instead.

"Hello Carmen, has Virginia been at the office lately?" Rafael couldn't hear what was said on the other end of the call.

"Oh really?" A look of surprise fainted her features it was soon replaced with one of concern.

"Did she call in sick?"

"Alright then, thank you goodbye." She looked back over at Rafael, her face showed an emotion he couldn't identify.

"She hasn't come into work for days and she didn't call in sick, no one can reach her." Her face seemed almost blank, relaxed in a look of fear. An eerie silence surrounded them.

Panic shot through him like a bullet, and a deep feeling of dread settled on in stomach.

——

She woke slowly, her eyelids felt heavier than lead. Her lip was warm with blood, rope scratched into the thin skin of her wrists. She jerked forward trying to get up.

She let out a panicked breath of air. Her eyes darted around the dark damp room, searching for her captor. The soft pitter patter of mice and the metronome like drip of a leaky faucet filled her ears.

Her head felt as though it were filled with bricks, her ears like cotton. She leaned back revealing she was in a chair. The clod metal of the seat bit into her skin. She opened her mouth slightly.

"Hello?" She let out a weak gasp.

There was no response at first, just water dripping. She could barely make out the outline of a wooden staircase. It started to creak as a large figure made its way into the room.

Up until now only a sliver of light had filtered into the room from an uncovered window. But a harsh light startled her, she looked up to see a single lightbulb hanging from the ceiling.

"Well look who finally woke up, huh slims. How you doing eh?" He knelt in front of her brushing a strand of hair from her face.

Her lip quivered and she moved her head to the side to avoid him. He grabbed her jaw roughly between his fingers. Her cheeks were pushed inwards and her lips puckered. He jerked her forwards and placed a wet kiss onto her mouth.

When he pulled of she grunted and yanked her head back. She spit into his face, he wiped it off with a sick smile.

He grabbed her hair and tugged, bringing her head to the side, craning her neck. He looked into her eyes and coming even closer.

"You and I, we're gonna have some fun."

——

"We're putting a bolo out on her car and we have a warrant for Roirdan Watts. Right now he's our number one suspect." Olivia said in front of a group of officers.

"We are considering him potentially armed and dangerous. Carisi, Rollins you're taking a team to search Watts last known address." They nodded back and her before leaving.

Rafael watched from the corner, he let out a shaky breath. She shouldn't be in this situation, he should have fought harder for her. If he'd gotten that order she would be here right now, not in trouble, possibly kidnapped.

——

Virginia watched him walk away, he smirked at her. The table behind him taunted her, it was covered with his 'toys'. It looked like he'd ransacked a hardware store.

"I'm gonna go take a smoke, maybe I'll bring one back for ya' slims." He chuckled to himself before walking up the stairs.

She was on an old dirty mattress in the corner of the basement. He'd taken her off the chair so he could have some 'fun'.

Her legs were free but her wrists were tied behind her. Opposite to her she could see what looked to be some sort of saw. She slowly pushed herself up and walked over on shaky legs.

She must have resembled a new born deer on ice and she fell to the other side of the room. She turned herself around and pushed her arms into the saw.

Virginia pushed herself up and down while putting all her weight on the saw. When she finally heard the snap of the rope breaking she nearly cried in relief.

She brought her arms ups up to her chest and rubbed her sore wrists. She could hear footsteps above her. She grabbed onto the first thing she could, some kind of fire poker.

She stood beside the staircase as he walked down, the poker raised in the air like a baseball bat.

"Slims, I got a surprise for you." He laughed and she stilled as he rounded the corner.

It was almost a sense of peace that ran through her, when she rammed the sharp end of the poker into his forehead. His smirk faded to a look of terror as he fell backwards.

The poker never fell from her hands, instead pulling from his skull in a disgusting crack. Blood spattered onto her face, her mouth was open in terror. The deep red liquid gushed from his head wound like a raging waterfall.

She let out a cry of pure shock, tears fell from her eyes as she started to panic. She screamed and brought her hands to her mouth.

She quickly ran past him and tumbled up the stairs. Virginia tripped over his body in her struggle, she fell onto her knees but pushed herself up again. She scrambled to the door like a chased rabbit.

She could hear noise outside and was quickly thrown back as the door slammed into her face. She let out a guttural scream as she hit the wall and fell to the floor. It was a miracle she was still conscious.

A familiar face graced her vision as she looked up, two detectives from SVU.