Law and Order:SVU - written for Empire Fandom

[prisca]

Title: He cares too much
Character: Elliot Stabler
Word Count: 235
Prompt: care
Rating: PG13 / R for theme

:::

For a second, Elliot didn't dare to take up the phone, too afraid to hear the words he had heard much too often already. As a detective of the SVU, he knew: There was still a chance to find a kidnapped child unharmed during the first hours, but after two days? In the hands of a cruel child molester? Maybe it would be better to hope that it had been over quickly, that the tormented soul had found rest and peace before realizing what was happening.

But how could he? Every day anew, he had to face death, rape, indescribable cruelty, and yes, he had learned to live with that. Except when it came to the smallest, most vulnerable ones. He was a father of four wonderful children; he cared for all children. Maybe too much. They didn't know about all the evil around them when they were born until they met it. Often enough at places where they were supposed to find love and security. Life was cruel.

Elliot sighed while finally picking up the phone. He listened to the words, put his head back, and squeezed his eyes shut. „It was Finn,“ he told Olivia. „They found her at the basement of the abandoned mattress fabrik. Alive and unharmed.“

Finally, a faint smile turned up on his lips. Sometimes, there was a happy end to remind him why he was doing this job.