Chapter Text
Hope made it to the crime scene rather quickly. Thankfully the stroll home had done wonders for the digestion of the food she'd consumed not to long ago.
She got there just as the CSI team was beginning to close off the crime scene. She walked up to the officers standing near the perimeter. Brandishing her badge she greeted them.
"Evening officers, Detective Mikaelson with SVU, what do we got?"
"Owner's son called in about a body in a bag. Vic was stuffed into the duffle with trash bags covering the body. Judging by the visible bruising and dried blood in some areas, vic took a beating. The fact that she was also naked made us call you guys." The senior officer informed Hope.
"Any other witnesses or reported disturbances in the area?"
"No disturbances but hopefully the sirens and commotion will attract someone that noticed anything out of the ordinary."
"Thank you officer let me know if you hear anything." The officer agreed and let Hope pass the perimeter.
She went up to the paramedics that were busy stabilizing the victim. She was struck by the familiarity of the victims face. She could pass off as Josie's younger sister with how much she resembled the ADA. It was unsettling. Even with all the bruises the girl was a dead ringer for the taller brunette in her teens.
"Detective we have her stable for right now we need to get her to the hospital." The lead paramedic told her pulling her from her thoughts.
"How bad?" Hope questioned.
"She was unconscious when we got here. There might be some internal bleeding, probable concussion and maybe a few broken bones. We'll know more when she gets examined and out of the cold." She answered.
"You guys heading to Mercy?" She questioned. She got a nod for confirmation. "Let them know I want a kit and complete exam." She ordered.
"Will do detective. We're heading out now." The paramedics climbed in the ambulance and they raced out.
Hope saw Kaleb pull up parking across the street. She took a deep breath trying to shake the unsettling emotion that had come over. She tried calling Josie to make sure she got home ok, but she was on another call. Hope forced her brain to focus on the task at hand and put her worries on the back burner.
"What do we got Mikaelson?" Kaleb asked once he got close enough.
"Vic just got transported to Mercy, unconscious, definitely beaten and likely sexually assaulted. Owner's son found the bag in the alley, no other witnesses or reports of any disturbances in the area." Hope shared all the information she'd manage to gather.
"I'll take the boy and you see what little CSI can tell us. Vic was likely dumped here so everything useful is contained to the bag."
Hope agreed with him, the crime scene was useless and needed to be examined in the lab. They had no witnesses. Their victim was currently unconscious, they didn't even have a clue to her name or the extent of what she suffered. The case was already off to a shitty start.
Call her paranoid or superstitious, but generally cases that start like this were never easy. She still got that weird anxious feeling in the back of her mind, making her even more uneasy.
"Focus Mikaelson." She muttered to herself trying to stay the course.
"Evening boy's what do we got?" She asked the CSI crew.
"Not much."
"Figured as much. But give me something." She needed something to point her in a direction to start looking.
"We won't actually know much until we get the bag and trash to the lab. There's some of the victim's blood soaked into the interior." The lead forensic analyst showed her the blood splotches on the interior. And motioned to the bags another analyst was loading into the truck.
"No identification found? Anything that can give us any information on where to start."
"She's not from around here." The other forensic analyst stated joining the conversation.
"How can you tell?" Hope asked turning to him.
"The bag used is worth at least a thousand dollars and from what I can tell it's made of authentic Italian leather. So maybe double that." He explained.
"So I'm looking at a perp that can afford a thousand dollar bag."
"And one that doesn't care about getting rid of it." He added to her conclusion.
Hope groaned internally, she was likely dealing with someone that had no regard to other people or material things. They were usually the worst kind of scum. The had resources and felt like they were untouchable.
"We'll have more for you guys tomorrow."
Hope bid them a goodnight telling them she'd see them in the morning. This was not how she pictured her night going. Or weekend for that matter. She went over to where Kaleb was waiting for her.
"Anything useful?" She asks.
"Nothing, he was pretty shook up but didn't see or hear anything prior to finding the body. You?"
"Someone dumped our vic in a bag that's probably worth over a couple thousand, filled with trash. Other than that CSI can give us more info tomorrow." Hope informed him.
She watched as Kaleb grimaced as he took in the information.
"So we have an unconcious Jane Doe, no witnesses, a perp dumping a bag worth thousands in the projects. No evidence or crime scene. God we're fucked."
"Yup pretty much. Let's go to Mercy see what they can tell us and hopefully call it a night."
The pair had made there way to Mercy Hospital. Hope had tried calling Josie on the way there again, but her calls went unanswered. Which caused her dormant anxiety to flair up again. She dialed the number again to the same results.
Her brain had started running down possible explanations. She could've been overthinking their almost kiss and decided not to answer, maybe she was in the shower or probably on the phone with Lizzie. Which were all logical reasons. However, her brain didn't stop there. Feeding off the unsettling feeling she'd gotten at the crime scene. Each possible explanation got worse as time went on.
They soon arrived at the hospital so she had to put her thoughts in a box yet again. She could surrender to a cycle of anxiety induced overthinking after doing her job.
The pair of detectives were quickly escorted to where their Jane Doe was. A familiar doctor met them outside of the room.
"Hello detectives."
"Hey Dr. Hart, what can you tell us?" Kaleb asked.
*
"She's still unconscious. Probably her body's way of protecting her from the trauma it's been thru tonight. There's definite signs of sexual assault, tears and bleeding. I had to stitch her up with how bad some of the tears were. She has serious bruising along her thighs and pelvis. She also had what appears to be defensive wounds. She has several bruised ribs, a fractured eye socket and most likely a concussion. No swelling of the brain so far or internal bleeding. She's experiencing some effects of hypothermia to as well."
Dr. Hart informed the two detectives. She always found interesting to see them absorbing the information relayed to them. While Kaleb usuallly seemed to react instinctually, his fist clenched and always present scowl deepening. Hope was blank. Looked like she spaced out. Her eyes however gave away that there was a lot going on inside her head.
"Perp leave anything behind?"
"We've got semen and DNA under her fingernails. I have the samples ready for you in my office." Dr. Hart told them.
"You think she'll wake up anytime soon?" Kaleb questioned. Wanting to know if they would have to camp out at the hospital.
"Highly doubt it. Earliest tomorrow morning. Would you guys like the evidence now or do the procedure tomorrow?"
"We'll take it now." Kaleb followed Dr. Hart to her office, while Hope stayed behind.
She looked in to the room at the girl. She looked so fragile and broken. Like one hard gust of wind could shatter what was left of her. She'd been working as a detective for SVU for two and a half years at this point, she'd seen every terrible thing possible and then some. Yet some cases still struck a cord inside her.
Maybe it's the likeness to Josie that was playing games with her mind. Or the way someone disposed of her like literal trash and left her to die. Something about this case just felt like trouble.
Which she was unsure whether it was her instincts or baseless fears due to her Josie anxiety. Maybe if said counselor actually answered her phone, she wouldn't feel so off her game.
"Mikaelson!"
Hope jumped at the sound of Kaleb's voice scaring her out of her thoughts. Her hand instinctually went to her gun.
"Chill out Hope, what's wrong with you?"
"You scared me, what do you expect?" She defended herself and evaded the question.
"For you not to be trigger happy? You been off." Kaleb stared her down in the empty hallway. Trying to pry it out of her.
"Just anxious I guess, vic looks a lot like Josie and she hasn't been answering at all. And my brain is just.."
"Overthinking and somehow convinced you that we have a serial rapist on the loose targeting women that look like our ADA?" He filled in where she trailed off.
"I hate when you do that, but yes."
The pair shared knowing smiles. These past two years they learned so much about eachother, it was bordering creepy.
"You do it all the time."
They made their way out of the hospital, in a comfortable silence. Once they started driving Kaleb broke it.
"Something happen between you guys again?"
"No..maybe?" Hope said with a shrug as she stared out the window.
"You're going to have to get your head out of your ass at some point. She's not going to wait on you to figure it out forever." Kaleb said, like a father giving sage advice to his offspring. All serious and brooding.
"Thanks pops. It's complicated. It just never feels right you know?" She tried to explain. Keyword being tried. Because it was by far the most incoherent thing to come out of her mouth.
"What does feel right even mean Mikaelson? Do you not love her?"
"I do love her." Hope snapped voice unwavering.
"Are you in love with her?"
"Yes." Came tumbling out of her mouth with zero hesitation. She didn't even think about it.
"Well stop being afraid to show her that, you idiot. Because I promise you someone else will."
The car came to a stop in front of her brownstone. Kaleb reassured her he had no problem carrying the evidence in himself and that he'd let her know if she really needed to come in tomorrow.
Hope got out the car, after bidding him goodnight. Before he drove off Kaleb gave one piece of advice.
"Show her. She won't run."
Josie had been on the phone with Lizzie. Lizzie was currently in California setting up a fashion show. She would be gone for another two weeks. Josie always missed her when she was away.
"So wait you guys almost kissed?"
Lizzie asked. She wasn't shocked, not really. Hope and Josie were always meant to make their way back to eachother. No matter how much Josie swore that they wouldn't complicate their friendship again. It was inevitable.
Inevitable and would happen eventually, but they were also two of the most stubborn and oblivious idiots when it came to eachother so it would take awhile. So inevitable might take awhile. They were years in to the inevitable trajectory already.
"I mean, I guess? Like there was intense eye contact, soft dialogue and I was definitely leaning in. I wanted to kiss her. I don't know if she felt the same though. I'm probably reading too much into it." Josie rambled.
Lizzie dramatically facepalmed as she watched her sister overthink. Truly an oblivious idiot.
"I can assure you it wasn't a one sided thing Jo. Lord knows you've both had moments where you blurred the line of friendship many times in the last few months. You've both dancing around the issue each time. You both need to confront it."
"But what if she doesn't want that. There's a reason it's only ever moments. And never actually anything happening." Josie argued.
"What do you want? Stop being afraid of going for it. At this point nothing could possibly jeopardize your friendship. You've been thru much. Either give it your best shot or move on finally."
Lizzie wasn't wrong, Josie concluded if she want this, wanted Hope. She would have to just say fuck it and go for it. She was tired of this state of limbo.
"You're right."
"As always."
"I'm going for it, for her."
"I've never been happier to be across the country from you both." Lizzie deadpanned.
"You hate being away from us Liz."
"I also value sleep and you both are loud as hell."
"Whatever." Josie laughed blushing slightly. "Thank you though. I will be taking your advice. Love you sis."
"Have fun stay out of my room. Love you too Jo."
Josie ended her call and fell backwards on her bed. Was she really about to do this? Putting friendship, pride and dignity on the line? Risk being rejected by her best friend and have her heart shattered?
Yes.
Hope made it into their home. Finding no sign of life on the first floor she rushed the steps two at a time. Calling out her name.
"Josie! Where are you?"
"My room." Josie called out.
"Why the hell didn't you answer my call I was worried. I thought something happened to you.." Hope's impassioned rant came to an abrupt halt when she saw Josie waiting at the entryway of their floor.
Legs. A whole lot of legs was all Hope's eyes seemed to be able to focus on. Josie stood there in a royal blue satin Kimono that a little below the apex of her thighs. Giving Hope an unobstructed view of her long legs. Hope felt her palms itch, she needed to feel Josie's skin under hers.
"If you would've checked your texts detective, you would've seen me not only informing you that I got home safely, that I missed your call because I was face timing Lizzie and that I was going to be taking a bath." Josie spoke calmly, eyes never leaving Hope's face. Her tone was calculating and sultry.
Hope's brain short circuited. All she could do was nod and offer a lame: "Oh."
Josie other hand was ecstatic. Seeing that she still managed to make Hope stupid with desire, had her confidence soaring.
"Yes, oh." Josie started approaching the shell shocked detective.
"Jo..what are you doing?"
"Something I should've done a long time ago." Josie had her cornered and had invaded her personal space.
Hope senses were on a spin. Josie's scent, she was wearing her favorite perfume, both calmed Hope and increased the fire fuming in her stomach. Her skin was begging to touch, to be touched return. Her mouth was dry, all she wanted was a taste. She needed to consume or be consumed in that instant. She didn't quite care which.
"Hope I want you. All of you. I want this, us. Do you it too? Do you want me t-"
Hope didn't let Josie finish. She finally regained control or lost it all. It didn't matter which, because her lips were pressed against Josie's in a searing kiss. They still fit perfectly, gliding in organized chaos.
It felt right.
Hope started moving them backwards into the entry way. This time she was on the offensive, cornering Josie between her and the adjacent wall. Her hands finally in contact with Josie's bare skin. Finding purpose on her thigh, hitching her leg around her waist. When breathing became necessary, Hope's lips descended on Josie's throat and collarbone. And when the need to feel more over rode everything, Hope's hand moved to the knot of Josie's robe trying to untie it.
The feeling of Hope's hands grazing her abdomen, offered Josie a moment of lucid thought. Things were going well, too well really. But she didn't want desire to override the purpose of tonight. They had lust in spades, however she didn't want lust to be the driving force this time around. She needed it to be all about love. Their love.
"Hope, baby wait." She put her hands to stop her hands from untying the knot. Hope let out a whine of displeasure. She kept her hands there and her lips fused to Josie's skin.
"Baby, listen." Josie whispered softly urging Hope to finally look at her. When she finally detached her mouth from Josie's throat, she looked at Josie with a confusion written all over her face. And hints of mild irritation.
"Did I do something wrong?" Hope questioned. Ready to put space between them. Josie didn't let her, she tightened her hold on her and kept her close.
"No love, you didn't. You're doing everything right. Too right really." Josie couldn't help herself and pecked her softly to reassure her.
"Then why?"
"Because I don't want this to be about us dissolving into lust. I want this to be about us coming together in love. I love you so much. I don't want this to be like last time, I can't have it be like last time. Let me love and take care of you. Let me in again."
At the end of her little speech her voice lowered to a passionate whisper. She ducked her head to nuzzle Hope's throat with her nose and press a small kiss to her pulse point. She was laying out her heart to be rejected. She had never felt fear quite like this.
"Please, I want that. I want you." Hope whispered, swallowing back tears. She was overwhelmed and Josie never failed at making feel so completely loved she felt overcome with emotions.
Josie leaned in and kissed her ever so softly. No one had ever kissed Hope quite so gently. The kiss was filled with promises of love and tenderness. Everything good thing they both deserved.
Josie pulled back from the kiss, she brought her hands to cup Hope's face and wiped her tears away.
"Come let me take care of you."
Josie led her to her bathroom, where she had started preparing a bath for her when she heard her come in. Slowly undressing the detective, planting loving kisses in random places. Once she was done she led her to the bath she prepared.
Hope was instantly comforted by the smell of lavender emitting from the water. Josie checked the temperature to make sure it was just right. She motioned for Hope to get in.
"What about you?" Hope asked, voice low afraid to break the atmosphere Josie built.
"Already took a bath love, besides this is to reinforce that you can be vulnerable with me, that you're safe with me. Let me take care of you." Josie pushed her hair back peppering her face with soft kisses.
"Okay." Hope spoke up after basking in the affection offered to her. Her shoulders finally went lax, trying to physically communicate that her walls were down.
There she stood completely bare, as Hope Andrea Mikaelson. Ready to love and be loved completely.