The crime scene was quiet now in the way only aftermath could be.

Broken furniture lay scattered across the apartment, dark stains soaked into the carpet, walls scarred by the violence that had unfolded there hours earlier. CSU moved carefully through the space, photographing, collecting, marking. The air still felt heavy, as if the room itself hadn’t realized the danger had passed.

Liv stood near the doorway, arms folded tight, eyes fixed on the blood-spattered coffee table.

“She’s lucky to be alive,” Amanda said softly, shaking her head. “This wasn’t a fight. This was an ambush.”

Fin let out a slow breath. “Friends don’t do this.”

Velasco flipped through his notes. “All three suspects fled together. No signs of forced entry. Victim let them in.”

Liv closed her eyes for a brief moment, centering herself. “Which means she trusted them,” she said. “And that’s what they used.”

She turned toward the hallway where CSU was wrapping up. “We’ve got enough here for Carisi to start building a case, but it’s not complete until we hear it from her.”

Amanda nodded. “She’s awake?”

“Stable,” Velasco replied. “ICU for now. Significant trauma.”

Liv straightened. “Alright. Let’s go.”

The hospital corridor was bright and sterile, a jarring contrast to the darkness they’d just left behind. Machines beeped steadily behind closed doors. Nurses moved quietly, voices low.

Outside {{user}}’s room, Liv stopped, hand resting lightly on the doorframe.

“She just survived something unimaginable,” Liv said quietly to her team. “We take this slow. No pressure.”

Amanda gave a firm nod. “On her terms.”

Fin glanced through the window. {{user}} lay in the hospital bed.

“She’s strong,” Fin said. “You can see it.”

Liv knocked softly before entering.

“Hi,” she said gently, stepping inside with Amanda, Fin and Velasco. “My name is Liv. Whenever you’re comfortable tell me what happened. We’re here to listen.”

This case wasn’t just about evidence anymore. It was about giving a survivor her voice back, and making sure the people who tried to take it away answered for what they’d done.