A/N: Well, I'm back again. Credit for the idea for this story goes to Little Miss Nicap. It was her idea and she has trusted me with writing it. We have been discussing it since November and we are very excited about it. This is going to be very different but at the same time will follow SVU canon to an extent. The story begins during Loss so most of you will know what that means. Let me know what you think. I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 1

It was already a warm September morning as Detective Olivia Benson walked into the squad room of the LAPD Special Victims Unit. As she took a seat at her desk she glanced at the picture of her and her Mom that sat there. Her relationship with her Mom had been strained at times but seeing how happy they both looked in the picture always brought a smile to her face. She turned her computer on and began checking over the messages that were on her desk. As difficult as her work was she loved what she did. She had always wanted to be a police officer but when she was twelve years old her career path was solidified the day her Mom told her she was the child of a rape. Serena had been raped while in college in New York City and after graduation fled the city in an attempt to rid herself of the painful memories. Even though Los Angeles was on the opposite side of the country it didn't make the pain go away. How could it though when your child was the result of the rape. Olivia had always wondered how her Mom had managed to celebrate her birthday. There was never much of a party, usually a couple friends, some pizza and a cake from a grocery store bakery. It was better than nothing but Olivia knew it killed her Mom to even be at the party. After all, how do you celebrate the result of the worst moment of your life?

"Mornin Liv." Elliot Stabler said as he walked into the room and dropped a pastry on his partner's desk.

"Thanks." Olivia said as she held the pastry up and then took a bite. She waited till he had taken his seat across from her before speaking again. "So how did the game go last night?"

"Dickie scored a touchdown." He said smiling with fatherly pride. "He wants to know when you're going to come watch him play."

Olivia smiled at the thought of watching the boy play football. She may not have children of her own but she loved kids and she enjoyed being around the Stabler kids. "I hate to make him a promise then break it but tell him I'll try and make it to next Saturday's game."

They were both quiet for a bit as they went through paperwork that had made its way to their desk overnight.

"So what did you do last night?" the blue eyed detective asked.

"I went to the hospital to try and talk to Elaina again but she still isn't talking." She sighed as she leaned back in her chair "She knows who raped her Elliot, I'm sure of it."

"She probably does Liv, but you know when a victim is scared they're reluctant to talk."

Both looked up when Captain Cragen walked out of his office and into the squad room. "Fin is at the lab, he said they've got a hit on DNA from Elaina's rape kit." He walked over and handed Olivia a piece of paper.

"Sonny Dipalo, aka Sonny D." she looked up at the Captain with a skeptical look.

Elliot burst into laughter "Sonny D? Like the kids drink?"

Cragen couldn't help but smile slightly at the thought of it. "There's nothing 'kid' about this guy."

Olivia pulled up Sonny's record on her computer and let out a low whistle "Sonny Dipalo, twenty five years old and a record as long as my arm. Arrests leading back to when he was thirteen, starting out with petty theft but he's worked his way up to assault, battery, and larceny. Was charged at twenty one for attempted murder but charges were dropped after the Prosecutor was unable to bring enough evidence." As she continued scrolling she realized why he wasn't in jail. "He's a member of the LA Knights gang and has ties to New Jersey and the Ricci Crime Family."

"Great." Elliot said as he nodded and paced around their desks "Not only is our suspect a gang member here in LA he also has ties to the Mafia." He looked to Olivia "That shouldn't make things too tough, should it?"

The brunette ran her fingers through her hair, she hated when their cases involved a gang. Of course this was LA and a lot of their cases involved gangs, but this meant that they would have to get involved with the gang unit and they could be very territorial at times.

"Okay." She said as she slid her chair back to face her partner and Captain "We reach out to the gang unit and see what they have on Sonny, and I'll go back to the hospital and see if Elaina will talk."

"Since Fin used to work Narcotics he has connections with the Gang Unit. I'll have him get in contact and see what we can find out." Cragen said.

Olivia picked up her cup of coffee and downed the last bit before she and Elliot headed toward the elevators. As the doors opened ADA Casey Novak stepped off. Olivia grinned "Hey Casey."

"Olivia." she said with a bit of a smirk. Then turning "Elliot."

"What brings you here Counselor?" he asked.

"I needed to talk to Cragen about a case." She looked to Olivia again "Where are you two headed?"

"We got a hit on Elaina's rape kit. I'm going to try talking to her again." she said as she tried not to blush.

Casey remained professional "Okay, let me know if you need a warrant." She said before walking past, making sure to brush against Olivia in the process.

They stepped onto the elevators and once the door closed Elliot grinned but faced straight ahead "So what's the deal with you and Novak?"

Olivia looked at him, but a little defensively replied "There's no 'deal' with me and Novak."

At that Elliot laughed and looked her in the eye "Don't act like you weren't blushing a minute ago." A faint pink colored her normally olive complexion "There it is, you're doing it again!"

Thankfully they had reached the ground floor and Olivia made a break for the open elevator door "Asshole." She said as she walked off.

Once in the car Elliot continued his good natured teasing "I notice you two have been hanging around each other a little more lately."

Olivia banged her head against the headrest and then looked over at her partner "Okay…so…we're kinda, sort of dating. Are you happy?"

"Yeah." He said sincerely.

Olivia looked over in shock "Really?"

"Yeah Liv. I mean I like Casey and I don't want to see you alone, I want you to be happy. So if kinda, sort of dating Casey makes you happy then I'm happy."

Olivia breathed a sigh of relief "Thanks El that means a lot."

The ride was quiet until they were about to pull into the hospital parking garage "So how serious is it?"

"Not very, we've only been going out for about a month. A few dates when our schedules have permitted."

"So, is it going to become serious?" he asked as he parked the car.

"We're not sleeping together if that's what you're asking!"

The former Marine shook his head and held up his hands "I wasn't!"

"Uh huh." She said as she nodded.

"I promise." Then a sly grin "Although the way you two were blushing at the station…"

"All right if you must know, we made out on her couch last night."

"But?" he knew his partner well and he could sense a but coming.

"But I'm not sure I'm ready to go that far with her yet. I mean I like kissing her and last night was pretty great but I just don't want to screw things up you know. It's like it just doesn't feel like it's right yet."

Elliot looked at her seriously "Is she pressuring you?"

"What?" Olivia looked wide eyed at him "No, God no. Casey would never do that. Besides I think she feels the same way. I mean we were slowly rounding the bases on her couch last night and just when I was thinking I needed to stop, she stopped. The look in her eyes made me think she's not ready either."

He nodded in understanding "You'll know when it's right." And with those words the conversation ended and they headed into the hospital to speak to their victim.

In the room Elliot was leaning against the wall while Olivia sat in a chair next to the bed "Elaina, there was a match to the DNA collected in your rape kit." She watched as the young woman grew visibly nervous "Is there anything you want to tell us? Do you remember anything at all?"

Eliana tried to hold her tears back but was unable "He'll kill me."

"Elaina he can't hurt you." Elliot said in a soft voice "We can protect you but you have to tell us who raped you."

Elaina shook her head "No, he will kill me. You can't protect me."

Olivia reached out for her hand and was grateful when she was allowed to take it. "Elaina I promise you we will get him. All you have to do is give us a name." she could see the young brunette was fighting a battle "Elaina," she whispered "Do you know who raped you?"

"Sonny." She said in a sob. "Sonny Dipalo." Then a louder cry "Oh God, he'll kill me!"

Olivia gently held the young woman as she cried while Elliot made a phone call arranging twenty four hour protective detail for Elaina. He stepped from the room and called Casey to ask for a warrant for Sonny's arrest. Both detectives remained at the hospital until a uniform officer arrived and took up his post outside Elaina's room.

As they walked into the hospital lobby they saw Fin walking toward the elevators "I called my buddy in the Gang Unit. He said Sonny likes to hang out at a pizza joint on Ocean Ave."

Elliot shrugged as he faced his partner "I'm in the mood for pizza, how about you?"

As Olivia drove Elliot was on the phone with Casey to find out the status of the arrest warrant. He hung up and informed Olivia that Casey had secured a warrant. Now they just hoped Sonny was there. Fin had gone ahead to make a pass by the restaurant and wait to back up his fellow detectives.

Olivia parked the car and she and Elliot made their way in. They immediately recognized the man from his most recent mug shot. He was sitting at a table with two other men.

"Sonny Dipalo." Elliot said as he walked up to the table.

"Yeah?" Sonny said with a bit of an attitude.

"Stand up." Olivia said as she stood next to him.

"For what?" he asked with a raised voice as he looked up at the brunette detective.

"You're under arrest for the rape of Elaina Daniels. Now get up." she said as she pulled her handcuffs out.

"You gotta be out of your damn mind!" Sonny shouted as he jumped up and attempted to make a run for the door, pushing Olivia toward a table opposite his.

Elliot blocked his path but he quickly knocked the detective down and continued toward the door where Fin was approaching him. He was surprised though when he felt a weight against his back as he fell to the floor. Olivia had regained her footing after being pushed back and managed to tackle him from behind.

"Sonny Dipalo you are under arrest for the rape of Elaina Daniels." She said as she cuffed him and began to read him his rights.

Fin walked ahead of them and opened the back door of the squad car that had joined them as backup, with Elliot following along behind his partner. As Olivia pushed him into the backseat Sonny looked up at her with a menacing look "You just made a huge mistake bitch."

"Yeah?" Olivia asked as she leaned in "You made an even bigger mistake when you raped Elaina." She replied as she slammed the door shut.

"Did he just threaten you?" Elliot asked as he walked up. Olivia shook her head but it didn't stop her partner. Elliot leaned down to look in the window "Did you just threaten her?"

Olivia placed a hand on his shoulder "I'm fine Elliot." She looked down at the cold eyes staring back at her "He doesn't scare me."

Alex Cabot stood just outside Judge Petrovsky's chambers trying to decide what to do. After just having been informed that a federal judge had barred Judge Petrovsky from subpoenaing a DEA agent she knew her case was quickly heading down the drain. She took a calming breath and started toward the elevators. She shook her head when she saw Det. Brian Cassidy and Det. Nick Amaro walking toward her.

"They can just go over the judge's head and that's it?" Nick asked as they walked down the hallway.

"I'm going to appeal it to the Second Circuit." Alex replied "Now we're getting into a violation of state's rights."

All three stopped short though when Agent Donovan approached them.

"I thought you didn't want to show your face around here?" Brian asked.

"Ms. Cabot, we've received a credible threat."

"It didn't come from us!" Alex said as she stepped closer and lowering her voice "We have kept your identity confidential."

The other man shook his head "The threat was made against you."

Alex froze, feeling a slight shiver run down her spine. She looked to her left at her detectives, their expressions clearly showing confusion as well as concern. She was aware of Agent Donovan placing a hand on her shoulder and guiding her toward the elevator. As they exited the courthouse she couldn't help but look around more than she normally would. She was grateful when Nick and Brian stayed close on either side of her. Nick held open the passenger side door for her before climbing into the back seat of the Crown Victoria. As they drove through the streets of New York her mind was racing, as well as her heart. She jumped slightly when she felt Brian lightly pat her arm. She looked over and gave him a weak smile.

All four sat around a table as Agent Donovan explained when the threat had been intercepted. Alex listened as the two men talked about the one man's 'girlfriend', her. She looked up in surprise at Nick as the one man rattled off her address and what time she usually got home from work.

"Son of a bitch." Brian said as he sat up to listen closer.

Alex had been trying to keep her nervousness under control but as soon as she heard her mother mentioned the nervousness turned to fear. When she heard the one man give her mother's address she had to fight to control the nausea. "Oh my God!" she said in a low voice as she dropped her head into her hands. She listened as Agent Donovan asked a few questions and did her best to answer but she was now too rattled to really know what she was saying.

Nick leaned toward her "Okay, as of right now you have a protective detail. You set foot outside you have an armed escort."

Brian leaned back in his chair "We'll have to rig a security system at the office and the apartment."

Agent Donovan informed them that Federal Marshals were prepared to offer her protection and would be there within the hour to escort her home.

Alex was finally able to shake her mind from the fog that it was currently lost in. She shook her head "No, I want to go home now."

"Okay, we'll take you." Nick said while looking across the table at his partner.

After leaving the office Alex nodded toward a restroom and told them she just needed a minute. Nick motioned her to wait a minute and stepped into the restroom to make sure it was clear before allowing her to enter. She smiled at the gesture as she passed by him. She liked her detectives, all of them, but she had worked with Amaro and Cassidy more than the others. She was grateful for both of them being with her, especially Nick. They had grown close over the last couple years and she counted him as a good friend.

Alex grabbed a paper towel and wet it then placed it on the back of her neck. She leaned over the sink and took a few calming breaths. She was just beginning to calm down when her phone rang causing her to nearly jump through the ceiling. She smiled slightly when she heard the southern accent of Abbie Carmichael. "Hey."

"Hey, I tried calling your apartment. Where are you?"

Alex was about to answer but remembering her phone could be tapped decided against it. "Still working."

"Oh." Abbie replied "Well do you want to come over when you're finished? I could order dinner, or if you're really feeling adventurous I could cook for us." the smile evident in her voice.

Alex smiled but at the same time was growing fearful for the brunette. "Um…thanks but I'll have to pass. I've had a day." She could see the disappointment on the other woman's face through the phone.

"Oh, okay, well how about tomorrow? Lunch maybe?"

"Lunch sounds good."

"Great." Abbie said, a little more optimistic "Call me when you get home?"

"I will. Bye Abbie."

"Bye darlin."

Alex sighed as she hung up. She knew that her relationship with Abbie wasn't going anywhere but she didn't have the heart to break up with her. She would readily admit that Abbie was a good person and had been so good to her, not to mention she was more than a little easy on the eyes, but she just didn't see them together several years down the road. Making matters worse she was pretty sure Abbie could see a future for them. She decided that she would wait until this mess was over and then have a difficult conversation with Abbie.

The three walked out of the building, Nick and Brian on either side of Alex. The detectives were looking all around them while Alex stared at the pavement.

"Ms. Cabot!"

All three whirled around, Amaro and Cassidy drawing their guns on Agent Donovan. They all breathed a sigh of relief that it was just him but the two detectives were less than thrilled that he ran out and shouted Alex's name. Alex walked over to him and listened to what he had to say, thanking him when he said that if they couldn't catch the guy he would go to Judge Petrovsky and testify in open court. He assured her it was handled before walking across the street to his car.

Brian was standing next to the car continuing to look up and down the street. Nick turned when the blonde stopped next to him "Alex, why don't you come stay at my place tonight till we figure this whole thing out? I'll call Maria, she won't mind. I promise." His worry evident.

"No it'll be okay, but thanks."

Brian opened the back door of the car "Okay, we do a drive by first to make sure nothing looks off." He had just sat down in the car when an explosion from across the street shook the vehicle.

Alex and Nick hit the pavement as the wave from the blast hit them. Neither were sure what exactly had happened. Both rose up onto their elbows and looked at the burning car across the street from them. Little cuts from glass and the fall littered their hands and faces. Both were still gasping for air as they looked to Brian then back to Agent Donovan's now burning car. Alex slowly looked over to her friend as the reality of what she was involved in began to sink in.

Nearly forty five minutes later Alex found herself sitting in the back of an ambulance looking out at the devastation in front of her. More than once her gaze had landed on the sheet covered remains of Agent Donovan and her heart broke for him and his family every time. She was aware of Nick standing in front of her, saying something about there wasn't anything she could've done, but most of it was fading into the background. She pulled the blanket tighter around her shoulders in an attempt to stop the shaking her body insisted on doing. Reality quickly kicked in though when Agent Hammond approached. She tried telling him she didn't know how it happened but he didn't want to hear it, after all he'd just lost a partner and friend. She winced slightly when he said that Donovan had two kids.

"Knock it off!" Nick said but it wasn't stopping the older man.

Alex sat there allowing him to take out his hurt and anger on her, it wasn't like she could feel any worse.

Brian, who was approaching, quickly pushed his way in front of Hammond "Enough! Enough pal." He looked up at the blonde "Alex, you've got to get yourself off this case. End of story." His eyes were pleading with her.

Once she was finally home Nick begged her once again to come stay with him and his wife but she again refused. Brian then offered to sleep on her couch just in case. She smiled and thanked them but still said no. They had made a couple passes around the block before finally going inside. Nick stopped and talked to the night doorman, letting him know that no one was to go up to Alex's apartment besides him or Cassidy. He also told him that she was not to receive any packages. Alex was about to unlock the door but Nick gently stopped her and took the keys. He and Brian entered first and methodically cleared the apartment.

"Okay," Nick said as he looked out the window at the street below "There is a radio car parked out front and it will be there all night." He eyed her carefully "I assume you're planning on going to work tomorrow."

"Yeah."

"Okay, you don't leave until Cassidy and I get here." He looked to his partner who nodded in agreement. "We'll personally escort you to work and home again tomorrow afternoon. There will also be an armed guard at your office. I talked to Lt. Murphy and he has been in contact with the police in Irvington, your Mom also has a protective detail."

"Oh my God! I need to call her." Alex said as she reached for her phone.

Nick held his own out "Use mine, just in case."

Alex fought the tears as she heard her Mom's worried voice. "I'm okay Mom I promise."

"Alex, sweetheart, what is going on? I get a visit from the local police saying that I have a protective detail and that a US Marshal will be by later to talk to me."

"Mom it's just…" she trailed off unsure how to explain it. "It's just someone I'm prosecuting. He's made a few threats, and they're just being careful. Is Dad with you?"

"No he's still in Boston but he'll be back in the morning. Alex why are the US Marshals involved if it's your case? You don't prosecute federal cases."

"They're just offering to help Mom. I fine, I promise. Two of my detectives are with me now and there is a car parked in front of my building. I'll have an escort for a few days as well but it'll be okay." She wasn't sure who she was trying to reassure, herself or her mother.

"Okay honey, I love you."

"I love you too Mom." She replied while trying to hold the tears back. She handed Nick his phone back and smiled "Thanks."

"Alex, are you sure?"

"Nick I'm fine here. Just go home and get some rest." She was lying, she wasn't fine, they all three knew it.

"See you in the morning. Seven okay?" Brian asked.

"Seven is fine. Thank you both, for everything."

The two men said their goodbyes and left, both standing on the other side of the door till they heard the locks click in place.

Alex suddenly found herself a little unnerved at being alone in her own home. She went to the kitchen and was about to pour herself a glass of wine but instead opted for the tequila that was there from a few weeks ago when Abbie had made margaritas for them. After taking a shot she went to take a shower, she wanted to relax under the hot water but the longer she was in there the more her imagination got the better of her and she quickly got out. Once out she checked the apartment again then chastised herself for allowing these people to unnerve her. She then poured a glass of wine, and after checking all the locks one more time, headed to bed.

It was well past midnight and she was no closer to sleep than she had been when she went to bed. She had gotten up and poured a second glass of wine in the hopes it would relax her enough to go to sleep but it wasn't working. She had thought the quiet would allow her to hear any noise but found it heightened her senses and made her aware of every little noise. She turned the television on to some mindless program but it was just enough to ease her nerves. She had tried closing her eyes but every time she did she saw Agent Donovan's burning car. She lay staring at the ceiling hoping sleep would eventually come, Brian's voice echoing in her mind that she needed to get off the case.