Olivia Benson sat in the captain's office with a bandage over her right eye, trying to ignore the pain from her bruised cheek and split lip as she recited her statement. It had to be done. She had just beaten William Lewis within an inch of his life after he'd tortured her, and held her hostage for four days. Lieutenant Eames from Major Case was looking at her kindly from the corner where she stood with Cragen. Eames would be in hot water with her own ADA for bailing on the arraignment of a brazen jewel thief, but the kidnapping of a fellow cop, one she'd grown to respect took precedence.

"And then before help arrived, the suspect tried to escape?" a redheaded detective from Internal Affairs asked

"He managed to get to a standing position and lunge at me. I used the metal bar from the bed frame to subdue him."

"Rather than shooting him at point-blank range?"

Olivia nodded slightly. "I made a judgment call."

"Thank you, Detective Benson." The woman stood up and addressed Cragen. "I'll forward her statement, the case file, the rape kit, and forensics to the DA, they'll be in touch."

Cragen's answer and the woman's departure were drowned out by the sound of the lieutenant's phone ringing. Eames smiled ruefully at the display. "I better get going too. I'm about to get my ass handed to me by our ADA."

"If you don't get trampled by the press camped outside first," Olivia whispered.

Neither of her companions could dispute that, so they stayed silent. After a beat, Eames spoke, "You did good, Detective. I'll see you later."


"You don't have to give a press tour until you're up to it," Cragen reminded her when they were alone.

Olivia shrugged; there were bigger things to worry about now. "The lawyer's mother how is she?"

"She's doing better. She's going to be released from the hospital tonight."

"Where's she gonna go now? She can't go back to that house. Where am I gonna go now?"

"Your place is a crime scene," said Cragen. "The department will put you up in a hotel."

"For how long?"

"Liv, don't worry about it. You've got a concussion, a broken wrist, and cracked ribs. After what you've been through, you're on mandatory leave until you recover, and I don't want any arguments."

"You won't get any from me."

"Good, and if you need anything, you just let me know. Anything at all."

Olivia thought about that as Brian led her through the squad room and out the back way to avoid the press. Nick, Amanda, Fin, and Munch all stood and watched her as she passed, but she was in her own head so much, she didn't feel their eyes.

No, there wasn't anything Cragen could do for her. What she wanted… needed wasn't a 'thing' at all. Somehow, Lewis had known that. He had also known that the sweet man supporting her exhausted weight wasn't really the object of her affection. Neither was Elliot. Never had been, despite how much they'd depended on each other. No, there was someone else who anchored her mind during the assault.


Alex Cabot was just about leave her apartment and storm One PP in search of a certain wayward commanding officer, when a breaking news alert cut into whatever talk show was providing white noise while she drafted motions. There was Eames, in the middle of a crowd of reporters outside the 1-6. What the hell was going on over there? Alex turned up the volume in time to catch the end of Eames' sentence.

"- the commanding officer of New York City's Major Case Squad. Earlier today, I worked in conjuction with the Special Victims Unit to rescue a female detective-whose name we are not releasing at this time- from sexual sadist, William Lewis. We take crimes against our own very seriously and will prosecute Lewis to the fullest extent of the law. The detective asks for privacy during this difficult time. Thank you."

"Oh my God," Alex gasped, grabbing her phone. She was barely aware of what she was doing as her fingers dialed Cragen's familiar number. He picked up on the second ring.

"Don, it's Alex. Who was it?"