Location: SVU Squad Room.
It was a very late night in the squad room, and Elliot Stabler stared blankly at the stack of files on his desk. He didn't feel like going home. As a matter of fact, he did everything he could to avoid going home. Even though it had been several months since it happened, Elliot could remember it as if it just happened yesterday. He could still hear the gunshots, their loud pop ringing through his ears. He could still see Sister Peg's lifeless body, her stagnant expression, emptiness in her eyes. He could still see his partner, Olivia Benson, standing over Sister Peg, shaken, an expression of utter disbelief in her eyes. He could still feel his finger pulling the trigger of his gun. But mostly, Elliot could still see Jenna Fox's anguished face as she lay dying in his arms, so much pain, fear, and sadness filled her eyes.
Ever since that fateful day in the squad room, things had changed. Elliot had changed. He had become more brooding and withdrawn than ever before. His marriage was crumbling. Again. He and Kathy barely spoke anymore. And when they did, it always ended in an argument. Eventually, Kathy took herself and the kids to her mother's house, leaving Elliot all alone in that big empty house. Even Olivia, with whom Elliot was closer to than his wife, had trouble getting him to open up. Nothing she said or did made him talk. But she refused to give up.
Elliot had always been rather stubborn when it came to personal issues, but as long as Olivia persisted, he would always eventually open up to her. But this time she was worried. It had gone on for much longer than usual. To this very night, she was still trying to get through to him. But she grew tired so she took a break and went out for coffee. She decided to try again when she came back. Elliot was so lost in his thoughts he didn't even notice Olivia leave. Nor did he notice when she came back twenty minutes later carrying two coffee cups.
"Brought you some coffee," Olivia waved the cup for him to see. "Thought you could use some."
Elliot snapped out of his trance, sending him crashing back to reality.
"I'm good," he shook his head. "Thanks anyway."
"Okay," she said, reluctantly. "I'll leave it here if you change your mind."
Olivia set the coffee cup on his desk, then sat down at her own desk across from Elliot. She opened her mouth to speak, but at the very moment, their captain, Donald Cragen emerged from his office with his coat on and hat in hand.
"You two are still here?" Cragen asked, surprised.
"Yea," Olivia answered him. "We thought we caught a break in the Shadow Stalker case, but it turned out to be dead end."
The Shadow Stalker just happened to be their latest and one of their toughest cases to date. He was so named because none of his victims could describe him. He stalked his prey and attacked at night. His victims only ever saw his shadow. In fact, it almost seemed as if he was indeed a shadow. All that SVU had on him was his DNA inside all six of his victims, but nothing and no one to match it to. And also that he targeted women who worked the late shift and would attack them as they were leaving their jobs. He'd pull them into an alley, blitz attack them from behind, then rape them. But the Shadow Stalker's defining mark was that he removed an earring from each of his victims, which he kept as trophies.
Elliot, and Olivia, along with Detectives Odafin "Fin" Tutuola and John Munch had spent their days figuring out a way to catch the Shadow Stalker. For this would not be an easy task. For starters, the Shadow Stalker had no preference when it came to his victims. They were all of different ages, shapes, sizes, and ethnicity. Munch suggested that they assign patrol units a section of the city to patrol every night. But the city is so big that it would require more manpower than One Police Plaza was willing to provide. So the SVU set up volunteer patrol units, but it still wasn't enough. The Shadow Stalker eluded their grasp and took with him two new victims, making his toll eight victims.
To this night, SVU was working around the clock not only to formulate a plan to take down the Shadow Stalker, but also trying to find evidence, secure any bit of DNA, anything to find out his identity. Unfortunately, nothing panned out. So, Cragen had sent his four detectives home for the night. Yet Olivia and Elliot remained at their desks.
"Well, look it over again tomorrow with a fresh pair of eyes," Cragen ordered them. "It's late as hell. Go home and get some sleep. And that's an order."
Elliot opened his mouth in protest, but Olivia cut him off before he had a chance.
"We're leaving now," she told Cragen. "See you in the morning, Captain."
"Good night!" Cragen called as he walked out of the squad room.
The two detectives stood up and put on their jackets and watched as Cragen exited the precinct. Once they were sure he was gone, they removed their jackets. Elliot sat back down. Olivia, however, remained standing and held her jacket and purse in her arms.
"You can go home if you want," Elliot said to Olivia. "I've got some paperwork to finish first."
She was becoming annoyed with his behavior, but Olivia decided to play nice hoping to get through to him.
"We don't have to go home," Olivia persuaded gently. "I told Cragen we were leaving. Not that we were going home. Chauncey's Pub is still open. How about I buy you a drink and you can tell me what's going on? What do you say?"
"I'll pass," he shook his head. "I'm just going to stay here for a little while longer."
Finally, Olivia lost her temper. She slammed her jacket and purse down on her desk and gave Elliot a disgusted look.
"And what?" she snapped. "Brood and sulk for an hour then sneak up to the crib where you'll spend the night? Yea. That's right, Elliot. I've been watching you ever since you came back from administrative leave. And I know what you've been up to. You may have everyone else fooled, but you're not fooling me. I've tried being gentle, but I'm getting really sick and tired of your crap! Letting it build up and fester inside you has never worked! So, let's have it out now! What's going on with you?"
"There's nothing to talk about!" he barked.
"Bullshit!" Olivia retorted, angrily. "You've never had a problem opening up to me before! Why won't you talk to me?"
"Because it's different this time!" Elliot roared.
"I know that, El," Olivia lowered her voice a little. "I was there too. I watched Sister Peg die."
"No!" Elliot shouted, his voice full of angst. "You don't know! You didn't see her face! You didn't hear her! You didn't shoot..."
"I bought the gun on the street," were Jenna's last words. "It was easy."
Those words echoed over and over again inside of Elliot's mind.
"Then tell me," she gently coaxed him. "Please. Talk to me. We can get through this together. Just like we always have in the past."
Elliot knew she was right, but he couldn't bring himself to talk. Instead, he stared off into the distance. Meanwhile, Olivia became even more frustrated with him.
"That's it!" she cried out. "I can't take it anymore! I'm finally giving up on you, Elliot Stabler! Go ahead and let it eat up inside. See if I care."
She threw on her jacket and grabbed her purse. But then she paused a moment.
"Whenever you decide to talk," Olivia spoke sincerely, looking at him once more. "You know how to reach me."
He was glad to see she hadn't completely given up on him. She stood there for a moment, hoping he would say something, but he remained quiet. Even as she finally stormed out of squad room. After she left, Elliot sat in the uneasy silence for a while, until he grew tired of staring at the stack of files on his desk. So he quietly crept upstairs to the crib. He laid down and tried to sleep, but sleep would not come to him.
Finally, after what felt like hours, he began to drift off to sleep. Only to be awaken by the sound of a phone ringing. At first he thought the ringing was part of a dream, but when Elliot pinched himself he realized he was awake. Once he sat up in bed, fully awake, he could still hear it. He decided not to answer it. The caller would eventually hang up. He laid back down, rolled over on his side and closed his eyes. But the phone continued to ring and ring.
So Elliot got up out of bed and left the crib. As he went back downstairs, the ringing became louder. He followed the sound down the hall and into the squad room. He looked around only to realize the ringing was coming from the phone on his desk. He assumed it must have been Olivia calling to check up on him. He picked up the phone and put the receiver to his ear.
"Special Victims Unit," Elliot answered with his usual greeting. "Detective Stabler speaking."
There was heavy breathing, but no response. Definitely not something Olivia would ever do.
"Hello?" Elliot called again. "Is anyone there?"
Still nothing, but heavy breathing. Maybe whoever it was, was afraid to speak.
"It's alright," Elliot spoke in a gentle tone. "Don't be afraid. You can talk to me. I'm a detective. I only want to help."
This time the breathing stopped and was replaced by chuckling. Elliot became confused.
"Who is this?" demanded Elliot, growing suspicious.
"Hello, Elliot," said a disguised voice, wickedly. "I'm never afraid. It's everyone else who fears me."
"Who is this?" Elliot repeated.
"You know who I am," taunted the voice. "You've been searching for me. Trying to figure out where I'll strike next."
"You're the Shadow Stalker," Elliot guessed.
"You're a smart man," confirmed the Shadow Stalker.
"Who are you really?" Elliot inquired.
"You'll know soon enough," the Shadow Stalker answered.
Elliot searched through his desk drawers, looking for a phone tap to record the conversation. He needed to keep the Shadow Stalker talking for as long as possible.
"No, No, Elliot," said the Shadow Stalker in a menacing tone. "No phone taps. No tracing this call. Put your hands on the desk where I can see them."
Elliot did as he was told and put his hands on the desk.
Holy shit! He's watching me! Elliot thought. How the fuck is this bastard watching me?
As if reading Elliot's mind, the Shadow Stalker confirmed his suspicions.
"I've been watching you for a long time, Elliot," he spoke, evilly.
Elliot looked around, checking all the precinct windows. No one there. Then again, the Shadow Stalker was too smart for that. The security cameras? No. There were only four in the squad room. And none of them zoomed in on Elliot's desk. He looked around until his eyes rested upon the webcam on his computer.
So, that's how you're doing it. Elliot realized.
"Tell me where you are," Elliot said the first thing that came to mind.
He knew the Shadow Stalker wouldn't give anything away, but Elliot was hoping to hear some background noise. Anything that would give away his position.
"I am nowhere and everywhere," was the Shadow Stalker's answer. "I float among the shadows. I see and hear all and everything."
Now it was Elliot's turn to chuckle.
Just great. Elliot thought. Another perp who's taking his role too seriously.
"You really think your 'Lord of the Shadows' crap will scare me?" snapped Elliot. "You are nothing but a coward! You're scum! When I find you, and believe me I will, I'll throw your ass in jail where not even the shadows will be able to keep you safe!"
"Not if I find you first," quipped the Shadow Stalker.
"What's that supposed to mean?" demanded Elliot.
"You'll see," the Shadow Stalker retorted.
Elliot could hear cars in the background, which meant the Shadow Stalker was on a street somewhere. Unfortunately, it could mean any of the hundreds upon hundreds of streets in New York City. Nonetheless, Elliot decided to keep him talking, just in case.
"Why me?" Elliot needed to know. "What do you want from me?"
"More than you're willing to give," replied the Shadow Stalker.
"Meaning?" inquired Elliot.
"Enough about me," the Shadow Stalker teased, evilly. "Let's talk about you. Why so lonely tonight? Are you still torn up over that incident in the squad room?"
Elliot knew he was getting somewhere. That's why the Shadow Stalker changed the subject so quickly. But how did he know about the incident? Elliot began to wonder exactly how long the Shadow Stalker had been watching him. He was a little spooked, but he didn't show it.
"I don't like talking about me," Elliot played it cool.
"So I've noticed," scoffed the Shadow Stalker. "Is that why Kathy took the kids and left your ass? You know, she looks great for having had five children. I wouldn't mind spending some quality time with her. Or with one of your pretty daughters."
"Leave my wife and kids out of this!" Elliot snapped. "Your beef is with me, remember?"
"Or how about your partner?" the Shadow Stalker was relentless. "Olivia is much hotter than your wife. Haven't you ever wanted to...?"
"Our relationship is purely professional," Elliot interrupted.
"Could have fooled me," continued the Shadow Stalker. "I've seen the way you two look at each other. But if you don't want her, I'll gladly take her."
"You stay away from her!" Elliot's voice rose as he began to lose his temper.
"Oh, the things I'd do to her!" the Shadow Stalker taunted. "I'd wreck that sweet ass of hers! I'd bend her all the way over and fuck her brains out!"
"That's enough!" Elliot lost his temper. "If you lay one finger on Olivia, I'll kill you myself!"
"You seem to really care for her," the Shadow Stalker spoke with fake sympathy. "You should have never let her leave the precinct all alone. The city can be very dangerous at night."
"You asshole!" Elliot became infuriated. "What did you do to her?"
"Well, it was nice talking to you again, Elliot," the Shadow Stalker jeered. "We should do this more often."
"Wait!" Elliot cried out.
But it was too late. The Shadow Stalker had already hung up.
"FUCK!" Elliot screamed.
He slammed the phone back down into the receiver. Then he threw on his jacket and rushed out of the precinct.
Stay tuned! More to come soon! Please feel free to read and review! Also, if you haven't done so already, please check out my other new story, Salvation!
