First let me say thanks to all who read and gave feedback or hit the favorite/follow button on my first fic. You all gave me the confidence to continue trying my hand at fanfiction. This particular fic came out of nowhere. I was working on sending Nick and Olivia off into the Adirondacks...I had some adventure and danger in the wilderness planned for them. But, then I watched Psycho/Therapist. I was surprised that the show left the door open on the William Lewis front, so I immediately began considering how they might bring him back again. This came to me the next morning and has slowly but surely been forming in my mind ever since. The first chapter of this is kinda dark, so expect a fair amount of darkness in the future. A few more notes on this...I know that Cragen is retiring but he remains the Captain in this because I started before his retirement and because I'm not sure what the feel of the squad will be like without him. Also, Liv is a Sergeant in this fic, but she remains partnered with Nick because I refuse to have it any other way. They are perfect. And they are also Dick Wolf's, as are all the other characters. Everything is his, I own nothing. Hope you enjoy.

"This is..."

"A complete waste of time?"

Nick flashed his partner a smile that said 'I'm right aren't I?' and shrugged.

Olivia chuckled and smiled back at him. "I was going to say something else, but that about covers it."

They were both sitting at their desks, staring at their computer screens and clicking their mouse rapidly as they completed one of the department's most recent mandates…annual ethics training. To say that it was insulting would be the understatement of the century. It was a waste of their energy and valuable time that they would've been spending on cases. Afterall, when you could literally answer every question wrong multiple times and still successfully complete the training, it was hard to see the point of it. And no one did, so they put it off as long as they possibly could. Nick and Olivia were no exception. They'd been avoiding this chore for weeks and ducking Cragen as he attempted to make them complete it for days, but he'd finally caught up with them today and told them in no uncertain terms to get it done.

Nick groaned as he put his head down on his desk and continued clicking the mouse. Olivia couldn't help but laugh at the blatant disregard he had for what was on his screen.

"You know they keep track of how long it takes you right? At least slow down on the clicking."

Nick lifted his head and looked at her with raised eyebrows. "You've got to be kidding me. Great, so what's an acceptable time for ethics training?"

Olivia shrugged and continued at her computer. Nick looked up as Fin and Amanda walked into the squad room. "Hey, what's the time limit for ethics training?"

Fin looked over at him with an 'are you serious expression'. "Who cares?" he asked incredulously.

Amanda giggled at the exchange. "Fine, be that way. What are you guys working on," Nick asked, noting the file in Amanda's hand, "Please tell me it's something that's going to get me out of this stupid training."

Amanda shook her head, "Sorry Nick, a couple of indecent exposures and a John who got too rough aren't getting you out of anything."

Nick nodded his head in surrender. He turned to look at his partner but found that her gaze was fixed elsewhere. He followed her eyes and saw the Captain approaching their desks looking tense.

Nick held his hands up in front of him in an apologetic gesture. "Sorry Cap, we're almost done."

The older man seemed perplexed for a brief moment and then waved off the apology.

"I'm glad you're all here." He paused and scanned the faces of his detectives. He stopped when he came to his newly minted Sergeant. There was a hint of a smile left on her face, one that was fading rapidly at his somber demeanor.

"What's wrong," Olivia asked anxiously.

"I just got off the phone with the warden at Rikers. Six hours ago, William Lewis escaped custody."

There was a collective and audible intake of breath. All eyes turned to Olivia. To no one's surprise she was steadfast in the face of this particularly terrible revelation. She took the news in silence, jaw clenched tightly, hands clasped together on her desk, no hint of emotion on her face.

"How," she finally asked in a voice that only those that knew her closely would recognize as any different from normal. But the hint of emotion was there and it betrayed the inner turmoil that was inevitably taking place inside of her head.

"He was taken to Bellevue to be treated for a seizure. Somehow he managed to get free from the cuffs and get out of the prison ward."

Amanda shook her head in disbelief. "Amazing. I'm not sure what I find more unbelievable, the incompetence of the staff that allowed him to escape or that this guy has caught yet another break." She threw her hands up. "He should seriously consider hitting a blackjack table."

Fin gave her a stern look and she rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean."

Fin turned back to Cragen. "Do they have any leads?"

The Captain shook his head. "Nothing so far. If he had help, and it seems unlikely he could've pulled this off on his own, it makes things more complicated. He could've been given money, a car, new clothes...he wouldn't necessarily need to make his presence known anywhere for a while."

"Ok, but Lewis is predictable." Nick interjected. "He doesn't plan. It's only a matter of time before he needs a place to stay, money, booze. He's arrogant. He'll take what he wants and leave a path of destruction that will lead right to him."

Cragen nodded his head in agreement. Olivia sighed. "More like a path of bodies."

"New York state troopers are on the case, it's their job to find him. My number one concern is your bodies," Cragen said as he scanned a pointed finger at them. "You all helped put him away, you could all be targets. Be vigilant. Liv..."

"Yeah, Cap...I know," Olivia interrupted.

"That goes triple for you," he continued pointing a finger at her. He looked around at his squad. "Until Lewis is caught, she doesn't leave this precinct without a partner. Understood?" They all nodded their heads in agreement.

Olivia started to protest. "Captain, I get what you're doing but..."

"This isn't up for discussion," Cragen said firmly. "I'll also be requesting a unit to patrol outside of your building."

Olivia opened her mouth to protest again, but seemed to realize it was futile and gave a slight nod instead.

"Good." The Captain gave a final nod and then turned and walked to his office.

It was quiet for a moment. They looked around at each other, dazed, unsure of how to continue on with their day after the bomb that had been dropped.

Nick walked over to where his partner sat staring unfocused at her computer screen. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, you ok?"

She looked up at him and attempted what he thought was meant to be a reassuring smile, but looked more like a grimace. "Yeah, I'm fine," she said returning her eyes to her computer screen, avoiding the appraising stares of her colleagues.

"Don't worry Liv, I bet they find Lewis by morning and throw his ass back in jail where he belongs," Fin said, attempting to sound more reassuring than he felt.

"You know he's probably high tailing it out of the state as we speak. He's gotta know if he sticks around it's only a matter of time before he's back in prison," Amanda chimed in following Fin's lead.

Olivia finally brought her eyes up to meet theirs. "I know. The Captain is just being over protective. Lewis is disabled, he's lost the element of surprise...even he's not that stupid. I'm sure he's going to lay low."

Nick looked at Amanda and Fin and saw the unease that he felt reflected in their faces. It had been stupid to go after her last time after walking away from a sure conviction. No, it was obvious none of them were convinced. He was sure Olivia wasn't either. While what she said was true, common sense couldn't be relied upon to stop someone as arrogant as Lewis. He was bold, rash and he wasn't used to losing. Olivia had beaten him in more than one way. There was no doubt in Nick's mind he would be looking to finish what he started with her. His eyes met Olivia's and he gave an affirmative nod that he hoped she took as agreement. For today, they could all pretend that William Lewis was driving in the opposite direction headed to Tennessee, Louisiana... Anywhere but here, Nick thought.

He was driving away from the city. Away from the prison, away from the hospital, away from her. It felt wrong. It felt like running. He'd never run from anything in his life. He had to remind himself that he wasn't really running. He was being smart. He was resisting his worst impulses. The ones that would have had him wreaking havoc and seeking revenge as soon as he'd escaped the hospital prison ward. But instead he was driving a Honda Civic down a two lane road, having long ago ditched the car he'd taken from the hospital. He'd found the Honda in a 'blink and you miss it' kind of town in a remote parking lot with a for sale sign in the window. No witnesses, no damage...easy hotwire and go. Smart. He doubted anyone would realize the car was missing for a while.

He hit a particularly rough patch of road and felt the car jostle beneath him. The scrapping of plastic on plastic caught his attention.

He looked down at the badge in the cup holder and smirked as he thought about the pretty, but gullible Doctor Cole. It hadn't taken much to get her help after he'd successfully faked himself to a hospital outside of Rikers...some crocodile tears and a story about a notoriously ruthless inmate threatening his life. He had to admit his performance had been brilliant. He'd oozed desperation as he told her he was sure he was going to die in Rikers and that he just needed someone to save his life. She'd been conflicted, he'd seen the war raging in her eyes. She was convinced what he said was true, that he was going to die. It didn't hurt that she had a certain fondness for him. They'd seen a lot of each other while he was in prison. But it was her career on the line and that was no small matter. He'd never been sure it would work, but it'd been worth a shot. He had nothing to lose. And as it turns out, he judged the good doctor correctly. In the end she had risked getting caught helping him. She'd found a way to get him the key to the handcuffs restraining him and left her badge in his room so he could get out of the prison ward. He shook his head. They all fell for the act. He cocked his head slightly. Well...not all of them.

He grabbed the badge out of the cup holder and turned it over in his hand.

He'd briefly considered lying low in the city, waiting for the good doctor to get off work and then following her home. After a year in prison, he longed to get his hands on the soft, warm body of a woman. He could've used a couple of nights playing with the doctor.

He looked down at the badge in his hand and then rolled down the window and tossed it outside.

She wasn't the one he wanted. She wasn't worth the risk. Sacrifices had to be made.

He looked down at his speedometer. 55 mph. He sighed in frustration. Sacrifices indeed. Archer would be impressed at his discipline.

He considered his former cellmate. He had never had friends. He had never wanted friends. He was only interested in what he wanted and needed, screw other people.

But Tennell Archer was different. Archer was probably the closest thing he'd ever had to a friend. Whether it was dumb luck or by design, they had been assigned to a cell together and had quickly found that they had a lot in common. Archer was like him. He had a similar appreciation for women...or more specifically the things that could be done to them. Marks marring their soft, perfect skin, tears running down their cheeks as they were taken by force. The power was intoxicating and they both craved it. They had shared stories of all their worst deeds, conquests, and what they fantasized about doing outside of the prison walls that held them. But where he was impulsive and daring, Archer was meticulous and organized. Of course, Archer had the benefit of experience. He was 47. He'd been at it for years. In all of that time he had only been charged with the kidnap, assault and rape of one girl. Even that had been bad luck. He had blown a tire transporting his victim to her final destination and a state trooper had pulled over to help him. The truth was after Archer was arrested, the police put two and two together and began to suspect him of a number of rape/homicides that'd taken place over the years. But they couldn't prove it. They were just happy to have him behind bars. But he knew the truth because Archer liked to share...and what Archer shared had left even him a little in awe.

Archer was like a mentor. He'd made him see where he went wrong and shown him how to be smarter. He'd convinced him that his recklessness was his downfall and the only way to get what he wanted was to control his impulses, plan, and limit collateral damage. "If you destroy everything in your way, Will, you leave a path for the police to follow. You want to blend in. Leave no trace of yourself." He heard Archer's voice ringing in his ears. He knew now that Archer was right. Looking back, it was so clear how he had engineered his own destruction. But not again. He'd learned his lesson. Soon he would have everything he wanted. But not yet. He still had arrangements to make and a special place to find. Archer had helped him with that one, too. He just had to make sure it was there. See if it was ready. Then the fun would begin.

Olivia walked into the dark apartment and flipped on the light. She set her purse down on the kitchen counter and dropped her coat on the chair.

Brian must be working late again. Good, she thought. She didn't want to talk about it right now. She couldn't talk about it right now. It was supposed to be over.

She grabbed a wine glass out of the cabinet and poured herself a glass. She took a drink and then set the glass down. She ran a hand over her face and sighed. She took another sip from her wine glass and reached for the pile of mail on the counter. She began sorting through it mindlessly, thinking about the night ahead and deciding a long hot bath was in order.

There was a loud crash...she was startled, she stumbled off-balance to the wall that divided the kitchen from the living room and pulled out her gun.

"Welcome home Detective Benson." She heard the words so clearly, he had to be there. No, not again. Her heart raced, she was breathing rapidly.

There was another crash. She whipped around the corner, armed and ready to take on the source of the disturbance. There was no one there. She heard it for a third time. It had come from near the refrigerator. And then she realized what it was...the ice maker.

She placed her gun back in the holster and walked to the refrigerator. She opened the freezer drawer that held the ice tray and looked inside. Sure enough, there were a handful of ice chunks in an otherwise empty tray. She frowned and kicked the bottom drawer shut.

Olivia walked back to the counter and picked up her wine glass. She started to raise it to her lips and then stopped and looked at it...it was shaking. Her hand was shaking. For a brief moment she watched the ripples that formed as the wine shook with her hand. Then in an instant, she turned and threw the glass at the refrigerator. The glass shattered into pieces and the red liquid rolled down the refrigerator and onto the floor. Olivia slid down the wall and put her head in her hands. She gave in to the emotion that had threatened to overtake her all day. Tears fell freely down her face and her body was wracked by sobs. She found herself repeating the same mantra over and over in her head. It was supposed to be over.

He slowly climbed out of the car while taking in his surroundings. It was perfect. He felt giddy, he couldn't believe he'd found it. Before him stood a small shack in the midst of a very dense forest with a half mile long driveway and no neighbors in any direction for miles. Lucky for him that he had become friends with his cellmate.

"Archer, how'd you go so long without being caught?"

"Patience, planning...also had the best spot you could think of. A remote little house in the middle of a forest. No one around for miles. I was a couple of miles away from my place when my tire blew that day. Crazy how life is sometimes."

"Didn't the police find out about it when you were arrested?"

"Nah, the land belongs to a buddy of mine. 700 acres of privately owned forest. He's the only one that knows it's there and he wouldn't say anything."

The younger man cocked his head slightly and raised an eyebrow.

"Let's just say he's got his own skeletons in the closet."

"Hmmm...where does a place like that exist?"

"Poestenkill, Ny. I remember the cemetary. I'd drive right past it thinking how it was probably a pretty good marker for my place." Archer laughed. "Once I got past the cemetary it wasn't long. Then I'd see a tree that looked like a cyclone and I knew I was there. The driveway is practically hidden. Overgrown trees make it look like you're turning into a path that no longer exists. But it's there."

Indeed it was. This had been Archer's place. Now it was his. He liked to think Archer wouldn't mind. After all, Archer was still in prison. He wasn't. Someone should be taking advantage of this place.

He limped up to the door and tried the knob...locked. He began overturning anything he could find on the porch looking for a key. He felt along the window edges, above the door frame. He was about to bust out a window when he noticed what looked like a square-shaped piece of wood that had been cut out of one of the porch posts and put back in. He tried to move it but couldn't get his fingers in to take it out. He brought out his knife and slipped the blade into one of the cracks. The piece of wood popped out and where the wood used to be lay a silver key.

His eyes lit up. "Jackpot."

He grabbed the key and then slipped the piece of wood back into place. He stuck the key in the door and turned, feeling the lock give way. He entered the house slowly, reaching all around him looking for a light switch. He found nothing. He could make out a fireplace and a sofa. He turned to his right and walked into a medium-sized end table with drawers. He began opening the drawers looking for a flashlight.

"Bingo," he said, reaching into the bottom drawer. He pulled out a couple of long candles and set them on top of the table. It wasn't a flashlight but it would do. He took out his lighter and lit one of the candles. He made his way around the room, taking note of everything. It was very simple. Not much furniture, no real kitchen beyond some cabinets, a sink and a table. There was also a bathroom with a small, seemingly badly rigged shower.

"You were roughing it out here, weren't you Arch?" He said to himself. No electricity, bare bones furniture, barely running water...it wasn't exactly what he expected, but it didn't deter him. The place was still perfect. Well...almost perfect.

He did a mental inventory of all he had seen. He knew what Archer was, he knew what Archer liked...there was no bed, no mattress. No room that locked either. Did he just keep his girls tied to a chair for days? He frowned. He felt like he was missing something. He retraced his steps, scanning the walls, looking for a door that he might have missed. And then he heard it, the sound of metal on wood as he stepped across a rug in front of the fire-place. He lifted the rug and felt his heart rate increase. There was a wooden square door in the floor with a large metal ring. This had to be it. He lifted up on the door and found a ladder leading down, to what, he wasn't sure. He couldn't see. He climbed down the ladder, careful of the candle in hand. He held the candle out to light the unknown and crept forward slowly. He noticed another larger candle on a stand against the wall and lit it. He turned and took in the rest of the room. He was in a small area...concrete walls, concrete floor, low ceiling...nothing remarkable about it. But in the corner what he found made him smile. A mattress, a toilet and a series of 4 D rings on the wall and on the floor that Archer had undoubtedly used to restrain his girls. Perfect, he thought again. He pictured her, ankle chained to the floor, unable to run away. Then he saw her on the mattress, arms chained to the wall, ankles to the floor...helpless. Even better. It was the most appealing image his mind had ever conjured. Soon, he thought. Very soon.