Feeling the night air swarm through the windows, the Special Victim's unit sat nervously awaiting a phone call. The call that would determine the next location of an unjust death.

The squad room was quiet, too quiet. Suddenly the doors burst open as Olivia and Munch returned.

"How is she?" Elliot asked.

"Olivia Rosco is on the mend" Olivia replied.

"Does she remember anything?" Fin said joining the conversation.

"We have a statement from her, she picked out Alex in a photo line up" Munch answered, he paused for a moment the continued, "So that clears up Olivia's physco, now, on to yours" he said directing the conversation to Elliot.

The detectives talked amongst themselves, all of them were relieved that at least one of the stalkers was safely behind bars. Olivia now seemed to be more alert and case focused. Breaking their chatter was a tall man, he was unusually thin with a mass of greying hair tangled around his face.

"Elliot Stabler" the man said nervously in to the room of detectives. Elliot turned to face him, standing up he looked at the box that stood on the small pull trolly.

"That's me".

The lanky man was sizing Elliot up, "Delivery".

"What is it?".

"I'm just the messenger. It's rude to peek".

"What's your name?".

"Ian" the man replied taping his name badge with his pen, "I need you to sign this" he said outstretching his hand with the clipboard in it.

Elliot hesitated, he held out his hand and took it, he read over it. It appeared to be legit, before he had a chance to get to the bottom of the page, he was interrupted. "Today!".

"Excuse me?" Elliot asked, his temper was on a short fuse that continued to burn quickly.

"I've got three more jobs to do after this one".

Elliot looked at the man, he wondered if he was being too cautious, taking a pen he signed his name and handed back the clip board.

"Careful yeah. It's heavy" Ian slipped the metal shelf out from underneath the box and wheeled the trolly out the squad room leaving Elliot and the rest of the detectives staring blankly at the large box free standing in front of him. Elliot noticed a small card taped to the box as he inspected it, peeling the tape off he opened the envelop.

"My deepest condolences" he read aloud. Olivia stood up, standing next to him she read the card as Elliot took a pair of scissors to the box.

'"If you're ready to believe, Open your eyes,

Open the box to reveal your fate."'

The card board box opened in one corner, the weight of the contents soon took it's toll and forced open the other corner. Polystyrene 'S' shapes escaped their enclosure, followed by a grey slab. Elliot caught the slab and lowered it to the floor. Elliot, Olivia, Munch and Fin all inspected the delivery, a shudder cursed through all of them.

'"Elliot Stabler

In memory of a loving father, husband and detective

October 20, 1966

August 20 2011"'

The detectives stood in silence, the slab was a grave stone.

/

After an hour of searching, Ian Sterling had shown up on no in state courier services. There was no information on the grave stone, nothing. No leads, they had to wait for the next body.

11:30 read the clock on Olivia's computer, she sighed leaning back, "El, you want a coffee?".

He looked up, he'd heard her talking but didn't listen, "What?".

"Coffee?" Olivia got up and made her way to Elliot's desk, "El, talk to me".

"How did you cope Liv? Knowing there is nothing to do but wait".

Olivia gripped Elliot's shoulders gently, she began massaging them, leaning down she talked softly in his ear, "I had a great partner" She smiled, "So, coffee?".

Elliot gave a nod, "Go on then".

A call came through directly to Elliot, Olivia stopped mid walk to the coffee machine, picking up the phone Elliot answered, then listened intently. A couple of 'Okays' later, he hung up. His body lacked all emotion, "three bodies".

/

Arriving at the crime scene, Olivia took the lead.

"Here you go" Doctor Warner was evidently tired. "You guys need to figure this one out soon, I'm out of over time hours" her smile was warming but it couldn't change the dank atmosphere that layered the detectives from the rest of the world.

Melinda Warner had handed Elliot another letter, he finished reading within seconds, "Damn it!".

"What?" an alarmed Olivia asked him, "What is it?".

"We had him! That Ian guy" Elliot said almost forcing the now ball shaped letter in to Olivia's hand. She took it upon herself to read it,

'"I told you Elliot, three more jobs"'

Olivia sighed, they had him. They let him go.

"El, what is it you said to me? You can't blame yourself".

Elliot who had one hand on the car, and one palm resting on his cheek, he turned around, "I only told you that so you'd get your head in the game! Of course it's my fault Liv!".

Olivia was startled, it took a moment for the words to truly be processed, "So you came out here and killed these kids? Get your head back in the game Elliot".

"Screw you" he replied angrily, his fuse was fully burnt away.

"No, screw you!".

/

"What have you got Doc?" Elliot asked.

"Two female victims, assuming they are both Elliot, one male. I would estimate they are all in their teens, 13, 14".

"That all you got?".

"Give me a minute Elliot, you know how long it takes to process one body, let alone three".

"Carry on" Olivia said calmly.

Taking a deep breath, Melinda continued, "Your perp favours girls, he's experienced. These were not his first kills. Elliot one" Melinda said moving to the first female on the table, "has extensive bruising to her abdomen, hand prints around the neck, also the slashes to her breasts are over kill".

Elliot and Olivia observed, the left breast had been slashed, "He took extra time on her breast, the embryological tissues have collapsed" pointing, Melinda showed the detectives, "He cut the skin, then pushed an object in to the wound, the skin is torn here, not slashed".

"What about the others?" Olivia asked.

"Elliot two, the second female has slashes across her wrists".

"She fought back" Olivia added.

Melinda nodded, "She was also raped, she's the only rape victim, only, she was raped by a knife. She was still alive".

"Bastard" Elliot mumbled angrily.

"Elliot three, died first, he has a few bruises, cause of death is exsanguination; the external jugular vein was severed. He bled out".

/

"Elliot, Olivia. A word".

Both the detectives walked towards their Captain's office.

"Can't this wait? It's 3:45am" Elliot moaned.

"No" Cragen replied sharply. "Listen carefully, I need both at your best. Olivia, your apartment has been cleared. Go home, get some sleep, and a shower" moving his focus to Elliot he began speaking again, "Elliot, take Olivia home, then get back to your wife".

/

On the drive to Olivia's apartment the air was heavy with tension, the hum of the engine rung like loud speakers in the silence.

Pulling up outside Olivia looked at Elliot, he gave a sharp look in her direction, he said nothing.

"You mind walking me up? First time being home after, y'know".

Elliot said nothing, he got out the car, he walked Olivia up to the door step, suddenly to Olivia's surprise, Elliot broke down in tears. Standing in shock for a second, she found herself holding her partner close. He clutched her tightly, a moment passed by, he didn't want to let go.

As the detectives pulled away from the tender embrace, their arms hung by their sides, they stayed connected. Resting their foreheads together Elliot raised a hand up to Olivia's face, he stroked it gently. She knew it was wrong, he was married. It meant nothing. The urgency hooked her. Breathing in deeply her spine tingled at his touch, she closed her eyes, instinctively, their lips met in a kiss that could only be described as fate.