Slow Train

Chapter One

Zebraboymom

Disclaimer: Not mine. Not mine. Not mine.

Author Notes: Elliot and Liv are sent undercover to find a serial rapist. They criss-cross the country trying to catch the elusive rapist and killer deliberatively putting Liv in danger of being targeted. Can Elliot protect her?

Don Cragen sat looking at the assignment that had come down from the brass. He didn't like it. He didn't like it one bit. His two best detectives were being ordered on an assignment with no back up. They would be clear across the country from him in a matter of days. There would be no one there to watch their backs. They were to go undercover as a married couple on their honeymoon traveling around the country by train. They were supposed to try to identify and apprehend a rapist that has been taking Amtrak trains. He has been zigzagging across the country raping women and now he had stepped up the game by killing his victims and throwing them off the train. The first leg they would take would be from New York to New Orleans on the Crescent Line.

His detectives had been through enough. They didn't need an assignment like this right now. Elliot's wife had filed for divorce six months earlier and it was final. He had taken it hard. Liv had lost Calvin and had not bounced back from it. They had both felt the loss of Sonya Paxton. He was worried about their mental health as much as their physical safety, but it was out of his hands. Elliot and Liv had the best arrest record of all the New York City SVUs. They were the ones the brass wanted. He called the two of them into his office. He watched them silently communicating as usual each silently questioning what the other one had done to get them called into the principal's office. He couldn't help grinning to himself.

"Relax you two. Neither of you did anything to piss anyone off. Did you?"

They both shrugged and looked blankly at each other.

"I know this is incredibly bad timing, but you've got a case. All your other cases are being handed over to Munch and Fin. This will be your only case for the foreseeable future."

"Cap are you kidding? One case?"

"I'm sending you undercover Elliot. I'm sending both of you."

"Why?"

Don went on to explain the case to them. He could see Elliot getting more and more upset as he realized Liv was going to be the bait.

"No, Cap. I won't let Liv be put in danger like that. For crying out loud Don, we just saw Sonya get killed a couple of weeks ago."

"I know it's bad timing, but it's out of my hands Elliot. This comes from the top and I have no say so about it. You don't either. If you don't accept the case, you lose your job."

Olivia who had been quiet up to this point spoke up.

"I'll do it."

Don and Elliot stopped arguing and both turned to stare at Liv. She sat with her head down looking at something amazing on the back of one of her hands. They twisted together as she spoke and Elliot got a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. Liv was working out some demon here and he was afraid she wasn't thinking clearly.

"It'll be fine. Besides, I'd love to get a chance to get out of New York for awhile. I've heard seeing the country by train is worth the ride."

"Liv…"

"Elliot, stop trying to protect me. It won't bring Sonya back. When do we leave?"

"Liv…"

Elliot tried again, but her eyes rose to meet his and he knew arguing was a waste of time. When Liv got that look in her eyes, there was no reasoning with her. He released a deep sigh and ran his hand over his face and hair.

"When do we leave?"

Don handed over the file with the information, leads, contacts along the way.

"Tomorrow morning. Take the rest of the day and pack, wash clothes, whatever. This could take awhile, so pack like you are going on a two-week honeymoon. Fin and Munch will take you to the train station. Check with them on a time before you leave. Be careful out there and check in as much as you can. I want to hear from you regularly. If you go more than eight hours without calling in, I will have the cavalry out looking for you. Dismissed."

Elliot and Olivia walked out of Cragen's office.

"What just happened?"

"We just got a free vacation."

"Yeah, right."

"Maybe a little adventure is just what the doctor ordered for both of us El."

"Since when did you become Mary Sunshine?"

"I just…"

Fin interrupted them. He motioned them over to stand where their joined desks were. Munch was grinning from ear to ear. Fin was holding a small brown envelope open and he stood in front of the two of them.

"Face me and join hands please."

"Fin…"

Fin reached into the bag and produced two wedding rings.

"Olivia Benson will you take Elliot Stabler to be your lawfully wedded husband and Elliot Stabler will you take Olivia Benson to be your lawfully wedded wife?"

Munch piped up.

"To have and to hold from this day forward…"

""Just give us the damn rings Fin."

Fin and Munch threw their arms across each other's shoulders and leaned their heads together. They sniffed and pretended to wipe their eyes.

"I never thought this day would come, did you Munch?"

"No, but I couldn't be happier Fin. Our little ones are finally taking the plunge."

Liv could see Elliot getting madder and madder as they continued to tease them.

"Now place the rings on each other's fingers."

Liv tried to lighten the moment and grabbed Elliot's hand. She slipped the ring on over the white line that had almost faded where his original wedding ring had been. She went into a falsetto voice.

"Oh, Elliot, you've made me the happiest woman on earth."

Elliot caught on and took her ring. He slipped it on her finger and then held her hand dramatically to his chest.

"Liv, oh Liv, my Livvie Love. I love you."

Liv's eyebrows went up into her hairline before she caught herself. She decided the best plan was to keep playing along even though hearing Elliot say I love you had thrown her for a loop.

"No I love you El."

"No, I love you more.

"No I love you more."

No, I…"

Cragen's amused voice filled the office.

"Get back to work you freeloaders."

Fin and Munch smirked at each other.

"Okay Elliot, time to kiss the bride."

"You are playing newlyweds you know. There will most assuredly have to be public displays of affection. Better get started now. You may kiss the bride."

Elliot looked at Liv who was like a deer in the headlights. It was obvious she had no idea the kidding was headed in this direction. He decided two could play at this game and he reached for her, taking her in his arms and dipping her way back. He smirked down into her startled face and pressed his lips to hers. Liv froze for a second and then she started to kiss him back. Wow! Twelve years of waiting. It was worth the wait. It was just about perfect.

Cheers, clapping, and wolf whistles accompanied the kiss and Liv could feel Elliot smiling into the kiss. Cragen's office door swung open again and people scattered as he barked at everyone.

"Show's over folks and the assignment starts tomorrow detectives."

Elliot stood Liv back on her feet and threw an arm around her waist when she swayed slightly. He couldn't help the satisfied smile that snuck onto his face. She wanted him. He was sure of that.

Liv stepped back, her fingers going involuntarily to her lips. She had no idea Elliot could kiss like that. Lord have mercy. There was a god and his name was Elliot. How was she going to survive the next few weeks. Oh this was not good. This was definitely not good. Their eyes met and she saw only affection and warmth coming from him. That was a first. He had been a bear for months now. This was going to be interesting to say the least. Liv picked up her purse. She hated that her voice wavered a bit.

"Uh I'm gonna go. I have some shopping to do for the trip. I'll see you in the morning El."

Elliot was looking at her with…what was that look anyway? It made her tingle all over.

"Yeah, Liv. See you tomorrow."

It took Liv three hours to finish shopping for the trip. She tried to tell herself it was all for show, but she couldn't help but pick things she thought Elliot would like to see her in. She packed everything into two suitcases and hoped he didn't give her a hard time about taking two. The idea of even pretending to be in love made her a little giddy. Did she just use the word giddy? It was impossible to sleep. She lay awake for hours thinking about the kiss. She wondered if Elliot was thinking about it too or if he had just been messing with her. One way or the other she intended to know if he felt any real feelings for her once and for all.

Elliot lay awake thinking the same things about Liv. Two weeks or more riding on a train with the woman who starred in all his dreams of late. He thought about the kiss and wondered if Liv was thinking about it. He hoped so. He had done it impulsively, but he didn't regret it at all. One way or the other he was going to find out if Liv cared for him even a fraction as much as he did her. He wanted his answer before they returned to New York. As he drifted off he prayed that what he felt from Liv during that kiss was real.

Liv waited outside her apartment for Fin, Munch and Elliot. When the car pulled up, Elliot hopped out and her eyes drifted over him with admiration. He was wearing jeans and an electric blue button down shirt that made his own blue eyes impossibly bluer.

Elliot stepped out of the car to grab Liv's bags and put them in the back. She was wearing black jeans with boots and a violet colored shirt that made her look amazing. His eyes met hers and he smiled from ear to ear.

"Morning, Wifey. You look good enough to eat."

"Stop undressing me with your eyes, Hubby."

"Hey, isn't that what I'm supposed to do? We are on our honeymoon after all."

Elliot leaned in close to her ear and whispered.

"We are going to have to be convincing in our roles, Liv. If you keep dressing like that I'm not going to have any trouble doing just that."

Liv shivered as he kissed her just below her earlobe. Oh, was it going to be a long train ride.

Fin and Munch walked with them into the station and watched as they kicked into honeymoon mode. Elliot slipped his arm around LIv's waist and Liv looked up at him adoringly. Fin whispered to Munch as they followed them to their train..

"Pretend my ass."

After they found their platform and handed their tickets over, they were escorted to their viewliner bedroom. It was a small compartment with a bed below and a bunk above. It had a long seat on one side and an extra chair on the other side. There was a sink in the room and a compartment that held both the toilet and the shower in one space. That was going to be interesting. You could sit on the seat of the toilet and shower.

The train whistle blew and the train started pulling away from the station. Fin and Munch stood on the platform, waved at them through the window, and then threw their arms around each other and pretended to make out. Elliot reached up and pulled the blind down on them. He put it back up quickly and they were laughing hard as they waved at them.

"Well, here goes nothing."

"All joking aside, we are on our own here El."

"I know, but look on the bright side. There's no way for the perp is going to elude us if he is on this train."

"Unless he hops off on one of a dozen or more stops along the way."

"Not helping Liv, not helping."

"Elliot opened the file and started reading aloud. Liv sat back in the seat and looked out the window as the train started to gather speed.