Title: "A Fork in the Snow"
Author: kukrae
Email: kukrae03@netscape.net
Rating: PG-13
Classification: Story, Angst, Romance
Spoilers: Minor for previous stories, Shaken Up and Escapism.
Disclaimer: Still not mine, but doesn't stop me from wishing they were ;)
Summary: A suspect transport goes haywire in snow country.
Author Notes: To follow after last chapter.
*****
Chapter 1
Tension zigged through the air of the court room as the rear door opened and the jurors filed back in to their respective seats. Once they were situated, Judge Petrovsky asked, "Has the jury reached a verdict?"
"It has, your Honor. We the jury find the defendant, Ronald Blaine, not guilty."
"Thank you. Mr. Blaine, you are free to go. Court is adjourned."
At the sound of the gavel falling, Detective Elliot Stabler looked solemnly over to the woman standing behind the prosecution's table.
"I'm sorry, Elliot," said Novak as she placed papers into her briefcase. "There just wasn't enough evidence. We knew it was close but we had to try."
"What do I tell Mrs. Gladstone and her daughter, Casey? That I'm sorry, but we didn't have enough evidence to convict her daughter's rapist? That even with the corroborating DNA evidence the jury still didn't find that SOB guilty? That's what you want me to tell them? God, I'm sick of this." He turned on his heel and stormed quickly out of the court room.
Twenty minutes later after leaving a very upset Mrs. Gladstone with her husband in one of the anterooms, he slammed through a set of the doors into the squadroom. He removed his coat, threw it over the back of his chair and sat down heavily while reaching up with one hand to loosen his tie. Detective Olivia Benson looked up from the file she was reorganizing with a look of concern on her face. "Everything okay, Elliot? I'm going to hazard a guess and say that the verdict came back 'not guilty' on Blaine, didn't it?"
"I've had it, Olivia. It's just one thing after another piling up on me and I've had it." At that he reached out and picked up the mug of pens that sat next to his computer monitor and pitched it across the desk at the lockers to his left. The sound of it shattering and the pens scattering caused everyone in the squadroom to stop what they were working on and glance over at the infuriated detective. "I'm tired, Liv. Every damn day we work our asses off and pull in the best evidence we can. Hell, in this case we even had DNA backing us and what happens? We still can't convict the bastard. Why is that? What are we doing so wrong that even with modern technology we can't get a conviction? That little girl is going to be scarred forever because her rapist is back out on the street and all we can do is wait for the bastard to do it again." He took a deep breath and stood once again, picking up his coat. "It's not fair. I'm going for a walk."
Olivia just sat there stunned. Elliot throwing a fit was actually a pretty unusual occurrence, and with this case, totally unexpected. They both had known that more evidence would really be needed to nail Blaine, but could not get it to turn up on the re-canvass of the neighborhood nor through subsequent searches of his property. Something else must have lit his fuse, she mused. She looked up as the door to Cragen's office opened and the captain strode out to stand between their desks. "What in the hell was all that commotion about?" he asked of anyone who cared to answer.
"Elliot just flipped out, 'Cap," answered Fin, glancing over at Munch, who still had a phone receiver up to his ear.
"Great, just what we don't need, Elliot on a rampage. He'll be like a lion with a sore paw. Olivia? Care to go after your partner?"
"Not really, Captain. He went for a walk. My suggestion? Let him walk. Not even I am going after him after that little session," she remarked as she leaned back in her chair.
"You're probably right," said Cragen. Looking over at the other detectives, he continued, "Fin, Munch, I've got a job for you. The Police Chief of Stowe, Vermont, called and it seems that Brian Lake has finally turned up. Seems he wanted to spend some time skiing but couldn't resist a couple of the ladies at the lodge. He's been arrested for attempted rape, and when they ran him through the database, our five cases turned up. They're willing to turn him over to us sans their case if we get our butts up there today and take him off their hands."
"No can do, Captain," said Munch, now off the phone. "My illustrious partner and I are due in court this afternoon with Novak. The trial has already pushed two days and she'll attempt to kill us herself if we ask for a continuance."
Olivia seized the opportunity and spoke up. "We'll take it, Captain."
He turned to look questioningly at her. "Are you sure, Olivia? Don't you want to talk to Elliot first?"
"Captain, think of it this way. With his current mood, do you really want him around here throwing things? This way I can get him out of the office for a bit. He hates road trips so maybe I can get him to talk." She shrugged as if this was a normal thing for her and her partner.
"He does appear to be worse than the last time...do I dare hope you two get stuck up there for a few days to cool him down?"
"Well, hopefully it'll only take the ride up. I'll call him and let him know. If we're heading for snow country, I want to grab an overnight bag, just in case." Just as she returned to her desk to pick up the phone, her partner walked through the double doors. To her, he appeared to be almost downtrodden, as if the weight of the world had taken a seat on those broad shoulders of his.
She stood and walked over to meet him at the coat rack as he shrugged off his overcoat to hang up. "Hey, partner, guess what? I've got a really neat surprise for you," she grinned at him, trying to lighten his mood.
"Go away, Liv, and take Fin and Munch with you," he groused at her.
"Well, as entertaining as that sounds, Cragen isn't going to go for all three of us taking a road trip. So, grab your coat and let's go."
"Go where?" He still hadn't moved.
"Vermont," she smiled at him.
Elliot looked up at her in disbelief. "Liv, I can't go to Vermont," he whispered while looking over at Munch and Fin to make sure that they hadn't overheard him.
"Well, why not?" she asked totally perplexed.
"Look, I haven't told you everything that's going on right now, but I can't go on an overnighter to Vermont."
"Elliot. We don't have much choice. Stowe PD have Brian Lake in custody after he attempted to rape a woman at one of the ski lodges. Cragen's sending us to get him."
"But that's their case, Liv."
"Yeah, I know. But they're due in court or else Branch will have Novak prosecuting jaywalkers if they try for another continuance. C'mon. We've done this before. What makes this time so different?"
He looked back down at the floor and leaned his shoulder on the lockers in defeat. "Kathy's made me agree to go to a marriage counselor with her. Our first appointment is set for tomorrow."
"Oh," Olivia said quietly. "So, we'll do it in one day. We can be back tonight, no problem."
"Liv, be reasonable. Stowe is at least a six hour drive. Can't they hold this guy until Monday?"
"No. They want him out of there now. They're not going to pursue their case in lieu of the five that we have against him. Look, it's not a problem. I can transport on my own. I'll just take a sedan with a cage screen. You need to take care of this. I know I don't need to remind you that Kathy is the best thing that's ever happened to you. The two of you need to work this out. I'll be fine."
"You'll be fine? Olivia, this guy raped five women. If you think Cragen is going to let you –forget that. If you think I'm going to let you go by yourself, you're out of your mind."
Olivia crossed her arms across her chest and glared at Elliot. "Let me?"
"Yes, you heard me. Let you. Give me a few minutes to call Kathy. Maybe she can call and reschedule the appointment for next week. We'll be owed a day off so I'll just schedule it for whatever day she can get the appointment."
"No. You're staying here and I, a grown woman and a detective, am going by myself. You sanctimonious pain in the ass," she spit out as she turned on her heel and stalked away. "You stay here and fix your marriage. It may be the only relationship with a woman you're able to salvage."
"Ouch," Fin remarked to John.
"You got that right," said John. "Elliot, you might want to tread with caution. She's beginning to sound an awful lot like my second ex...right before the divorce."
"Shut up, John," muttered Elliot as he continued to look in the direction that Olivia had stalked off and then began to follow.
"Hey, what the hell is going on out here? I could hear Olivia yelling from the men's room," said Cragen as he came out into the squadroom.
"Well, it would seem that Elliot has a scheduling conflict with the trip to Vermont. When Olivia offered to go alone, Elliot said he wouldn't let her –"
"Say no more," said Cragen as he raised a hand to halt him. "Where are they?"
"They went that way," said Fin as he pointed to the hall.
Cragen walked down the hall looking for the two current problem children. Why have kids when you can work with them daily, he mused. Most of the time it's Munch giving me the headache. He found the two of them standing at one of the large pane windows overlooking the cityscape. Unfortunately, neither one of them appeared to be speaking.
"You know, guys, standing here is not getting you both to Vermont and back very quickly. What's going on?" he asked to at least get one of them to talk.
"Captain, permission to go pick up the suspect on my own?" asked Olivia. "Elliot has an appointment that he must keep for tomorrow and he has a problem with me driving on my own." Darting a glance to her side quickly, she looked back at Cragen and continued, "I'm a full-fledged officer and this isn't a problem."
"Olivia-" Elliot started.
"Hold on, Elliot," said Cragen raising a hand to halt his words. "Olivia. No one is doubting your ability as a police officer or as a female officer to complete this job. It all goes back to the rules that are already in place for everyone's safety. Two officers must accompany a suspect during transport. That's a mandatory requirement." Looking at Elliot, he continued, "Now, this appointment. Would it be possible to reschedule?"
"I'm not positive, Captain, but if I can have a minute to call Kathy, I can find out."
"Go, call her." Elliot walked off, pulling out his cell phone. Olivia watched him leave and when he turned the corner, she turned to Cragen. "Captain, don't make him go. He has to be at this appointment."
Taking a moment to really look at her, he said, "Olivia, Elliot has to save his marriage on his own," he smiled to soften his words, "You're a great partner to him, but you can't do that for him, too."
"I know, but he needs to deal with this now, Captain. If he doesn't, I'm afraid he will lose the best thing in his life."
They both looked out the window for a bit until the sound of footsteps alerted them that Elliot had completed his phone call.
Cragen said softly, "I wouldn't presume to know what the best thing in his life is, Detective. Some things just might surprise you."
Olivia looked up at him questioningly, but didn't say anything. Turning to Elliot, she said, "So, partner. Are we going skiing?"
He grinned slightly. "Not if I don't want broken bones, we aren't. 'Cap, not a problem, Kathy will be able to reschedule the appointment."
"Well, then what are you two waiting for? Get going." Cragen turned and walked off. Oh boy, the fireworks are going to fly. Definitely happy I won't be in that car.
*****
