Okay this is my first ever svu story so I hope you like it. I will add that I am writing Elliot and Olivia as partners of 11 years.
Disclaimer: All characters and place names are fictional. I do not own any of them.
I would also like to note this story deals with a school shooting and one mention of a real life school shooting so please do not read if this offends you. There will be mature content included minor sexual violence and some minor bad language so again if this offends this is not for you.
I would appreciate constructive criticism as already mentioned I am a big svu fan but have not written it before.
One final thing I am not really familiar with hostage situations only from what i've read and seen on tv so it may not be 100% accurate.
Chapter One.
Thursday 19th September 2013 9.45 a.m
He was late, late for work for the third time this week. Strolling into the 16 precinct of the New York police department he glanced at his fellow squad members, but they hadn't seemed to have noticed his presence so he quickly made his way to his desk flinging his jacket over the back of the chair.
He had had another fight with Kathy, his wife which had resulted in yet another late night and another restless night on the couch. He slowly sat down but then heard the whisper of a familiar voice.
"Wanna talk about it?" The voice belonged to none other then that of his partner for the past eleven years Detective Olivia Benson.
Detective Elliot Stabler whipped his head around staring right across the room to his partner who was sat behind her desk almost hidden behind the casefiles piled on her desk.
"Something like that," he replied with a slight nod. It was strange but she always seemed to know exactly what was going on his life, without actually being in his life as so to speak. I guess he shouldn't have been that surprised it was no secret that they shared an incredible partnership and bond.
Elliot snapped out of his thoughts when a door swung open revealing their Captain and boss, Donald Cragen. "Shit!" he cursed under his breath "I'm in trouble."
Olivia stood up from her desk when the captain came roaring out of his office as it usually meant only one thing that one of them was in trouble and you could guarantee it would be either her or her partner. I haven't done anything to piss him off today she inwardly thought.
"Olivia, Elliot," the captain shouted.
"Yes sir," they both chimed in perfect sync with each other.
Donald Cragen shifted towards Elliot with a sheet of paper in his grasp. "I've just had a call, there's been a shooting at St Elmo elementary school."
The name St Elmo caught the attention of an older squad member Detective John Munch who had been busily following up some paperwork.
"Captain did you just say St Elmo elementary school?"
"Yes I did," Cragen answered him.
The older detectives face grimaced "I've got a friend who's kid attends that school, he's in the 1st grade."
Munch turned to see his partner Fin Tutuola offering a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "It's okay man i'm sure he's fine."
Olivia was next to speak up "Do we know the situation?"
Cragen glanced over the sheet of paper in his hand. "Not really much at this stage except the suspects name is John Macy and he is a former teacher at the school. Reports are there are several fatalities. We've also word he's barricaded himself inside one of the classrooms and has taken several hostages."
Olivia's heart was racing. After the Sandy Hook school shooting last year she had hoped they would never have to deal with something so atrocious again.
Several of the survivors are en route to Bellevue," Cragen then reported hastily. "Finch, Munch I need you two at the hospital and see if you are able to question any of the victims about what happened.
Both men nodded before exiting the squad room.
"El, Liv I need you over at the school now."
Elliot grabbed his jacket and waited for his partner to join him, then with a sense of urgency they hurried out of the precinct.
St Elmo Elementary school. 10.15 a.m
On their arrival at the scene they were greeted with utter chaos. There were numerous police cars lining the street, swat vans, firetrucks and EMS crews tending to the wounded. One lonely officer was trying his hardest to keep the angry mob of what looked to be frantic parents, teachers and even some children at a safe distance.
Olivia and Elliot exited the vehicle and slowly made their way across the school yard. Olivia stopped dead in her tracks when she noticed paramedics carrying out the small body bags. She felt sick to the stomach. Usually she could handle anything. Working in special victims she was used to seeing everyday the sick and depraved things people inflicted on one another, but it still hit her hard and she leaned into her partner for support.
"Liv are you alright?" he asked a little worried.
"I can't imagine what those parents are going through. "You send your children to school each morning trusting them to be in the safest place and then this happens."
Elliot gave her a sympathetic glance as they made their way over to a balding older officer shouting orders left, right and center.
The ordering officer turned around to see Elliot and Olivia walking towards him. At first he thought he was about to deal with another set of outraged parents but as soon as they were in closer view he noticed their badges and guns attached to them.
"Ah you must be the two detectives from special victims," he announced. His voice booming over the ensuing noise of their surroundings.
Elliot introduced themselves. "Yes i'm Detective Elliot Stabler and this is my partner Detective Olivia Benson."
The officer eyed Olivia up and down before introducing himself. "Officer Trent Morgan."
Elliot couldn't help but notice the older mans lingering look on his partner. "So what do we know so far?"
"Thirteen dead including three teachers. Eleven injured, three critical." The older officer gestured for them to follow him towards another entrance of the school building whilst he continued to brief them further.
"Shooters name is John Macy, thirty five years old and up until two weeks ago was an english teacher at this school. He's also been involved in several community projects and was a scout leader for three years."
Olivia pulled out a small notepad from her jacket pocket. "Do we know why he left?"
Morgan shrugged. I'm having his file faxed over we should know more then. What we do have is CCTV footage of the bastard entering the building at around seven forty five this morning through an external door to the gymnasium. We're not sure where he was hiding out but a witness reported seeing him in the main reception area at nine fifteen when he opened fire on the school secretary after she questioned him.
Morgan stopped short of the door which led them into the building and pointed across to an adjacent building. "We have snipers on the roof but the sonavabitch closed all the blinds so we can't even see what is going on inside let alone take a shot."
Olivia and Elliot proceeded to follow Morgan further into the building until they arrived into the school cafeteria. When they were inside he began to show them security footage that had been uploaded to a laptop.
"Here we can see Macy walking from this direction, which i've been told is the janitors closet. He then proceeds over to the main reception desk and opens fire on Miss Adams the school secretary. I've been told she's in critical condition.
Elliot moved closer to the laptop screen pausing the footage to get a closer detailed look. "Looks like she became suspicious and tried to press the panic alarm."
Morgan continued the footage. "He then opens fire on another two teachers who attempted to tackle him."
Olivia breathed heavily as the footage then skipped ahead to show the gunman in another part of the building stalking the hallway. The figure stopped suddenly and Olivia realized why. He had spotted a group of small children huddled together, a look of pure horror spread across their angelic faces. The next second the man raised his gun and opened fire. Olivia turned away sharply. "Oh my god those poor children. They must have been terrified."
Elliot screwed up his face with pent up frustration. He had kids himself and could not imagine how he would feel if they were ever in a situation like this.
From then on the footage continued to show the shooter forcing himself into classrooms until he reached one specific classroom.
"Class 4B," Morgan announced. "He's been in there for the past hour. We know he has at least twenty children in there and their teacher Melissa Matthews."
"Have you managed to talk to this guy yet?" Elliot then asked, wandering to himself that the whole time they were standing around they hadn't mentioned to ask this vital piece of information.
"We've had several officers attempting communication for the past half hour but he ain't talking." Morgan paused momentarily whilst gazing at the two younger detectives. "We have a hostage negotiator on his way as we speak."
Elliot threw off his jacket and loosened his tie "I don't get it. I mean our shooter is a well educated man, has ties to the community. So what? Did he just wake up one morning and just decide to walk in here and open fire on infants."
Morgan couldn't agree more. "What's this guys deal? What's his reason?"
Olivia attempted her toughest voice. "Sometimes there is no reason. They do it because they can. Maybe they feel empowered or perhaps it's just the thrill."
Morgan was about to offer up his own explanation when another office passed him some paperwork. He quickly scanned the pages. "BINGO," he announced loudly. "Looks like we have our motive. Melissa Matthews reported him for sexual harassment."
They both listened to Morgan as he read through the file. As they were bombarded with more and more information the more everything was starting to make sense.
"So..."Elliot began. "Let me get this straight. Macy works here for five years then a year ago is arrested on sexual harassment charges. The case is dropped due to insufficient evidence and he manages to keep his job. Six months later he's arrested again on stalking and kidnapping charges but again the charges are dropped. This time however the school board decide he can no longer teach at the school so they had no choice but to let him go."
Olivia listened intensely as her partner went over the details. "So that's why he's gone after Melissa. He blames her for loosing his job."
"We need to get up there and talk to this guy," Elliot steamed, his pulse racing.
"We wait for the hostage negotiator," Morgan insisted trying to be as polite as possible.
"And until then this guy could be getting more and more angry, frustrated and pretty much pissed off," Elliot reminded him. "He has twenty kids in there with him not to mention a woman who he probably blames for ruining his life. They're probably terrified." Elliot didn't feel like getting into a beef with Morgan but he couldn't stand here doing nothing either.
"Look I don't know how you deal with this kind of thing in your department but we follow precedure. This is a hostage situation so just let us handle things."
Olivia left Elliot seething whilst she attempted her own negotiation with Morgan. "Just let us talk to him. We handle perps like him everyday."
Morgan leaned right towards her face. "With all due respect detective you're out of your comfort zone here. You interrogate suspects in a precinct full of law enforcement officers, not in a room with frightened kids and most probably a terrified teacher."
Olivia retailated. "With all due respect sir we've also had our fair share of crazy wack jobs in our interrogation room and we've always handled any situation. All i'm asking for is five minutes."
Morgan huffed but felt he needed to give them an opportunity, after all rapists and murderers weren't his kind of thing. His job more entailed standing on the sidelines and giving orders. He threw his hands up in defeat. "Okay detective you have five minutes."
There was hush as they arrived at the classroom. Several armed officers in body armor lined the wall just outside. The eerie silence plagued Elliot and he felt uncomfortable. It felt like the calm before the storm and just as he had that thought. A noise errupted on the other side of the door.
It was a childs scream. "HELP, HELP!"
Olivia and Elliot immediately yanked out their weapons edging closer to the locked door.
A firm shut up was heard from inside and then another voice. An older female with a pleading voice. Then some clattering and then silence.
Elliot grabbed the door handle giving it a firm push but it wouldn't budge. "John Macy. My name is Detective stabler. Can we talk?"
"Anyone attempts to come in here and i'll start shooting. You know I can." The voice faltered for a second. "I swear i'll do it."
Olivia had decided to join in knowing perhaps he may open up to a female. "John?" No reply "John my name is Detective Olivia Benson. It's okay, everything is okay you don't need to do anything we just want to talk."
They all waited with baited breath. The silence was overwhelming.
"John can you hear me?" she asked calmly.
Morgan pushed her to the side. "John this is Trent Morgan. We have this building surrounded. Now just let the hostages go and we can talk about this."
"Go away!" the voice screamed again.
Morgan's voice rose this time. "Look John you have no where to go, now just release the hostages and I can come in and we can talk about this man to man."
They were met with a scream and realized it was Melissa. "I'm getting pretty frustrated in here so if you try anything I will take my anger out on dear little Melissa here, and I really don't think you want anything to happen in front of these sweet little kids."
"Sonaofabitch!" Elliot pounded the wall his temper getting the better of him.
"Haven't you hurt enough people John," Olivia asked calmly. "I know you don't want to hurt anyone else."
"How do you know?" he hollered.
Olivia's heart was beating faster and faster. It felt like at any moment it was about to leap out of her chest. She never even felt this nervous when interrogating the worst scum of the earth back at the precinct. "Because if you did you would have done it already," she concluded.
"Maybe i'm just biding my time."
Call it a womans intuition but Olivia felt that the reason why John hadn't hurt Melissa is that in some twisted way he cared about her. She had to use this to her advantage. "I think you care John."
"His voice deepened taking on a more menacing tone. "No way! They're all just a bunch of whores. You try to do a nice thing but it comes back to bite you in the ass."
Olivia approached the door. "Is that what you think John? Is that really what you think?"
There was a tremendous silence once again. Everyone waited ceremoniously for the next sound.
"You know what Olivia."
"What John?"
"You have a really sexy voice. Maybe you should come in and join the party."
Olivia pulled back from the door whilst Elliot pounded on it. "That ain't going to happen John! You hear me!"
"Who are you her boyfrend?," came the sneering voice from Macy.
Elliot watched Olivia's face. He knew that look. She's contemplating it I know it. But before she could say anything Elliot almost pounced on her. "Don't even think about it." He grabbed both arms gently, he knew he had to stop her from making a very rash decision.
Morgan could see the younger mans face drain of color. He didn't know much about their relationship but it sure looked like a close one. Just the way Elliot leaned in towards her. Yep very close.
"Liv you are absolutley not going in there. This guy is a loose cannon. He's armed and dangerous," he reiterated as if she didn't already know. "Cragen would personally nail my ass to the wall if I let you do this."
"I know how to handle perps like him Elliot."
Morgan upon hearing the two detectives in discussion had himself realized what Olivia was attempting to do. He had to step in "Detective Benson your partner is right you can't go in there and that is an order."
"Look we can't stand around all day talking about this, you know what he threatened to do to Melissa. It's just a matter of time." Olivia closed her eyes just thinking about what would happen to the state of mind of those kids if they had to witness something so harrowing.
All their thoughts were interrupted by Macy's voice. "So what's it going to be Olivia?"
The detective walked back towards the door. "John I can't come in there unless you do something in return."
"What?"
"I want you to release the children and Melissa. It can be just you and me."
Now she's finally lost it Elliot thought. He gritted his teeth. Yeah that's what he really wants, him and my beautiful partner alone. Well over my dead body!
"No way Olivia! but i'll tell you what i'll release half the kids but Melissa stays here."
"Come on John you can do better then that." Olivia had to keep trying.
"You know what Olivia how about I release half the whiney little brats and shoot the rest, done deal don't you think?"
A scream of "No!" was heard and they instantly knew it came from Melissa.
"No no no John I''ll come in just don't hurt them," Olivia shouted in a shaky but firm voice. "Look why don't you release, say ten of the children then I can come in."
She waited for what seemed like an eternity for an answer. "Alright i'll let them go but you need to come in unarmed."
That next proposal unnerved Elliot. It was bad enough she wanted to go in there in the first place but unarmed would leave her in a very vulnerable position.
"You have my word," she assured him.
Elliot knew Olivia was going to do this whether he wanted her to or not. Her dedication was astounding but it also could get her in hot water sometimes.
Morgan grabbed her harshly. "Detective Benson may I remind you i'm in charge here and I am not letting you in there."
Olivia flinched periodically before nudging him away "So stop me!"
A mere five minutes later Olivia was suited up with a kevlar vest and being quickly briefed about trying to get Macy close to a window and releasing a blind. That way snipers may be able to take him down if it became necessary.
Elliot walked her to the door. "You ready?"
She smiled at him. "Ready as i'll ever be." She handed Elliot her gun."
"I'll be waiting right here for you when you come out, just try not to disappoint me." Elliot put on a brave exterior but internally the thought of her going in there was tearing him apart.
"She regained her composure. "John it's me Olivia let me in."
There were loud screeching sound as desks were dragged across the floor and away from the door. Next came a clicking sound and then the door slowly opened. Olivia peered inside only to be met with the dark, soulless eyes of the gunman. He had Melissa in a chokehold with a gun pointed at her head.
Olivia inched closer. "John it's okay. Where are the kids?"
"Show me your hands first."
Olivia raised both hands up in front of her showing Macy that she had done what he had asked.
Satisfied he motioned for the ten children to come over. He had handpicked them personally. Mainly the whiny, whimpering ones he could rather do without.
Olivia pulled the children towards her and Elliot quickly plucked them towards him and to safety. It was then that John threw Melissa to the floor harshly and grabbed hold of Olivia, his gun jabbed into her temple.
"It's nice to finally meet you Olivia."
thoughts?