"Hey, Liv," Elliot greeted his partner as she hurried into the precinct half an hour late.

Olivia jumped and spilled her coffee all over herself. "Shit, Elliot!"

He rolled his eyes. "Hello to you, too."

Captain Cragen stepped out of his office. "Olivia, my office. Now."

"I really don't need this right now," she muttered, attempting to mop up her shirt with a napkin but obediently following her captain into his office.

"Sit," he invited her.

She folded her arms just to be adversarial. "I'd rather stand."

He shrugged. "Suit yourself."

"What's this about, Captain?"

"You've been distracted and irritable lately. What's up?"

"I'm fine, Captain," said Olivia, adjusting her large sunglasses over her eyes.

"Don't give me that, Olivia. You haven't been yourself."

"Captain –"

"Olivia, why are you wearing your sunglasses inside?"

"Leave me alone!" she snapped.

"Olivia, I want you to go home and take some time off. When was the last time you had a good night's sleep?"

Her eyes widened in fear. "No. No. I'm fine. Elliot needs me."

"Elliot doesn't need you if all you're going to do is get on his case."

"Don't send me home. I can do better," she pleaded, torn between her self-preservation and her pride.

The captain sighed. "Fine. Go. But don't make me have this discussion with you again."

Olivia bowed her head, trying not to show her relief. "Thank you, sir."

She strode back to Elliot.

"Liv, we got the guy who murdered Anna Jones," he informed her. "It was the husband. You were right."

"Let me go in, El," she said, a fire igniting in her out of pure disgust for this man who abused his wife for years, finally causing her death. "I can handle it."

Elliot nodded. "The floor is yours."

She entered the interrogation room where a man with sandy brown hair and a casual smile was sitting. He didn't look like a killer, but then, looks could be deceiving. She sat down on a chair across from him.

"So, Jordan. Tell me about Anna."

He laughed in her face. "She was beautiful, but not as drop-dead gorgeous as you. She was good in bed, though. That made up for it."

Olivia wasn't here to play games. "Tell me how you killed her."

He smirked. "I didn't kill her."

"Then who did?"

"I don't know. Honestly, I don't give a shit. The bitch got what she had coming to her."

"How so?"

"Well, she wasn't a very good wife."

"You mean, she didn't submit to your every command."

He sneered. "That, too."

"Let's see, Jordan. You beat the crap out of her for ten years. Now she's dead and she's covered in bruises similar to the ones you'd been doling out for as long as you've known her. And you're telling me you didn't do it. Do you take me for a fool?"

"Guess not. So let's see. That makes you smart and pretty," said Jordan, unruffled yet amused.

"You're trying to hit on me."

"Is it working?"

"No," Olivia snapped.

He considered. "I guess you're too feisty for my liking anyway. I'd have to tone you down. Too much work. I'll bet you're just a pain in your boyfriend's ass. Can't have a husband – no one could tolerate you that long. Or maybe you are a good girlfriend, submissive as the best of them, and it's just me you hate. Is that right? Oh, wait. Let me guess. That partner of yours, Elliot or whatever his name is. Is he your boyfriend? Does he like you feisty or does he tone you down? Because if you were mine, I'd give you a good smack or two. I'd sure show you who's boss. I –"

He didn't get to finish his sentence because Olivia was on top of him, kicking him, screaming, "You rotten bastard! Don't you talk about Elliot that way! You killed Anna! You –"

"Olivia!"

Captain Cragen burst into the room and pulled Olivia off the suspect. She recoiled at his touch. "Let me go!"

The captain half-dragged Olivia out of the room. While she was struggling, her sunglasses fell from her face. Captain Cragen noticed her swelling black eye. He let go of her and stepped back. "Olivia, what happened to your eye?"

"Nothing." She rubbed her shoulder where he'd grasped it. "Walked into a wall." She turned and started to walk away.

Cragen reached out and grabbed Olivia's arm. "Don't you dare walk away from me!"

She cringed and cried out involuntarily, then pulled away. She yanked her arm free. "Don't touch me," she growled.

"Olivia," said the captain surprised. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

She sighed and checked her watch. "Captain, I'm sorry. Look, I have to go. I was supposed to be home an hour ago."

"The boyfriend misses you?" he said, unable to keep the disdain out of his voice.

"Yeah. Look, can we do this tomorrow?"

"Go home, Olivia. Come back when you're feeling better. You're on leave until then."

Olivia looked at the ground. She'd had her chance and she'd blown it. It was all on her now.