"Damn, it's cold down here," Olivia said after Andrew went back upstairs. "And there must be millions of toys. How will we find a way out?"

Elliot rolled his eyes. "Quit complaining," he said pleasantly. She smacked his arm.

His eyes wandered around the many boxes of toys. It was like an oasis, or a sea. He didn't see any windows or doors, besides the one that led upstairs to the store, and Andrew was standing guard there. There really was no way out. He felt that pang of vulnerability again.

"We might as well just sit and wait for Cragen to get us out," he sighed. "I don't see any other way."

"What?" Olivia exclaimed. "Wait? We can't just sit around doing nothing! We've got to do something!"

Elliot was getting irritated. "Liv, in case you didn't notice, I have a lot of faith in our buddies at the SVU squad, even if you don't. I think they'll want to get us out of here soon," he said sarcastically.

Olivia hung her head. "Sorry, El," she said quietly. "I'm just frustrated that I'm really in this situation."

Elliot mentally kicked himself for making her sad. He took her in his arms and rested his chin on the top of her head. "No, no, don't worry about it. I'm sorry for snapping at you. I'm just a big, stupid, lump."

Olivia snorted and he could feel her quiet laughter. He felt better for making her laugh (he had always liked her laugh), but still like an idiot for hurting her in the first place.

"Hey, what is it with you and snorting? That's twice today, and it's very unladylike." He smiled as he tilted her chin up so he could look at her face. There was a moment of silence as they looked into each other's eyes.

"Thanks, man," she whispered and turned away. She went over to sit by a box of Lego sets. She seemed defeated, a rare disposition for her. "Let's just wait. I'm tired," she said as she leaned against the box and closed her eyes.

Elliot ran a hand through his short brown hair, and remembered the time that Olivia had jokingly told him not to do that because he would make more hair fall out than what had already gone. He grinned a little at the memory and sat next to Olivia. After a pause, he put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. She rested her head against his shoulder and smiled a small smile.

"Goodnight, Liv," he whispered into her hair. "We're gonna get out of this, okay?" he told her, reassuring himself as well.

"Sure," she said sleepily, and yawned.

Elliot grinned and shut his eyes. He was going to need a lot of rest if he was going to get Andrew to let them go…and to protect and take care of Olivia. Rest is a weapon, he thought, and drifted off into a fitful sleep.


He was jerked awake by heart-wrenching moans of pain and a body moving against him. He let out a small groan, not being fully awake yet, and wondered to himself what was going on at this ungodly hour. His head dropped so he could go back to sleep, but his eyes caught a body stirring beside him.

"Oh my God, Liv," he whispered as he remembered where he was.

He could dimly make out her form in the blackness. He saw flashes of pale where her skin was exposed when her body convulsed. Her face was clearer, and from the looks of it, she was in pain. Terrible pain. He laid his hands on her body, and he could feel the muscles tensing and twitching, making their corresponding limbs dance like sidewinders across the desert. Glistening jewels of salty sweat formed on her paling skin. Her nails tore at her flesh, as if trying to scratch the pain out. He took hold of her hands and gathered her against him. Her body writhed more at its new position, and he got a few smacks in the stomach, but he hung on. He could not let his Liv be hurt.

"Shhh," he soothed gently near her ear. "C'mon, Liv baby, wake up. It's Elliot, it's your El. Come on, honey, open your eyes. Please, please, Liv," he tried to keep his voice at a normal level, but he was bordering on frantic panic. Why wouldn't she wake up? Why? So much pain! Too much! She was breathing heavily, and her small moans were like the wail of a tortured soul.

So when she did open her eyes, he couldn't help but cry a little bit and embrace her tightly.

"It's okay, Liv, no more pain," he whispered, his voice cracking with suppressed emotion. "No more, no more, I'm here, El's her, and you're here." Her body slowly stopped moving, and she settled into his body. He rocked her back and forth, praying to whatever God resided in Heaven at the moment that everything would be okay.

"Do you need anything?" a calm voice whispered out of the infinite blackness.

He looked up, surprised and angered to see Andrew crouching in front of him. Damn man, he thought, annoyed. He takes us hostage, takes us away from our job, and then he has the nerve to try to help my Liv, all without looking concerned!

And indeed, the look on Andrew's face (what he could see of it) was not one of concern for a fellow human, but one of sereneness.

He looked down at Olivia again, watching her with his sharp, blue hawk's eye for any signs of another episode. He could hear her ragged breathing slicing the night in the cold basement. She needed warmth. She needed a blanket, but he wasn't about to ask Andrew for one. He would give all his body heat for her.

"Really, whatever you ne–" Andrew started, but Elliot cut him off.

"You could go away. Leave," he said coldly, without bothering to look up. Olivia shivered against him and both heard her weak voice say, "I'm cold." Elliot sighed with relief. She was coming out of her stupor.

Without saying a word, Andrew got up and went upstairs, silent as a cat. Elliot turned his attention back to Olivia, glad that Andrew had left them alone.

"I know you're cold, Liv, sweetheart," she twitched at the name, and he chided himself for forgetting that Andrew had called her that. "Sorry, honey, but we don't have any blankets…just curl up against me…that's it…I'll keep you warm…no blanket's, baby."

Then he felt a hesitant tap on his shoulder and looked up. There stood Andrew, with two thick blankets in his hand. He held them out to Elliot, who paused before taking them.

"Thanks," he mumbled, not sure what else to do.

Andrew nodded. "Keep her warm," he said, and retreated upstairs, leaving Elliot staring at the spot he had just occupied. Then he shook his head and began to spread the blankets over Olivia.

"Look Liv, blankets," he said in a hopeful tone, not mentioning that Andrew had brought them. "And nice, thick ones, too."

"Thank Andrew for me," she whispered. Elliot wondered how she could have known. Somehow he always managed to underestimate her detective skills.

"What about you?" she asked worriedly, noticing for the first time that Elliot didn't have a blanket.

"All for you," he whispered. "I've got my jacket, I'll be fine." And held her hands when they tried to peel off one of her blankets and put it around him.

"Goodnight, El, sweet dreams," she yawned widely.

"Goodnight, Liv. We'll get out of here," he reassured her. She nodded slightly in understanding and both drifted off to sleep.


My God, I've never met two people more stubborn than they are! Andrew thought after watching them fall asleep in each other's arms, with his blankets wrapped around them. They've had so many chances; chances not taken…you'd think they'd want to give me what I want…damn, what am I going to do? This can't last much longer! They have got to give it to me, and give it to me soon! I'm running out of ideas! Maybe I should take new measures… He sat back and began to formulate a plan.
Note from SuperCellist: Whew, I was up late last night finishing this chapter. I didn't want to leave you hanging. And now, of course, I have writer's block. But don't worry, an idea will probably come to me in the middle of the night when I'm tired and want to go to sleep, and I'll have to get up and write it down...but anyway, please review! I want to thank everyone who's reviewed my stories already; they have made me a better writer. Hee hee, I have friends...