Elliot struggled against the chains, feeling his skin bruise and tear. Olivia was barely conscious. She hadn't even done anything, that was the worst part. Elliot was fine albeit restrained. It was Olivia who was taking the brunt of the abuse.

"Now you're gonna know what it's like. What it's like to watch someone you love hurt when there's nothing you can do. This is your fault, Stabler. This is the price you pay." He said, unbuckling his pants

"Don't." He said. "Don't do it. Just hurt me. Stab me. KILL me. She wasn't even my partner-" He shook his head. "Don't-"

The man paused in his assault on Olivia, looking down at her. He stooped despite Elliot's protests and grabbed her head. She cried out in pain, blood smeared on the side of her face.

"Olivia!"

"Honey, do you even know who I am?" He breathed into her face. She groaned, but it wasn't really an answer. He spit in her face suddenly, causing her to cry out. Elliot was screaming and growling, his teeth gnashing.

The man laughed. "I'm Simon. Simon Tate. You sure know who I am." He pointed at Elliot who was bashing himself against the pipe he was tied against. "But you weren't there. Your partner locked up my brother, Victor Tate. For a rape he didn't commit." Olivia moaned again, causing helpless tears to spring to Elliot's eyes.

"She wasn't there, Simon-"

"But you were there when your partner went to his cell and PROMISED him you would have him exonerated for your mistake?" He was yelling now, making Olivia's head buzz.

"This was my mistake-" Elliot tried, but he wouldn't listen.

"You know what he did after you told him he was getting out? He hung himself with his bed sheets. It took him four days to die in a prison infirmary." He stared at Elliot, seething.

"Simon. I'm sorry." It was then he remembered his train of thought, unbuckling his pants again.

"Not as sorry as you're about to be." Olivia screamed as Simon rolled her over, his hands reaching for her pants.

"Simon, don't-"

"Please," Olivia said, gasping for breath. "No more." Both George and Elliot leaned in worriedly, watching to see if she'd have a full blown panic attack. She inhaled hard, forcing herself not to hyphervenhilate.

"Do you need a break, Olivia?" George asked sympathtically. She cleared her throat. Both her and Elliot said 'yes' at the same time. He nodded, leaning back. Olivia just breathed for what felt like a long time and Elliot just listened to be sure she was calming down. George just watched, carefully.

"This is the most in sync you guys have been since the ordeal, and I think I know why." They both looked up at him and then each other. "You love each other too much to blame the other. But you're both driven by an impulse to blame something. The only option in this situation is yourself." They both looked at the ground.

"Olivia, the last thing you want to be reduced to and used for is,"

"Hurting Elliot." She finished, hugging herself. George nodded.

"Right. Elliot, Simon was attached to your case you couldn't resolve. Olivia is your partner sworn to protect. And no matter how you slice it you feel you broke that oath and crossed boundaries." Elliot balled his fists, angry at how right he was.

"So, how." Said Elliot suddenly. "Are we supposed to move through it?" George smiled.

"By accepting it. By truly reflecting on it with out an angle to help soften the blow of what really happened. When you're ready, that is." Elliot and Olivia looked at each other.

"We can try."