Olivia balked and extricated herself from Elliot's grasp. "You have to leave! Now."

"We're not going anywhere," said Alex.

"You have to! Please," she whispered in desperation.

"Liv, we won't –"

Dustin stepped into the room. "Olivia! What are they doing here?"

Olivia looked at the ground, her eyes wide with fear. "I'm sorry, Dustin. I didn't –"

Alex put her arm protectively around Olivia. "We're her friends. We'll come see her whenever we please."

"Oh. You're the lawyer, aren't you? Alexandra."

"Alex," she snapped. "And you're the bastard who beat the crap out of my friend."

"Is that what you told her?" he shot at Olivia.

"I didn't tell them anything," she whispered.

He walked over to her and yanked her from Alex's grasp. "Out!" he ordered Elliot and Alex.

"We're not going anywhere," said Alex.

"I want you to get off my property."

"And I want to cut off your balls and stick them in a blender, but ain't life a bitch," she snapped back.

"I'm going to call the police," he threatened.

"We are the police," replied Elliot. "And so is Liv, in case you forgot."

Dustin reached into his back pocket and pulled something out that made Olivia scream in terror. "Don't!"

It was a pistol. He pointed it right at Olivia. Then he turned to her friends. "You're going to get out of my house right now or, so help me, I will shoot Olivia."

Alex and Elliot weighed their options. They didn't doubt that he would shoot their friend, right here in front of them, but if they left, he might shoot her anyway. Elliot cursed himself. How could he could he have been stupid enough to show up unarmed? He couldn't even arrest this bastard because he was off duty.

"Don't touch her," said Elliot softly.

Dustin smirked. "Then get the hell out of my house."

Alex and Elliot looked at each other and then at Olivia, trembling in fear. They knew without a weapon, they couldn't overpower this man and they couldn't afford to gamble with Olivia's life. Alex was a lawyer, not a police officer, and her physical strength could never take down this man.

They turned around. Elliot started for the door. He figured Alex was following him, but without any warning, she jumped on top of Dustin.

"Alex, no!" screamed Elliot, terrified that Dustin would shoot them both.

Alex, though, knew what she was doing. With strength she didn't know she had, she pushed Olivia out of harm's way and wrestled the gun away from Dustin. She held him down, pressing his face into the cold floor. "You son of a bitch," she spat, tossing the gun to Elliot.

He tried to elbow her but she had him in a tight hold.

Elliot knelt down next to Dustin. "Dustin Jones, you are under arrest for assault in the first degree and attempted murder of a police officer. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be appointed to you." He cuffed Dustin and dragged him downstairs to the police car, pointing the gun at him.

"I'm staying with Liv," Alex called after him.

"Sure. I'll keep this bastard in lockup. See you in an hour or so."

Alex sat down on the couch next to Olivia, who was trembling violently. She put her hand on Olivia's shaking ones. "Liv, what happened?"

"I can't tell you," whispered Olivia. "But – but I can show you." She lifted her shirt to reveal a series of black and blue bruises on her back and a yellowing one on her stomach.

She heard Alex's sharp intake of breath. "That son of a bitch did that to you?"

Olivia nodded. "I tried – but I couldn't – oh, Alex, I was just so scared! He said he'd kill you and Elliot. I couldn't let that happen. I let him hit me. I let him touch me. I – I let him rape me." Silent tears streamed down her face. "God, I'm a police officer! I should have known better. I should have fought him off. I should have done something. I should have –"

Alex cut her off. "It's not your fault, Olivia."

She shook her head. "But it is. How can I help rape victims if I'm a victim myself? I', so weak!"

"You're not weak. You're strong, Olivia. You survived."

"Don't you tell me that, Alex! I made a mistake. I should have left him. God, isn't that what we always tell the girlfriends who stay on? And I couldn't understand until now why they didn't get up and go. But it's so hard! I'm one of them now."

"Liv, this isn't your fault. We're going to get him. He's going to be in jail for a very long time."

"Promise?"

"I'll nail his ass to a wall for you, Liv. I just hope Elliot's doing okay. He's probably beaten the crap out of the guy by now, for hurting his precious Olivia."

She shuddered. "I just want him out of my life. He took something from me. Will I ever get it back?"

"Yes, Olivia, you will. You're strong. You're going to be just fine. We're your friends and we'll help you through this."

"Alex?"

"Yes?"

Olivia sighed. "Thanks."

Alex squeezed Olivia's hand. "That's what friends are for."

THE END