Again...sorry it took forever.
Side note: I used, as far as I know, a fictional high school for a location. It didn't feel right to use a real one.
Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own the characters used in the writing of this story. It is for entertainment purposes only, and no profit is being made.
Elliot followed Olivia back into the squad room. He had never been good at talking to her, but this time it seemed to have worked. She was staying! He was so relieved, he felt like crying.
"Where have you two been? Engaging in some…extra-curricular activities?" Munch winked at them suggestively.
Elliot blushed – it seemed to be happening more often lately, especially when his partner was involved – but Olivia didn't miss a beat.
"My partner was with a member of his family. I was dealing with some digestion issues that involved bad milk. You really want to know the details of that?"
Fin made a face and Olivia had a very hard time controlling her laughter. She glanced up at the screens and the faces of the victims, and her mood lowered significantly. She suddenly felt extremely tired again.
"You all right?" Fin asked.
"Fine. Just the after effects."
"Well, don't hurl on me."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Okay, what's going on with the case?"
Munch sighed. "Well, we've been over the interviews your fill-ins took of the first three victims: Audrey Stone, 18, Kate Newbury, 16, and Sarah Rivers, 16; and then we went back over the info you got from Ellen. We couldn't find a connection other than they're all young and pretty brunettes in the same neighbourhood. We'll have to re-interview them tomorrow."
"Are you sure? Any random things that could lead us to more information?"
Fin picked up their folders and leafed through a few pages. "No, I don't think so."
"Alright, I'll go through them myself. I really don't like having to pick up a case part way through, especially from people who don't really know what they're doing."
Elliot was standing slightly behind her, and reached up and squeezed her shoulder. "I don't like it either, but we'll find a way to get this guy."
Fin and Munch gave each other a look. Apparently, those two were "close" again.
"We're sure he doesn't have any priors? No matches at all to his prints or DNA?"
Don overheard, and closed the few steps between him and the group in seconds. "Yes. We've been through this, Detective."
"I know…" She shook her head slightly and ran her hand back through her hair, closing her eyes. Elliot recognized the tired and stressed body language she so often used.
"Alright, all of you go home," said Don. He knew the signs almost as well as Elliot did. "There's no more you can do tonight, it's already nine thirty."
The others turned away and started gathering their things. Elliot turned back to his partner, concern written all over his features.
"You want a ride home?"
"Ah, no thanks. I'm going to stay awhile."
"You need sleep. Four hours in three days is not enough."
"Maybe not. But you understand why I need this guy put away as soon as possible?"
His anger flared, he pushed it down. He hated Lowell Harris, more than he ever hated a person in his life. "I do. But you're not going to be able to do it tonight."
Olivia rolled her eyes. "Goodnight, Elliot," she said dismissively, and sorted going through the files.
He turned away, dejected. She rolled her eyes again, this time at herself. "El, wait. Thank you for earlier. I know…I…I'm glad that you're…"
He smiled. "You're welcome. Would you like me to stay?"
"No, go home. I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight. Don't stay up too late. Call if you need anything." He smiled and then left.
Olivia barely noticed as the squad room slowly emptied out around her. She was getting closer to the answer, she could feel it. It wasn't just hope…it couldn't be. She must have read the case files several times already, picking up on different small things each time she read them. It wasn't hard for her to become completely lost in her work. She jumped when her phone rang.
"Detective Benson."
"Hi…it's Ellen, Ellen Forbes?"
"Hi, Ellen. Is everything alright? It's getting close to midnight."
"I know, I hope I'm not bothering you."
Olivia's voice was gentle, comforting. After 12 years, she had perfected it. "Don't worry. I told you that you could call at any time about anything. I wouldn't have said that if I didn't mean it. Now, what can I help you with?"
"I…well, I'm just feeling kind of scared…and alone." He voice shook. She sounded even younger than she already was.
"Okay, hang in there, Ellen. I'm coming to your group home."
"Oh, that's okay! You don't have to…"
"I want to. I'll be there in half an hour."
In 25 minutes, Olivia was pulling into the group home. She shook her head as she approached. She would never get over the state of this place…a room with a bunch of beds. She knocked at the door and after a few moments a woman answered in pyjamas.
"Can I help you? It's past midnight."
Olivia held up her badge. "I'm Detective Benson, we've spoken before. I need to see Ellen."
"She's asleep. Come back in the morning." She moved to shut the door, but Olivia reached out and pushed it back.
"Do you really want me to call in my friends? I guarantee you don't want a bunch of members from the health department swarming this place looking for asbestos poisoning or mould…something tells me they might actually find some."
The woman gave her an appraising and disgruntled look. "Make it quick, alright?"
Olivia nodded, but she had no intention of following those instructions. She would take as long as she needed. Brushing past the owner, she had a feeling that the woman didn't care about these kids at all, just the government funding. She walked down the short hallway until she found the bedroom and quietly slipped inside. Ellen's bed was at the far end, but Olivia didn't have to walk that far. The teenager was already moving down the row of beds. Her eyes were red and wide, and she was trembling. Olivia pulled her into a hug.
"Easy, Ellen. Shhh…It's going to be okay," she whispered. "Let's go into the common room."
Never removing her arm from the child's shoulder, she led her into the next room and they sat on one of the musty old couches.
"I'm here now. You're safe."
"I just…feel so alone here, and what if he comes to find me?"
"He won't. And I'm here now. Do you want to talk?"
Ellen looked up into Olivia's eyes. There was something very familiar about them – they both shared the same kind of pain. "My parents were killed in a car accident a few months ago. I…don't have anyone else to stay with. So they put me here."
"I'm so sorry, Ellen. Have you made any friends?"
"No…I basically keep to myself."
Olivia sighed. Sounded familiar. "Look, my parents are gone too. I know it's hard, but you're not alone anymore, okay?" And neither was she. She had Elliot. "Why don't we talk about something else? What have you been doing this summer?"
"Well, not a lot. I'm going to this art program at Manhattan Community High School. Its okay, I guess. My favourite subject is history in school, but I've always like to draw and paint."
Something clicked in the back of Olivia's mind. "What school did you say it was at?"
"Manhattan Community." She looked at Olivia's focused expression apprehensively. "Olivia?"
"Ellen, do you remember anything else about your attacker? Did he look familiar at all?"
She looked down at her knees, embarrassed.
"It's okay, you can tell me."
"He…I thought I'd seen him before. But I can't place him! I'm so stupid…"
"Listen to me. You are not stupid. It takes courage to report what happened to you, and even more to talk to me about it. And a stupid person couldn't be excelling in art and history. Would you excuse me for a few minutes? I need to make a call."
"Umm…okay."
"It won't take long, I promise."
Olivia got up and walked into the hallway. She pulled out the phone numbers of the other victims. She liked to carry them with her, just in case. It was getting close to 1am, but if they were anything like her, they wouldn't be sleeping either.
A groggy voice answered, "Hello?"
"Hi Audrey, it's Detective Olivia Benson. I am so sorry to disturb you at this hour. I didn't wake you did I?"
"I haven't gotten much sleep lately."
"I thought that might be the case. Anyway, I was wondering if you have ever been to the Manhattan Community High School?"
Elliot lay in his relatively new bed staring up at the ceiling. He had given up on sleeping hours ago. He had to get up to go to work soon anyway.
What had happened today? Had things between him and Olivia really changed so much that she cried on his shoulder, and shared her deepest problems with him? That's not what was really bothering him though. He'd shared a moment with his partner in the crib. He saw something in her eyes when she turned back to look at him, and he could feel the same thing in his eyes when he looked at her.
Suddenly, his cell phone vibrated loudly against his bedside table. He reached over, quickly glanced at the display screen, and then answered.
"Hey Liv. Everything okay?"
"Fine, thanks. I hope I didn't wake you."
"No, couldn't sleep."
"Seems to be a popular trend these days. Look, I have a suspect. And I'm pretty sure he's our guy."
"What? It's five o'clock in the morning. How the hell did you figure it out?"
"Ellen called me around midnight – she was scared, I went to visit her. I didn't ask her about it before, but she goes to the Manhattan Community High School."
"You didn't ask her what school she goes to? And what does it matter now? It's the middle of July."
"Yes, I did, but she was in between schools – you know, public school and high school. And I know what month it is. She's goes to Manhattan Community for a summer art program, like a camp. Anyway, I remembered seeing something about it in one of the other reports, but I couldn't place it, so I called the other 3 victims. Kate goes to school there. Audrey said her younger sister goes to that school. She went there a week before her attack, June 28, for some sort of end-of-school event with her sister. And Sarah not only walks by it every day to get home from her own school, but went to a summer community fair there a week ago."
"Woah…you sure about all this? It seems like a pretty big coincidence."
"No, it's not. They all live in the same area. I went back to the precinct and looked up the school. It hosts a lot of community events. They keep it open during the summer for summer school and other programs. And it's right down the street from the area of our attacks."
"That's good work, Liv. But how did you narrow down a suspect?"
"Well, all the girls said they thought they'd seen the perp before. But, he can't be a teacher or one of the program coordinators because one of them would have recognized him. I ruled out parents or grandparents of other children. It just doesn't seem plausible that one guy saw all four girls if he just goes to the school once in a while. So, I looked up the janitors on staff there. During the school year, there are five. During the summer, there are two."
"Great. So we bring them both in and sweat them."
"I don't think that will be necessary."
"Why not?"
"One of them is a 45 year old African American female by the name of…Michele Okonkwo."
"Let me guess: the other is a 50 to 60 year old white guy?"
"Yes, by the name of Philip Starling. I've called Alex – the warrant is on its way. Will you pick me up at the House and come with me to the school?"
"What…now? He won't even be there."
"Okonkwo works nights. She's off in an hour, and then our guy comes in. I thought we could get there and strategize a bit."
"Are you sure, Liv? Look, I'm sure Munch, Fin and I can handle this."
"I need to be the one to collar this guy."
"I understand that. But…you're tired; this will be your first arrest since you came back…"
"I can handle it. Thanks, El, I know you're trying to help. But you also I know I wouldn't jeopardize this case for personal reasons."
He sighed. "You're right, I do. I'll call Munch and Fin, let them know."
"Thanks, see you soon."
Half and hour later, Olivia and Elliot drove in, and then watched as Munch and Fin arrived a few minutes later. They went to the front parking lot of the school – she'd already figured out that the janitors parked at the back. She didn't want to give Starling a heads up. Elliot and Olivia hadn't talked much in the car – she'd been lost in thought, but not deep enough that she didn't notice the side-glances Elliot kept shooting at her. She appreciated how much he cared about her well-being, but she had said she was fine…several times.
"Hey guys, "she said as they got out of their cars. "You don't mind if I take point on this, do you?"
"By all means, take it," said Munch. "You basically figured this case out on your own."
"Well, we still have to make sure his finger prints and DNA match once we catch him."
They huddled around a map of school. "So, how are we going to do this? I've talked Michele, the other janitor, so she can help us..."
Philip unlocked the door to the school, and then locked it behind him. It had been a week since the last time a girl had serviced him, and he was starting to feel anxious. Time to pick out another…He couldn't help but feel so angry all the time at everyone. They were all so dismissive of his existence and he hated them. Most of the time people just passed him by without noticing his presence; others glanced at him and then averted their eyes. He was desperate…and he couldn't control himself. At least…that's what he kept telling himself. He went for the sad ones, the vulnerable ones. They stood out in the crowd because they had something in common with him. And yet they were also like all the others, and he hated them for it. He changed into his work clothes, and pulled the janitorial cart out of the supply closet.
"Hi there, Mr. Starling."
He whipped around to face a rather beautiful woman and an older, gangly man.
"Who are you and what are you doing here? The school's closed."
Olivia and Munch held up their badges. "Not to us it isn't. We have a warrant." She watched as Elliot and Fin turned the corner at the other end of the hallway, cautiously making their way down towards them. Starling was cornered.
He followed her gaze, and then wildly turned his head back and forth, unsure of who to look at as they continued to approach him.
"Look, I didn't do anything wrong."
Elliot eyed the mop Starling was brandishing through the air. He didn't want that hurting anyone.
"We know that, Philip. Just come with us, and no one has to get hurt here."
"Hurt? What are you going to do to me?"
He raised his broom higher, and gripped it one would handle a spear or a lance. It wasn't that harmful, but it could be. Elliot reached for his gun, but Olivia gently shook her head.
"Philip, let's not to anything foolish."
He didn't answer, but continued looking back and forth. Elliot's hand instinctively went to his gun again, ready for whatever happened. It all happened so quickly though. Philip seemed to decide which pair of detectives he would rather take on. Elliot's heart stopped as the perp charged his partner. He watched as Olivia shoved Munch away from her and he hit the wall. Philip was on her, and then suddenly, she was beside him, and then on top of him. Elliot blinked, as if coming out of a trance. He looked over at Fin – he had the same stunned look on his face.
"Philip Starling, you are under arrest for the attempted assault of a police officer and you should not have underestimated me. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in the court of law. You have a right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be appointed to you." She dragged him up off the ground, already cuffed. He just growled at her. "I'll take that as a yes. Munch, can you take him?"
"Sure thing. Come on, scum bag."
"Liv, what the hell was that?"
"I figured we'd nail him for the oral rape charges when the DNA and fingerprints match."
"That's not what I'm talking about."
She smiled. "I didn't want Munch to get hurt. I predicted Philip's movements, sidestepped him, and tripped him up."
"That was some fancy footwork, Liv," marvelled Fin.
She yawned. Covering her mouth, she tried to suppress it.
"And it appears it's all catching up with her. Meet you back at the House, okay Fin?"
"Yup. Ah damn, the car is going to smell extra bad now."
Olivia and Elliot arrived back at the House a few minutes after Munch and Fin. Philip was already in the cage.
She sat down at her desk, exhausted.
"Nice tackle, Olivia. You're making us all look bad."
"Oh, come on, John! You all helped."
"Perhaps," added Fin, "but you basically closed this case single-handedly."
"But - "
"I wouldn't bother arguing."
Olivia sighed. Maybe she was being too modest. She looked up, and noticed Elliot smiling at her from across their desks.
"What? And don't say 'nothing.' "
He smiled even more, enough that it made her want to melt.
"Elliot, Olivia. Can I see you in my office?" Don called from across the room.
Elliot's smile faded, and his eyes darted furtively around. "We didn't do anything wrong, did we?"
"I don't think so…"
"Now, please!" Don's voice sounded stern, but not angry.
They stood in sync, and walked together past the other desk and into the Captain's office. He closed the door behind them.
"You did some good work last night, Olivia."
"Thank you, Captain."
Don sighed as he sat down in his chair. "Remember about 3 years ago when I had you both evaluated to deem whether or not it was appropriate for you two to be working together?"
The glanced at each other, alarmed. No one had talked about it since it had happened. It seemed so long ago. Olivia yawned – she was so tired. She silently prayed they wouldn't have to go through this again…she feared the results would be different.
"Well?"
"Yes, I remember." Elliot just nodded.
"I don't know what happened last night between you two. I know you're good friends. But…while it is part of my job to look out for the interests of my detectives, I also have to make sure they are competent to get the job done. Don't make me have to call in the docs again. And I'll have you know, that I chose to keep you here because you're my two best detectives, not because the results of your interviews reflected well upon your professional relationship…or lack of one."
Olivia looked completely lost. "What are you - "
"I had a chat with your partner last night while you were…indisposed."
"Cap, I told you what happened there. Olivia was having a hard time dealing with the case. She fell asleep."
"Right. The…'food poisoning'. Just don't let it happen again. You can go."
Olivia was staring at the captain in disbelief. Elliot shook his head. How could this be happening all over again, especially now when it might be more justified?
Olivia turned to leave. She opened the door, and stumbled. Elliot caught her elbow, but still heard a solid thud when he knee hit the floor. He pulled her upright. She closed her eyes and sighed.
"You alright?"
"Yeah…just lost my footing."
Elliot turned back, and saw the captain was giving him an evaluating look…he ignored it. They walked back towards their desks – Elliot didn't let go of his partner's arm.
"I'm taking you home. Now."
"Elliot, its morning. I have to stay at work."
"I will not have you stress yourself out anymore. You need rest. Besides, you're no good to us half alive."
"Oh, thanks. I can't just leave."
"Yes, you can. I'll cover for you."
"I'm sure that will help our case with the boss."
"I don't care. Your well-being is more important."
She stopped walking and looked at him. He was still holding her arm and she didn't try to free herself from his grasp.
"Don't move." He let go and fumbled around in her desk, grabbing her wallet and her keys. She wobbled slightly, but before anything happened, he had a hold of her arm again, supporting her.
"Thank you," she managed to get out. As soon as Olivia was seated in the car, she was asleep. Elliot half-carried her up into her apartment, waited while she changed into his old shirt, and made sure she was settled in bed.
"See you tomorrow," he said quietly, but she was already fast asleep…and she was smiling. He couldn't help but notice how beautiful she was.
