A/N: these next few chapters may be especially triggering as it deals with abuse and abduction. They would likely be considered an M rating or at least high T. proceed with caution.

Something felt different. There was a chill running through her spine and she couldn't understand why she didn't have the feeling of bliss she normally did when she woke up entangled in Elliot's arms after they had made love. The usual feeling of safety and warmth was replaced with something else...something sinister. She squeezed her eyes shut and whimpered, burying herself further into Elliot's embrace, wanting the feeling to go away. He instinctively held her tighter, likely assuming she was having a nightmare.

Her heart stopped when something cold was pressed against her cheek and she heard a chilling voice that definitely did not belong to the man holding her.

Her eyes popped open in fear and the object she now recognized as her own gun was shoved into her mouth.

"Make one sound and he's dead." She realized in horror that the source of her nightmares for the past 10 years was in the bedroom and had not only her gun but had grabbed Elliot's and aimed it at his head.

She was frozen. She was terrified. She had to find a way out of this situation without waking Elliot, who would no doubt do whatever it took to protect her at the risk of his own life.

"Get out of the bed and get some clothes on, make sure he doesn't wake up." Trembling like a leaf and trying to look anywhere but at the monster holding her own weapon to her head, she tried to wiggle her way out of Elliot's protective embrace without alerting him that they were in danger.

He stirred. His arms were wrapped around her securely, his leg entangled with hers. There was no way she could follow Lester's orders without waking Elliot. If nothing else, he would likely notice how badly she was shaking and wake up to comfort her.

The only thing more terrifying than being forced from his arms was the thought of what would happen to him if he woke up in the process.

"I'm losing patience Audine." His whisper was chilling and she tried but failed to bite back a whimper.

"Livia? what's wrong baby?" She shook her head vigorously, trying to shield Elliot from Lester's view. He hadn't opened his eyes yet but was reaching across the bed trying to pull her back into his arms. That was how connected they were. He didn't even need to be awake to know she was in trouble.

The next thing she knows she's being grabbed by the throat and hot breath on her ear. "Tell him it's nothing. Tell him to go back to sleep. Tell him you're fine or I'll put a bullet in his skull while you watch." Tears were spilling from her eyes as she tried not to sob. Elliot would see right through that. He knew her. If she was going to protect him she needed to hurry and think of a plan because there was no way Elliot Stabler would stay asleep knowing something was frightening the woman he loved. Even if it had just been a nightmare. She leaned down to whisper in his ear and a tear fell on his shoulder.

"I'm ok El. G-go back to sleep." He reached his hand to cup her cheek and she cursed herself for not wiping her tears.

Brown eyes met blue.

"Honey, what's the matter? What is it? Nightmare?" As much as she needed to get away from him to protect him, his voice was so soft and tender that she wanted to hide in his embrace as he shielded her. "Come here, sweetie. It's alright. I'm here, my love. I'm here." He's only focusing on her, and she's too terrified to speak so she knows he doesn't notice Lester yet and is comforting her the way he would after a nightmare. "Just a dream baby. Just a dream. You're safe. It's just me. Just your El." He cradles her head on his shoulder, wraps her back into his arms, and kisses her hair lightly as she shakes against him. His sweet whispers of comfort are stalled when they hear a gun cock and press against his temple.

"Very touching last words Detective Stabler." Olivia clung tighter to Elliot whose eyes widened in recognition of what was going on.

"What do you want?" He growled, positioning Olivia beneath him so he could shield her body with his.

"She tell you who I was?" He laughed menacingly

"Oh I know who you are, and you're not touching her." She focuses on the lines of his chest, the veins bulging in his neck, the tensing of his muscles as he maintained a protective stance over her, anything to keep from looking at the other man, the one who was supposed to have been dead.

"That's not up to you detective. She belongs to me and needs to learn her lesson."

"Pretty bold move holding two cops at gunpoint. You realize you'll go on death row when our squad finds you. In fact, they might not even give you that luxury. They might just shoot you upon sight." His laugh causes another whimper from Olivia, who's too scared to scream.

"They already tried that, didn't work. See I faked my death and snuck out of the hospital. They've been looking for me for 10 years. They ain't gonna find me. She's gonna be mine one way or another stabler. You can hand her over easily and go back home without a single bruise or your wimp of a 'partner' here can watch you bleed to death."

"I guess you'll have to kill me then cause I'm not letting you touch her." Elliot himself was shaking with anger and worry when he saw both guns being pointed at him, finger on the triggers.

"NO NO NO NOOOO NO PLEASE DON'T HURT HIM PLEASE ILL DO ANYTHING." Olivia was sobbing hysterically and wrapped herself around Elliot so they were both sheltering each other.

"You know maybe killing you and taking her would be too easy, too boring. I'll change methods a bit. Get up, both of you."

"Why do you need both-"

"YOU DON'T ASK QUESTIONS AUDINE! Did you forget that sweetheart?" She whimpers at his voice and clings tighter to Elliot, who speaks up, wanting to protect her from any more trauma as much as possible.

"Ok. Ok, you know what...none of us need to get hurt here ok? You're in charge. I can keep her calm ok just-" Elliot swallows hard. "Let me hold her. She'll stay quiet if she knows I'll protect her." His cop instincts kick in and he tries to negotiate, moving slowly while continuing to shield Olivia from sight.

"El."

"Shhh, it's gonna be ok baby. It's gonna be ok." He leans down to whisper in her ear, quiet enough so Lester can't hear. "I'm not gonna let him touch you. I'm gonna get us out of this ok. I promise you."

"Y'all sure are slow when it comes to followin' orders. Why don't I help Audine and you-"

"I'm not leaving her. That's not part of the deal." He picks up his t-shirt off the floor and the sweats Olivia had been wearing.

"Here honey." He slowly helps her put them on and grabs his boxers. He doesn't bother looking for anything else, Olivia's safety and comfort matter more.

"Elliot-"

"Shhh come here, sweetie." He scoops her in his arms and holds her close to his chest as he carries her bridal style. It would be romantic if a madman wasn't following them with their own guns aimed at Elliot's back. She buried her face in the crook of Elliot's neck and clung to him, wishing she could do something. Wishing she wasn't so scared. In his arms was the only place she felt safe at the moment, god forbid if something happened to him.

"Out to the car and don't make a sound."

Elliot felt like a monster himself, carrying a trembling, terrified Olivia to whatever they were about to endure.

"Ok...now put her down. She sits with me and you get in the back."

"NO!" She gripped onto Elliot so tight it was a wonder she didn't draw blood.

"Shut your girlfriend up Stabler."

"She's scared Lester, she needs me."

"Isn't that sweet? God, you're pathetic. A cop that's terrified to be away from her boyfriend. Like a little girl crying for mommy. I always knew you were weak."

Elliot wanted nothing more than to strangle the bastard with his bare hands, but he had to protect Olivia. He had to keep this monster from getting his hands on her.

"Lester listen to me, ok, I'm a cop. If she sits up there with you. As terrified as she looks right now people are gonna notice. Someone might get suspicious."

"Oh she won't be making a sound-" He makes a step towards them and Elliot jerks back, holding Olivia tighter.

"You want her out of sight? Right? Hidden? That'll be a lot easier if she's in the back with me. I can keep her calm-"

"I don't like sharing my property." Lester snarled and Elliot swallowed the bile in his throat. "But I do need her quiet. Fine, keep her in the back." He leans down to Olivia's ear, breathing on her neck as Elliot backs into the car, unable to shield her any further. "But we'll be spending time together soon." She shrieks when he kisses her temple and her grip on Elliot is so tight it's beginning to hurt but he doesn't care because it's nowhere near the pain he'd feel if something happened to her.

"Don't leave me don't leave me don't leave me don't leave me." She sobbed as Elliot loosened his grip on her to put her down so he could get in the car first and pull her into his lap.

"Why you cryin for him Audine? I'm all you need." She tried to block out his voice and focus on Elliot's, who was coaxing her into the car, back into his arms. She settled onto his lap and hid her face in his neck.

"Just ignore him, baby. I've got you. I won't let him hurt you." He whispers soothingly in her ear and kisses her temple. An action she desperately needed after Lester's threat. She needed Elliot's loving touch, his soothing voice and gentle kiss to cleanse the filth she felt at the fact that Lester was even that close to her whether he touched her or not.

"Elliot." She sobbed, his voice coming out as a plea of terror.

"Shhh, I'm gonna get us out of this. I don't know how but I'll find a way. I'll protect you no matter what Livia. No matter what."

"I'm scared." He'd be lying if he said he wasn't too, he was terrified, but he couldn't show it. He had to keep her safe.

"Just focus on me, baby. I love you. I won't let anything happen to you." She couldn't respond, just cried against him as he held her tight. The car was filled with silence for a few minutes. Then, Olivia sniffled and spoke up, still cuddled into Elliot's chest.

"W-where are you taking us?"

"You don't get it, do you? Your boyfriend does but you're still a stupid-"

"Hey! It was a simple question!" Elliot growled.

"I'm taking you where no one will hear your screams. How's that?"

"El." She whimpered and more tears poured from her eyes.

"How'd you find us you creep?" Elliot snarled and both partners jumped when the man in the front seat laughed darkly.

"Y'all don't think I have connections up here? You two have made a lot of enemies which is expected because you're cops but man Stabler, kinda sad that your own brother hates you ain't it?"

'How do you know my brothers?" The sicko laughed again.

"Remember my note, your last perp Mr. 'No hard feelings' gave me some valuable information. He had a file on you, Detective Stabler. Beautiful kids and ex-wife you have, shame you threw all that away for this trash."

"You don't get to talk about my family or my Liv that way you sick son of a-"

"Your Liv! Her name's Audine and she's mine."

"What is this 3rd grade? She's not property. She's a person. She's my world and I promised her I would do anything to keep her safe especially from scum like you!"

"Anyway I found out you had a mom and three brothers but your relationships with them is a bit..rocky."

"Shut up!"

"I called them El" He taunted using Olivia's nickname for Elliot. "First two went to voicemail but uh...Matt is it? He was all too willing to help out. Mentioned this cottage y'all used to go to in the summer and suggested I look there. Didn't even ask who I was or why I was calling. I'll have to thank him later...after I teach Audine a lesson about betrayal." He cracked his knuckles and Olivia whimpered again, shrinking into Elliot.

"Stop calling me that." Her voice was small but she tried as hard as she could to keep it from shaking.

"You don't make the orders Audine. Did you forget I'm the one with the weapons? I can end you and your precious partner's life in a split second if I wanted to."

"She thought you were dead Lester. How is that betraying you? What was she supposed to do?"

"She's the one that went and cried to the cops...you know what. I'm sick of hearing from you too. Keep your mouth shut or I'll shoot you and make your girlfriend's punishments 10 times worse than already planned."

"If you touch a single hair on her head I will kill you."

"Does your boyfriend have a death wish Audine?"

"Please don't hurt him." She sobbed.

"Will you stop crying? God, you're just as much a waste of air as you were 10 years ago. I should have just killed you off."

Elliot's about to retort but Olivia shakes her head and buries her face in his neck sobbing, too tired and too scared to fight back anymore tonight. "Just hold me El. Please just hold me. I don't want to listen to him anymore. Just hold me."

"Might as well El." Lester snickered. "Might be the last time you ever get to."

A particularly loud sob escaped Olivia's chest.

"Elliot." His name seemed to be the only thing she could say at that moment and she felt a sliver of comfort. He was here. He'd protect her. She was also terrified for that same reason because of what Lester could do to the man she loved. If she lost Elliot, she wasn't sure she'd want to go on in the world.

Elliot kissed her tears and wrapped his arms around her tightly, unsure what to say at that moment, unsure how to soothe her when he couldn't even soothe himself. All he could do was hold her and do his best to shelter her from harm as they were driven to what was possibly the end for both of them. He whispered quiet nothings in her ear, reminding her that he was there and she wasn't going through this alone. His heart broke for her. He had never seen her so scared. She cried and shook against him and the only comfort he could give her was his presence and reminders that he loved her and would protect her.

"You are my sunshine...my only sunshine…" The melody had snuck in his head, one he had often sung to his children when they'd have nightmares. He whispered the tune in her ear, hoping to soothe her just a little. "You'll never know dear how much I love you-" The car took a sharp turn on an old, isolated looking road and his blood ran cold with fear about the moments to come and only one thought on both their minds.

"Please don't take my sunshine away."

A/N: Happy early Halloween!