Olivia sat at the bar as she awaited the return of Amanda. She noticed that some billiards tables had finally opened up so they could play a couple of games. Olivia smiled to herself, as she thought about the inevitable trash talk that would soon spew from Rollins' mouth. Their evening had certainly taken a turn since their earlier misunderstanding. Liv was pleased that they didn't let it ruin their night because she was thoroughly enjoying herself. Olivia couldn't deny that she liked being the reason why Amanda smiled, even if it was at her expense sometimes. After closing their tab at the bar, she made her way across the room to a newly opened table. Once settled, Olivia went to let Amanda know where they would be sitting because Banx was in the midst of their busiest time and it was crowded.

When Olivia turned the corner headed towards the restrooms, she noticed an extremely long line. It wasn't strange that people were waiting but it was strange that they were all waiting for the men's room, women included. As she made her way to the front, she checked the lines making sure that Amanda wasn't waiting. The detective headed to the empty side of the hallway where the women's room was and pushed the door. It wasn't locked but there was something preventing the door from opening. What the hell? Where's Amanda? The men's room door swung open across from the increasingly suspicious woman. Without thinking twice about it, Olivia took off into the men's room.

"Hey! There's a fucking line here, lady!" shouted a pissed off dude. The waiting people yelled and cursed but she ignored them as she continued to search.

"Amanda! Amanda!" hollered out Olivia to no response as she checked the stalls. People looked at the brunette strangely, as she frantically searched the room. With no signs of Rollins, suddenly the location of her partner had dawned on her. Olivia's heart dropped as she thought about her partner trapped in the ladies' restroom, with God knows who. Or what danger she was in. "Shit!"

Olivia rushed out of the men's room, forcefully moving any and every thing that got in her way. Her adrenaline pumped as panic filled her gut. The thought of Amanda being in danger was the sole force driving the detective's body. If anything happened to her, Liv would never forgive herself. She had finally clawed through the last person in her way. Thinking wasn't an option as her shoe made contact with the adjacent door. The kick didn't move the obstacle completely, but the distraction was just enough to give Rollins a small advantage while Kevin was sidetracked. Amanda's left fist connected hard against the right jaw of an unsuspecting Kevin, as she slid off the sink, free from his hold. He fell back against a stall, the punch completely disorienting him.

"You stupid bitch!" barked Kevin while reeling from the blow.

The punch enraged him as Rollins scrambled to move the couch from blocking the door. Just as she reached the couch, a forceful arm yanked her back. The strength of his grab, whipped the petite woman across the room into the wall, opposite the door. Another thunderous kick connected with door and Olivia was finally in. Her eyes immediately connected with Amanda on the floor across the room. The brunette's blood boiled as her eyes left Rollins and deadlocked onto Kevin, as if possessed. His head spun around in the direction, from where he'd heard the noise. Before he could react or defend himself, Liv's right fist had landed underneath his left eye, followed by a nut crushing knee to the groin. Amanda had regrouped just in time to deliver the KO, as she plunged her ankle hidden, hand-held taser into his back. He was out cold, stretched out on the ladies' restroom floor. After Kevin was subdued, Olivia rushed over to make sure that Amanda wasn't injured.

"Amanda, are you ok? Did he hurt you?" Olivia was worried that something may have happened before she made it there in time.

"I'm fine, fine." Amanda replied quickly, slightly embarrassed that she had gotten herself into such a susceptible situation.

"Here, let me help you up." After Liv helped Rollins to her feet she pulled out her cell, about to make a call.

"Who're you calling?"

"The precinct, I'm calling this in."

"No!" Amanda snatched Liv's phone away and ended the call.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

"You can't call this in."

"Amanda—"

"If you call this in, they'll shut us down! And we both know that this dumbass isn't the perp. He's just a dumb, drunk bastard. We're not calling this in."

"The hell we're not! Amanda, he might not be our target but this asshole belongs in a cell. Now, give me back my damn phone, I'm calling this is in," said Olivia. She was done with the conversation.

"No! Just hear me out for a second…" Amanda was trying to shake off the fogginess from her head colliding with the wall. "I know this looks bad, with Kevin trapping me in here and all but he's not a predator."

"What—"

"Listen! Yes he trapped me in here but with our history, he might have thought that this would be ok. He didn't get violent until after I slugged him. So, technically…"

"No, Amanda. No 'technically' ok. Regardless of your history, he had no right to trap you in a public restroom. Who knows what would've happened in five more minutes or—"

"But nothing happened! I know you're pissed and think that Kevin is scum but we have to treat this like any other case. UC's witness all sorts of crimes being committed but only intervene when it's life or death. I'm nowhere near death and he's subdued. After all of the alcohol, punches and electric shocks, he won't even remember tonight. We have a job to complete. If we call this in, our cover will be blown, leaving a serial rapist still out on the streets. I need this case to be a success, Olivia."

Olivia listened to Amanda plead her case. As much as she didn't like it, the other detective was right. While undercover, it was almost guaranteed that there would be crimes committed that would have to be ignored. The difference was that, the crime was committed against Amanda. Olivia didn't want Kevin to get away with what he'd done. Anger and rage still coursed through Liv's body as she thought about what could have happened. The senior detective understood Rollins' point of view but still had reservations.

"I hear you, I do. But what if he attacks someone else after we let him go?"

Amanda had to think about that very real possibility. Kevin didn't seem like the type but after years on the job, she knew that there wasn't a typical 'type'. If he attacked someone else, she and Olivia's badge would be on the line. Not to mention an innocent woman could become a victim. Rollins tried to think of a way to keep their cover while making sure that Kevin got what he deserved.

"Ok…I got it. We get security and tell them that a drunk guy is passed out in the ladies' room. They'll throw him out on his ass and call the cops for public intoxication. The unies will pick him up, then we'll give Nick a heads up on the situation and he'll take care of the rest."

Olivia still wasn't convinced, "I-I don't know about this. I don't like it."

"Well, I'm sorry but you don't have to. We're doing this. I'm not blowing my cover for this idiot. I'm not hurt and my plan will work. So I need you to get on board and just have my damn back!" Amanda was done explaining herself. This case could make or break her career and she wasn't going to jeopardize it.

"Fine! I've got your back but I hope you know what you're doing. I'll go and find a security guard."

Amanda nodded as Olivia exited the restroom. Her hands were a little shaky from all of the adrenaline. The twists and turns that the night had taken, had the young detective rattled. Her guard was only down for a second when Kevin took her by surprise. Amanda doubted herself and was beginning to rethink not letting Olivia call it in. If some drunken hot mess of a man could trap her, the thought of the real mastermind perp getting the best of her was all she could think about. Now was not the time to start doubting her abilities when she had just convinced Olivia to get on board. A silent pep talk got her straight. Amanda adjusted her clothes as she looked down at Kevin, still completely out of it. Idiot. Olivia came back with the security guard as he took care of the mess.

"Damn ladies, you seem to have this under control. Couldn't have done it any better myself. I'll take it from here, thanks. The cops should be here soon to pick him up," said the bulky security guard.

"Thank you," replied Olivia as the guard carried Kevin out of the ladies' room. She then returned her attention to Amanda who was looking at herself in the mirror. "Hey, you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah, I am. Just a little pissed at how this night has gone. Good to bad, to awesome to the absolute worst."

Liv heard the disappointment in Amanda's voice. "It wasn't the absolute worst; we did get to kick some ass." That put a small smile on Rollins' face and that was what Olivia hoped it would do.

"Yeah…"

"Come on, let's go home." Amanda simply nodded as she followed Olivia out of the restroom and bar.

Olivia didn't know what else to do. She felt the energy drastically change between them. It was light and breezy earlier and now Amanda barely looked her way. Olivia wanted to talk more about what happened but she knew that would just make the other woman shut down even more. Their time together had taught Liv a thing or two, about when to back off and let Amanda come to her whenever she was ready. It was hard for the brunette to just suppress her questions and concerns but she didn't want to pry. After the uncomfortably silent cab ride, they were back at their condo.

Amanda finally broke the silence as Olivia locked the doors. "I need to say something."

"Ok…" Olivia didn't know what to expect.

"And I need for you to not say anything, react or do that thing that you do. That Olivia Benson thing, don't do it. I just need to get this off my chest." Now Olivia was seriously worried. Amanda paced back and forth their spacious living room. "I also need you to sit down."

"Amanda—"

"Please. Just sit and don't speak, I need to say this. Ok…alright, ok so tonight was crazy," began the pacing and seemingly anxious woman. "First thing first, I feel like I need to say that Kevin had a reason to try what he did. Our relationship or…whatever you want to call it, was always just one thing. We had an understanding and I think that he may have thought, although I told him that I was involved, that it would be ok if we still hooked up. Kevin following me into the restroom was our thing sometimes."

Olivia sighed heavily and audibly but she didn't say anything. Internally she was screaming at Amanda, at how that doesn't give him the right to assume anything. How it doesn't give him the right to lock her in a restroom against her will. Olivia couldn't figure out how Rollins cared so deeply for the victims but didn't give herself the same level of care. It saddened Liv; to think about the inner turmoil and pain that Amanda must be suffering. Despite how badly the detective wanted to interject, she respected the other woman's wishes and just listened.

"Enough about Kevin, he's an idiot. What I really wanted to say is…" Rollins paused trying to gather the strength to say the next thing. Although Olivia was her current object of affection, the legendary detective was someone that she had respected long before their assignment began. Olivia Benson's respect meant everything to Amanda. "I don't want you to think that I'm incapable of protecting myself…or more importantly you."

Amanda dared to make eye contact for the first time. A knowing look was on Olivia's face and she could see where this conversation was going. Rollins continued before she lost her nerve. "I know you busted in to 'save the day' but—"

"Amanda—"

"No. Talking."

Olivia rolled her eyes as she massaged her temple. This woman is going to be the death of me.

"I'm aware that the situation I ended up in, looked bad but I had a plan. If talking him down wouldn't work, I had my taser. I don't want you to feel that you have to save me or rescue me like I'm some fragile animal. I'm small, maybe even damaged but I'm a fighter. I need for you to know that I can hold my own. You're smarter, more experienced, qualified, and a lot of other things. I may be completely fucked up, but this job is probably the only thing that I can do well. I need you to believe that I can take care of myself and I'm not just waiting on you to save me. I can take care of myself and have your back at the same time." Her last statement was followed by a long silence. Olivia wanted to say something but she didn't want to until Rollins was finished. "I thought that I'd known what true humiliation was but I didn't until tonight. Not only did you see one of my embarrassing vices, if you will, but you saw me as incompetent. And I can't deal with you viewing me in that light." Amanda had finally stopped pacing and sat down on one of the bar stools across from where Olivia was sitting.

"Ok! I've sat. I've listened. And I've waited patiently but now it's my turn." Liv was ready for her turn to talk. "You have to stop being so hard on yourself. And please stop assuming that I'm some monster that thinks the worst of you. Anyone can get caught up in a bad situation, including me."

"Yeah right, like—"

"No. Talking. It's my turn now." Olivia got up from her seat and took a page from Amanda's book and began to pace. "Years ago, I was undercover at a prison, Sealview. A young girl alleged that a corrections officer had raped her, along with countless other complaints. The case was a mess, every time that we thought there was a break; another obstacle came in our way. The only option was for me to go undercover, to catch the perp first hand. So I went in deep as a prisoner, no rights, no dignity, and no privacy, nothing. Fin was moonlighting as a prison guard but even he couldn't be with me 24/7. Long story short, Captain Lowell Harris turned out to be the one responsible for the rapes. After a TB outbreak leading to a riot, Harris cuffed me and led me down to the place where the guards would rape the inmates."

Amanda's breath caught in her throat as she feared the next part of the story. Olivia was still pacing, determined to finish her story that only Fin knew. "I was trapped, handcuffed and locked in the dungeon. I fought, I hid and after all of that I was still at his mercy. Just when the unthinkable was about to happen, Fin saved me in the nick of time." Amanda exhaled, relieved that her partner had gotten there in time. "So, I know what you're feeling. I went through all of the embarrassment and doubting my abilities, also."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah. And I'm going to give you some advice, ok?"

"Ok."

"Needing help is not a sign of weakness. I know as women we feel the need to prove ourselves, but you don't have to do that with me. We're partners, equals…I don't see you as anything less."

Amanda was relieved to hear that. Even though Olivia knew about some of her tumultuous past, being incompetent was way worse than any of that. Now that the air was clear, Rollins felt a weight lift off of her shoulders. "Thanks, for sharing that with me. I know it can't be easy."

"It's easier because it was a long time ago. It's also easier because it's you," Olivia tried to express with words the comfort that she felt with Amanda. The other detective absorbed every word.

That story definitely gave Rollins a different outlook on the situation, completely. Because of it, Amanda felt lighter. She was ready to be rid of the seriousness. Not only for her sake but Olivia's as well. So she did the only thing that she knew would make it fun again. "Now I see why you made out with Fin, he deserved it, well…minus the puke."

Olivia laughed so hard, she wasn't expecting that rebuttal at all. "Shut up!" After a laughing attack, the brunette got serious. "I hope you know that, you deserve my trust and respect too, Amanda. And so, so much more…"

I hope you enjoyed that. Kevin was too dumb to be the perp, come on lol. Reviews are appreciated. Thanks for reading.