Trust Me

Chapter 9: On One Condition

A/N: Here's another chapter of this story. I hope that you enjoy this chapter and I would really appreciate your feedback. You guys are awesome! I love all of my wonderful reviewers.

Officers broke down the front door or Samantha's apartment and caught JJ in the middle of his sadistic ritual "Freeze!" one of the officers shouted as he pointed his gun at JJ. JJ dropped Samantha's already limp body and turned to face the officer with shock clear in his eyes "Hands up," the officer commanded and JJ who was to shocked to do much else, complied.

"She's got a pulse," the other officer looked up at his partner as the other man cuffed JJ.

The first officer radioed for a bus and backup "You'd better hope she lives," he muttered to JJ.

"She's not the first," JJ said simply "And she won't be the last."

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Elliot rolled over in bed to answer his phone. He tried to be careful not to wake Olivia although she already had woken up, at first fearing that it was her phone. Elliot grabbed the offending object from the nightstand "Stabler," he grumbled as soon as he flipped it open.

"Elliot," it was John "They caught him."

Elliot breathed a sigh of relief "When? How?" his mind was racing with questions. Beside him, Olivia shifted in an effort to hear the other side of the conversation; she could tell that something was up.

"Little boy called 911 earlier this evening," John began "He said a bad man was hurting his mom. The officers that responded to the scene caught him in the act."

Elliot breathed yet another sigh of relief and thanked God that JJ had managed to mess up. He looked beside him at Olivia who was straining to hear. He could tell by the look on her face that she had indeed heard what John had said. He leaned in and brushed a kiss across her lips as he brought his other arm around her waist.

"They took the woman to St. Elizabeth's hospital," John continued "The kid and his sister and brother are with their grandmother in Queens."

"Sounds like a happy ending," Elliot concluded, knowing that that little boy was a hero and hadn't just saved his mother's life.

"Not quite," John said, his voice dropping in volume slightly as if he knew that Olivia would be trying to eves drop on the conversation "He wants to make a full confession," John took a deep breath "The only thing is that… he'll only confess to… Olivia."

Olivia slid away from Elliot and got out of the bed. She had heard what John had said and she didn't think she wanted to hear anymore of either side of this conversation. She walked to the door of the room and looked back at Elliot. She knew that he would object to this and she was thankful for that. Truthfully the idea of facing JJ scared her senseless. But she needed to get justice for those women he hurt. She left the room and went downstairs to think long and hard about all of this.

"We don't need a full confession," Elliot objected, instantly missing the feeling of Olivia's warm body pressed against his.

"I'm with you Elliot," John said "I don't want to let that bastard within a thousand miles of her either but there are still other victims out there."

Elliot nodded "I'll ask her," he said quietly, knowing that she would most likely say yes, no matter how she felt about it and he fully intended to try and talk her out of it "I'll call you back," he told John.

"Okay," John said "Good luck."

"Thanks," Elliot murmured as he hung up and got out of the bed. He moved into the hall and to the top of the stairs. He could see the faint light from the TV in the living room drifting up to meet him. He walked into the living room and saw Olivia sitting on the couch in front of the TV with her head in her hands. He sat down beside her and wrapped an arm around her "They caught him," he whispered "It's over."

"I know," she turned to face him "But it isn't over. Not for all of those other women that could possibly be out there."

"You don't have to do this you know," Elliot told her.

"Yes I do," she told him as the tears gathered in her eyes "Who knows how many other women are out there and those women deserve justice. If it means I have to spend ten minutes in a room with that man then," she took his hand in hers "I'm willing to do that."

"We'll get him to tell us some other way," Elliot said. He was ready to beg to keep her away from this guy.

"How are you going to do that Elliot?" she asked, her voice rising as she stood up "Casey gives him a deal and then in five years he's out on parole and out there attacking some other woman who doesn't even know what's happening until it's too late to stop him!" she was crying unchecked now "I can't let him get away. Not again."

Elliot wrapped his arms around her and held her close "We'll find a way Liv," he promised as he ran a hand through her hair "There has to be another way."

"I went there to kill him," she whispered, burying her face in his chest.

"I know," Elliot whispered back. He had known from the second he had seen the address on her computer screen.

"I have to do this Elliot," she whispered "I have to face him. I have to make sure that he can't do this to anyone else."

"I know," Elliot admitted softly. He knew that no matter how much he begged her, he wouldn't be able to stop her. He walked with her to the front door. He cleared his throat "You still have to drive for the next day or so," he reminded her.

She smiled faintly up at him "I remember," she told him as they walked out to the car.

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"He's just been sitting in there," John murmured as Olivia and Elliot entered the observation area where Munch, Fin, Cragen and Casey stood "Hasn't even asked for a lawyer. He's just sitting there, waiting."

"He knows that I'm coming. He knows he's left me with no choice," Olivia's voice was strangely calm.

Everyone turned to face her. Casey was the first to speak "You didn't have to come."

"Yes I did," Olivia told her as she approached the door of the interrogation room.

Just as her hand reached for the knob Elliot touched her shoulder. She turned to face him and he leaned close "Please let me go in with you?"

"Elliot," she sighed; she would love nothing more to have him by her side when she did this but… "I have to do this on my own," she told him.

Elliot conceded reluctantly "If you need me," he began "I'll be in there in two seconds. Just say the word."

"What's the word?" she asked unable to resist as a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"Transubstantiation?" he suggested.

"Catholic school rearing its ugly head?" she asked with a now visible grin on her lips.

"Guess so," Elliot shrugged. He looked around him nervously and was glad to see that no one was watching them. He leaned in and gave Olivia a quick kiss "I love you," he whispered "Please be careful."

Olivia nodded and turned back to the door of the interrogation room. She took a deep breath and tried to prepare herself. She opened the door and stepped inside.

JJ looked in her direction and smiled "Hi," he said gently "I knew you would show up. It's good to see you again."

Olivia took a deep breath again, willing her heart to dislodge itself from her throat and return to its proper place in her chest. After a few seconds, it finally obeyed. She took a seat across from JJ "You wanted to talk to me?" she began in a tone that hid her fear well.

JJ leaned forward "Yeah," he smiled.

Olivia had been informed of the facts of the case by Munch over the phone and as she stared JJ down, she could still see a rim of what she assumed to be Samantha Wells' blood around his mouth. It made her sick to her stomach "Get to the point," she hissed, discomfort only showing slightly through her façade.

"Aren't you glad to see me?" JJ asked, feigning disappointment "I've been thinking about you all day."

Olivia tried not to gulp. For a moment she thought about just shouting 'Transubstantiation' for no reason just so Elliot would be standing next to her. Having Elliot beside her was warm and comfortable. Being in this interrogation room with JJ was like freezing to death slowly. She leaned forward in her seat "Start talking tough guy."

A/N: It's gonna get even more intense next chapter I promise you. I hope everyone had a happy holiday. Please review and I'll try to update soon. Thanks all of you beautiful readers and reviewers, I love ya'll.