The slam of the door made Alex jump. Cragen looked at her sideways, but the other men in the room were so absorbed in the activity on the other side of the one-way mirror that they didn't notice. The tension was palpable; all of them looking out for signs that an intervention would be necessary. Alex held a lot of respect for these men, especially since they looked out for Olivia so well, and she felt a little more at ease knowing they'd step in if necessary. However, that still couldn't quite extinguish the fear that had set her on edge.

The ADA watched, hardly even daring to blink, as Olivia stood behind the empty chair with her arms folded.

"Hello, Mr Sloan."

Sloan smiled, genuinely happy – or so it seemed. It made Alex queasy, a feeling she often experienced when faced with paedophiles and serial rapists. But what set Sloan apart was how calm and collected he seemed. And the fact that he stalked and shot the woman I love. That definitely doesn't help. Alex had realised days ago that she wouldn't be allowed to prosecute Sloan, something for which she was as relieved as she was annoyed. The attorney wanted nothing more than to help put him behind bars, but she knew that her professionalism would be called into question and her relationship with Olivia would be targeted. Their new intimacy was something she'd fight to protect.

"It's good to see you, Detective Benson."

"He feels in control of the situation. He got what he wanted." Huang spoke from the back of the room.

"Yeah, and don't we know it," muttered Stabler, clearly unhappy about his partner sharing four walls with the creep.

Alex couldn't judge Olivia's expression since her back was to the mirror but she could see from the set of her shoulders that she was just as tense as the ADA felt. When she spoke, however, her voice was strong and betrayed no sign of her nerves.

"I'm not sure I can say the same for you."

"Why the cold tone, Olivia? If it's about me shooting you...I'm sorry, I really am. You just got in the way. I'd never hurt you, you mean too much to me."

His smarmy attitude, and the nature of his apology, turned Alex's stomach. Her disgust was mirrored by Stabler, whose clenched fist was resting on the ledge.

"I'm not here to talk about that. Where's the girl?" Olivia had started pacing her half of the room, hands on her hips.

"What happened to Tina?"

Olivia stopped. "The little girl who was in your apartment?"

Sloan nodded. "She was quite a screamer, probably the loudest one I've had."

Olivia's jaw clenched as she held in her anger. She drew a deep breath and once again, her tone was even when she spoke. Alex was in awe of the control she was exerting over herself, and the situation. She knew that Olivia often talked to very disturbed people, and she also knew that she wouldn't like to share a room with one, alone.

"Mr Sloan, I'm not here to talk about Tina."

"Oh, but I'd like to."

"He's getting cocky," Munch said, as Sloan stretched his arms and locked his fingers behind his head.

"He wants to relive the glory of his crimes with Olivia. He's showing off," Huang said, casting a wary eye on Stabler, who looked like he was ready to punch a hole through the glass.

"Tell me, did you turn into a sick fuck or were you born that way?" Coming through the speakers, Olivia's voice sounded slightly tinny but nobody could miss the undercurrent of disgust running through her words. It did the trick; Sloan's arms returned to his sides and the smug grin on his face faded.

"Olivia-"

"Detective Benson," Olivia said, correcting him instantly.

Sloan stopped talking. He regarded Olivia coolly, unsure of his footing.

"You raped and murdered little girls, you piece of shit. Stop playing games and tell me where she is," Olivia was almost shouting, disregarding Sloan's change in posture and sudden silence. She leaned across the table, staring into his eyes. Still, he didn't speak; his lips were pressed firmly together, as if physically preventing words from escaping.

"Tell me where she is," she ground out, slamming the palm of her hand against the table top. Sloan flinched.

"That's it, isn't it? You don't like being made to look weak by a woman. You're a coward. Going after little girls like that...did that make you feel like a man?"

All of a sudden, there was a flurry of activity. Alex wouldn't be able to remember what happened first: Huang's cry of alarm, Elliot running for the door, or Sloan headbutting Olivia. The attorney watched in horror as the detective fell to the floor, unconscious; Sloan jumped up from his chair and onto the table, landing on her and kicking her wherever he could. He got a few blows in before Stabler barreled through the door, tackling Sloan to the ground and purposely smacking his head off the floor.

Realising she was rooted to the spot, Alex blinked rapidly, then ran through to Olivia. Huang was checking her pulse and Cragen had called for an ambulance; they gave her some space to hold Olivia's hand, and she watched, from the floor, as the three other detectives dragged Sloan into a holding cell. Stabler shot Cragen a look as he passed, but wisely decided against saying anything.

Alex returned her attention to Olivia, who was lying on her side, one arm carelessly flung out beneath her; Alex knew her stitches had probably ripped but was more concerned about the cut on her head, which was bleeding profusely.

"Head wounds always look worse than they are," Huang said, trying to reassure her. Alex nodded, dumbly, as she ran a shaking hand through Olivia's hair.

"Liv....Liv, wake up sweetie."

The prone woman didn't move.

"Liv, come on now. Please, open your eyes." Alex tried to keep her tone quiet but she was worried by the lack of response.

Elliot re-entered the room to check on his partner.

"Is she okay?"

Nobody spoke. Then, to their collective relief, Olivia's eyes fluttered open and she groaned. Alex gently pushed her down as she attempted to sit up, confused about what was going on.

"Wha.."

"Hey, hey – easy there Detective," Alex smiled, eyes brimming with tears as she resumed her touch through Olivia's hair. "Lie still for a minute, you just got the shit kicked out of you."

"That'd explain a lot," Olivia said, wincing as the pain started to register. "I really pushed his buttons, didn't I?"

Huang nodded. "Given the way he was acting, I suspect he wouldn't have told you. He just wanted to relive his glory days. When he realised you weren't impressed, he flipped."

"Is that the technical term?" Olivia joked, trying to make light of the situation.

Elliot knew she was trying to cover up her disappointment for Alex's benefit.

"Don't worry, Liv. If she's out there, we'll find her." Stabler could hear Cragen giving Munch and Fin orders in the squadroom. "Talking of which..." he trailed off, unsure of what to say.

"It's okay, El. You should get started...we need to find her."

"We?" Alex quickly joined the conversation.

"Alex, I can't sit back and watch." She held Alex's eyes, refusing to back down. She moved to sit up again, but this time she was determined and managed to get her way. Briefly closing her eyes against the dizziness, she opened them to see concerned blue ones gazing back at her.

"Please, Alex...I have to help." Alex was still considering her options – whether to challenge Olivia or to accept what was pretty much inevitable - when the EMTs arrived. She sighed, heavily.

"Okay, Liv. But only if you get checked out first. And as long as Cragen is alright with it. Deal?"

"I love it when you speak lawyer."

Alex leaned in. "And I love you," she whispered, aware of their audience. "I have to let you know that before I don't get the chance."

"I'll be around for a while," Olivia said, squeezing Alex's hand. She leaned on the slim blonde as Alex helped her up, and took a moment to rest her head on the ADA's shoulder, breathing in the comforting scent of her floral perfume. It helped clear her mind of Sloan and the memories of his victims; and made her temporarily forget the throbbing in her head and shoulder. Like my own private painkiller.

"I'm counting on it, Detective. After the stress you've put me through these last few days, I think you owe me dinner."