When the Walls Come Tumbling Down Chapter 10
I don't own SVU or the SVU characters.
Elliot had made his way to Olivia's apartment where all seemed to be as they had left it earlier that morning. Two officers remained out front although there was nobody on her door. He didn't expect there would be with her not being home. He radioed in his location to Munch and Fin and headed for the convenient store that was named in the tip. The clerk was expecting him, shoving an envelope his way, but otherwise ignoring him in favor of his customers. Elliot quickly opened the neatly folded letter inside and read the contents quickly.
If I can get to her in a police station full of cops, imagine what else I can do. Thanks for playing, Detective. Game over.
Elliot pushed his way in front of the customers demanding the clerk talk to him. He was rewarded with no more than impatient answers, all which told him nothing. He motioned Munch and Fin to head to the house while he ran to his car as well. This guy was determined and elusive, there was no way he would be brave enough to come after Olivia at the precinct. Elliot pushed the thought from his mind as he subconsciously hit the sirens.
Olivia felt her captain next to her as she slammed into the young officer as he made a break for the door. Cragen had him cuffed within seconds and face first on the floor. "Who sent this?"
"Hector Johnston."
Olivia had quickly taken a defensive position behind Cragen's desk. Her hand tightened on her weapon when she heard Hector's name. She could see the officers and detectives milling around in the darkened squad room and thought about how easy it would be for Frank to maneuver through the precinct until he found her. Her eyes had adjusted to the darkness as Cragen's office had no outside windows. She caught her boss' expression as he made his way over to his desk looking for his radio.
"Stay here. Let him come to you." Cragen instructed his detective, knowing that things were about to get way worse. He had been on the force for many years, but never had he been in such a situation.
The uneasy quiet was quickly replaced with a deafening explosion. Olivia grabbed her head in an attempt to protect herself as she felt pieces of the building raining down on her. Her ears were ringing and she couldn't see too far in front of her as the smoke was filling her senses. It seemed to take forever for the building to stop collapsing around her. She was trapped between the heavy office furniture and what she figured was pieces of wall and ceiling. As the smoke began to clear, she was able to focus. She cried out when she found Cragen only a few feet from her.
Olivia pushed the wreckage off her and scrambled to Cragen's side. She slid her fingers to his neck, relieved to feel a pulse. He was conscious, but had a severe gash on his forehead. She grabbed for the radio that Cragen had grasped in his hand.
"10-13! 10-13! I need help. There's been an explosion at the one-six. I repeat officer down.!" Olivia holstered her gun so she could clear the wreckage away from Cragen. She loved him and hated that he was hurt because of Johnston's vendetta against her. Tears filled her eyes as she tried to talk to him.
Elliot had just made it to the precinct when he heard Olivia's voice on the radio. His heart stopped as his body froze. He tried to contact her through the radio, but there was no response. He hurried into the precinct and was quickly amongst the scrambling officers. He made it to the squad room just as another explosion ripped through Cragen's office causing the ceiling to come crashing down. Elliot joined the others as he immediately took cover scanning the room for his partner. His attention was focused on the source of the explosion and he knew instantly that she was in there.
Olivia threw herself onto her unconscious captain trying to protect him as the ceiling slammed into her back. The pain that followed was almost unbearable as she struggled to breathe through it. She had to get them out of this office, she knew that much.
"Olivia!" Elliot pushed his way into the decimated office praying he was wrong and they had made it out already.
Olivia opened her eyes at the sound of his voice. She tried to move, but the weight was too much for her alone. "El, Elliot!" she hoped like hell he could hear her.
Her breathing became easier as the pressure on her chest decreased. He had heard her and was frantically pulling the heavy building material off. She felt his hands on her as she turned to meet his eyes. "Cap needs help, El."
Elliot checked his pulse, calling for help on his own radio. "Can you walk?" Elliot got to his feet scanning the squad room.
"El, we can't leave him." Olivia was kneeling over Cragen despite Elliot urging her to come with him.
"I know, Liv. You've got to get out of here." He pulled her to her feet and they quickly headed for the entrance of the squad room. Elliot grabbed a hold of his partner as yet another explosion rocked the entire squad room sending debris crashing down on all present. Elliot's full weight landed on Olivia as he heard her cry out.
"Okay, El. We've got to keep moving." Olivia patted his shoulder frantically to let him know she was okay. She grew panicked when he didn't respond. "El? Elliot!"
Olivia pushed him off of her enough so she could see that he was unconscious as well. She searched his body looking for injury. He had blood covering much of his face due to a severe cut on his head. Olivia looked around for somebody, anybody to help her. She saw other wounded detectives struggling under the debris. The smoke and dust filled the squad room to where she could barely make out where she was.
"Elliot, please hang on. Please, Elliot." Olivia pulled his head to her chest so that she was cradling him while she contemplated her next move. She fought the panic and the tears as she held her partner. This wasn't happening. She had to fight a ghost who was intent on destroying everything and everyone until he got to her. She wasn't sure if it were better to stay put until help arrived or keep moving. She stroked Elliot's face with her fingertips as she tried to calm herself. It was only then that she realized her arms were bleeding pretty badly.
She saw movement through the dust and smoke and strained to see who was approaching. She reached down pulling her gun. Her hand was shaking as she prepared to shoot.
She heard herself scream as yet another explosion lit up what was left of the squad room. The brief light illuminated the figure and she was sure it was Frank. She was sure anybody left on this floor was injured or dead as most of the their floor was destroyed. Olivia covered Elliot's body with her own until the motion stopped. Smoke filled her lungs and dust burned her eyes. Then she heard it. In her ringing ears, she heard the distinct sound that was a gun being cocked by her head.
"Hello, Detective Benson. Finally we meet." William Frank had the barrel of his gun touching Olivia's face.
Olivia took a few deep breaths trying to calm her already severed nerves. She grasped her gun tighter but knew he had the upper hand.
"Put the gun down, sweet heart." Ford ordered pushing the gun harder against her face.
Olivia did as she was told, moving her hands to cover her injured partner's face. "Okay, okay. What do you want me to do? Please let help in here for my partner and the other detectives."
Frank laughed as he looked around the precinct. "Looks like it's too late to help them. Not that I care. I need you to give up your weapons."
Olivia carefully reached behind her, pulling out the gun she seized from the officer earlier in Cragen's office. The more she moved the harder Frank pushed the barrel of his gun into her face. He kicked both weapons well out of her reach.
"I know you have another one." Frank stared at her as she reached for her hidden piece on her lower leg. He let the gun slowly slide down her face to her neck. "That was Hector's mistake. I don't make mistakes."
Olivia held her breath as Frank traced her lips with his finger. As much as she wanted Elliot here with her, she prayed he wouldn't regain consciousness. "Please. There's got to be a way to end this without anybody else getting hurt. Don't do this." Olivia knew her begging was useless, but she had nothing to lose at this point.
"Shh." Frank hushed her stopping his finger on her lips. "Kiss me, Detective."
"Don't do this…" Olivia's breath caught in her throat as Frank moved his gun from her neck to Elliot's forehead. She did as she was told hating the fact that Frank forced his tongue into her mouth. She didn't have time to panic as he jerked her up to her feet in one swift movement.
"We've got to get out of here." Frank placed the gun into her side and Olivia felt the pressure against her ribs. She glanced back at Elliot who still hadn't regained consciousness. She caught a glimpse of his gun still on his side. She could only hope that Frank had indeed made a mistake.
Frank pulled Olivia through what was left of the squad room. She struggled with his pace given the soreness that she felt throughout her body. Her heart broke when Frank forced her to step over an unconscious Fin as they made their way to the stairs. Olivia noticed how he seemed familiar with the layout of the building, what was left of their precinct. He shoved her into the stairwell and then dragged her down a few flights before allowing her to rest. He pushed her into a sitting position and took a seat himself directly across from her.
"I'm sure you know this place is surrounded by now. You've killed who knows how many police officers. They're going to find you and they will kill you." Olivia figured she had nothing to lose by testing the waters.
Frank just stared at her. "Shut up."
"Why are you letting Hector Johnston control you like this?"
"You may be beautiful, but you're not the brightest star are you? I said shut up!" Frank got to his feet, peering over the railing ready to move on.
Olivia closed her eyes as she rested her head against the wall. She was worried about Cragen and Fin. Her stomach turned when she thought about how many more were injured or even dead. Elliot was hurt and she had to leave him unconscious in the wreckage.
"Hector has money, you know. Money and connections." Olivia wasn't sure if she should be concerned that Frank's demeanor was calm, controlled. "He wants something done, he pays for it."
"What is it he wants?" Olivia knew what he wanted.
"He wants you to pay for what you did to him. He wants you to feel what it's like to be stuck in a chair." Frank laughed as Olivia's eyes widened.
"Why hurt so many people then. Why not come after me alone?" Olivia knew her only chance now was to keep him talking.
"Hector knows what he's doing. He paid me big to do what I did."
"He wanted you to kill Maria? Or was that just an accident that she died?" Olivia watched as Frank grew agitated.
"You ask too many questions." Frank crouched down in front of Olivia. "Hector did tell me it would be worth it in many ways." Frank's eyes dropped to Olivia's chest as his hand reached out to cup her breast.
Olivia grabbed his hand, but loosened her grasp when Frank shoved the gun in her face. She dropped her hands as he moved in closer running his lips along her jaw line. "Maria's new momma, now she was hot. But you, detective, are sexy as hell." Olivia felt his hands on her chest and she tried to block out what he was doing.
"Please, don't." Olivia was struggling with her composure as his hand traveled under her shirt.
Frank moved his lips to her ear. "Ready?"
Olivia closed her eyes as she felt his hand encircle her throat. She jumped when yet another explosion rang out on the floors above them. "Boom!" Frank called out as he yanked Olivia to her feet and headed down the remaining stairs. They were on the bottom level now and although Olivia had never taken the stairs down to the tombs, she knew they were about to enter the most secure part of the precinct.
Frank pulled open the doors, firing instantly. Two officers down, not moving. Olivia hung her head as the mayhem continued. Frank pulled her with him past the mostly empty cells. Another officer appeared, gun drawn. Frank pulled Olivia in front of him, shoving the gun against her temple. Frank ordered the officer to lower his gun. The officer did as he was ordered, but Frank pulled his gun from Olivia's head and shot the officer anyway.
"NO!" Olivia screamed out. "Why? Why are you doing this!"
Frank ignored her and continued on until they stood face to face with Manny Johnston. Frank could feel Olivia shaking as he held her against him. "Where's the key?"
"There are no keys for these cells." Olivia breathed out.
Frank shoved her face first into the bars of Manny's cell. "Open it, now!"
"I can't. It's all electronic." Olivia realized Frank had made yet another mistake. Manny was pissed and cursed Frank. Olivia breathed a sigh of relief knowing she at least wouldn't have to deal with Hector's brother as well.
"Well, we'll just have to wait." Frank looked at his watch. "Six minutes and counting."
Olivia raised her eyes to meet Frank's. "I don't want to know." Olivia was defeated and just wanted all this to end.
"The next bomb will go off in less than five and half minutes now. Down here. Surely these cells won't be able to withstand that." Frank laughed at the expression on Olivia's face as she glanced toward Manny.
Without warning, Frank struck Olivia across the face with his gun, causing her fall to her knees in pain.
Olivia's head was ringing but she heard Manny's distinctive tone. "Do it now."
"Get up, Detective." Frank ordered Olivia to her feet. She rubbed her face where she was bleeding and looked Frank in the eye. He had his gun pointed at her face. He slowly lowered his arm so that the gun was aimed at her legs.
"Please. Please don't do this." Olivia knew what was coming and knew there was no way out.
"Hector says to tell you hello for him, Detective Benson." Frank fired, and Olivia fell. She had only ever felt such sudden acute pain one other time. Once again she was blessed with unconsciousness.