Disclaimer: I gotta work on my translation of ancient Egyptian. I thought the Black Book said the Mummy wouldn't stop until Dick Wolf was destroyed. I guess I messed up Dick Wolf with whole of the earth. Well, at least I ditched him so he's someone else's problem now. For my next plan, I'm gonna make Dick Wolf an offer he can't refuse by enlisting Michael Corlleone to help eliminate my problem. All should go well this time…

Now onto the Meat and Potatoes

Lizzie

Reassurances

Stabler stared at his cell phone for several seconds. He didn't recognize the incoming number and he couldn't decide whether or not he should answer. He glanced at Munch and Fin, as if questioning what he would do.

Munch and Fin both shrugged so Stabler decided to answer but opted to do so as a citizen rather than a cop.

"Hello."

"Elliot Stabler, I assume I don't need to introduce myself?"

Munch and Fin both leaned closer when Stabler gestured for them to do so.

"No need," Stabler replied. He'd know Vasyl Yaburov's voice anywhere. "I've wanted to hear from you but I'm curious how you got this number."

"A little bird told me," was all Yaburov would say.

"Couldn't be Detective Benson cause she never called my phone." Stabler was positive of this but he wanted Yaburov to confirm Benson's status. Was she dead?

"No, I didn't get the number from Detective Benson."

"So she's alive?"

"Yes, Detective. I hope you didn't lose any sleep over this."

Stabler bit on his tongue to hold back a sigh of relief. However, his expression showed and both Munch and Fin's expressions softened. Benson was alive and that was one more piece of information they now had that had been missing prior to the phone call.

"I'd like to see my partner. Actually, I'd like to take her home."

"And I'd love to have her off my hands. However, I'd rather not go to jail. In fact I'm willing to kill to prevent going to jail. I hope you won't sacrifice your partner to put me in jail."

Stabler's thoughts immediately went to Benson. What would she do in this situation? She had been willing to go undercover and risk never seeing her friends or country again in order to save women from a situation that was comparable to hell. Would Benson want Stabler to hang up on Yaburov, turn him in and risk her dying? That answer was easy enough to answer. Benson was always willing to put herself in the line of fire for victims. She'd shown this on numerous occasions. That question was easy enough to answer but another one had cropped up. While Benson was willing to be the sacrificial lamb, could he, Stabler, stand by and watch her be torn apart? That question was as easy to answer as the previous one. Hell no! If there was some way to keep her neck off the block, he'd take it. He was willing to risk his own life for her. She was his best friend and he loved her as dearly as a sister. Stabler shook his head silently. Cragen and the psychologist were correct. He and Benson were too close. Stabler knew which choice he should make but he wasn't willing to do so.

Stabler glanced at Munch and Fin. Would they be willing to sacrifice Benson in favor of the victims? What about Cragen? Could he?

"I'll make that decision on my own, Yaburov. I can, however, promise you that I won't keep my mouth shut until I have Detective Benson back."

"You know that isn't part of the deal, Detective."

Stabler fought to keep his voice cold and even. He had to feign indifference in order to get what he wanted.

"It is now, Yaburov. I know, I know, you could kill Benson. You should also know that I'm a cop and I put the victims first. You can only kill Benson once and than your bargaining chip is gone. You have twenty four hours to get Benson back to me or I'm calling the United States. You'll be arrested and in a United States jail in time for breakfast."

On the other end of the phone, Yaburov fought to keep the triumph he was feeling out of his voice. He wanted Stabler to accept these terms. This would be a way to secure his assets.

"Detective Stabler, we need to speak in person. We might be able to reach a deal that will satisfy both of us."

Stabler could hardly believe his luck. Yaburov had bought his bluff and now he might have found a way to have his cake and eat it too.

"Name the place."

"Meet me at my airstrip just outside of London. It's called Commonwealth Airstrip. It's small."

"Fine, what time?"

Yaburov wanted the strip abandoned so they would be alone for this conversation. He wanted no witnesses.

"Two o'clock tomorrow morning. That should give you time to ponder the situation and come to the table with some ideas."

"Fine."

"Very good, Detective."

Stabler went to hang up when he thought of one last thing.

"Oh, and Yaburov, make sure you bring Detective Benson with you. I won't say one word to you until I see her."

Yaburov's chuckle made Stabler's temper rise. "I was planning on that."

The phone went dead and Stabler returned it to his pocket.

"Guess we have a meeting tonight."

The three men continued their trek down the street, their thoughts flowing faster than their brains had time to process.

"What do we do until two am, gents?"

Stabler wished there was something else they could do but knew there was probably nothing.

"What d'ya say we find a hotel and try to nap? I know it's extra money but something tells me we aren't gonna get much sleep tonight."

Munch and Fin didn't need any more prompting. Together, with more spring in their steps than ten minutes prior, they headed up the street toward a cheap hotel.

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Yaburov returned his cell phone to his pocket and walked down to another part of the house. He opened the door to a room and walked in. Inside, there was a figure lying on the floor, covered in blood and wracked with pain. Yaburov went over and took a seat beside the injured party and rolled him out of the fetal position so they could make eye contact.

"I hope you now understand that I don't tolerate mistakes."

Mikhail looked up, eyes blackened, nose broken and bleeding. "I'm sorry, sir." The voice was gargled and weak. "Maybe I'll be able to make it up to you some day."

Yaburov grabbed a chair and took a seat. "Actually, the only reason you're still alive is because I need you. Tonight is the night everything is going down. It's either Stabler or me but we aren't both walking off the airstrip tonight. I need you, Platon and Lazar to make sure it's me."

Mikhail groaned out a response that sounded like, "…be pleased…proud."

That was enough for Yaburov. He got to his feet and headed towards the exit.

"A doctor will be by to give you an injection of morphine so you won't be in pain. Lazar and Platon will be there to help you as well."

Mikhail nodded but laid his head on the ground. His body was filled with pain. He wanted nothing more than to prove himself to his boss but he wasn't sure he'd be able to in his current state. His nose was broken and he thought he was missing at least three teeth, maybe more. Hopefully the morphine would help him because he knew Yaburov wouldn't take his pain as an excuse.

"Mikhail, I want the three of you waiting, hidden of course, for me to arrive. Once I've made contact with Stabler, I'll give the order. Then you are to shoot Stabler, Munch and Fin. I'll waste Benson and we'll leave for France tomorrow morning around seven. I've already alerted my pilot and he's on stand by in case of an emergency."

Mikhail gave a pained nod, trying his best to keep his face composed. "I'll do my best, sir. I won't screw up again."

Yaburov opened the door, calling back his reply as he left. "Make sure you don't because you won't live to see the sunrise if you don't."

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Stabler couldn't sleep and spent most of his evening walking around the city. Munch and Fin had fallen asleep after tossing and turning for an hour but sleep wouldn't come for Stabler. He had scribbled a note to his partners before heading out. He had no idea where he was going but he knew he couldn't sit there. So many thoughts were entering his mind at once. How did Yaburov get his phone number? What had that bastard done to Benson?

Stabler found a local tavern and indulged in a beer. Still, he couldn't clear his thoughts. He only focused on Benson and thinking what he would do to Vasyl Yaburov if he had done anything to hurt her. Stabler was a police officer and he had sworn to protect and serve, yet when it came to the people he loved, he often wanted to take the law into his own hands.

Despite his want, Stabler restrained himself to only one beer. Benson's life would be in his hands tonight and he wanted to be in his right mind. Stabler had always considered himself a sane man. He was also Catholic but despite their stance on the issue, if Benson died because he was drunk and unable to think, he would consider eating his gun.

With this thought, Stabler put his beer aside and didn't touch it again. He simply sat there staring into space, thinking

"Detective Stabler?"

The female voice made Stabler jump a foot in the air. His hand had gone to his gun and Ally Gall jumped back.

"Stop, it's me!"

Stabler breathed a sigh of relief and replaced the gun, muttering an apology as he did so. They stood there in silence for several minutes before Ally gestured to a chair at the table.

"Can I join you?"

Stabler nodded and Ally took a seat, placing her beer on the table and trying to meet the detective's eyes.

"I was hoping to see you again but you just vanished. All your stuff was still in the room. What happened?"

Stabler had no idea what set him off. Maybe the beer had been stronger than he had originally thought. Maybe there was something about Ally Gall that called for him to talk. Or maybe he was simply sleep deprived, worried and lost. Whatever the reason, Stabler spent the next two hours telling Ally everything that had happened since he had left her apartment so many nights ago. When he finished, he looked up at Ally half expecting her to be gone. Instead she reached across the table and squeezed his arm gently. This reminded Stabler of Benson even more. When cases would get stressful, Benson would lay a hand on his shoulder and her touch would calm him. She didn't even know this was the case and Stabler wouldn't have admitted it to her. This was the case with Ally.

"Thanks for listening," he whispered and met her eyes with his. "I just miss Liv so God damn much." This last little bit made his voice choke. "And I was almost grateful to learn Yaburov had her because at least she's alive. All I can think of is what he might've done to her and I still don't regret him taking her with him. I know you probably think I'm a horrid person. I'm letting my own selfish thoughts get in the way. I'd wanna die if the pain was too much and I can't begrudge her the same thing without being a hypocrite."

Ally handed him a kleenex out of her purse before answering. "Elliot, you love her, don't you?"

Stabler almost laughed at this question. He had been asked this many times and he knew the rumors. He loved Olivia Benson with all of his heart. She'd had always been there for him and, Stabler hoped, always would be. However, there was nothing to the rumors.

"Of course I love Olivia but it's not what you're thinking. I love her like a sister. Hell, she's the person I'm closest with, even before my wife. She's my family in every way but blood." Stabler stared off into space for several minutes before deciding what to say next. "This'll be the end of us though."

Ally raised her eyebrows at him and cocked her head to one side. "What d'ya mean by that, Elliot?"

Stabler leaned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling. No one would understand and he wasn't asking them too. "Not long ago, Liv and I were asked to speak with a psychologist. We went and the psychologist told Cragen that Liv and I were too close and that our relationship might jeopardize our jobs. Normally that's the kiss of death for a partnership but not for Liv and me. Cragen was told that to split us up was to lose his two best detectives. He kept us together but he always seems to be watching us."

Ally felt confused by this. How did Stabler wanting to save his partner have anything to do with the situation? Benson, while she was a cop, was currently the victim as a hostage of a well known human trafficker. She was a victim and deserved the attention of a cop. Since human trafficking was sexual in its nature, it only made since that sex crimes would be involved. "Elliot, you're protecting a victim. They wouldn't give what you're doing a second glance if this were a regular hostage."

"That's the problem," Stabler wanted nothing more than for this to be correct but he knew that it wasn't the same. "Liv didn't get kidnapped while in Europe. She got involved in a case and couldn't keep herself out of it. She never can, damn her!" Stabler caught himself before his temper caught the better of him. "She didn't check in so I came over here. I'm to blame for blowing her cover."

Stabler hated the part of him that blamed Benson for this situation. Benson was always big on never blaming the victim. But what about a victim that did something as stupid as thinking she could take on a dangerous trafficker by herself? Stabler had multiple questions for Benson but he didn't think he'd be able to ask them when he saw her.

"Elliot, this isn't your fault. She's your family and she'd be an idiot to think you'd just move on without putting up one hell of a fight. I have three children and two brothers. I would travel to the ends of the earth, into the fiery pits of hell and beyond for them."

"That's the problem," Stabler's voice was rising. "I'm not supposed to be so attached to my partner. I just took off without telling anyone. I didn't even tell my wife and kids. Yes, Liv's my partner and she was missing but there were steps to follow and channels open to us that I ignored. I just couldn't sit by without knowing. This'll show Cragen that we are more of a hazard than a help as partners. Of course, all of this is assuming we walk away from tonight."

Ally got up and trekked to the bar, leaving Stabler alone with this thoughts. She returned moments later with two glasses of water.

"You sound like you could use a stiff drink but I assume you don't want a beer." Her eyes raked is half empty drink from earlier

Stabler nodded and accepted the water. "I'll have more than a stiff drink when I get home. Right now, water's as strong as it gets."

He chugged half of his glass of water. He made a slight face and sat it down. "Damn it needs ice."

Ally laughed and even Stabler couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"Is there anything I could do to help tonight?"

Stabler sat forward in his chair. His eyes locked onto hers and he was in full police officer mode.

"No, and I want your word that you'll stay as far away from Commonwealth Airstrip as is physically possible. Don't call the police or try and play the hero. John, Fin and I are trained cops. We know what we're facing and we don't need an innocent civilian to get in the way. If you're a praying person, you might think about us tonight."

Ally knew Stabler would say this but that didn't stop her from wishing he would allow her to help. However, she knew what he was saying was true. She didn't want to be the cause of diverting Stabler's attention and making him miss a key moment.

"I'll think about you tonight, Elliot. Olivia, John and Fin as well."

Stabler glanced at his watch. It was almost midnight. Zero hour was rapidly approaching. It was time for him to get back to the hotel, wake Munch and Fin and get ready to move out. When he stood, Ally did as well.

"Take care of yourself tonight, El."

"Tonight's it's gonna be Yaburov or me but wer're both not walking away. Liv's goin' home and either Yaburov or me'll be dead." When he saw the look of complete horror on her face, he let his cold demeanor subside. "But I'm gonna do everything possible to make sure it's him."

Stabler walked back to the hotel with his mind clearer than it had been in days. While fatigue was starting to catch up, he felt ready to face his enemy. Ally had given him the opportunity to bare his soul and confess what was bugging him. He hoped that luck would smile upon him and he would have the chance to see Ally Gall again. She had gone out of her way for him and he considered her a good friend. He only hoped she would keep her word and stay out of the way. Blood would be spilled tonight and Stabler only hoped it would be his or Yaburov's, preferably Yaburov's.

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Vasyl Yaburov was sitting in his office. The clock on the wall inched farther from one o'clock. He had given the order to move out around one thirty. Most of his men spent the evening sleeping. He hadn't even mentioned the events to Benson. He hoped that having her half asleep would make her more controllable. While he doubted this, it was worth a shot. Tonight's the night, Yaburov told himself. After tonight those troublesome Americans would be dead along with any charges they would bring against him.

However, they still wouldn't be in the clear yet. Some of the Americans back in the United States had proof of his guilt. Some of it would erode after the cops were dead but he still needed Casey Novak and George Huang out of the picture.

"Tomorrow, " Yaburov told himself quietly. "Everything will be taken care of tomorrow. I'll contact Kendal Evans. He'll know exactly who would be best to take out two people who aren't even police officers." Yaburov turned his focus back to the task at hand. He was facing three outstanding cops and he needed to have his wits about him.

The clock began to chime the half hour. The clock had barely finished its song when there was a knock on the door.

"Enter."

Lazar entered the room, gun in hand.

"We're ready to head out. We've got the jeep ready and on stand by for your orders.

This was it, Yaburov thought to himself. The next few hours would change everything.

"Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies."

Aristotle

Author's notes: I just got word that I was elected to my college senate so I decided to share the joy with you all and give you another chapter. Didn't really get a chance to proof this chapter so I hope it wasn't full of mistakes. See you tomorrow and thanks to onetreefan for the birthday shout:)