Disclaimer: Law & Order SVU owned by Dick Wolf.
Happy Trails
Chapter 21
The night air was warm barely decreased in temperature from the heat of the previous day. It held a stale moistness that bordered on oppressive. Olivia hated it. She also hated the darkness that surrounded her as she stood at the back entrance of the house silently counting the minutes. They had been in this position before. Standing outside a perp's door waiting for the right moment, it should have been as familiar as pulling on her favorite blue jeans. Except this time it wasn't. The last couple of days had changed her, changed them. She felt him move even before the door opened right as the number 60 registered in her brain signaling the minute was up.
Elliot stepped out into the darkness, his hand reaching to clasp hers as he counted the steps to the wall. The bright stars were his only guidance as the light swept the other side of the lawn. There was a constant roaring in his ears as the adrenaline raced through his body. He reached out feeling the wall before he reached it. His fingers roughly pushed the limbs and brush to the side. He moved Olivia in front of him urging her to step through.
Olivia felt a twinge of Alice in Wonderland as she lifted her leg through the dark hole in the wall having absolute no idea what was on the other side.
Elliot watched her ease through and tried hard not to panic as their hands broke contact and she disappeared from his view. He squeezed himself through the opening his head disappearing into the blackness just before the white light grazed the wall.
Olivia was pressed against the brick of the wall. She knew Fin and Munch were to her right as she could hear their breathing. They couldn't talk not when they were this close. She felt the air escape her lungs in one solid swoosh when she knew Elliot had cleared the hole.
When the light moved to the other side. Elliot readjusted the branches quickly covering their escape route. He reached for Olivia's hand, blinking into the darkness. He took his first step forward.
Olivia followed feeling branches scrap at her legs as they ran. She knew the more distance they put between Ben and them the better. She was thankful for a job that kept her in shape though not as good as her partner who moved faster, pulling her along through the darkness. Olivia abruptly bumped into Elliot when she felt him stop. It was on the tip of her tongue to ask when she heard the low pitched grinding noise. It sounded like a siren. Oh my god. Ben knew they were gone.
Elliot grip on Olivia's fingers tightened as they ran faster through the darkness hearing noises all around them. The wail of a siren, the sounds of the forest, and the distinct sound of canines, hunting dogs reverberated through the woods.
Olivia could hear Munch and Fin running behind them. Their breathing was heavy and loud as they trekked through the forest.
Elliot heard the dogs. There was no way they would escape them. He stopped to listen, trying to decipher their direction when he heard it. "Come on!"
Olivia, Fin, and Munch followed as Elliot ran in a new direction. Olivia felt it the minute her sandals sank into the softer ground. Wet. Water. Olivia stepped into the stream with Elliot.
Elliot waded further in as he tugged her along praying the water would shake the dogs from their trail. It was icy cold against the warmth of the night and Elliot could feel her shaking next to him. His hand dropped from hers to encircle her waist as he pulled her under the water with him, Fin and Munch catching on sank into the dark murky water. The water was tugging them down stream and the barking sound became more distant.
The current was rougher downstream. The water was colder and the trees made a canopy over it blocking out the night stars. Olivia felt things brush against her under the water that normally would have freaked the shit out of her, but in this moment she was having to hard a time keeping her head above the water to wander what was under it. Frankly, she didn't want to know.
Elliot could feel the ripple of small rapids as they floated downward. He prayed they would not get any worse.
"I cannot believe this!" Casey screamed as she and Chester stood in a nearby police station. "These are New York detectives being held hostage by a crazy man! You pick up that phone right now and call NYPD or I will have your badge!"
The young officer across the counter flinched at Casey's diatribe. His fingers shaking as he made the call.
Cragen stirred groggily from his sleep as he heard an insistent ringing. His hand reached across the floor of the tent until he came in contact with the offending object. "Cragen, here."
Cragen emerged from his tent. "Dana! Porter! We got a lead!"
Much to Elliot's relief the water evened out as they rounded the bend. It also became shallower.
"Shit." Fin mumbled, struggling to a standing position in the cold water.
"I hate the water." Munch mumbled following Fin to the shoreline.
"Me too." Olivia's voice shook from the cold.
Elliot pulled her into his arms, rubbing his hands up and down the length of her back.
"How far do you think we got?" Munch asked.
Fin looked at Elliot.
"Maybe a mile or so if we are lucky." Elliot replied.
Olivia blinked the water from her eyes as she looked around. "Where now?"
"West," Elliot said. "We need to put as much distance between us and them as possible."
Fin and Munch nodded as they followed Elliot into the black night.
Olivia could not believe it when she saw the first rays of light pierce the sky. The surrounding slowly coming into view. They had been walking non-stop for hours. Her legs burned, her feet hurt, and she had never been more exhausted in her whole life. They slid down a slight embankment, pushing through some trees where to their amazement they saw the road in front of them.
Fin almost cried with relief at the sight of the paved road. He dropped down onto his knees. "Thank you, God!"
Munch grinned at his partner.
"We need to be careful." Elliot warned. "They could be traveling the roads looking for us."
Fin nodded and they all froze at the sound of the approaching vehicle. It was too close to hide. Olivia squinted at the Explorer as it neared them coming to a stop. She almost collapsed as the man stepped out.
"Captain!" Elliot said, relief coursing through his body.
A/N: More to this story if you want. Now that they are technically rescued what will happen between Olivia and Elliot. Will they hide their relationship from Cragen? Will they continue their relationship? What happens when a distraught Kathy shows up to Elliot's rescue? They may be safe from the wilderness, but what happens when Ben follows them to the city? Answers in upcoming chapter if you want or I could end it here?