„Voight," Olivia called Hank Voight to attention as he was staring at the file in front of him. As deep in thought as he was, it seemed he hadn't even noticed her entering his office. Hank raised his gaze and rubbed his eyes shortly, trying to focus on the woman in front of him rather than the case file he kept studying religiously, as if the folder would eventually have mercy and throw him a bone, give him something. Almost everyone had by now gone home and the bullpen was quiet and empty. Olivia would have left, too but nobody was waiting for her. The hotel room she occupied here in Chicago wasn't the most inviting, either. She didn't feel like reading a book or watching TV or worse - being alone and wonder what else could be done.

„What are you still doing here?"

„I could ask you the same," she retorted with the hint of a smile and pulled a chair. It's been two weeks and they haven't gotten anywhere with their suspect. Both Olivia and Voight had it in their gut that the suspect was their guy, the issue was that they had nothing to prove it.

Voight gave a light shrug and leaned back in his chair. „Keep thinking we'd have answers by now if you had let me do things the way I do them around here." There was no amusement in his tone. The words were coated in bitterness instead. He had not expected Olivia to walk out of the interrogation room as he had their suspect pinned up against the wall he had slammed him into a few seconds before she had entered. Unfortunately he knew the Lieutenant better than that. But he had wished she would have never stepped in, that she hadn't been anywhere near the interrogation room. Voight's fist had ached to connect with Victor Rostock's jaw and his knee had been twitching with the anticipation of jerking into the bastard's middle and see him double over in pain. The sight sure would have been exquisite. But Olivia Benson had joined the party and all the ignorance in the world hadn't been enough to make her turn around and walk back out.

„Voight, I'm not someone who's going to watch you manhandle a suspect and turn a blind eye, or worse lie about it the second he calls police brutality."

„You could have gone to grab some lunch," he offered, voice gruff.

„And pretended not to know what happened in the meantime? Please," she chuckled, pulling over the case file. For a moment there was silence and Voight brought the hammer down.

„You should have questioned him in New York."

„Wow. I was waiting for you to bring something up but still… wow." This one was low. They had briefly spoken to Victor Rostock, a bar tender, after the first rape of the series they investigated, but nothing pointed towards the bar tender - or anyone else for that matter.

„Two victims, same area-," Voight started, his voice low but clearly pissed.

„And one of them had never even mentioned the bar, Voight. Obviously we would have questioned Victor, maybe even made the connection that he'd have something to do with the attacks if we had known the second victim had used the bar's bathroom at the time but we didn't. She never told us that little detail."

„And you failed to ask her about it," he accused. Voight wanted to think that he would have asked that one, important question that would have helped them put together the puzzle right after the second attack.

„There was no reason for us to assume it weren't random attacks, Voight," Olivia said calmly. „Even with Odette Heraldo's attack there was nothing that specifically led us to believe that someone followed her from the bar. When we questioned the staff after her rape Victor didn't make us suspicious."

„You should have pushed more, Olivia."

„Pushed him how? By beating the truth out of him upon first sight, no indication at all that he had anything to do with it? That's not how we do things. I used to have a partner with a quick temper and it didn't do either of us any good. Intimidation is one thing, but you are taking it too far, Voight. You wanna risk your job- fine. But I won't risk mine. Not because you can't keep yourself in check." By the time Olivia had stepped into the interrogation room, Hank Voight has already had their suspect grabbed by the collar and pushed up against the wall, threatening Victor Rostock. When she told Voight to stop, he had ignored her, had slammed the man into the wall once more, seething, his own nose only inches from Rostock's face. He had only taken a step back when Olivia had finally had it and pulled Voight off of the guy, glaring at him and hissing that it was enough.

Olivia knew that Voight was no stranger to doing whatever it took to get someone to confess, that he threatened but also wasn't beneath getting physical - to put it mildly. And it seemed that until now he had gotten away with it, too. However, it was a dangerous game because eventually someone would not turn a blind eye.

She knew a bad temper from Elliot. Anger had gotten the better of her ex-partner many times but mostly Elliot had only wanted to intimidate, scare a suspect a little. Play the old game of ‚Good Cop And Bad Cop'. Voight was a different matter. Voight didn't necessarily wanted to scare and intimidate, he had no problem with using excessive force. That in itself should disqualify him from working for the Chicago Police Department. Funnily or luckily for Voight there is no judge where there is no accuser.

„You rather see a rapist walk?" He accused, shaking his head. Voight knew he was being unfair. Olivia Benson would probably like to see a lot of things. Seeing a rapist go free certainly wasn't one of them. He had barely ever seen someone with as much drive and compassion as the Special Victim's Lieutenant. They were at a dead end, Hank could feel it. He saw this case slipping away from them. There were no more stones to be turned, no paths to be walked.

„No, I don't. I'd rather we sit down and find a way to make him crack without using excessive force. We go over every statement again, I have my team question the people who worked with him in New York and see if our victims are ready to talk to us again, see if there's anything else they can remember. I know it's a long shot, Hank but I won't give up just yet," Olivia told him with determination. „We didn't screw up with our investigation of the New York attacks. We did proper police work following the rules to a tee. That's how I try to run my unit. I'm in no way perfect and neither are my detectives but we don't go around and beat the shit out of people to get a lead. We've been here before, Hank. And I won't take the fall with you, I will not let my cases go out the window or let you screw up my reputation as a Lieutenant or my units reputation. I'd like to say I don't give a fuck what you do when I'm not around but honestly I do, by now I do, because I consider you a friend, someone I like and I know you're pissed and so am I, but do not tell me that SVU has screwed up this investigation or that a we should have done more or should've done better, okay? I am here because you wanted me here, because your Chief and my Chief want me here. And either you are going to show me some respect and we do what we can to nail this bastard or you are on your own. I'm not your punching bag. And I wouldn't make you mine. So what do you say?"

Voight exhaled and his head sank between his shoulders. He was in no way oblivious to his blind spots and faults. Olivia was not to blame for the issues they faced with this entire investigation. He hated to lose, it was as simple as that. Hank wanted justice - wanted it at all costs. Olivia was like-spirited, she only used different methods. Where Hank used his physical strength, used his fists or some kind of weapon, Olivia Benson used words and different tactics. And funnily she got results often enough. She was good at what she did. Probably one of the best, in Voight's opinion anyway.

„I'm sorry. It's… not you, Olivia. Just-," sighing, Voight pushed the file to the middle of his desk.

„I get it." Her tone was compassion and understanding. Being without lead that brought them any closer to solving a case was never easy and some cases got to you more than others. This particular investigation seemed to be some kind of bête noire to Voight.

„We don't get anywhere with him." He sounded resigned and final and like he needed a strong drink.

„Yes, we do. We got under his skin, Hank. He is sure of himself, he is convinced that we don't have anything on him and that's why he attacks me. Victor's playing a game and he thinks he's smarter, he bites because he doesn't think we can bite back. I know his kind. It makes him feel good and powerful when he can degrade a woman. And he probably knows it's not smart to do it with me but he can't really help himself and he tries to get to me, tries to get a reaction from me, to see what he says shakes me and maybe a part of him is looking for any signs that he's right about the things he says to me and about me. We need more time and we're going to play our cards well, Voight. Maybe we won't get him. Maybe Victor will be one of those that get away. But he is not going to stop and if we don't get him this time, then the next time we will. But I'll be damned if I throw in the towel. As long as my Chief doesn't tell me to get on the next plane home I will work this case with you and we will do whatever it takes to justify dragging him back into the interrogation room for another round of questioning. Okay?"

Their eyes met across his desk and Voight nodded his agreement. He didn't feel any better about the case, it would take more than Olivia's little speech to lift his spirits but picking a fight or casting blame on Special Victims or Benson in particular wasn't going to help their investigation. Maybe Olivia was right and they simply had to keep trying. Work every angle until someone told them to stop.

„Okay," he grated. „Can I buy you a drink?"

Pursing her lips, Olivia glanced at her watch. 9:13 PM. She could do with a drink before climbing into an empty bed. It was 10:30 PM back home in New York and Tom would probably be asleep by the time she'd get back to the hotel. They hadn't talked in three days, only sent a couple of text messages back and forth with how busy Olivia had been. She pondered if she should give Tom a call now but decided that five minutes in passing were not what he deserved. Instead she made a mental note to make time the next day and have a proper conversation with him then.

„A drink sounds good," she smiled.

…

Tom 10:53 PM

Working late again? Sorry if I disturbed you, just wanted to talk some. I miss you. Hope you can call me back soon.

Olivia quickly scanned the text, realizing she had officially entered the Awful-Girlfriend-Zone. Her phone had started ringing during her second glass of Whisky with Voight and she had rejected Tom's call. Upon Voight's request Olivia had told him it wasn't important. And even now Olivia was lacking the energy of answering Tom's text although she knew she should.

God, what the hell was she doing? What was she even thinking? She couldn't ignore him, not when they hadn't talked for days. The case had exhausted and frustrated Olivia and with three whiskeys on ice and a beer buzzing through her veins, all she wanted was to get some sleep, close her eyes and allow her mind to shut off. But she couldn't help to think that it would backfire. She missed Tom. Of course she missed him. Two weeks of not seeing him at all were hard, and she'd probably stay in Chicago for the rest of the week. The least she could do was to give her boyfriend a call.

She blew out a breath and ran a hand through her hair as her finger danced across the touch screen of her phone, finding Tom's contact info. She tipped her thumb onto his number and within seconds it started to ring. Olivia put him on speaker before Tom had even picked up.

„Hey," he said, sounding mildly surprised but happy about the call.

„Hey," Olivia said back, Tom's voice putting a smile on her face despite her fatigue. Instantly she felt even worse for the reluctance she felt when he had texted. „Sorry about earlier. I would have called back but thought you'd be asleep by the time I got to my room."

„Long day again?"

„Uh… kind of. We're not really getting anywhere with this case it seems. Voight and I have been out for drinks until now. He's not in the best mood and I'm just… tired. And I miss Noah." Unfortunately she hadn't been able to fly out of Chicago for a weekend like she had initially planned. She talked to Noah every night before his bedtime but it didn't help at all - if anything it made her miss her son even more. „And you," she added slowly with a soft sigh.

„I miss you, too. I wish you'd come back home."

„I think I might be another week unless they decide there's no sense. We're out of leads for now but will talk to vics again, see if there's anything they remember that could help."

„So the guy you had is innocent?"

„I don't think so, but unfortunately it doesn't matter what I think if evidence doesn't back it up. I still think he's good for it, so does Hank. We'll just have to find something that'll help us prove it. But I'm sure I'll be back by the end of the week, Friday or Saturday, if not sooner."

„Have you thought about it?" Tom hadn't brought up his proposition of visiting her over Christmas, if only in the evening when Noah was asleep. She clearly had more important things to deal with, but eventually he'd need an answer.

„Thought about what?"

„Me coming over for Christmas, at least if you're not going to be back before Friday."

„Oh right. That," she said, closing her eyes. She hadn't thought about it. The whole thing had slipped her mind entirely since she had landed in Chicago. „I… erm… I think I'll need some more time to…" She realized that she sounded pathetic and unsure. „I haven't given it any thought to be honest. I know I said I'd think about it but everything here has been so crazy and not what I expected," Olivia said apologetically.

He should have expected it but it still hurt to feel like everything else was more important and that in some sense he was still an intruder to her home when Noah was around. Tom shouldn't feel bothered by it but deep down it stung.

„I understand. We'll just… see how you feel about it once you're back here."

„I'm sorry. I know you deserve more than that and I'm probably not trying hard enough most of the time but," Olivia sighed softly and then sat up. „I don't want you to think I don't want you around me or even around Noah. Maybe I'm overprotective in that sense, or maybe I'm not at all. I've… my last relationship? Noah was part of that. It's been a few months until Ed started coming over and he got to know Noah and they liked each other and then things started to fall apart, you know? And suddenly Ed didn't come around any longer, he wasn't there for breakfast or for walks in the park, at the playground - all these small things. And Noah was just three at the time but it was not something easy to explain to a child who has no father figure in his life and who is looking for a male for orientation, trying to find that balance through a male influence when the people who care for him on a daily basis are women."

„Olivia, I understand, I do. It's not easy but I get why you want to take it slow in that regard. I don't think I'd do it differently if I had children," Tom said honestly.

„I am scared to hurt him. This is my… my relationship and my responsibility and it's not that I don't want this or don't trust this but it's scary because I… I like you so, so much. And everything is going so well that I'm just waiting for something to go wrong or for my feelings to change," she whispered. She had been there, had gone from happiness to feeling utterly lost in her relationship with Ed Tucker. She had sworn to be more careful the next time and not drag her child into such a mess.

„Olivia? Whenever you are ready," he said softly. „I don't want to push you when you're not sure the time is right. And if you are worried he might wake up and see me at your place then I respect that. I'll deal with how it makes me feel because that's not your problem, that's mine. You're not doing anything wrong by saying you don't want me over. I hate to hear it, but I'll be fine. We'll try to get together after Christmas." Realistically it made no sense to ask her if they could get together before Christmas, even if Olivia should get back before he'd leave to visit his family. She would want to spend her time with Noah, which was understandable after not seeing him for close to three weeks.

„You sure?"

„Of course I'm sure. We'll find a way to make it all work for us. Might not always be easy but… I still think it'll be worth it. I can be patient."

„I wish you were here right now, you know that?"

„Me too," Tom said softly. „You sound like you could need some sleep. How about you try and call me within the next couple of days. Whenever you have some time and energy left to listen to me complain how much I miss you," he laughed.

„Sounds good, actually. I could do with some sleep," Olivia agreed. „And I'm sure so can you. It's late."

„It is late. And we both are going to have an early morning."

„Right."

„Okay, so sleep tight, alright? Try to dream of something nice," Tom said softly, smiling against his phone.

„I'm going to try. I'll call tomorrow. Promise."

„That'd be nice."

„Okay. Goodnight Tom," Olivia whispered.

„Night `livia," he said back and hung up.

…