Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing.
Olivia was sitting in her apartment, reading, when she heard a knock at the door. She glanced at the clock. It was after ten. Who would be coming to see her this late at night? Moreover, who could have gotten past the security door downstairs without being buzzed in?
Figuring it was one of her neighbors, she went to the door to answer it. She knew it couldn't be a noise complaint. Her television was off, and she wasn't listening to the radio. As a precaution, she picked up her gun from the table by the door. She checked the peephole, then immediately relaxed. It was just her partner. He must have used his key to let himself in downstairs. At least he had the courtesy to knock at her apartment door.
She unhooked the chain, then unlatched the deadbolt. Opening the door, she was met by Elliot's smile. The look on his face told her he had something smart to say.
"Do you always answer your door at night without asking who it is? That's dangerous, you know."
Giving him a withering look, she stepped back to allow him entry into her apartment. She returned her gun to its rightful place in the table drawer.
"I checked the peephole, you idiot. You're lucky I'm letting you in. Especially since you apparently come with luggage."
He was carrying a garment bag that contained his suits, as well as a duffel bag over his shoulder, so there was no mistaking his intention. He gave her a sheepish grin, followed by what he hoped was his most pitiful look.
"Kathy and I had a fight. I know, I know – big surprise. You warned me."
Crossing her arms over her chest, Olivia regarded him carefully.
"And this is my problem because?"
Obviously being pitiful wasn't going to win him any points. He tried to reason with her.
"Look Liv, she kicked me out. Didn't even want me sleeping on the sofa. I'd go to the precinct, but you know how uncomfortable those beds in the cribs are."
"So you just thought you'd come here instead? Do you really think sleeping in my apartment is going to win you any favor with your wife?"
He looked down at his feet then, trying to come up with an answer. This wasn't going as easily as he'd thought. Though she did have a point. If she only knew just how badly Kathy really had taken the news.
Suddenly, he heard muffled laughter. He glanced back up in her direction. She had one hand over her mouth, trying to contain her mirth.
"You are way too easy to tease, Elliot. If only you could see the look on your face."
He gave her a dirty look then, but his scowl was overtaken by his own smile. She'd really had him going.
Gesturing in the general direction of the hallway, she indicated he should make himself comfortable.
"You know where the guest room is. There aren't any sheets on the bed right now, as I did laundry the other day, but you can find some in the linen closet."
He told her that wasn't a problem. All he'd wanted was a place to stay, he didn't expect her to make the bed for him. He headed to the guest room to deposit his things, stopping first at the linen closet. There, he selected not only a set of sheets and a blanket, but a towel as well.
It didn't strike him odd that he was as comfortable in Olivia's home as he was in his own. This certainly wasn't the first time he'd stayed in her guest room. He'd been here before. After fights with Kathy, or late night cases where he was too tired to drive back to Queens. There was even the time the twins had chicken pox. He'd been quarantined from the house for a few days until their spots had scabbed over. They had been miserable and cranky, and his work hours weren't conducive to their sleep schedule.
After Elliot was settled, he headed back out to the living room. Olivia was sitting on the sofa again, immersed in her book once more. Sitting down next to her, he asked her what she was reading. She paused to show him the cover, and explained the story.
"It's a crime novel. Murder mystery."
"Don't you get enough of that at work?"
She laughed then. He had a point. But novels were a different story. Plus, she liked to see if she was right. If she could figure out the ending before the author gave it away. She told Elliot so.
"That makes sense. Still, I get enough 'mystery' at work."
She shook her head, disagreeing with him.
"You watch crime shows."
He couldn't help but smile. So that was the kind of mood she was in tonight. All right, then. He would play.
"That's different."
"How so?"
Again, she openly challenged him. He loved every second of it. As much as they could argue sometimes, it was this playful banter of theirs that he enjoyed the most. That and when they would be interrogating a suspect, and be so in tune, it was as though they were thinking with the same brain.
"Those are for entertainment purposes. And research."
Despite her every effort to keep a straight face, she failed. Still, she refused to give in and let him win their 'argument'.
"And reading isn't entertainment?"
"No."
She realized then, that the conversation could go on forever at this point. Back and forth endlessly. They were both equally stubborn. Better to let him think he won this round.
"If you say so."
There was no mistaking his victorious smile. Closing her book, she set it aside. She announced that she was tired, and was going to bed. Before she went to her bedroom, she told Elliot that it wouldn't bother her if he stayed up for 'research'. As she was getting up off the couch, he noticed something on the crook of her left elbow. Pointing to the tape and gauze, he inquired after it.
"What's that?"
She looked at what he was referring to, and tugged it off. She'd forgotten about it.
"I stopped at the blood bank on my way home from work. I donate blood from time to time, whenever I'm able."
She didn't have to explain her reasoning. He understood. As a cop, you never knew when you could get injured in the line of duty. It wasn't uncommon for many officers to be frequent donors. Plus, Olivia was a very generous person by nature. It didn't surprise him that she was a blood donor as well. He made a mental note to make a donation himself as soon as he was able.
With that explained, she tried a second time to get off the couch. This time was successful. She bid him goodnight, and headed toward her room. He told her goodnight. Just as she was closing the door, he called out to her one last time.
"Hey Liv?"
The door opened fully, showing she was listening.
"Yeah, El."
"Since I'm going to be driving you to work tomorrow morning, why don't we leave a little earlier than normal. That way you can buy me breakfast."
She initially scoffed at his suggestion. Then she remembered he had paid for their meal at the bar. It was her turn, after all. Plus, it would be nice to have a ride. It beat walking. The rain showed no sign of letting up any time soon.
"Just as long as you don't expect me to cook for you."
She could still hear his laughter follow her as she closed the door.
After Olivia had gone into her room for the night, Elliot wasn't too far behind. Just as he had finished making the bed, his phone rang. He hurried to answer it, not wanting the ringing to carry through the apartment. If Liv was being generous enough to let him stay here, he didn't want to disturb her sleep.
Kathy was on the phone. She and the kids had reached her mother's safely. It also seemed that she had calmed down somewhat, and was no longer as mad at him as she'd been before he left. She even asked about Olivia. Told them both to be careful.
Before he hung up, he let Kathy know that he would need her to come into the station the following day. Naturally she questioned this. He explained to her that the photos that had arrived at their home this evening had been sent to the crime lab. Because she'd looked at them first, her fingerprints would be on them, too. They needed her to come in so her prints could be eliminated as a possible suspect.
Upon hearing this, Kathy become defensive. It didn't last for long though. She realized that Elliot wasn't accusing her of anything, merely stating facts. She had opened the envelope after all, even though it wasn't addressed to her. Despite her annoyance at both her husband and Olivia, she hoped her actions tonight didn't result in them being unable to find out who wanted to cause them harm.
Elliot's conversation with Kathy continued for a little while longer. He was also able to talk to the kids before they went to bed for the night. He'd felt bad about not seeing them before he left the house. As a result, none of his children were particularly eager to talk to him. Now that they were getting older, it wasn't as easy to explain to them that he had to work.
They all saw it as a preference, a choice. That he was choosing the job over them. Granted, they all still loved their father, but the hero worship they'd had when they were younger had long since disappeared.
After he'd hung up his phone, he plugged it in so it could charge overnight. He set an alarm, even though his internal clock often woke him up at the same time every day. Then, he crawled into bed. He was asleep almost as soon as his head hit the pillow.
Far too soon for his liking, the alarm was going off. With a groan, he reached for his phone so he could silence it. Not wanting to get up just yet, he lay in bed for a few minutes. They had so much work to do today, he hoped that there would be no more additions to their caseload. He also hoped Olivia wouldn't notice his watchful eye on her. He'd have to watch his step carefully, or else she'd get suspicious.
There was a light knock at his door, followed by Olivia calling out his name. He answered her, letting her know he was awake, and that he would be ready to leave soon. As her footsteps faded away, he pushed back the covers and got out of bed.
While he was dressing, his mind drifted to other things. As much as he'd like to have the answers right away, he knew that it was unlikely the crime lab would have discovered anything yet. That was another problem he'd have today. How could he keep Olivia from discovering the fact he'd been sent those photographs and that note? Perhaps he should have said something to Kathy the night before. If his wife got upset with him again, he knew she'd confront Olivia.
Still, he was determined to keep his partner in the dark. There was no sense in worrying her prematurely. He laughed to himself, despite the seriousness of the situation. Olivia wouldn't be worried, let alone about her own safety. If anything, she'd be even more determined to find the person responsible. However, if – and when – she found out he was keeping things from her, she was going to be furious. That's a risk he was willing to take. He'd rather have her safe, and mad at him, than chance anything happening to her.
Lost in his thoughts, he hadn't heard when she knocked on his door again. She knocked a little louder, calling his name. He startled, but quickly recovered. Opening the door, he was met by the smiling face of his partner.
"Morning El. I'm not trying to rush you, but if you still want me to buy you breakfast this morning, we should get going."
Glancing at his watch, he saw that she was right. He must have been more wrapped up in his thoughts than he realized. He slid into his suit jacket, and followed her out the door.
This morning, the rain was still falling, although not quite as heavily as the day before. They'd discussed on the ride in that they wanted to eat at a diner close to the precinct. That way, they could park at work, and walk from there.
They maneuvered through traffic, arriving at the sixteenth precinct in just under twenty minutes. Elliot parked in the lot, and locked his car. For the rest of the day, they would use their police issued sedan.
Olivia opened her umbrella, and started down the sidewalk, Elliot falling into step beside her. Their pace was quick, and they reached the diner in a short amount of time. As he held the door for her, Olivia held back a smart remark. It wasn't that it was odd for him to do so, but he was being unusually nice to her today. Hovering almost. Something was up. She'd first noticed it when he'd crowded her on the sidewalk, making sure he walked on the side toward the street.
They found a booth by one of the windows facing the street. Usually they preferred to sit in the corner, but the diner was crowded this morning. They were lucky to find a seat at all.
Since they frequented this place often, along with the other detectives, the server already knew their drink order. She brought over two steaming cups of coffee, plus two small glasses of orange juice. She then asked if they were ready to order.
Elliot was starving. Plus, if today proved to be anything like yesterday, who knew when they'd have the opportunity to eat lunch. Better to eat a hearty breakfast now while they had the chance. He selected his usual, which consisted of eggs, bacon, hash browns, and toast.
Olivia, on the other hand, was never one to eat a large meal in the morning. She was more conservative with her selection. She opted for an egg white omelet, with whole wheat toast. As an afterthought, she also asked for a bowl of fresh fruit.
As the server walked away, Elliot shook his head. He knew his partner tried to eat healthy, but he still loved to tease her about it. Truth was, she often inspired him to make healthier choices, too. He knew he'd end up eating the fruit she couldn't finish.
"Trying to make me look bad, Liv? I think there are laws against that."
She didn't answer him, although her smirk said plenty. She simply lifted her cup and took a sip of her coffee. Then, she grimaced at the taste of it. Setting the cup back down, she doctored it up with the amount of cream and sugar that she preferred.
"I must still be half asleep if I'm trying to drink this stuff black. That's like trying to drink Munch's coffee."
She laughed at herself, commenting on her error. Before he could make the same mistake, he too, fixed his coffee the way he liked it. Still, he couldn't let what she'd said go unanswered.
"Nothing could be as bad as Munch's coffee, Liv. That stuff could peel the paint off the squad room walls."
Olivia agreed, though she did point out it was no fun making fun of Munch and his coffee making skills (Or lack thereof), when he wasn't there to defend himself.
Elliot was about to ask Olivia a question, get her thoughts on yesterday. They'd really not had a chance to discuss it the night before. By the time everyone was at the bar, it had been mutually agreed upon between them that work was the last acceptable topic of discussion.
Before he'd had a chance, his cell phone chimed. There was an incoming text message. Since it only came to his phone, and not hers as well, he knew they hadn't been called in on another case. Turning the device so he could read the screen, he scanned the message quickly. It was from Ryan O'Halloran, the head technician of the crime lab. He'd gotten the photos and the note on his desk this morning, and promised to make them top priority.
His expression must have given him away, because Olivia was asking after him, concerned.
"Everything okay, El? We didn't catch anything, did we?"
No sooner had she spoken, than their plates were being brought to the table. He sat back in his seat, allowing the server room to set down his food. When asked if they needed anything else, they both declined. Then, he answered her.
"No, Liv. It was just Ryan. Letting me know he's getting started on all the evidence from yesterday."
He took another sip of his juice. What he'd told her wasn't a total lie. More of an omission of fact. The text message had been from Ryan, after all. He'd just neglected to tell her what it was that the man was going to be looking at.
Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts out of his mind. Instead, he became focused on the matter at hand – filling his stomach. Looking across the table at his partners plate, he wondered how it was that she could always make eating healthy look so good. Never would he consider getting what she had ordered, but all he could think of doing was reaching over with his fork and tasting what was in front of her.
He wasn't aware he was staring, but she'd felt his eyes on her. Or rather, on her plate. It wasn't anything new. If she had a dollar for every time he'd sampled or stolen a bite of one of her meals, she could retire early. But she loved the job too much to do that.
Instead of saying anything, she simply met his eyes, and gave him a nod. She was granting permission. Fork in hand, he reached across the table, and cut into her omelet. Though it was a healthier version of the traditional breakfast dish, it was still rich in taste. Made with spinach, tomatoes, and mushrooms, it was also filled with cheese. As he put the forkful in his mouth, his taste buds were hit with an explosion of flavor.
Unfortunately, his act hadn't gone unnoticed. Before he could say anything, compliment her on her excellent choice of breakfast, someone appeared at their table. It was Kathy. And she was fuming.
"Elliot! How could you!"
Her voice could be heard throughout the diner. Heads turned in their direction, trying to see what the commotion was. Swallowing the food that was in his mouth, he turned to address his wife. Before he could, though, Olivia spoke first.
"Kathy, it's good to see you. Why don't you sit down, have breakfast with Elliot before he needs to start work?"
She called over the server, asked for a couple of boxes. They were promptly delivered. Packaging up the remainder of her meal, she stood to leave. She dropped a few bills by Elliot's plate. It was more than enough to cover their breakfast, plus anything Kathy should order. She knew Elliot would take care of it, and give her any change, not that she was worried about it.
"I just remembered there was something I need to take care of before our shift starts. I'll meet you at work, El. Spend some time with your wife. Breakfast is on me, Kathy, please order whatever you want."
That said, she gathered her things, and excused herself. She didn't even look back as she left the diner. After watching her go, Elliot turned his attention to his wife, who had taken the seat Olivia had vacated.
"Kathy, what is wrong with you?"
"What is wrong with me? I catch my husband in the act of cheating on me with another woman, and there's something wrong with me?"
Elliot set down his fork. They were back to this again. The breakfast he was so enjoying was quickly giving way to indigestion. He needed to calm her down.
"I don't know what it was you think you saw, Kathy, but Olivia and I were just having breakfast."
"You were eating off her plate!"
So that was what she had seen. But why would it have made her so upset? It wasn't a rare occurrence between himself and Olivia, they shared things all the time. In fact, it was more rare for them not to share something.
"Kath – we're partners. Have been for the last seven years. Yes, we share food sometimes. You'd be hard pressed to find any partners who don't."
He reached across the table, took her hand in his.
"Please, order something. Have breakfast with me."
She couldn't ignore the pleading look in his eyes. Maybe she had overreacted. What was making her do that lately? Was she just looking for problems that weren't there? Yes, their marriage had been strained, but they could work on it, couldn't they? Pushing those thoughts aside for now, she focused instead on the idea of having a nice breakfast with her husband. She also wanted to find out why Olivia had treated.
Kathy placed her order, opting for pancakes. She declined the offer of coffee, even though that was why she had come to the diner in the first place. As keyed up as she was, caffeine was the last thing she needed.
Taking a sip of her water, she tried to figure out how to ask her husband the question she wanted the answer to. She didn't want to sound like she was crazy and insecure. Figuring there was no way to do that, she decided she would just go ahead and ask anyway.
"Elliot? Why was Olivia buying you breakfast?"
He paused with a forkful of food halfway to his mouth. Then, he realized that she wasn't necessarily trying to pry, she was genuinely curious.
"Because I paid last night. We trade off as to whose turn it is to buy."
Kathy was quiet as she considered his answer. What he said made sense. She did know, that in his line of work, he didn't always get the chance to eat regular meals. He would often grab something on the run, or a quick bite at his desk. Maybe that was why he and Olivia were so accustomed to sharing food with one another.
The rest of their breakfast went nicely. The topic of conversation shifted to their kids, how excited they'd been to go to grandma's house. None of them suspected that anything was wrong. Elliot hoped he could keep it that way. He also hoped he could get them back in their own home soon, so it wouldn't disrupt their schedules too much.
When they'd finished eating, Elliot paid the bill, using the money Olivia had left for them. Naturally, she'd left more than necessary. He pocketed the extra, making a mental note to give her the change as soon as he saw her.
He walked with Kathy to the precinct, and led her to the crime lab. There, Ryan used the proper equipment to scan her fingerprints. This way, she didn't have to worry about getting any ink on her hands. Once she had been scanned, he entered her information. The whole process took less than five minutes.
After, Kathy followed Elliot upstairs to the squad room. He hadn't asked her to, but she was determined to finish their conversation from earlier. She didn't like it, but knew he would want to stay with Olivia until the perceived threat was over. She'd come to that realization while having her fingerprints scanned. By surprising them at breakfast, seeming to reconcile with Elliot, had she put his plan in jeopardy?
Elliot was almost at his desk when she called after him. She hated to make a scene like this in front of his coworkers, but she had no choice. Luckily, it seemed as though Olivia was the only one there at the moment. She had to make it seem that they were still fighting. In a way, they still were. Things between them were still tense at best. The only reason their breakfast had become tolerable was because they were talking about the children. These days, that was the lone thing they did agree on.
"Elliot. You can't just walk away from me like that."
She made certain to keep an edge to her voice. While this had started out as something for show, she couldn't control the words that began to pour forth. It was as though someone else had taken over, and was speaking through her. But, she felt a weight leave her shoulders as she said the words. Maybe, it's what she'd been trying to say all along.
Elliot had froze in his footsteps when he heard Kathy call out to him. He'd known she was following him, but had expected she would go her own way once they'd reached the elevators. What was she playing at? Then again, he realized what her presence – a reconciliation – would look like to Olivia. There was no way she wouldn't be suspicious if he asked to stay again tonight. Maybe Kathy was trying to help him out? He turned to see just what it was she had to say.
"I've thought it over. I don't want you coming back to the house. Don't think your little attempt this morning will be enough for me to forgive you."
He looked at her, incredulous. She was going a little overboard, he thought. But the way she was ranting, it was impossible for him to get a word in edgewise. He was glad that the squad room was relatively empty. He and Olivia had to deal with enough gossip. They didn't need Kathy's suspicions to add fuel to the fire.
"The kids and I will be at my mother's house for a few weeks. I want you to take that time to move your things out. I'll be contacting our lawyer to draw up papers."
Despite the fact that she was only putting on a show for his benefit, he felt as though he had been punched in the gut. Then he caught the look in her eye. She was fighting off tears. Was she being genuine? Was she seriously suggesting separating – even divorce – as an option?
He hurried to her side, and grasped her by the elbow. Leading her out of the squad room, he walked with her to the elevators. Once there, he questioned her quietly.
"Kathy, what are you talking about? Please tell me you were only saying that so Olivia wouldn't suspect the reason why I need to stay with her."
She couldn't meet his gaze, and her eyes filled with even more tears. A few spilled over, trailing down her cheeks. She made no attempt to wipe them away. He felt his breath catch in his throat. More desperate now, he questioned her again.
"Kathy?"
"I'm sorry, Elliot."
Three words. Three words that shattered the entire world as he knew it. He'd been with Kathy since they were teenagers. They had four children together. Why was she so willing to throw it all away? He pulled himself from his spiraling thoughts when he realized she was speaking to him once more.
"I didn't intend to tell you like this, honestly. I only just realized it myself."
He interrupted her then, guiding her by the elbow again. He led her back through the squad room, and upstairs to the cribs. It was empty at this hour, and would afford them more privacy.
"Kathy, talk to me. How long have you felt like this?"
She sighed. All the feelings were coming to the surface now. Still, she had to be honest with him. He deserved that much.
"Awhile. And I know you've felt it, too."
He opened his mouth, presumably to deny her words. She raised her hand to his lips to stop him.
"Admit it, Elliot. We've changed. We're not the same people we used to be."
She went on, talking openly with him for the first time in many months. How she had begun to hate the person she'd become. That it wasn't in her nature to suspect every single thing he did, but she just couldn't help herself. On the opposite end of things, she'd noticed how distant he'd been. By the time she'd finished her explanation, both of them were crying.
"I never wanted this. But I'd rather end things now, and be on good terms with you, then continue on and end up hating each other."
She licked her lips, tasting the saline of her tears. She had one final thing to add. Maybe it wasn't the best time to say it, but it needed saying.
"I also know that you're in love with Olivia."
Elliot couldn't believe what he was hearing. Was it all coming back to this again? He had to say something. She wouldn't let him.
"You may not realize it yet, Elliot, but you are. I see it in the way you look at her, talk about her. I know you didn't do it on purpose."
She reached for his hand, then. Grasped it tightly in her own.
"I know that you still love me. I'll always love you, too. But our love has changed over the years. We've become comfortable, not passionate."
Her eyes searched his. She didn't want to hurt him, but there was no way to say this without causing both of them pain.
"I want love in my life. I want passion. I want you to have that, too. I just realized that we're not going to have that with each other."
Though his heart was breaking, he heard her words loud and clear. Ultimately, he realized that she spoke the truth. Not about his being in love with Olivia – he still wasn't sure where she had gotten that idea.
But they had become two roommates raising children, not a husband and wife.
The Catholic in him was against divorce, but he wanted to do whatever would make her happy. If he didn't make Kathy happy any more, then he would let her go. But he would fight like hell for his children. He told her as much.
"They're our children. Nothing will ever change that. And we don't have to make any immediate decisions."
She made certain to assure him of that. She knew that he was already under a great deal of stress. The threat he had received the night before deserved to be top priority. She told him as much.
"I didn't mean to just unload all of this on you now, Elliot. Just once the words started coming, I couldn't stop."
He told her he understood. That while he was upset, he wasn't angry with her. They made plans to meet and talk again soon. They also agreed that for the time being, she should keep the kids at her mother's house. Once he determined whether or not they were in any danger, he would allow them to return home. He would put a protective detail on them if necessary.
Both emotionally drained, they embraced, holding on to one another. After a few minutes, Kathy let go. Elliot walked her back downstairs, and to the elevators so she could leave. She promised she would keep in touch, and call if she noticed anything suspicious. Then they hugged one final time before she stepped onto the elevator and the doors closed.
Before going back into the squad room, Elliot stopped off at the restroom. He needed a moment to compose himself. The conversation with Kathy had been emotional, and that was putting it mildly. He was playing it over again in his head, as though he couldn't believe what had just happened between them. Had they really just mutually decided to end their marriage?
After splashing some water on his face, he felt a little better. Using a paper towel, he dried off. Then he went back toward his desk. Liv was already there, working at her computer. Upon seeing him approach, her eyes raised from the screen to meet his.
"Everything okay?"
It would have been pointless for her to pretend like she hadn't seen anything. Still, he couldn't help but find himself getting annoyed with his partner. As soon as those feelings started, though, he tried to suppress them. It wasn't Olivia's fault. She was merely showing her concern. She proved that even further with her next words.
"If you need to take a few hours – the day, even – I'll cover for you."
He shook his head, indicating that he was fine. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate her offer. In fact, it touched him more than he could ever say. But he couldn't leave. Even worse, he couldn't tell her the reason why he couldn't leave. He couldn't let her out of his sight. Thinking quickly, he came up with something that would hopefully make sense.
"I'll be fine, Liv. I just need to focus on catching this S.O.B."
Olivia nodded her understanding. She didn't know exactly what had gone on between Elliot and Kathy. But she did know that whenever she was feeling stressed, it was succeeding at solving a case that gave her the most purpose. She had no doubt that Elliot operated the same way. Still, she wanted to do something to help. She made a mental note to contact Kathy when she had a moment's free time. It wouldn't be the first time she'd talked to the woman on Elliot's behalf.
Elliot sat at his desk, trying to ignore the urge to check his phone for messages. He was going to give himself away if he didn't stop being so obvious. Besides, when he had seen Ryan earlier, he'd briefed him on the situation. Made sure the tech understood that he wasn't to tell Olivia anything about the photographs or the note.
Though Ryan didn't like his decision to keep the information from Olivia, he had agreed to go along with it. Instead, he promised he would contact her about any hits that popped on their evidence from the day before. They hoped that would keep her from suspecting that her partner was keeping something important from her.
Shaking those thoughts from his head, he focused on his computer screen. While they'd completed the initial reports before leaving last night, there was still a lot that had to be done. Especially since it appeared their four victims were connected.
He glanced across the way, to Olivia's desk. Seeing that she was already in the process of printing out photographs, he went to work setting up a preliminary time line. As more information became available, they could always revise it as needed.
Once a series of photos were printed, Olivia gathered them up. She crossed the room, and began taping them up on a white board. Using a dry erase marker, she wrote under each one to label it. As Melinda had not yet been able to identify any of the women, they were temporarily all being referred to as Jane Doe. Instead of going by numerical order, an additional clarification was added to the moniker by location of where they were found.
Captain Cragen came out of his office at that point, and called for everyone's attention. Munch and Fin stopped what they were doing, which at present time was nothing but bickering with one another. Elliot looked up from his computer screen. Olivia, who had just finished her work at the board, came back over to her desk and sat down.
"All right people. I just got off the phone with 1PP."
This news didn't surprise any of the detectives. Given yesterday's events, they had suspected that the brass would be involved.
"They want all hands on deck. Munch and Fin, you are to pass off your current case to the two temporary detectives we have coming in from Brooklyn. I need you on this."
The two men nodded, then started gathering the proper files and information, so they could do as they had been instructed. Satisfied that he had not been met with any arguments, Cragen turned to face Benson and Stabler.
"Dr. Huang will be coming in later today to offer his expertise on the matter. I want you to meet with him, walk him through what we have so far."
They nodded their agreement. They didn't know what they could possibly offer the psychiatrist yet, but promised they would do their best. With any luck, they would have some answers from either Melinda or Ryan before George arrived.
With the instructions given, Cragen retreated back to his office. There was no need to tell his detectives that this case took top priority. They all knew that. He also knew that none of them would stop until the person responsible was brought to justice.
As he closed his office door, he caught sight of Olivia taking her seat at her desk. His mind drifted back to the night before, when Elliot had called him in a near panic. He too, had been worried upon seeing those photographs of his female detective. But he'd known that Elliot was right. There was no way she would ever agree to a detail.
He recalled a time when Olivia had first started working Special Victims. A cab driver had been murdered, an act of revenge by two women. She'd struggled with the case. His words of wisdom to her had been 'We don't get to pick the vic'. She had taken those words to heart, made them her mantra. Months later, when she was being stalked by Richard White, she'd thrown those same words back at him when he'd tried taking her off the case.
He trusted that she was safe with Elliot. Whether or not Elliot would be safe with Olivia was another story. Once she found out he was keeping something this important from her, she was going to be furious. Though he'd witnessed plenty of disagreements between the two, he did not want to be present when she found out the truth.
Laughing to himself, he also thought it would probably be better if Olivia were not armed when Elliot confessed to her.
Around mid morning, Olivia spilled coffee on her shirt. It was a futile effort to try and mop it up. Sighing in frustration, she headed upstairs. Luckily, she kept a change of clothes in her locker. They all did. She chuckled to herself as she climbed the stairs. This wasn't the first time she'd ever needed to change clothes mid day. Sometimes, it was the hazards of the job. Other times, like today, it was because she was a total klutz.
Once she was up the stairs, and out of earshot, Elliot called Munch and Fin over to his desk. They were puzzled, but followed his directive. As soon as they were nearby, he began to speak in hushed tones. He also spoke quickly, as he didn't know how much time he had.
"What I'm about to tell you, Olivia can't know."
They were both more curious now, but Fin couldn't hide the look of disapproval on his face. Munch's face, too, had a look of reproach. Elliot wasn't the only one in the squad who was protective of Olivia. They all were.
"Last night, when I got home. Kathy was looking at photos of me and Olivia. They'd been sent to the house."
He went on to explain in more detail, leaving out the part about his wife's accusations. He told them that the photos had all been taken yesterday at the various crime scenes. That one had even been taken of Olivia as she left her apartment. Lastly, he told them of the note, the threat it contained.
When they heard this bit of news, their faces were matched masks of fury. Elliot guessed it was how he must have looked the night before. Cragen had worn a similar look when he'd read the note.
He gave them a minute to process the information. Then he let them know that Ryan already had both the photos and the note in his possession. That he was conducting tests on them now.
Munch put forth the question about Olivia, mentioned a detail. Fin scoffed at that, though he wasn't trying to be mean.
"Come on, Old Man. You know Baby-Girl will never go for anything like that. She'd have our asses in a sling for even suggesting it."
Munch conceded his point. They both directed their attention back to Elliot, sensing he wasn't finished. Olivia would be back downstairs again any minute.
"I stayed at her place last night. I'm going to be staying there until this blows over."
Before either Fin or Munch could ask a question, he elaborated.
"I told her Kathy and I were fighting, that she kicked me out. It's the truth."
They had both been present for the tail end of his confrontation with Kathy this morning. Something was definitely going on between the two.
"What is most important of all – Liv can't know about any of this."
Fin shook his head again, making no attempts to disguise how much he disagreed with what Elliot was doing. Still, he understood the man's reasoning behind it.
"She's going to kick your ass, Stabler."
Those were Fin's parting words as he and Munch sat back down at their own desks. Not wanting his coworker to get in the last word, he countered with a comeback of his own.
"That's a risk I'm willing to take."
They all froze when a feminine voice echoed the previous statement. They hadn't heard her approach.
"What's a risk you're willing to take?"
Elliot quickly thought of a cover story, and tried to make it seem plausible.
"Oh, Munch just threatened to make the next pot of coffee if I didn't treat everyone to a cup after lunch."
"And you're willing to risk that? Brave man."
Her gentle teasing made him relax. He knew she hadn't heard anything that had been said. If she had, she'd have confronted him immediately. She settled back at her desk, and they both got back to work.
Before he could even start to get anything done, his phone chimed with an incoming text message. It was Ryan, asking to see him ASAP. He stood to go down to the lab, trying to come up with a viable excuse he could give his partner as to his impending absence. Once she heard he was going to see the lab tech, she was certain to want to follow. Sure enough, she noticed his movement, and questioned him.
"Where are you going El? Was that text the news we've been waiting on?"
He nodded, still fumbling for an answer. Then, he was struck with a wave of inspiration.
"Yeah, Liv. It was Ryan. He said he had something to show me down in the lab."
Just as he'd predicted, she started to stand as well. He held his hands out, palms up.
"No, Liv. I've got this. You should stay here."
At her puzzled expression, he gave an explanation.
"One of us needs to be here in case Melinda calls, or stops by. We're still waiting on those autopsy results."
Olivia nodded. What he said made sense. Still, part of her suspected he was keeping something from her. She just wasn't sure what. Now wasn't the time to figure that out, though. All their energy needed to be devoted to the case. She just sat back down and watched as he disappeared, heading down to meet Ryan.
No sooner than Elliot had left, Olivia's phone rang. It was Melinda. There wasn't much news to report, she was just calling to give an update. She'd completed the first autopsy, and was awaiting results for everything she'd sent in for testing. She promised to continue to keep the detectives posted with information as soon as it became available.
Now that she'd heard from Melinda, Olivia decided to take advantage of a few moments free time. She picked the receiver of her phone back up, and dialed a number. Speaking briefly to the person on the other end, she arranged a meeting in ten minutes time.
Hanging up, she pushed her chair back from her desk and stood. Gathering her jacket, she slipped it on. This earned her looks from both Munch and Fin.
"Going somewhere, Liv?"
Fin asked the question, curious. He tried his best not to sound like he was prying.
"This case is driving me crazy. I need to go out for a few minutes, clear my head."
Fin and Munch exchanged a look. Elliot would be none too happy with them if they let Olivia leave the precinct on her own. Especially after he'd told them about the threat that had been made against her. But how could they deter her plans without arousing suspicion?
"Do you want me to come with you?"
Olivia looked puzzled by Munch's offer, but didn't think anything of it. She shook her head, indicating it wasn't necessary. She also answered him verbally.
"No, thanks. I'm just going to be gone long enough to stretch my legs, maybe grab a cup of coffee."
She headed toward the exit, stopping at the last minute to turn and address them once more.
"I'll make sure and call before I return, see if you all want me to bring something back for lunch."
With that said, she left the room. The silence that followed was such that they were able to hear the ping of the elevator as the doors closed, signaling her exit.
She walked about two blocks away from the precinct, grateful that it had stopped raining. Just as she was about to enter the coffee shop, she heard her name being called from somewhere behind her. She turned in the direction of the sound, and found herself face to face with the very person she was coming to meet.
Kathy Stabler stood on the sidewalk, waiting for Olivia to precede her into the shop. It was clear she'd spent her morning shopping, as she carried bags in her hands. They headed to the counter, and each placed their orders. Luckily for them, the place wasn't very busy at this hour. They were served promptly. They picked up their drinks at the end of the counter, and went to find a seat.
An awkward silence followed. Olivia took a sip of her coffee. She knew she should speak first, since she was the one who invited the other woman out. She just wasn't sure how to begin. In the end, it was Kathy who prompted the conversation.
"So, Olivia, why did you ask me here today?"
Despite her efforts, her voice carried an edge to it that she simply couldn't hide. Olivia took another sip from the cup in her hands, then set it down. She cleared her throat. Kathy grew nervous. Was she about to confess something? No. What the woman in front of her had to say was much more shocking.
"I owe you an apology, Kathy. Elliot, too. But I haven't told him yet."
She went on to say that, without meaning to, she'd overheard part of their conversation earlier this morning. Once she'd realized the seriousness of the subject matter, she had left immediately, to give them privacy. But not before she had understood the gist of what was going on.
"I want you to reconsider your decision. Isn't there something you can do? A way to make your marriage work?"
Kathy was so stunned by the words, she almost choked on her coffee. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Still, she couldn't keep the bitterness from seeping through.
"Why are you so concerned about what goes on in my marriage?"
She didn't know what kind of answer she was expecting. Certainly not what she was given.
"Elliot is my partner. I know how much his family means to him. If he were to lose that, he'd be devastated."
Kathy knew Olivia was speaking the truth. But she could also read between the lines. The woman sitting across from her wasn't doing this merely out of concern. She was doing it from a place of love.
She realized something else, though. Olivia had never, and would never, make a move on Elliot. Yes, she loved him. But from her actions here today, it was clear that her love for him meant that all she wanted was for him to be happy. Even if it wasn't with her.
Kathy felt a sense of peace and calm throughout her body. She knew now that she was making the right choice in letting Elliot go. Yes, she had unfairly ambushed him with it this morning, that was true. But they had grown apart. She'd been speaking the truth when she told him that. She hoped that, in time, he and Olivia would find one another. Even if they were both denying their feelings right now. She also wished for that kind of love for herself someday.
"I appreciate your concern, Olivia, but what goes on is between me and Elliot."
So wrapped up was she in diverting the topic of conversation away from her marriage, she inadvertently told the other woman something she wasn't supposed to.
"Besides, even if we wanted to work things out – which we don't – Elliot needs to stay with you right now."
No sooner had the words left her lips, than she was wishing she could take them back. Olivia was looking at her with an open-mouthed expression. The one thing Elliot had asked her not to do, and she'd done it. What could be done about it now, though? Besides, she hadn't agreed with his keeping it from Olivia in the first place. The woman did have a right to know.
"Kathy, what are you talking about?"
Still, she tried to backtrack. It was no use. Being the skilled detective that she was, Olivia had honed in on her nervousness immediately. Something was up. She had better come clean. She'd just have to apologize to Elliot later.
"Elliot isn't just staying with you because we are fighting. He's staying with you because he believes you are in danger."
Upon realizing that Olivia would remain quiet, allowing her to explain, Kathy elaborated. She told the other woman about what had happened the night before. Even though it caused her embarrassment to do so, she even told her about the accusations she had hurled at Elliot.
Once the detective had heard everything, she was livid. She hadn't been imagining things after all. Elliot had been hovering. While she knew it was coming from a place of care and concern, she couldn't help but be mad at him. Why didn't he trust her with the information? It certainly wasn't the first time she had been threatened. She sincerely doubted it would be the last.
Kathy sensed Olivia's anger, and apologized. The other woman brushed it off, letting her know that she wasn't the one she was mad at. She also assured her that Elliot wouldn't know where she heard the information from.
Still fuming, Olivia stood. It was about time for her to head back to the station. Kathy also got up to leave. With shopping bags in hand, she bid farewell to Olivia, and exited the coffee shop.
Olivia returned to the precinct shortly after. She had called on her way back, to see if anyone wanted lunch. Her offer had been declined, as Fin and Munch had decided to wait and order in Chinese later on.
While walking back to the precinct, she had gone over in her head how she planned to confront Elliot. In the end, she had decided that she wasn't going to. At least not right away. The case they were working on needed to remain top priority. She couldn't let her anger with him get in the middle. Besides, his heart was in the right place. He was just trying to protect her.
She got back to the squad room, and was just taking off her jacket when Elliot rushed up to her side.
"Liv, you should have waited for me. I'd have gone for coffee with you."
It all made sense now. He was definitely being over attentive. He was practically smothering her. Still, she had to pretend she didn't know what was going on.
"It's all right El. I'm sorry I didn't bring you anything back. I just had to get out of here for a few minutes, clear my head."
She let him take in her explanation, then as an afterthought, she added something.
"Did Ryan have any information for us?"
Elliot paused, taken aback. In his panic, he'd forgotten that he'd gone to meet the lab tech before she had disappeared. And it hadn't been about their case. It had been about the photos and note he had received the night before. But he couldn't tell her that.
"Nothing useful just yet. He did learn that all the gloves are the same brand, though. They might have been bought as a bulk purchase."
Olivia nodded. It made sense. They'd suspected as much already. She sat back down at her desk. Elliot took his own seat across from her. There was something on his mind, but she couldn't for the life of her guess what it was.
In reality, Elliot was trying to calm down. When he'd returned to the squad room to find Olivia gone, he'd been livid. He'd gone on a rampage, verbally attacking both Munch and Fin for not stopping her from leaving. Or at the very least, one of them going with her. He remembered earlier this morning, when his heart had been in his throat when she'd left the diner on her own. It had taken everything in him to devote all his attention to Kathy and not go chasing after her.
They both put aside their emotions for the time being. Elliot laid his anxiety to rest, Olivia forgot about how angry she was with her partner for keeping secrets from her. They each were of the mind that the case at hand was more important than their feelings. If only it could have stayed that way.
After lunch, they were sent back to one of the scenes from the day before. Suspicious activity had been reported. Rather than call in uniformed officers, it was deferred to Elliot and Olivia to investigate. They were going alone, but on direct orders to radio for additional help if deemed necessary.
Elliot pulled up near the abandoned warehouse, taking care to park a short distance away. If anyone should happen to be inside, he didn't want to alert them to a police presence.
Just as they were about to get out of the car, Elliot's phone rang. He looked at the display. It was Kathy. Knowing this wasn't the ideal time to take any personal calls, he silenced it. He got out of the vehicle, and began to follow Olivia as she headed toward the building. His phone rang again. It was unlike his wife to call so much in a short span of time unless it was an urgent matter. Fearing an emergency with one of his children, he answered.
"Kathy? Is everything alright?"
His voice held a trace of worry, despite his efforts to hide it. When his wife let him know that everything was fine, his mood quickly shifted to irritation.
"Kath – look, this is a bad time. I can't talk right now."
She told him she'd only be a minute, but it was something important. Sighing, he listened to what she had to say. As Kathy revealed to him that she had met up with Olivia earlier that day, he felt the anger well up in him once more. Especially when she told him that she'd unintentionally told his partner about the threats. He also was none to happy to learn the real reason for the meeting – that Olivia had overheard his conversation this morning, and was trying to save his marriage.
Having said her piece, Kathy ended the call. Elliot stood for a moment, shocked. Then he hurried to catch up with Olivia. By now, she was almost at the entrance. She had her flashlight out, ready to explore the interior of the building. Taking her by the elbow, he pulled her back. Even though the rational side of him knew this was not the time or place to confront her, he couldn't help himself.
"Where do you get off going to talk to my wife? My personal life is my business, not yours."
Olivia startled at his harsh tone. She quickly surmised that the mystery caller had to have been Kathy. So much for the woman keeping their conversation between them. She also guessed that guilt had gotten the better of Kathy, and that she'd told Elliot what she'd revealed. Fine, then. She could get mad, too.
"I was doing it for you, you jackass! And while we're on the topic of personal lives, why didn't you tell me I've been threatened?"
She pulled her arm out of his grasp, glaring at him. If he wanted a fight, she would give him one.
"I was trying to protect you! You could at least be grateful! Especially since my protecting you cost me my marriage!"
She couldn't believe the words he was hurling at her. He couldn't truly believe the impending divorce was her fault, could he? Still, despite how upset she was, she couldn't get past her anger at him. She couldn't forget his deception. The real reason he'd come to her last night hadn't been out of need for himself, but because he didn't trust her capabilities. It always came back to that.
"It's not about you protecting me. It's about you trusting me. And I've told you before, Elliot, if you can't trust your partner..."
She trailed off, not finishing her sentence. It didn't matter. He remembered how it ended all too well. Words that she had said to him once before. When he'd hired a detail without her knowledge during the Plummer case. The phrase echoed in his mind.
"If you can't trust your partner, Elliot, it's time to get a new one"
Still, he was determined to not give her the last word. So he went for the kill. He used the words that would hurt her as much as she was hurting him.
"Maybe I will get a new partner. One who knows how to mind their own damn business."
She said nothing to that. He guessed it was because she believed his threat was idle. She started to walk away. That only made him more angry. He spouted one final thing, and it was almost as if the emotion had taken over, and he had no control over the words leaving his mouth.
"From now on, I'll leave you alone. You stay the hell out of my life, too."
He had spat the words in her direction. She didn't even flinch.
"Fine."
Her voice was icy cold as she replied to him, then turned her back. A parting reply as she walked away her final response.
"We should split up in different directions to investigate, so we finish sooner. I'll find my own way back to the precinct."
With that said, she left. He watched her go, keeping her in his field of view until she disappeared around a corner. Then he turned on his own flashlight, and headed the opposite way.
As he walked, he shined the beam of the flashlight from side to side. He wasn't sure what it was he was searching for. He was too busy admonishing himself for the way he'd spoken to Olivia. She didn't deserve that. It wasn't the first fight they'd ever had, but certainly ranked high on the list as one of their ugliest. He made it a point to promise himself to meet up with her before leaving. He needed to apologize. The last thing he wanted was a new partner. There wasn't anyone he trusted more than Olivia.
Meanwhile, Olivia was off in an opposite section of the warehouse. She was trying to concentrate on the task at hand, which was searching the property. But she couldn't get Elliot's harsh words out of her mind. Shaking her head, she tried to focus.
She walked into a room. As she shone the beam of the light around it, she observed a few things. There was a door at the far corner. That might be worth looking into. If there was another entry or exit into the place, someone else could have easily found it.
Right now, the thing she wished most for was more light. But the power had been cut to this building long ago, so her flashlight was all she had. If only she and Elliot hadn't split up, they would have had double the light source.
She heard a scraping noise behind her, and turned suddenly. She was certain it was Elliot. Figuring he had come to check up on her, anger ran through her veins yet again. Could he not even trust her to inspect an abandoned building on her own?
As she turned, her flashlight beam landed on a figure standing in front of her. It wasn't Elliot. Whoever it was, they were dressed all in black. A mask covered their face. Before she could react – call out, reach for her weapon, anything – she saw them swinging something in her direction. It was a baseball bat.
The first blow landed on her wrists, causing her to drop the flashlight. It clattered to the floor, and began to spin. The result caused a series of shadows to whirl around her. It almost made her feel dizzy.
The second blow struck her across the ribs, and she doubled over in pain as the breath left her body. Her arms, still in pain from the first hit, wrapped around her midsection to cradle it.
Before she could even begin to recover from the first two, a third and final blow hit her across the lower back. Like the others, it was wielded with extreme intensity and force. It knocked her to her knees.
She lay there on the ground, on all fours. She was gasping, and unable to utter a sound.
The next thing she heard was the unmistakable sound of a gun being cocked. She felt the coolness of the metal as it was placed at the base of her skull. Despite her every effort not to react, she couldn't mask the shiver that ran through her body when a sinister voice spoke to her.
"Don't move. Don't scream."
She obeyed the instructions she was given. Laying still, she couldn't help but feel defeat as her handcuffs, badge, and gun were removed from her belt. A hand wrapped around her elbow, and jerked her to her feet. As soon as she felt the gun drop away from her head momentarily, she reacted.
Even though she was unarmed, she came out swinging. She stomped on the foot of the person holding her, bringing her elbow back at the same time. As soon as she spun around, she brought up her knee, attempting to cause pain in the most vulnerable of areas. She stuck out with a flat palm, feeling satisfaction when she heard a crunch as she connected with her assailant's nose.
The one thing she didn't do, despite still being in grave peril, was call out for Elliot. His earlier words still rang in her ears. Despite her anger with him, she wasn't about to endanger him. She would get out of this on her own, or die trying.
Just as she was attempting for another blow to the face of the person attacking her, she received one to hers. Stars exploded in her field of vision, and tears sprang to her eyes. Momentarily blinded, she struggled to see. But her attacker had gotten the upper hand, and forced her to her knees once more. Before she realized it, the gun was back at her head. She froze, not wanting to tempt fate.
She jumped when she felt a needle pierce her skin, at the junction between her neck and shoulder. Desperation won out, and she tried to shout for her partner. But her mouth felt like it was full of cotton, and she was unable to speak. Within seconds, she had crumpled to the ground.
Once Olivia was unconscious, the masked man acted quickly. He slipped her NYPD issue jacket off her, and lay it out on the ground, with the arms splayed out. Methodically, he placed the items he had taken from her belt on top. To further torment who would find them, he took out a knife. Making a small cut in her palm, he fixed it so that a few drops of blood now stained the detective's badge.
With the scene laid out, he withdrew a roll of duct tape from his coat pocket. He quickly bound Olivia's arms and legs, and placed a strip across her mouth. He knew he had to finish his work here soon, before the sedative wore off.
As a final act, he searched her pockets. He found her cell phone, and opened the camera. Even though he knew the photo quality would be poor, given the low light setting, he took a picture of the woman before him. He then retrieved a cable from his own pocket, and hooked the cell phone to his own. With the press of a few buttons, he had transferred all the contacts. Now, he'd have all he needed to complete his plan.
He set Olivia's phone alongside the other items he had taken from her, on top of her jacket. Then he picked the woman up, and threw her over his shoulder. It was time to make his exit. As he reached the door, he turned and fired his gun toward the far wall. That sound was sure to bring her partner running. Only, by the time he got there, it would be too late.
With the sound echoing in his ears, he slipped through the exit. He moved quickly to the car that was waiting just beyond the door, and placed the woman in the trunk, shutting the lid. Then he got into the drivers seat and drove away.
Elliot's heart was in his throat as he raced through the warehouse. He'd heard the gunshot. What he hadn't heard, though, was Olivia call out over the radio. There was no request for backup, no distress call.
Bringing his own radio to his lips, he took it upon himself to call it in.
"10-13, Shots fired. Officers requesting backup"
He gave dispatch their location. Someone would be here to help soon. But he still needed to get to Olivia. He couldn't wait. As he neared the area of the building where he knew she'd gone, he slowed in his running. It wasn't that he was no longer in a hurry, he just didn't want to alert anyone to his presence. Gun drawn, he began to creep toward an open door where he could swear he saw some light.
He crept into the area slowly, all senses on high alert. He didn't know if someone was waiting to ambush him. All he saw was a flashlight in the center of the room, shining on something that made his heart leap into his throat.
There, on the floor, was Olivia's jacket. Laying on top were the items she never would have left willingly without. Her gun, badge, handcuffs, and cellphone. Even worse, was the placement of the jacket. The arms were splayed out, as though in a gesture of mock surrender.
His eye caught something else, and he suddenly found it hard to breathe. That was definitely blood on her badge. An empty syringe lay on the floor by his feet. She'd been hurt, possibly drugged. Knowing he couldn't touch the items on the floor, lest they contain evidence, he swept his flashlight over the rest of the room. He found a very small blood trail leading to the door. He cursed under his breath. There had been another way out of the building. No wonder why he hadn't heard anyone leave.
Picking up his radio again, he made a call he never thought he'd have to make. He reported his partner missing, and requested that crime scene investigators show up on scene. Then he was helpless to do anything but wait. He walked over to a pillar in the middle of the room, and sunk down to the floor. The final words from the note were ringing in his ears.
Unlike the others, she will suffer. And it will be all your fault.
He also couldn't help but remember the last words he had hurled in her direction, the hateful manner in which they had been spoken. He'd told her to stay out of his life. He hadn't meant it. He had to get her back. Speaking into the air around him, he made a promise.
"Olivia, I'm going to find you, and bring you home. Just hold on."