Early morning sunlight gently wove its way through the hotel room blinds, bathing the room in a warm, serene glow. Kate wasn't sure how long she'd been staring but the tableau of him looking so relaxed and peaceful in sleep made her reluctant to draw her eyes away. He was lying on his stomach, facing towards her with his face buried so deep into the pillow that Kate idly wondered how he was even breathing. But the reassuring rise and fall of his back confirmed that he was indeed still with her. He had one arm slung up over the top of the expensive feather down pillow and the other was tucked up underneath, clutching it to his face.

The sheets were slung low on his body, sitting just in the curve of his lower back and Kate couldn't resist running her fingertips from the base of his skull, all the way down his spine until she reached the fabric covering his well-muscled ass. Her featherlight touch wasn't enough to wake him but the gooseflesh that broke out on the skin of his back told her that he sensed her touch even in slumber.

As she traced her fingers over his skin, Kate thought back to their conversation the previous night and her subsequent dreams when she had eventually fallen asleep. She had never been the kind of woman who dreamed about meeting Prince Charming, getting married in a beautiful white gown and having a family of her own. If she was honest, she hadn't given it much thought at all until she met Jake and, given how well that turned out, she had put it to the back of her mind...until now.

They'd only been together a few months so she supposed it was a bit premature to be having that particular conversation but she couldn't help but wonder if he wanted to have any more children. He was already a grandfather and, at this point, he'd be in his seventies when any potential children they might have would be graduating college.

But she couldn't erase the image of the little girl with her nose and skin tone but with Hank's chin and beautiful brown eyes. The realness of the image shook her to the core.

Shuffling closer, she pressed a kiss to his exposed shoulder, continuing her pattern up and down his back until his eyes eventually fluttered open, chocolate orbs still hazy with sleep.

"Mmmm. Good morning."

His gruff greeting had its usual effect and Kate fought not to be too obvious in squeezing her thighs together. The last thing she needed was for him to know exactly how much power his voice wielded but, Hank being Hank, it was highly likely he already knew. Propping himself up onto his elbows, he leaned in and captured Kate's lips with his own in a long, unhurried kiss that had Kate's toes curling.

Without separating, Hank took hold of Kate's waist and rolled them so that she was settled comfortably on his chest, her thighs resting between his own, taking the opportunity to enjoy the fact that they weren't on anyone's time but their own.

Kate drew back, tracing her damp lips across his chin and down the line of his throat, running her tongue over the spot just under his Adam's Apple that always had his hips jerking up against her.

Dipping her tongue into the hollow of his throat, Kate nipped the exposed flesh where his collarbones met, enjoying the slight redness her ministrations left on his skin.

Sliding further down his body, she came to rest in the space between his parted legs, laving his stomach and hips with open-mouthed kisses, purposely avoiding the place where he wanted her touch the most. Kate pressed a soft kiss to each of his hip bones before turning her attention to the flesh of his upper thighs. Content to let her have her way with him, Hank simply watched on with one arm draped casually behind his head, eyes lidded with lust as she showered his body with attention.

When Kate finally took him in hand, she made sure their eyes were connected before licking a long, slow stripe from the underside of his shaft all the way to the head, using her tongue to swipe away the moisture that had begun gathering at the tip. Hank let out a long breath, unable to tear his eyes away from her as she went to work, pleasuring him with her hands, mouth and tongue.

He dropped one hand to her head, threading his fingers through her soft locks when she took him deep into her throat and held him there, the flat of her tongue working against him simultaneously.

"Fuck!" His deep, grunted expletive sent a fission of electricity straight to her core, her thighs grinding together for some relief.

Pulling off him with a wet 'pop', Kate took a moment to give her aching jaw a rest, tracing his flesh with her now swollen lips.

"That good, baby?"

The dual sensation of damp lips and warm breath prompted Hank into action, clutching her biceps to pull her back up his body, smashing their lips together in a hard, messy kiss.

Rolling her onto the mattress beside him, Hank reached into the bedside table and pulled out a foil packet, ripping the packaging and swiftly sheathing himself before getting to his knees.

"Turn over."

His gruff command drew a whimper from Kate who immediately did as she was told. Straddling her thighs, Hank placed his palms on either side of her head before dropping his weight onto her back, attaching his lips to the nape of her neck and sucking a deep bruise into the flesh, her back arching in response.

"You ready for me?"

The onslaught of sensations had Kate's mind spinning. The sharp pinch of his teeth on her neck, the blazing heat radiating from his body, the familiar scent of him permeating the space around her, the feel of his hard, pulsating length gliding smoothly between her cheeks.

"Y-Yes."

He'd barely started and yet she was struggling to form a coherent sentence, her vocabulary reduced to single words and syllables. He was evidently enjoying the effect he was having on her as he continued his gentle pumping, making no effort whatsoever to give her what she wanted.

"Yes what?"

'Bastard.'

She loved and hated him when he got like this. He wanted her to give him specific details but he was providing just enough of a distraction that she wasn't capable of much more than pushing her hips back towards his with a broken moan.

"I'm r-ready. Need you. Inside. Now."

And then he was pressing himself inside her with one firm stroke, her inner walls fluttering around him, simultaneously protesting and welcoming his intrusion.

Hank started a slow but steady pace, content to simply enjoy the feel of her pliant flesh stretching to accommodate him but Kate's winding hips were testing his already slipping control.

Dropping his mouth to her ear, his breath fanned teasingly over her heated skin.

"That good, baby?"

He echoed her earlier words with a grin, knowing his use of the pet name would drive her crazy and, as predicted, she shoved her hips back impatiently, a mewl vibrating against the sheets.

"Please Hank."

There was something about such a strong, independent, smart woman begging for him to fuck her that made him feel wild. With a grunt, he shifted his weight backwards on her thighs so that he could take hold of her waist in a punishing grip, doubling down on his efforts.

Kate knew she'd have the bruises to show for it tomorrow but the sensation of his thick shaft dragging across her sensitive walls was more than worth whatever discomfort awaited. Sweat was beginning to sheen on both their bodies as Hank drilled her into the mattress, his fingertips digging into the flesh of her hips as he pulled her back to meet his powerful thrusts.

Within minutes she was a trembling, boneless mess beneath him and he followed her over the edge seconds later, emptying himself inside her with a grunt of pleasure. Kate was motionless underneath him, trapped between his heaving chest and the damp sheets, his mouth lavishing her shoulders and neck with kisses as they recovered from yet another intense climax.

Hank gently withdrew from her body, much to Kate's displeasure, and flopped onto the mattress beside her. Kate had yet to move when Hank rolled out of the bed to dispose of the condom and she was still in the same spot when he returned. Leaning over her prone form, he pressed his lips to her shoulder, unable to hide the smirk of satisfaction on his face.

"You still with me?"

She mumbled an incoherent response and Hank's smugness increased tenfold. He took great pride in the fact that she could barely remember her own name when he was through with her.

"Come on, we better start getting ready. I wanna stop by the 16th on the way."

When the two of them were finally dressed and, in Kate's case lucid, they made their way to Midtown and into the 16th precinct, home to the NYPD Special Victims Unit and one Captain Olivia Benson. They badged the front desk and passed through security, Hank waving to one of Benson's detectives on the way.

Olivia was in her office with her back to the door when Hank rapped his knuckled on the door frame, drawing her attention. When she turned, a large smile graced her beautiful face, her eyes lighting up at Hank's presence and Kate was forced to stamp down the rising jealously as Benson rounded her desk and stepped into his outstretched arms.

"Hank! So good to see you."

"Good to see you too Liv. You look great!"

'Wait, what? Liv!?'

"To what do I owe this pleasure? You got a case for me?"

It was only then did she spot Kate loitering in the doorway, torn between wanting to just leave them to it and behaving in a socially acceptable manner.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise you'd bought reinforcements."

Her dark eyes surveyed Kate with interest, recognition crossing her features after a few seconds.

"Detective Meadows, right? NYPD Intelligence?"

Kate stepped forwards with a nod, hand extended as her manners and professionalism took over instinctively.

"Good to see again Captain Benson. It's CPD Intelligence now, I transferred out of New York six months ago."

"I see. Well, you've certainly bagged yourself a good one here, Hank. All I ever heard from Ben Walker was how much of a rising star this young woman is."

Olivia's appraisal had Kate ducking her chin in embarrassment but she was saved from having to respond by Benson gesturing for them to take a seat opposite her desk as she dropped into her own chair on the other side.

"So, is this business or pleasure Hank?"

Kate felt herself involuntarily bristling as she used the words 'pleasure' and 'Hank' in the same sentence.

'Since when have you been the jealous type Katherine? Fucking hell, get a grip on yourself.'

"Pleasure, actually. Kate and I are visiting Erin and Kate's brother for a few days."

Benson's eyes darted between the two of them, her sharp mind piecing together the information quickly and Kate could see the exact moment when the penny dropped as Benson quirked an eyebrow in Hank's direction, giving him a pointed look that clearly said 'Oh, really?'.

Deciding to remain ignorant to her silent question, Hank plowed on.

"Erin transferred to the FBI a couple of months' back. She reached out to you yet?"

Taking the not so subtle hint to change the direction of conversation, Olivia straightened in her chair and nodded.

"She has actually, we're going to grab dinner next week. FBI was a good move for her, Hank. I think it's just what she needed."

Hank nodded in agreement and Kate began to feel like a bit of an intruder, listening to the two of them shoot the breeze and having nothing really to contribute. Her ears did perk up when Benson started updating Hank on a kid called Noah who she could only assume by the picture of the curly-haired boy on her desk that it was Benson's son.

"Liv, I need…"

The familiar sound had Kate's head swivelling towards the door and, there in all his glory was Elliot Stabler, the sleeves of his powder blue shirt rolled up to reveal tanned, well-muscled forearms, one of which was braced against the wooden doorframe as he balanced his weight over the threshold. His crystal blue eyes locked with hers, an expression of surprise passing across his face before it was quickly replaced with a warm smile she had come to associate with him.

"Kate?"

She pushed herself to her feet, a wide smile settling on her own face as she side-stepped around the chair and into Elliot's waiting arms, drawing his hulking frame down towards her and holding him tight. When they parted, Kate gripped his bulging biceps in her hands, holding him at arms length so she could look him over. He looked just as she remembered, head clean shaven and sun-kissed skin but, this time, minus the rugged salt and pepper goatee.

"You look good, El. How's OC treating you?"

"Ah, you know, same old scum bags."

Kate let out a laugh, eyes shining with a combination of amusement and affection. Dropping her hands, she took a step back and Elliot moved further into the room, shirt pulling tight across his shoulders as he crossed his arms in front of his broad chest.

"So, you back in town or what?"

He hadn't even acknowledged that there was another unfamiliar face in the room and Kate idly wondered how much longer Hank would remain silent given that she could feel his eyes burning a hole into the side of her head.

"Na, just visiting. El, this is Sergeant Hank Voight, Chicago PD Intelligence." She gestured to Hank who got to his feet and moved towards the two of them, his body language not quite hostile but certainly not friendly either.

"Hank, Detective Elliot Stabler, Organised Crime Task Force."

The two men shared a firm handshake, both of them eyeballing one another. The silence stretched uncomfortably between them and Kate eventually sent a pleading look towards Benson who abruptly cleared her throat and interrupted the standoff.

"So, uh, how do you two know each other?"

Elliot's eyes flicked over to Olivia, his shoulders hiking casually.

"OC and NYPD Intelligence were both tracking the Kosta Organisation last year. Bell asked her to help us out with a couple of UC assignments."

Olivia couldn't hide her look of surprise. She had been somewhat involved in that case and yet she couldn't recall hearing that Intelligence had someone on the inside. Before she could question the duo any further, Elliot turned his focus back to Kate, eyes roaming over her form.

"So, Chicago, huh? Interesting choice."

Kate shrugged, doing her utmost not to shy away from his piercing stare and the silent question that underpinned his verbal one. When she had taken the UC assignment, her life had been in tatters. Her fiancee had cheated on her, she had just been shot and she was suffering badly with PTSD. Walker had been reluctant to let her take the job but, after passing both her psych and physical evals with flying colours, he eventually caved and released her into the care of Ayanna Bell and the OC Task Force.

Both she and Stabler were kindred spirits, two lost souls feeling around in the dark, doing what they could to keep their heads above water and, eventually, that shared desire to find something that resembled dry land manifested in a brief but intense romance. Neither of them were in the right state of mind to commit to anything but Kate fondly recalled the nights she spent in his arms, talking about Jake, his wife, her father, his kids. After a night with Elliot, she would leave in the morning feeling a little bit lighter, a little bit more whole.

"Yeah, CPD Deputy Supe did me a solid."

He didn't press her further, the look in his eyes told her that he already knew the reason why she had left his bed before dawn without so much as a backwards glance when the assignment was over. He knew she needed to get out of New York and start fresh where there was no baggage, no memories. He'd been there himself and he was fully cognizant that sometimes saying goodbye wasn't an option.

"What did you need El?"

Benson drew the attention of all three people in her office back to her, sending a pointed look to Stabler.

"Think we've got a…situation."

Olivia let out a sigh, sending an apologetic look towards Hank who waved her away.

"Ah, that's alright, we'll let you get back to work."

Olivia once again rounded her desk, taking Hank by the shoulders and drawing him in for a brief embrace. When they parted, Kate nodded towards the other woman with what she hoped was a genuine smile.

This time it was Benson who extended a hand towards Kate.

"Nice to see you again, Detective."

Kate shook Benson's hand firmly before dropping her arm back to her side.

"You too."

As they moved towards the door, Olivia spoke again before they crossed over the threshold into the SVU bullpen.

"Don't be a stranger, Hank."

With a nod and a promise to visit again soon, both Hank and Kate bid Benson and Stabler a final farewell, the latter giving Kate a short wink before they left the two of them alone in the SVU bullpen. Kate silently followed Hank back downstairs as the two headed back out onto the street. Matt's train was getting in to Grand Central Station in thirty minutes so they set off on foot down West 35th Street.

They were barely ten feet from the precinct when Hank tugged Kate's hand into his own and the question she had seen coming from the second Elliot turned up tumbled from his lips.

"So, wanna tell me what that was all about back there?"

Kate slowed to a stop, Hank stopping alongside her. Part of her had hoped that she could have left this part of herself buried, that she didn't have to look into his eyes as she told him that another man had been her source of comfort at one of the darkest times of her life. She knew how she would feel if the boot were on the other foot and guilt washed over her like a tidal wave.

"I spent a few weeks with him undercover after I got shot. I…" she sighed, gripping Hank's fingers tighter in her own. "…I wasn't in a good place. The PTSD was particularly bad and Elliot wasn't faring any better. He had recently lost his wife, they were married for nearly forty years before she was killed in a car explosion."

Hank's brows furrowed, his heart clenching at the thought of her emotional turmoil. He also felt a pang of sympathy towards Stabler, knowing first hand how soul destroying it was to lose a spouse.

"He…we…" the words stuck in her throat like treacle. "…he was there for me when no-one else was."

He cupped her chin in his hands, drawing her face towards his, planting a soft kiss on her lips. He knew what it was like, the isolation, the loneliness. Despite the jealously that had raged through his body like wildfire at seeing how close the two of them were, on some level he was pleased that she'd had someone to turn to when she needed it.

"I'm glad you had someone to lean on Kate."

He brushed the pads of his thumbs across her cheeks before releasing her face, hands dropping down to pull her flush against his body.

"For the record, there was never anything more than friendship between me and Benson."

Olivia was a good friend, someone who knew about the struggles of the job better than anyone and she'd been a source of comfort for him over the years but, despite there being a definite mutual attraction, the two of them had never crossed the line into romance.

"I'd be lying to you if I said she wasn't attractive but…these days I've only got eyes for one woman."

Kate suddenly felt embarrassed at her own jealous behaviour given how graceful Hank had been when confronted with one of her ex lovers. She wasn't a jealous woman by nature so the sudden urge to claw the eyes of every woman who cast a look in Hank's direction took her by surprise.

"Is that right?"

At his muttered confirmation, Kate lifted up onto her toes and dropped a kiss to his lips.

"You know, I was never the jealous type until I met you, Voight. You definitely bring out the worst in me."

He laughed in response before they pulled apart and continued on towards the station, fingers interlaced between them. Within thirty minutes they were standing side by side in the beautiful terminal of Grand Central Station, Kate tilting her head backwards to study the exquisite design of the ceiling, still in awe even after all these years. Matt's train had only just arrived and a sea of people were making their way towards them, flooding the terminal with passengers as Kate craned her neck in search of her brother.

Barely five minutes had passed when Kate spotted her brother's tall frame and mop of dark brown hair heading towards her, a broad grin on his face. When he reached her, he wrapped her up in his arms, giving her a strong squeeze as Kate took in his familiar scent.

"I've missed you baby sister." His words were mumbled into her hair before he held her at arms length, turning his attention to Hank who was stood just behind her.

"You must be Hank."

Matt released his hold on Kate to extend a hand to Hank who shook it firmly with a smile.

"Nice to meet you Matt."

"You too. Good to know she didn't make you up!"

Whacking him on the shoulder with an open palm, Kate gave him a glare that told him he better be on his best behaviour or there would be hell to pay for it later.

With a good-natured laugh, Matt raised his hands in mock-surrender and together they made their way out onto the sidewalk. The trio stopped by a nearby diner to get some lunch and catch up before heading over to Fifth Avenue to catch some of the St Patrick's Day Parade.

"So, how long have you guys been dating?"

Kate's fork hovered half-way between her plate and her mouth, her eyes sliding to her right where Hank was slowly swallowing a bite of his burger. She hesitated for a beat before responding.

"Few months."

Matt cocked an eyebrow at her short response, a mischievous smile playing on his face as he placed his knife and fork down on the table, bracing his elbows on either side of his plate and resting his chin on steepled fingers as he considered her.

He knew from the second he saw them together at the terminal that his sister was head over heels for this guy. Sure, he was older than her and it wasn't completely ideal that he was her boss but there was no doubt in his mind that Kate was happier than ever.

"That's all you got? 'A few months'? C'mon, I wanna know more! Was it the covert looks over the interrogation table or-"

Kate landed a firm kick to his shin under the table and, at the impact, Matt winced and rubbed the abused limb with an exaggerated whine of pain.

"Shut it Matthew. Jesus Christ."

She was dying of embarrassment at her brother's antics and, casting an apologetic look in Hank's direction, she glared at Matt across the table, silently warning him to shut up before she decked him.

"You see what I've had to put up with for thirty three years Hank? I don't envy you, pal." Matt addressed Hank with a cheeky wink at his sister, noticing how the older man smiled as he watched the siblings interact. It reminded him very much of the relationship Erin had with Justin. They would bust each other's balls and fight like cat and dog but, ultimately, they would always have each other's back because they were family, and that's what families do.

When they finished their food and Hank won his battle to pay the check, the three donned their coats and left the diner to head towards the parade. Just as they reached the swarm of people out in the street, Hank ducked into a convenience store to grab a few bottles of water, leaving the siblings alone for a few minutes.

"So, how's Isaac doing? I thought you might have invited him." Kate watched her brother's expression become morose at the mention of his boyfriend. "You guys still doing alright?"

Matt hiked his shoulders, eyes staring out into the crowd unseeingly.

"We…it's been difficult with our schedules. I can feel us drifting apart but I don't know how to stop it." He dropped his gaze to his shoes, scuffing the toe of his sneaker against the concrete making him look like a kid all over again.

Kate reached out a hand to clutch his bicep comfortingly.

"If you love each other enough, you'll find a way to make it work. Just…try not to overthink it."

Hank returned a few moments later, handing the two of them a bottle of water. As Kate turned to thank him, a man wearing a dark green hooded jacket with a large black backpack caught her eye and, in her peripheral vision, she could tell that Hank had clocked him as well because he too was tracking the man's movements with his eyes. For all intents and purposes, the man was average looking. Dark hair, brown skin and, even from this distance, Kate could tell that he had almost jet black eyes. But there was something about him that had the hairs on Kate's neck standing on end in a way her training told her not to ignore.

"You got a read on that guy at 11 o'clock?"

Hank nodded imperceptibly.

"You saw him too, huh?" He said, eyes trained on the man a few yards in front of them.

"Yeah, suspicious minds think alike I guess."

They watched as the man peeled off from the crowd and moved towards the entrance to an alleyway, his eyes darting around the space around him.

"What's suspicious?" Matt asked, his eyes following the direction of Kate's gaze to settle on the man.

Before she had the chance to respond, the man had ripped off his green jumper to reveal a vest with enough explosives attached to level a five block radius. In his hand was a detonation device, the plastic cap already lifted with his thumb poised over the red button.

There was no time to get to him. Kate reached out and grasped the front of Matt's shirt with one hand and gripped Hank's forearm with the other.

"Al'awal min kathir."

'Oh fuck.'

"Allahu Akbar!"