Title: Welcome to New York
DISCLAIMER: see chapter one.
Authors Note: Hey :-) Wow, I am so thrilled (and humbled) and the awesome feedback!! Thanks so so much! Here is chapter two, and three is almost ready…. Though I don't know if I will be able to get it up as soon as I did this one. Anyway thank you so much for the feedback!!!!!
Chapter 2:
Welcome To New York
Sam sat on the VCTF plane lost in her own thoughts. The possibility of Jack resurfacing or an even a copy cat was a plague she had not been able to find release from since the first visit from the Special Victims Unit psychiatrist. It had been a fear ever since the move back to the VCTF. That choice hadn't been made without much debate, a choice she thought she wouldn't again have to make, but her gift she knew she had a duty to use to help the helpless.
She felt a shiver move down her spine and she shifted to look out the window.
"Are you okay Sam?" Bailey's strong voice filled her ears as his hand came down on her shoulder.
"Yeah, I was just thinking," she said tucking a blond hair behind her ear.
"We'll be landing in New York in twenty or so minutes. We are going straight to the SVU precinct from the airport," he said. She nodded silently biting her lip. The hand staid on her shoulder for a moment longer but soon left as Bailey walked away with a nervous sigh.
Sam turned back to the folder on the SVU killer; she felt the weight this case had brought to the team heavy on them. She flipped the pages looking over the reports and pictures. She felt the fear Detective Benson must being feeling. Like Jack this man was obsessive, he devoured all those in his path… He was seeking vindication from something. She shook her head trying to arrange her thoughts, but she didn't have all the information yet.
"We'll be landing in a couple minutes," John remarked a few moments before the captain did. Sam sought Bailey's eye contact. He nodded reassuringly. They knew little about what they would be facing. Sam felt a surge of energy move through her, what ever they would find she knew they could defeat it. Jack, no Jack, Jack copy cat they would figure it out and move on from on there.
"Agent Malone," Tom Delta local FBI greeted as the VCTF team descended the flight stairs.
"Agent Delta, I didn't know you were meeting us," Bailey said looking over the man carefully.
He had met Delta at a Quantico training exercise and never much cared for him. "I didn't either till a half hour ago. I'm just escorting you to the Special Victims Unit. My division wants nothing to do with this case," the short balding man said with a squinting eyes zeroing on Sam. Bailey now remembered why he disliked him. He stepped in front of Sam blocking Delta's view. Delta glared moving his gaze up to accommodate Bailey's tall frame. Bailey said nothing and led the way to the two black sedans at the end of the runway.
"I didn't like that guy," John said voiced hushed as he walked next to Bailey, George, Sam, Grace and Marcus following.
"Neither do I. Let's keep our eye on him. Let's make sure we know what he is up to," Bailey said glancing back at the rest of his team.
"Who ever is here we'll catch Bail. Jack is not resurfacing," John said reading the anxiousness in his friend's eyes.
"We have to catch this guy, no matter who he is. I will not let someone else go through what Sam has gone through," Bailey said firmly setting his jaw. John nodded silently climbing in first of two sedans.
"When are they supposed to be here?" Cragen asked impatiently.
"Anytime, the airport said they arrived 25 minutes ago," George replied.
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The SVU team was tense as they sat congregated in the squad room. Olivia was at her desk, Eliot leaned against the wall of lockers sleeves rolled tie loose, Fin and Munch stared at each other, cold coffee sitting between them.
"You don't have to stay here Olivia. You can go home…" Cragen started. Olivia snapped her head up.
"I'm staying Captain. I will be part of catching him. He's violated me in every way, I can't explain, I want to be here," she said powerfully. Cragen nodded his head in understanding.
"I think they're here," George said.
"About time," Elliot muttered as footsteps echoed on the hall floor.
"Violent Crimes Task Force I assume," Cragen said as Bailey entered leading his team.
"Agent Bailey Malone special agent in charge," Bailey extended his hand.
"Donald Cragen, captain of the Special Victims Unit. My detectives, Eliot Stabler," Cragen began introductions of his team which were positioned behind him.
"Olivia Benson, John Munch, and Odafin Tutuola." They each shook hands the VCTF.
"Pleasure. My team, forensic specialist Grace Alvarez, agents John Grant Marcus Payton and George Fraley, finally our profiler Dr. Samantha Malone…my wife."
__________________
Two agencies diametrically opposed begun to combine to achieve a mutual goal. While at first neither team was wiling to give up their independence they forged a bond out of need, a need to capture a man who was threatening one of their own.
"But why contact now? He went nearly two months before sending the first note to Olivia, it seems strange that just all of a sudden he would just start sending notes," Elliot said as both teams sat discussing the first move to make.
"I mean if you are suspecting a copy cat of this "Jack of All Trades" murderer wouldn't he make his objective known right off the bat?" Olivia backed him up. The room was silent for a moment.
"Not necessarily," Sam started slowly. "He wanted your attention. He knew how to get it. He moved forward slowly. The people… the connection became obvious slowly. He is growing more and more confident. The hand of the nanny… entering your apartment he is showing he is becoming brave. It's all a control issue. He wants to control everything, especially you. The photos of the victims… they show absolute planning and attention to detail. He wanted to show you he controlled every aspect. Everything happened because he allowed it to…. That was reason for the note! The note was his way of showing you that he allowed you to live!" Sam said as the picture in her mind became clear. Olivia looked a little queasy as the people surrounding the table fell silent.
"I need some air," Olivia declared coldly pushing away from the table. "I won't cower to this lunatic," she said walking away footsteps falling heavy on the floor.
Cragen looked at the people at the table and started to move. "I'll go," Elliot said standing and with a nod from his captain headed after his partner.
"Olivia," he called quietly as he saw her standing in the icy night outside the building. She didn't answer just stared at the empty street.
"I won't be a victim Eliot. My mother was a victim, I can't let this man rule my life..." she spoke slowly trying to warm her bare arms. Eliot walked towards her.
"You're not a victim; you are too strong for that. But just as you're not a victim you're not super human, you don't have to do this alone," he said softly standing directly behind her.
"What does that woman know? We don't need them here taking our case…" she said bitterly.
"Let them help us, don't be so stand offish. …'Liv you don't have to prove you're stronger then your mother." Eliot whispered. Her back went rigid for a moment then her shoulders slumped as she turned. "I don't? Some man controlled her almost till the day she died. This man hasn't raped me physically, but he might as well have emotionally! He's violated me, he's controlling me! He knows every action he makes dictates mine! Elliot, I don't know if I am…. Am strong enough to do this," she finished reveling more of her soul then she had intended.
"Oh, Liv," he breathed as he saw tears threaten. "It's going to be okay, I promise I won't let him do anything to you!" he said pulling her into his arms. She clung to him and burrowed her head into his shoulder. For one moment she showed weakness and drew from his strength, relied on his arms to hold her up and shield her from the world, something she never let any man do before.
"You know I don't want the FBI here any more then you do, but you are what's important. If we can find this guy faster with the FBI we save innocent lives…we save your life," he said holding her away from himself and making hr look into his face. "I won't lose you Olivia..." he whispered. His hands cupped her face. "My brave, brave, Olivia," he said voice course. She closed her eyes and brought his hands down with her own.
"Brave I'm not… we should get back inside," she whispered turning away walking silently towards the doors. She hesitated looking back at Elliot who refused to look at her but followed her in heavy hearted.
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"Olivia, Elliot, Agent Malone and his team are just on their way out," Cragen said as his detectives entered.
"Back to Atlanta?" Olivia asked a glimmer of hope in her voice.
"No, we've arranged to set up camp at a local hotel. We'll re canvas starting tomorrow morning," Bailey answered. They nodded.
"Okay," Cragen nodded clapping his hands together following them part way out, "We'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning."
"Nice meeting you," Sam smiled awkwardly as she followed her husband out.
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"Olivia, I want you to ether to go home with out of us, or get a hotel room with protective detail. After talking with the VCTF I don't want to put you at any higher risk then you already are." Cragen said folding his arms in unwavering decision.
"I'm not going to run from him! That's what he wants!" he glared.
"Its not running," Elliot said flatly.
"It's not?" she injected.
"No, now choose, before I seal your apartment as a crime scene. This has gone on long enough," Cragen said leaving no room for argument. She didn't argue only set her chin in angry defiance.
"You can come home with me, the house is empty since Kathy," Elliot offered. She nodded answer silently.
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"She's mine Stabler! Don't get any funny ideas now…" Jeremy said a cackle as he hung his newly developed black and white photos up to dry. Pictures of Elliot with Olivia's face in his hands the street lights casting a shaft of light on them hung before him making him grow angry. The man's temper flared up even more as he swirled another picture in the liquid watching the picture manifest in the shallow container. "Hmm… I wonder how well you would do Detective Stabler if I were to take your world away?" Jermoy questioned the silent room.
He turned to his bulletin board red light lighting up the dark room dimly. "What would you do if I crippled you ... I can't kill you… no that would hurt my darling butterfly… but I can…." He trailed fingering the pictures a sinister smile tugging at his lips.
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"Come to bed Sam," Bailey said as he pulled the blankets down on the queen sized bed.
"In a minute," she called from the suites sitting room.
The VCTF had taken up residence in the New York Pilot Suites, a nice large hotel with an extensive meeting room to which they could devote to the temporary command center for the VCTF, not to mention nice spacious rooms for the members.
"What are you doing love?" Bailey asked entering the room and finding Sam sitting on the floor at the coffee table the SVU case files spread open.
"Nothing… I just had a hunch. It's nothing," she shook her head tucking a stray piece of hair behind her ear.
"What is it?" he questioned sitting on the love seat.
"I'm not sure…" she sighed scooting over to lean against the sofa.
"You look tired," he said concern filling his voice.
"I am tired, the flight I think," she chuckled.
"Let's get some sleep and start fresh in the morning," he smiled leaning his hand down to cup her cheek.
"I love you Bail," she whispered leaning on his knees.
"I love you too Sam," he said urgently, a fresh need to protect her flowing over him. He kissed her waiting lips then stood leading her by the hand to the bedroom.
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"Understand me I don't want he hurt!"
"I understand, you've only said it a hundred times!"
"Just so we're clear. Do what you like but remember I hired you to work for me. If you think this is what the next step is by all means, but remember what your objective is,"
"I've got it covered. This will work, he'll be devastated… she'll run to help… then you can do what you like…"
"Fine just don't mess up,"
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"I will only be a few minutes," Olivia said hesitating at her apartment door.
"Okay," he said an eye brow arching.
"I…I…" she said biting her lip.
"Would you like me to wait out here?" he offered. She nodded slipping inside the door leaving it slighting ajar.
Elliot stood in the hallway for 15 minutes; he wondered what was taking so long. He slipped into the apartment darkness enveloping him. He heard a soft crying sound from the bedroom. "Olivia…" he called coming through the door. What he found was something he wouldn't soon forget.
Olivia was on her knees shoulders slumped. "Olivia," he whispered urgently rushing to her side.
"He…he…he was here," she cursed under her breath. He looked at the floor in front on her, there was the bottom drawer from her dresser… it was filled over flowing with butterflies. It was so simple, so seemingly unimportant but it was in it's simplicity that it packed the biggest blow.
"Oh Olivia," he wrapped his arms around her.
"I hate this! I hate that I'm crying…. I hate that I can't control my life…I hate everything! I hate that I am the cause…" she said angrily.
"Come on let's go…" he said lifting her up. She looked around slightly dazed.
"I'm the last person you need to be worrying about… I mean Kathy," she said even as his hand reached out to stable her.
"Enough, let's get you out of here, we'll worry about tomorrow when it comes, so let's not borrow trouble," he smiled closing the lid on her suitcase before flipping his open to call the precinct about the second entry.
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"I'm glad we ate on the way here," Olivia grinned eyeing the take out containers on the kitchen table as they entered the house. Elliot didn't say anything but held his hand up for quiet.
"Does something feel weird here?" he questioned. Olivia wasn't sure what she was supposed to feel, she was in another woman's house when she wasn't there… what kind of weird was he looking for?
"What is it?" she questioned all her carefully honed senses at attention.
"I don't know… it just feels different, oh well" he sighed removing his jacket. "I'll show you your room." They started towards the stairs.
"I'm afraid there isn't too much furniture left…Kathy came by a couple days ago and too most of it while I was at work," he remarked apologetically. She didn't comment but followed him up the well worn stairs.
"Anyway, here is the guest room… used to be Maureen's room but with her getting ready for college…" he shrugged.
"It's very nice," she smiled sitting her bag by the dresser.
"You know where the bathroom is?" he started out the door but turned back.
"'Yes I'm fine thank you… go get some sleep Stabler," she grinned.
"All right…" he said with an amused half laugh. "Good night Benson."
