TITLE: Almost Home

ATHOUR: RaeAnne

DISCLAIMER: see chapter one

A/N: Hey, again sorry for the wait, I don't know what has kept me so long away from the story! This is the final chapter, except for an "epilogue". I do hope this ended okay; if I have left any unanswered questions please remind me, I tried to cover everything… I hope I did. I hope this ended well and has lived up to exceptions. Thank you all SO SO SO much for your support in this story, your feedback has been what has kept me writing, I'm afraid I'd given up a while ago. You guys have stuck it out from chapter one till now, you have made my first SVU (and Profiler for that matter) fanfiction a true success, a better one I could have hoped for ;-) Thank you again! RaeAnne ---(-@

Chapter 10:

Almost Home

            Olivia felt warmth flood over her as tears trickled down her cheeks. With eyes closed to indulged in the for a brief moment relief as she imagined arms lifted her up, holding her secure and safe. She moaned and rolled, but the arms held, the feeling was glorious. Soft words echoed in her ear, she didn't understand but was assured by them. She knew she should fight them, they couldn't be really keeping her safe…it couldn't be arms of shelter holding her.

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            Elliot tore through the building a blinding fear and anger moving him past doors and barriers with no fear, no pain.

            "Elliot! You are going to do more harm to her by giving Jack notice of your coming by shaking the whole building!" Cragen said angrily grabbing the younger man by the collar making him halt. The suspected basement was just few feet away and Elliot shook with pent up energy.

            "Fine, I'm calm…" Elliot hissed tearing from the man's grip and heading for the large door.

            "Cover us," Bailey called as he and the captain high tailed behind Elliot.

            Elliot took the door with slightly more grace and awareness then he did with the rest of the building. Gun drawn and flash light in hand he moved down the stairs listening to for any signs of life. Quiet voices came from the bottom; a solid door seemed to muffle them beyond any understanding. With his chest heaving, hurting with every forced breath he waited for Bailey and Cragen to catch up.

            Bailey and Cragen eyed the door silently for a mere second then held up a hand and began the count down.

            Three…two….one, the count down was made and the door was promptly kicked in with much fury. Jack, and Jeremy sat a small round table starring at them, just waiting it appeared.

            "Gentleman…" Jack stood and bowed humbly as the mass of FBI, and NYPD surrounded them. Elliot charged the man, grabbing him by the throat and slamming him against the wall.

            "You hurt? Huh? Did you touch her… so help me…" Elliot roared as he repeatedly threw him against the wall and choking the life from him. With the butt of his gun his beat the back of Jack's head cursing him with every angry ounce of hatred and fear for Olivia, until Bailey and Cragen pulled him off.

            "It's not worth it Elliot…" Bailey said hoarsely. It barely registered, but Elliot knew that of all the men in the room it was Bailey who knew his pain and had just as much reason to beat this man beyond recognition, so if he could control himself, then so could he.

            "We've found her!" Fin cried exuberantly pointing to a bank of cameras on the back wall. Elliot rushed over as the others cuffed Jack and Jeremy. Fresh tears formed in his eyes as he saw the form lying on the mattress. He touched the black and white screen then turned to the team.

            "Where is this?" he demanded as he glanced around the room looking for an entrance. The group looked at him silent but one man pulled up a rug under the table where Jack and Jeremy were seated. A large trap door was the answer.

            "Get it open now!" Elliot cried franticly. They did just that a set of steps was found. Jack and Jeremy watched a shared arrogant smile plastered on their faces. Elliot gave one final look of disgust as he went down the stairs.

            The stairs ended at a small tunnel and at the end the large metal enforced door, door to Olivia's nightmare, and Elliot's most horrid fear.

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            "Olivia!" Elliot whispered as he saw her almost lifeless. His knees felt weak as he rushed to her. She was barely awake, feverish and shaking he hit knees by her and ran his hand over her forehead as he whispered words of relief.

            "Let's get her out of here," Cragen said emotion making his voice gravely, they would get her home. Two people came forward with a makeshift stretcher.

            "No! I'll do it," Elliot said lifting her up in his arms. She moaned softly and tried to pulling away from him. She was fighting him, and that ripped him apart. "Shh, it's okay... I've got you now…" he said into her hair as he pressed his lips to her hot forehead, tears melting the anxiousness that had gripped his heart.

            Police and FBI alike cleared a path for him as he carried her out of the hellish prison. The weight in his arms was assuring and as she relaxed in his arms his heart warmed.

            "His palace of jewels and gold…" Sam remarked as she watched the ambulance pull away with Olivia inside…Elliot's profile in the small glass window. Her eyes fell and a slight tremor crept over her body, Olivia was safe, Jack and Jeremy were captured, yet her fear wasn't completely eased.

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            "She's going to all right…" a doctor appeared to Elliot, Cragen, Fin and Munch as they waited in the ER. They breathed a collective sigh of relief.

            "When can we see her?" Elliot asked thankful the news received this ER visit was far better then the last time a loved one had been in here.

            "Soon they are moving her to a room right now. We have her sedated, her system has undergone some tremendous trauma and stress, she should well enough to talk by late morning," the doctor nodded to the SVU and left.

            The group remained silent for a few minutes more, Cragen was the one to finally break it, "After we see she is okay for ourselves, I think we'll head back to station and make sure that Jack and Dawson get booked and nothing questionable happens."

            Elliot nodded then said "I want to stay here… I can't leave her alone… she has no one but me…" he hesitated studying his folded hands as he lifted his head, elbows resting on his knees.

            "I know…. Stay here keep an eye on her," Cragen said laying a hand on Elliot's back trying to smile, but finding that his weariness had him falling short.

            "Thanks captain," Elliot whispered.

            "Hey Munch and I will go get you some coffee… maybe snacks… set you up for the night," Fin said trying to find something to say that would help.

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            "We'll call you later and see how everything is going," Cragen said walking with Munch and Fin to the hospital room door. Elliot nodded but stayed in the chair next to Olivia's bed.

            Cragen shook his head sadly as they left the room.

            "Oh 'Livia," Elliot pushed the words past his tightening throat. "How did I let this happen?" He lifted her hand up and placed it against his cheek. Silent they sat there in the dim light, green lights on the machines, and the mossy gray light of the bed illuminated the room slightly.

            Hours upon hours he sat there waiting for any sign that she was awakening, but was always disappointed. Sleepiness weighted itself on his eye lids and pressed down on his mind. He drifted trying to keep his eyes focused on her face, but it blurred and he laid his head on the bed, kissing her knuckles before slipping asleep.

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            "Do you want a lawyer?" a detective at the SVU questioning room asked Jack as they sat. Jack just smiled slyly. Fin grew angry and cursed under his breath. They had been interrogating both Jack and Jeremy for five hours and they had said nothing! Nothing, it would have been more satisfying if he had even asked for a lawyer, but they said nothing!

            "Let me go in," Sam said softly as she, Bailey, and Cragen stood watching Fin and Munch questioning Jack.

            "Absolutely not!" Bailey said adamantly.

            "I am the one he wants, I am the one he will open up to! Let me get something! Bail, I know you don't want to put me at risk, but you will be right here…I am going," She said putting a hand on his arm as she went for interrogation room door. Bailey tensed but didn't stop her, husband and boss he was but he knew he wouldn't stop her if she wanted to do something.

            "Thank you detectives, I'll take over from here," Sam smiled as she entered. Fin and Munch looked surprised but after hesitating and giving an unsure look to the two way mirror they left.

            "Hello Jack," she said sitting at the other end of the table laying down a folder in front of her.

            "Hello Samantha…" Jack answered flashing a toothy smile. Sam had to keep herself from recoiling.

            "Shall we begin? Why were you stalking Detective Benson?" she said keeping her voice even and calm.

            "I wasn't," he shrugged.

            Sam didn't say anything but stood up and headed for the door.

            "Where are you going?" Jack exclaimed.

            Sam stopped at the door, hand on the handle. "This will never work, if you lie to me… or talk in riddles," she turned back. Jack lifted his shoulders in surrender. She retook her seat.

            "Okay answer my question,"

            "You don't know who Jeremy is do you?"

            "What did I say about riddles?"

            "Yes, but I can't answer questions when you don't ask the right ones. You should ask who Jeremy is first."

            "Fine, who is Jeremy Dawson?"

            "Oh you are going to be so amazed when I tell you! Do you think you can guess?"

            "I have no time for guessing, answer the question,"

            "Fine, get testy, you know I really don't like the way you are treating me, after all we've been through! But to answer you question Jeremy is Olivia's father! Isn't that just dandy! I could hardly believe it myself!"

            Sam swallowed hard and felt sick. She couldn't believe it; the physical resemblance was there now that she had the two put together. She tried to clear her mind and refocus.

            "It gets better, but we'll go into that later! Jeremy has been stalking Olivia since she born. He's a little off, if you know what I mean. Well Jer called me a few months ago and said he did something he shouldn't have… he had raped and killed a woman… a woman who went to school with Olivia… well you know me… I came as soon as I could and gave him hand. I must confess though my intentions weren't all honorable."

            "That doesn't surprise me, so why did you come help him?"

            "Because he asked me to,"

            "How do you know him?"

            "You really don't know that either?" he laughed.

            "What is that supposed to mean?"

            "Jeremy is my brother! He needed by help… but then I discovered that there was something I could get from the deal…"

            Sam tried to comprehend it all, but her head was swimming.

            "I thought you would get that… but once I got here, it didn't take long to realize that we could make this into something that would benefit me. I made the plans to get you here! Everything about Cupid, it was Jeremy's idea, I mean he calls Olivia his butterfly, kind of twisted, but I just played it up. I thought it was rather brilliant! I mean it got you away from Chloe… then I found out you were pregnant… everything just came together!" Jack smiled.

            Sam felt her heart about stop and the words settled around her like a moonless night. "Are you saying that you have Chloe?" she breathed the questioned motionless.

            "Indeed…." he grinned. The second the word was out of his mouth the door burst open, Bailey coming in eyes like fire and a temper to match.

            "Where is she?" he demanded barely holding back his temper.

            "You didn't fill your end of the bargain! I know I can't have the baby now, but I want it!" Jack said not backing away as Bailey got his face.

            "Let me see my brother, then maybe I will answer you question… but be nice, we wouldn't want little Chloe to be hurt now would we?" Jack grinned arching an eye brow. Bailey clenched his fists in anger, and to keep himself from beating the man to bloody pulp.

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            "He has my daughter… oh Bailey… what are we going to do?" Sam whispered feeling herself begin to spin out of control.

            "We'll figure it out soon, it will be okay…" he answered pulling her into a tight embrace.

            "Talk to Jeremy, he has lost Olivia, the one thing that he loves… we can get to him! He's a father who has been searching and watching his daughter all her life. I don't think Jack put a parental emotion into the mix when he thought through his plan! Play one brother against the other, something will snap…" George Haung said.

            "It's a long shot, but worth a try," John said heading off to do the questioning.

            "We can do this, we will get her home!" Bailey assured.

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            They tell me I'm a father; they tell me I have the keys to stopping this madness. What do they know? Do they know the monster that dwells inside of me? Have they watched their daughter grow up from a distance? Do they know the torment I have gone through? They try to get to turn on my brother… I know I hold the key to that young girl's salvation, but why should I help them?

            Don't act so high and might Mr. Malone that infuriates me! I will give you the information you need, I am no monster! But please don't insult me!

            Hours have passed, those hours have turned to days, I can't figure out where I am… a jail cell I have no doubt, but the rest is a blur. The questions they never end, like the voices in my head that I can't quiet they continue. The affair with Kathy… part of my brother's wonderful plan. Oh why play ignorant you know that you went along and helped plan everything! Don't play innocent!

            All I wanted was to get close to my butterfly! All I wanted was to please her, make her know me… maybe love me! But I know that is out of the question. Oh the pain it cripples me! Stop yelling… I just want the yelling to stop!

            In this small room the one mirror… and a chair… they are watching me… I feel their eyes.

            She's there… I feel her, my butterfly is near. I walk to the mirror and lift my hand, the mirror is cool and my heart pounds as I feel her near. I close my eyes.

            The silence, the emptiness, the yelling… I must make it stop! I grab the chair, unsure what I am going to do with it, then it dawns on me. I hurl it at the mirror; let me get to my butterfly! The shaking sends tremors down my minds and with no connection to my butterfly I sink to my knees and with one short loud sole cleansing scream surrender to the fate which I know is mine.

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            "My father…" Olivia whispered standing on the other side of the mirror tears forming but not falling. She leaned heavily on Elliot as her head felt light. The tormented man starring back at her was her flesh, her blood, her nightmare and her worst fears manifesting themselves in the one man who she thought would be the one who loved her no matter what, her father. But her childish hopes became a stark contrast when she looked at the murder in front of her.

            He came to the glass and she took a step back. The hand on the mirror drew her in, the desperation and sadness in his eyes brought her forward. She placed her hand on against the pane, tears coming down as the larger one clenched in a fist.

            A father…and his daughter blood binding them forever. She started shaking and her tears became sobs which she hid in Elliot's shoulder.

            They exited the room never looking back

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            "Mom! Bailey!" Chloe cried running to meet them.

            She was standing on a vacant sidewalk all alone tears rolling down her cheeks, dirt smudging her face.

            "Oh baby!" Sam cried pulling her into the safety of her reach. Bailey wrapped his girls into his embrace.

            "It's okay now… oh its okay now, Jack will never hurt us again…" Sam cried tears of joy and relief flowing. She brushed Chloe's hair back and kissed her forehead; keeping one arm around her then wrapped the other around Bailey as they headed toward the ambulance.

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            Of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, friends and lovers, hopes and fears, death and life, friendship and salvation, torment and deceit. Life's many turns, despairs and joys. Each action you take shapes your life, the blood flowing in your veins keeps you alive, but the hands that help you along the way shape who you are. The people in your life are what make you. Take comfort in the ones you love, in the ones who love you.