"So what's gonna happen now?" Katherine was growing impatient. She didn't like how the agent had ordered her to pack up. "Am I going into hiding again?"
Agent Shayne didn't see the need to tell the former ADA the severity of the whole situation. I'm sure she can figure it out just fine on her own. She had her orders, and the determined agent has every intention of making sure her witness stayed alive.
"Yes, you are."
Just like that. Unconsciously, Katherine's battered heart started breaking again. She wanted to ask the agent how long, but she knew better. None of the agents had an answer for her when she asked them a year ago, and she knew it was no different now.
"Ready?" the female agent asked her.
"Yeah." Katherine was numb. She didn't know what to feel.
Settling in the car, her mind wandered. Millions of thoughts ravished her mind like hungry vultures. Does Olivia know? Fear rippled through her body as she thought of the detective. Is she in danger as well? Catching the agent's gaze, she started questioning the other woman.
"Do they know?"
It took a moment for the young agent to realize what was being asked. "You know I can't tell you that."
"Please, agent Shayne. I need to know." The blonde's eyes pleaded with the woman next to her.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I really can't tell you anything. You might want to get some rest. It's going to be a long ride."
Katherine heard the finality of the tone in the other woman's voice. There was no arguing, no more prying for more information. She sat back, trying hard to control her trembling fingers and her aching heart. Tears once again slowly ran down her cheeks as she shut her eyes, her lips whispering a silent prayer for the safety for her absent lover.
Night had fallen by the time the entourage had arrived at their destination. Katherine felt the car slowing down, and that had instantly drawn her out of her sleepy state. She looked out of the window, trying to figure out where they were. Of course you don't know where you are, Alex Cabot. You're in hiding. The last thought never failed to shake her to the core. Her gaze shifted to the young agent sitting across from her.
"We're here," the other woman offered, "It'll just be a minute before we can move in."
Katherine simply nodded her heavy head, knowing that an answer was not needed. She let out a sigh, filled with nothing but sorrow and hope lost, wondering just how long more before all this would come to an end. Numbed by the presence of the agents and the false sense of security, the blonde tried to push her fears away. As she settle in at their new safehouse, one question filled her mind. How long more?
-----
Throughout the ride back to the stationhouse Elliot couldn't help but steal glances at his partner. He had sat patiently in court and had waited for her while she testified that morning. He wondered if the silence had anything to do with the threat or the thought that they might not see Alex ever again.
"You ok, Liv?" Elliot's voice broke the silence.
"Yeah, just trying to figure things out, you know," Olivia exchanged a worried glance with her partner. They both knew what would happen. Years of training and experience taught them the harsh reality of truth.
It was an innocent gesture, meant to only reassure the other. Elliot placed his right hand on Olivia's shoulder and squeezed it gently. She flashed him a weak smile, assuring him that she was grateful for his thoughtfulness.
It was mid-morning when both partners got back to the stationhouse. As if sensing their presence, Cragen flung open his office door and motioned for them to enter. Exchanging a knowing look, they filed into the office without a word. The worry on their commanding officer's face was unmistakable. But just as soon as it had appeared, it was gone.
"How'd the meeting with Hammond go?" the older man asked his detectives, his hand reaching for a Twizzlers from the tub on his desk.
"The usual. Looks like we'll be stuck wearing these for a while," Elliot flashed the bullet proof vest to his commanding officer. He refrained from asking his captain how he found out about the meeting, not ready to deal with the hard reality just yet.
"As of right now I am limiting both of you to desk duty until further notice." Cragen held up his hand to silence any protest. "You know as well as I do that this is the safest way."
"With all due respect, sir, I think we can handle this just fine," Olivia said tersely, trying to keep her frustration in check.
"Look, both of you are my best detectives. You are like family to me," the seasoned Captain pinched his nose gently to take away the dull throbbing in between his eyes. "I don't like it anymore than you do but you know that this arrangement is for the best."
The slouched shoulders and the subtle change in the two detectives' expression paused the Captain's words for a moment. Keep them safe, that's your main priority. He let out a disappointed sigh before he spoke again.
"I know you want to get this guy because of what he did to Alex. I do too, but running around in the dark would not help at all. And I don't need to remind you about the first lesson they teach you in the Academy. If you can't stay safe then how are you able to save others?" Cragen's voice grew a little stronger. "I don't want to repeat myself, Detectives. Stay low, stay safe and hopefully this will be over soon."
With a heavy sigh both detectives exited their captain's office. Slumping down into their chairs, neither spoke a word, choosing instead to distract their racing minds with mundane paperwork. The weight of the vest and the rough texture was a constant reminder to the two detectives just how dire the situation had become.
-----
6:35 pm. For the first time, in a long time, Elliot got to go home at a decent hour. This meant he would actually get to have dinner with his family and spend some time with his children. The irony of something good coming out of a bad situation had not escape him. His dry chuckle caught Olivia's attention, and she looked up from the file she was reading, only to find him putting on his coat.
"Home?" It was more of a statement than a question.
"Yeah, need a ride?" Elliot offered.
"Nah I want to stay a little longer," Olivia said, her eyes going back to the sheet of paper sitting on the desk.
"Liv..." Elliot started to protest before he saw the look on his partner's face.
"We have to do it sooner or later, I'm just doing it now so we don't have to worry about it later. God knows what's gonna happen..." Olivia's voice trailed off. The weight of the situation finally came crashing down on her. She tried her best to maintain her composure, not wanting her overprotective partner to worry.
As soon as Elliot was out of her sight, Olivia darted toward the bathroom. She barely made it to the bathroom stall in time, her body hunched over the seat, her hands flat against the wall to prevent her from falling while the contents of her stomach emptied themselves into the bowl. Moments passed before she finally stood up. Turning the tap at the sink to wash the offending aftertaste out of her mouth, she looked at her reflection in the mirror briefly. Her hair was longer now than she remembered it being, her eyes filled with nothing but sorrow and lost love, the addition of a few wrinkles a testament to her unhealthy working hours and her deteriorating emotional state. For an instant, she felt a pair of hands on her shoulder, gently massaging away the tense muscles. Memories of Alex in Olivia's apartment came crashing back again. Her hands moved up, wanting to confirm the psychosis, only to be met with a wisp of air.
"This is crazy," just as soon as those words left her mouth, a sense of deja vu hit her. Didn't this just happen to me the day before? Olivia's head was spinning. Slowly walking back to her desk, she tried to calm herself, only to be stopped by an unfamiliar voice.
"Ma'am?" a young uniform officer stood before her. "I was told by Detective Stabler that you needed a ride home?"
Olivia accepted Elliot's thoughtfulness, making a mental note to thank him tomorrow. "Yeah, just let me grab my coat and we can get out of here."
As Olivia and the young officer exited the stationhouse, unseen voyeurs silently watched their excursion across the lot. Just as she was about to climb into the squad car, her phone rang.
"Benson."
"It's me," Elliot's voice registered in her fatigued mind.
"Hey El, thanks. For what you did."
"Yeah well you can thank me later. Munch and Fin need us. They're at 11th." Something in Elliot's voice told her that he didn't enjoy the interruption to what was suppose to be a quiet night for him.
"Ok, be there in 10," she confirmed, slipping the phone back in her pocket. Out of the corner of her eye she spotted two pairs of watchful eyes looking at everywhere but her in an unmarked car. DEA hounds.
-----
Two hours later, the two detectives were still combing through a neighborhood in search of a missing girl. Both Elliot and Olivia had said little while they went on to look for the missing victim. The handheld radio crackled into life, stopping both detectives in their tracks.
"Guys, we found her," an eerie silence filled the air before the radio crackled back into life again. "She's alive."
Breathing a sigh of relief, the two of them started to walk back toward the makeshift command center that was set up at the empty lot next to an apartment complex when they both realize they were being followed. Glancing sideways at his partner, Elliot slowly reached for his gun. As if on cue, both detectives turned around, guns drawn at chest level, only to find the darkness of the night. Sensing a movement behind the car nearest to them, Olivia moved closer to inspect.
Bang.
Olivia ducked for cover, but it was too late. She was shot. Dark crimson soaked her left sleeve. She could hear Elliot's distant voice calling for backup, his frantic yells into the radio to get an ambulance as soon as possible. Wincing at the pain with the slightest movement made with her left hand, she inched closer, steadying herself against the car, trying to catch a glimpse of the shooter. I just need a clear shot. Focusing on the dark figure standing not too far from her, her thoughts were answered when the figure stood up and started firing at Elliot. Taking a deep breath, Olivia gathered all the energy she could afford and pulled the trigger. Drained of all energy, Olivia fell to the ground. She heard another round of shots being fired, but the weight of her body was too much for her. Slowly, the pain overtook her and a heavy, dull ache settled in behind her eyes to tempt her with slumber. Eyes fluttering close, Olivia tried to move. Then darkness fell, followed by silence.
