A/N: Sorry it took so long to get this up… damn writer's block! However I think I have recovered, so here it is…. Thanks to everyone who has reviewed this, 'Redemption', and 'When the Time Comes'! I have over 100 reviews on those two combined! You guys rock!

And by the way… 'Redemption' does have a sequel in the making- that's why I ended it the way I did. So look for it soon!

Disclaimer: They… aren't… mine…

Note: I have started distinguishing the two separate times in this story by marking them as flashbacks or not.

Flashback…

Olivia took a small sip of her beer as she listened intently to Elliot. For the first time in a long time she felt entirely comfortable around a guy. He was just perfect- except for the wife and four kids. His story was interrupted by the bartender coming by. Olivia pulled out her purse and was digging around for her money when she felt Elliot lay his hand lightly on her wrist. "I got it." Olivia smiled at him as he handed the man a twenty before turning back to her.

"Thanks." She said, her wrist still tingling slightly from where he had touched it.

"Your welcome." Elliot replied, then looked at her curiously. "My partner tells me you saved his life. What happened?"

Olivia nodded and said, "Well I was sent to answer a domestic call, and when I got there SVU had sent a couple detectives over to meet me. I guess the guy had had a couple sexual assault charges and they wanted to be one step ahead. We went inside and the guy had killed his wife a few minutes after she called us. He came up behind Jason when he was looking at the body and Jason didn't see him. I was right there and tackled the bastard."

"Now Olivia, you are leaving out the best part!" exclaimed Jason, turning around from the table he sat at. Olivia blushed as Jason continued, "Seriously Elliot this guy was three times her size. He's got a knife and she twists it out of his hand before they go tumbling into the wall. She wrestles him into handcuffs and by this time the other cop on scene has got his gun on him. It was amazing- little miss here taking on the tub of lard rapist."

Elliot looked over at her, grinning. "Wish I could have seen that!"

Olivia was now bright red and looked away, focusing very hard on finishing her beer. She suddenly felt a light hand on her shoulder. Jason gave her an affectionate pat and then said, "Thanks for coming tonight. My partner's the happiest he's been in weeks. Next time he gets all sulky I will have to have you come in and cheer him up." Elliot playfully glared at his partner, though he was right- he couldn't remember when he had been in this good of a mood.

"You, sulky?" Olivia questioned, raising her eyebrow at Elliot.

"Well sweetheart, I got to head home. The wife will kill me if I am late again." Jason said with a chuckle. He waved to them both and headed out.

"Wow, he is a character." Olivia said with a laugh, "He and Briscoe must hang out."

"Oh they do." Elliot confirmed, smiling at her.

It was close to midnight when Elliot dropped Olivia back off at her apartment. They had chatted for nearly three hours after Jason left. "Thanks." Olivia told Elliot as she stood in her doorway, leaning lightly up against the frame.

"Sure. Are you doing anything Friday?" Elliot asked, then immediately realized it sounded as though he were asking her out. He hoped she overlooked his phrasing- or did he?

"Nope. Same time?" Olivia questioned, looking hopefully up at him.

"See you then." Elliot smiled at her, and then brushed a piece of hair from her cheek. He turned to go, but suddenly she caught his hand. Olivia wasn't quite sure what possessed her to do it, but she kissed his cheek swiftly before hurrying back inside.

Olivia glanced out the window and made sure that he got into his car okay before leaning up against the wall. "What did I just do? I am really setting myself up." She muttered to herself, running a hand through her hair.

The last three weeks of June passed by quickly, and the day after Jason officially retired Elliot was called into Cragen's office. As he walked inside Cragen glanced up from his paperwork. "Jason said that you didn't need any introductions to your new partner, so here's your first case." He said, handing him a file.

Elliot stared at him, taking the file lightly. Cragen sighed and pointed out the window. Elliot glanced through the blinds and found Munch greeting a young woman with dark hair. His breath caught in his throat and he raced out the door. "Olivia!"

She turned away from Munch and smiled broadly at him. Munch looked between the two and folded his arms irritably across his chest. "I don't understand why you get the good looking one Elliot- you're married. I get Fin instead."

Fin looked up from his desk, glaring over at Munch. "It's because you would scare her away with your conspiracy theories, Munch. At least Elliot will be able to teach her useful stuff." Munch turned a scathing glare on his partner before stalking off to make some coffee.

Olivia smirked and then walked over to Elliot. "Ready to go, partner?"

"You bet, Liv." Elliot said, tossing her the keys to his car.

The fourth of July rolled around, hot and breezy. Olivia was just finishing up her first full week of being a detective and was looking forward to a short day at work. However as she and Elliot packed up to leave Cragen suddenly came out of his office, looking quite distraught. "Benson, Stabler. We just got a new case."

Elliot glanced up, watching as Cragen stuck a couple photos to the blackboard. One was of a woman in her thirties with long black hair who was quite pretty. The other was of a man around her age whose hazel eyes were very kind looking. Olivia looked over at him, clearly confused. "This is Mr. and Mrs. Overland. Big on the political scene." Cragen continued, and then stuck a final picture up. The two were lying side by side in pools of blood, both shot several times. Judging by the tear in the woman's skirt and bruising around her thighs and neck, she had been raped too. "They were murdered last night after a fundraiser gala in Maine. Mrs. Overland was raped as well."

"Do we think it was because of the political party they were involved in?" Olivia questioned.

"Nope. They were each from different ends of the political spectrum. The Overland's had been working to find common ground between the right and left wings." Cragen answered, looking sadly at the pictures.

Elliot sighed and then asked, "Why isn't Maine handling this?"

"They are. And that's why they called us. The next political event these two would have attended is in Manhattan. They have reason to believe whoever did this is going to strike again."

"They need undercover." Elliot finished for him, glancing over at Olivia.

"That's right. Benson, are you up for this?" Cragen questioned, and at Olivia's nod said, "Good. You two need to go get ready. The event starts in two days and will last a week."

As they stood to go Cragen stopped them. "There is one other thing… they were found wearing these thin white bracelets. We don't know the significance yet, but keep a lookout."

Elliot took the file from him, examining the blow up of a thin white bracelet on both their wrists.

Elliot flopped down on the couch while Olivia sat herself neatly in a chair nearby. It wasn't long before their commanding officer walked in, a brusque older woman who had handled numerous undercover operations. "Study them over. I will be back shortly." She said as she handed them their profiles. With that she marched out of the room, slamming the door behind her.

"Well, I went to American University in DC, nice. Double majored in… political science and international business, surprise surprise." Elliot began, reading off his paper.

"Impressive," Olivia answered, "I went there too, looks like we were in the same class. And I double majored in political science and diplomacy."

"We have been married three years, just starting to get actively involved in politics. No wait… not politics exactly; we are independents, no party. But we are very wealthy and donate to good causes." Elliot said, gazing over his paper in interest.

Olivia's face suddenly contorted in disgust. "You have to be kidding me…"

"What?"

"My current occupation is a fashion designer."

Elliot nearly doubled over laughing and was still smirking as he stated, "Well I am the owner of a small oil company inherited from daddy. But we only rake in a few million a year."

"This could be interesting." Olivia said, and they finished reading their profiles in silence.

Shortly after that the woman came marching back in. "Are you two ready?"

Olivia and Elliot nodded, though both were quite unsure of just what they were getting into.

Olivia adjusted the halter top of her extraordinary dress she was wearing for the opening ball that night. Her hair had been curled and styled beautifully along with her makeup and nails being done to perfection. Elliot knocked on the bathroom door and she called for him to come in.

"Oh my God." Elliot said, looking stunned. Olivia grinned, turning around once for him. "You look amazing."

"Thanks. You clean up pretty nice to." Olivia said with a grin, indicating to his tux.

They went over to their hotel room door and slowly opened it. Elliot felt Olivia slip her arm through his and they proceeded down the corridor.

End Flashback…

The young woman rolled over onto her side. Pain shot through her body as she reached her hands out and dug them into the hard floor, dragging herself across the ground. She looked over at the lady cop lying quietly on her back. Her partner was lying on his side nearby. Neither one had moved for quite a while, and just continued to bleed out. The woman pulled herself over to him, unclipping his cell phone from his belt. She put it to her ear and placed her one hand on his. Just as the operator picked up, she felt him flex his fingers against hers. The woman was so surprised that she didn't answer the man on the other line for a second. Then she managed to gasp out, "I need help."

It seemed to take ages for the medics to arrive. The woman looked up as the warehouse door clanged open and felt tears of relief stream down her face. She squeezed the cop's hand a little harder- but for the first time he didn't respond. Sophia shook his hand lightly and tried to get a reaction from him, but got nothing. Suddenly she felt a pair of hands grab her lightly around the waist. Sophia screamed as the paramedic lifted her away.

Olivia was shaking and curled harder against the warm body holding her. Sound hurt, light hurt, and it was freezing cold. "That's it sweetheart. Wake up." The gentle voice holding her said. Olivia slowly opened her eyes as she felt a jolt. The paramedic was standing and starting to step away. She turned her head, glancing around the warehouse. Suddenly everything that had happened hit her like a ton of bricks. Several medics were crowded around someone.

"Elliot! Elliot!" Olivia screamed, fighting against her hold.

"Take it easy! You are going to hurt yourself!" the paramedic said, only tightening his grip.

Olivia fought harder, straining to see her partner. But her vision was starting to fail her and she felt unconsciousness creeping back up on her. She made a final kick and freed herself just enough. Her feet hit the ground all she used the last of her strength to wriggle out from underneath his arms.

White. A white sheet. Olivia stumbled forward as they pulled the sheet over someone lying on the ground. "Elliot!" she yelled one last time before her vision completely died and she collapsed in anguish. The medic came up behind her and caught her before she fell. As she fell into a dark sleep again, Olivia wondered briefly why he had bothered. She had already fallen.

A/N 2: Okay you know the drill… Review.