Author's Note: Once again, I just want to thank everybody for the feedback. It's always great to hear from you. Please keep it coming.

Allegiance

Chapter Six: A Cry In The Dark

Elliot flinched as if he had been struck. When the implication of what Goren just said finally hit him, he stood up and faced the detective from the Major Crimes Squad. "Me?" he said incredulously. "I'm the target?"

"You were the only other person in the office with Casey Novak at the time of the shooting," Goren said.

Elliot shook his head. He still couldn't wrap his brain around this one. "If this bastard's after me, then why wait for me at Casey's office?"

"Because that's the best place to get to you," Goren told him. "Ms. Novak is the ADA for your squad, right? How often do you visit her office on a daily basis?"

"That's ridiculous!" Olivia cried. "If he really wanted Elliot, he could have hit him at anytime during the day." She gestured at the massive row of windows in the SVU squad room. "Hell, why didn't he just set up across the street and pick Elliot off right here at his desk?"

"If you're trying to be supportive of me, Liv, I'm really not feeling it," Elliot muttered half-jokingly.

"No, she's right," said Goren. "That's why I asked you where your desk was before, and then checked it out. You see the sniper couldn't have shot you here, because your desk is too far from the windows. Even if the sniper sets up from the building that's the closest to this stationhouse, he still can't hit you. However, he's got perfect coverage of all the desks over here, which are right by the windows."

"And to think that I always enjoyed my view by the windows," Munch said nervously. He glanced over at Fin and asked, "You wanna help me move my desk later?"

"Only if you help me move mine first," Fin replied. Their good-natured exchange caused Detective Eames to burst into laughter.

"And, being a detective, you're on the move all day, Elliot," Goren continued. "Your job takes you everywhere—as I know full well myself. For our sniper to try and track you down for a hit would be maddening, because as detectives, we've no set routine." He shook his head. "No, Ms. Novak's office would be the perfect place to get to you."

"Elliot, don't take this the wrong way," Eames said, as she turned to her partner. "But why doesn't the sniper just hit him at his home?"

Before Goren could reply, Elliot somberly said, "Because I'm never there. I separated from my wife a few months ago. I've got an apartment, but I'm never there, either. Most nights I'm usually sleeping in the crib right upstairs."

"I'm sorry to bring your personal life into this," Goren said sympathetically. "But that is just further proof of my theory. Casey Novak's office is the only place where you visit regularly where the sniper can get a good shot at you."

But Olivia was still not convinced. "So I suppose we'll just release Casey from protective custody now," she said sarcastically.

"No," Cragen firmly replied. "While Detective Goren makes a very valid point, we still don't really know for sure who the sniper was gunning for, and until we do, Casey stays put. If nothing else, we've now got another avenue of this investigation open to us. Detectives Goren and Eames, I realize you're here to share information as a courtesy, but I was wondering if you two would like to investigate any connection between Elliot and the sniper."

"We'd love to," Eames said. She glanced at Goren and he nodded. "I guess we could start right now by asking Detective Stabler if he has any enemies."

"Do I have enemies?" Elliot asked with a grim chuckle. "Does a bear shit in the woods?"

"I'll take that as a yes," Eames replied uneasily.

"Look, there's a lot of people out there who don't like me," Elliot told her. "But I can't name anybody right off the bat who would have the muscle to hire a pro like this to kill me."

"Perhaps if we went through your old case files," Goren suggested.

Elliot nodded. "Be my guest."

Cragen gestured at Elliot, Olivia, Munch and Fin. "All right, you four get back over to Verges' place and canvass the neighborhood. Find out if anybody saw anything unusual over the past few days. Good hunting. Elliot," he added, "before you go, I'd like a moment of your time in my office."

"We'll see you over there," Fin said as he and Munch left the squad room.

When Elliot entered the Captain's office, Cragen leaned up against his desk and asked, "You want some personal time, Elliot?"

"No, Captain. Not unless you're ordering me to…."

Cragen shook his head. "Just wanted to make sure, that's all. Are you sure you can't think of anybody off hand who'd want to do this?"

"Hire a major league assassin to blow me away?" Elliot said with a shrug. He thought about all the perps, skells, and scumbags that he had clashed with in his years with the NYPD. In his career Elliot Stabler had given a lot of people good cause to be very angry with him, and some of them were even connected to the mob. "Assuming Goren's right and I'm the real target, it could be anybody, Cap. Like I've told him and Eames, I've got a long list of people who are pissed off at me."

"That's because you're a damn good cop, Elliot," Cragen said solemnly. "And whether you're the real target or not, I want you to keep your head down out there, understand me?"

"Yes, sir," Elliot said.

"Then get going." Cragen walked around and took a seat at his desk, signifying that the conversation was over. "And please tell Goren and Eames that I'd like to see them."

Once Elliot strode out to the squad room, he noticed that the tension in the air was so palpable he almost could taste it. Goren and Eames sat tensely in their chairs, while Olivia stood by her desk, holding her jacket over her arm, waiting for him. She shot Goren a fierce look as she said, "Ready, El?"

"Yeah." Elliot got the feeling he had just walked in on the tail end of an argument. He told Goren and Eames that Cragen wanted to see them. As they got up from their chairs, Elliot glanced at Goren and said, "Thanks for the different perspective."

"No problem. I just hope I'm wrong," Goren said, with an uncomfortable glance over at Olivia. "Take care, Detective Stabler."

"You too."

Elliot got his jacket from his desk and strode over to Olivia. "What just happened?"

"Nothing," she snapped, as they walked briskly out of the squad room.

All while they rode down the elevator, walked out the front door of the stationhouse, and got into their squad car, Elliot patiently waited for Olivia to open up to him. When she didn't, Elliot decided to make his move. As he pulled the car out of its parking space and drove down the street, he said, "You know, Liv, Goren may be a bit on the weird side—"

"That's putting it mildly," Olivia muttered darkly.

"But he has a point."

"Yeah, and it's on his frigging head."

'Jeez, she's really pissed,' Elliot thought. He might as well be more direct. "Did you have words with Goren and Eames just now?"

"You could say that," Olivia said with a shake of her head. "After you went in to see the Cap, Goren started telling me how it might be better if you were taken off the case, for your own safety. He said that was just his opinion, of course. I told him where he could stuff his opinion."

Elliot burst into a grin at that. "I'm damned lucky to have you as a partner."

"You really are one lucky SOB to have me," Olivia said flatly. Then she broke into a broad smile as her anger finally subsided. "Yeah, that's me, all right," she sarcastically added, "always making friends and winning over new allies."

"Hey, we're SVU, making enemies is par for the course for us," Elliot told her. "We should be used to it by now."

"Yeah, but when somebody just rubs me the wrong way—like Goren—I just cut them off at the hips and move on. I guess I have a short fuse when it comes to dealing with annoying people."

Elliot thought about what Casey had said to him in her office, just before the sniper attack. "Is Casey one of those annoying people?"

Olivia glanced sharply at him. "What do you mean?"

Elliot was immediately sorry for bringing up Casey's problem, especially now. 'But in for a penny, in for a pound,' he wearily thought. "Just after you stormed out of Casey's office, and just before her window got blown out by our trigger-happy friend, Casey told me about how she doesn't feel as close to you a she does with everybody else in the squad."

"Hey, look, El, I know I said a lot of awful things to her, and I've been meaning to apologize. But with everything's that happened since…."

Elliot shook his head. "It's not just the argument, Liv. It's something that's been simmering for a while, and the argument over Beauchamp just brought it to the surface. Casey basically told me that she never felt close to you as she does with everybody else in the SVU. She says she feels like you're always keeping her at arm's length."

"What the hell are you talking about?" Olivia cried. "I haven't slapped her around or anything like that. I've been nothing but cordial with her, even during the times when I've actually felt like slapping her around."

"Yeah, but that's just it," Elliot said. "You've never felt that way with Alex."

"That's because Alex always went the distance for us," Olivia said heatedly. "And Casey never does."

"That's bullshit, Liv."

"Is it? Alex even risked her career for us on more than one occasion."

"So has Casey. Remember Judge Taft?" Elliot asked. "How he needlessly cut down one of our cases in court? Casey took him on and got him kicked off the bench. She's just as dedicated as Alex was. And don't forget the time when she—"

He was cut off when Olivia let out a bitter laugh. "Oh, I see what this is. "You just want me to get along with your new girlfriend, right?"

"WHAT!" Elliot shouted. That remark caught him so off guard that he nearly missed a turn. Thankfully, he had to stop for a red light, so there was plenty of time to compensate. "Now what the hell are YOU talking about?"

"Give me a break, Elliot! Ever since you and Kathy broke up you've been paying extra special attention to Casey. I've seen the way you hold her, put your hand on her shoulder, the way you two are always so close and friendly. And she's got it just as bad for you, as well. The last few times we were in her office Casey looked like she wanted to jump right into your arms. So c'mon, who do you really think you're kidding here?"

Elliot was so stunned he never realized the light had turned green until the car behind him angrily honked its horn. He snapped out of it long enough to pull the car down the street where Verges lived. Munch and Fin were already waiting for them on the sidewalk as Elliot parked the car and switched off the engine.

Elliot didn't say anything. And it wasn't because he was taken aback at what Olivia just said to him; it was also because a part of him realized that what she was true. Elliot always had been very affectionate towards Casey, even before Kathy broke it off with him. But since he became a bachelor once again, well…Elliot thought back on the private times when he affectionately held Casey, and now realized that Olivia had simply given a voice to feelings that had been deeply buried at the back of his mind.

Olivia sat stiffly in her seat and stared straight ahead. "Believe me, I know all about what you're going through," she said in a hoarse whisper. "Dating somebody on the squad…I've been there myself."

"You mean Cassidy," Elliot said with a nod. Brian Cassidy was a fellow detective who served in the SVU several years back before transferring to narcotics. He and Olivia shared a drunken one-night stand that she had always regretted.

Olivia glared at him. "No. I mean now it's your turn to fall in love with the squad's ADA. So just relax and enjoy it while you can. Because if things don't work out, Casey may wind up going away in Witness Protection, as well."

Elliot stared at Olivia in numb shock as he realized what she just said. When she hastily got out of the car, he reached out to stop her. "No, Liv, wait…."

But it was too late. Olivia was already out of the car and walking towards Munch and Fin. "Either of you feel like switching partners?" she asked. "Just for the canvass?"

"Yeah, sure," Munch said with a shrug.

"C'mon, then let's go," Olivia said abruptly. "We'll take this side of the block."

Munch shot a confused look over his shoulder at Elliot and Fin as he followed Olivia down the street.

'Olivia and Alex…' Elliot thought, still astounded. 'Who the hell knew? I sure as shit didn't!'

Fin stared after Olivia, and then glanced at Elliot in puzzlement. "Uh, what's going on?"

But Elliot, who reeled at what Olivia had just told him, still had trouble grappling with the entire situation in his own mind, much less try and discuss it with Fin. "Look, I really don't want to go there right now," he told Fin. "Let's just get this damn canvass done, ok?"

"That's probably a very good idea," Fin muttered, as he walked with Elliot down the street.

A Few Hours Later

'Shit,' Olivia thought.

She and Munch were riding down in a rickety elevator to the lobby in an apartment building that was thankfully the last one on the block. Everybody whom they spoke to hadn't seen or heard anything strange in the neighborhood. One old woman even went so far as to tell them: "This is New Yawk! Everything's strange here! Whaja expect!"

Olivia's frustration came from not only the fruitless results of their canvass, but also from her earlier blow up with Elliot. She regretted her harsh words, and wished desperately that she could take it all back.

She glanced at Munch, who was perched against the opposite wall of the elevator with his arms folded, looking like a patient vampire in his dark suit and sunglasses. Olivia kept expecting him to say those three dreaded little words: Are you ok? But Munch—bless him—always knew when to keep quiet, and he apparently sensed that this was one of those times when Olivia needed some space.

Besides, what the hell would she have said to him, anyway? 'Oh, I'm fine Munch. I just admitted to Elliot, my religiously conservative partner, that I had a lesbian relationship with Alex, that's all. How've you been?'

It wasn't that Olivia was ashamed of what she had with Alex Cabot, far from it. She cherished every moment they had together. They had always been the best of friends right up until the night of September 11, 2001, when their relationship had become something much more. That was when Olivia spent the night over at Alex's apartment to comfort her friend after the terrible, frightening day that New York City—along with the rest of the whole civilized world—had endured. But while Olivia had also sought some comfort and companionship from Alex that night, she initially had no idea just how far things would go.

Before she knew it, Olivia woke up in Alex's arms, in her bed, the following morning, and although it was the very first time in her life that she had ever slept with a woman, it somehow felt very natural to Olivia. And Alex proved to be a far better lover—a far better partner overall—than any of the men whom Olivia had previously been with. Their relationship, which they'd kept intensely private, had been sheer bliss over the next few years, and they had even seriously considered finally coming out and telling everybody—until Alex was forced to go into hiding, in fear for her life, thanks to those drug-dealing scumbags.

When Alex was originally whisked away in Witness Protection, it broke Olivia's heart. She had never been with another woman since Alex—hell, the only dates she'd had since Alex left were with men, and they were merely half-hearted attempts at having some kind of a social life on her part. In the back of her mind, Olivia always had a deeply buried fear that if she started another relationship she would be somehow betraying Alex, whom she always considered to be her one true love.

Olivia had often thought she had been acting childish, that she should really move on. Yet when Alex recently came back, to testify against the drug cartel assassin who had tried to kill her, they spent some time alone together in a safe house just before the trial. Alex confessed that she had also tried to move on with her romantic life, and failed miserably, as well. That was when Olivia realized that they were still kindred spirits, still soul mates, even while separated by thousands of miles.

Even though it was against the rules, they slept together that night. 'I broke a lot of rules that night,' Olivia thought, as she recalled how she gave Alex classified information on her would-be assassin that helped her to break him down in court.

When Alex disappeared back into hiding without even so much as a goodbye, Olivia was left hanging once more. While she knew Alex would have to go back in hiding, she just wanted one more private moment with her. It was agony having missed her once more without at least a proper goodbye. But recently things became even more complex when she met Eric, who appeared to be a great guy, and—

"Oh sweet Jesus!" Olivia cried. "Eric!"

"What!" Munch said, alarmed. They had just stepped out of the elevator and were walking through the lobby. He glanced around them in a panic, his hand on his holstered Glock. When Munch couldn't see anybody, he frantically asked, "Who the hell's Eric?"

"He's a friend! I was supposed to meet him"—Olivia stared in horror at her watch—"over two hours ago! Ohmigod! I completely forgot all about it!"

Elliot and Fin came running into the apartment lobby on full alert. "We were just outside when we heard a commotion in here," Elliot said. "What's up?"

"Just Olivia giving me a heart attack," Munch said as he leaned wearily up against the wall. He nodded at Fin and added, "You still got the ambulance on speed-dial? I may need it."

"Sorry, Munch," Olivia said as she dug out her cell phone and dialed Eric's number. When she got no response she let out a curse.

"No answer?" Elliot asked, looking concerned.

"I think he shut off his cell," Olivia said with dread. 'He's pissed at me,' Olivia dismally thought. 'Eric's probably just another asshole who can't handle me being a cop…just as well, I suppose. Better to find out now.'

"Listen, we've still got a couple more buildings on this block to canvass," Elliot said, "but since it's getting late, Fin and I were about to suggest we call it a night. We'll come back early tomorrow and finish it up then. I gotta leave soon, anyway. I'vegot protection duty for Casey tonight."

"Yeah," Fin said to Olivia. "So why don't you go and patch things up with Romeo?"

Olivia was about to automatically tell him that Eric was just a friend. But, realizing how her hopes had suddenly shot up once she heard Elliot's suggestion, Olivia wasn't sure if even she believed that now. She really liked Eric. She wasn't sure how he would fit in her life, but Olivia knew she wanted Eric to be involved in her life nonetheless. "You sure?"

Elliot nodded. "Yeah. C'mon, I'll walk you out."

"If lover boy gives you any lip about being late, you just give him a good bitch slapping, all right?" Fin told her.

"And if that doesn't work, you could always scare the living crap out of him," Munch chimed in. "God knows that worked very well with me just now."

"If I need backup, I'll be sure to call you guys," Olivia jokingly said, as she and Elliot left the lobby.

Once they were alone outside, Elliot said, "Take the car. I'll catch a ride with Munch and Fin. Just please make sure you bring our car back to the One-Six, though, ok?"

"Yeah, of course," Olivia quickly agreed. "I'll just swing by Eric's place and check in on him. I won't stay. And hey, El…about before…."

Elliot reached out and gently grabbed her shoulder just below the neck. He only gave her the slightest of squeezes, yet to Olivia this spoke volumes. It was his silent way of assuring her that everything was all right between them.

"What I said before, about you being lucky to have me as a partner," Olivia whispered. "I was wrong, Elliot: I'm the lucky one."

Elliot smiled at her. "I guess we're both lucky."

"See you tomorrow," Olivia said, as she got into the car. She started the engine and drove down the street.

Olivia was just several blocks away from Eric's apartment, sitting in traffic caused by a red light, when her cell phone rang. She quickly dug it out without checking the screen, expecting it to be Eric. "Hello?"

"Olivia?" It was the scared, trembling voice of a small child. "Olivia, are you there?"

Olivia sat back in the driver's seat, as her eyes grew wide with shock. She instantly recognized the voice. She had spent the better part of a week bonding with this girl.

It was young Lilly Beauchamp.

"Lilly?" Olivia said, trying to keep her voice calm. "Lilly, what's wrong? Where are you?"

"I'm home. Oh, Olivia, please help me!" Lilly cried, her voice breaking down into wracking sobs. "Please, please come over here, right now! I need you right—"

The call had abruptly been cut off.

"LILLY!" Olivia screamed into the cell. She frantically redialed; only to have the cell phone tell her that phone service for that particular number was no longer available.

"Oh my God," Olivia whispered, as she gazed out at the night beyond the windows of the car. Somewhere in that stark cold blackness, a nine-year-old girl was in mortal danger at this very moment, and Olivia might very well be her only hope.

To Be Continued...