Elliot was stunned speechless by his wife's soft accusation. He was even more stunned by the fact that she didn't scream it, but instead murmured it through her tears.

"You've fallen in love with Olivia, and you don't even know it."

She sat quietly on the bed as his mind whirled. He reached for a swift retort, a denial, but he couldn't find one. He could almost feel all of his sarcastic, furious replies slipping from his grasp like sand through his fingers.

"You don't have to answer, Elliot," Kathy said softly. "I know by the look in your eyes, by the way you talk about her, and how preoccupied you are with protecting her. I know I'm right. And so do you."

The world was spinning across Elliot's eyes. He sank into a nearby chair, almost in shock.

She was right. God, for once, Kathy was right! It was true. Olivia's fiery determination, the sexy way her hair sometimes fell across her eyes, the righteous anger she carried with feminine grace that she always claimed that she lacked, her soft, strong hands…

God. She's right. I've fallen in love with my partner.

All those late nights, the consistent offers for coffee or dinner or company… It really wasn't work. It was his fierce desire to be near her. And how he loved the way she and his kids interacted… they all adored her.

I've loved her all this time… blinded by my duty to my family, I've ignored it…

But he still couldn't find any words.

Kathy walked up to him, and knelt before him, grasping his hands in hers. "Elliot, you did the right thing when you married me. I was pregnant, and you married me to keep it quiet. To this day, everyone thinks Maureen is a honeymoon baby. You did the right thing when you didn't acknowledge your feelings for Olivia. I know you never cheated on me; I'm not accusing you of that. You've always done the right thing; even your job is proof of that."

Her grip tightened. Elliot realized he had tears in his eyes and frantically blinked them back.

"But now it's my turn to do the right thing." She put the folder of papers in his lap. "I'm going to file for divorce. We're both miserable, and we can't try to hold together for the kids either. All four of them realize something is going on, and it would hurt them even more to patronize them. And I want you to be happy. Just like you want me to be happy. We both knew this was coming. Now the time has come."

Elliot's protests died in his mouth. Everything she said was true. There was no way to avoid a divorce now without destroying their lives and their kids'.

He finally found his voice, however raspy and bewildered it was. "I'm sorry, Kathy."

Her smile was bittersweet. "Don't be. I know you're relieved just like I am. I care for you, Elliot, but I don't think we were ever meant to be."

They continued talking into the night.

XXXXXXXXXXXXX

Olivia stared her screaming cell phone, the hairs on her neck rising in apprehension. The temperature of the room seemed to drop as she reached for it slowly with her good arm.

She hadn't slept in almost 20 hours, but suddenly she was very, very awake. She pushed the silent call on her radio, then answered the phone. The silent call sent out an alarm to the partner radio, Elliot's, and opened the connection so he could hear everything she said.

"Hello, Olivia. I'm glad I didn't wake you."

She froze as chills ravaged her spine. He could see her. Right now. But Olivia swallowed her panic and resisted the urge to shut all the curtains in her apartment. Huang had said to be calm. Collected. She was unsure of how to respond calmly to that statement, but luckily, he continued.

"It's too bad you had to get in the way this morning, Olivia. You wouldn't have been shot if you stayed out of the way."

Bitter anger rose in her throat. "How can I know you weren't aiming at me?"

A cold, chilling laugh. "Oh, don't worry. If I'd wanted to kill you, you wouldn't have been shot in the arm. Or shot at all for that matter. That's much too easy."

Olivia shivered but refused to acknowledge the threat.

"Well, I called to congratulate you on saving Jordan, Olivia. Well done. Perhaps I should step it up a notch."

Olivia straightened. "You don't have to do this. What did I ever do to you?"

"Oh, but I do have to, Olivia. Besides, it's not what you did. It's what you didn't do. But we'll talk about that later. I have another challenge for you, Olivia. You better move fast if you want to save this one."

Olivia reached for a notepad, her heart pounding in her chest. "Your next victim."

"Very perceptive of you. In twenty-four hours, there will be another victim. She will be a cop. I already know who it's going to be; you don't. Find out before I get to her, Olivia. Or you won't be able to sleep, just like she isn't able to sleep."

Click.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Elliot and Kathy were talking softly about how to make the divorce as quick and painless as possible when Elliot's radio began beeping.

He jumped off the bed, and pounced on the radio.

"What's that noise mean?" Kathy asked.

"It's the silent alarm. It means Olivia wants my attention without anyone else seeing."

He put the radio up to his ear in time to hear her say hello.

Oh, god. He frantically motioned for Kathy to be silent, and pressed his ear against the device, listening to his partner's calmly terse replies, trying to piece together the conversation, his heart pounding in his chest.

When the call ended, he heard Olivia sigh haggardly and mutter a foul word before she terminated the connection.

"Shit!" Elliot hissed. He stood, glad that he hadn't changed clothes yet. "I can't stand by and listen to this!" He reached for his cell phone as he prepared to walk out the door.

"Elliot, you haven't slept in a day." The statement was calm. Somehow knowing their relationship was over took away the tension that had shrouded their household.

"Neither has Olivia. And she's hurt and she's got a psycho telling her where to find all his victims. This is crazy. I'll call you and fill you in as soon as I know something."

She smiled tightly, gratefully. "Be careful, then," was all she said.

XXXXXXXXXXXXx

Elliot dialed Olivia's cell phone. "Benson!"

A rare panic laced her tone.

"It's me, Liv. I got your silent. What the hell's going on!"

Olivia sighed loudly in relief. "God, it's good to hear your voice, you have no idea. That creep called me again. And there's no way I can go to sleep. Elliot he says there will be another victim in 24 hours! And he didn't tell me who or where this time! He just gave me some obscure clue about sleep. I've got to find out where he called from, I've got to look at the records on all the female cops in the city, I can't go to sleep!"

Elliot forced himself to speak slowly. "Where are you, Olivia, you don't have a car, and you better not be out walking!"

"No!" she shot back. Then, softer, "You sound like you're in a car. Are you going to the office?"

"No, I'm coming over to your place because there's a psychotic rapist targeting you, okay? And for kicks, I'll even bring over Munch and Fin's notes from today to keep you busy. But stay inside and lock all the windows and doors! We can't do anything about it right now, and we won't be any help tomorrow if we don't SLEEP!"

"Ugh, fine. You're right. But bring those files!" With that, she hung up.

XX

When Elliot knocked on Olivia's door, he heard the door knob, the deadbolt, and the chain each unlock. Then, Olivia opened the door, pulled him in, then shut it, methodically replacing each lock.

When she turned around, Elliot grabbed her shoulders, being careful of her wounded arm. "Olivia." He searched her darting eyes. "Stop moving. Calm down. Breath. I'm here."

She took a deep breath, and relaxed.

Elliot released her, and produced a folder from his jacket. "I brought the files. There's nothing here that you haven't seen before. And I'm not letting you driver yourself into the ground until after you get some sleep. A nap, something, Liv."

Olivia sighed. Her darting eyes sported dark circles from severe lack of sleep, and her face was unnaturally pale. "You're right. I'll sleep for a few hours. Or, I'll try at least."

He cocked an eyebrow. She actually blushed.

"I'm humiliated that this case has me so jumpy, ok?"

Elliot's eyes narrowed. "I'd say you have a right to be jumpy." He sat down on her couch, then motioned to the spot beside him. She took it, resting her head on his shoulder. He sucked in his breath slowly, relishing the contact.

"Try to relax, Liv. I won't let him near you."

She shifted, slowly, exhaustion dominating her every move. She stretched out sideways and let her head rest in his lap. A sudden, fierce tenderness, a soft satisfactory warmth filled him. A sensation so antithesis to the frantic, boyish desire that controlled him in the beginning of his relationship with Kathy.

"I know," Olivia murmured drowsily. She fumbled for his hand with her injured arm. He met her halfway. "Thanks, Elliot."

Within minutes, she was sound asleep.

Tentatively, Elliot caressed her hair with the hand she wasn't clutching to for dear life. His fingers ached to touch her, and the feel of her soft hair was satisfaction enough. His desire wasn't sexual at all… he yearned just to be near her, to be sure she was safe.

Only he ever saw Olivia Benson this vulnerable. Just like she—and not Kathy—was the only one who he ranted and raved to about his hatred of perps and how evil the world is and how wasted his marriage was becoming… And seeing her vulnerable didn't lesson his respect for her—it made his brutal need to protect all the stronger.

He shifted into a comfortable position, trying not to jostle her arm or wake her. Leaning his head back on the back of the couch, he closed his eyes, letting his hand linger in her hair, continually stroking, slower and slower until he drifted off into a restless doze.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

He seethed at the intimate yet achingly innocent position Olivia and smart-ass Stabler were in.

"You seem so worried about your colleague, Olivia!" he spat to himself. "So eager to save her. You make me sick, you lying whore. But don't worry, you'll get yours. Very soon. And I'll even call to warn you, just like all the others. You won't even know to protect yourself. You'll pay for what you did to me," he swore silently, putting the binoculars away.

He cast a last, angry glance at the window to her apartment. Obviously she spent little time there, since she didn't bother to replace the blinds, which were missing several pieces. Not that he was complaining. All very convenient.

"Sleep tight, Detectives. Enjoy her while you can, Stabler. I'll be in touch."

He shoved his hands deep in his pockets, and walked away, his head bent against the unforgiving New York wind.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Olivia slipped from her sleep around 4 in the morning, and found it was against her will. Elliot was fast asleep, one hand resting in her hair and the other still gripping her hand even in sleep.

She glanced at the clock on her dusty mantle. 4:17 to be exact. She carefully untangled herself from Elliot's hold, trying not to wake him. She looked at the sling distastefully, then ripped it off, tossing it over her shoulder. She could not sport a single sign of weakness that her enemy could exploit.

She jumped in the shower and freshened up. She threw on some clothes, and returned to the living room, not bothering with her hair. Elliot was awake, looking through the file.

"The shower's in there if you want to use it," she offered, plopping down on the couch next to him.

"Do I smell?"

"No."

"Then I don't need to use it."

She laughed. "All men are the same." Then she sobered, very quickly. "I'll make some coffee and then maybe we can head into the precinct and get a jump on this."

Despite the ungodly hour, Elliot agreed. Besides, if he disagreed, she'd only go alone, and he refused to allow that. He overheard Cragen's warning to her, and he took it upon himself to enforce it.

"Okay."

When she returned with some coffee in Styrofoam cups with lids, he stood. She handed him his, and he lead her out the door.

"So what all did he say to you last night?" Elliot asked, opening the car door for Olivia. She smiled her thanks, then answered darkly.

"He said there would be another victim 24 hours after his call. Around midnight. Then he gave me some obscure clue about her- he said 'Find out before I get to her, Olivia. Or you won't be able to sleep, just like she isn't able to sleep'"

"That's helpful," Elliot barked sarcastically, pulling out of the driveway of Olivia's apartment complex. "We're sure she'll be a cop?"

"Yes. He specified."

"Great. Wonderful. Should we call in the others?"

"Captain already sent out the alert to female cops in the city. He can do little more that that until we have something to go on." Olivia took a deep breath, knowing what she was about to say would set Elliot on the warpath. "And I think I know what. I got the feeling that the he was watching me last night when eh called. Maybe his next victim was also in his view as well."

Elliot cast her a dangerous look. "Then it's not safe for you to go back there."

Olivia matched his look with fire. "We can trace the call and go there and look from his vantage point," she continued defiantly.

Reluctantly, Elliot agreed. "But if he did call from outside of your apartment, you can't go back, Liv! Why not just hang a sign on your door that says, 'Hey, I'm a cop, come and rape me!'"

Olivia sighed, but said nothing. That told Elliot all he needed to know.

She agreed with him.

They drove several dark blocks in silence. Even in New York, few people were out and about at this hour. They were practically alone on the word.

"Elliot."

His eyes darted from the road to her eyes then back. "Yeah?"

Olivia reached for his hand, her eyes understanding. "What happened last night?" He could feel her warm gaze on his neck.

Elliot was silent for a long moment. Then he sighed. "That obvious?"

"Yeah. Spill, partner."

He shrugged, almost indifferently. "Kathy and I are getting a divorce."

Olivia didn't seem surprised, but sympathy exuded from her pained expression. She tightened her grip on his hand, as if her fingers could hold him together.

"How're you doing?"

He turned into the precinct. "Relieved, actually. We both knew it was over, that the end was coming. Now that it's out in the open, the tension in our house is gone. We're going to let the kids know in a few days, but I'm sure they suspect. Our fighting has been tearing them apart."

And you're the main reason we're splitting… Kathy saw what I could not…

Olivia was silent for a moment. She didn't have much helpful experience in the relationship world, so she had few comforting words. She was unsure of how to reassure him that he would heal, that it was for the best… and she certainly couldn't confess how elated her heart was to see him become available.

"Well, I'm here for you," she said simply, releasing his hand. Her heart skipped a beat when he tightened his grip before she could pull away.

"Thanks," he managed. He gave her hand a final squeeze, then they walked into the station, greeting the night staff that was soon to be off duty.

"First we trace that call," Olivia began, all business. She got out her phone, and began the task.

Elliot sat down, and with a deep breath, he left his personal dilemmas behind, focusing all his efforts on solving this case so Olivia could sleep in peace again.

Captain Cragen rose around 6. His sleep had been fitful at best, and wraught with nightmares about Olivia being raped and killed with he and his detectives powerless to stop it.

He quickly prepared for work, and decided to go in around 7 instead of 9 when the shift changed.

When he arrived, he was stunned and filled with a grim pride to see his two best detectives already hard at work. They barely muttered a greeting, they were so preoccupied. Munch and Fin walked in just behind him, and instantly joined the effort.

"Olivia."

She turned, startled by his presence. Quickly, silently annoyed at the interruption, she approached him.

"You got another call."

It was not a question.

"Yes," she answered grimly.

"How long?"

Olivia looked at her watch. She could feel how Elliot's eyes had followed her.

"15 hours."