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Two Days Later

Becca felt like crap as she, Fin and Munch entered the bullpen after a long morning canvassing motels near the last location Carson was spotted. As they started toward Cragen's office, he came through the door.

"Stabler and Benson just called. A security guard at the westside YMCA has a guy matching Carson's description trapped in the gym. He snatched a kid from the locker room, but the guards kept him from leaving the building." The strain of this case had left yet more lines on Cragen's face.

Fin cursed. "About time the son of a bitch screwed up." His voice was dark with barely suppressed anger.

Becca put a hand on his arm. "We've got him out of his comfort zone, Fin. Now we end this for good. Let's go."

Cragen held up a hand and ordered. "Hold it. We go, Becca but we do this right or you stay behind, understand?"

Becca squirmed under his steady gaze, then reluctantly nodded. "Promise. I won't let you down."

Cragen allowed himself a brief smile. "I know you won't, sweetheart."

Behind him Munch morosely commented, "Famous last words." Fin turned, scowling, then caught the deadpan look he gave him. "Funny, John."

Westside YMCA

Becca barely waited for Fin to stop the car before she bailed out and ran to the doorway of the Y. Opening the glass door, she could see uniforms on both sides of the hall, then her breath caught at the sight the open door to the gym displayed.

Carson stood against the wall between the two windows with his knife to the kid's throat. Olivia and Elliot were facing him, guns drawn.

"One more step and I'll slit his throat." Becca could hear Carson from her position in the hall.

"Let me go in Cap," She whispered to Don. "I can get him to let the kid go."

"How? Bribery?" Munch asked sarcastically.

Becca turned to the tall detective. "Well yeah, I can give him what he wants" She looked back at Cragen. "He wants me and it's the best shot we have of getting the kid out of there."

"No, absolutely not." Don shook his head.

"Cappie, we both know he'll kill the kid if he feels pushed to it. I'm the best chance we have of a quick clean take down." She put a hand on his arm as he continued to shake his head. "It's the job, Uncle Don. Protect and serve, remember? You and Uncle Lennie taught me that. The best way I can protect that kid is to convince Carson to make a trade."

"Becca..." Don's voice held an almost pleading note, but at the determined look in her eyes he stopped. "I never could get you to change your mind." He said resignedly.

"Nope, stubborn just like my godfather." Becca grinned and began pulling off her vest.

"Becca, leave it on." Fin said.

"No, no vest, just me and him." Becca said. "I'm sending out Benson and Stabler with the kid." She handed her piece to Cragen.

"Keep the gun Becca." Don said. "I don't want you going in there unarmed."

"No worries ." She lifted the leg of her pants to reveal an ankle holster with a small pistol. "Always have a back up plan, Cappie. You taught me that too."

Becca slid to the door. "Carson, I'm coming in."

"No guns, Rebecca." He called out.

Becca stepped into the doorway hands up. "No weapon, no vest, Owen. Just me. I want you to let the kid go."

"Right, and then these two shoot. Dying isn't part of the plan, Rebecca." Carson told her.

"Lower your guns, guys." Becca said as she moved past them and did a slow turn, hands still raised. "Okay, Carson, these two are gonna back up to the door and when I get close enough to you, you let the kid go out with the detectives."

"Becca, we're not leaving you in here." Olivia said.

"Take the kid and go, Liv. I'll be all right." Becca told her.

"Back up." Carson ordered. "When you've got my little friend here, shut the door behind you."

"No way." Elliot hissed. "We'll fall back but the door stays open."

"Elliot please, do it." Becca reached Carson, who released the boy and grabbed her pulling her back against his chest.

The terrified child stood still for several heartbeats, then ran toward Olivia's outstretched hand. She grabbed him and backed out the door while Elliot positioned himself between her and Carson.

"Give it up Carson and we can all walk out of here alive." Elliot made one more attempt to end the standoff.

"Perhaps after Rebecca and I have had our little chat, I'll consider your generous offer detective." Carson smirked. "However I must insist on privacy." He gestured to the door.

Elliot looked at Becca questioningly.

"It's okay, Elliot. He's not going to hurt me, not yet anyway." Becca told him. "Go ahead."

Elliot back out and the door and reluctantly closed it.

"Now what?" Becca asked. "Am I supposed to profess my undying love for you while you hold a knife to my throat?"

"Rebecca, you must stop fighting. I don't want to hurt you." He tightened his arm around her. "Why can't you acknowledge the truth? We are meant to be together."

"Pardon me if I don't believe in happily ever after with a murderous psychopath." Becca said flatly.

"Don't deny me, Rebecca. I've proven my love for you time and time again." He turned her to face him. "I've removed every obstacle between us. Our time is now."

Becca smiled and slid her arms up as though to embrace him. As Carson began to smile at her supposed surrender, she slammed her head forward and heard the satisfying crunch of his nose. Carson screamed and swung blindly with the knife as Becca danced back. Unfortunately his reach exceeded her estimate and the knife sliced across her arm. She barely noticed the burning sensation and moved in with a kick aimed to disarm him. She connected and the knife dropped from his hand.

Carson dove for it at the same time Becca did; both grasped it and grappled for control as the door slammed open behind them.

"Hold your fire." Becca heard Elliot's voice command while she tried to get the upper hand with Carson and her hand crept to her ankle holster. Her fingers were slick and wet as she drew her back up piece and put the barrel between his eyes.

"Drop the knife or I'll repaint the wall with your brains." She growled and was rewarded with the clatter of the knife falling from his hand. Someone kicked it away and a voice spoke from what seemed miles away.

"We've got him Becca. You can stand down." Fin whispered from beside her, eyeing her trembling gun hand and wondering if he could get the gun before she could squeeze the trigger.

"He's mine." She said not taking her eyes off him. "I oughta do you right now." She hissed at Carson. "You murdering bastard, you killed Ben. Taking you out would be doing the world a favor." She leaned in and whispered in a menacing tone. "How does it feel to know you are a finger twitch from oblivion?"

"Becca, " Fin said touching her shoulder. "Ben wouldn't want it to go down this way." He felt her relax under his hand.

"Gimme the cuffs." Becca sighed holstering her gun. "Owen Carson you are under arrest for felony kidnaping, sexual assault of a minor and murder. You have the right to remain silent, if you give up this right, anything you say can be used against you in a court of law..." Becca cuffed Carson as she read him his rights. When she finished, Elliot and Munch lifted him off the floor and took him down to the waiting cruiser.

Fin helped her up off the floor. "Is any of that blood yours?" He asked.

Becca looked down and realized that her arm was bleeding. She swayed as the room grayed out on her. The next thing she knew she was looking at the ceiling and she could hear Olivia on the radio calling in an officer down. Cragen was holding her hand and looking very worried.

"I'll be fine Cappie. I really don't think it's all that bad. I just can't stand the sight of my own blood." Becca joked. "Shit, this hurts."

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