Healey had not stopped talking since getting into Elliot's blue police sedan.

"Well, it's no Suburban, but I suppose SUVs are more expensive, so I wouldn't expect the NYPD to hand them out or anything. I still can't believe your Captain split Andy and I up just because he's worried about you and your partner, like you couldn't keep yourselves safe without our help or something like that, although, from that point of view, I guess it means he has a healthy respect for the skills of the US Marshals, but you'd think he'd want to..."

Elliot was ready to explode with frustration. He shook his head to try to remember the way to the courthouse, which seemed to be eluding him, despite the countless number of times he'd traveled the same route to the same building. As he took a wrong turn, his mind thoroughly clouded with the last image he'd glimpsed of Olivia, standing on the sidewalk with Eckerson, looking as if she were ready to kiss him. Elliot shook his head again, disgusted. Five minutes alone together and she was practically making out with that damn Marshal. Well, not quite making out, but certainly too close for her partner's comfort. Elliot was ready to slug his least favorite federal officer, though Healey was currently challenging Eckerson for that title with her incessant meaningless chatter.

"...but from what I've heard about this Judge Petrovsky she's not going to back down and just accept a protective escort because the cops recommend it, although coming from the Marshals she might change her tune a little I would think. You people haven't developed the best relationship with her, have you, but I guess that's partially your ADA's fault because you aren't in court enough to really piss off a judge, but I'm sure you could find a way to if you let..."

Elliot tuned her out as well as he was able, imagining that she was an air conditioner or garbage disposal or some other large, noisy appliance that one simply had to learn to ignore. He found it surprisingly easy to get lost again in his own reflections. He would never have thought that the escape of a serial rapist and killer would rank second on the list of bad things to happen in a day, but the arrival of the Marshals had certainly passed it, and by a fairly wide margin. Not only had they come in and tried to take over, but they had caused Cragen to separate him from his partner when she needed him most. She was upset over Paige's escape, blaming herself for the situation, and now partnered with a jerk who'd gotten her kidnapped the last time they'd worked together. Elliot knew he would have had misgivings about seeing her leave even with Munch or Fin on a day like this, but Eckerson was another matter entirely.

"...of course we wouldn't have to deal with Petrovsky at all if the Marshals were in charge of this case, like we should be, since escaped convicts fall squarely into our jurisdiction. We would just put the full protective detail on her and not think twice about whether or not she cared, but since you people have to maintain a good relationship with her I suppose this is a necessary roadblock in the investigation, not that I think we're wasting time or anything..."

Elliot's knuckles turned white as he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, thinking about what the two of them were doing as he was stuck driving to the courthouse with the human equivalent of a howler monkey. Allowing herself to get so close to Eckerson seemed like the first mistake Olivia would be making as a result of her anxious state. Elliot certainly wouldn't put it past Eckerson to take advantage of her. The idiot was already looking like he'd be all over her the first chance he got. For the umpteenth time since leaving the precinct, he ardently wished Cragen would reconsider his decision and change things back to their proper order. It's Benson and Stabler, not Benson and Eckerson or Healey and Stabler, he told himself over and over.

He was finally called out of his reverie by Healey's excited shout, "Hey, there's a parking spot, and right out front too, so I guess that's a sign that we're gonna have good luck today." Elliot hadn't even realized that they were at the courthouse. His momentary disorientation prevented him from making a biting comment on Healey's definition of 'good luck.'

As they walked through the front doors, Healey commented, "It's not as nice as the federal courthouse, but it's not as bad as some of the local dumps I've seen, like that little hole in the wall where justice's hallowed halls were graced by pinup calendars in..."

"Do you ever say anything positive that doesn't include the words 'federal' or 'Marshals'?," Elliot interrupted, stepping into the elevator and hoping he had cut off another long-winded rant.

She followed him in and answered in a tone one would use to explain the ways of the world to a two-year-old, "I'm just commenting on the fact that some agencies are better equipped to deal with certain situations than others."

He avoided snapping at her bait by maintaining silence in the elevator. He was getting really sick of Healey after spending a little over an hour in her company. Even while ignoring her, Elliot had heard scraps of her tirades of obvious condescension for local law-enforcement, including the NYPD. She seemed to think the Marshals walked on water while everyone else was left treading in their wake.

When the doors finally opened, Elliot stepped out and immediately spotted ADA Casey Novak pacing in front of Petrovsky's chambers. He felt oddly thankful he'd have someone less annoying to speak with. "Morning, Counselor."

"Good Morning, Detective. You're late. I've arranged a meeting with Judge Petrovsky, but she's not happy that we're pulling her out of court."

"She's never happy," Elliot quipped before Healey cleared her throat to demand an introduction. He grudgingly obliged, "Oh, Casey, this is US Marshal Healey, my temporary partner for this case. Healey, this is Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak." The two shook hands before Novak quickly turned back to Elliot.

"Where's Olivia?"

Healey answered before Elliot could, "Det. Benson is working with my partner, Marshal Eckerson, in order to, ah, I think Captain Cragen outlined it as 'separating the targets.'"

Novak seemed a bit taken aback, so Elliot tried to refocus the conversation. "Is she ready for us?," he asked, gesturing toward Petrovsky's office.

"Yeah, we should probably get in there before Petrovsky becomes more dangerous than Paige," she replied knocking on the door.

The judge did not disappoint, forgoing the normal 'hello' for, "You people had better have a good reason for pulling me off the bench this morning."

"Yes Judge Petrovsky, we realize that it's an inconvenience for you, but I assure you it was done with your safety in mind."

"I suggest you stop trying to butter me up and get to the point, Ms. Novak."

Elliot stepped in, almost regretting that they were even offering to protect Petrovsky and her charming attitude, "Judge, I'm sure you're aware that Terry Paige escaped from Sing-Sing early this morning. We have reason to believe that he will be coming to the city and attempting to take revenge on the people who put him there, including yourself."

"Convicts wanting revenge are nothing new, Detective, but I assume your purpose here is not simply to inform."

"We'd like to assign you a protective detail in case Paige decides to come after you." Seeing Petrovsky grimace at the thought of being followed, Elliot decided to be diplomatic, remembering the reaction he'd gotten from Olivia when he'd put a watch on her without telling her first. "We feel that it would be the safest course of action, considering the circumstances. We just came to obtain your permission to do so."

"Judge, you should also know that whether or not we get your approval, we will be assigning two US Marshals to observe you," Healey stated before Elliot had a chance to stop her.

Any inclination Petrovsky might have had to play ball flew directly out the window. "Don't think you can come into my chambers and order me around, Marshal...what was your name?" She promptly continued without giving Healey a chance to reply, "Whatever. Your men can sit in the courtroom and follow me around all they want, but they will not be allowed into my chambers or my home and they will not disrupt my life in any way. Am I making myself clear?"

"Judge, please reconsider..."

Healey was cut off as Petrovsky swept from the room saying, "We're finished here."

"Well, there's nothing more we can accomplish here. I'm going down to the car," Healey declared with far more conviction than necessary. Being put in her place apparently made her want to assert her assumed superiority more zealously. She left the room with even more of a flourish than Judge Petrovsky had.

Elliot glanced at Novak as they exited the office, and she gave him a weak smile, "I guess I can really look forward to my next case in Petrovsky's courtroom."

"It's not your fault Casey," he replied. "Healey seems to have that effect on everyone. I know I'm ready to gag her. And that's putting things mildly."

"Right. Who wouldn't want to work with a charmer like that?"

Both laughed for a moment before Elliot sighed disconsolately at the thought of rejoining Healey in the car. "I guess I should get going before she releases the hounds or something."

"Keep me updated and let me know if you need anything for this case. I think Judge Seligman might not hate me yet, so warrants are definitely doable."

"Thanks Casey." She waved at him over her shoulder as she walked away down the hall.

For once in his life, Elliot did not get annoyed by the long wait for the elevator. He walked very slowly on his way out to the car.

Healey was on her cell phone standing next to the door when he arrived. Her tapping foot on the frozen sidewalk indicated her displeasure at being forced to wait in the cold. She snapped her phone shut when she saw him approaching. "About time you got back down here, Stabler, though I guess I owe you an apology for ripping you away from Novak, whose company you were enjoying so much."

Elliot returned her sarcasm, "Well, some of us still need the assistance of the court to obtain warrants, which, as you may recall, make some of the things we do legal. By the way, nice job up there, alienating a judge."

"Whatever, Stabler, she wasn't about to go along with your nicey-niceness anyway, so I just cleared the air and made it easier for us to get on with the investigation. Now we need to go talk to the lawyer, so get in the car."

"Munch and Fin are taking care of Langon. We should call Cragen and find out what he wants us to do next, seeing as our meeting with Judge Petrovsky was slightly shorter than expected."

Her reply seemed canned. "First of all, I do my own interviews because I prefer not to leave it up to other agencies to do my work, since it reflects poorly on the US Marshals if we accept something that's been done sloppily."

"Are you saying we not capable of doing our jobs here?" he interrupted incredulously, hoping he had misunderstood her. She continued as if he had never spoken.

"Secondly, I don't need the NYPD telling me how I should do my job and since I'm being honest, let's just get it out in the open that you don't like me because I'm a US Marshal, but still, we should be civil because we have to work together since my partner is stuck baby-sitting your partner until this case is over."

Elliot puffed up with rage. He was willing to ignore her barbs about the police, but insulting his partner was taking it way over the line. "Olivia doesn't need anyone to take care of her, especially not Eckerson."

"Oh, please, if you think for one second that he's enjoying the responsibility of watching out for her..."

He wasn't able to voice his thought that Eckerson was probably enjoying watching Olivia more than Healey could possibly fathom when the conversation was ended by a high-pitched ringing. "Stabler," he answered, without checking the caller ID on his phone and with far more vehemence than he intended.

"Well, I was gonna tell you it was nice to hear your voice, but you can forget that now."

"Olivia," Elliot sighed almost contentedly, happier than he'd ever been to hear his partner greet him. At least Eckerson hadn't gotten her killed in the past few hours. "What's up?"

"Cap'n wants us back at the station. He wouldn't say why, but he said to hurry. Andy and I are staying at Marcia Baron's apartment since the uniforms are here and..."

Elliot bristled as he faintly heard Eckerson interrupt Olivia, "The detail is all set. We should head back to your precinct."

Elliot didn't wait for her to relay the message. "Liv, we're just leaving the courthouse, so we'll see you in a few." He snapped his phone shut without saying good-bye.

Healey looked at him expectantly, "Well?"

He was tempted to tell her that Paige had been caught by a couple of patrolmen and her presence was no longer necessary, but instead said, "We have to go back to the station." He opened his car door, hoping the ride back would be quieter than the ride to the courthouse.

Healey stared at him over the roof of the car. "You go back. I really need talk to the lawyer and eyewitness myself. I'll take a cab back to the precinct, Stabler." She spun on her heel and walked away quickly.

Elliot felt no compunction about not following her and, after settling himself behind the wheel, pulled into traffic. He smiled as he reflected on her parting comment, deciding that they might have something in common. If she were going to talk with Marcia Baron, she must not think much of Eckerson's competence as a Marshal either.