Somewhere in the darkness a song played like a broken record over and over again, loudly.

Inside his head Elliot was going crazy, he felt sick to his stomach and more exhausted than when he'd lain down hours ago. And his throbbing brain felt as if it might burst from his skull.

Still, he couldn't get the noise to abate.

Reluctantly, Elliot raised an eyelid but closed it quickly because the sunlight gave him a newfound pain behind his eyes.

"Oho," he moaned.

He peeled open his eyelids with great effort. What met his tired eyes was a coffee table laden with bottles; Sam Adams's, Budwieser, and a Corona or two. On the floor were two Heinekens, one of which had spilled falling from his sleep grasp.

Ignoring the sight before him Elliot rummaged around clumsily for his cell phone, it played the theme song of NYPD Blue. He found it under the couch.

"Stabler."

"Where the hell are you?"

It was Liv.

"Oh, um the kids and I were out late," Elliot lied easily, as was becoming commonplace.

"Well, get yourself down here, we have to get to the courthouse!" Liv exclaimed.

"I'll be there forthwith" Elliot said trying to inject some humor. The phone clicked and the line disconnected.

He sighed.

Groggy and hungover as was also becoming usual, Elliot pushed himself off of the couch. He swayed on his feet afraid his knees would give, but he stayed upright however wobbly, and crept upstairs.

His shower was ice cold and exploding from the head.

He slid under gingerly, "Ouch," Elliot seethed when the water made contact with his skin.

That shower was quite possibly the shortest one he'd ever taken; Elliot found rumpled but clean clothes and dashed out of his house, keys and wallet in his hands.

First stop: Starbucks for a Grande regular coffee.

Next stop: 1-6 precinct.

"Took you long enough didn't it," Liv told him sarcastically. She was sitting on the hood of their squad car waiting impatiently with coffee in hand.

"Sorry," Elliot apologized halfheartedly.

In silence the partners got in to their car and maneuvered through the typical Manhattan traffic.

"How are the kids?" Liv asked.

"Good, we had pizza and went to the park and watched movies. Kathy picked them up around 11."

Elliot found this lie easy, he was getting good at it.

"Good, that's good El," she smiled for the first time that morning and he smiled back. She couldn't yet tell he was fabricating everything he told her from thin air. Another sigh

As quietly and unsuspectingly as possible they slid inside the courtroom and stood against the wall. Scarey was finishing up her closing remarks, Casey already went so the next thing to do was wait for the jury to decide the verdict.

'This can't take very long' Elliot thought to himself, his opinion was as it had been yesterday, he thought this cut and dry.

And he was right, it took only a short time.

"We find the defendant guilty."

Elliot's eyes widened in disbelief, Liv looked stunned not quite sure how she felt about this.

Myra gasped filled with relief and Casey smiled.

Ron looked as disbelieving as Elliot as he was led from the courtroom pending sentencing.

"Thank You, Ms. Novak," Myra smiled at her counselor and hugged her briefly. "It was my pleasure, take care" Casey responded, she didn't really liked to be hugged so she nodded at Liv and Elliot and headed out to face whatever and whoever was out there.

"I'm sorry Detective Stabler and thanks to both of you."

Liv rubbed her upper arm, "Congratulations," and then she looked at her partner, he didn't really look pleased or displeased so all he did was give Myra a fake smile.

Myra walked out of the courtroom.

Liv looked at Elliot, "What was that about?" she asked him.

"What was what about? Come on let's go eat," he turned away from Liv and followed the few lagging people from the courtroom. Liv stared after him.

Outside Elliot was leaning against their car in the sun with his face turned upward and his eyes closed. He was surprised at the verdict and felt some pity for Ron, the guy was gonna lose his kid cause of this and he knew how that felt to not be able to see your kids.

When Liv walked up to him he ignored her by pretending to be dozing. That wasn't totally false though, he was resting somewhat.

Liv stared at Elliot until he finally met her gaze, "What the hell is going on with you?"

Unfazed, Elliot shook his head "Whaddya mean?"

Another longer gawking stare. She couldn't believe Elliot.

"Your attitude in there, your general attitude!" Liv raised her voice at him annoyed and frustrated.

"I'm fine, just tired and my attitude is fine too. My wife left me and took our kids with her but otherwise I'm good and 'in there,'" he nodded at the large courthouse, "I was just surprised at the verdict, nothing more nothing less."

"Yeah right, OK" Liv nodded unconvinced and showing it.

Frustrated himself, and trying to get away from the subject of himself and his life Elliot got off of the car and walked around to the drivers side and got in.

Liv followed suit, all the more annoyed and now angered.

They were silent on the ride through New York.

Back at the 1-6 they stalked in to the squad room not looking at each other but instead tossing one another sidelong glances that could freeze hell.

"What's wrong with you two?" Cragen questioned when he exited his office.

"Nothing," Liv answered stiffly.

Their captain looked at both of his detectives expectantly, but neither would give so he proceeded with his original aim, "Rape victim in Central Park, west side between 76th street and 77th street under the Eaglevale Arch."

He laid the print out on Elliot's desk and walked away.

Liv took the paper and began to walk out of the room without waiting for Elliot who was standing with his eyes shut and rubbing a hand across his tired face.

He went after her when Liv was no longer within his sight.

"You know I don't have to tell you everything" Elliot informed Liv when they were both in the car.

Nodding in response she said, "You're right, you don't, but it would be nice if you would talk to me ya know. I'm in the dark here..."

That had occurred to Elliot except he didn't want to turn the light on for fear of what his partner might say or do. He refrained from answering at all.

Central Park was crowded, especially when there was cops and media around; Liv and Elliot had to fight through the crowd badges out and visible.

"What's with all the mayhem?"

A uniformed officer helped the detectives under the tap, "She's some child star."

Liv looked at Elliot and they made there way to the ambulance just outside the arch. CSU was there, Elliot went to talk to them while Liv went to the ambulance.

"What happened?" she asked another uniformed officer.

"A horseback rider found her curled up against the wall of the arch shivering and sobbing. She was all bruised up and her clothes were torn, there was a lot of blood too. Rider called us from his cell. That's all we got for now. Name's Riley Albert, she's 14."

"Hi Riley, my name's Olivia, I'm a detective."

"Hi," the girl answered softly.

She's on a gurney in the center so Liv sat on a side seat and continued.

"Can you tell me what happened?"

Riley shrugged and looked at her hands but didn't speak. Under the blanket and attached to an IV the teenager looked like a small child, her fear making her appear even younger.

Liv looked at her and placed at hand on her shoulder gently, Riley flinched then apologized.

"It's OK," Liv assured Riley not at all surprised with the reaction to her touch.

Both were silent, until Elliot walked over.

He gestured for Liv to step aside with him, "CSU found two ID cards, one is from a no-name production company with Riley's info on it. The other is a New York State drivers license, it belongs to a Mr. Roger Albert, 47."

Liv looked around for a minute gathering her thoughts, "Think her dad raped her? Or her uncle?"

Elliot shrugged, "Dunno, get her story and I guess we'll work from there and whatever else CSU digs up."

Nodding Liv hopped back in to the rig, "Riley, we're gonna go to the hospital now, Okay?"

She didn't answer. Instead she began a soft narrative:

"I just came from an audition, it was for a new independent movie. My dad ... he came with me and watched and stuff. I stumbled over some lines and my dad was mad, he said he wasn't but then we were walking around here and he looked angry. I started to ask him about it when he smacked me and started saying all this stuff about how I was stupid. I was pissed so I gave him a nasty look and he threw me in to the bushes and ... and..."

Riley had to stop for the tears that finally flowed and the breathes that came quick and short.

"Shhh, take your time" Liv said gently.

"And he raped me."

More tears trickled down the child's face and she was silent again. They were at the ER then.

Sighing heavily, Liv got out with the gurney, Elliot waiting for them outside the ER entrance.

The partners didn't speak, instead Liv went in with Riley while Elliot waited outside.

45 minutes later Liv walked out of the exam room, kit in hand, "Riley said her dad raped her," Liv confirmed then.

Elliot's eyes betrayed him, he was angry and tired.

"You know what, go home I got this."

"Nah, I'm fine."

"Go, I'll call you if need be or I'll see you tomorrow."

Elliot seemed to weigh his options and finally relented nodding acceptance of the offer, their earlier quarrel seemingly forgotten.

Bidding his partner good-bye Elliot went back to the precinct and picked up his car.

On the way back home he made only one stop.

Once at home, tired and angry and so many other emotions, he placed the six packs of beer on the counter.

He began his new ritual.

Elliot drank. And drank. And drank. All for Riley and his kids and his shitty job and his now crumbling life. He drank for himself and he drank because of how he felt.

Drinking himself in to numbness Elliot fell in to an alcohol induced sleep...

What did you think of my latest chapter? What did you think of me making a verdict on the "Doubt" case? All criticism welcome...