Sorry, I haven't updated in a while, but my uncle (my grandparents baby) got married last weekend and then I was down at the Shore for a week. Now I'm back and here is the latest chapter.
Enjoy!
"OK, where are we on the Albert case?" Cragen asked when he had his detectives assembled in the squadroom the next morning.
Liv looked at her notepad, "Riley's aunt is bringing her in soon while we get Mr. Albert. There was semen present in her kit so we're gonna get a warrant for his DNA if he doesn't willingly submit it.
"Good, I'll call Novak and let her know what's up." Cragen headed back towards his office, but stopped at the door, "By the way, where is Elliot?"
Liv wondered that herself, "He'll be in soon, Cap."
Cragen looked skeptical, but merely nodded anyway.
"We'll bring Mr. Albert in while you get a hold of Elliot," Munch offered the look on his face telling Liv he knew something was going on.
In answer Liv picked up the phone and dialed the house first; Fin patted her arm and followed Munch to the car.
"Hi, you've reached the Stabler's leave a message and we'll get back to you."
"Elliot, it's me pick up the phone," Liv commanded,"Fine, when you get this get your ass in here."
Liv hung up and then dialed his cell.
"Hello, you've reached Detective Stabler.If this is an emergency press 1, if you're one of my kids or colleagues leave a message or press 2. Thanks, Bye."
Liv waited for the beep, "It's me, I tried the house but you didn't answer. When you get this you'd better be getting your ass here."
This was beyond frustrating, however the arrival of Riley and her Aunt Patrice kept Liv from being able to ponder and stew.
She had work to do.
Unconscious on the couch Elliot was unaware of time and space, caught in a chronic haze and not caring anymore about his path but only of covering it.
Last night had been about drowning his sorrows in booze and throwing himself a pity party.
It wasn't much different from any other night-it had become mundane in fact.
Deep in his mind terrible dreams kept him tied in to slumber, pulled him farther in to the dark tunnel he was stumbling in to. The nightmares of failed cases, the children who'd been murdered flicked in and out of his memory. Their faces would not leave him alone. Cries for their mothers and fathers and the children's plea's to stop the pain.
"I'm coming! I'll save you!"
Elliot found himself running down a never-ending tunnel to faces and cries that stretched on endlessly.
"It's OK, I'm cccoo...ccooomm...cccccoooommingg."
His voice trailed away and he tumbled through space. The tumble sent his psyche reeling, the faces of Maureen, Kathleen, Lizzie, and Dickie circling him, their smiles and I love yous tearing at his heart because he couldn't hug them, his and Kathy's raised voices reaching his ears. Awful images of the sick bastards he arrested played with his mind and Elliot now saw his children in those dead kids places.
"NONONO"
Elliot was shouting and crying and sweating.
"NO!"
That was how the dream ended, he never could get to the end.
"Jesus Christ," Elliot gasped breathlessly.
Blinking in the midmorning light he worked to orient himself with his surroundings. When Elliot sat up from the couch he stared at the bottles all over the family room, it looked like a dump. His eyes traveled around the room for anything out of place, the only movement came from the blinking numbers on the TV clock: 9:45.
"Oh shit!"
Elliot scrambled around trying to locate his cell phone, the symbol for voicemail displayed, he dialed his number, put in the password, and waited to press 1.
'You have ONE new message'
-"Elliot, you better be getting your ass down here, I tried home but got no answer-get the hell here! Bye."
He flipped the phone closed-if Liv was pissed Cragen must be steamed.
The phone message said generally the same thing; taking the stairs two at a time Elliot reached the top step, of course not without tripping and falling up the steps at least once.
Not thinking about taking a shower he merely changed his clothes, grabbed his keys and wallet then sprinted from the house. Driving to the 1-6 Elliot probably broke every traffic law there was, but he reached the precinct in one piece nonetheless.
He sat for a moment collecting his nerves and gearing up for the screaming match he was certain would occur very soon.
Elliot got out and went up.
"Mr. Albert will not give us a DNA sample. Last night the doc took a blood sample from Riley to compare to the DNA in the kit, the samples are similar. It's gotta be Albert's."
Cragen sighed, "I'll call Casey and get a court order."
"Hold on, he wants a drink and I'll get it that way," Liv grinned.
Heavy footsteps she knew well made her turn around, the grin falling from her face and turning in to a frown of bewilderment.
"Well, Elliot it's nice of you to grace us with your presence," Cragen admonished.
Elliot put on his best apologetic face, "It won't happen again Cap, I swear."
Cragen didn't look convinced, but let it slide.
Liv, however, looked more angry than he'd imagined she would.
"What's going on with the Albert case?" Elliot wondered, his gaze not meeting his partners, but rather staring at his captain.
"I'm calling Casey to get a court order for Mr. Albert's DNA, he's in interrogation one. Riley is with her aunt in the kids room, he doesn't know she's here and we prefer to keep it that way." Cragen finished.
Liv walked out of Cragen's office to her desk not waiting for him to finish filling Elliot in on their current case, she sat at her desk to do some paperwork and wait for the order so she could call Warner.
Elliot walked to his desk.
"Where the hell were you?"
"Oh, uh, I overslept cause the kids called me last night before bed."
It was a bald-faced lie and they both knew that.
"Sure Elliot, OK." Liv looked up at her partner, her glare sending a million messages that he was sure he hadn't seen before in all their years of working together.
Sighing he sat down, made a steeple with his fingers, and watched Liv wondering what was in her head right then.
"What? What do you think is going on? Huh?" his tone was accusatory as if she was the one who'd been acting like a pain in the ass lately.
"Don't you dare talk to me like that, I'm not the one who's been late twice in a row and I'm not the one with a sharp, slicing chip on their shoulder."
He shrugged.
That pissed Liv off more than anything else had, she stormed out of the room and Elliot knew exactly where she was going so he followed her not wanting to lose this fight; if he lost then he was screwed.
"You are so damn self-righteous do you know that? You've attacked me for the last week!"
Elliot began on Liv as soon as they were on the roof.
"Excuse me! You're attitude sucks lately, you're late, and you treat me like crap! Elliot I know something is going on with you, but you refuse to cop to anything."
"Because nothing is going on," his jaw tightened.
Turning away from Elliot, Liv looked out over the afternoon sun soaked city falling silent.
When she spoke again Liv's tone was quiet, but hard as rock, " You're late, you're temper is short, and you're keeping your whole life a secret."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying that I think you have some sort of problem, I know all the signs Elliot so don't play this bullshit with me."
That she was right on target amazed him, but she didn't know exactly and he didn't want her to so Elliot scrambled to think up a retort, none came to him.
"Whatever Olivia, you think that."
Elliot went back inside with his heart racing and his mind pummeling him because he could not cover his tracks fast enough. Behind him he heard Liv slowly follow.
"I have the court order and Warner's coming to take the sample" Cragen informed them all when Liv and Elliot returned; Munch and Fin looked at each other and then at Liv, they knew the two had had a blowout they just wondered how long it would be until everything crumbled. Or what Cragen would do.
"We'll go speak with Mr. Albert," Munch got up with Fin in his wake.
Cragen stared at Liv and then at Elliot, "Anyone care to tell me what is going on with you two?"
"Everything's fine, Cap" Liv said, trying to keep her tone even and neutral.
Not waiting for either man to speak she went to the kids room to talk to Riley.
"Elliot is there something going on?"
"Nope, everything's fine."
That was enough to evoke a laugh if it were funny in the least bit...
"OK Riley, you're dad is here so you need to stay here a little longer."
The teen nodded.
"Now, we're gonna get a sample of his DNA to compare with the DNA in your kit. Then after that, if it matches we'll place him under arrest, he'll go to a hearing and bail will be set. If he doesn't fess up then this will go to trial."
A question formed on Patrice's lips, "Why can't bail be remanded?"
"Bail is only remanded in homicide cases. I'm sorry."
The two nodded.
"Now we can get a restraining order-"
"Yes," Patrice and Riley interrupted at the same time.
Liv stood up, "OK, I'll call ADA Novak to set that up. Why don't you head home and try to get some rest and I'll call when I know everything."
Making sure Mr. Albert was safely tucked away Patrice and Riley left the precinct.
Elliot was escorting Warner from squadroom, "I'll call when I get the results."
"Thanks."
The partners ignored each other.
"Anyone want any lunch?" Fin asked, the clock reading 1:30, jeez time flew.
The team ordered.
Not much to do then except paperwork, they got to work...
"It's a match" Liv told Munch a few hours later.
Fin took out his cuffs and walked in to the interrogation room, "Mr. Albert you are under arrest for the rape of Riley Albert, you have the right to remain silent, anything you say or do can and will be used against you in a court of law, you still have the right to an attorney if you cannot afford one one will be appointed for you."
The ball was rolling and Liv called to inform Patrice. It was late and Liv was tired, Elliot had gone minutes before; they were still not speaking.
She thought about her previous night's thoughts, maybe it was time to talk to Cragen?
On the way home Liv wondered if her gut was right, if Elliot had a substance abuse problem, she knew all of the signs...
Beer in hand Elliot watched TV and ate pizza. Liv didn't know what she was talking about, he told himself.
"She only thinks she knows about this and maybe she does but she doesn't know it all."
The TV only answered by switching to a commercial break.
Elliot finished off his third beer, not touched at all, he'd developed a wonderful tolerance in his opionion.
However, something startled him from this ritual. The doorbell.
"Oh shit", Elliot whispered.
What if it was Liv? Or Kathy?
There was no way to pretend he wasn't home because it was obvious he was.
"Daddy?" the door opened.
Maureen.
Oh shit.
At the sight of her house and the sight of her father Maureen was stunned, "Oh my God, Dad" she whispered...