Intermission...

Olivia and Alex are talking with Malachi.

"What did your parents do again...I've got a terrible memory," Malachi asks.

"My parents were cops," Alex says, "I never got away with anything."

"My mother was a professor...and my father...well, your guess is as good as mine," Olivia says, avoiding all eye contact.

"I'm sorry," Malachi says, "I didn't mean to..."

"It's alright. I'm used to it. Really. And for the record, my mother...well, she wasn't much of a parent. She cared more about getting her next drink than me. I swear...you should have to pass a test to be allowed to have children."

"I'll second that," Alex says with a smile.

Bobby and Elliot find their way over to the three.

"So, gentlemen...what do you think so far," Malachi asks; trying to make polite conversation.

"Well, I must say...when she sang Defying Gravity," Bobby says, "Let's just call it incredible."

"I'll say," Elliot adds.

"Actually, I need a cigarette after that."

"I thought you quit. Bobby," Alex says, with just a bit of anger.

"Well. I...I did but. But it's been a rough day."

"He had to wear last seasons shoes" Elliot says.

Olivia and Alex laugh, while Malachi rolls his eyes with disgust.

Elliot turns to walk away. Bobby grabs him by the shoulders and whispers in his ear, "We should give them some space...get them to be alone with him...but, uh, we stay pretty close."

Elliot nods, "I'll join you outside...come on..."

"Oh, sweetie...you've got something on your ass...here, I'll get it."

Bobby dusts off Elliot's bum and the two take off outside for Bobby's smoke break.

"You know, some fresh air doesn't sound like too bad of an idea," Malachi says.

"You two go ahead, I have to use the little girls room," Alex says.

Malachi leads Olivia out and he keeps her a distance from Elliot and Bobby.

"I bet we don't have much time...I mean, you're the expert on this play right?"

"How did you know that?"

"Well, Elliot told me that..."

Malachi grabs her by the arm, " What exactly did he tell you about me?"

"Nothing. Other than that...ow, that really hurts..."

He drags her off the sidewalk and back towards an alley. Alex comes out...the three stay close behind.

"Where are you taking me," Olivia asks.

"Somewhere you can repent."

"What?"

"Honor your father and mother."

He throws Olivia against the wall and she falls from the impact, obviously a little out of it.

Malachi grabs a board that was in the alley and starts reciting the Last Rites. Alex comes from behind the corner.

"POLICE," she yells, "Drop it dirt bag."

He turns and smiles, "Well, well...I really should have known."

Bobby and Elliot join Alex, guns drawn.

"I bet she's a cop too huh?"

No one says a word. Malachi laughs. He grabs Olivia and holds a knife to her throat.

"Now that would be a big mistake," Elliot says, stepping ahead of the others.

"Oh, she's...she's your real partner? I can tell...well then...in that case..."

Instead of cutting her throat, he stabs her in the thigh. Malachi grabs the board and takes off with Alex and Bobby right behind him.

Elliot stays with Olivia and radios for help.

Alex rounds a corner and Malachi cracks her in the knee with the board, which immediately knocks her down.

Bobby stops to check on her.

"Go get him! I'll live..."

Bobby looks around for him, but he has already disappeared into the night, "Shit!"

Alex looks up surprised.

"Well, sometimes...Shit is all you can say."

"Right," she starts to get up from the ground.

"No way. You can't walk on that. I'll carry you."

"The hell you will! I can do it myself," she tries to lift herself, but isn't able to. She sighs in disgust, as she takes her partners hand.

"I can see that. Don't be so damn stubborn. For once," Bobby lifts her into his arms and starts carrying her back to the others; about five blocks back.

"Is it bad that it's already turning purple," she asks.

"Eames...I'm..."

"Don't say you're sorry...I know you had my back. Just do the two of us a favor...catch the little creep."

"You got it."

He stops once they get back to the alley.

"What happened," Elliot asks, as the paramedics attend to Olivia.

Bobby hands Alex to another paramedic, "We were right behind him...Eames rounded a corner and he cracked her in the knee with that board."

"Son of a bitch," Elliot mutters.

"How is she," Bobby asks.

"They don't know how deep it is...and he might have nicked an artery; there's a lot of blood. And she's definitely got a concussion from that wall...I'm supposed to have her back."

Bobby nods, with total understanding of his guilt.

"How's yours?"

"It's probably pretty bad. I know I heard something snap...she'd never admit it. She's tough...but still. I was...well, you get it."

Elliot looks over his shoulder to see Captains Cragen and Deakins coming up, "I think it's about to hit the fan."

"What the hell happened here," Deakins asks, as he checks on Alex.

"Well...we had him and," Bobby starts, "He caught her in the knee. I stopped for her and...then. He was gone."

"It's my fault," Elliot says to Cragen, "if we would have stayed close to Liv. This...wouldn't be happening. We'd have him."

The four watch the ambulances pull away.

"Guess you two won't be getting any sleep tonight," Cragen says, "Let's go. Make sure your partners are taken care of. And then..."

"We'll be on it," Elliot says.

They all walk back to their cars.

Elliot and Bobby sit down and follow behind Cragen and Deakins.

Elliot sighs, "You know, he could be anywhere..."

"True as that may be. I'm sure he's feeling pretty guilty after what happened tonight."

"So, just wait until he confesses...gee, that'll be easy."

"Just a few hundred churches in the city."

"And we'll look for him at every one...if that's what it takes."