A/N: I own...nothing.

A/N: It's here, SVU fans, the EOness has arrived! Be happy! Thanks to WuHaoNi, Kelly of the midnight dawn, KaydenceRei, onetreefan, MrsAbbyCarter, Abbey06, SVU101, LivvyChica14, solciss1, and unstoppablecheer16 for making me smile these past two days. If you watched the season finale last night...I thought it was good, but not exactly what you'd expect for a season finale. It's also very eye-opening and I pray to god my ex-boyfriend did not see the episode (not that he watches SVU, but...). Anyways, enjoy the next chapter!

Cries of good-bye, shouts of congratulations, and yells of thank-you filled the air outside the ballroom as the guests left the wedding. Abby and Carter stood by the door, watching the pairs leave. Elliot and Olivia hung back a bit, allowing the ER workers to leave and go home; it was late, and some of them had ne early shift the next morning, no doubt. They had said good-bye to the two detectives on their ways out; Olivia and Elliot were now in line to say good-bye to the new couple.

Carter and Abby smiled at the two detectives as they approached.

"Is this really the end?" asked Olivia, smiling, a wicked twinkle in her eye. "No more surprise engagements or anything?"

Carter and Abby laughed. "No," replied Carter. "No, I think this really is good-bye."

"But we were thinking of coming to New York very soon," began Abby. She turned to Elliot and Olivia, her expression suddenly more serious. "We…I, actually, want to hold funerals and bury my family…in New York." She struggled for words. "I just…don't think I can have them buried here, and as Eric was living in New York when he died…" She broke off, looking at the two detectives.

"I understand," answered Olivia, quickly filling up the awkward pause. Elliot was nodding as well. "We'll make all the arrangements for you…when were you thinking?"

Carter looked at Abby, who shrugged. "Give us time to settle in…maybe in a week?"

Elliot and Olivia nodded. "We can do that," answered Elliot.

"Oh, thank you," said Abby, sounding very relieved.

"We'll call you with the details," said Olivia.

Carter extended his hand for them to shake it. "Well, then, we will see you soon. Have a safe return, and thanks again for…everything."

Elliot and Olivia smiled. "No," said Elliot, "thank you."

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Half an hour later, Elliot and Olivia, who had quickly changed into more comfortable driving clothes and finished packing up their room, pulled out of the parking lot of the apartment for the last time. The clock on the dashboard read 10:02.

"Remind me again why we couldn't leave tomorrow morning?" asked Olivia, as she stifled a yawn.

Elliot shrugged. "Cragen said we had to be back to catch them starting tomorrow morning at 9:00."

"We shouldn't have stayed for the dance," said Olivia. "We should have left right after the ceremony.

"And miss you in that dress?" asked Elliot playfully as he merged onto the highway. "Never."

Olivia laughed, and then her expression became serious when she saw him wince. "Are you okay, El? You sure you don't want me to drive?"

Elliot shook his head. "I'm fine, Liv." Olivia sighed and looked out the window. Elliot noticed. "Something on your mind?"

Olivia shrugged. "Just…thinking."

Elliot gestured at the dark highway in front of them. There were a few scattered lights here and there of tail lights, but the interstate was otherwise quite empty and dark. "It's a long drive; want to share?"

'It's a real eye-opener, isn't it?"

Elliot frowned. "What is?"

"Coming here," Olivia responded quietly. "I mean, it's a whole new kind of victim: the one of the family. We both knew Richard was coming after Abby, but when I first met her in person – when she still didn't know – I saw her as a victim." Olivia paused, and it seemed like she was trying to find words to fit her feelings. "I saw her as a victim, but not because I knew Richard was after her. I saw her as a victim because she lost her mother and her brother, and I've…just never really noticed that before."

Elliot nodded. "Me neither."

Olivia chuckled. "New York is going to see so…different now, you know? I'm really going to miss Chicago."

"Me too," said Eliot, nodding again. "It's amazing how close you can get to someone in a week."

"John and Abby feel like our best friends, don't they?"

Elliot laughed. "Yeah, kind of." He paused, looking out at the road again, before turning back to Olivia. "So what was the best part of this trip?"

Olivia laughed. "What is this, third grade reflections or something?"

Elliot chuckled, too. "No…I just wondered what you thought about it."

Olivia sighed. "It's definitely been the most fun I've ever had on an undercover assignment. It was even better than "Donna," and I didn't think it could get better than me pretending to be a housewife, much more your housewife."

Elliot smiled. "This was definitely my favorite assignment so far, too. I think it's also the most involved I've ever been."

Olivia looked out the window. "Do you think Cragen will make us see Huang when we get back?"

"For what? Undercover assignment withdrawal?" Olivia winced. Elliot noticed. "Sorry, Olivia, couldn't resist." He sighed. "You mean Richard, don't you?"

Olivia nodded. "Well…yes."

Elliot stroked her arm gently. "You don't still blame yourself for that, do you?"

Olivia shrugged. "I don't know. It's haunting, and I don't think it'll be leaving me anytime soon. It's not so much what he said as it is…the whole situation. The situation is horrific. I don't…ever want to be in that kind of situation again."

Elliot shook his head. "Me neither."

The two detectives sat in silence, each pondering their own thoughts, as Olivia gazed aimlessly out the window at the dark trees whizzing past her. Elliot kept his eyes trained on the road, trying his best to stay awake. Olivia could barely keep her eyes open as they drove along in silence on the highway. Elliot eyed his sleep-deprived partner.

"Go to sleep, Liv," he said kindly. "You don't need to stay awake for my sake."

Olivia smiled softly. "No, Elliot, really, I'm not even t-tired," she said, trying and failing to stifle a large yawn.

Elliot laughed. "Good night, Olivia." She still looked at him apprehensively. He eyed her sternly. "Liv, I'll be fine. You need to sleep."

Olivia sighed. "Thanks." She laid her head against the cool window, closed her eyes, and was in a dream world almost instantly.

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"Why are you doing this, Richard?" asked Olivia. "Why are you doing this? What did you gain?"

"It's not what I gained by hurting this bitch," growled Richard, as he dug his foot into Abby's chest. The detectives saw her wince in pain. "It's what I lost."

"And what did you lose?" asked Elliot.

"My life," said Richard. "Abby ruined my life. First with her crazy family, then her refusal to have children, and then her drinking and depression. I wasted my life on her. She owes it to me to be here now."

"Richard," said Olivia, trying to pacify him. "Why kill her? You'll just lose your life to prison that way. You're already going down for murder; do you really want a needle?"

Richard was silent, but continued to point his gun at Abby. Abby's breathing had become shallow and constricted. Next to her, Carter remained still, the puddle now beginning to dry and stain the carpet. Olivia and Elliot could see that time was of value and was quickly running out.

"A needle?" repeated Richard scathingly, "Ha! The state would never execute me. You don't execute white men with respectful, high paying jobs; you execute scum. Those who are unworthy to live in this world, those that walk the streets in the night. The blacks, the Hispanics, the poor…you would never kill me."

"We can end this now," said Elliot. "Just let her go, and then we can settle this. If you don't, we'll call our captain and tell him how uncooperative you're been. And he'll tell our ADA who'll make sure your day in court is a very miserable experience to compensate for it."

"Is that so?" asked Richard skeptically.

"Now if you just let her go-"

"No!" shouted Richard, cutting Elliot off. "Stop telling me what to do! I'll call the shots here – literally." He took aim at Elliot and shot before either detective could react.

"ELLIOT!" shrieked Olivia. Her partner fell to the ground, clutching his arm, his eyes only half open. Olivia quickly took a fatal aim at Richard.

"Don't even think about it!" yelled Richard, as he lowered his gun to Abby's head. At this move, Olivia hesitated. "You shoot me, I'll kill her."

Olivia narrowed her eyes, but didn't lower her weapon. Her mind worked quickly as she weighed her options. Abby's brown eyes were wide and terrified; Olivia couldn't stand to cause her anymore pain. Her partner, Elliot, was on the ground, still holding his injured arm, his weapon lying useless by his side. His breathing had become shallow and labored. Her eyes fell on Carter, who was still unconscious.

Richard smirked at her hesitation. "I see how it is, Detective Benson," he purred. "You really are weak. You can't handle the pressure. Now that your partner is down, do you feel afraid, Detective? There's no one to have your back. Look, you can't even protect him!" In one swift motion, Richard moved the gun from Abby's head, aimed at Elliot, and fired. It hit him square in the chest. Elliot's blood splattered the wall behind him, showering her as well. Abby, who was on the floor, screamed, shrill and loud. Olivia stood, transfixed with horror, too stunned, too frightened to do more than just stare at her lifeless partner.

The room suddenly seemed to be spinning. Olivia could barely breathe. Someone was laughing, an evil cackle that ate her up from inside. She stood, drenched in something red and sticky…blood. She had eyes only for Elliot. She dropped to her knees beside him, touched his limp hand, and then screamed. Once she started, she couldn't stop. Richard took advantage of the sound to cover up the sound of his gun as he shot Abby and then Carter. He advanced on her; Olivia turned around when she felt the barrel press against her neck. She screamed louder when she saw her had the gun to her throat.

"No, no please," she begged. "Please, stop it. Get away from me!" She pushed him off of her roughly; Richard stumbled backward, tripping over Carter onto the floor. Olivia crumpled next to her dead partner's feet sobbing. "Elliot, I'm so sorry. Forgive me…" Through her tears, she reached for his gun. She pressed it to her temple, and pulled the trigger. She screamed again, and then felt her world fade to black.

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"Olivia!" Elliot shrieked. Her eyes were closed, but she was screaming in pure agony in the seat next to him.

"No, no please," she was begging, crying though her eyes were closed. "Please, stop it. Get away from me!"

Elliot shook her arm. "Come on, Liv, wake up. It's only a dream; wake up!" He did the best to pacify his partner and keep his eyes on the road at the same time. He spied a sign for a pit stop on one of the exits and quickly merged into the exit lane.

Olivia's sobs had grown louder now. "Elliot," she sobbed. "I'm so sorry. Forgive me…"

Elliot frowned and shook her again. "Olivia! Wake up!" He exited and turned into the rest stop. Olivia's shrieks and sobs were still filling his ears. He stopped the car, and tried shaking her again.

"Olivia!"

Olivia's eyes snapped open. The screaming had stopped, but when she caught sight of Elliot, she burst into hysterical sobs.

"Elliot! Oh God, Elliot! I'm so sorry!" Elliot was puzzled, but pulled her into a strong embrace, allowing her to cry into his chest.

"What happened, Liv?" he asked, stroking her hair soothingly; she was shaking. Olivia's sobs slowed down, but she continued to tremble.

"I had – the most – horrible dream…" She began shakily.

"Liv, it was just a nightmare-"

"I couldn't save you, Elliot! He – Richard – he killed you!"

Elliot rubbed her back, trying to get her to stop shaking. "I'm right here, Liv. I'm okay, you're okay, it's all okay."

Olivia didn't seem to believe him. "It's all my fault, all my fault…"

"I'm right here, Liv," he repeated. "Don't cry, please don't cry," he soothed, trying to quiet her sobs. "I'm here. Look, I'll show you." He titled her chin upward and kissed her trembling lips.

His kiss soothed her, allowing her heart rate to return to normal. It was long enough to show passion, but it was no production number. Olivia sighed as she pulled away. "God, I love you, Elliot. I'd be so lost without you."

"I love you too, Liv. I'll always be there for you."

Elliot pressed his lips to hers again, and she felt herself finally relax in his tender kiss.

A/N: Well, there you have it! All right, so I said Friday for the next update and I will do my best to keep on track. In the meantime, watch the season finale of the mothership tonight, watch the season finale of ER tomorrow, and watch the season/series finale of Conviction on Friday (Haha it got cancelled:P). If you read, please review; I'd love to know what you think!