Chapter 3.

5:30 p.m.

"Captain, I want to leave for a few days. Use some of my vacation time, you know?" Olivia gave a small smile. She had never really used her vacation time bfore, maybe once or twice when she was sick but that was it. Now it was an emergency, she was endangering the people around her. 'I can't believe the bastard...bastards...blew up my home.'

Cragen leaned forward in his chair and looked at Olivia. Ever since she had been assigned to his squad he had considered her like a daughter. Yes, all of them were like his children, John a brother, but Olivia was different. Being something like a father to her gave her something she never knew. He guided her through hard times and had laughed together when it was much needed. So when she came into his office asking to leave, he knew that there was something more to it than meets the eye.

"Yeah okay sure Olivia. Do you have a place to stay?"

"Yes. Well..for now I'm staying at a motel but it'll do untill I can get back on my feet."

Cragen nodded before standing up. "You know I'm here if you need help."

"You sound like Elliot, Captain."

"Yeah well, it's true. Get outta her 'Liv you look a lot like hell." Olivia smiled at the use of her nickname. He only used it for times like these, when it was just him and her. Father and Daughter.

As soon as she left his office, Elliot came up to her. "Now will you tell me what going on," he said in an eager wisper."First you come in here looking up Rikers recent releases, then you have a bruise on your jaw, and now your place is burned to the ground!"

Olivia sighed," Getting you involved could put you in danger and I'm not going to take that risk. I'm going to be leaving for a few days so please, behave.." She gave him a pat on the shoulder and was about to walk away when Elliot grabbed her wrist.

"Call me. So I know that your okay." As she nodded he let go of her wrist and watched as she walked away.

6:15 p.m.

"Well boys nice work today," said J.B. as he popped open a bottle of beer. The three of them were currently at J.B.'s rundown apartment. All of them were sitting around the fold-up kitchen table with a beer in hand.

"What did we exactly accomplish today J.B.? We didn't kill her but we managed to blow up an apartment complex. So tell me what did we do?" Tank said slamming his bottle on the table causing some of his drink to spill out. Marcus looked at J.B. as if asking the same question.

"Look Tank, we might not have got her but we got her terrified. We know that she hasn't told anybody because then we all be screwed." He took another sip of hs drink and continued, "If you want to do something productive to do then I have something in mind. You can do this alone because all me and Marc want to do is get pissy drunk. Ain't that right Kid?" Marc just smiled and turned looking at Tank.

"It's Marc and me asshole," Tank mumbled in annoyment.

"What did you say T?" asked J.B. really not caring nor hearing what Tank said.

"Nothing..what do you have in mind?"

"In my black bag on the couch, you'll find an address and key in an envelope. Why do people leave their spare keys outside their house anyway? It makes breaking in so much easier, which is not as fun." J.B. stared off as if truly thinking hard on the subject.

"What else J.B.?" Tank said starting to get unpaitent.

"You have," J.B. looked down at his watch,"about two hours to get there before he does. If I'm correct you might be waiting there for a while depending how his day went at the job. If we can't get her, we'll just go after the people around her. Oh and Tank, try not to make to much of a mess will ya?"

7:00 p.m.

The Paradise Motel was anything but paradise. The walls were thin so you could hear everything that was happening next door. The rooms were small, there was a bed, a tv, and bathroom which had seen better days. It took Olivia less than three seconds to inspect the room. She set her bags down and fell on top of the bed. It didn't matter if the sheets had a slight smell to them, her body was tired and welcomed the rest.' Wait Liv you can't go to sleep yet. You have to call Big Brother.'

She sat up and picked up the phone that was sitting on a ring stained nightstand. She dialed his cell phone number and waited for him to answer.

"Stabler," Elliot said.

"Hi El...I'm safe and sound," she looked around the room,"I think."

"Well I feel better knowing that. Now get some sleep."

"Yes Big brother." Said Olivia making Elliot laugh. It had been a while since she heard Elliot truly laugh. Elliot's laugh came from his belly, sometimes sounding child like"Good night Elliot."

"Night 'Liv."

She hung the phone back up.A yawn escaped her mouthand she got up to dress for bed. As soon as her head hit the pillow, sleep took over. And for the first time in years Olivia Benson didn't have nightmare.

9:05 p.m.

Elliot Stabler walked in to his dark empty home. No kids rushing to greet you, no wife waiting to eat dinner with you. Living alone took sometime to get used to. Elliot sighed and hung his coat on the coat rack. As he walked into his living room he turned on a lamp and what he saw wasn't his wife or kids. There sitting in his favorite armchair was a huge, fit, man.

"You have a nice place Elliot," said Tank. Elliot reached for his gun but Tank had his already out and pointing at his chest. "Yeah you might not want to do that. I'll get it for you." As Tank stood up, Elliot saw the full figure of this man. He was twice his size and two feet taller than him. Tank reached down and pulled out Elliot's gun from its holster. Now both guns were pointing at his chest.

"Sit, we'll talk." Tank motioned for him to sit down on the couch that was across form the armchair. Elliot did, his eyes trained on the guns. Tank sat down as well. "I know what you're thinking..."

"What?" said Elliot dryly.

"How did I get in here? Why am I here? And whats going on with Olivia Benson?"

"You sonofabitch your the one that blew up her apartment.."

"No, no, I thought that was stupid. The other sonofabitch did nothing but kill and harm innocents. I just want to kill Olivia."

"Why?" asked Elliot his eyes not leaving Tanks. His left hand was slowly inching toward his lamp as Tank talked.

"Simple. I want the money what better motive?" In the corner of his eye he saw Elliot's hand making its way toward the lamp. Tank without breaking eye contact with Elliot aimed his gunat the lamp and shot it. Elliot's plan worked, the room was now competely dark. He dropped to the floor and crawled behind the couch, staying silent.

"Great," said Tank. "All I wanted was to have a civilized converstaion." Tank was trying to search through the dark for Elliot.

He ended up two feet away from Elliots legs. He shot randomly through the room trying to spook Elliot up."You have balls of steel my friend!"

Without warning Elliot kicked out his leg bringing Tank crashing to the ground.The guns flew out of his hands and spinned off to the side. Elliot got up making his way towards the guns. Tank stretched his hand out and grabbed Elliot's ankle. Elliot kicked him hard in the face untill he let go. Tank yelped in pain as Elliot reached the guns first.

"Now the tables have turned. You have the guns pointed at your chest."

"What are you going to do? Kill me," said Tank sitting up against the couch. He spat out blood and started laughing

"Why are you laughing?"

"Because my friend Marc is standing behind you with a baseball bat. Say hello."

Marc hit him in the back of the head using the end of the bat. Elliot was knocked out before he hit the floor. Marc came over to Tank and helped him up.

"Thanks Marc I thought you were getting pissy drunk with J.B."

"No J.B. gets violent and starts mumbling about his mom when he gets that drunk. So I told him I was getting something to eat."said Marc shrugging his shoulders. "Should we leave him here?"

"Yeah we can't take him. Kidnapping a cop would make headlines and I my friend don't do too good in the spotlight. We should wipe the place down though. He'll be out 'till morning."

"Sweet dreams," said Marc.