Chapter 4.

7:55 a.m.

Elliot Stabler woke up with a mind splitting headache as the morning sunlight entered the room. He rose from his living room floor trying to remember the events of last night. Images of the night before came to his mind in pieces. The conversation before the struggle, him pointing his gun at the man, the man smiling at him before being knocked out senseless. He felt the back of his head to feel a nice sized bump.

"Ow...shit," he said as he made his way to the kitchen. He grabbed a plastic baggie from a drawer and began to fill it with ice from the freezer. The throbbing in his head went to a dull pulse as the coolness connected. He leaned against the counter and began to think.'I had to find out about whats going on with 'Liv the hard way...'

He would have to call the Captain to tell him what was really happening. Olivia was in real danger and if something bad was to happen to her, he would feel responsible. Elliot stoped as he began to reach for the phone. The last time he called the captain before calling her, ended up in him getting the cold shoulder for two weeks. 'And her look was mean...'

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8:05 a.m.

Olivia lay wide awake. She had been staring up at the ceiling for a couple hours, trying to figure out what her next move what be. It was then that she realized that she didn't have control of the situatuion. She couldn't hide forever, for eventually they would find her. 'Maybe they already have...' To make sure that her conscience wans't getting the best of her, she got up and made her way to a small window. Her eyes scanned the vacant parking lot not seeing anything unusual. 'I don't really know what or who I'm looking for.'

She sat back down on her bed putting her head in her hands. ' What can I do? ' As though to answer her question her cell phone started to ring. She looked at the screen, happy to see Elliot's name flashing across it.

"Hey El I'm fine don't worry-"

"Liv we need to talk and soon," Elliot interjected.

Olivia sensing the urgency in his voice knew it was something serious. "Elliot whats wrong?"

"We can't talk over the phone... Meet me at Charlie's by nine." He hung up without another word.

By 8:25 Olivia was making her way out the Paradise motel parking lot. She packed all her things, if they were watching her, she couldn't stay in one place for too long. 'I wonder whats up with El? Maybe they... No 'Liv don't think that. If they can blow up my fucking home, then they can do anything to the people I care about.'

She turned onto the freeway and while glancing up in her rear-view mirror saw a white van turn with her. 'Why does that van look familar?' She glanced back up in the mirror to see that the van was still behind her. Her eyes grew wide with realization as her mind flashed back. 'That van had been sitting outside my apartment yesterday morning. And when I went out for my jog it was parked across the street. Shit...'

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8:50 a.m.

Charlie's was the coffee and donut place for cops. The place was pretty much full of cops getting their coffee before their shift. While others sat around talking about what they have encountered on the job. Whats a better place to meet than at a place full of cops. Elliot took a seat at a table close to the back. He anxiously looked out the window waiting for Olivia's car to pull up. He was way past the big brotherly mode, he was now scared to death for her. If she didn't show up on time he would freak. 'Olivia's is time obsessed she'll be here El...no worries...' He looked down at his watch to see that it was now 8:58. 'Two more minutes.'

Elliot started to play with hands, a thing he was known to do when he became unpaitent. 'Come on 'Liv don't do this to me!'

The entrance of Charlies opened and in walked Olivia looking around for Elliot. He waved for her and she made her way over to his table in the back. As she sat down Olivia saw Elliot playing with his hands.

"I know you didn't give up on me that eaisly El?" she gave him a small smile in which he returned.

"Yeah well I didn't know what could've happened between there and here."

"So what's up El? on the phone you didn't sound like yourself. Is it the kids?"

Elliot leaned forward not wanting to be heard by others. "No its not the kids they're fine. Last night when I got home some guy was in my living room waiting for me. He asked me if I knew what was going on with you, then we fought, and the next thing I know is I wake up with a lump the size of a golf ball on the back of my head. So please 'Liv tell what the hell is going on."

Olivia sighed her worst fears confirmed. 'I was hoping they would'nt involve you El.' She looked down at the table wondering where to start. 'The letters tell him about the letters.'

"I barely made it here. I think... no I know that I was being followed. I think I lost them for now..."

Elliot's concern grew more for his partner. " Tell me who they are."

"Well I don't know exactly who but I know who put them to the job." Olivia looked Elliot in the eyes, "It's Richard White."

"How do you know that 'Liv? It could be anyone with a grudge against you."

"He's been sending me letters for the past few months. Telling me how much he loves me, that he's waiting and wacthing me."

"Liv why didn't you tell me or the Captain!" Elliot said in an angry whsiper. His anger directed more towards the news than Olivia. "We could've stoped this."

"How El? Theres really no evidence that points to Richard... Look I thought I could handle it or maybe if I ignored it would stop."

"Yeah well, so much for wishfull thinking. These guys have no mercy. Look I'm gonna take the day off."

"No you're not, look they probably know that you would help me. We have to keep them guessing. They might be tracing my phone and yours. Besides do you really think Captain would let you off too? He needs you there Elliot."

"Okay fine but call me by pay phone when you get the chance.They might have a tracking system on your car. You might want to travel by taxi or better yet the subway."

"Yes big brother anything else?" Said Olivia trying to make Elliot smile.

He reached over and grabbed her hand, looking at her eyes. "Be carefull."

Olivia let go and stood up still looking at Elliot. "I will be."

She walked out of Charlie's feeling slightly better that Elliot knew what was happening. That he would be there to help her with anything. Maybe it was then at that moment that she knew she loved him.' If I get out of this thing alive I'll tell him that...Well time to pay an old friend a visit..'