Lyrics from "In the Air Tonight" by Phil Collins

I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord
I've been waiting for this moment, all my life, oh lord
Can you feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord, oh lord

Well, if you told me you were drowning
I would not lend a hand
I've seen your face before my friend
But I don't know if you know who I am
Well, I was there and I saw what you did
I saw it with my own two eyes
So you can wipe off the grin, I know where you've been
It's all been a pack of lies

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord
I've been waiting for this moment for all my life, oh lord
I can feel it in the air tonight, oh lord, oh lord
And I've been waiting for this moment all my life, oh lord, oh lord

Well I remember, I remember don't worry
How could I ever forget, it's the first time, the last time we ever met
But I know the reason why you keep your silence up, no you don't fool me
The hurt doesn't show; but the pain still grows
It's no stranger to you or me

And I can feel it coming in the air tonight, oh lord...

Dora Stabler keyed open the back door of the house and silently let herself in. She had forgotten to put her copy of Pride & Prejudice in her bag before going to the community center for her weekly book club meeting. She dashed upstairs glancing at her watch, satisfied she had plenty of time to make it to the meeting.

Dora searched the room she shared with her husband until she found the book she was looking for. Just like Byron to move her items, she thought irritably. She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror and paused for a closer inspection. She had deep lines etched around her eyes and forehead. Those who knew her well knew they weren't laugh lines. Dora sighed and closed her eyes, leaning heavily against the dresser. If it weren't for her children she would have left Byron Stabler long ago.

He would never let you leave.

Dora's eyes flew open. The thought was so loud she almost convinced herself she had spoken aloud. It was then that she heard the door slam and voices downstairs, interrupting her of her depressive thoughts. She knew James was at track practice and Elliot was studying with his girlfriend. Tonya was at the daycare at the community center and Byron was at work… it was odd for someone to be home at this time, she thought. She left her room and headed towards the stairs.

The voices were clearer now and she recognized one to be Elliot's. Sighing in relief, she started to trot down the stairs when she heard a statement that stopped her cold.

"We have to remember to throw these clothes in the truck before we burn it, in case we get blood on them you know?"

Dora was confused, but followed her instincts. Creeping slowly down the stairs, she reached the bottom and peeked around the corner, straining to hear more. She was looking straight into the family room and was shocked to see both her son and Olivia half naked. She soon realized they were merely changing their clothes.

"What about the gun and the knife? Are we still going to bury them?" Olivia asked, tugging on her black sweatshirt.

"Yes," Elliot confirmed. "I don't want to risk them popping up in the river or a trash can somewhere. At least then we know they won't be discovered any time soon."

Gun? Knife? Dora's mind was racing faster than her heart was beating. She knew she should step in, see what the hell these two were up to, but she wanted to hear as much as she could.

"Liv," Elliot said distractedly, lacing up his shoes. "The knife I can understand…but the gun? Where did you get it?"

"It's Byron's," she said. "I don't know where he got it, I guess it's his off-duty gun, but he keeps it at our house underneath Mom's bed."

Once beating rapidly, Dora's heart stilled. Underneath her Mom's bed. She always knew Byron was cheating on her with Serena Benson. But to hear it confirmed caused a pain so severe she could hardly stay up right. Byron was a flawed man, but after everything he had put her and her children through he could have at least stayed faithful to his vows, the vows he took before God. Regardless of this revelation, she was now positive Olivia and Elliot were intent on hurting someone.

"Awesome, if anyone ever finds it, it will be traced back to him," Elliot said appreciatively. "Good thinking Liv."

Olivia blushed. "Yeah…I guess. I was kinda thinking more along the lines that it would be poetic justice to shoot him with his own gun," she said, embarrassed.

Dora grabbed the banister to keep from toppling over. They are going to kill Byron.

Elliot stood up and faced Olivia. They stood like that for a minute, sharing an intense and personal look between them. Dora almost felt ashamed to be witnessing such a private moment.

"This is it Olivia," he whispered. "If we're going to turn back, we have to do it now."

Olivia's eyes filled with tears. "You can turn back Elliot. I can't, I won't…you know that. My earlier offer still stands. You…you don't have to do this. You can do the right thing. You can stop this now...before it's too late."

He smiled sadly. "This is the right thing. I told you I can't let you do this alone…my father hurt you so much and it's my responsibility to make it right. I love you Olivia."

He pulled her to him and they shared a passionate and deep kiss, clinging to each other as if they were the other's life support. The scene was so intense Dora had to look away. Don't they know they aren't alone? she thought wildly. Didn't they see my car? It was then she realized she had parked in the garage and let herself in through the back door. They were probably parked out on the street.

"…remember what to say?" Dora snapped back to attention.

"Yes," Olivia said, still breathless from their kiss. "I'll pretend to be your mom and it's an emergency. When he picks up, I'll tell him it's really me and that I hurt my mom."

"Bingo, you got it."

"Are you sure your mom is at her meeting?" Olivia asked nervously. "I don't want to get her into any trouble…"

"No, my mom's a creature of habit," Elliot said, self-assured. "She'll be there with a dozen other women from the neighborhood that will testify that they saw her at the time of the phone call. She'll be in the clear."

Olivia gave him a lop-sided smile. "You thought of everything."

Elliot whistled. "We'll see won't we? Let's do it."

Dora snapped her body back until she was flush against the wall, out of sight. She watched as Olivia and Elliot walked past her and out the door, each dressed in head to toe black, looking like two Grim Reapers on a mission. As soon as the door slammed shut, she slid to the floor, collapsing on the first step.

Call the police. Call Byron and warn him. Run outside and stop those children from taking a man's life.

Logical thoughts were running through her head, but Dora could not move. She squeezed her eyes shut. Her son was going to kill her husband. His father. For Olivia. She didn't even want to think about what "hurt" constituted, but he believed Byron was capable of almost anything. And her son was going to help her put a stop to it.

Dora opened her eyes, her vision landing on a photo of her and her children hanging from the wall. Byron had refused to be in the picture, said photos robbed you of your soul.

Too late, she thought icily. You never had one.

She gazed at the picture, her three lovely, innocent children. She could live without Byron Stabler. She could support her children and raise them in a home that wasn't ripe with emotional and physical abuse.

And she could protect her son.

"God forgive me," she whispered.

Dora Stabler pushed herself off of the floor. She checked herself in the mirror, made sure she showed no signs of despair and grief, smoothed down her blonde hair into its usual coiffed condition. Then she grabbed her bag and walked briskly to the back door.

If she hurried, she could still make it on time for her meeting.

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