Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: SVU. It belongs to a genius named Dick Wolf. No profit is being made from this story.

"So we went from one victim to almost a dozen?" Cragen's tone was incredulous as he looked as his detectives. Elliot nodded. "Looks that way," he answered. "The bastard was in New York the whole time."

The four went silent, frustration and fatigue evident in each of their faces. The day had been one endless circle. As they left the
Medical Examiner's office, Elliot had gotten a call from an irate District Attorney Arthur Branch, demanding to know why he and Olivia "don't have your asses in my office as we speak". It was then that they remembered that they were both supposed to testify at a court hearing against a child molester the next morning. After the frenzy of the new case, they had completely pushed it off. They left quickly after making Munch and Fin promise to call them if the results came back from the skin samples.

Then, as the other two were heading toward the precinct, Fin drove over a nail in the road and popped the tire of the car. It had taken an hour to put in the spare and another two to get another car out to them. As soon as they got back into the city, a domestic disturbance at one of the curbside homes had spilled out into the street, causing a riot scene between uniformed officers and members of the family. The two detectives had no choice but to step in and assist.

Elliot and Olivia spent two hours going over their testimonies and finally broke free, returning to the precinct at the same time as Munch and Fin. No sooner had they gotten a chance to take a coffee break when the ME called back, saying she had the results of the sample. Elliot and Olivia volunteered to go out there, only to find that it the results had been mixed up during testing and the ones they needed were still in Virginia. Agitated, they drove back toward the city again, this time to find a gridlock of cars just after the highway. They finally made it to the precinct at 4:30 and had collapsed at their respective desks, mentally spent.

Cragen looked at his watch and made a quick decision. "Go home, you guys," he said. "It's been a hectic day around here, and I need you all in top shape. Be back at 8 am tomorrow." They looked at each other for a minute, trying to decide if he was serious. Fin was the first to jump up, going to his locker and hightailing it out the door. The other three grinned and got up as well. Elliot lingered a minute. "Are you sure, Captain?" he asked, hesitantly. "What if something comes up?" "If something comes up, you'll all get calls," Cragen answered firmly. "Go, or else I'll find you some files to organize." "Yes, sir," Elliot replied quickly, and followed hastily after Olivia. Cragen shook his head and chuckled.

Elliot pulled into his parking spot and stepped out of his SUV, locking it behind him. He stopped by his mailbox and then headed upstairs. He juggled mail and keys as he jiggled his locks, swearing as the third one stuck before releasing. Closing the door and locking it behind him, he threw the mail on the counter to look at later and headed straight for his bedroom. He toed off his shoes and threw on a robe, heading for a hot shower. He relaxed inside and let the water ease the kinks from his neck. When he finished, feeling slightly less tense, he threw on his boxers and climbed under the covers. He relished the feeling of cool sheets on his skin as he flipped on the TV and turned off the lights.

A station wagon sat abandoned in the parking lot of the townhouse complex directly across the street. Its occupant was perched precariously on the third floor fire escape with a photo lens camera directed toward the far window. The shutter button snapped rapidly the minute his target entered the apartment.

The man's heart thumped as he zoomed in on the beautiful blue eyes, and he felt lightheaded. Panting shallowly, he waited impatiently as Elliot showered and went into the bedroom. Moving slightly, he moved the lens toward the bedroom window and continued the shots. A low squeal sounded deep in the man's throat when he watched Elliot strip and climb into bed. The lights when off, and the now-darkened room created the perfect backdrop. The man zoomed in on the bed and excitedly kept taking pictures as Elliot fell asleep.

It was back to business the next morning. Olivia and Elliot went to court as promised, and by some miracle were able to leave after an hour and a half. "I need chocolate," Olivia declared, as soon as they exited the courtroom. She headed straight for the vending machines. Elliot laughed as he followed her. She selected a Hershey's Special Dark and deposited 75 cents. "Want anything?" she asked, as she bent to retrieve it. He wrinkled his nose and shook his head. "Chocolate at ten in the morning?" he asked. "I'll pass." She deposited another 75 cents for a soda and they went back towards the precinct.

The morning was sunny and cheery, and the detectives were grateful for a break in the dreary weather. Elliot swiped Olivia's soda can and took a long swig. She elbowed him gently and snatched it back, making a show of wiping the rim. She laughed at his sour face. She decided to rib him a little. "Was it just me, or was someone dozing during the closing arguments?" she teased. He happened to let out a yawn just then, and she cracked up. He grinned in return. "Ok, so I'm a little tired today," he said. "I didn't get much sleep last night." He didn't mention the way he had awoken several times feeling unusually creeped out.

She looked at him in mock disappointment and waggled her finger at him. "What did I tell you about watching late night Spice Channel, Elliot?" Her comment surprised him, and he let out a loud laugh. The sound filled Olivia with happiness; she loved it when Elliot let go of the "tough guy detective" and became his goofy self.

"Hey….don't look so smug, missy," he replied, raising his eyebrows at her. He leaned toward her like he was sharing top secret information. "I know about those magazines under your bed, Olivia Benson." He tried to keep his tone stern. It lasted all of two seconds as he cracked up again. She was doubled over from laughing so hard. They were drawing stares from people passing them, and to two stressed detectives, it felt wonderful.

Captain Cragen was waiting impatiently when they returned, still laughing like loons. "Benson, Stabler," he said sternly. "Get in here." They sobered immediately at his tone and walked into the squad room. "What's going on?" Elliot asked, looking at his colleagues somber expressions. "Victim number 12," Cragen answered.

Olivia's eyes widened in shock. "You're kidding me," she said. She looked at the captain in disbelief. "When?" "Guy walking his dog in the park next to the Hudson River discovered it," Fin answered. "6 am this morning. Threw the dog a stick to fetch and it came back with an arm."

A Fed-Ex truck was parked next to the precinct. The man driving wore a uniform and pedestrians paid him no mind as he casually crossed the street and walked around the building. Strolling into the parking lot, he walked along the rows of cars, stopping at the black Explorer. Taking an instrument from his pocket, he deftly rolled underneath the vehicle in one swift move and began working.

Olivia was ashamed to admit that she didn't even flinch this time at the sight of the human body parts. How did I get used to this kind of carnage? she thought bitterly. They were scattered throughout the wooded area next to the park. She saw an ear, a finger, and a piece of scalp. She noticed her partner appeared very shaken. He was crouched next to one of the crime scene markers, scribbling notes, and she could see his hands trembling.

Munch and Fin were talking to the man who had made the discovery, and she glanced discreetly at them to make sure they weren't listening. She knelt next to him and placed a hand on his back. "Are you ok?" she asked, softly. He swallowed hard. "I'm fine," he said gruffly. When he met her gaze, his eyes betrayed him. She looked at him in concern. He stood up quickly, walking away.

She was walking towards the others when she suddenly heard Elliot yell, "Oh SHIT!" She whipped around in time to see him tumble to his knees and vomit. She hurried to his side. "Elliot!" she said in surprise. He shuddered as his stomach convulsed again and he spewed the contents. The other officers on scene came over, thinking something was wrong. With an embarrassed groan, he spat and wiped his mouth. She rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. "What happened?" she asked.

He breathed hard, scrubbing at his eyes. He looked toward the side, and she followed his gaze. She couldn't hold back her surprised gasp as she saw what had made him so upset. Lying a few feet away, on a bed of pine straw, was a green human eyeball.