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.
For some reason, Olivia was exhausted that night as well. After watching the movies, the two of them had watched TV Land until all hours of the night. She wasn't kidding when she said she wanted to be a couch potato; and it also seemed to relax Elliot to focus on something else. A yawn ambushed her, and she checked her watch to find that it was 1:15 in the morning. Looking to her left, she saw Elliot out like a light. Turning off the TV, she tiptoed to her room.
The other two didn't know it, but Cragen himself was part of the security detail assigned to Olivia's apartment. He didn't like the idea of having two of his detectives sitting like fish in a barrel, being hunted by a psychotic serial killer, and damned if he wasn't going to be watching their backs himself. He couldn't prevent the horror that Elliot had been forced to endure when he was kidnapped….but he would do everything in his power to bring the bastard who did it to justice.
Olivia slept like a rock for hours until her bladder forced her awake. She was almost out of her door when she heard a noise behind her. Turning around, she shrieked in surprise when she saw a figure crouched next to the far wall.
Jumping out of her skin, she leapt back and reflexively hit the light switch. Elliot blinked in surprise from his position on the floor. She let out a huge breath and sagged against the bedroom door, trying to slow her racing heart. It took a minute for her to calm her nerves. When she did, she suddenly noticed that Elliot was hunched over, shaking.
Concern chased away the leftover adrenaline. "Elliot?" she asked, softly. She wrinkled her brow in alarm and went over to him. When she crouched in front of him, he ducked his head away. Reaching out, she took his chin and lifted his face to reveal red eyes and cheeks that were dripping with tears. His expression looked like a deer caught by headlights.
"I'm sorry," he burst out, his voice high-pitched with panic. "I was trying not to wake you up, Olivia….I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." He dissolved into tears again, sobbing softly and bowing his head again.
She grimaced sadly, lifting his face again and stroking it gently. "What's the matter, baby?" she asked softly. She cupped his face with her other hand and moved up to run her fingers through his hair. "What happened?"
He was silent as he refused to look at her, his eyes averted in shame.
"Elliot." She spoke firmly and placed her hands on both sides of his face. He looked at her, his eyes panicked. Softening her voice, she smoothed his cheeks. "Tell me. What is it?"
He looked at her and shook his head. "I was scared," he whispered finally. "I just got scared."
Her heart broke at his choked voice, and she took both of his hands. Squeezing, she continued in a soothing voice. "What are you scared about?"
He looked at her with his eyes welling again. "I woke up and you weren't there," he whispered. "I called for you and you weren't there."
Her stomach plummeted at his words. What the hell is the matter with me? she berated herself harshly. How could I have let myself sleep so deeply when I know he has nightmares? She felt horrible. This was her fault.
"Oh, honey." Bringing her focus back, she scooted over and took him into a warm hug. "Shh," she cooed, stroking the back of his neck. "I'm so sorry, Elliot. God, I'm so sorry." She held him tight and rocked him back and forth until he calmed down.
Moving back, she took his hand and tugged him to his feet. "Come here," she said. Keeping hold of his hand, she went back to her bed and untucked the covers on the side she wasn't using. Climbing up, she pulled him with her and moved over. He burrowed against her side immediately. Olivia wrapped the blankets around him and he stretched out. She smoothed his hair with one hand as she turned the light off.
"You're safe here, sweetheart," she said softly. "I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." Her inner thoughts were angrily cursing the bastard he was so afraid of, and daring him to come into her home. I'll blow his fucking brains out, she thought bitterly. I'll do it twice and smile. She felt Elliot snuggle tighter against her, and wrapped her arms around him as they both drifted into sleep.
The shrill ringing of the phone next to her head startled her awake. Elliot was snoring softly, his dead weight pinning her against the pillow. She wriggled one arm free and reached for the phone.
"Hello?" she said softly.
"Is this Olivia Benson?" asked a voice.
She stretched as she said, "Yes, it is."
"This is Doctor Jacob Adams, from Mercy General," the speaker said. She suddenly recognized his voice.
"Doctor Adams," she greeted. "Good morning."
"Good morning," he repeated with an amused tone. "I just wanted to remind you that Elliot is scheduled to begin his physical therapy today, in case you may have forgotten."
Her eyes flew open. She had completely forgotten. "Oh…of course I didn't forget," she said haughtily. She paused a minute. "Um….what time?"
The doctor chuckled. "12:30," he answered, smiling. "Fourth floor, Dr. Stevenson."
"Thanks," she said sheepishly.
"You're welcome," came the amused reply. "Good day."
She dropped the phone back on the night table and attempted to wriggle out from under him. When that failed, Olivia twisted her body left and right, also producing nothing.
"This is not working," she said aloud, in a huff. Bending down, she proceeded to shake her partner roughly. "Elliot," she said, catching sight of the clock. It made her panic, and she shook him harder. "Damn it; it's 11:00!" she cried. "Get up!"
He groaned and slid off of her. "Alright, alright," he grumbled. "Geez, I can hear you, ya know!"
She smiled, but it quickly faded. He was a mess. His face was splotchy and his eyes were puffy. He looked exhausted.
"You have an appointment with the physical therapist today at 12:30," she told him. "We have to hurry up." She slid off of the warm bed reluctantly. "What the hell happened to my alarm clock?" She had it programmed to go off every morning at 6 am. It was a pain on her days off, but at least it insured that she would wake up in time for work.
They both took showers, and Olivia microwaved some instant oatmeal. It wasn't her first choice for breakfast, but they were in a time crunch. He still refused to eat anything, which worried her because she could clearly hear his stomach growling. They had about a half hour to get to the appointment on time, so she didn't press him.
The powerful field glasses followed the moves of Elliot and Olivia as they came out of the apartment building and went to her car. The man squinted in the early afternoon sun, his lips curling into a smile as he watched them drive off. Hopping down from the skylight he was perched on, he walked across the street and into the alley next to her building.
He lifted the glasses to his face again and aimed them to the right. In the distance, he saw the squad car parked. He started giggling wildly. He had been watching them all night from the safety of the sewer in the middle of the street. The idiots had scanned the entire area looking for him and hadn't even seen that he was right under their noses!
Still chuckling, he scaled the fire escape on the opposite side of the building from where they were. Whistling, he cruised under each window until he found one with a crack. He wriggled his fingers into the tight space and pushed the window up, jumping inside the empty apartment and closing it again. He strode through the dark apartment and let himself out the door, reaching into his pocket for the piece of paper with her floor and apartment number on it. Grinning, he headed for the stairwell to the fourth floor.
