"What do you…" Elliot started, but then the man dug a gun out of his pocket and pointed it at Olivia and Mike, before announcing with his voice ice cold:

"The other dies. But which one? It's your choice."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The world seemed to stop around them; its breathing blocked, and the sound of its heart quieted down. It was as if the dust flying in the basement had stopped too.

No.

Even though the world around them had fallen silent, Olivia's ears began to ring. At first, she only heard a whistle that turned into a hum, and finally it rose to a roar that almost clouded her thoughts.

This can't be happening.

Her gaze shifted almost automatically to Elliot, whose blue eyes were filled with distress. With pure horror. It wasn't because of the knife pressed against his neck, it was because he had to make a decision of life and death.

And he had no choice.

"J-James?" There was a quiet voice next to Olivia, and she squeezed her eyes shut. She couldn't even imagine how Elliot was feeling. He had to decide between his ex-partner and a small, innocent child, he had to face the voices of his heart and mind so pure, so raw, that it was absolutely terrifying.

And Olivia knew that because she had been in a similar situation before. She remembered it vividly even years later, remembered Gitano, the gun at Elliot's temple, and his voice as he said quietly:

"It's alright."

And she knew what she had to do. Elliot had been ready to sacrifice his life back then because it was the right thing to do. Their job had been to protect innocent children, and it was her job now too. She couldn't let little, scared Mike die just because they had made reckless choices and had been attacked by a serial killer.

She took a deep breath, opened her eyes and looked Elliot straight in the eye.

"You know what to do."

Elliot's eyes widened even more in horror, if that was possible, and despite the knife at his throat, he slowly and almost imperceptibly shook his head

"No."

"Please."

"No."

"SHUT UP!" The man swung his weapon towards her, making them all flinch. "Shut up, it's not your choice!"

"El…"

She had gotten to live. She had been able to see and experience life, she had been able to rejoice, laugh, feel pride, gratitude and happiness. She had fallen in love. She'd gotten another chance more often than she should have, she'd gotten more time, she'd gotten Elliot back.

She had received so much that it was time to give back. It was time to let Mike live, to experience those same things.

"It's alright."

"SHUT UP!" The man roared and took a few steps towards Olivia. The only thing stopping him from attacking her directly was Elliot, who prevented him with his full weight.

"Wait! Wait! I want to know, what are you gonna do, man?"

The man stopped and turned to look at Elliot in wonder.

"What? You don't know? I'm going to kill…"

"Yes, but what after that? Are you just going to let us go? How do I know you won't kill us after that too?"

"Ah, don't worry about it," the man answered and pressed the knife tighter against Elliot's throat. He grimaced and drops of blood began to fall from the edge of the knife, causing Olivia's panic grow, and she opened her mouth again despite the prohibitions. However, before she could speak, a quiet voice was heard from beside her:

"James? What's happening? Where's Mom?"

"Don't worry, sweet boy, you're gonna see your mom soon," Olivia forced a sad smile on her face, and a tear rolled down her cheek without her noticing. Then she turned her gaze back to Elliot, still smiling sadly. "It's okay, I love you."

Rage flashed in the man's eyes as he raised the gun and pointed it at Olivia's forehead.

"I made a mistake, I should have shot this bitch right away!"

"No, wait!" Elliot exclaimed in distress. "Please, shut up, L- Emily!"

But suddenly the man's face twisted into an ominous grin, and he turned to look at Mike, who was crying next to Olivia. Olivia's heart seemed to stop as she realized what was about to happen. Elliot seemed to notice the same, because he hurriedly shouted:

"No! Wait!"

The man sighed and looked down at Elliot, who he was pulling against him, the knife at his throat.

"You know, James, if you don't decide, I will. And that means they'll both die," he hissed. "You have ten seconds, starting now. Ten, nine, eight…"

Elliot seemed to be on the verge of a panic attack, and Olivia would have done anything to be able to touch him. To touch him and tell him everything was okay. That she loved him, that she always had and always would.

"Seven, six, five…"

And that she would forgive him. Completely.

"Four, three…"

"I love you, and I forgive you," Olivia smiled, suddenly felt peace take over her body, and after looking one last time into those blue eyes that reminded her of a sunny summer day at the beach, she closed her eyes and prepared for the inevitable.

"Two, one…"

But then a sound filled the basement. It was demanding, sharp, and it surprised them all.

It was Elliot's phone ringing on the basement stairs behind them.

It made the man flinch, look back for a second, but they didn't need more. Olivia gathered all her strength, raised her body on her hands and kicked the man with full force. The surprise knocked the gun out of the man's hand, and he staggered back, and for one horrible moment Olivia thought it had caused the knife to incise into Elliot's neck.

But then, miraculously, Elliot spun around in the man's grip and kicked him in the stomach, causing him to automatically buckle, and another blow to his arm sent the knife falling to the floor. Elliot kicked it away, and in one fast movement he had lifted his arm. A fist hit the man in the head, he staggered, and then he collapsed to the ground. Elliot quickly grabbed duct tape from the table next to him and tied the man to the basement pillar with the tape.

And then they stopped. Olivia stared at the sight in front of her dumbfounded, unable to say or do anything. She had been certain of her death, absolutely certain. She had run away from it so many times in her life that she had lose count, but this time it had been already knocking on her door.

But this time, too, it had canceled its arrival at the last minute, leaving her sitting on the sofa and wondering what she was going to do with her make-up and clothes on.

Then Elliot turned, directing his blue eyes on her. Drops of blood ran down his neck, there was an unreadable look in his eyes, and they said nothing. They had a wordless conversation with their eyes, and it was as if a spell had descended around them.

He took a step closer, tears starting to fall, and staggered over to them. Mike had been completely silent, he was just staring at Elliot, who was looking at them with a desperate glint in his eyes. And then he whispered, quietly and just barely audible:

"I'm so sorry."

"It's okay, El," Olivia was surprised how she managed to keep her voice so steady. "Can you untie us?"

Elliot nodded, took another knife from the basement table and cut the ropes holding both Olivia and Mike. Mike clung to Elliot the instant he let go, and he wrapped one arm reassuringly around him. Then he turned to look at Olivia, who didn't bother to wipe her tear-soaked face, and for a couple of seconds they just stared at each other.

But then the spell around them broke, a sob escaped Olivia's lips, and she crashed into Elliot, wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in the crook of his neck. Mike's grip on Elliot tightened, and for a moment there was no one else in the world but them, Elliot, Olivia and Mike, who had once again been given extra time by death.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Police car lights were flashing in the darkness as Olivia, Elliot and Mike were standing in the yard of Mr. Murdoch's house waiting for the ambulance and Mike's mother Hannah. The cops were currently in the basement picking up the attacker, who was still tied to a pillar in the basement. The entrance had been found outside the house, but the stairs had led under the house.

They watched as a light-colored car drove into the yard, and a blonde, pale, insomniac-looking woman jumped out of the co-driver's seat. She spun her head wildly, searching for the boy standing between them.

"MIKE!"

"Over here!" Elliot exclaimed, and Hannah turned in the direction of the voice. For a moment she just opened her mouth, but then she burst into tears and rushed to them, scooped her son into her arms, and squeezed him as if her life depended on it. Mike started crying too, and for a while they just cried in each other's arms.

"Mom!"

"Oh Mike, oh sweetie, I'm so sorry…"

"Ma'am?" The ambulance had arrived in the yard, and the paramedic was walking towards them. "You should come to the car."

Hannah and Mike started to follow the paramedic, and soon a man's protesting voice was heard behind them.

"Get off me!"

Olivia and Elliot turned to look and saw the murderer wriggling in the cops' grasp. However, they had handcuffed his hands behind his back and wriggling was no use.

"Well, who do we have here?" The large figure of Sheriff Gold appeared behind them, and he stepped in front of the man. He pointed his flashlight at the man, and astonishment spread across his face.

"Nicholas?"

"You know him?" Olivia asked in surprise, and Gold nodded.

"Yes, I know him. He's Nicholas Murdoch."

Olivia and Elliot glanced at each other, and Elliot frowned as he turned his gaze to the protesting Nicholas.

"He's related to Gilbert Murdoch?"

"Yeah," Gold suddenly looked disappointed, sadness flashed in his eyes. "He's Gilbert's son."

"Son?" Elliot raised his eyebrows in astonishment. "I didn't know he has a son."

"They... They haven't been in contact since Nicholas left home at the age of 17."

Everyone turned to look at the man the cops were trying to push into the car. Sheriff Gold gave them an apologetic glance and then left to help the officers.

They stayed silent for a moment, but then Olivia said quietly, but loud enough for Elliot to hear:

"I know you would have chosen him."

Even though she wasn't looking at Elliot, she could see out of the corner of her eye that he turned, his body tensing.

"What?"

"It would have been him, wouldn't it?"

"Why are you saying that?"

"He was just a kid, El!"

"And you're my partner!"

"And it's our job to save these kids!"

"And would you?!" Elliot's voice had suddenly tightened significantly. "Would you have chosen him?!"

That silenced Olivia. She swallowed hard and turned her gaze to the police car Nicholas was finally sitting.

"If that sniper hadn't beaten you to it… I know you would have taken the shot, Olivia.

"No, I wouldn't have. Did you really expect me to? Did you really expect me to cause your death, Elliot? What about your kids?"

"I don't know. I just couldn't get that boy out of my head."

"What about me?"

And that's when he knew. They both knew. They didn't have to say it out loud. The situation would have been horrible, they didn't even want to think about it. But they both knew that the voices of their hearts would have won the fight in the end.

Elliot's voice was quiet and stifled as he whispered:

"I love you, Liv."

And he didn't have to say more.

In silence, they watched the yard bathed in the light of the police cars, which just a moment ago had been dark, silent and menacing. And without a word, Elliot wrapped his arm around her waist, pulled her against him, and with a sigh, Olivia lowered her head on his shoulder.

And that was all they needed at that moment.