Demons
"The woodsman is a sexual sadist who keeps his victims in a wooden box after abduction and mummifies the bodies."
Olivia and Elliot walked into the precinct after their long night just in time to meet Dean's replacement, Agent Erica Christianson. She stood in front of the entire unit flashing pictures of the twenty-four victims they'd found over the past twelve months.
"So how are the woodsman and the serial Santa cases related," Olivia questioned as her work mode clicked on. She threw her coat onto her chair and sat on the corner of the nearest desk to catch up.
Erica stopped her briefing to acknowledge the new voice. "Yes. Glad you could join us. I'm Erica Christianson. You must be Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler."
"Good morning," Elliot said as he grabbed Olivia's coat and hung it up next to his on the coat rack in the corner. "Sorry we're late."
Cragen gave them both the hairy eyeball while suggesting that his wristwatch was impeccably clean and if perfect working condition.
"We had a long hard night," Elliot continued while clearing his throat and sitting dangerously close to Olivia's left thigh. "With personal issues."
Olivia glared at him mortified, and he jumped up realizing what he just said. "I mean, with my family. Issues with my kids," He nervously moved over giving her warm touch its' professional space. "Ah, anyway, continue."
Fin gave them both a questionable glance.
"Right," Erica replied moving on to the task at hand. "As I was saying, our serial killer has been in hiding for weeks. He has been using the Santa group as a means to get close to victims and cover his tracks. We believe he started his process in a cabin upstate, but our crew scared him away."
Elliot pinched his sinus cavity. "So you're telling me that the guy I collared last night was just ruse and not the perp we were supposed to be following?"
Erica clicked to the next screen. "Yes. Our real perp is much more dangerous. Borgen was only interested in a child abduction and a night of fun. He's not already come forward with information on our real killer. That being said the CSU team did find all of the supplies necessary for mummification processes, and we found the body of Vanessa Roads, our kidnapped boy's mother."
Lake flinched still shaken from last nights search and rescue. He was clearly running on little, if no sleep, and he scribbled away on a tablet unusually quiet. "So…why did he mask himself as a Santa?"
"Because he likes to lore the women in by baiting them with a child."
"And you say that he does all of his killings in a cabin upstate, so why would he choose this location in Jersey, and why did he choose Borgen as an accomplice? That sounds like the exact opposite of his MO."
"Yes and No. Our killer has been forced out of his cabin by my team. He was looking for new prey and a new space. We don't know why he chose Borgen, but we do know that he follows the victims for weeks before hand. We questioned Borgen and the information given to use leads us to an army surplus store. He used cash and bought everythign he needed for his process and for camping."
"The final part of my our investigation last night ended with the findings of this Santa Suit and a Salvation Army bucket. We looked into these items and traced them to a Herbert O'Dell. Herbert was killed four weeks ago. Stabbed in the back four times. Forensics is still working on the details to his death, but that means that our woodsman was in this building-"
"The Salvation army guy." Olivia jolted to her feet. "I saw him. I talked to him."
"We all did," Munch said. "Unfortunately."
"Not like it was an option. The guy was intense," Fin added.
"Right," Erica answered. "Which means that his next prey could be connected to this building. Or to anyone involved in the Borgen case."
"So we're the victims," Olivia said.
"Well…not necessarily, but I'm going to need a list of every single woman in the building. Particularly Single women with children," Erica answered.
"Munch knows that by heart," Fin joked.
"I know nothing of the sort. The single woman is a rare species that stays away from the likes of me," Munch grumbled with unamused bitchery.
"At least you know what you're up against," Fin added.
"Gentlemen," Cragen interrupted. "Focus."
Olivia stood in silenced thoughts twiddling her bottom lip between her thumb and forefinger.
"You think of something," Elliot softly asked. He placed his hand on the small of her back to bring her back to life.
"Did your team find a camera or photos. Like Polaroid photos," she finally uttered.
"He took a picture of me. I mean, he was taking pictures of a lot of people, but he snapped a photo of me coming off of the elevator. I wonder if he took any more. You should ask these women if they remember the guy taking a picture of them."
"Okay," Erica said as she jotted the information down. " That's great information. And if need be we'll put you on probation until this blows over. But what I'll need for you to do is identify a sketch that we have of him. And then we'll have to keep you on watch until his next movement."
"Wait, wait, wait. I don't need to be followed by fed's."
"That's a standard procedure. We want to keep you as safe as possible."
Olivia shook her head in complete impatient annoyance. She could tell this was Erica's first time dealing with a good team of detectives.
Holding in her anger, she forced a smile and continued. "Erica, I know that. But keeping me out of the case is not going to catch your perp. We need to figure out his next step before he makes it. Where was this guy living? What was he doing when he wasn't outside of our building? Has he talked to anyone in the building?"
Erica stood in silence with no answers. "We are still working on those details."
"What do you mean you don't have any details? Wasn't Dean Porter following this case for over a year? You can't tell me that he has nothing on this guy?"
"It's confidential."
"Why?! Do you want to catch this guy! Help us help you?"
Cragen jumped in to cool off the fire that he could sense was bubbling between the two women. "Okay, Liv, cool it. The feds are here for our input, not to share their intel."
"I realize that, but we've been working this case alongside them for weeks, and you can't tell me they have nothing on this guy that they can't share."
Cragen politely nodded for Olivia to zip her moth and then took command of the room to take the tension off of Erica and gave orders to his unit. "Elliot and Lake, I need to see everything you have on the Santa case from last night."
They all went about interviewing and canvassing the building for any information on the woodsman when Don took Erica and Olivia to the side.
"Liv, Dean Porter was arrested last night for leaking information. All information that he has on Borgen or the Woodsman could be false or tainted, which is why Erica is with us today and not him."
Olivia's mouth dropped and she backed away in shock as Don pulled Erica to the side.
"He's not an accomplice?"
"Ah...we don't know yet," Erica interrupted.
Cragen nodded for Olivia to fall back so that he could speak privatly with Erica.
Erica listen, I know you're trying to keep things quiet and air tight, but Olivia is the best in the city. She has instincts for these kinds of perps. I think it would benefit you to use her on the case and fill her in on any details you might find credible."
"I…I think that would be unnecessary," Erica blurted out as she gathered her things.
"Ms. Christianson, she's not difficult to work with, she's just stubborn. Give her a chance."
Erica glanced over at Olivia who was going through the woodsman's case files. She took in a deep breath and glanced at Don. "Okay, I'll use her. Have her meet my crew at the federal office. 10th floor. I have some things to go over before we head out to the cabin. In the meantime, please keep me informed of all info you gather from today."
"Great," Cragen smiled. "You won't regret it."
Don watched Erica leave and turned to face Elliot and Olivia. They had their backs to him and Olivia was talking. Her lips were inches from Elliot's face and Don noticed that the affectionate way Elliot's thumb circled underneath the back of Olivia's shirt.
"Elliot," Don barked.
Elliot pulled away from Olivia as though he were being scolded by his father. "Yes, Captian, Sir."
"Get started with Lake and then when you're finished you can jump on the holiday leftover cases with Munch. We're behind."
"Right, I'm on it. What about, Liv?"
"She's going to be working with Erica Christianson. I recommend you get a glass of water for that late night hang over, and," he cleared his throat in a pause. "Elliot, if I see your hand under her shirt like that ever again, I will transfer you. Understood?"
Elliot's jaw tensed and he grew red. "Understood. Thank you. I…I didn't mean for it-"
"Don't ask don't tell." He interrupted. "Just keep it out of my office and out of your work."
"Yes, sir."
SCENE
The day was endless. Elliot watched the arguing couple leave as he and Munch sighed into the desk chairs.
"It's days like this I'm glad I'm not a divorce attorney," Munch said as he popped a bit of cookie into his mouth.
"Its days like this I'm glad my divorce is over."
"Really," Munch said.
Elliot just nodded and starred at his paperweights.
"Welcome to the club. It's not as bad as it looks and just as bad as it sounds."
"I'm not worried. Best thing I ever did," he smiled as he gazed towards Olivia's empty chair.
"That's good-"
"Filth! Filth!," Screamed a woman from the hallway. "City on fire! This old judge is a liar LIAR," Yelled the voice.
"Elliot closed his eyes and shot up from his desk. There in the hallway stood a very dirty homeless woman. She was shaking and rocking back and forth. "Miss, are you okay?"
"He hit her! He hit her! I sneaked to the old window and he was peaking just at me. That City on fire! Filth FILTH!," she cried.
"Ma'm I can't understand you. Here have a seat. Slow down and tell me what happened. Are you hurt?"
"The woman followed Elliot to a chair near his desk all the while spitting and rambling. "Judge Turpin. I saw him! I saw him!"
"You saw what?"
"He touched her. He touched the pretty little thing. Johanna. Johanna. Mischief! Mischief!"
Elliot's brain was pounding. "He touched a Johanna. How did you see this?"/p
"Up- up in the air. The window where is there I watch."
"You saw them through a window. Were you spying on these people?"
"Guarding. City on FIRE!"
"And what did he do to her?"
"He touched her boat with his sailor, mate." The lunatic of a woman began to hiss with laughter. Elliot wiped the spittle off of his face and looked at his clock.
"And you say this was Judge Turpin's house?"
"Yes! Yes! Mischief!"
Munch swallowed his dinner and spoke towards Elliot's back. "She's talking about Judge Turpin's daughter. Which I'm pretty sure is a Sweeny Todd reference."
Elliot mumbled under his breath. "Great. I'll call Psych."
The woman was now headed straight for Munch. She took a big bite of his sandwich and chewed it up. The bits and pieces of it fell everywhere.
"You can just have the whole thing, my dear."
Elliot's wristwatch alarm went off. "It's six. I gotta get going."
"The kids," Munch asked.
"Can you deal with this?"
"I'll call the shelter," He said with a puff of air. "You owe me a sandwich, Stabler."
"Actually she does," He said as he grabbed his coat.
SCENE
Late that night after a long 12 hours day, both Elliot and Olivia sat on her couch exhausted from the day barely able to speak about the details.
"So the kids are gonna stay with your mother," Olivia said with glazed eyes.
"Yeah. Just until Christmas break is over. It will give me time to figure out what to do…about everything. I don't know what I'm going to do if Kathy doesn't come back before Maureen has to go back to college. I'm just glad she's old enough to help out. Otherwise, I'd be screwed. My mother is exhilarated that I asked her to help, but I don't know that I always trust her judgement."
"We will figure it out," she calmly replied. "And your mom is on her meds now. I bet she's pleased as punch to be getting time with her grandchildren."
"She is," Elliot turned his head and looked into Olivia's eyes. "How was working with the feds?"
"Ah, it's…fine. I can't believe Dean was leaking evidence. Though, I guess it could happen to any of us. His cell phone was hacked by a dirty agent."
"They find the dirty agent?"
"Well…no…but that's what he's claiming."
Elliot fiend interest. "Geeze…that sucks."
Liv gave him an up turned smirk. "I know. You don't care. You hate him."
"Ah..hate is a strong word. He's a smug prick."
She shook her head at him. "You were jealous of his hair."
He poked her in the side and they laughed about it and fell in to a content quiet. Elliot looked over at her as she closed her eyes and smiled then blurted out ", Can I kiss you?"
She opened her eyes, a bit taken aback by the comment. "I don't know. Should you?"
"I want to. Do you want me to?"
She searched her thoughts because she knew that if he kissed her, she wouldn't be able to stop. "I do," she finally said.
In awkward silence their heads came together, she closed her eyes, and his lips ever so softly met with hers.
"I thought about you all day," She began through his kiss.
He stopped her and held her face close to his longing gaze, then smiled and gently kissed her again.
She smiled back at him. ", If you would have told me the day could be kissed away I would have never believed you."
"I would have never told you that before now," Elliot whispered.
She closed her eyes, relaxed and nuzzled into his chest. They sat listening to each other's heart beats.
Their silence spoke volumes. Everything from the stress of the long day to the vibrating tension that now pulsated between their two bodies as they sat side by side on Olivia's trendy little couch.
"It's refreshing that I don't have to talk about my day, yet you know exactly what I went through."
"Yeah…it is," Liv answered.
She turned her face back to his and kissed him again and again as though pulling every negative thought from his body and replacing it with her love. The fore play grew from a light naive brush to a force that Olivia had forgotten she'd had. "Mmm, Elliot Stabler, you're gonna make me weak. Am I going to grow sheltered in the confines of these arms?"
"If that's your only fear, then I hope so."
"And what is your fear?"
He stopped and thought about it as he traced her face with his thumb. "That you'll leave me."
"I don't have it in me to leave you. I've tried."
Elliot could have ravished her like an animal, but he allowed her to call the shots, and held her so tightly that his energy was taking over her entire body. A tear rolled down her face as she allowed herself to fall hard for him in that moment. The place he'd taken over in her heart whether he'd known it or not, was suffocating. She hoped that he didn't notice all of her emotions. She nuzzled the side of her face on his shirt and tried to hold herself together.
She wiped her eyes and sat over him. Straddling him. Her silence was all he needed. His fingers ran slowly under her top and she followed his hands while disrobing herself. Shedding the clothes like she were taking off Detective Benson and becoming the person Elliot longed to meet all of these years. He watched her enjoy the touch of his hands feeling every inch of her skin. His thumb teased the under wire, then ran its' way over her covered nipple and across the half moon of her breast.
She watched him watching her shape. His eye contact felt new all of the sudden. So much so, that she couldn't hold his gaze and had to look down to regain herself.
"Relax," he whispered again. This time he sat up. She could feel him growing under her.
She closed her eyes and he kissed her while they both reached for her bra. The clasp undid and together they pulled off the last worldly layer that Olivia Benson held over her heart. Her eyes remained closed as he placed her hands on his cheeks and demanded that they follow his lips around the many throbbing areas of her body./
From the neck to the collarbone and further still to the tip of her taut nipples. She let out a soft moan as he forced her fingers to slip in and out of the area around her breast and his tongue.
Before she could make the next move, Elliot was unbuttoning her black slacks. He stopped to make sure she was still with him. They gazed into each other's eye for a brief moment. Her hips slightly moved welcoming his hands.
Through the panties he teased her. First a finger, then gentle kisses, and his tongue. Her silence was a surprise to him. He had to hold back point it out. It was the shiest he'd ever seen her.
She finally let out a moan as he got faster and before she could release, she ripped herself away from him.
"I want to feel you. All of you," She said. Her insides raged with years of built up sexual tension.
Hurriedly she ripped off his pants as he pulled the shirt from his chest.
"Okay," was all he could say as she pushed him onto the couch and slipped him inside of her slow. They both took in every second of the moment./
They both pulsated with orgasm.
In he went and all thoughts of unfamiliar territory left the room. Olivia's mind was clear. Her thoughts of worry and saving the world were gone. Her panic for acceptance and love diminished. Her demons couldn't win this battle, it was too pure.
The thrusting and grunting they both made as she came and he pulled out. He finished and they both fell limp on the couch radiating and taking in deep breaths of exhilaration.
"Olivia Benson…I love you."
"I know," she smiled.