Disclaimer: Victory was not mine, but it shall be. Who'd of thought they'd have more than one copy of the script? Well my next plan will not fail. I have ventured to the Star Wars page and am currently learning to be a Jedi Knight. Afterwards, I will use the famous 'Jedi Mind trick' to obtain what I want…
Now onto the Meat and Potatoes
- Lizzie
On the trail
Stabler's plane touched down in Latvia around ten that night. Once he gathered his bags, he was on his way out the door to find a hotel. By this time Stabler had no idea what time it was back home or if SVU would miss him by now. He assumed that they were looking for him and he didn't know how long it would take Cragen to get a warrant for his bank statements.
Truth be known, he didn't care. What was Cragen going to do for one detective? Send a search and rescue party? No way. Cragen would contact Kathy and tell her that he wanted info on Stabler the moment he called.
Stabler had decided to fly into Riga, Latvia's capital and than head out into the smaller cities that surrounded it. The country wasn't huge and Stabler hoped to get a whisper of Benson, just a hint of her presence to let him know she was still alive.
Stabler chose the hotel closest to the airport and decided that he needed to crash. He wanted to be rested and ready for a day of searching. He didn't know when he'd have a roof over his head again so he decided to take advantage of this. He wasn't sure if the smaller cities had decent hotels.
The hotel Stabler ended up at was expensive but he didn't care. He would worry about paying off the card later. He had more important problems to worry about.
He paid the driver and collapsed on his bed. He needed a hot shower and he was only slightly annoyed that he hadn't bought his own shampoo and soap. The hotel provided complementary toiletries as usual but he missed his own.
After a few moments of lying on the bed, he dragged himself into the shower, turned the water up as hot as he could bear, and stood under the spray letting the water wash away his troubles.
While Munch wouldn't call this the worst day of his life, it was far from the best. After an eight hour flight (six in the air and two sitting on the runway) they had disembarked and immediately purchased tickets to fly, first to Paris than to Latvia. Their flight to Paris had been scheduled for ten that evening, meaning they had plenty of time to stretch and eat.
"I can't stand plane food," had been Fin's retort when Munch had eyed him sneaking half of his fettuccini alfredo into his carry on.
Fin felt horrid touring the city, seeing the sights, and having a drink when two of their own were MIA. However, what were they supposed to do? Sit around the airport and worry? No. This way they were able to relax and focus on finding Stabler and, hopefully, Benson when they reached Eastern Europe. One thing was for sure, Fin rationalized, they wouldn't be enjoying themselves. Around nine they returned to the airport and landed in Paris an hour later.
"God damn airports!" Munch was staring at their ticket. "Who the hell flies at three in the morning?"
Fin had shrugged and said nothing until they found their gate. He then stretched himself out on the chairs using his coat for a pillow.
"Might as well get some shut eye. Don't know what we'll find in Riga."
Munch had concurred but felt he couldn't sleep in a noisy airport. However, Fin telling him not to wake him up just for the hell of it was the last thing Munch heard until, "we are now boarding for Flight 876 to Latvia."
Munch had turned to shake Fin awake only to find his partner smirking at him.
"Kind of you to join me, Sleeping Beauty."
Munch muttered something that Fin couldn't make out and he decided he was better off for it. Munch rarely had anything pleasant to say and Fin was sure it was worse when he was just waking up and without caffeine.
Once in the air, Fin checked in with Cragen.
"Anything on Stabler?"
"Nothing major. When are you getting into Lativa?"
Fin glanced at his watch. "Few hours, I guess. I figure we'll crash and than start fresh tomorrow. Any suggestions were we start?"
Cragen had contemplated this for a moment. He had never been to Eastern Europe and wasn't sure how things worked.
"Just get a feel for the country and than just start looking. Keep your ears and eyes open. That's all I can really say."
"Thanks for the help," Munch, who overheard Cragen since the seats were so cramped, muttered.
"If you haven't had any luck in a few days, I'll just have you come home."
Fin had finished the conversation, shut the phone and turned to Munch.
"You have any ideas?"
Munch wracked his brain before shaking his head.
"Not a one. What about you?"
Fin also shook his head negatively. "Never even studied Eastern Europe."
Fin than put on his headphones and proceeded to listen to music for the rest of the way while Munch looked at the window. This flight couldn't end fast enough.
Munch and Fin left the airport around six in the morning (nine o'clock in Latvia) and headed for the nearest hotel. When they checked in Fin bulked at the price.
"You gotta be kidding me!"
Fin had handed over the department's Visa. "If we're going to be stuck here, we might as well do it in style."
Fin had shaken his head while their bill was run up.
The man behind the counter had pointed to the elevators behind them as he handed one key to Munch and the other to Fin. His English was slightly off but that didn't matter.
"Behind you are elevator. Take to second floor. Your room number 225."
Fin had thanked him while Munch headed for the elevator. Upstairs, in room 312, Elliot Stabler had brushed his teeth and was on his way out the door.
Stabler barely missed Munch and Fin as he headed out into the streets. He had no idea where to start and decided that showing a picture of this Vasyl Yaburov would be the best start. Ulmer had faxed him a copy of the picture early this morning through the hotel fax. When the worker had handed Stabler the picture, the detective stared down at the man he now counted as his nemesis.
Vasyl Yaburov was around six foot, maybe a bit taller, with blond hair, grey eyes and a smile that sent chills up Stabler's spine. He wore an expensive suit and, although they were in his hand in the picture, sunglasses. Stabler was sure those glasses were more costly than his best suit.
And he buys these things with the blood of young women. Stabler shook his head to hide his disgust. And my partner might be one of them. Stabler, again, tried to clear his head of those thoughts. They led down a path he had no want to tread. One thing was certain, if he ever found this Vasyl Yaburov, Stabler wasn't sure he could keep himself from pulling the trigger.
For two days, Stabler traveled around the small country. Both nights he was able to find hotels but they were far from four stars. He showed the picture all over and while most people recognized him, no one knew where to find him. Than on the third day in Latvia, everything changed.
Stabler had entered the town of Jelgava and checked into the Dream Hotel and headed out the door. He had showed the picture around and was met with the same luck until he found a small restaurant on the outskirts of town. Stabler had taken a seat and a waiter had approached who barely spoke English. They struggled for a time before the man went and found his manager. The manager spoke rough English and Stabler was able to order a small meal. Stabler had bought himself a Russian dictionary a few days ago but still didn't feel he was getting the pronunciation correct. He struggled until his food came and then continued until he had paid the bill. Though he knew it was futile, Stabler pulled out Vasyl Yaburov and showed it to the manager.
"Do you know this man?"
The manager took the photo, examined it, handed it back to Stabler and nodded.
"Of course I know Mr. Yaburov. He live here every once a while. He have big house just outside town. He come every once a while. Say I have good food. Served him for breakfast."
Stabler couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Was he with anyone?"
The manager seemed to be thinking back but than, to Stabler's disappointment, shook his head.
"I'm sorry but he was alone. He was on his phone constantly. Seemed very over worked."
Stabler quickly took the picture back and thanked the manager.
"You have no idea how much help you've been. Do you know where I can find Mr. Yaburov's home?"
The manager pointed to the west. "That way a few mile. Go through market and you'll find it. Hard to miss." He held his hands out to the sides. "Very big."
Stabler nodded and headed out of the restaurant as quickly as his feet would allow. He took a deep breath as he continued his trek. Today would be the day. He just knew it. Today he would find out what had happened to his partner and if he would ever see her again. Stabler didn't know how many "a few miles" would be but he hoped he wouldn't end up walking into the night.
However, he would never reach Yaburov's mansion.
It took three hours to reach the market. It was an open air market with women and men trying to sell their goods. Stabler felt horrid having to turn down a little boy with a basket of fish. The boy didn't speak English so Stabler simply had to shake his head. Stabler had seen poverty in New York. He had seen homelessness but he'd never seen them as prevalent as he did right now.
The children running around looked half starved and Stabler was sure that very few of them would get an education or even learn to read. He guessed that their parents didn't have that particular skill either.
Right as Stabler was reaching the end, he heard a man just bellowing a few feet behind him. During his walk through the market, Stabler had witnessed many fights, mostly over price or irritation at a child. After this a simple fight wouldn't have made him turn around but for one detail. The man was yelling in English.
"I said by today and I won't have it any other way! What don't you understand?"
Stabler turned around in enough time to see a man back hand the woman he was yelling at. While everything happened in less than five seconds, Stabler could have sworn an eternity passed by between his recognition of the man and the woman and when he found himself on top of Vasyl Yaburov raining his fists down upon him.
The woman had pulled herself to her feet and only shock kept Elliot Stabler from crying out at the sight of Olivia Benson. She had changed as much as Ulmer had said. Her hair, once long and brown was now shoulder length and blond. She was wearing a face full of makeup and an outfit that, while flattering, wasn't her style.
"I told you that it would take time." That was all Stabler needed to hear to confirm his recognition. Benson, while poorly faking a British accent, was still Benson. Stabler would know her voice anywhere, especially since hers had been the one voice he had been dying to hear for the past several days.
"Don't make me beat you again, bitch."
Stabler didn't wait for a reply from his partner. His days in the gym finally being put to use, he ran at and tackled Yaburov and punched him in the face, drawing blood from Yaburov's nose. With the second punch, Stabler felt Yaburov's nose break beneath his fist.
"Son of a bitch!" Stabler's voice was ringing loud and clear. "Don't you fucking touch her!"
Stabler's assault ended when he felt the cold steel of a gun pressed into the back of his head.
"Get off of him, now!"
Stabler recognized Benson's voice and raised his hands and slowly found his feet. He stared down at the piece of scum lying in his own blood. Even though his fist hurt and he was sure he had bruised a knuckle, Stabler didn't care. He would have it looked at within twenty four hours at an American hospital. All Benson had to do was put a bullet in this guy's skull and they were free. Stabler turned to get the first look at his partner in days and found her pointing the gun at him.
"Are you hurt, Mr. Yaburov?"
Stabler found himself in a state of shock. Why wasn't Benson greeting him, shooting the perp and getting ready to get out from behind the Iron Curtin. Stabler's nemesis had pulled himself to his feet and was dabbing his nose with a handkerchief a local had just given him.
"I'll be fine." He had looked at Stabler. "Who the fuck are you, stupid American?"
Stabler looked from Benson to Yaburov and back again. He sought out Benson's eyes, pleading with her to tell him what he should do. She wouldn't meet his eyes so Stabler played it by ear.
"I just don't like seeing a man hit a woman. Like you said, I'm a stupid American and I believe in treating women with respect and dignity. You had no right to…"
Stabler never finished his sentence as Yaburov landed a punch to his jaw, splitting his lip.
"Welcome to Latvia, American. If I wanna slap the people who work for me around, so be it."
Stabler felt that his worst fears were confirmed. Why? Why had Benson done this to herself? Who knows what the bastard standing in front of him had done to her.
"I guess we both have lessons to learn, don't we?"
Yaburov have moved forward threateningly, only to have Benson touch him on the arm.
"He's not worth it and you know it. You're twice the man he is."
Yaburov jerked his arm away but gave Stabler a smile. "That's very true. We're leaving."
And just like that, she began to walk out of his life again. This time Stabler wasn't about to let that happen. Putting on his best macho but weakened voice, he called after them. "Fine, you son of a bitch! Walk away like the coward you are!" Stabler picked up a small rock from the ground and threw it, barely missing Yaburov. "I should have known you only pick fights that you can win! But if you want to prove that you're a man, and not a woman, I'm staying in the Dream Hotel, room 313!"
Yaburov didn't turn back…and neither did Benson.
Meanwhile, Munch and Fin were leaving a local village after being told that a man matching Stabler's profile had been seen entering the town of Jelgava. Hoping that soon they would be done running this obstacle course, both men shouldered their bags and headed for the town of Jelgava.
I know that the night must end. I know that the sun will rise. And I'll hear your voice deep inside.
Elton John – Endless Night
Author's notes: Thanks for the reviews everyone. I hope everyone's enjoying this, I am. See you tomorrow!