Disclaimer: Well I'm pretty sure my parents and sister will receive a fish in the mail by tomorrow but that okay since I am offically in training with Mr. Miyagi and I will soon have a black belt. I will than use my new wax on, wax off and paint the fence techniques to kick Dick Wolf's a$$...
Now onto the Meat and Potatoes
Senator Elect - I'll get over myself eventually but I'm relishing in it right now:)
Reunited
At one thirty Stabler, Munch and Fin left the hotel and hailed a cab. All three men had restocked their ammunition just before leaving but they still only had one gun apiece.
"Hope this is enough," Fin had commented while reloading his gun.
"It'll have to be." Munch had returned his gun to its holster and was pulling on his jacket, struggling to wake up.
Right after arriving at the hotel, Munch had collapsed on the bed only to be shaken away by his partner around midnight. Fin had informed him that Stabler was gone. Panicked, the men had grabbed their coats and were on their way out the door when Fin spotted the letter under the bed. Stabler must have put it on the dresser and it had fallen at some point. Returning to their various beds, Munch and Fin had enjoyed another hour of sleep before Stabler had returned.
"Rise and shine. It's VE Day."
Munch pulled himself out of bed but Fin was already up.
"Victory in Europe," Fin muttered the translation of VE Day. "Let's just hope it's victory for us."
Stabler couldn't have agreed more as they headed down the stairs.
The taxi ride had been made in silence. Munch had requested the driver to drop them off at a location a quarter of a mile from Commonwealth Airstrip.
"There's no need for us to drive right up. I prefer not to be a walking target."
Queen's Inn had been the tavern the taxi had dropped them off at. Stabler could hear the people inside singing and celebrating Friday night. They had no idea that less than a half mile away, there might be a deadly shootout. Stabler envied them and wanted nothing more than to join them.
Maybe once we kill or arrest Yaburov and Liv's safe, we will, Stabler thought to himself. He put his hand in his pocket once again to make certain his gun and ammunition were still there. He clasped the handle and silently prayed that he would be on target and swift.
"Just help me save Liv," he muttered to himself.
"You okay, Elliot?" Stabler looked up and realized that Fin had caught him talking to himself.
Pulling his hand out of his pocket and letting it hang at his side, Stabler nodded and Fin didn't investigate further. They were all thinking the same thing: let us be fast and accurate. Help us bring one of our own home safe.
Commonwealth Airstrip wasn't much bigger than the one in Latvia. There were three planes present and if it hadn't been a weekend there would have been more. The office building was slightly larger, although closed this time because of the lateness of the hour. Fin went up to the glass doors and peered inside. There were no lights, which made the detective hope there wouldn't be an Anton at this strip.
Munch wandered around and looked at the planes. He hoped one would show itself to be Yaburov's but there was no revealing evidence.
There was nothing Stabler wanted to look at so he simply walked around the grounds keeping an eye open. He had the strangest feeling that they were being watched. It was an eerie feeling he had experienced before but this was worse. He kept his gun in his pocket and often glanced over his shoulder. Munch and Fin were experiencing the same emotions. Something was about to happen and all three men could feel it. Even though they hadn't had any in twelve hours, all three men's hearts were beating so rapidly they all felt like they had just drank two pots of espresso. Stabler's was starting to hurt and he wondered if the pounding would give him away.
Munch glanced at his watch and moved towards Stabler. From the Commonwealth Airstrip office, Fin did the same.
"Zero hour," he whispered and the three men stood side by side, guns at the ready. They stood in this formation for five minutes. Stabler had never known the night to be this quiet and dark. There wasn't a hint of wind and, even though they were in England, there was no rain. It had rained earlier in the day but even the mud had started to harden again. The three detectives listened for anything, the snapping of a twig, the swish of a coat, the cocking of a gun. Yet there was nothing.
Stabler checked his watch. Two ten. He glanced at either side where Munch and Fin were also taking in every sound.
"What if he decided not to show?"
"He will," Stabler hoped that his faith wasn't misplaced. "He has too much riding on us to risk not showing up."
They stood there for a couple more minutes before Munch voiced the question Stabler didn't want to face.
"What if he doesn't show? Do you turn him into that Ulmer guy or Cragen? George and Casey have evidence to convict him."
"That would be a death sentence for Liv." Fin shook his head. "But I'm not sure. We can't keep dancing with this guy."
Stabler hated this thought. Munch and Fin were both right but he didn't want to cross that bridge yet. Not if there was some chance to save Benson. Deciding it was best to voice a neutral decision rather than tell them he'd dance with Yaburov forever if it kept Benson out of the ground when a noise cut through the silence.
It was a gun shot but it sounded far off. All three men raised their guns; their ears even sharper then they had been minutes earlier. Who else would be out shooting at this time of night?
Stabler, Munch and Fin exchanged glances. The shot sounded far off enough that it wasn't a threat to them.
"You think Yaburov's gun went off accidentally?"
Stabler's breath caught in this throat. Fin's statement caused fear to flood through him, a fear unlike any he had ever experienced before. What if Yaburov's gun hadn't gone off accidentally? What if it had been aimed at someone? Stabler began to jog towards what he hoped was the shooter. "Don't let her be dead," Stabler muttered to himself. No, Stabler decided in an attempt to convince himself. Yaburov would use her as a bargaining chip as long as he could. She was still alive. Maybe it had been her who had fired the shot. Maybe she had outsmarted her captor and taken him out. It was certainly within her ability and Benson would have been looking for an escape opportunity since she was taken hostage.
Munch and Fin weren't far behind by this time. They realized why Stabler had taken off and hastened to follow. They were about to catch up when Fin thought he heard something. It sounded like a person and he hollered at the others to stop.
Munch halted and Stabler followed a few seconds later.
"What," he called back, slightly annoyed. If Benson had gotten the better of Yaburov she might still be in trouble.
"I thought I heard something."
Stabler and Munch stood silently for several minutes.
"I think it was just your imagination, partner." Fin shook his head. He could have sworn he'd heard something. Stabler had had enough nonsense.
"Let's get…"
His voice stopped when he heard someone scream. It was an agitated and frightened scream. It wasn't the scream itself that was so terrifying but what was being yelled that made Stabler feel as though a hand of ice had gripped his heart.
"ELLIOT!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!"
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Yaburov sat in the driver's seat of his car as two o'clock came and went. He spoke into his communication device, a small pin on his jacket.
"Stabler should be there by now and waiting. I want you three to stand by until I say the word. The code word is simply now. Once I say that, get your asses in there and open fire. Mikhail, you get Munch, Platon, you get Stabler and Lazar, you take out Tutuola. Clear?"
"Clear," came Lazar's reply. "Boss, what're you doing?"
"I'm gonna go and act as though I'm negotiating with Stabler. If his guard's down, he'll be easier to take out."
"Boss," Lazar's voice held a note of worry. "What if he takes you out first?"
Yaburov glanced in the back seat at Benson, who presented him with her poker face that was cluttered with sleep. "You just do your job, Lazar. I have a shield that Stabler'll never get through."
Lazar muttered an okay but he still seemed nervous.
"Oh, and gentlemen, no fuck ups this time. Anyone who threatens this mission'll be shot immediately."
It was now five minutes after two and Yaburov looked into his review mirror.
"Ready to go, sweetheart?"
"You don't have to kill them, you know." Benson's voice, while mostly calm, held a note of fear. Yaburov found himself annoyed that it had taken him so long to figure out what really frightened her. Losing her partner, the person she loved most in this world, was the thing she feared the most. Yaburov had figured that out this morning when Lazar had brought her out to him still half asleep. Her demeanor was cold in the beginning, just as it always was, but the moment Yaburov had started to fill her in on events, that mask had started to fall. She wasn't going to beg but a new fear had shown in her eyes. Yaburov knew that he had the two detectives pinned. Each cared about the other more than they cared about themselves. This impressed upon Yaburov how easily victory would come to him that night.
Yaburov glanced in the back seat at Benson but ignored her and climbed out of the car. He made sure his gun was loaded and placed it in his pocket. He than opened the backseat door and cut Benson's hands free from the fixture normally used to hang clothing on. He took her by the upper arm and pulled her out of the car.
"Let's move it, Detective. I hate to leave your partner waiting for very long. At least he'll get to see you once more before he dies, and you'll get to see him."
Benson stopped and jerked her arm free. "I'm not gonna help you kill Elliot. I'd die before I'll help you do that. I'm not being a human shield for you either."
Yaburov's eyes narrowed and he put his face a few inches from hers. Benson made a face as his breath was laced with tobacco and backed up until she was resting against the car.
"I'll carry you if you force me to, Olivia."
She didn't back down. "And I'll do everything in my power to keep you away from Elliot."
His patience gone, Yaburov grabbed Benson by the back of her neck and shoved her forward. "I'll drag you than, bitch."
It was than that the idea came to Benson. Her eyes wracked the ground and she decided that while her plan was futile, it might keep Stabler alive. He was her best friend and she would rather her die than him. She barely had time to think before he gave her another hard shove forward. This time, however, she wasn't ready and hit the ground hard as her ankle gave out from under her. Yaburov growled and pressed his gun into her temple.
"Get to your feet, bitch!"
Benson gave him her best go to hell look but didn't move.
"Did you not hear what I said?"
"I heard you," Benson was no longer trying to keep her poker face on. "I think my ankle's broken. It's killing me and it turned the right way to break when you shoved me."
Yaburov returned his gun to his pocket and went over to her.
"I'll carry you than but you're coming with me."
The second he was close enough to her, Benson acted. She seized a handful of the dirth and mud mixture that morning's raid and concockted and hit him directly in the eyes. He cried out and she kicked him hard enough to make him fall to the ground. Benson was on her feet in seconds, her ankle unharmed.
Deciding that it was worth the risk, Benson went for his gun. She knew he had it in his left pocket and his hands were so busy trying to get the dirt and mud out of his eyes that Benson figured he wouldn't notice her going for it.
However, she was wrong on that account. Her hand found his pocket right as his found her leg.
"You're dead, bitch!"
Benson used the pressure point skills she had learned at the academy and danced out of his grip. Deciding not to risk going for his gun again, she turned and sprinted away as fast as her feet would carry her.
Yaburov grabbed his gun and fired a shot at her but with his eyes horribly clouded because of the dirt and mud he missed by several feet. Cursing, he grabbed his communication device.
"Get your asses over here, now!"
Ten seconds later a large jeep came tearing onto the scene. Lazar stuck his head out the window.
"What's up, Boss. Where's Benson?"
Yaburov pointed to the direction Benson had sprinted. "She took off. Go get her and when you do, kill her."
Lazar had returned his hand to the wheel when Yaburov hollared after him. "Go after her on foot, idiot! I don't want the security cameras at the strip catching your license plate number. This cannot be traceable."
The three men were out of the car in seconds and began sprinting while drawing guns. Benson hadn't been wearing shoes when they had left the mansion so catching her wouldn't be a challenge.
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Benson wasn't sure if there was a time in her life when she had run faster. The shot fired at her had scared her but she was sure Yaburov's aim would be off. It didn't take her long to move out of range. However, she knew Yaburov would sned his trio of assassins after her. She only hoped she could find Stabler first. She had no idea where he was or where she was headed. She only hoped to find someone before Mikhail, Lazar, Platon and Yaburov found her.
There was stitch forming in her side but she ignored it. Fear kept her moving.
"ELLIOT!!! WHERE ARE YOU!!!!"
She didn't know why she had yelled. Stabler probably wasn't in ear shot and she was probably running in the opposite direction.
The socks covering her feet offered no protection and she knew her feet would be in severe pain when this was over.
"OLIVIA!"
Benson looked ahead and saw someone running towards her. Actually, three someones.
"Elliot," she screamed again and ran faster, her breath becoming more hitched by the step.
A shot rang out that barely missed her.
"Olivia, get down!" Munch didn't need to tell her twice. Benson threw herself onto the ground, sheltering her head and neck with her arms. The sound of bullets filled her ears as she struggled to get control of her breathing.
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Stabler had felt his heart jump when he saw Benson running towards him. He screamed her name to make sure it was her. She had screamed his name back but Stabler hadn't heard it. His eyes had fallen on three men who seemed to have materialized out of thin air. One of them lifted his gun and fired a shot. It wasn't aimed at himself, Munch or Fin but at Benson. Munch seemed to have realized this as well because he yelled at Benson to get down. She had done as he had said and he, Stabler and Fin opened fire on the three men approaching, taking them out with three shots each just before they had time to turn their attention to them.
Munch and Fin sprinted to the fallen trio of attackers while Stabler went to Benson. He squatted down in front of her and gently touched her arms, which were covering her head.
"Liv, you okay?"
Benson raised her head and gave him a huge smile. "Thanks," she whispered as Munch and Fin joined them.
"They're all dead. You okay, Liv?"
She had nodded again so Stabler offered her a hand and pulled her to her feet.
"Yaburov's still out there and we can't let him get away. I got him in the face with dirt but he might run."
Fin had stepped in front of Benson to keep her from walking off as she attempted to do so.
"We aren't going anywhere right now. We're going into the office building and call for the police. Yaburov could be anywhere by now."
Benson gave him a cold look. "We are the police, Tutuola."
"I meant back up, Benson."
Realizing who she was glowering at, Benson relaxed and gave Fin a genuine smile.
"Sorry, Fin."
He returned the smile. "All's forgotten. I've missed you, Liv."
They shook hands and Benson pulled him into a hug. She than turned to Munch.
"You here too?"
Munch looked her up and down and fought to keep himself from laughing.
"Yeah but you aren't. Since when do you wear nightgowns and not shower? I came all the way from New York to London to Latvia and back to London and when I finally get to see you, you show up in your pjs."
Benson fought to keep her face straight. "Isn't it just like you to think only about appearances?"
She and Munch looked at each other, each daring the other to laugh first. Finally, both grinned and embraced.
Fin rolled his eyes and gestured to the office building.
"In case you've forgotten, we still have a case open and now no hostages for Yaburov to barter with."
Munch, Fin and Benson began to walk towards the building but Stabler hung behind. A victorious smile crept over his lips and he punched the air with his fist. They had won. Benson was safe, Yaburov would be arrested and they'd be home in America before they knew it. It was the first good feeling Stabler had experienced since the night Benson hadn't stepped off her flight.
A hand gently squeezing his arm brought him back to reality. He smiled at the owner of the hand, who returned it.
"You okay, El?"
"Better than okay," he replied and began to trek towards the building with his partner. "Everything's gonna be fine."
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Unlike in Latvia, the detectives were unable to find a brick or even a stone as a means to open the building. Finally, out of sheer annoyance, Fin fired a shot into the glass shattering it. They had unlocked the door and proceeded to an office, where they divided out assignments.
While Munch called for backup and Fin looked for snacks, Stabler watched Benson pull her socks off. She made a face at him when she caught Stabler watching her.
"I just wanna get outta this nightgown and into something I'd normally wear."
Stabler went over and took a seat on the ground beside her. "I never pictured you as a nightgown type of girl."
Benson nodded and leaned back against the wall. "I'm not but I thought my character would wear a nightgown to bed rather than a tank top and shorts."
Stabler leaned up against the wall beside her as Fin returned.
"Anyone got a dollar on 'em?"
Stabler and Benson shook their heads. Munch did as well when he finally got off the phone.
"Damn, cause there's a vending machine. Never mind, I'll be back."
He'd taken off again and Munch had taken a seat on the ground next to Benson and Stabler.
"You ready to go home, Liv?"
"More than you can possibly know." Benson was telling the truth. She had lost track of how long she had been gone. She wasn't sure if it had been three weeks yet or not but she knew it was long enough. She looked forward to sleeping in her own bed. She closed her eyes and leaned back. Her fatigue was severe and she needed an uninterrupted night's rest. She was also in pain from her run. She sure certain that Yaburov's punch to her face and stomach had broken at least two ribs and cracked her cheekbone. Her nose wasn't broken but the black eye she had almost been rid of was back. The run hadn't helped improve these injuries and now all she wanted was a shot of morphine and a comfortable bed. She opened her eyes when she felt a bag of chips land in her lap.
"Compliments of Commonwealth Airstrip." Fin handed a bag to Munch and Stabler as well and kept one for himself.
"I thought you said you found a snack machine and none of us had any money."
Fin grinned and opened his bag. "Let's just say we own the airstrip a new vending machine."
Maybe the situation was humorous or maybe they were all so exhausted that anything would have seemed funny to them, but all four detectives laughed before setting into their chips.
Benson wasn't a big Cheetos fan but they were the first thing she'd eaten in almost two days and they tasted fantastic. She began to inhale them, grabbing the attention of the other three detectives.
"Hungry?"
"First think I've had in two days," Benson hadn't stopped eating when she told them this. Her bag was already half empty and now she needed a drink. Fin placed his beside her. "I'm willing to donate my share."
Stabler and Munch followed suit and while Benson turned a slight shade of red, she continued to inhale the junk food. She had just finished her bag, Munch's bag and was moving onto Stabler's when they heard the door to the entrance open.
"Thank God, backup's here."
Stabler had been on his feet when Munch pulled out his gun.
"Wait, did anyone hear sirens?"
The four detectives exchanged looks. None of them could remember hearing sirens or even a car pulling up.
"Wouldn't they announce that backup was here?" Stabler, Benson and Fin couldn't answer that question.
"I'd think they would." They stood in silence for several seconds, listening intently.
"Let's split up and try and see if it's Yaburov," Stabler whispered. "Liv and I'll take the second floor. You guys stay here on the first."
Fin nodded but before they went, Munch handed Benson a gun.
"Got this off one of the bastards we shot. You're gonna need a gun."
Benson whispered her thanks as she and Stabler inched off, together again.
Together at last! Together for ever! We're tying a knot, they never can sever!
Annie - I Don't Need Anything but You
Author's notes: Thanks for the reviews and especially to kellyofthemidnightdawn for extending your congrats. It's been a great week. I'll be back tomorrow night:)