Cragen sat back in his chair and took a deep breath, he needed a moment to process what had just happened. As he composed his thoughts he became aware that Fin and Munch had arrived, he could hear Fin complaining once again about the coffee Munch had attempted to make in the absence of Elliot and Olivia. Realising that he couldn't put off telling them any longer he got up and called them into his office.

Fin entered the office first, munch following close behind. Cragen indicated that they should sit, and although slightly confused by his demeanour they took the two seats in front of his desk.

"what's up?" fin got straight to the point

"you have a new case"

"ok" was fins' quiet response, he was growing more confused by the captains unusual hesitancy, and judging by the look on john's face so was he.

Don struggled for a few minutes as he considered how he should word what was coming next, for some reason it suddenly seemed very important that he said it the right way. After what appeared to be a very long silence he realised that just saying it may be more important than how it was said. With John and Fin looking expectantly at him he opened his mouth

"this case is special, it's Olivia"

the confusion on fin and munchs' faces increased but was now mixed with something that looked to don a lot like fear.

"last night she and Elliott went for a few drinks, after he left her she had stayed for a couple more. On her way back to her apartment she was attacked and knocked out, when she came round she called Elliott, he found her and took her to the ER. Physically she'll be ok but they confirmed that she had been raped. She decided to make a report and her and Elliott were here a while ago, he's taken her for breakfast but she'll make an official statement when she returns"

He looked at them, the shock and pain evident on both their faces, it was a while before john made an attempt to speak

"How is she?"

"She's Olivia, She's strong, Elliott is there for her. Now I need you to be there for her and to take the case, can you do that?"

"Yes"

"Are you sure you can handle this?, I can call in someone else, Elliott is supporting her as a friend but I need you two to support her by catching the guy that did this.

"what makes you think that we are any less likely to kill the guy than Elliott?"

"because I know that you know what you need to do for Olivia, I know that you will do what is best for her, and anyone killing this guy is not going to help her. She needs you to do this right, the system is what she believes in and has dedicated her life to and it's what she has to believe in now."

He watched the reaction on their faces, saw them accepting what he had said and realising what they needed to do.

"Elliott gave me the location where he found her and I sent CSU over there, I also sent an officer to collect the kit she had done, you need to get her statement then check out the bar they were in last night"

Fin and Munch stood up, took the file that Cragen had started in their absence and left the office.