Chapter 8

I climb into Elliot's car and feel nausea overwhelm me. I cough back the urge to vomit, and I feel lightheaded.

Damn. Of all the times I was at home and relaxing, it had to be when I was about to catch a criminal that this happened to me again.

"You okay, Liv?" Elliot asks, looking over at me with worry as he climbs into the driver side. "You look sick."

"Just drive," I order, keeping my eyes on the windshield. I try desperately to push away the aching feeling that is creeping up through my bones. "Did Cragen give you the location?"

"Yeah," he answered, pulling the car out quickly and making the tires squeal. "We'll be there soon."

He drives down the road, and I watch the scenery pass me by. Every building, every tree, every flower.. they pass by quickly, and I get the haunting feeling that this will be the last time I ever see them. I am not sure what gives me this notion, but it's hard to ignore. This will be the day I die, something seems to say. Enjoy time while you have it.

I roll down the window and feel the warm breeze hit my face. I can smell the familiar scents of spring in it; fertilizer, freshly cut grass, and spring water. I take it in, and it comforts me, but I know this is the last time I will ever get this chance. Something inside tells me so, like a tiny alarm bell ringing inside my head. The wind from the outside whips through my hair and thrusts itself against my face, blowing hair out of my face and making a buffeting noise in my ears. But it doesn't annoy me like it usually does. I close my eyes and take it in; the moment.

My last moment.

It seems to take forever to get to Central Park. I remember Cragen telling Elliot something, and I remember Elliot telling the unis something, but I can't remember what they say. All I could really remember was "hidden shack" and "take him down". Elliot takes my hand and leads me down the walk, and I watch as the ESU climbs into the bushes to hide.

"Where is it?" I ask. "Where is he?"

"He's down at the end of the path," he answers. "For now, we look like a normal couple walking through Central Park so he doesn't suspect anything."

"He has surveillance?" I ask.

"No," he replies, "but it's best if we don't attract too much attention for now."

Soon, it seems, we are alone walking through the park along the stone path, watching butterflies fly from flower to flower, and watching the breeze make the leaves on the green trees rustle. Children play in the lush grass to the side of us, and as I watch Elliot puts an arm around my shoulder.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asks. I know he is worried about me. I am worried about me too.

"I'm okay," I lie. "I'm just, ya know, taking things in."

"Well, let's nail the son of a bitch first, and then we can sightsee," Elliot laughs. "I promise."

I simply nod. I don't have the energy to explain why I don't want to let this pass by. He leads me down the path, until we reach the shack. I can see the officers around us, hidden in the trees. Elliot takes out his gun, and instantly, I do the same. Elliot approaches the door, and calls to ESU.

"Olivia and I will take the shack," he says to them. "You guys check around and make sure he's not hiding around."

The ESU leader nods and heads out with his team, and Elliot prepares himself to kick down the door with his boot. With a bang he sends it flying back, and we bust into the wooden shack. It's reasonably sized for living, but still a bit cramped.

"Darren Willis!" Elliot shouts, coming in. "Police! Come out and show yourself!"

The door suddenly slams shut, and we spin around with our guns to see none other than Darren Willis standing behind us, holding a small but very powerful handgun.

"I ain't goin' ta jail!" he shouts, holding the gun with both quavering hands. "And if that means I have to kill ya, then dammit I'll kill ya!"

"Willis, put down the gun," Elliot orders, holding his steady.

"You put your gun down!" Willis shouts. His face is red, and he begins to perspire. He's nervous as hell, and that worries me. I don't want Elliot to get shot.

"Willis," I say softly in my 'victims' voice, "put the gun down. Please. We can talk this out. Just put it down, and we can all walk out of her alive."

"I don' wanna hurt you, Lady," he tells me, turning his gun toward me, and then back at Elliot. "But I don' wanna go ta jail neither!"

"We can talk about it with the ADA," I tell him, though I know this is a complete lie. "Maybe we can work something out."

He shakes his head wildly.

"Nah, I know what I did ta those lil' girls," he announces. "I didn't wanna, but I had ta! I couldn't stop maself!"

"It's okay, Willis," Elliot says, stepping a bit closer but keeping his gun level with the ground. "Just put the gun down."

"Don't come any closer!" Willis shouts hysterically, cocking the gun loudly. "I'll shoot ya! I'll shoot ya both!"

"Willis, please," I beg, "calm down."

"I'm. Not. Goin'. Ta. JAIL!" he shouts, and pulls back the safety to the gun with a loud click. My heart is racing, and blood is pounding in my ears. I have to defuse this situation, now, before all goes to hell.

"Willis, relax!" I order, my voice cracking with panic. "Please! We don't want to hurt you! We're trying to help you!"

"By putting me behind bars?" he scoffs. "Yeah, that'll work!"

"Willis," Elliot begins, and he takes a step closer.

A fatal step.

"No!" Willis shouts, and the gun goes off.

There is a ping, and I look at Elliot. He had braced himself for the fire and had fired his own gun, but he looks around in surprise. Willis, it seems, had missed. Elliot, however had not. Elliot looks around for the stray bullet, and finds nothing.

But I know where it went.

Notes: SUSPENSE! ;D Oh I feel so mean, but I couldn't resist. Review, or I'll take the next chapter hostage!