Disclaimer: Still don't own them. Apparently Dick Wolf can't be hypnotized. Oh, and his security people aren't easily amused, either.
Olivia Benson leaned back in her chair, groaning as sore muscles protested the movement. She instinctively swept the precinct, making sure no one had seen her weakness. The detective needn't have worried. The other members of her squad had long since departed. Munch and Fin had drifted off to their respective nocturnal haunts and Lake was in jail. Even Cragen had departed after admonishing her to get some rest. Olivia was surprised, she half-believed that her Captain lived in his office. Apparently not. She was pleased for him, really she was. She was also thrilled to be out from under his overprotective eye.
Olivia opened her desk drawer and pulled out the ibuprofen. She grimaced as she washed down the pills with a swallow of cold coffee. The next time Munch decides to make coffee, I'll cuff him. She half-smiled at the thought and shut her eyes for just a second, waiting for the pills to take the edge off her discomfort. Her eyes snapped open as the doors flew apart. Pain flared through her skull as those same doors slammed shut and a large body hurled itself into the chair across from hers.
"Rough night?" She didn't have to ask, but better he let it out now than stomp around all day. Better for her head and his kneecaps, anyway.
"Why are you still here?" Elliot asked. "I seem to remember Cragen telling you to go home."
Why am I still here? Because you checked your foul mood at the door and went home to your lovely wife. You ate the roast beef she made for you and asked Kathleen about her day. You stopped the twins bickering over the last Pepsi by drinking it yourself and later lectured Dickie on table manners (although you don't have much of a leg to stand on) and confiscated Lizzie's phone for texting at the table. And after dinner, you cradled your baby son and loved him with all your heart. Even though Kathy ambushed you later, you had those hours of bliss before. So avoid all you want, but don't ask me to be your punching bag tonight.
I am still here because I want to experience what you have so badly that it makes my heart ache. I am still here because lately my apartment is empty, no one is there to need me and God, do I need to be needed. I feel safer and more comfortable in the 1-6 than I do in my own home. Finally, I am here because this case is already ripping me apart and I'm not sure that you'll be able to sew me back together this time. Her thoughts raced and she swallowed hard to dispel the lump in her throat.
"Are you doubting my powers of persuasion, Stabler?" Olivia shot her partner an arch look. "Cragen caved as long as I'm in the crib by four o'clock, and it's only two."
Elliot grunted. "He must really want the Sarevich case wrapped," he said. "Nothing like a hint of a trafficking case to put the city in an uproar and the brass on all of our asses."
"I thought we were keeping this one quiet," Olivia said with a frown, "Krystyna's too unstable to move, and the last thing we need is for the perps to know she's alive."
"Some asshole at the Daily decided that selling more papers, attracting more viewers and starting a panic were more important than protecting a victim. Dances just this side of violating the gag order. Doesn't give out her name or room number, but he does tell everyone that we're considering trafficking."
Elliot shrugged and Olivia went back to perusing the file. Krystyna Sarevich had been raped, shot and left for dead in an alley near Hell's Kitchen, only to be discovered by a prostitute and would-be John looking for a place to conduct business. The rape kit indicated high levels of abuse. According to the doctor, she had years worth of damage. There were marks in her arms where she'd been forcibly restrained and needle marks between her toes. She'd been shot up with a heavy dose of cocaine, and fell into a coma shortly after the paramedics arrived, giving only her name. The doctors believed that either she would come out of it soon, or she would never wake at all.
Elliot covertly studied Liv from over his own file. His partner was pale, hollow-eyed and gaunt. He was worried about her. The last few months were beyond ugly. Olivia danced on a frayed tightrope of control, they all did. But Cooper and Lake gave her front-row seats to what happened when that rope finally gave way. And Cooper's case was horrifying to start with. That comic book asshole tried to blow her up and then attacked her in her apartment. Then there was Sealview. Sweet Jesus. Elliot still didn't know the details but knew that particular bombshell was primed to explode any time. Not to mention that Rook must've shocked her at least once before Elliot got to her. How else did the bastard obtain a tape of what was very clearly Liv screaming?
"El?" her voice startled him out of his thoughts.
"Sorry, been up late. Eli's teething and his crying has everybody irritable." He noticed the phone still in her hand and gestured to it. "Good news?"
"Yes and no," Olivia said, "they found a friend of Krystyna's back in Vladivostok. She faxed us Krystyna's diary from the summer she left. Of course, the diary's in Russian, so we have to send it to the linguistic guys for tanslation."
"Let's do that, then. Maybe the diary will give us a name" Elliot made for the door, only for Liv to plant herself in front of him.
"First off, it is now 4:05. None of the linguistic guys are in yet. Secondly, I have no intention of pissing Cragen off anymore than necessary. Finally, you might want to freshen up before you go anywhere."
"What?" He was completely lost. Her eyes crinkled in amusment and her lips quirked. "What's so funny?" he repeated.
"Well, there's the spitup on your shoulder and the roast beef on your shirt. And last time I checked, your cell phone wasn't pink."
Her amusement followed him to the locker room as he changed into fresh clothes and stashed Lizzie's cell phone in his locker. He returned to find all traces of mirth gone from her features, leaving them pale and strained.
"Change of plans. Krystyna's starting to wake up. She's hysterical and not letting any of the staff near her. We can sleep later."
"But, Cragen-"
"Screw Cragen. I can't stand by and watch them put her in restraints. I need to try and talk her down before I let them do that to her, to anyone."
Olivia rushed for the car, leaving Elliot to catch up. Since when has she been so set against restraints? Every warning alarm he had was going up. Olivia wasn't anywhere near as okay as she claimed. If she breaks now, I don't know enough to help her.