I know, I know! I'm so sorry for taking this long to post this chapter. The last few weeks was hectic, there are problems with FF on the computer I usually use(the pop up thingy under all the tabs aren't showing up. Anyone know what's with that?) and my muse decided to take a sudden loooong trip. I know, I'm really sorry. But it's here now!

I'm already working on the next chapter, but i can't promise when it'll be up. Soon I hope. Thank ya'll for sticking with me! You guys are the best! :D

I'll stop rambling now. On with the show!

The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances:

If there is any reaction, both are transformed.

-Carl Jung

Elliot gulped down the rest of his coffee as he walked into the precinct and made a beeline for his desk. He barely slept last night. Besides the kids crying at the ungodly hours, the last case wasn't exactly an ice cream cake. There were things that weren't supposed to be done, weren't supposed to exist. Yet, those were the things that Elliot had to see almost everyday at work. The last case was one of those things, a little girl that was no more than 7 was found dead. If the scars and bruises on her weren't horrifying enough, she was suffocated. The M.E. said the little girl was struggling and suffering for almost a minute before her brain decided to give up. And if Elliot thought things couldn't go downhill anymore, he was dead on wrong. There wasn't anyone in missing persons that fitted this little girl's description. The one good thing that allowed Elliot to catch a few minutes of sleep was the fact that she wasn't raped.

He rested his head in his palms, massaging his temples with his thumbs. The things he saw at work pushed his limits everyday and everyday he had to remember why he came here in the first place, otherwise he'd probably be back in homicide. Speaking of which, he lifted his head and looked at the desk across his. Olivia wasn't in yet. Figured, Elliot thought, not everyone could stand a case like this. Especially if it was their first one.

"Where's Benson?" Elliot turned his attention to Munch who was making coffee.

Elliot shrugged, making a mental note not to drink the coffee. Even if it was just brewed, Munch had a notorious reputation when it came to coffee.

"Probably still at –"

"Never mind." Munch interrupted, nodding his head toward the bunks. Elliot turned his head to find Olivia rubbing her eyes as she made her way down the stairs. Was she here all night?

"Coffee?" Munch offered, holding up the fresh pot.

"Huh? What? Oh. No." Elliot stumbled over words; he was taken back by the fact that Olivia was here all night.

Munch shrugged as he took a sip, "Suit yourself."

Elliot watched as Olivia sat down and ran a hand through her thick brown hair.

"What?" Olivia asked when she looked up, finding herself to meet her partner's glaze.

"You were here all night?" Elliot asked, not moving his glaze.

"Yeah."

"Impressive." Elliot said, lifting a brow.

"Yeah, well, prepare to be more impressed," Olivia said as she pulled a file out of a drawer, "The little girl that was found yesterday? Daniela Summerstone, seven years old."

"How'd you find her?" Elliot asked as he took the file.

"From the bruises on her body, I guessed that the family was probably interviewed before by social services so I cross-checked their records with the first graders that didn't show up yesterday." Olivia explained as she took the coffee that Munch offered her.

Elliot read the file. Yup, the school photo was matching their young Jane Doe. They didn't have database that was of the schools' attendance, which meant what Olivia did yesterday was all manual. He was truly impressed.

"This is goo – No no no no no, don't dri—"

Too late. Olivia had already took a gulp of the brown liquid that Munch called coffee. Elliot stifled a laugh as he watched Olivia's features crumble up.

"Rule number one: Never ever drink Munch's coffee unless you want a reason to call in sick." Elliot chuckled as he watched Olivia struggle to not spit out the coffee.

"Sure, talk about me like I'm not here." Munch said, "Did you know that the industries have their hands in the government, having policies made in their favor because apparently, they make up a big chunk of our economy. I mean, think about it, charging –"

"Yeah, Munch. We get it. The industry is evil." Elliot interrupted. Olivia burst out laughing. "You got an address?"

Olivia nodded, "All in the file."

"C'mon," Elliot said while grabbing his coat, "Gotta inform the family that we found their 'lost' daughter."

Olivia followed suit. "Oh Munch? Thanks anyway," she added sweetly before disappearing with Elliot in the elevators.

Munch grinned and bobbed his head in approval.

"Why so cheerful?"

He turned around to find Cragen looking at him like he saw an U.F.O. hovering in the 1-6. He was cheerful. Sometimes. But he had to admit he fitted more into the cynical category.

Deciding to put the captain out of his misery, Munch decided to let him in the loop. "The new girl, I like her."

Cragen cocked a brow, "But you don't like people, Munch."

He shrugged, "There's always a first."

"Let's hope the same goes with Elliot." Cragen wished as they simultaneously turned to face the elevator where the newly-paired had just went into a few minutes back. "They really need to stop loathing each other."

I'm honestly not sure if the quote works for this chapter..but it's a quote I really like so...*chuckles*

Well, I'm dying to hear what you guys think of the chapter. Drop a line and have a nice one! :)