Chapter Seven- Things in the Night

Thanks to LegaspiWeaver, ACertainJustice, BookWorm0485, big-smiles-all-around, KaydenceRei, Mma63, Maggie Dolye, soliz, KWillows, and DrusillaBraun for their reviews.

Special thanks to Sergeant Happy Bunny...you are totally and completely amazing and I love you!

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It was over before it even began. Elliot watched Olivia from across the room. She was pacing and running her fingers through her hair, which she always did when she was worried.

"Elliot we can't do this." She said looking at him with a pleading expression in her eyes.

"Why not?" he asked. He didn't understand her reluctance.

"Elliot, our jobs. If 'we' happen then one of us will lose our jobs." She said. "We can't do this. Hell, I don't even know if I'm ready for this."

"But what about what you said. What about the fact that we love each other?" he demanded, his temper rising.

"We just can't Elliot." Olivia said in a resigned tone. "I was just out of it when I said what I said. I didn't mean it."

Elliot drew a sharp breath at those words. "I don't like it when people play with my feelings and I sure as hell didn't expect it from you Olivia." He slammed his fist against the wall, making Olivia jump. "Do whatever you want. I don't care anymore." He said, walking out the door.

Olivia watched him go and when the door was shut and she was sure he couldn't hear her, she sank to her knees and cried, long raking sobs that sent tremors down her body.

Elliot wasn't fairing much better. He stormed to his car and gunned the engine for home. He was angry at Olivia for giving him hope and then taking it away, he was angry at himself for doing something so stupid, and he was angry at fate for not allowing him to have the one thing that would make him happy.

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Alex could get used to these nights with Nick's arms around her waist and watching Antonio playing at their feet. Alex didn't stop working though. She kept half an eye on Antonio and the other on the file opened on her lap. Nick was reading over her shoulder.

"Long day." He said softly.

"You have no idea. This case is driving everyone crazy and I'm trying to get warrants left and right for other cases." She said, leaning her head back against his chest.

"I'm glad that I'm not you." Nick teased, playing with Alex's blonde hair.

"Oh shut up Cowboy, like your work is much better."

"I think it is. At least dead bodies don't talk back." He said.

"You're horrible." Alex said between fits of laughter.

Nick laughed. "Not my fault."

Antonio crawled onto the couch and Alex moved her file so her son could sit on her lap.

"Mommy, is the Ghost back?" he asked softly.

Alex's expression turned into one of concern and worry. "What do you mean honey?" she asked.

"Last time you worked and didn't play with me was when the ghost was going to get out of jail." He said.

Nick observed Alex's next moves with admiration.

"Honey, he's not out and I'm going to make sure he will never get out. He won't bother us again, baby. This is something different that I'm helping a friend with." She said meeting her son's eyes with soft gaze. "I promise he won't haunt you ever again." She ruffled his hair and just like that his eyes brightened again.

Nick smiled. "I think its time for bed." He said, taking on the fatherly role with as much ease as he had on a horse.

Alex agreed. "Come on Antonio. Bed." She said.

Antonio giggled when Alex and Nick chased him up the stairs. Both tucked him in and then Alex kissed him on the forehead and whispered. "Te amo mi hijo."

Antonio grinned. "Mommy your Spanish is getting better."

"Gracias mi vida. Buenos noches."

She turned out the light and shut the door as she and Nick made their way to her bedroom. There they got ready for bed, but never went to sleep.

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Sara was working late, as usual. She was in the precinct looking through old police files in relation to the current case.

"Do you ever sleep?" Munch asked from the doorway of the file room.

"No I'm a vampire." Sara said sarcastically.

"Interesting, that would explain why you never go out in the sun." He retorted.

Sara glared at him. "Can I help you?" she asked.

"I thought maybe I could help you. You're looking for files and I've been here a while."

Sara snorted. "I can tell."

Munch only grinned and started to pull files for here. "These are the cases that had blue paint in them." He said.

She took them and muttered a quick thank you.

Munch watched her work. "What are you looking for?" he asked after several moments passed.

"Any connections." She said before heaving a great sigh and sitting down in a chair with a defeated expression on her face.

"What's wrong?" Munch asked, thoroughly concerned.

"When this guy was in Vegas he murdered people that went to my old school. I want to know what school this new victim's from." She said. "Weren't you supposed to find out?"

Munch nodded. "Fin and I found out that the victim went to NYU." He said.

"And it's made up of hundreds of students." Fin said coming up behind Munch.

"That makes protecting potential victims especially difficult." Munch finished.

Sara groaned. "Great so no matter how hard we try, we have no way of making sure he doesn't hurt anyone else."

Munch threw up his hands. "Thus the greatness of New York's finest." He said sarcastically.

Fin elbowed him. "No pun intended, Miss Sidle, but I think we can try out best since you're not from around here, but we can make small numbers work."

"We are so not using bait." Sara said, getting his point on the spot.

Munch pondered it. "We may not have a choice."

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Casey found friendship in Greg. He was hilarious and he made her laugh. The whole thing started when she went to Greg's condo, which he shared with Sara to thank Greg for not letting her do anything very stupid the night she was drunk. She had already done the stupid part, but he kept it from getting worse. Sara hadn't been home and so Greg invited her in. Now they were talking and laughing like old friends.

"So how does your hair defy gravity and sticks up like that?" she asked between fits of giggling.

"That gentle lady is a top secret protected by the CIA." Greg said, with a sweeping bow.

Casey snorted and laughed. "Since when was I gentle lady?" she muttered sarcastically.

Greg smiled. "Or ungentle lady whatever you want."

Casey slapped him lightly on the arm. "O come off it." She said.

Greg gave her an impish grin. "Hmm…although why did you pick Warrick? I mean of all the guys."

Casey laughed. "Cause he was the only one available."

"Oh right, Nick and that blonde."

"That blonde has a name." Casey said fighting back laughter "Alex."

"Right, Alex." He said with a wry grin.

"So how busy are you on this case?" he asked.

"A little, but Alex has been holding the ropes on this one. I'm just along for the ride." Casey replied.

"Does she control your cases a lot?" he asked, tilting his head to one side.

Casey shook her head. "Nah, she usually gives me a free rein and rarely ever questions the decisions I make, but she's been getting a lot of press on this one and I think it scares the hell outta her if this guy gets out, so we're working together. Personally on this case I prefer her taking the lead cause she's got more experience than I do."

"O ok…I was wondering if you were bitter. I mean I know some people on my team would be bitter if they were in the lead." His mind wandered to Sara, sometimes she could be so impossible to work with.

Casey smiled. "The SVU team is fully used to each other and don't have a problem with handing cases to each other." She said.

She checked her watch. "I should run. I've got court tomorrow morning and its going to be hell trying to find my way if it gets any darker and my street always has all the streetlights out."

Greg glanced at her. "You could stay here."

Casey decided against it. Sara scared her a little. She had never met someone so determined to make sure everyone kept their distance. "Nah it's okay. I got to go over some of my other cases anyway." She said, heading out the door.

Before Casey walked out though, she sneaked a glance at Greg. He was adorable and not much older than herself. She found herself blushing slightly when he met her gaze, but she quickly shut the door and drove away.

Greg smiled as she left. She was something else. Casey's red hair was redder than Catherine's and she was so young. She didn't act like she was barely in her mid twenties, but after talking to her, he knew that she was. She let loose in front of him and had joked and laughed. All of it contradicted the serious lawyer he had first seen upon entering the squad room. He secretly hoped to see her again.

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Melinda finally got home. It had been a long night and she was looking forward to nothing more than a warm bath and some sleeping pills. Her husband, Patrick, was sitting on the couch waiting for her when she slipped in the front door.

"Where have you been?" he asked with his arms crossed in front of him.

"Working." She replied. It was a routine by now. "Where's Lindsay and Natasha?"

"Asleep upstairs." He replied. "Melinda I can't do this anymore."

This is the window to my heart

I just want us to be free

Ain't no freedom where we are

Ain't no wishes in these stars

Ain't no reason to believe

"What do you mean?" Melinda asked softly.

"I can't spend every night alone anymore Melinda." He said.

"You're right." She agreed. They both knew their marriage was over. It was so over they needed a new word for over. Both were just unwilling to let go.

Don't worry baby

Maybe this is what we need

A little bruise and a little bleeding

Some space that we can breathe in

And some silence in between

"I want a divorce." Patrick said firmly.

Melinda didn't argue. She knew it was coming. Knew it the moment their marriage began to come undone. Maybe she had been working long hours to avoid hearing him say those words.

"Alright." She managed to say, although her throat felt like it was closing off.

He looked back at her with eyes full of grief and pain.

So cry for my baby

And I'll cry for you

And we'll both break down and we'll break through

Find our way and face the truth

We both will be stronger

And we'll lie down in our loneliness

And wake up with our sad regrets

And even though we don't know it yet

We both will be stronger

He headed for the door. His stuff was all packed and in the trunk of his car. He just didn't want to leave without seeing Melinda on last time. Melinda stared at the ring on her finger and felt tears surface. They both knew it was over, but then why did it hurt so much?

At the door, he turned to look back one last time. Melinda was gazing at him. She wasn't asking him to stay but she wasn't telling him to leave either. Patrick knew that the moment he walked out the door, she would never let him back in. She was full of pride that way. His decision to leave would be his decision and his decision alone. She would not say a thing to him about it. He walked away

Melinda sank down onto the couch after he was gone with tears streaming down her face. She kept her sobs quiet for fear of waking the children upstairs. She forced herself to climb the stairs and lie down on the bed. It was only hers now. She caught her husband's scent and buried her face in his pillow, trying to hang on, but knowing she had to let go.

I can't believe you're really gone, now

But I know it's for the best

And I know that we were right

But I still reach for each night

And man that hurts like hell

Cry for me baby and I'll cry for you

And we'll both break down and we'll both break through

Find our way and we'll face the truth

And we both will be stronger

And we'll lie down in our loneliness

And wake up with our sad regrets

Even though we don't know it yet

We both will be stronger

Across town, Patrick was lying awake, staring at a photograph of him and Melinda and their daughter. It was impossible to say when exactly he had thought about leaving, but he knew that night after night he couldn't keep the thought out of his mind. Melinda was never home. He rarely saw her and their love died without her there to keep the flame going.

She made a mistake. The biggest mistake of her life. She should have been there to keep their love alive, but she hadn't. She had spent her nights examining dead bodies and her days dealing with evidence packets. Few people even knew she was married. The ring symbolized nothing anymore. She closed her eyes and cried.

This is the window to my heart

I just want us to be free

Baby I'm sorry for the way things are

Good bye is always hard

But we both will be stronger

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Grissom was panicking. He couldn't find Catherine anywhere. He had driven to her condo to find it empty. He had then driven to the morgue and then the precinct. Nothing. Finally at his wit's end he drove to the crime scene. He carefully examined the scene before him, but something caught his eye. Strawberry blonde hair on the wet railing.

"No." he breathed.

He whipped out his cell phone, dread in every pore of his being. "Cragen, we got a problem." He said, his voice breaking from fear.

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Song's not by me. It's sung by Faith Hill. Uh I hope you liked this chapter. I tried to include all the characters in this chapter. I hope I did a good job. R&R for more!