Chapter Fourteen

"Elliot, I thought you weren't supposed to come in today," Munch said sleepily. There wasn't even any sarcasm in his voice. They've been up all night and all day. No one could sleep knowing Liv's rapist was out there, they should be able to sleep knowing Elliot's protecting her, but its not only worry keeping them up. Guilt prevents sleep. Everyone feels like they should've known. Searching for the guy who did it will help ease their consciences.

"Hey does anyone know where Novak is- Hey, Elliot… I thought I told you not to come in today," Cragen said walking out of his office.

"Yeah, Don, I know I-"

"Where's Olivia? You didn't leave her alone did you?"

"No, Cap. I wouldn't leave her alone, I lo-" he almost said he loved her, "I know better. She's with Casey. They're together all day. It's pretty much the equivalent of a slumber party, but during the day. My daughters do it all the time, but without the alcohol."

"You hope without the alcohol," Munch said the same way he always has.

Cragen rubbed his head, "God, I'm so worried about her. She's like my daughter. I've been the only father she's really ever known… and I've only known her for eight years. She's had a tough life. Of all people, she deserved it the least"

Elliot nodded his head. Everyone loves Liv, its impossible not to.

"Well, does anyone have anything new? Where the hell's Fin?" Cragen asked angrily.

"Crime lab called, they said they have something new," Munch said twisting around in his chair and rubbing his eyes desperately trying to stay awake. For Liv.

"I got it," Fin said holding up a file and jogging into the squad room, "'kay, no usable DNA. He's that smart, but didn't we decide Liv was the perp's first time raping? So he can't be that smart…"

"Dammit!" Elliot yelled pounding his fist into the desk causing anyone within earshot to whip around to see where the disturbance came from.

"Bit we do have somewhat of a lead. A hair, no skin tag means no DNA, but we know male, and darks brown hair. Not much more than that.

"What about prints?" Munch asked.

"Olivia's, Casey's, mine, yours, the Cap's, Elliot's, and three unknowns, but all the unknowns are from the same person. Could be the perp, but nothing to compare it to. Not in the system."

"But only three?" Cragen asked, "If he raped her three times, how can he only leave three prints?"

"Gloves. Maybe he only left prints because he had to take them off, or one had a hole, or something," Elliot said.

"You're right about the gloves," Fin said looking at the file, "Trace found fabric particles embedded in the prints. It's weird though. They're not leather or latex. Here's the weird part… they're fire resistant."

"How do you get fire resistant particles in a fingerprint unless you wore the gloves…" Munch said. It wasn't really asking a question. It kind of just stated the obvious.

"Fire resistant… so he was handling something hot before the rape. Maybe he's a fire fighter. A fire fighter would have to have the particles embedded in their prints after wearing the gloves all day," Elliot said.

"Well, can the trace lab in Forensics match it to a specific brand or type of glove?" Cragen asked desperately.

"Workin' on it, Cap," Fin said apologetically.

"Well, keep pressuring them!" Cragen ordered sending Fin back to Forensics.

"Elliot, you know Liv best, did she ever, uh, date any firefighters?" Munch asked surprisingly being cautious. He knew it was a big step asking Elliot, and now was not the time for one of his smart-ass jokes or sarcastic filled observations. He knew Elliot was in love with her. He knew he had been since before he and Kathy split up. He knew even before Elliot knew he loved her the first time he met her. It must've killed him every time Olivia told him about a date with someone, or especially when she slept with Cassidy. He remained calm about it, but if you knew Elliot Stabler, you knew he was hurting.

"No."

"Are you sure?" Cragen asked.

"Yes."

Both men looked at each other and wordlessly agreed Elliot's shortness with them was a hint to back away. They didn't push it any further.