A/N: Same warning as the last chapter. Some parts may be triggering. Proceed with caution.
Disclaimer: I don't own either show because if I did El never would have left.
When Althea's body was carried out of Olivia's apartment, she looked away, unable to bring herself to look at the woman who she had once considered her friend and vowed to protect. She found that Elliot's Blue dress shirt, the one she loved because it brought out his eyes and its 3-quarter sleeves gave her a nice view of his muscular arms that were wrapped around her protectively, was better to look at with the guilt that was consuming her.
"We gotta call her husband, her family." Her voice cracked and she sounded distant.
"We will but I need to get you somewhere safe first."
"And call Don and the rest of them, he has all your addresses El and the precinct how will we?-" she's cut off by his phone ringing.
"Stabler." A pause and his already worried expression increases. "Maureen? Honey slow down what's wrong? Ok, you went to my apartment, I'm at Liv's I'm sorry I didn't-WHAT!? Is he still there? Ok. Ok. No, baby, it's too dangerous, he might see you if he comes back just stay where you are. We're on our way."
"El?" Her voice is shaking.
"We need to go! Now! He grabs her hand and heads for the door but stops before opening it, realizing that going to save the other person he loved would put his Liv in danger.
"Crap, Liv I'm so sorry I didn't think-"
"Elliot, what is going on? Please. Is Maureen hurt?" He swallowed hard.
"Someone broke into my apartment, they're gone now but I need to get her before she comes back but...Liv-"
"Go, I'll be fine. He might not even come back tonight." As scared as she was for herself, the thought of something happening to Elliot or one of his kids was even more frightening.
"I can't leave you, but-"
"Elliot-"
"Come with me but just...stay close ok?"
"Always." She kissed him gently.
X
His apartment, like Olivia's, had been, was trashed. The intruder had wanted to make his presence known. There was broken glass and another spray painted note that sent chills down his spine and made Olivia grip his hand tighter.
She belongs to me. Sleep with one eye open Detective Stabler, no one is safe.
"El-" She was shaking and he pulled her closer to him, his gun pointed at the door, ready to take on the monster that threatened to crush his world.
"E-Elliot we-we need to find Maureen." His pulse was racing and he snapped, looking around his apartment frantically.
"MAUREEN!? MAUREEN!" He kept ahold of Olivia's hand the whole time, too worried to let her out of his sight, she wasn't complaining as the nerves were consuming her as well.
"Elliot maybe she-"
"Dad!? Olivia!? I'm in the closet, is he gone?"
"Oh thank god!" Elliot half sobbed, throwing the door open. Maureen ran into her dad's arms, which had wrapped around her and Olivia in a protective embrace, sheltering them from harm. "What happened?"
"Mom and I got into a fight again over her stupid new boyfriend." Maureen rolled her eyes. "I just wanted out of the house so I was going to surprise you and stay the weekend, you weren't home so I was gonna make you dinner and just hang out here till you got home but I heard a crashing noise in the bedroom and I ran into the closet, there was this guy throwing things around and saying something about someone named Audine and how she wasn't yours to take and he would find her and she was gonna pay, he said he'd kill you daddy!" She sobbed.
"I'm ok sweetie. It's gonna be ok." He held her tight. Olivia had moved away from him slightly, trying to control her breathing, she was pale and trembling. She knew Lester could do a lot of horrible things to her, but the thought of her partner being hurt was even worse.
"Olivia, are you ok?" Maureen asked, noting the terror in her father's partner/girlfriend's eyes.
"He...he's after me."
"Why? And who's Audine?" Both detectives swallowed hard at Maureen's question. A noise from the kitchen stole their attention. Another crash and Elliot sprang into action.
"Get behind me! Both of you!" It was ironic, Olivia thought, how domestic the situation felt. The husband protecting his wife and daughter. She had practically been reduced to a civilian at this point, her badge, gun, and handcuffs gone, and now she and Maureen had backed into the closet, being shielded by Elliot who had his gun pointed in the general direction of the kitchen, determined to protect his family. Olivia had ushered Maureen behind her, feeling like a protective mother to the young woman, while the protective husband/father sheltered them both. She crouched down slightly, resting her head on Elliot's back. One, so Lester wouldn't see her and two because she was still Detective Benson and she was gonna protect her partner whether she had her gun or not. The trio jumped when they heard what sounded like a door slam. It was a couple minutes later when they noticed the smell and the living room and kitchen of Elliot Stabler's apartment was engulfed in flames.
"Holy shi-" The smell of gas had filled the bedroom now and Elliot quickly moved out of the way so Olivia and Maureen could get out of the closet. "WINDOW! Hurry!"
Maureen opened the window and climbed out, Olivia hesitated a moment, worrying for Elliot even though it was her that Lester was after.
"I'm right behind you Li-livia" The smoke causes him to break into a coughing fit and tears spring to Olivia's eyes.
"Elliot-"
"GO!" More coughing. "Run to the car, I'm right behind you sweetheart." The trail of gasoline had made it to his bedroom and flames were now licking the doorway. Olivia had climbed out the window by now and she and Maureen watched in horror as Elliot struggled to escape due to the smoke filling his lungs. She remembered him telling her once that he had a reactive airway as a kid. Any of them could have been hurt, but he was the most vulnerable, and Lester must have figured that out. This night had gone from bad to worse.
"ELLIOT!" Olivia raced back to the window to help him onto the fire escape.
"No. No Liv you'll get hurt! Stay back!" He wheezed a couple more times and finally got out, taking a few breaths. Olivia threw herself into his arms and held him tight. She had no idea what she would have done if she had lost him.
"I'm alright Livia, I'm alright." They stayed in each other's embrace, Maureen standing on the other side of her dad, as the flames claimed his home, but the only thing on their minds was how thankful they were because they could have lost each other tonight.
"He must have heard us and-god El." She snuggled into him and there were tears in her eyes when she could feel his pounding heartbeat in the warm, loving embrace that had almost been ripped away from her forever.
"I'm ok baby. I promise." Maureen snapped out of her shock and joined Olivia, clutching onto her father tightly. Olivia spoke up again.
"Don't you ever scare me like that again Elliot Stabler! You should have gone out first you know how dangerous-" She knew he would die to protect her if that's what it took, but that didn't mean she would let him.
"Olivia-"
"You need to go, Elliot, you and Maureen need to go somewhere safe I can't-"
"I'm gonna call Kathy and have her get Maureen and then find somewhere for you and I to stay together."
"El-"
"Daddy I don't want to go back to mom's, Peter's a jerk! I wanna stay with you and Livia" Maureen held her father tighter and Olivia broke eye contact with him for a moment to turn to Maureen.
"It's too dangerous honey. I would never forgive myself if something happened to either one of you. It would make me feel a lot better if I knew you were safe."
"But I hate Peter, and mom thinks I'm being dramatic but I'm not."
"Maureen, your mother and I had a nasty divorce and I'm sorry you guys were involved in it, I never wanted you to get hurt but we weren't happy together, it wasn't a healthy environment for you guys so we both had to move on. Can you please try to get used to Peter and your mom like you got used to me and Olivia." Elliot pleaded.
"I never had to get used to you guys, I've always loved Olivia! She's sweet and pretty and has a big heart. Peter's the opposite but mom's blinded by her disgusting love for him." She rolls her eyes and Elliot sighs.
"Maybe you can do something with friends this weekend then, but I want you safe." He then turns to Olivia, who is still shaking over what just almost happened, and cupped her cheek in his hand. The swirls of blue in his eyes calmed her as she leaned into his touch. "And you can keep trying to get me to leave you all you want but it's not going to happen. I promised I would protect you and that's exactly what I'm gonna do ok? No matter what it takes." He placed a lingering kiss on her forehead.
"Elliot he wants to kill you! He almost did! Me being safe isn't worth it if you're not in this world with me. I can't lose you El. I wouldn't survive losing you." More tears pool in her eyes and She kisses him before he could respond. The partners lost themselves in their kiss and had almost forgotten Maureen was there until they heard her clear her throats when it deepened and didn't seem to be ending.
"I don't mean to ruin the moment, cause you guys are way cuter than mom and Peter but...don't we need to figure out where we're going, get dad checked out by the paramedics and call your squad?" Olivia nods but Elliot rolls his eyes at the 'get dad checked out by the paramedics' line.
"I'm fine. I don't need to be checked out." Olivia smirked.
"Hey that's my line, and you're getting checked out Stabler." Elliot chuckled and smirked back and whispered in her ear.
"You are the only one who gets to check me out, Benson." She laughs and smacks his chest lightly and the trio heads down the fire escape, noticing the swarm of emergency vehicles that are pulling up to the apartment complex. Among the other cars are a worried and frazzled Captain Don Cragen...and a fuming former Kathy Stabler. Kathy runs up to the first and Olivia steps in front of Elliot before Kathy slaps him. She shakes her head and turns to Maureen.
"Come on, we're going home before your father gets you killed!"
"Kathy-"
"It wasn't Elliot's fault it was mine."
"Olivia!"
"Of course it was, you just loooove destroying this family don't you, what was your plan huh, kill my daughter so you could have Elliot all to yourself!?"
"KATHY! That's ENOUGH!" Elliot growled, wrapping a protective arm around Olivia.
"Olivia loves us mom, unlike you and Peter!"
"Peter is more of a father to you than this deadbeat's ever been!" The adults watched in shock as Maureen slapped her mother in the face.
"Don't treat dad like that! Or Olivia!"
"You're defending her but you hate Peter? She's a homewrecking-"
"You say one more word about Olivia and I'll arrest you for harassing a police officer." Elliot stepped forward, knowing Olivia would take the jabs personally. She already blamed herself and he wanted to protect her from any more guilt.
"Olivia is a better mother to me than you KATHY!"
"She almost got you killed!"
"Kathy, I'm sorry-" Olivia starts but Elliot cuts her off.
"Shhhh baby you have nothing to apologize for. You know this wasn't your fault." Kathy glares at them and yells back.
"YES, IT WAS!"
"Enough!" Captain Cragen interrupts.
"She tried to kill my daughter and husband!"
"EX husband!" Elliot roars back.
"Miss Malone I am NOT above arresting you! LEAVE! NOW!" Cragen yelled and Kathy glared before walking away. "Maureen I'm sorry, but you have to go with your mother. Someone is after these two and I don't want you in the middle of it."
"Grandpa Don I-"
"That's an order." She hugs her dad and Olivia one last time.
"Take care of each other."
"We will sweetie."
"Cap." Olivia starts and both men turn to her, their hearts cracking at the tears streaming down her face.
"Are you two ok?"
"A little shaken up but...we're alive."
"He might have smoke inhalation, he needs to be looked at."
"What the hell happened? I got a call from homicide saying that Richard White was found dead and left on the steps of the precinct. Then CSU's captain calls me and says they just got done collecting evidence at my detective's apartment, and while I'm on my way there a call comes over the radio that there's a break in and fire over at Elliot's." Olivia sobs and buries her head in Elliot's chest, telling him about what had happened 10 years ago was hard enough, but she wasn't sure how much more she could take.
"Elliot?" He turns to the man holding Olivia in his arms, whispering words of comfort in her ear.
"Call Munch, Cassidy, Jefferies, and Carmichael and tell them to meet us at the precinct. This affects everyone."
X
The medics gave Elliot an inhaler, and he was given oxygen for a couple minutes to make sure he was ok. Olivia had sat beside him the whole time, neither of them wanting to let their partner out of their sight. He was covered in soot but luckily didn't have any burns. She kissed him again before they left the ambulance, beyond thankful he was still with her.
When they arrived at the precinct, they were reminded of the dire situation they were in, the M.E. handed them a note that had been found on the body of the perp in their current case:
Present #2. I'm not poetic like he was. But what he would have done to you would have paled in comparison to what I can do sweetheart. You remember, don't you? Don't try to hide...I was able to get some valuable information from Mr. 'no hard feelings', he made the mistake of wanting to join me though...I work alone, I don't share. Guess I closed your case for you...you can thank me when I find you.
She shuddered and both her and Elliot wanted to vomit.
"Come on, let's go inside." He held her tightly in his arms, the fear of something happening to her consuming him. They had to get away from the city and fast.
Captain Cragen, detectives Munch, Cassidy, and Jefferies, and ADA Abbie Carmichael were in the squad room when they arrived and Olivia took a deep breath. This would be hard, but these people were her family and she had to protect them like they had protected her in the year she had been at SVU. She loved them, Elliot most of all, and she gripped his hand tightly. As long as she had Elliot Stabler, she could get through this. She could get through anything.
"I'll start with what I know. This person is much more dangerous than Richard White, he knows where we live according to the Captain, he's after Olivia and he was bold enough to come to a police station. and to set Elliot's apartment on fire." John Munch stated matter of factly and Olivia leaned closer to Elliot who put his arms around her.
"I can tell them if you need me to honey." She shook her head, she couldn't let herself be weakened like this.
"Just...just please-" He held her tighter and kissed her temple.
"I'm not going anywhere." She swallowed hard and turned to face their colleagues.
"About 10 years ago…"
A/N: Another cliffhanger! Haha, you'll find out their reactions next chapter. If this chapter seemed intense, things will only get more intense from here...and that's the only clue you get :) hee hee. Till next time! Thanks for reading :)