Days had gone by and they still hadn't spoken about what had happened that night. Elliot was enraged and hopeless just as Olivia was cold and distant.

For whatever reason, they tried to be civil in the office. Olivia didn't mention a word about her love life and Elliot refused to even acknowledge Kathy's existence, even when their would-be anniversary came up two days after she had asked him back.

Life seemed to be ruled by inertia, never changing, ongoing, dull, and miserable. They showed up to work, exchanged hellos with everyone but each other, dug into their new cases, and went home.

It was horrible. Every time Elliot looked at Olivia his heart would break. He knew he had hurt her. He knew why she had come to his apartment that night and unfortunately she knew why Kathy had come there as well.

Olivia was heartbroken. After years of cat and mouse, denying their feelings, and putting up with all the jealousy, he had finally made a move. She really thought he meant it. She was willing to put herself on the line and give this thing a real shot. But that was before she found him in a lip lock with his ex-wife just hours after he had proclaimed his love for her. It didn't matter. She wouldn't have to put up with it much longer, not with her transfer papers nearly processed.

Whatever friendship they were afraid of losing was gone. The barely even talked now, unless they were on a stakeout. And that's where they were now, parked across the street of Scarlett's Dance Academy, waiting for their perp to strike.

"Do you see anything?" He asked.

Olivia shook her head. "Nothing."

It was the kind of case that made them both sick. Not only had this man raped and murdered four innocent women but he had the audacity to mutilate their bodies both pre and post mortem. All the women had been about 5'7, curvy, brunette, and in their 40's. Elliot tried to ignore the fact that that description fit Olivia to the T. This certainly hadn't been the first time that a perp set his eyes on a beautiful woman of Olivia's appearance but that didn't make the fact any less disturbing.

"Maybe we should call Fin." Suggested Elliot.

Olivia scoffed. "Why? Sick of me already?"

"Olivia", he began, recognizing the harshness in her question, "I just think Fin should be here, okay? Its not this this guy's attracted to big black guys in their 40's."

"Bastard." She whispered under her breath.

"Excuse me?"

She drew in a deep breath. "I said you're a bastard. Elliot, I am perfectly capable of doing my job. I don't need Fin to do it for me because this guys got a hard-on for brunettes. I can handle this prick."

His mouth fell open. "I never said you couldn't."

"Good." She exclaimed. "Then shut up and keep watch and don't open your mouth again unless you see something."

She was beyond pissed. It was the Gitano case all over again. Its not enough that he found her unappealing relationship wise, but now even her job performance was inadequate . She could have strangled him right there.

Elliot didn't know what to say. Instinct told him to get mad but he remembered what his therapist had told him in the last months about controlling his anger and not pushing the people he cared about away.

That's all he had done after he shot that girl. He was angry. He was distant. And God help any soul that dared cross his path because he was on a rampage.

But he was past that now. He had learned forgiveness. He had learned to forgive himself. He could only hope that Olivia would too.

And then he saw something, out of the corner of his eye. A man with a hoodie, making his way down the street just as the Academy had let out. "Liv." He said.

"Someone better be in trouble, Elliot, because if you-"

"Olivia, I got something."

She got quiet and straightened in her seat to see out his side of the window. They watched as the man observed each of the women, then followed him on foot as he got closer to the crowd.

He was inches away from his next victim and Olivia and Elliot both pulled their guns.

"Freeze! Police!" He shouted.

It happened so fast they didn't even have time to blink. In the instant that those words left his lips that man had thrown the woman into them and took off into the streets.

Olivia followed close behind as she chased him down the crowded streets of New York.

She heard Elliot catching up behind her but she didn't stop for anything. This sick bastard wasn't getting away and she wanted to be the one to personally lock him up and throw away the key.

And fuck if it wasn't exactly like the Gitano case had been. Before Olivia could get a clear shot he swooped up a little girl and shielded himself with her frail body.

Her frantic screams only excited him more as he drew his gun and fired just as Elliot had caught up to the scene.

He had a choice to make. It wasn't enough that he had made it once. Now, after all these years, when he knew just how painful the situation could and more than likely would be, he had to make it again.

The man turned just as the bullet had settled into Olivia's chest. His first steps towards freedom were masked by the sound of Olivia's body colliding with the pavement.

He saw the man run, saw the little girl in his arms.

Then he saw Olivia, saw her blood, saw the life draining from her face.

The little girl screamed.

Olivia gasped.

He had a choice.

For those of you readind "Diminshing" I am working on chapter two, I just update faster on the story that gets the most reviews. Don't worry, its coming.

Who do you think Elliot will choose now that he knows the consequences of his choice? Let me know what you think he will do.

Review.