O'Shea's Bar 8:05 P.M.

Elliot and Olivia were seated in a corner booth. Their waitress brought a round of beer and a bowl of pretzels to their table. Each had something they wanted to talk about. It was just a matter of who spoke first.

"So um what's going on with you and Kathy?" Olivia cautiously asked.

Elliot sighed and downed the rest of his beer. How did I know she wanted to talk about that? "She cheated on me. Not much more than that."

Olivia glared at him. "Elliot…"

"What do you want to know Olivia? Go ahead ask me."

"Elliot I…"

"You want to know what's going on; she's been with that Dr. Williams for five fucking months. And do you want to know why? Because I didn't love her enough."

Olivia didn't know what to say. She knew he hadn't gone home enough but she didn't realize it had gotten that bad. "Elliot I … I'm sorry."

He looked down at his hands. "I am too."

They drank their beers in silence, neither knowing what to say to each other.

"Let's get outta here." Olivia said after a few minutes.

Elliot nodded and slapped a twenty on the table.

Outside of the bar, they stood on the sidewalk watching the traffic go by.

"Liv I um the house is empty and uh…" he trailed off, looking down at his feet.

"Yes you can stay at my apartment. I told you El just ask."

Although it was freezing they decided to walk since it was only five blocks away. Three blocks from Olivia's apartment, it started to snow.

"God I love the city when it snows." Olivia said, slowing down to take in the scene. "It's so peaceful."

Elliot nodded but didn't say anything. They walked in silence the rest of the way. Inside of her apartment, they both shed their winter coats and scarves.

"I don't have another bed, so I guess you have the couch." Olivia said. "I'm gonna change, I'll be out in a sec."

Elliot nodded and sat on the couch. He untied his tie and unbuttoned the first three buttons on his shirt. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He heard Olivia walk into the room. He opened his eyes. She was wearing gray sweatpants and a white tank top.

"You want anything to drink? Coke, water, coffee…"

"Coke's fine."

She went into the kitchen. She came back out with two cokes in her hands. She sat down next to Elliot and handed him a coke.

"Thanks." He opened the can and took a sip. "Liv when was the last time we both had a real vacation, you know more than two days?"

"To tell you the truth I don't think I've ever had a vacation while I've worked in SVU. Why?"

Elliot shrugged his broad shoulders. "No reason, just curious I guess."

A few minutes passed. "You in the mood for a movie?"

He smiled and nodded.

Olivia got up from the couch and opened a cabinet by the TV. She sat down in front of it. "What do you want to watch?"

Elliot got up and sat down next to her. He looked at the three rows of DVDs. All chick flicks. "I don't really have a choice do I?"

"Sure you do; there's Charlie's Angels…"

He glared at her. "You're kidding right?" Olivia laughed. "We can watch whatever you want to watch." He scooted back to where his back was resting against the couch. Olivia started a movie and sat down next to him.

"What are we watching? Wait will I regret asking?"

"Don't worry its not Legally Blonde or anything."

"Excuse me?"

"Never mind."

Elliot shook his head and laughed. "So what are we watchin?"

"Step Mom."

"Oh ok." He paused. "I've never heard of it." He scooted closer to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

Olivia shook her head and tried to watch the movie. She tried not to think about Elliot being so close, his gentle touch, his smell… but what happened the other night between the two of them just…scared her.

As the movie winded down, she laid her head on Elliot's chest, feeling it rise up and down with every breath he took. He pulled her closer and put his head against hers.

"Liv?" He needed to talk to her about the other night.

"Hmm?"

He looked down at his watch when he heard her yawn. "Well… I wanted to talk to you about the other night but if you're too tired…" he trailed off when he heard her breathing deeply. He looked down and smiled. She was fast asleep, her head and hand rested on his chest.

Fatigue finally hit him. He hugged Olivia closer and closed his eyes. He had just fallen asleep when he heard his phone chirping in his jacket across the room. He moved Olivia and got up. His phone showed one missed call from the captain. Shit what now?

"Everything alright?" Olivia mumbled.

"I dunno but the captain called." He dialed Cragen's number. "Sorry captain I was-."

"Elliot someone kidnapped Riley!"

"What?"

"Get over to the foster home now. CSU is over there now."

"Was anyone hurt?"

"The foster parents weren't but I'm not sure about…"

"I'll be there." He slapped his phone shut.

"What happened?" Olivia asked, fully awake now.

"Riley was kidnapped." His voice was frantic. He went into her bathroom and splashed his face with ice cold water.

Olivia came into the bathroom and looked at him through the mirror. "Are you going to the foster home?"

Elliot leaned his forearms on the sink and nodded.

"Do you want me to come?"

He nodded again. "Please."

Saturday 12/18/04 1:25 A.M.

The two detectives drove up to the Jacobs family's house. They were a young couple who weren't able to have children so they applied for foster care. I bet they weren't expecting this Elliot thought as they walked to the front door.

They Jacobs said that they had just put Riley to bed when a man knocked on the door. "Being a cheap house there isn't a peep-hole so I opened the door and the man pushed me and the door aside." Mr. Jacobs explained. "He had a gun out. He told me to get my wife and stay in his sight or he would shoot us."

"Could you describe him?" Elliot asked as he finished writing notes.

"He had a mask on but he was average height 6'1, 6'2 maybe. He was your build detective." He pointed to Elliot.

"Did he say anything that could tell us who he is or where he's taking her?"

Mr. Jacobs shook his head but Mrs. Jacobs responded. "When he left I saw him put Riley in a dark truck."

They went through a few more routine questions, took a look at Riley's bedroom, and left.

"The station house?" Olivia asked as she started the car.

"Actually go to the Amica's house."

Olivia started to question him but thought better of it since he was already angry and extremely tired. As they pulled up to the curb Olivia asked, "What are we looking for?"

"Anything that might tell us who kidnapped Riley." He got out of the car and slammed the door.

"Well it's obvious that it's got to be whoever killed Joanne and Caroline."

Elliot gave her a look so menacing that she flinched. "I meant specifically." He walked up the pathway and ducked under the crime scene tape, not waiting for Olivia.

She found him in the kitchen, looking through a pile of papers. "What are you expecting to find Elliot?" CSU has been through everything."

"Did we ever find a planner?" He moved from the stack of papers to another.

Olivia sighed. "No, there was no planner, no calendar, nothing. Elliot-."

"Look at this." He handed her a $5,000 check. It was signed by her boss, Lance DeVries.

"Maybe she needed some money."

He raised an eyebrow. "He's her boss Olivia. Have you ever personally gotten a $5,000 check from Cragen?"

"Well no but…"

"And look at this, a bank report. It shows a $5,000 payment every month. Sounds like hush money to me."

Olivia sighed. He was right. "But for what?"

"We need to talk to DeVries." He looked at his watch. "Should we wake him?"

"Do you like him for this?"

"I dunno but I want Riley back safe."

"Alright let's go talk to Mr. Lance DeVries."