Author's Note: I haven't updated in like 2 weeks because I was busy, but now there will be more I promise! Enjoy!
Chapter 3: The Night Everything Changed part 2
It was around 10:30pm at the Stabler/Benson house, an hour ago Fin had put Katie to bed after the movie ended and was now playing Mario Kart with Ben. Both were gripping onto a plastic steering wheel and focusing on the screen, Ben picked Mario and Fin picked Bowser and they were competing for first place. Fin's character drifted around the sharp corner and got to first place, Ben's character hit an items box and got a red shell.
"I got you Fin!" Ben jeered.
"I don't see how," Fin said. "I'm almost to the finish line!"
Ben's character threw the red shell at Fin's character and then hit and stunned him.
"Come on," Fin didn't want to swear in front of the nine year old. His character spun around and Ben took first place and crossed the finish line. Two CPUs passed Fin's character before he recovered and got to the finish line himself.
"Yes! I win!" the boy was happy.
"I almost had you there." Fin was being a good sport as he looked at his 4th place position. The man then got up and stretched his legs. "That was the last game, turn it off and get ready for bed." He looked at the time on the nearby cable box. "Your parents should be home soon and I promised them you'd both be sleep."
"Fine," Ben sighed. He liked playing games with his uncle but he knew it was getting late and his dad would get upset because he has to get up in morning for his karate lesions.
Fin had walked into the kitchen and was cleaning up, earlier he ordered pizza for the kids and was putting away the leftovers. "So what are you doing this weekend?" he asked the boy.
Ben saved his game before turning it off. "I have karate but after dad said he would take me to the pet store."
"Really?" Fin said as he removed the pizza box off the counter.
Ben walked into the kitchen and put a plate and glass in the sink. "Yeah, he said it's a present for getting my orange belt."
"That's great," Fin smiled. "What kind of pet? Cat? Dog?"
"No, dad said I'm not old enough for a dog so I'm getting a turtle."
"Turtles aren't so bad," he reassured the boy. "When I was a kid I had a goldfish named Spike."
"I'm gonna name him Leo after my favorite ninja turtle." Ben smiled. "Maybe dad will let me get 4 turtles, that'll be so cool."
"One step at a time little man." Fin chuckled.
"I can dream,"
"Yeah you can," Fin said. "Now get ready for bed."
Ben went to put away the game system before going upstairs to his room. "Night Fin."
"Night," Fin continued to clean up before his friends got back.
Meanwhile on the other side of Queens Elliot and Olivia were driving home from their dinner date. The dynamic duo went to a fancy restaurant that one of Elliot's friends had recommended and they had a good time. They shared a bottle of wine, talked and Elliot gave Olivia a surprise gift, a locket with pictures of their kids inside. Right now they were driving down the many Queens blocks with the radio quietly playing, Elliot had his eyes focused on the road and Olivia was staring out the window.
She turned to her husband and smiled. "This night was lovely El, thank you."
"I'm glad; I wanted this night to be special. This means I'm off the hook for Valentine's Day right?"
"Yeah," she answered. "But you're not off the hook for letting Ben get a pet."
"Come on Liv he's been wanting a pet for years. I think he's ready for the responsibility." Elliot said.
"What about Katie?" she asked. "Now she's going to want one."
"When she's older she can have a pet," he said. "They can have a dog when they get older. I think getting Ben a turtle will be a great start, he can work his way up."
"I can't stay mad at you for long."
Elliot smiled. "I know you can't." He signaled and then turned left onto a one-way street.
"I love you El." Olivia said.
"I love you too." Elliot said. "And when we get home I'm gonna show you how much love I can give."
Olivia chuckled.
While they continued to drive neither of them noticed the huge gasoline truck that sped around the corner into oncoming traffic.
"Elliot!" Olivia screamed.
They didn't have time to react, the truck plowed into them head on! The truck rammed down the street and mangled Elliot's car but also the 2 cars behind his before it flipped over. The gasoline in the tanker truck instantly caught fire and exploded engulfing the smaller cars and the people inside them. Soon police cars arrived to the scene of the crime after chasing the tanker truck. Cops got out of their cars trying to look for an opening to save any people while firefighters were en route.
"My god!" One of the police officers got out as another explosion ignited.
Soon fire engines could be heard in the distance.
"Move out men!" A fire chief yelled.
Firefighters got out of their trucks and grabbed their hoses ready to put out the fires. Some ran towards the fire trying to help the people inside the cars. Unfortunately it looked too late for all the people in the vehicles.
Back out the house the kids were asleep in their room and Fin was downstairs watching TV. He was watching a sports report when a 'Breaking News' report interrupted.
"Come on!" He groaned. He wasn't ignorant of the news especially with the job he had, but no one wants to hear of horrible news 24/7. He just wanted to hear the sports results and that was it so he changed the channel to another news station, but whatever channel he went to had the same breaking news report. He gave up and stayed on a channel because whatever this news was it was very important.
"…And just to recap this breaking news," the reporter's voice boomed over the TV. "There has been a fiery pileup between 3 cars and a tanker truck on Brand Street in Queens."
Fin kept his eyes glued to the screen; Brand Street was only 6 blocks away from the house and his heart sunk.
"According to one of the officers they had been in pursuit of a drunk driver behind the wheel of the gasoline tanker." The reporter was reading the news as it came into the studio. "The tanker swerved onto the one-way street where it collided to other oncoming cars." Shaky cell phone video played on the screen of cars on fire, police officers tapping of the scene and firefighters constantly moving about trying to put out the deadly blaze. There was also overhead video as the news chopper hovered over the scene.
"At this time there is no information on the victims or the driver of the tanker truck but when we get that information we will tell all of our viewers. We will stay on this story as we get more information." The reporter continued.
Fin immediately pulled out his cell phone and started to dial Olivia's cell phone. Automatically a prerecorded message sounded. "The number you have dialed is currently unavailable please try again later."
"Come on, come on, come on, this can't be happening." Fin said over and over again. The usually composed man was losing his cool just by viewing this newscast and assuming the worst. He tried dialing Olivia's cell phone again and the same automatic message played. He then tried Elliot's phone it was just as he feared with the same message. "Please don't let this be happening." He watched the screen as the firefighters were still putting out the fire. He dialed Munch's cell phone next hoping his partner would pick up.
"Hello," It was defiantly Munch's voice on the other end of the line but he sounded tired.
"Munch you still at work?" Fin questioned but he sounded shaky.
"I'm still here." He said. "Fin what's the matter? You don't sound okay." He could hear it in his friend's voice that something was very wrong, Fin never acts like this.
"John I need you to come to Queens, its Elliot and Olivia something's wrong!" Fin was very worried.
"What happen?!"
"There's a car crash and explosion near their house, I tried calling both their phones and both are disconnected. They said they were coming home around this time and I'm worried!" Fin got out. He was pacing around the room and still watching the TV. "Man I gotta go down see what happen."
"Try and calm down a bit." Munch tried to ease his friend but now he was worried as well. "What about the kids?"
"They're sleep," Fin answered. "But I can't just sit here and do nothing when Elliot and Olivia could be close by. I'm going to get one of the neighbors to watch over the kids, just meet me here as fast as you can!"
"Okay," Munch knew there was no stopping his friend. "I'll call the Captain and get him to meet us there as well."
"It happened on Brand Street, just get here!" Fin was frantic.
Just then his phone got another phone call from fellow detective Nick Amaro.
"Fin have you seen the news?!" Nick sounded worried as well. He also lived in Queens but on the south side and must've heard the news.
"Yeah, it happened close by the house." Fin said. "They're not answering their phones I'm headed there now."
"Same here," said the younger detective. He was worried for his partner and her husband "I should be there in 20 minutes."
"The Captain and Munch are coming as well." Fin informed him. He then hung up his cell phone and went to grab his coat. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw Ben standing near the stairs.
"Fin what's going on?" the boy asked.
"It's nothing, go back to bed." Fin didn't want to lie to the boy, but at this moment what choice did he have? He went to turn off the TV so Ben couldn't see the newscast.
"Why are you leaving?" he asked.
"There's something very important I need to take care of." Fin was trying his hardest to stay calm. "I really need you to go back to bed okay? I'm going to get Mrs. Sanford to stay with you guys, just please go back to bed."
Ben just looked at him confused. "I heard a really loud boom it sounded like an explosion."
"I have to go help Ben, just go upstairs!" Fin was stern now making sure the kid understood he was in no mood to play around.
"Okay," Ben ran up the stairs and into his room.
Now that Fin knew he was up there he put on his jacket and raced next door to the neighbors. He rang the doorbell and after a few seconds Mrs. Sanford opened the door.
"Detective Tutuola can I help you?" The elder woman asked.
"Yes Mrs. Sanford, I need you to watch Ben and Katie for me." He asked. "There's an emergency six blocks away and I need to help."
"You mean that explosion?!" Mrs. Sanford asked. "Certainly, I can watch them."
"Thank you, they're upstairs in their room." Fin said. He ran off the neighbor's porch and ran to his car. He turned the ignition and sounded his police siren and sped through the streets. As he raced there he hoped that his fears wouldn't be a reality!
Author's Note: It's another cliffhanger chapter because I'm evil and I haven't updated so I wanted to give people something! So yeah this is going exactly where it's going and the next chapter is going to be so heartbreaking for EVERYBODY! Well until next time reviews are always appreciated.