A/N: Hi everyone, I hope you've all had a very happy Christmas. Now things are on the quiet side between Christmas and New Year, I am updating a couple of fanfics. I read your reviews and I know you're sad to see Marni has been killed, but I promise you I have reasons for doing it. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I look forward to reading what you think.

I rushed over to Marni, I didn't know whether to touch her or not. I felt a sickness building in my stomach, I couldn't see her skin for blood. I lifted her head and saw her eyes staring blankly back at me. Her throat had been slashed, I could see what looked like bone, as tears filled my eyes I knew I was looking at her spine. I closed Marni's eyes and looked at Alex who walked towards me with her arms open. She embraced me into her and held me tightly, I felt her hand on the back of my head as I tried to look at Marni again, I knew she didn't want me to see her again.

"I'll call it in." Alex said softly in my ear.

I nodded as I pushed my face into her a little more, all I wanted was comfort. "Thank you." I whispered.

Alex didn't say anything, I felt her hold me tighter. As I pulled away she took out her phone and called Cragen, then CSU. In what felt like an hour, CSU and Elliot turned up at my door. I looked at Alex and shook my head as more tears filled my eyes then spilt over. "I can't do this." I told her. I walked away from my apartment and along the hall, I felt Alex's hand take hold of mine.

"Hey, you can do this. You're Olivia Benson, there's nothing you can't do!" Alex gave me a small smile, I knew she was trying to make me feel better, but it wasn't working.

I felt the uncontrollable shake take over me as I got overwhelmed with sadness. "I can't do it Alex!I've got Elliot standing at my front door, the one person I want to see least in the world right now, and Marni's dead!" Alex looked at me with a shocked expression, I knew I'd made her jump when I snapped at her. I shook my head, "I'm sorry Alex."

"It's okay." she said softly.

"It's not Alex, I'm so sorry, it doesn't matter what I'm going through; I shouldn't have snapped. I love you and I never want to hurt you."

Alex took hold of my hand and smiled at me, "Olivia, It's okay, honestly. I know you're in shock, you're allowed to snap once."

I smiled back although it was forced, I knew Alex was trying. I saw Elliot walking towards us, Alex tried to let go of my hand but I gripped it tighter, I wasn't about to let go because of him. "I need to get in your apartment." he said blankly.

"Why?" I asked coldly.

"Because your apartment is a crime scene."

I could tell by Elliot's cold tone and his constantly wandering eyes that he wasn't happy. Honestly, at this point I didn't care, I needed Alex, she was strong and her holding my hand reminded me that she was there for me, and she wasn't about to leave because things were getting tough. "My apartment is not a crime scene Elliot, the crime happened outside the door." I could feel frustration building inside of me, he was trying to wind me. More to the point he was trying to get in my apartment to see what had changed, to see if I had a drawer with Alex's clothes in or photos of us both together. He must have already seen I'd taken the photos of me and him off my desk.

"If blood has gone under the door, your apartment is a crime scene. I need a key." he said to me crossing his arms over his chest.

I shook my head in disbelief, I couldn't believe Elliot was being such as ass. I walked over to Melissa Fletcher, the chief CSU, "Mel, do you need to get into my apartment?"

"No." she replied looking confused, she thought for a second, "We might have to open the front door if blood has seeped under the door onto your carpet, but that's only to test the blood. As soon as the body's been moved, you can open it, I'll check it out. Two minute job, tops."

"Thanks Mel." I replied, I saw Elliot hovering around. "Are you going to take my statement? There's nothing else you can do here." I said.

Elliot looked at me, took out his notepad and pen to take notes; "So what happened?" he asked me abruptly.

"Alex and I came up the stairs and found her where she is now. I felt for a pulse, she didn't have one so I moved away from her and Alex called Cragen." I paused, "You can see everything on the security footage." I pointed to one of the camera's. "There are cameras all around the building, it should make for easy work."

Elliot walked away, he didn't wait for Warner, he didn't speak to Melissa either, he just left. Alex and I shared a look, then Alex's face dropped slightly, "Oh God!" she said looking at me.

"What?" I asked.

"There's footage of us kissing on the security tapes!" Alex blushed a little.

I smiled, "I know." I said giving her hand another squeeze. Alex frowned then smiled as she caught on. If Elliot was going to act like an ass, I might as well give him something to be an ass about! Normally I wouldn't push my relationship in his face, normally I wouldn't be in a relationship to push it in anyones face; but I must admit I did get a kick out of knowing he would soon be watching me kiss Alex. It's then I realised I wanted to hurt Elliot, I wanted him to feel how I felt, but as soon as I looked in Alex's eyes, I felt it all melt away. I didn't have time or energy to waste on him, I wanted to put all my time into my relationship with Alex.

Melinda had been taking Marni's liver temperature, she had loaded Marni's body onto a gurney. Her assistants had wheeled the body out of my building. Melinda looked at me and smiled softly, "I'm so sorry Olivia, I'll do everything I can to help."

"Thanks." I forced a smile back.

"Look after her Alex." Melinda said.

"I will." Alex assured.

Melissa came back over to me and Alex, "There's no need for us to enter your apartment Olivia. You can go in. We're going to pull up the carpet out here, we're hoping the killer cut themselves, we might be able to find a blood sample from them."

I nodded softly, "Thanks Mel." I looked at Alex and took her hand, I saw people staring at us, but I didn't care. Alex and I went into my apartment, Alex sat down on my couch but something had caught my eye. A small piece of paper folded up sat inside my door, I should have put gloves on, but I didn't. I picked it up and opened it, the hand writing was big and round, before I read it I looked at the bottom, it was signed Marni.

'Olivia.

I'm in trouble, I went out today and noticed two of Mrs Parks' girls were following me. She knows I've been staying with you and I'm scared. I'm in the bank, they're in here too. You'll be able to see them, I have to tell you something but I don't think I'm going to get the chance. Mrs Parks is a human trafficker. She brings in girls from Europe and sells them to people, she uses a charity event to show the girls to all her clients, they're having an event tomorrow. Mrs Parks must be worried I've told you already and has probably changed the venue. If you find Alice and Dani, you'll find the venue.

Thank you Olivia, for everything. I didn't have a chance to tell you before but you made me feel safe. It's been a long time since I felt safe. Don't be sad, I won't feel anything. You will make a great mom one day, you and Alex.

Love, Marni. Xxx'

"What's that?" I heard Alex ask.

I felt tears in my eyes again, "She knew she was going to die Alex. Lillian Parks in a human trafficker, Marni left the apartment because she knew she would be followed." It was all starting to form in my head, "Marni's written this on a bank slip, she said the girls were following her. She took them to the bank because of the huge amount of security cameras."

"She's a smart girl." Alex said.

I went over to her and sat down, I sighed softly; I tried not to feel sad but it was hard. Me, Alex and Marni felt like a little family. "She died to help us catch Lillian." I felt the tears build again, then the pride hit me. Marni had gone out on a suicide mission to help us save God only knows how many other girls. She was a hero, she'd sacrificed her own life to stop Lillian. I had to do what she'd intended or it'd all been for nothing. I couldn't let that happen. I held up the key I'd given her, "She knew she'd be dead before she got in, she left the key."

Alex looked at me and held my hand, "Liv you need to sleep, I know it's going to be hard but tomorrow we take this information and we go full speed with it and we'll bring Lillian down."

I nodded, Alex was right, I needed sleep to be on top form for tomorrow. I had less than twenty four hours to find two girls and a new venue for a human trafficking ring.

I woke up feeling surprisingly well rested. Alex was still asleep next to me, I leant over and kissed her forehead; I got out of bed and into the shower. When I got out, Alex was making pancakes, I dried off and went into the kitchen.

"Morning beautiful." she smiled handing a plate of love heart shape pancakes to me.

"Good morning." I said back taking them, "These smell great!" I sat at the table and began eating them.

"How are you feeling?" she asked me.

"I have a good feeling about today, Marni gave us everything we need to get Lillian."

Alex looked at me as she sat down, "Liv, don't you think it's strange, I mean Lillian said she was raped but hasn't had a rape kit done. She drew her own perp picture, then drops a bombshell about being your mom. It all seems a bit... convenient."

"What do you think it all means?" I asked trying to form ideas of my own and failing.

"I don't think she was raped, and even if she was there'll be no evidence of it now. Olivia, she wants to be in your life for a reason, and I'm not sure it's a wholesome reason."

I knew how Alex's mind worked, the chances of her being wrong were very slim. "I think you might be right, you don't think she used Marni do you? To get to me?"

Alex took a piece of paper, "I don't think Marni would hurt you like that." Alex started writing, 'BUG?'

I shook my head, I didn't think Marni would bug my apartment. "We should get to work." I said taking the note with me. As soon as we were outside my apartment building I looked at Alex, "I don't think Marni would have bugged the apartment. I'll make a call when I get to work and get someone to go and check it out."

"I don't think Marni did either. Maybe Lillian was going to try and get close to you, use the mother thing to get under your skin. I'm guessing she wants you in her life now, because she needs information she can't get anywhere else. She needs you because you're a cop, what's better if she gets caught than to say she's involved with you..."

As I listened I realised something worse than just knowing me, "She's going to say I helped her, because she's my mother!"