Chapter Two
Elliot Stabler made his way into the 1-6 precinct. It was a slow mourning and he was already feeling the turmoils of the day. Rushing to the coffee pot in the corner, he glances at his desk. Noticing that his partner wasn't there yet he feels a since of darkness in the air.
"Hey, Elliot where's Liv?" John Munch calls walking through the door, his partner Fin Tutuola hot on his heels.
"I don't know, she wasn't here when I came in"
"That's not like her, she's usually the first to arrive. Maybe she's sick?" Fin speculated. Just then Captain Cragen rushes through the door, a solemn expression coating his features. "What's up Cap? You don't look so good"
Cragen sucked in a deep breath, looking at the concerned faces of his detectives. He sighed heavily and began to recount the events that had him running through the squad room. " They umm… they picked up a woman, in the ally next to Liv's place. They think it's a rape victim." He says shakily, he sighs another deep breath and continues.
"They umm…they think it's…" he stops, he can't even say it. He himself doesn't believe it but the slight possibility is weighing on his heart and lungs. Fighting tears he presses on only to stopped by the sharp in take of breath from Elliot as recognition and fear set in to his face.
"Its Liv isn't it?" he asks more as a statement then anything else, trying with everything he has to fight the rush of tears coming to the surface just at the thought of it being his partner.
Cragen can do nothing but nod his head and wait for the dam to break in his own resolve, while the rest simply look scorned. All is quiet while they sit and contemplate the feelings of contempt and anger. Finally, after many minutes in silence, its broken by the soft click of heels on the floor. ADA Alex Cabot emerges from the hall into the heart of the squad room with a confused expression falling across her face.
"Hey Guys. Where's Liv?"
That one simple question sparks everyone into action. They all start rushing to the door looks of worry and angst amoung their shattered faces. Orders barked and carried through while the ADA stands still trying to think of something, anything that could make the SVU squad rush so fast. Then glancing around as the detectives rush past her she realizes that theres one missing. Olivia is no where in sight and then a wave of realization crosses her features.
'Oh God, Please don't let it be Liv; I don't I could take it.' She thinks as she turns on her heel and races after the retreating detectives.
The ride to the hospital is deafening. No one says a word as they make there way through city traffic, hoping with all there might that it isn't Olivia, that shes just running late and that shes fine. Each knowing that it isn't true but hoping for the best.
"Olivia Benson? Is she here?" Elliot asks as he races through the emergency doors. Staring at the nurse behind the counter he waits for her to check the logs before firing off the many questions racing through his head.
Looking at the faces of the detectives and ADA she asks "Are you family?" She watches as the each pull a badge from their pockets and holds them up. "Shes my partner." Elliot says edgily. The nurse nods and tells them what she knows.
"Umm…. Yes, Possible rape, beaten pretty badly. She was admitted aroung three this morning. Shes in room 231."
"Thanx" Elliot barely mumbles as he makes his way to the indicated room, the rest following behind him. No one says a thing, all too caught up in the shock of it all to voice the fear and hurt they feel in the pits of their guts.