"Double Time" Sequel to "Stepping Time" (Highly recommend you read Stepping Time before starting this sequel)
The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.
Author's Note (Especially for laurelhardy) Characters guide-Primary SVU Characters Olivia Benson, Alex Cabot Primary Original Female Characters Army Lt. Col. Erin Mathison, Attorney Angie Secondary SVU and L&O Characters Elliot Stabler, Casey Novak, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn Secondary Original Characters Jeff Stockton, Amelia Stockton, Dylan Mathison, Petraeus (Erin's Chihuahua), Senator Rushing, TJ McCoy
(Sorry for the delay. Was thinking I would have time to write all of this chapter yesterday, but didn't work out that way. Hope you all had a great weekend and Christmas for those who who celebrate it. Thanks for reading and the reviews for the first two chapters. Love and appreciate the reviews and it means so much that so many are reading this sequel. Thank you again!
#-#
"Double Time" Chapter 3
"Thanks Kevin," Jeff sighed, running his hand over his closely cropped hair.
"I'll call you back Jeff as soon as I find out more," Kevin said evenly. Jeff steadied himself against the wall in the hallway leading to Olivia's apartment. He went over the information he had just received from Kevin, an Army buddy for years currently serving at the Pentagon. He tried to keep his composure, to focus on the positives even though he was struggling to find one beyond the obvious…Kevin hadn't given him the worst news possible so there was still hope.
Jeff walked slowly back to Olivia's apartment door, hesitating for a moment before turning the knob and entering. Casey, Elliot and Olivia immediately looked to him, his body language and dazed look betraying his mind's desire. Casey quickly crossed from the kitchen, grabbing Jeff's hand and intertwining their fingers.
"Jeff…," Olivia gasped, her hands griping edges of the kitchen island tighter as Elliot moved towards her.
"Last radio contact with Erin's helicopter was at 2310 Kabul time," Jeff said, his voice trembling slightly. "No mayday call, no reports of hostile fire. Combat Search and Rescue operations are underway. GPS tracking report last had their helicopter about 14 miles east of Kabul. My friend Kevin will call me again when he has more information."
Elliot wrapped an arm around Olivia's shoulders, trying to be comforting despite the fear, anger and sadness that were building within him. Elliot learned long ago that life wasn't fair, but this was not only unfair, it was just wrong. Olivia had already been through too much in her life…and for once he had seen her happy, truly in love, with someone who not only loved her, but was good for her and great with her, who had broken down the walls protecting her heart. He needed to be here, be strong for Olivia, but the more he thought the more he worried as he pictured another American flag draped coffin. He cursed himself internally for assuming the worst. He felt the muscles in Olivia's shoulder begin to tremble and then watched as her arms began to shake. To say everything would be all right was not a promise he could keep and not a false one she would want to hear. He knew his partner, and although he was tempted to question his God, to curse and scream, he chose instead to say a silent prayer.
Olivia bolted from the counter and ran quickly to the bathroom, slamming the door behind her.
"I'll go," Casey said, quickly telling Jeff she loved him and kissing him on the cheek.
Casey knocked on the bathroom slightly and only to alert Olivia she was coming in. She could hear from outside the door that Olivia was vomiting. Casey stepped inside the bathroom, closing the door softly behind her. She turned on the sink faucet, warming a wash cloth and then sliding down on her knees next to Olivia.
After a few moments Olivia's convulsions subsided and she sat fully on the floor, leaning her back against the wall. Casey rewarmed the wash cloth and handed it to Olivia.
#-#
"Elliot, what's up?" Alex asked answering her phone.
"The…the Blackhawk that Erin was on board coming back to Kabul went down," he paused, looking at his watch, "about six and a half hours ago."
"God no," Alex yelled. "Where's Liv?"
"She's here at her apartment. Casey, Jeff and I have been here all evening," Elliot said.
"And you're just calling me now?" Alex questioned angrily.
"No, we just found out like 20 minutes ago," Elliot shot back. "We were here for pizza and drinks. And now of course we're staying and waiting for more information."
"I'm sorry El…so it went down, but you don't know if…" Alex started.
"We don't Alex. There is still hope. We just know that they have an approximate GPS location on it and search and rescue teams have been deployed," Elliot finished.
"Ok…ok…that's good, that could be good," Alex stuttered. "We'll be over there in a few minutes. Thank you El."
#-#
"Jeff please just answer it here?" Olivia almost begged as Jeff reached for his phone.
"Ok," he sighed. "It is Kevin," he added looking at the caller ID on the screen of his phone.
"Strobe signals," Jeff repeated what Kevin was telling him. "Bad weather is impeding rescue efforts. Blackhawk located from air approximately 350 meters from strobe signals origination. Appears to be heavy damage to tail boom and tail rotor, but cabin and cockpit appear to be mostly intact."
"That's good," Elliot sighed in relief as they waited for Jeff to speak again. "It's gotta be getting light there now or soon too," Elliot said computing the time difference in his head.
"Thank you Kevin," Jeff said ending the call.
"So if the strobe signals are coming from a distance from the helicopter that has to mean everybody is out of the helicopter, right?" Alex queried.
"They wouldn't leave anyone in the bird. That's correct," Jeff replied.
"But that doesn't mean everyone is alive," Olivia sighed.
"Liv, the strobe signals and what appears to be from the air minimal damage to the cabin and cockpit bodes very well for survivability," Jeff countered. "Honestly, when I talked to Kevin an hour ago I was thinking the worst…but this news gives me lots of hope."
"I know…it is good news. I thought…I thought," Olivia stammered as she paced across the living room. "What kind of bad weather and why can't they just send some vehicles to get them if the weather is too bad to fly?"
"Freezing rain and high wind gusts," Jeff stated. "And the terrain they're in, they're in the mountains."
"So why would they move from the helicopter?" Angie queried.
"Helicopter provides too easy of a sighting target for the enemy, but they would have taken any weapons and ammo they could take with them," Jeff replied. "And they would have sought better cover. You don't want to be in the open and/or have a perimeter where the enemy can approach from all sides. Including crew there were eight on board and the crew receives special training for basically all imaginable scenarios and of course Erin and her troops along with the pre-flight briefing have their training."
"And the strobes can emit infrared light so when they signal they are only signaling our aircraft," Elliot added.
"Jeff," Alex called, pulling up the current Afghanistan weather radar up on Olivia's computer. "So did Kevin say how long ago it was they received the first strobe signal, because I know we don't know exactly where they are, but this looks like most of the bad weather is moving away from Kabul to the west."
"That would be very helpful," Jeff said looking at the laptop screen.
"Please tell me they're doing something while they are waiting for the weather to clear," Olivia said tersely voicing her frustration.
"Liv, there's a whole lot going on," Jeff tried to reassure. "Trust me the Combat Search and Rescue teams are highly skilled, trained and efficient."
"I'm sure they are," Alex countered, "But they obviously had a helicopter in the air that sighted them…"
"Well along with needing a landing zone, you have to have support for the rescue bird. You run the risk of a second scene and more people on the ground in need of rescue otherwise," Jeff said evenly. "Radio communication would certainly help the process, but they know how to do rescues with strobe and even more primitive signals," Jeff emphasized.
"The information Kevin is providing is great and certainly appreciated, but did he give you any idea how current it is?" Alex queried.
"His update was from about 5 a.m. Kabul time and it is…what about 6:30 there now," Jeff replied.
"Do you think anybody from the military would have contacted Dylan or Erin's dad by now?" Casey asked.
"Probably not, too soon, and an ongoing operation" Jeff sighed. "I should probably call Dylan though and let him know what is going on."
"Use my phone babe…or I could call him," Casey said, squeezing Jeff's hand. "Babe, I know how much Erin means to you," she said softly. "I want to help if I can."
"You can get me another beer please," he smirked slightly, taking Casey's phone. "I need to call Dylan though. Thank you for offering."
"I know," Olivia gasped. "I'm going to call TJ, maybe he and Senator Rushing can find out what the fuck is going on."
"Liv, I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but I don't know…" Elliot started.
"I can't just sit here. It's been hours already," Olivia hemmed and hawed. "El you should go home and get some sleep. They're going to need you at work in the morning and I'm obviously not going in."
"Not going anywhere Liv," Elliot said sternly.
"Neither are we Olivia," Angie said and Alex nodded.
"You know Jeff and I are staying. Erin and Jeff are best friends…we just all need to be here together," Casey faltered slightly, wiping away newly formed tears.
"Thank you," Olivia said looking around the living room at Elliot, Alex and Angie, and Casey. And Casey…I know…this isn't all about me…I know everybody here cares about Erin…and that she and Jeff…"
"Liv, it's okay," Casey said sincerely pulling Olivia into a hug. "I'm going to go check on Jeff."
"Tell him again he doesn't have to go in the hallway to make or take phone calls," Olivia said choking back tears.
"You know what an ass Dylan can be Liv. And I think you should call TJ. Senator Rushing was able to get Erin on the phone a few days ago. I mean Kevin obviously has his contacts, but…" Casey said taking a step back and heading towards the door.
#-#
"TJ is on it already," Olivia said grabbing a beer from the refrigerator. "Anybody need anything to drink?"
"Do you have any coffee?" Angie asked softly.
"I do. And even cream and fresh milk," Olivia smirked slightly.
"I'll make the coffee Liv," Alex said bounding from the couch.
"I can do it Lex," Olivia replied.
"Liv, you and El make cop coffee…a 'lil too strong for me and way too strong for Angie," Alex smiled.
"Well why didn't you tell me that when I made coffee over at your apartment?" Olivia questioned.
"Because you were our guest and you were drinking it too…but since you are drinking beer," Alex countered. "Except Elliot…do you want some coffee?"
"No, I'm good and for the record…the really, really strong coffee in the precinct is always either made by Liv or Munch or has been sitting for hours on end."
#-#
"Benson," Olivia answered her phone nervously at nearly 2 a.m.
"Olivia its TJ and Senator Rushing is on the line as well."
"Senator," Olivia gasped slightly and ran a nervous hand through her hair. Alex moved alongside Olivia in the kitchen and ran a comforting hand up and down her back. Jeff held onto Casey and Elliot and Angie got up from the couch and moved slowly towards the kitchen.
"Olivia they rescued them all and Erin is now at the military hospital at Bagram Air Base which is north of Kabul," Senator Rushing said.
"Is she going to be okay senator?"
"I was told that she and the other soldier who was injured have non-life threatening injuries. I know it's her left foot and lower leg, and she is awake and alert, but they were just taking her into the emergency room."
"She's at Bagram Air Base in the ER. Left lower leg and foot injured, but awake and alert," Olivia said hurriedly to her friends.
"Sorry senator," Olivia sighed.
"Olivia I'm glad you aren't alone, don't apologize."
"I'm very lucky to have such great friends…"
"I will call you or TJ will call you when we get an update on Erin's condition…but like I said non-life threatening injuries and I've been to Bagram and the hospital there. It's high tech with phenomenal staff."
"Thank you so much Senator Rushing."
#-#
"Thank God she's alive," Olivia said, tears now flowing freely from her eyes. "They'll call when they know more on her condition," she added as Alex pulled her into her arms, stroking her hair as more tears of relief were shed not only by Olivia but by everyone in the room.