The rest of the week went pretty much the same way as that fateful day of the argument. Just when they thought they had enough for a warrant Alex would deny it for one reason or another. That in turn would leave to another shouting match between the two of them, not that Fin or Munch minded. It wasn't until the argument continued into their personal lives that they realized they needed to set some boundaries. Each of them knew that even the strongest relationship could buckle under the pressure they were under.

AS soon as they had entered the house they began to tear into each other. Olivia pissed because Alex wouldn't get them the needed warrant and Alex pissed because Olivia didn't seem to understand. After about ten minutes of shouting at each other Olivia stormed toward the door.

"Where the hell are you going?" Alex screamed.

"Out" Olivia said as she jerked the door open "Please don't follow I need time to cool down."

With that said Olivia walked out the door and slammed it behind her.

Alex jumped at the sound of the door slamming. She slumped down on to the couch and let the tears fall freely. She was scared. Not for herself but for Olivia. Everyday was a constant reminder of her child hood. It was only a matter of time before it began to eat at her.

About an hour later Olivia slowly ascended the stairs to their apartment. Her mind still reeling from the fight her and Alex was involved in before she stormed out. She only hoped and prayed they were both cool down enough to talk, not shout, at each other.

Alex looked up when she heard the door opening, a smile covering her face.

"You ok?" She asked as she motioned for Olivia to join he on the couch.

"I'm not sure?" Olivia asked as she sat next to Alex "I'm sorry I stormed out but I had to cool down. If I stayed and continued I was afraid I might say or do something I couldn't take back."

"I think we both needed a little time to cool off." Alex said as she caressed Olivia's face "For the record, I was never worried about you hurting me."

"I know" Olivia whispered as the first smile since that morning began to show.

"Now I think we need to set some ground rules if we are going to work together. Olivia I don't want to lose us because we work together."

"We wont Blondie, I promise."

"Which is why I would like to set some rules. Well one mainly."

"Ok."

"What happens at work stays at work. We no longer bring it home with us."

"It wont be easy."

"I know but we have to try and if that don't work then one of us needs to transfer."

"What do you mean one of us?"

"Olivia I worry about you working for SVU. it's a constant reminder of your child hood and that will eventually eat at you. I can't and won't stand by while you let the job destroy you."

"DO you trust me enough to let me decide when that is?"

"Completely"

"Thank you" Olivia said as she exhaled the breath she was holding. "It's been a long day and it'll be an even longer day tomorrow. Truthfully all I want to do right now is lay down and hold you in my arms. Can we please do that?"

"My pleasure" Alex husked out as she stood and helped Olivia to her feet and guided her to the bedroom.

"Where are we?" Olivia asked as she walked into the precinct the following morning.

"We are going to TARU" Elliot said as he headed for the door "Apparently they had gotten something off a security video and was able to enhance it."

Twenty minutes later they were standing in the small confined space of TARU, Technical Assistance Reconstruction Unit, watching a video that displayed the suspect pushing the victim into the stairwell around the time of the rape. About five minutes later he leaves and shortly there after Sheppard came stumbling out with torn clothes and blood covering her.

"Bet we can get that warrant now." Elliot said as he dialed a number on the phone.

"Alex we need a warrant for his DNA now." Elliot said into the phone "I understand that but we have video of the day she was raped. Shows him shoving her into the staircase and exiting a few minutes later Sheppard follows behind him. He clothes are torn and she's covered in blood."

"Good we'll meet you there." Elliot said as he snapped the phone shut.

"Alex meeting us at the station?" Olivia asked as she began to follow Elliot down the hall.

"Yep and binging the warrant for the DNA."

"Here it is and I brought Warner with me." Alex said as she walked into the precinct with Warner on her heels.

"Elliot's in there with him now." Olivia said as she stood "He's trying to get him to confess."

"It would make life easier."

"Nothing's easy in this job." Olivia said as she opened the door and motioned for them to enter.

"I'm learning that." Alex whispered as she passed by.

Olivia knocked on the door, letting Elliot know that she was entering, before opening the door.

"You know what this is?" Olivia asked as she walked to Elliot's side holding up the folded piece of blue paper.

"Your pregnancy results?" Marcus said "How the hell should I know."

"This is a warrant for a DNA sample from you."

"I refuse."

"Nice try but this is a court order and you either give it up or go to jail."

"You know as soon as you refuse and sit in jail everyone is going to believe your guilty." Elliot growled out "you want that."

"I cant take that."

"Why not?" Melinda Warner asked speaking up for the first time.

"Because it will confirm what everyone knows in here."

"Which is what?" Olivia whispered getting closer to the suspect.

"Which is I should have killed her when I was finished" Marcus growled as he lept up and grabbed Olivia. Before anyone could react he had His arm around Olivia's neck and

a knife at her throat.

Olivia groaned as the knife pressed against her neck. She looked up at the one way mirror and locked eyes with Alex. Even though she couldn't see her she knew she was there and was panicking.

Alex hand covered her mouth in an attempt to stop the scream that was emitting from her mouth. Cragen quickly pulled her to him and ushered her out of the room. He did his best to assure her that Olivia would be ok.

"No one follows and I will let this bitch live." Marcus sneered as he pulled Olivia toward the door "that is after I have a little fun myself with her."

Olivia allowed Marcus to pull her from the room. She knew the best way to make it out alive was to comply. At least until they were in the squad room and the playing field was in tipped in her favor.

Marcus slowly cut across Olivia's neck slowly. Not deeply but enough to draw blood to make sure everyone knew he meant business. When he exited the interriogation room he looked around and smiled as all the officers seemed to back down. It always amazed him the lengths they would go for one of their own.

"Keep walking and keep your eyes forward." He whispered in her ear.

Slowly they made their way toward the precinct doors. As they approached the door she was starting to think she would not make it out. That was until she heard the gunshot and she fell to the ground.