Sorry it took so long to post this last chapter. Thanks for sticking around. And those of you that actually took time to review this story. I greatly appreciate it.
Olivia walks into a crowded bullpen to find her coworkers gathered around a large monitor watching what seems to be footage of a parking lot.
"What happened to Alicia," she says, putting her belongings into a lower desk drawer.
Munch steps over to the video screen and points out what she missed on her way in to the station.
"Let me rewind it for you so that you get a clear picture," the elder detective tells her before pressing the play button.
Olivia watches the grainy black and white footage from the hospital garage security camera. She sees Alicia entering and walking to her vehicle before being accosted. The man, assumed to be Tyler Branson, pulls her into a van parked next to her car before driving off.
"He sucker punched her in the face," comments Amaro. "This prick knows we're closing in on him," he adds. "He has nothing to lose by killing her now."
Nick's face is a mask of guilt and anger at the situation.
"We couldn't have known he'd go after her," says Rollins, walking closer to Amaro. "Don't beat yourself up," she continues in a tone low enough for only him.
Olivia steps towards the footage, taking a closer look.
"Where'd the van come from," she asks the captain.
"Stole it from his job," Cragen responds. "They hadn't even noticed it was gone from their inventory until we contacted them about it," he tells her. "There's an APB already out."
A phone rings at one of the desks and Fin is quick to pick it up.
"SVU, Detective Tutuola," he answers.
He grabs a pen immediately, writing down the information being given to him by whoever is on the other end.
"Okay. Good, thanks," he tells them before hanging up.
"I hope that's a lead," comments the captain, anxious for some helpful information.
Fin tears off the little pink sheet of paper from the WHILE YOU WERE OUT notepad and hands it to his boss. Cragen takes one look at what's written down and knows immediately what has to be done.
"Everyone goes," he orders. "Branson's on Governor's Island," informs them. "His boat's been sighted at the Lima pier out there," he continues. "One of the many places at which he was not paying a slip fee," he adds to assuage Amaro's guilt.
They all grab their jackets and coats, following the captain into the elevator.
"Toll cameras have him using an EasyPass on the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel but not at the next booth," he tells them. "He had to have stopped at that island," he explains.
They get off the elevator and pair off as they enter the garage. Fin is with Rollins, Amaro is with Benson and Munch is with Captain Cragen.
On the way Cragen is notified that Branson is most likely on the Southwest portion of the island where the abandoned U.S. Coastguard housing and service areas lay. He radios the detectives in the other cars to let them know.
"The Brooklyn piers are not that far from Governor's Island," comments Amaro. "We should've looked for his boat there too," he goes on. "Branson's had hours alone with her."
Olivia sits in the passenger seat looking over at her partner with his tight jaw and white knuckled driving. She remembers blaming herself many times for things she had no control over. As illogical as it is, she understands the inclination and the futility of it.
"There are a million places we could've looked," she begins. "But we aren't psychic and we don't have the manpower to be everywhere," she reasons. "We do our jobs the best way we know how and that's all we can do."
She sees his jaw relax and the grip he has on the steering wheel loosens just a bit. Olivia's learning when to be blunt and when to cut him a break. With Nick doing such a great job of kicking himself, she doesn't feel the need to help.
SWAT is already present on the island when the squad arrives. They've checked Branson's boat and neither he nor Alicia are present. But the condition of the living quarters leaves no question that it is the primary crime scene.
Olivia and Nick interrupt the crime scene unit as they're collecting evidence.
"The blood on these ropes test as human," informs Captain Siper, the CSU supervisor. "More than likely it's what he used to restrain them at some point."
Nick sees the disheveled bunk with the sheets spread messily on the bed. He also notices a five gallon sized metal bin sitting not far from it containing murky water.
"There's also various semen and blood stains found in the bunk, on the adjacent wall and the floor surrounding it."
Olivia takes in the condition of the cabin trying not to let her mind wonder as to the various horrors the victims were subjected to at the hands of Branson.
"Let's go," she says to Nick, turning to exit the state room. "We need to find this psychopath before he kills Alicia."
Nick turns to follow her up the steps and onto the deck of the boat.
"How do you know she isn't dead already," he asks as they step out onto the dock heading towards the staging area.
She stops abruptly turning to face him.
"He would've left her body on that boat," she begins, pointing at the vessel. "And he won't kill her quickly," she continues. "She has to suffer just like he did," she deadpans before heading towards their team again. "And until we know otherwise, we're going to assume she's still alive."
Amaro and Benson join their colleagues and the SWAT commander in a nearby industrial building. They've already cleared most of the old Coast Guard housing for signs of Branson and Alicia and are getting ready to breach the last.
One of the SWAT team members passes out Kevlar vests to the SVU team to wear just in case their suspect is armed.
"There are four floors," begins the SWAT commander. "Each of you will be with two SWAT members," he tells Benson, Amaro, Fin and Rollins. "That's three people to clear each floor," he explains.
They're also given ear wicks to stay in constant radio contact with one another. If Branson wants to make this his last day on Earth that's fine. But he will not be taking any of New York's finest with him. Hopefully Alicia won't be collateral damage as they go after him.
"CSU also found protein, creatine and anabolic steroids," adds Capt. Cragen. "Him being in a roid rage could explain the damage to the other victims," he continues. "His cousin and mother confirm that he's gained at least twenty pounds of muscle since going to prison," he informs them. "No one should try and take this guy alone."
When they enter the building they do so quickly and quietly taking to the steps after clearing the lower floors' common areas. The place has a musty odor from years of not being used, dirty run down carpet and peeling wallpaper.
Olivia and her two SWAT members end up on the fourth floor, separating to scour the upper level. Her heart races as she moves, feeling her pulse pound away in her ears. Her eyes dart back in forth in front of her, trying to anticipate the slightest of movement and she tries to breathe evenly.
She holds her weapon steady in both hands, creeping along the corridor trying not to make anymore noise than she has to. Before she throws open each door she pauses to listen for extraneous sounds. Each time she clears a room her heart takes a timeout before it begins pounding again.
Olivia has but one room left to clear before her end of the floor is done. She enters the room and is immediately tackled by Tyler Branson. The gun is knocked out of her hand and flies across the room and out of her reach.
"Looking for me," he rasps, pulling her off the floor by her collar. He backhands her before punching her in the stomach, dropping her once again.
Olivia hears a muffled scream coming from somewhere in the room. As she turns her head towards the noise, she spots Alicia huddled in a corner with her knees to her chest. She's gagged, bound with rope at the wrists and ankles and naked. Her lip and nose are bloodied, mascara streaks run down her face from crying and her body is covered in bruises.
"It's over Branson," Olivia says, standing up gingerly. "This place is swarming with cops," she informs him. "You're not going anywhere."
She's thinking the SWAT guys should be behind her at any moment. Hopefully Olivia can stall him long enough for them to get there.
"Oh I'm going somewhere alright," he says picking up her gun. "And it's not back to that hell hole of a prison!"
Olivia stands with her hands up as he points the gun at her careful to make any sudden movements. She doesn't want the unstable man to mistake anything she does as threatening.
"Why don't you put the gun down Tyler and we can walk out of here together," she offers changing tactics. "No one else has to get hurt."
On the other side of the door her SWAT partner has heard the situation inside the room. He radios the commander, tells him what's going on and is told a sniper will be put into place.
Olivia has heard all of this in the clear earpiece that she still wears. It's hidden by her long hair and Tyler has yet to notice it. She can hear the SWAT commander letting her know the sniper will be in place in two minutes and will take the first available shot through the window.
The problem? She's the one standing in front of it. Olivia has to get Branson in place to be taken down.
He begins walking back and forth waving the gun erratically appearing agitated. She has to figure out some way to get him to listen long enough to move him in the line of fire.
"I'm not walking out with you," he yells. "I'm not going back to prison!"
"Alicia looks hurt Tyler," she tries calmly, hoping her tone of voice will cause him to follow suit. "Can I at least check on her?"
"Screw her! She's the reason I'm in this whole mess!
"And you've punished her for it Tyler, look at her," Olivia tells him. "At least let me cover her, please."
Though his eyes are wild and his breaths are still coming rapidly, he looks at Alicia and Olivia sees a hint of remorse in his eyes. It's her opening.
"You guys used to get along Tyler. You worked with her, took smoke breaks with her, ate lunch with her," she continues. "She knows she made a mistake turning you in Tyler and I'm sure she's sorry."
She can see Alicia nodding her agreement in her peripheral vision.
"See Tyler, she's really sorry," she continues. "Just please let me cover her up," Olivia adds, slowly peeling off the navy blue NYPD windbreaker as she backs up towards Alicia.
"Fine, do it," he says. "But if you try anything I'll shoot you," he adds aiming the weapon at her once again.
As soon as Olivia squats down to place the jacket over her, a red dot appears on Tyler's chest just before a sniper's bullet crashes through the window breaking it, raining glass all over the floor.
"Suspect is down, I repeat suspect is down," Olivia hears the sharp shooter's words in her earpiece.
The door is breached seconds later as the rest of the SWAT team rushes in along with Amaro, Fin and Rollins. Branson lays on the floor unmoving. Dead.
Olivia borrows someone's knife to cut Alicia's restraints. She falls into her trembling and sobbing uncontrollably not caring about her state of undress. The detective sees her jacket isn't covering enough so she rips a dangling curtain from one of the windows and wraps it around the tall woman.
Two gurneys are brought in from waiting ambulances. One takes their suspect's body to the morgue, the other takes Alicia to the hospital. Someone will take her statement after she wakes up from sedation. She was raped, beaten and tormented by Tyler Branson for the last ten or so hours. It may be quite some time before she's coherent enough to give one.
CSU comes in to process the scene and Olivia's gun is tagged and bagged as evidence and will be returned to her after it's processed.
She's in no hurry this time. She just may tell them that they can keep it and take her badge along with it. Hostage situations tend to give you that type of " to hell with it all" attitude.
By the time they clear out of the old Coast Guard quarters news vans have arrived on the island and are reporting on the story of the serial killer, the hostage situation and his fatal ending.
After Captain Cragen and the rest of the squad thanks the SWAT members for their help, it's a quiet ride back to the precinct.
They all walk in and take their desks quietly, beginning reports on each of their roles on the island today.
The captain goes into his office to handle the usual logistics behind a closed door. He has to field calls from 1PP and the press, each wanting to know details of how and why Tyler Branson wasn't able to be brought in in something other than a body bag.
Several hours later he steps out of his office.
"Olivia," he says simply as he gestures for her to join him.
Once inside she closes the door behind herself and takes a seat in a chair in front of his desk.
"I know the drill captain," she tells him as he takes a seat behind his desk. "I'm on desk duty for a couple of days until CSU's finished with my weapon. But-
"And," he begins. "I'm suggesting that you take some time as well."
"Captain-
"I know that you've recently come back but I was going to recommend a vacation even before you were shot," he tells her. "Being on medical leave isn't the same as actually relaxing yourself."
"Captain-
"And with seeing the state Alicia Johnson was in, watching Branson getting shot and being in yet another hostage situation-
"I agree Captain," she nearly yells, unable to get a word in edgewise.
"You need-what?"
"I said, I agree. I need a time out, a step back, an actual vacation from this job."
Don raises his eyebrows and widens his eyes like she just told him that unicorns are giving free rides in Central Park and that leprechauns are handed out gold at the Children's Museum of Manhattan . He opens and closes his mouth a couple of times, speechless.
"I've typed up my fives on this case and I think Alicia's comfortable enough with Amaro to let him take her statement when she feels up to giving one."
"Okay," he manages. "How long do you think you'll need?"
Olivia's been thinking about it since she handed a traumatized Alicia over to an understanding paramedic.
"I have fifty or sixty weeks of vacation on the books," she begins, nearly giving her supervisor a heart attack with the expression on his face. It's hard for her not to laugh at it. "But I'm only going to take three."
"I think we can survive without you for that long," he tells her with a knowing smile. Though the two new detectives have started off well and Munch and Fin have their own styles, there is but one Olivia Benson. He's already lost one good detective to this job so he'll gladly do without her for a few weeks.
As she stands to leave, so does he.
"Enjoy yourself Olivia. You deserve it."
"Thanks Captain."
Olivia walks out to her desk, prints out her reports, signs them and gives them to Rollins asking her to hand them in with her own.
Under the curious eyes of her coworkers she shuts down her computer, gathers her things from her lower desk drawer and heads out.
"Good night," she tells them as she walks to the elevators.
It's one o'clock in the afternoon and she's done for the day, for the next twenty-one days actually. But at the moment she has but one thing, one destination, and one person on her mind.
When she gets to his building she takes the stairs two at a time until she makes it to the fourth floor. There's nothing like a little brush with death to make you appreciate the important things in life.
She barely raises her hand for a second knock before the door is flung open and Elliot pulls her inside.
He tugs her against him so tightly she feels he may break a rib or two. It's good to have someone worry about her and she loves having someone to go to after a day like she's had. Olivia's smiling like an idiot at the fact until she realizes just how upset he is.
"I saw the news," he rasps in her hair. "If anything had happened to you-
"But nothing happened," she says cutting him off. "I'm right here El. I'm okay," she adds rubbing his back.
He pulls back to look at her, taking her face in both hands as she lowers her arms to his waist.
"There's something I've wanted to tell you," he begins. "But I don't want you to think I'm saying it because of what happened today."
"I won't El. What is it?"
He takes a cleansing breath, momentarily closing his eyes before focusing in on her patient expression.
"Liv," he begins. "The reason I'm so glad you're here right now, the reason why I happily let you take advantage of my many talents," he says smirking before continuing more seriously. "And the reason you're my favorite ex-partner is because…you're the one I fell in love with."
Her eyes get big before they return to normal with her smile. She leans in to capture his lips, pulling him so that their bodies are flush against one another. It's a slow but simple kiss she lays on him before pulling back.
"If it's too soon-
She cuts him off mid sentence with another kiss. It's just as slow but this time it's deeper. Olivia moves her lips against his, delving into his mouth to taste him before ending the kiss with a warm suckling of his lower lip.
"It's not too soon," she tells him smiling as she pulls back again. She moves a hand from his waist to wipe away traces of lipstick with her thumb. Olivia drops her hand to his chest, placing it over his heart. She can feel it thumping beneath the thin cotton t-shirt he wears.
"I love you too," she says in a near whisper. She hasn't said those words to anyone in such a long time it sounds nearly foreign to her ears. But it feels absolutely natural that it's directed towards him.
Elliot smiles like he's won the lottery before capturing her lips this time. He wants to keep it simple but he's just so damned happy she's still alive and returning his feelings. He threads his hands through her hair, kissing her in an all consuming type of way until they run out of breath.
"I'm really glad you're okay," he says leaning his forehead against hers momentarily before letting her go.
"Me too El," she says as he leads her by the hand towards his sofa. Olivia thinks back to being shot a couple of months ago and how she was upset that no one knows her well enough to plan her funeral how'd she'd want it. "But can I ask you a question?"
"Anything," he responds, putting an arm around her shoulders as she leans into him.
"What if I wasn't," she begins. "What if I hadn't made it out today?"
"I don't wanna think about that," he says kissing the side of her head. "I just want to enjoy the fact that you did."
"Seriously El," she tells him. "I don't wanna ruin the mood here but considering what line of work I'm in, I need to know things would be taken care of."
Elliot takes a calming breath and extracts himself from her, entering the kitchen to start some coffee. Olivia knows the question has upset him and he needs time to think.
She takes the time to look around his apartment. It's tastefully decorated in contemporary furnishings. The sofa she's sitting on is comfortable brown leather. Unlike her carpeted floors, his are hardwood. His kitchen is larger than hers with an island, marble countertops and stainless steel appliances.
There's a plasma television on the exposed brick wall above a small fireplace and the mantel below it has multiple picture frames depicting his children and them at a couple of police functions.
While the living room is in warm colors of beiges, browns and dark reds the kitchen has lighter shades of greens and vanillas. If she's not mistaken the apartment is definitely bigger than hers and obviously nicer.
She knows whose moving in with whom when it comes down to it. Olivia's surprised that the thought doesn't terrify her as a commitment like that usually would.
Elliot returns to the living room with two mugs of coffee in hand. He gives one to her and she takes a sip before sitting on the table in front of them. Elliot does the same.
"NYPD would give you the full funeral, being the decorated officer that you are," he begins, slightly disappointing her. "But…after all the hoopla died down," he continues taking one of her hands. "I'd make sure you had a small memorial service with only the people you're closest to, you'd be buried next to your mom and I'd have Asian Lilies laid at the gravesite."
Olivia lays a hand against his jaw before leaning in and placing a short kiss to his lips. Those are her favorite flowers.
"Thank you," she says quietly. "I know how difficult that must've been."
"You have to know I'd do anything for you Liv but can we please talk about something else now?"
"Sure," she tells him reaching for her mug again. "I have good news actually. As of today I'm on vacation for three weeks."
Elliot smiles mischievously while turning her so that her legs are in his lap. He removes her shoes and begins massaging her feet. Olivia sits her coffee down again, reclining so that she's lying against his sofa pillows.
"I think I can help with at least two of those three weeks," he tells her as he kneads the bottom of one foot garnering a moan from her.
"If you can just do that for the rest of my vacation I'd be a very happy woman," she says with her eyes closed.
"So then you don't wanna go to the Bahamas with me?"
Her eyes pop open instantly.
"Come again?"
"About three months ago yours truly won an all expenses paid trip for two to the islands from a sports trivia show on the radio," he reveals. "They're good for a year but I didn't have anyone to go with."
"And you wanna take me?" she asks sitting up again.
"Just about every ten minutes," he says flirting and garnering a raised eyebrow from Olivia. "But if you mean to the Bahamas then yes, I'd love for you to go with me."
"Well let's see," she says straddling his lap. "My choices are spending the majority of my vacation here in the winter cold of New York City or flying to the tropical warmth of the islands. Tough choice but I think I'll choose the Bahamas."
"Yeah?" he asks grinning.
"Yeah," she answers, wrapping her arms around his neck. Olivia leans in to place warm open mouthed kisses along what she can see of his shoulder and up his neck until she's nibbling on his ear lobe.
"Liv?"
"Yes baby," she responds, pausing momentarily before continuing her ministrations.
"I need you to know something."
Olivia recognizes the tone as one that's serious and stops what she's doing. She leans back giving him her full attention.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing-I," he stutters.
"Come on El, why are so shy all the sudden?"
"I haven't felt this way since-well I've never felt this way about anyone but I know how independent you are and I don't wanna scare you away with how much I want this."
"I'm sitting in your lap, I can tell."
"I'm serious Liv. I don't mean I want you just for today or over your vacation. Next to my kids you're the most important person in my life. So when I say I want this…I mean it, no run-
She kisses him then. For the first time in her life she doesn't want to run, doesn't want to come up with excuses as to why they won't work out. Olivia spent twelve years of her life with Elliot. She's more comfortable with him than any other person on the planet.
"In case you didn't hear me the first time, I'm in love with you," she says smoothing her thumbs against his stubble. "And as huge of a commitment-phobic person as I usually am, surprisingly it doesn't terrify me to admit that. I'm more scared of being without you than being with you and that's never happened to me before. So you don't have to worry about me going anywhere because I want this too."
Elliot gets up abruptly causing Olivia to shriek. She wraps her legs around his waist instinctively so she doesn't fall backwards. Not that he wouldn't catch her.
"Would you like that tour now?"
"Only if we can start in the bedroom," she whispers in his ear before grinding against him.
"You my friend are one naughty detective," he tells her trying to walk with her around him and not bump into anything.
"Baby, you ain't seen nothing yet."
It won't be hearts and flowers all the time. They'll argue just as they always have but she knows he's not going anywhere. With him she's found her smile again, she got her reboot. He takes care of her, consoles her, loves her.
With all the time they spent together at work so many people speculated that they were more than just colleagues or friends, that they had been having an affair for years. She's glad they were wrong. It would've ruined them.
Olivia knew she loved her partner. With all they'd experienced together and helped one another through, she would have to have been made of ice not to.
But she knows without a doubt she wasn't in love with him.
It wasn't until after he tucked her in that first night. It wasn't until after he poured his heart out to her as he'd never done in asking permission back into her life. It wasn't until after he simply held her without question because of a case that was breaking her heart.
After he expressed the patience, tenderness and compassion she knew him capable of and it was directed at her, she knew. Olivia didn't fall in love with her partner during twelve years together on the job.
She fell in love with her best friend outside of it. In three weeks.