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Chapter 6

Cragen paced around the room, rubbing his forehead as Melinda watched him.

"Less than twenty four hours they have been back together, and already they are in the shit," he said as he finally stopped pacing and sat on the edge of his desk facing Melinda. "I swear to god those two will put me in an early grave."

Despite the seriousness of the situation Melinda couldn't help but smile. Cragen sighed and rubbed his face.

"Any suggestions?" he asked Melinda.

"Don, I saw the state of Olivia. Her injuries, of what he done to her." she looked down at her hands as she spoke. "He burnt her, cut her, and broke her wrist. He forced alcohol down her throat and gave her drugs, then degraded her further by jerking off all over her."

Cragen looked at Melinda as she spoke, he had known Olivia was badly hurt but as he hadn't seen any reports yet he didn't know how bad.

"She is my friend as well as a colleague and that bastard deserved everything he got." She looked up at him and he could see tears in her eyes. "I'm the only one who has seen the evidence, I haven't written anything up yet…. I can easily lose the samples and wash out the salt," she told him.

"Melinda do you know what you're saying. If this came to light…"

"I know what I'm saying; I'm not having Olivia go through any more hurt. She doesn't need it. I can make what I found disappear, nobody has to know."

Cragen sat in the chair next to her. "So why come to me, why not just make it disappear, I would of never known, nobody would of known except you."

"Because if Elliot was there, then Olivia had to call him somehow. Which means there is a trail to him. Also with all the damage caused to Lewis it's my bet there is blood and other evidence on the clothes Elliot wore. Not to mention the boot print I found on Lewis's leg belonging to his boots. I can make a lot of evidence disappear but not the bruises. If someone started digging…"

"Okay I get it… you know if we do what we are suggesting and we get found out, that would be it, our careers would be over, pensions lost…"

"I know, but we need to do something. That man was an animal. Neither of them deserve to be punished for getting rid of him."

Cragen sat silently thinking for a while. "We need to tell the rest of the squad," he said standing. "They aren't stupid and they will start asking questions when things in there reports don't match yours."

"And what if they don't go for it. What if they think it's too risky."

"Well it's a chance we have to take," he said going to the door. "But I think they will be fine with it, I saw how they were when she was missing; I think if they had the chance to do what Elliot done they would have taken it… I know I would have."

He opened his office door "You four," he yelled. "In here now."

Olivia leant back against Elliot and yawned. After finally pulling themselves away from each other Elliot had made them something to eat. Once they had finished they had sat on the couch, Olivia sitting between Elliot's legs her back resting against his chest. She dropped her head back against his shoulder; Elliot dipped his head and kissed her neck softly.

"You tired again?" he whispered his lips close to her ear.

"Yeah…sorry," she said to him. "I can't believe I am sleeping so much."

"It's okay, it's just your body's way of recovering, plus those pain killers your taking will be making you drowsy."

"Yeah, I guess," she said yawning again.

"You want to go back to bed?"

She shook her head "No, I'm comfy here," she said turning on her side and snuggling into him.

"Okay," he told her wrapping his arms around her and holding her to him kissing the top of her head.

"This is nice," she sighed as she kissed his chest through his t-shirt.

"So, what's your new partner like?" Elliot asked her.

Olivia smiled "You mean your replacement, he's nice, and he looks out for me. I gave him a bit of a rough time when he first arrived, I kept comparing him to you," she turned slightly and looked up at Elliot. "He is a lot like you in certain ways Catholic, hot headed and a pain in the ass."

"Married?"

"He was, his wife left him now long ago to work away took his daughter with her. So he is single now. I often think something is going on between him and Rollins."

"Rollins?"

"Another new addition to the unit. Nick is pretty protective towards her."

"Hmmm sounds familiar," he smiled as his lips captured hers, his tongue lightly brushing against hers. They broke apart and she rested her head back on his chest yawning again.

"Go to sleep Liv, we can talk later," he laughed. "We have all the time in the world to catch up."

"You don't mind?"

"Of course I don't," he said as he ran his fingers through her hair. "I will be right here when you wake up."

All four detectives looked at Cragen as he finished telling them everything Melinda had told him about the evidence she had found.

"I knew there was something strange at the way Stabler just happened to turn up as soon as she called," said Nick.

Fin looked at Cragen "So what we gonna do about it Cap?"

"Yeah, that prick deserved everything he got," said Rollins. "I don't know this Stabler guy except what Olivia has told me. But if he went to her and helped her, then he is okay in my books."

"Cap, we gotta do something. If IAB get wind of this they will come down hard on Olivia, despite what that piece of shit done to her, and he won't think twice about arresting Stabler. Tucker has had a hard on for the pair of them for years trying to take them down, he won't let this go," said Fin.

"He's right Don," said Munch. "I know we don't know the full story of what happened in that house, but we need to do something. Lewis deserved everything he got."

"I for one was hoping he was still alive so I could beat the shit out of him for what he done, not just to Liv but all those other women as well. The man was a monster," said Nick looking round the room. "And I think I speak for everyone when I say were all here to do whatever we have to, to make sure nobody finds out what really happened in that house."

The other three Detectives nodded "So what's the plan?" asked Rollins.

"What the hell," gasped Elliot as both him and Olivia jumped up, both suddenly woken up by the banging on the door. Elliot manoeuvred himself out from under Olivia. "You okay?" he asked her over the banging on the door.

"Yeah I'm fine, just got a shock," she said as he headed to the door.

"Alright!" he yelled. "I'm coming." He flung the door open and Fin pushed past him followed by Nick who closed the door as soon as he entered.

"What the hell Fin" said Elliot.

"Two years, you have been gone. Two years. Your back less than a day and hell breaks loose."

"Fin, what's going on?" asked Olivia wrapping her arms around her waist. "What you doin here?

Fin threw a bag at Elliot, "I need all the clothes you were wearing yesterday, including your shoes."

"What the hell for?" asked Elliot as Olivia came over to his side.

"You used to be a detective, figure it out," said Nick watching as Elliot put his arm protectively around Olivia.

"Oh god," said Olivia looking scared. "They know." Elliot turned to Olivia.

"What?"

"They know, they want your clothes because they know," she said panic in her voice. Elliot dropped the bag to the floor and cupped her face in his hands.

"It's gonna be okay," he told her. She shook her head. "Hey listen to me, everything will be fine, I promise you, just done say a word okay."

"I can't do this, I can't lose you," she said her body beginning to shake.

"You're not going to lose me Honey I promise you," he said dropping his head so his forehead was against hers. "We don't know what's happened yet, you need to calm down okay," he said pulling her in tight to his chest.

"Yo!" yelled Fin to get their attention. "We aint here to arrest you, were here to save your sorry ass. Now get everything you were wearing yesterday into the bag."

Elliot and Olivia both looked at Fin and Nick. "What do you mean?" asked Elliot.

"To give you the short version," said Nick. "Melinda found your DNA on that piece of shit, from where you punched him, we need to get rid of any trace of you, now get your damn clothes."

"But…." Said Elliot.

"Look we will explain everything on the way to the station. Just get your clothes and the key to whatever car you drove," said Nick. Elliot looked at Olivia who was just stood in shock.

"I will be right back," he told her grabbing the back from the floor that Fin had gave him. Olivia just stood rooted to the spot.

"What's going on?" she asked them.

"Just looking out for you Baby girl, you and your dumb ass ex-partner," smiled Fin. "You aint got nothing to worry about we got your back."

Elliot ran back into the room with the bag of clothes.

"That everything?" asked Nick.

"Yeah everything, it's already been in the wash."

"Well I hope you don't want it back, cause it's gonna be ashes soon," Nick told him. "Where's your car keys?"

Elliot reached over to the small table by the door and grabbed the keys handing them to Nick.

"Where's it parked?"

"It's the green jeep outside, you're not turning that to ashes as well are you?"

"Nope just getting a good clean," Nick told him. "I will meet you back at the station," he said to Fin before turning to Olivia. "Don't worry Liv," he said smiling at her. "We won't let anything happen to either of you, okay."

Olivia smiled and nodded as Nick hurried out the apartment.

"You need to get dressed," Fin said to Olivia. "We need to get to the station, so the Cap can get another statement from you."

"Erm, yeah okay," she said still a bit shocked as to what was going on. She looked at Elliot and he pulled her into a hug. "Have a look in Maureen's room there will be some clothes in there that will be your size, I'm sure she won't mind." She pulled his head down and kissed him wrapping her arms around him before walking away. Elliot watched her leave before turning to Fin who was stood there staring at him.

"What?" asked Elliot as he sat on the couch and began putting his sneakers on.

"Just don't hurt her Stabler. The way you just left last time…. It broke her. After what's just happened I don't think she could handle you just walking out her life again."

Elliot finished tying his laces and stood up and faced Fin. "You really think, I would do that. Just walk away from her after everything that has happened to her."

"You walked away after 12 years without a word. No visits, no calls, no explanation. She called and text you over and over needing answers, you just disappeared. What am I supposed to think?"

"I was in a bad place when I left. Everything just….. I had so much going on in my head you know. Work was getting to me, I was arguing all the time with Kathy about never being there to help with the kids….. then there was Liv and my feelings for her. My head was so fucked up. I had all these feelings for her and I couldn't act on them. I couldn't tell her because I was married and because of work. It was slowly killing me inside… Then I shot Jenna and everything came crashing down. I had a total melt down," he looked at Fin. "I totally lost it for a while and started drinking to block everything out."

"Including Olivia?" asked Fin.

"Including Liv. By the time I had sorted myself out, I didn't know what to say to her. I was too embarrassed to face her."

"You were fucking stupid, do you really think she would of cared, Jesus Stabler…"

"Look I know I fucked up, and I wasted so much time, but I'm here now and I'm trying to put things right."

"You know she is seeing Cassidy now," said Fin.

"Yeah I know, but….."

"I don't love Cassidy," said a voice from behind them. They both looked as Olivia walked towards them.

"It's always been Elliot….. you know that Fin." She said as she wrapped her arm around Elliot's waist.

Fin grinned "Yeah I know Baby girl, I know. But you ever hurt her again I will do you some serious damage," he told Elliot.

"I won't I promise" he told him.

"Fin how much does everyone know, about what happened?" asked Olivia.

"Not much, most of it just guess work. Stablers DNA was found on Lewis's body and in the samples of blood taken from the scene. Melinda went straight to the Cap with it, which is why we are here. We need to remove any trace of you from the evidence and any trace of Lewis from you, just in case people start to dig."

"Fin, why are you all doing this. I can't let you guys get into trouble for what I done. I knew exactly what I was doing when I went to that house. I can't have any of you getting into trouble for me," said Elliot.

"Yeah well if all goes to plan nobody will be in any trouble and as for why we are doing this, because you done what we all wanted to do. After what he done to Olivia, we all would have done exactly the same given the chance."

Elliot nodded "When I got the call from her I didn't think twice, all I knew was that she needed me."

"And she still does, which is why we are doing this. You getting sent down won't help anyone, especially you Liv," he told them.

"But what if someone finds out?" said Olivia worry in her voice.

"We just have to make sure they don't. Now you ready to go. Cragen needs to re interview you so your story matches the evidence."

"But there was someone from IAB in the room when I was first interviewed….." she said as they left the apartment and Elliot locked the door.

"Liv you had been through a lot, you were drugged and forced drink. Obviously you remembered something and called the station straight away to come back down and change your statement…here," he said handing her a piece of paper. "When we get in the car read that, it's the new part of your statement. Once your happy with it we will get rid of it. The Cap is getting in touch with IAB to let them know you're on your way in."

Olivia took the paper and climbed into the back of the car with Elliot. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her close to him as she read the paper and Fin drove towards the station.

"That seems believable," he said to her as he read the piece of paper with her.

"Yeah I guess so… I just hope I can pull it off."

"You can Baby, don't worry about it."

Olivia nodded and tore the paper into pieces, "Pull over, Fin," she told him. Fin stopped the car and she opened the door and dropped the paper into the drain, before they carried on their journey to the station.

As the elevator doors opened Elliot took hold of her and squeezed it tight. "You okay?" he asked her as they walked into the squad room.

"I just want to get it over with," she said back giving him a small smile.

Cragen came out his office "Come on in Olivia," he said to her. Elliot kept hold of her hand as they walked across the squad room and past Munch and Rollins. As they got the office Cragen stopped them and put his hand on Elliot's shoulder. "I'm sorry Elliot you will need to wait out here," he told him.

"No… She isn't doin this alone," he told his ex-Captain.

"El…. It's okay," said Olivia giving him a small smile. "You go talk to Munch, get a coffee I won't be long."

"You sure?"

She nodded and reached up and kissed him. "I love you."

"I love you to," he told her as she walked into the office. Cragen raised his eyebrows and smiled at Elliot.

"She will be fine, I promise."

Elliot nodded and turned away as the door closed. He walked over to Olivia's desk and sat down in her chair and looked around the room. A cup of coffee was put down in front of him. He looked up and saw Munch grinning down at him.

"You didn't make this, did you?" he asked picking up the coffee and taking a sip.

"Ouch, two years and the first thing you say to me is to insult my coffee."

"So Detective Benson, Captain Cragen has told me you have remembered something else," said the IAB Detective.

"Erm yeah, bits and pieces have been coming back to me, you know like a dream," said Olivia twisting her hands together in her lap.

"Okay well if you want to tell us what you remember and we will put it into the report."

Olivia nodded and looked at Cragen. "We were at the house he had forced more drink into me and forced me to take some sort of tablets, I passed out handcuffed tot the bed. When I came round I could hear shouting in the room, Lewis was yelling at someone another man, they were fighting."

"Can you remember what about?"

"Something about money and a car. The other voice kept yelling that he wanted nothing to do with it, and he was crazy for kidnapping a cop and how it was all over the news…. The argument got worse and I heard a noise as though someone had fallen against a door or something. Then I could hear them fighting, I heard a scream. Then the voice I didn't recognise told Lewis he was on his own and to never get in touch. I heard the door slamming as he left. Lewis came back into the room a bit later he was bleeding and hobbling."

"From the fight with this other man?"

"Yeah…. I felt myself smirking when I saw he was in pain. I remember thinking it served him right. He saw me smirking and it made him angry. He punched me and I blacked out."

"Did he say who this man?"

"No, ne never said a word, I just know he was pissed off, he kept mumbling that he needed money and a car, he took his anger out on me."

The Detective carried on writing without saying anything for a while. "Do you remember anything Else Detective?"

"No that's it," she said dropping her head and looking down at her hands on her lap.

"Okay, if anything else comes back to you call Captain Cragen straight away."

"I will. What happens now?"

"I will add this to my report and things will be taken from there. The chances of finding this man are slim, and as you say he didn't help Lewis in any way. In fact he may have helped you by hurting him. From what you have told me, I don't think any other action will need to be taken." She said standing up and collecting the file. "If I need anything else I will get in touch with Captain Cragen….. take care Detective," she smiled at Olivia as he shook Cragen's hand and left the office.

As the door shut Cragen took a deep breath and sank into his chair behind the desk. There was a knock on the door and Elliot walked in.

"How did it go?" he asked sitting next to Olivia and taking hold of her hand.

"It seemed to go okay," she told him. Elliot nodded and pulled her into a hug. They pulled apart and looked at Cragen. He stood up and went to the door.

"You lot in here," he yelled to Fin, Munch and Rollins. They all walked in and shut the door. "Okay you two," he said to Olivia and Elliot, "Start talking, what the hell went on in that house don't leave anything out."

Elliot and Olivia spent the next half hour telling them everything from the first call Olivia made to Elliot leaving and getting home. Cragen told Fin and Munch to check the phone records from the house to see what showed up. He then told Rollins to take them both home, Olivia looked exhausted. As they left the office Cragen pulled Olivia into a hug.

"I'm so glad you're okay," he told her as he let her go. Olivia smiled at him.

"Me to," she told him.

"You get her home and take care of her," he told Elliot.

"I will Cap, and thank you for everything….. you know sorting this out."

Cragen pulled Elliot into a hug "I'm just glad it was you, she called," he told him letting him go. "Now take her home."

Elliot nodded and took hold of Olivia's hand "Come on lets go," he said to her following Rollins out the squad room.

Three hours later Fin was sat alone at his desk when Nick came in.

"How did it all go?" Fin asked him.

"Fine car is sorted and clothes gone, how did it all go here?"

"Yeah good, they took her statement with no problems."

"How is she doin?" asked Nick. "I have never seen her need someone so much, as the way she needed Stabler."

"Yeah well, there was always a connection between them. We were all surprised they never got together way before this. He will take care of her."

Cassidy stood just outside the squad room listening to Fin and Nick talking. He had been on his way to see if Munch wanted to go for a drink when he had heard them talking. He leant back against the wall and continued to listen to them.

"So did they explain what actually happened?" asked Nick.

Fin looked around the room to check they were alone, and nodded. "Yeah. Elliot put him through hell, beat him, shot him, and put his head under water."

"Can't say I feel sorry the bastard," said Nick. "Stabler should get a medal for what he done in that house, not be worried about being sent down for it."

"I hear you man, and hopefully he can stop worrying now all the evidence is gone and carry on helping our Baby Girl recover."

Cassidy stood shocked listening to the conversation. "Stabler was in the house," he said to himself. "He is the one who killed Lewis, and they are covering it up." He grinned to himself as he walked away towards the elevator. "Time for you to leave again Stabler, for good this time."

Grrrrrr don't you just hate Cassidy lol. Couldn't have everything going smoothly now could I. Next up a bit more Liv and El time alone. Don't forget to leave some kind words always makes me smile.