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When Partners Continue to Collide - Chapter 4
Taking out his wash bag and pajamas, Elliot went to the bathroom to freshen up, while Olivia got into bed, picked up her journal and began scribbling in a few thoughts of the day. Elliot retuned and hovered anxiously. Olivia folded back the covers and indicated he was to join her. Elliot scrambled under the covers as Olivia put her journal back. After checking Elliot was ready, she turned off the lights and they snuggled under the covers – each aware the other was a matter of inches away.
The next morning, the blaring of the alarm woke Olivia with a start, and she was suddenly aware she was not sleeping in her usual position and was unable to move.
Slowly Olivia realized that she had her head on Elliot's shoulder, her arm over his body, and his arm was hugging her towards him. Olivia quickly moved away, to hear Elliot chuckling, "You know you've been like that since almost immediately after we turned the light out?" Olivia was stunned, "Have I really?" Elliot smiled at Olivia, "Yep all night, sleeping like a baby in my arms". Olivia was so embarrassed she didn't know what to do, so just said "I am so sorry". Elliot reached out and took Olivia's arm and put it back over his body. "Don't be, it was the best night's sleep I've had for as long as I can remember." Olivia quickly removed her arm and, laying on her back looking up at the ceiling reflected, "I think it was the first night I slept through with no nightmares." They each laid in their thoughts until the snooze went, then reluctantly both got up to face a day they were looking forward to being over.
Olivia and Elliot arrived for the briefing, Bell was leading as she would be running point throughout the day. Warner arrived and gave Elliot a large bag of medical supplies, she went with him into Olivia's office and ran them through each item, and said she'd do it again when they spoke over video later. Giving Olivia a small squeeze on the shoulder, she said "Liv, we promise you won't be alone, we've all got your back, ok?" Olivia gave a small smile and nodded, scared that if she said anything she would end up in tears. Warner gave her one last smile and another shoulder squeeze, then headed off to the morgue to await their call.
Bell began the briefing "Today needs to run like clockwork everyone, there is very little margin for error, and any error could be costly." Bell said while looking at Olivia who swallowed, knowing that the cost could be her life.
Sergeant Tutuola is already at the beach house, He will also be doing a stake out of the local area and is leaving everything that, Stabler, your going to need for Benson. Elliot nodded, and felt a knot in his stomach tighten. Whelan you also head out there and await Stabler's call that he has Amelia and then get her away from the beach house and to safety.
"Detective Reyes has been setting about causing friction among the Five Points gang and is waiting our nod to get them to the beach hut. Paul Kelly is certainly looking to get even with Smith, as he believes that Smith's been double crossing the Five Points with the Lenox Avenue Gang".
"Captain, when you're ready can you make the phone call to Smith – and then you and Stabler need to get over to the house and prepare".
"Can I please remind everyone that when you see Captain Benson later, you need to pretend that she has been brutally murdered and act shocked. Remember, she will have had a paralytic drug, she will not be able to move, but she will still be able to hear and feel everything, so if it does all go wrong, we need to protect her, as she can't protect herself." Everyone nodded, and Olivia clocked that Jet, Muncy, and Whelan had all been avoiding eye contact with her, not entirely sure what to do or say. Velasco was also clearly nervous for her but nodded his understanding.
Continuing on with her briefing Bell said, "Jet will be working from here, keeping me with eyes and ears, and also with Warner and Elliot". Bell shared a few more details, then added "If we achieve all this people…drinks tonight are on me."
Dismissing everyone, Bell came over and joined Olivia and Elliot. Olivia gave a small smile and went over to her desk phone. Jet was already waiting with a tracker in place to try and identify Smith and Amelia's location.
Taking a deep breath, Olivia dialed Smith's number and heard the familiar dial tone as the phone rang. On the third ring Smith answered the call "Olivia, you finally rang back, and just in time to save poor little Amelia – she was beginning to think you didn't care for her." Olivia fought to keep her emotions in check. "John, you know I would not let you or Amelia down, but I do need to know that she is alive." Olivia heard John tell Amelia to speak down the phone. "Hello" came a small voice from Amelia. Olivia then heard John snatch the phone back. "Amelia has been well looked after, now you know the deal, you for Amelia."
Olivia swallowed and said "Fine, let's meet at the location of Lewis and my first showdown in three hours. But before I surrender to you, Amelia needs to be released." Olivia added after a pause "Then I am all yours."
"And I can do anything I want to you?" Smith asked.
"Yes" Olivia said simply.
Olivia could practically hear John Smith salivating on the end of the phone, she could hear his brain imagining all the things he wanted to do to her, and she could feel bile rising in her throat.
"I will see you in three hours my love." Smith placed the phone down leaving Olivia listening to the dial tone.
"Yuck, that guy is like seriously deluded." Jet said when Olivia put the phone down. "Did you get a location?" Elliot asked. "Not an exact location, only that he's in the Brooklyn area".
Olivia looked at Elliot, "We better get going". Elliot nodded and collected the bag that Warner had given him. "I guess you'll see me later, even if I don't necessarily see you." Olivia said awkwardly to Jet and Bell. "Urm, yeah" Jet said, escaping from Olivia's office as quickly she could.
Bell turned to Olivia, "Good Luck Captain, I promise we will have your back and be with you every step of the way. I'll speak to you later, ok?" Olivia nodded and headed to the elevator to join a waiting Elliot.
Elliot and Olivia drove to the beach house in silence, the nerves they both felt filled the car. When Elliot pulled up, Olivia felt herself begin to shake. It had not changed much in the seven years since she was last there. Taking deep breaths to calm herself down she opened the car door and headed towards the house.
When Elliot and Olivia entered, they found Fin waiting inside for them. He immediately gave Olivia a big hug and said, "You got this Liv." Not wanting to speak because she was scared of her own emotion, she simply nodded. Fin then went and showed Elliot everything he had 'acquired' and what it was for. Olivia made her way slowly around the house that she had hoped she would never see again. Finally, she joined Elliot and Fin in the bedroom, and gasped when she saw the bed. It was identical to the one she found herself on with Lewis. Fin, knowing what Olivia was thinking, said "It's not the same bed Liv, it is different, but we had to make it look authentic for Smith didn't we".
Olivia knew Fin was right, but seeing the bed took Olivia straight back to her time with Lewis. Her hands cuffed above her head. Her legs duct-taped together. The feeling when he touched her, kissed her, and forced her mouth open to put her own gun down her throat.
Elliot and Fin looked at each other, each recognizing the glassy stare in Olivia's eyes. Elliot carefully went and touched Olivia's shoulder "Liv, are you with us?" Olivia jumped and, looking between Elliot and Fin, said "I'm ok."
Elliot wrapped his arms around her and gently stroking her shoulders said "No you're not, and that's fine. Do you want us to call this off?"
Fin, backing up Elliot, chimed in "No one will think less of you Liv."
Olivia took a deep breath, pulled herself up to her full height and, looking directly at Elliot, said "No, we've got to do this." Elliot and Fin looked at each other knowing Olivia had put up her defenses and there was no point arguing with her. Fin said a final goodbye and went to take up his position close by ready for Elliot's call. Elliot set up the computer and put the call in to Warner.
It was game time.
Warner came onto the call and Olivia was glad she kept the talk entirely on the task at hand – allowing Olivia just to focus on each step of the plan.
"Elliot, did Fin give you a pair of gloves to wear? We can't have any of your fingerprints on anything in the house, ok?" Elliot nodded and raised his gloved hands in front of the camera to show Warner.
"Next, you need to take the Glock out of the bag and, using the butt of the gun, bring it down firmly on Olivia's temple – left or right is fine. Olivia, it is up to you if you look up or not."
Elliot opened the sealed bag containing the gun and took it out. Olivia positioned herself by the bed, readying herself for the pain she knew was to follow. Elliot came over and stood in front of her.
"I'm so sorry for everything I have to do today" he said, not quite being able to make eye contact. "I know, but I would rather it be you than anyone else." Olivia replied. Elliot looked at gun he was holding – this was it, the moment of the whole day he had been dreading. In his life her could never imagine hurting Olivia. Now he was required too. In fact, Olivia had to freely let him. He only realized his hand was shaking when he heard Olivia ask Warner "Can I hit myself?"
Suddenly Elliot snapped himself out of his thoughts and looked at Olivia, touched that she had realized how difficult this was for him and volunteered to do it herself. Olivia looked at Elliot and said "It's ok, El"
Warner, summing up the situation in front of her, apologized and said, "it needs to be Elliot due to the angle, we can tell if you hit yourself."
Elliot nodded "It's ok, I can do this." He closed his eyes and raised his arm holding the gun above Olivia's head again, he was trying to build himself up to lower his arm when he felt Olivia's hand on his raised arm. He opened his eyes to see Olivia, looking up at him from the exact position she needed to be when he lowered his arm to hit her. Looking into her eyes he was able to steady himself. She gave him an encouraging smile and said "Together." Then she pulled his arm down, until he felt it make contact with her right temple.
Whack – the feeling of the gun hitting her was worse than the sound. He snapped open his eyes, to see Olivia crumpled to her knees on the floor. Elliot instinctively went to help her, but Warner's voice came out sharply through the computer's speaker
"Elliot, don't touch her! And don't touch your head Olivia, you need to act as if you have no use of your hands, or anyone to help you". After regaining her senses, shakily Olivia climbed back to her feet, feeling the blood begin to run down her temple, and then down her face.
"Liv, you ok?" Warner asked. Olivia, keeping her eyes focused on Elliot, said "Yeah, I'm fine". Knowing the next part fell to her, she went over to the bed and begun to remove her belt, boots and socks. Elliot looked puzzled. Giving him a weak smile Olivia said, "I'm just making your next task slightly easier." Olivia then gingerly scooted onto the bed and laid down in the middle. Instructing Elliot, Olivia said "you need to cuff my hands here" as she placed her hands above her head onto the top bar of the headboard. Elliot took the handcuffs out of the bag left by Fin, walked round to the back of the bed and cuffed Olivia's hands to the bar. "Now you need to pull my legs down the bed and, using rope, tie one foot to each post" Olivia said, closing her eyes preparing for the pain from the cuffs that was about to increase. Elliot, as gently as he could, pulled her legs so her body was stretched out towards the bottom of the bed. He then paused, feeling the emotion building in his throat, and asked "Liv, did Lewis do this to you?" Olivia opened her eyes and looking straight at Elliot without hesitation replied, "No El, he was going to, but never got that far". Elliot nodded, still not trusting himself to speak, and began tying Olivia's feet to each corner of the bed.
Once he had finished, Warner's voice came back over the computer "Liv, you have a choice – we can give you the paralytic drug now or hold off to the last moment. What would you like?". Olivia, understanding Warner was trying to make the next bit easier for her, thanked her, but knew she needed to wait to the last possible moment. Turning to Elliot she simply said, "You better get cutting."
Elliot sighed, wishing she would have this drug and allow herself to doze. But this was Olivia, and she could be very stubborn when she wanted to. Taking the scissors out of the bag he asked Warner if there was a particular way he was meant to proceed. Warner said, "Whichever way you want". Elliot looked at Olivia and saw she had her eyes tightly screwed up. He began cutting Olivia's left pant leg and with every cut, she shook and tightened up. Elliot could see Olivia was slipping into a flashback with Lewis. He stopped what he was doing and spoke to Olivia. "Liv, look at me."
Olivia kept her eyes tightly closed, Elliot wondered if she heard him, "Olivia look at me" he said firmly. Olivia forced herself to look at Elliot. "You know, I had hoped the first time I removed your clothes would be when we first made love." Olivia snapped back "What about your Italian cop girlfriend?" Immediately feeling guilty for snapping she apologized. Elliot, realizing Olivia was talking about Tia Leonetti, smiled at Olivia. "Liv, she's not my girlfriend, and I never slept with her despite the rumors. I told her I couldn't because I was in love with another woman". Olivia wasn't entirely sure she wanted to hear what Elliot was going to say next, so closed her eyes and said, "Elliot please just continue cutting." But Elliot sat on the edge of the bed and whispered to Olivia "Liv, when will you realize that I love you, and always have done – we're in that parallel universe where we can be together." Olivia did not open her eyes but said "Elliot, you don't need to try and make me feel…" but before she could finish her sentence Elliot lent over and kissed Olivia, a slow passionate kiss. Olivia's eyes shot open and looked at Elliot, whose eyes were focused solely on her. Olivia saw the passion and love in his eyes and realized this was the moment she had to admit to herself the deep love she had for him. She opened her mouth and responded to his kiss. When they finally parted Olivia looked straight at Elliot with a wry smile and said, "We've just given a lot of people a show, and are in big trouble with Melinda." Elliot smiled and looked towards the computer screen "Sorry Melinda."
Melinda, shaking her head and smiling, was glad Elliot had been able to drag Olivia out of the hell she was entering. "Don't worry, I can make sure none of your DNA appears on Olivia later. And thank you for making this feed PG-13". "It's about to get an R rating" Olivia quipped "Come on Stabler, get cutting"
Elliot, pleased to see Olivia relax a little, carefully began cutting again, all the time talking to Olivia about how after this case, he would like to take her on date. Olivia agreed and told him that before Amanda left, she had instructed her to find 'joy'. They discussed where they would like to go and before Olivia knew it Elliot had cut her pants and top but left them in place. Elliot said Olivia's name, knowing what Elliot was asking she nodded and closed her eyes, not wanting to look at Elliot's reaction to her almost naked body. Elliot lent over and said "Liv, look at me" Olivia shyly opened her eyes. Looking directly into Olivia's eyes Elliot continued "You have nothing to be embarrassed about – you are truly the most beautiful woman I know, and hopefully one day you'll allow me to show you". As he was speaking, he gently removed Olivia's pants and top, leaving Olivia in her bra and panties. Olivia looked at Elliot's face and saw the desire he had for her and, knowing she herself felt the same desire, said "Can I suggest we make this date sooner rather than later." Elliot smiled and quipped back "Just name the date and time, Liv and I'll be there". Knowing his next five cuts were going to leave Olivia completely naked Elliot took a moment to mentally prepare himself. Olivia, noticing a change in Elliot and knowing what he was thinking, said "Just do it, El."
Taking deep breaths to keep his own hand steady, Elliot gently cut away Olivia's bra and without looking, moved straight onto cutting her panties. Then he stepped back and looked into Olivia's eyes – asking silent permission to look. Olivia nodded, keeping her eyes locked onto Elliot's face. He looked down at Olivia lying on the bed and, chocking back emotion, said "Liv, I don't think you realize how beautiful you are, you're such an amazing, strong women, and the bravest person I know. And you have no idea just how much I love you". Elliot just continued staring, with a completely entranced looked on his face.
Olivia, going shy under Elliot's gaze, called out to Melinda
"Melinda, Elliot seems to have lost power of speech for the moment. What's next?" Warner had been watching this all play out between Olivia and Elliot with a mixture of amusement and relief that they, finally, after 24 years, were being honest with each other. But, knowing that the next part was going to be the hardest, she snapped herself back into professional mode.
"Elliot, place the oximeter on Liv's toe as we discussed earlier. Olivia because your hands are raised above your head, they will give a false reading. Then Elliot, place the computer where I can see Liv's head and the oximeter reading." Elliot did as Warner asked, and, with a bit of maneuvering, he managed to get the correct position.
Warner continued "I need you to take Olivia's belt and pull it tight around her neck. Liv you will begin to choke and please don't try to speak. Then Elliot, slip the sponge in front of her trachea. Olivia – it will be tight and painful, but you will be able to breath. When you have the drug, it will become easier for you, ok?"
Olivia, feeling the nerves building up again, indicated to Warner she understood. Elliot went and got the sponge and, taking Olivia's belt, walked around to the back of the bed. Gently moving Olivia's hair out of the way and her neck into position, he pulled the belt around her neck. Warner was fixated on the screen, watching every minute detail Elliot was doing, "It's not tight enough Elliot, you need to go tighter." Elliot pulled tighter, feeling the contents of the last night's Chinese begin to come up in his throat. "Tighter Elliot" Warner commanded, Elliot pulled tighter, Olivia began to choke, and he could feel Olivia's breathing vibrate up the belt. "Loosen a little and put the sponge around the front." Elliot did what he was told, and Olivia gave a small, strained smile to show she could breathe. Elliot relaxed a little. "What next Melinda?"
Melinda, knowing this was the bit Olivia was dreading but also needing to get her under the drug as quickly as possible said "Liv, I'm sorry, Elliot needs to inject you now. You need to keep your eyes closed and try not to fight it." Olivia nervously closed her eyes while Elliot was instructed to open the bag of medical supplies. He took out a syringe, needle, and vial. Measuring the correct dosage, he then followed Warner's instructions from that morning, and prepared to inject Olivia with the drug.
"Liv," Elliot said as he began to feel for the correct vein, "which Broadway show do you want to see?", Olivia with her eyes closed quietly chocked out "Hamilton". Elliot chuckled as he began to inject the drug. "We'll go and see Hamilton, I promise. Join in loud enough with your rapping skills and Lin-Manuel Miranda might offer you a new career".
Elliot pulled out the empty syringe and looked at Warner who was keeping an eye on the oximeter, "Elliot," she said, "can you take the stethoscope out and count how many breaths in 30 seconds Liv is taking". Elliot immediately did as Warner had asked. He hadn't told Olivia, but one of the items in the medical bag was a defibrillator, just in case this step went wrong. He told Warner the number of breaths he'd counted, and Warner nodded.
"You're doing well Liv" she said "if possible allow yourself to sleep, it will make all this go easier for you."
Then, addressing Elliot, "Ok, remove the oximeter and then begin pouring the contents of the two jerry cans over her – but be quick, you haven't got long". Elliot took the two large jerry cans and began to pour a thick black substance all over Olivia until every last part of her skin was covered then, taking an industrial garden refuse sack full of feathers, put them over Oliva "I've made sure your dignity is covered ok, Liv".
After that Elliot quickly said goodbye to Melinda, packed up the computer and the medical supplies, and called Fin, who came round the back, and they quickly removed everything they'd brought over. Elliot popped back into the room Olivia was laying in ready for when Smith arrived. "Liv, I have to go, but Bell and Jet can see you, and I'm only outside. They'll call me if anything changes. Try and doze, ok." Elliot then slipped out and took up position in the boot of the SUV they'd left on the front drive.
When Elliot left, Bell and Jet leaned back from their monitors and let out a sigh of relief, so far the plan was working. In some ways this was the easy bit, but whether it would be enough to fool Smith, they did not know.
"Well, that was entirely awkward," Jet said, "and something, I would really like to unsee". Bell chuckled "I'm just glad it went well, and that Benson is so far ok."
Bell and Jet continued to sit by their screens, scanning the video surveillance feed from the surrounding area, thanks to Jet's hacking abilities. Suddenly Jet shot up "Got something – an E-Z pass has just been used to cross the Brooklyn bridge in the name of Lewis Williams. Bringing up the security footage now". Bell came over to join Jet as she typed away on her keyboard, and an image of the driver came onto the screen. "That's him" Bell said and radioed everyone that Smith was close by.
John Smith drove past the beach house and around the local area looking for anyone staking out the house. Other than a squad car pulled up at the local greasy spoon, Smith could see no-one else around. After satisfying his concerns, Smith returned to the beach house and pulled up on the drive. There was one other car there, a black SUV with no one in. Smith smiled, thinking Olivia must be in the house waiting for him. He opened the door and entered the house "Honey, I'm home" he called out, making himself smile. He began to look around the house for Olivia.
As soon as Smith entered the house, Elliot slipped out the boot of the SUV and approached Smith's car. Not seeing Amelia in the car, he jimmied the boot, silently praying Amelia would be in there and that everything Olivia was going through would not be in vain. The boot popped open, and Elliot breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Amelia, tied up and gagged. Showing Amelia his police badge and indicating she was to stay silent, he gently removed the gag and lifted Amelia out of the boot. Once he'd silently closed it again, he ran with Amelia from the beach house to meet up with Whelan.
As soon as Whelan saw Elliot carrying Amelia, he ran and helped Elliot – they untied Amelia and carried her to Whelan's car, where he drove quietly away, so not to arouse suspicion with Smith, taking Amelia to the hospital to be examined and reunited with her mom.
Elliot began to make his way slowly and carefully back to the beach house to be close to Olivia, in case something went wrong.
John Smith opened the door to the bedroom in the beach house, puzzled why Olivia had not called out or come to see him. He had been expecting her to appear with her gun as soon as he opened the door. Then he stopped dead in his tracks.
There, laying on the bed was Olivia, though it took him a second to recognize her – she was covered in a thick black substance that looked like tar, he then saw that her clothes had been removed and strewn on top of the tar, were feathers. His gaze moved up her body and then he saw the belt around Olivia's neck.
Smith began to feel sick. He knew that the Five Points had done this to Olivia as a message to him. He looked around the room and saw Olivia's clothes that had been cut off and left in a heap on the floor. Finally, he saw the gun, and immediately recognized it as the weapon that Kelly used.
Smith ran out the house toward his car, jumped in, and sped off the drive. Just as he started accelerated up the road, he was stopped by the patrol car he had seen by the greasy spoon.
Trying to calm himself down he opened the window as a male cop in uniform approached him, peered in the open window, and said "Can I ask you to step out of the car sir, and may I see your driving license?". Smith lent forward and picked up his driving license, then stepped out of the car and showed it to Velasco. "Mr. Lewis Williams, can I ask why you were speeding away from that property so fast?" Smith began thinking fast on his feet – knowing his hands were clammy and his face was beginning to sweat and, hoping they did not ask to look in the trunk, he said "I had a phone call from my daughter, she has gone into labor and needs an emergency C-section. Her husband can't get to her and has asked me to go to instead."
"Really?" said Velasco, "Well my partner has just gone to check out the beach house and, if there's anything out of the ordinary there, we will be taking you in".
Muncy walked cautiously into the beach house, knowing Olivia was somewhere in here but not sure what she was going to find, she knew she was apprehensive. She opened the door to the bedroom and saw Olivia tied up, laying on the bed. "Oh Shit Captain, you gone all out on this one. Duarte would never do this. But what I don't get is why? But I guess you know I've been struggling to understand that one already. Something I've learnt from being at SVU is nothing gets by you. Ummm, since you can hear me, it would be nice for a chat…when this is over". She paused, then continued, "But I guess for now, it's show time."
Muncy got on her radio "You're going to want to get over here – there is a body, female, but you're not going to believe what he's done to her."
Velasco turned to Smith, "We're going on a little journey Mr. Lewis", Smith smiled and, in a slightly deranged voice, said "I will come with you officer, but you're not going to get another word from me until I have a lawyer. And I am going to need protection. But, to show I am cooperating, you might want to check my trunk".
Velasco, after handcuffing Smith and reading him his rights, put him safely in the back of the patrol car. Velasco went and checked the boot but saw nothing in there. Returning to Smith "There's nothing in the boot sir". Smith looked shocked, "Nothing?" he began trying to think what happened and could feel himself beginning to panic.
Velasco, drove Smith back to the beach house, mentally preparing for seeing Olivia. He met Muncy at the door and brought Smith, still cuffed, into the bedroom where Olivia was laying.
"Who is she? Look at her!" Velasco commanded as he spotted Smith was struggling to look at Olivia. "I haven't done anything to her, the people who have done this were sending a message to me".
"What message?" Muncy asked. "That I am a dead man" Smith said.
Velasco pushed Smith closer to Olivia, forcing him to look at her, and barked again "Who is she?" Smith was struggling with his emotions and was clearly scared, and Velasco knew it. After what seemed like an eternity Smith gathered himself, "Her name was Captain Olivia Benson of Manhattan Special Victims Unit. I will say no more until, I have a lawyer and protection".
Velasco and Muncy put Smith in the patrol car and Muncy drove him back to the station, while Velasco stayed behind, on the pretense of calling in the body. Once the car had cleared the drive Velasco, quickly and nervously, spoke directly to Olivia, "Hang on in there, Captain, this is nearly over", and then he went and joined Stabler in the back of the SUV, relieved he didn't have to stay in the same room as Olivia.
Bell and Jet had been watching the scene play out in front of them, and sighed deeply, Smith was now apprehended and clearly scared, something that will come in useful during questioning. But they were still waiting to see if the Five Points would turn up.
Jet was scanning CCTV footage, when she spotted an SUV making its way to the beach house. "Got something", Bell radioed everyone that the Five Points were on their way and reminded everyone to put on their vests and to be ready to surround the perimeter. She felt herself hold her breath, this was it – was their plan going to work?
The SUV pulled up by the beach house, Reyes and Paul Kelly got out of the front, and Bugsy the rear. They pulled out their Glocks, Kelly using his back up weapon. Reyes moved over to the SUV on the drive, checked around it, and gave the signal to Kelly that it was clear.
They made their way into the beach hut in search for Patrick Flemming, the alias they knew John Smith by, and Amelia. When Kelly opened the bedroom and saw Olivia he immediately backed out "Shit, Flemming is psycho, look what he's done". Reyes looked in the room and saw Olivia. Even though he knew what was being planned, seeing it with his own eyes – there was no acting required "Isn't that the cop that Flemming is obsessed with?" At this point Bugsy joined Reyes and Kelly "Fuck, it is her. I thought he just wanted to do her, not kill her and…not like this." Reyes then looked down and spotted the Glock on the floor "Kelly, look, isn't that your missing gun?" Kelly looked down and saw his gun. His face went white, "He's framing me! He's working with the Lennox Avenue Gang and trying to get me out the way by pinning the murder of a cop on me – it's one of Lennox's plays". "What you want to do?" Bugsy asked.
But Kelly never got to answer, because at that moment Elliot shouted out "NYPD, you're surrounded, come out with your hands up".
Kelly and Reyes looked tentatively out the window and saw the beach house was surrounded by NYPD officers, including Velasco, Fin, and officers from the Emergency Services Unit (ESU) – with their Colt M4 Commando rifles. "We're surrounded, and the big guns are here." Kelly said.
"What do you want to do? Reyes asked.
Kelly thought for a minute, then he addressed each member of the gang "Well, it was fun while it lasted, wasn't it gentleman? I guess I knew it would always come down to us verses the NYPD one day."
Kelly began to move the bed, with Olivia still tied to it, to the door to use as a barricade.
"Sorry, officer – I don't like to disrespect the dead, but needs must."
Bugsy picked up Kelly's missing gun, opened it and saw it was empty. In annoyance, he threw it with his full force at the now barricaded door. It bounced off the door and hit Olivia in the face.
Bell and Jet watched what was happening with mounting apprehension – this this was the last thing they expected, and Bell was worried about the force the gun hit Olivia with. Bell knew they needed to end this, now. She immediately phoned Elliot, whose heart stopped at what she told him. Elliot was already beginning to run into the building to try to protect Olivia when Fin and Velasco managed to stop him. "Elliot, you need to stop and think with your head, not with your heart. What will Liv do if you go and get yourself shot?" Elliot knew Fin was right. "What do you suggest? It had better be good, otherwise I'm going in!" he yelled, his body tense with a mixture of concern and adrenaline flowing through it.
Fin called over to the lead ESU, "Jacobs, you owe me a favor for that little mess I got you out of. I'm calling it in, and you can't ask any questions".
Elliot's body relaxed a little as he almost did a double-take, and Velasco stood slightly in awe at Fin's never-ending favors he was owed.
"Yeah, Fin – what you need?"
Fin began a précis of the situation and, to Jacobs' credit, he didn't raise an eyebrow, even when told they had protect the body of their Captain as if she was alive and immobile.
Jacobs thought for a moment and, after consulting plans of the beach house, between them they worked out they could cut through the bottom of the door, below the level of the bed Olivia was tied to, and a roll a couple of smoke bombs in. At the same time, they could set off a couple of loud bangs from around the outside of the room and make an entrance through the window. Hopefully with the noise and the smoke, it would disorientate Kelly and Bugsy long enough for them to be incapacitated and they could get in and arrest them without a shot fired.
Elliot agreed, under the condition he could go in and protect Olivia. Jacobs nodded, as long as he followed his signals and did not enter until he was told. And so everyone kitted up.
The moment arrived when they would see if Jacobs' plan worked. The ESU officers worked quickly, setting up bangers around the outside of the house and then, under cover of the bangers, they cut the bottom of the door and rolled in multiple smoke bombs. When the room was full of smoke, more bangers were released, and Elliot and the ESU team went into the room. Elliot immediately made his way to Olivia – just as he got to her, he heard a familiar 'pop' and immediately felt stinging. He threw himself across Olivia, covering her as much as he could with his own body.
Another pop went off, followed by a string of bullets flying. When the smoke began to clear Elliot saw Bugsy laying dead on the floor. Kelly and Reyes had been successfully apprehended.
Elliot moved off Olivia and then saw her face – there was blood coming out her nose. He quickly felt her pulse and realized it was beginning to quicken, but she was ok – the blood must have been from when the gun hit her. He quietly said "Hang on in there Liv, you need to stay still – Warner is on her way." He and a couple of guys from ESU then moved the bed so they could lead Reyes and Kelly out.
It was then Elliot suddenly felt his own pain, he looked down and realized that first bullet had hit his vest. That was gonna bruise, but he wasn't going to complain – he knew this was nothing compared to what Olivia was feeling.
At that moment Warner arrived with CSU – seeing Elliot had been hit in the ribs, she quickly checked him out and diagnosed that "you'll live" while Elliot quietly informing Warner that a gun had hit Olivia in the face and her heartbeat was quickening and she was showing signs of coming around.
Warner, understanding that she needed to get to Olivia as quickly as possible, went into the room. "Olivia," Warner said quietly in the room, "I need to give you a top up, you have been amazing, everyone has been arrested and Bugsy was taken out by ESU – we're nearly through, you just hang in there a little longer". It was at that point Warner heard the unmistakable hoarse whisper from Olivia "Elliot?"
"He's fine, he got hit in the vest, but other than a bruised rib, is uninjured – I gave him the once over myself. Now I am going to give you a top up. Let yourself drift off to sleep now. Everyone is safe, we just need to process the scene – nothing exciting, you've seen me and CSU do it so many times before". Warner injected Olivia and quickly hid the needle in her pocket as her team entered the room.
Elliot and Fin came back in, both knowing they had to play the part of mourning colleagues and friends. Elliot finally allowed the emotion and stress of the day to come out, ran out of the room and, when he reached outside, did something he had never done of the job before, he wretched. Fin came out, looking just as pale as Elliot after seeing Olivia for the first time.
Warner slipped into professional mode and instructed CSU to bag and photograph everything. Then as soon as she was able to, Warner removed the belt from around Olivia's neck, carefully hiding the sponge, and gently lowering her head then she uncuffed Olivia's hands, again placing them gently down, and instructed her techs to move Olivia into the body bag and put her in the van to head to the morgue. Warner accompanied Olivia in the back, and as soon as the door closed. Melinda opened the zip at Olivia's head, making sure Olivia was not in total darkness and had enough oxygen going in. She quietly spoke to Olivia all the way back to the morgue – telling her she was so happy that she and Elliot had finally told each other their true feelings, even if it was in unusual circumstances. That when she'd been to see Hamilton, they should have a catch-up together. Warner then updated Olivia on her own family, knowing Olivia would have asked if she were able.
When they arrived at the morgue, Warner instructed Olivia to be immediately placed on the gurney and then the techs were to leave. One of Warner's techs who had been at the crime scene, Dale, began to question Warner. Warner immediately responded "Dale, this is a highly decorated NYPD officer, she deserves as much privacy as possible. So please, leave!". Dale shrugged and left Warner to it.
"Ok, Liv" Warner said quietly "it's just you and me now, let's get through all this as quickly as possible and get you up."
Warner began by taking X-Rays of Olivia, and then moved around Olivia's body speaking into a Dictaphone making observations.
Then, picking up the shower head, Warner said "Sorry Liv, this is going to be really cold, and you may begin to feel that you can move – just stay as still as possible."
Warner began to wash the black substance and the feathers from Olivia's body. When Warner got to Olivia's head, she turned the pressure down to the minimum and gently cleaned her face and rinsed her hair. It was only when she'd finished did she properly look at Olivia's body. She saw the bruise coming up on Olivia's head, and around her neck, and then what was now clearly a swollen eye, nose, and face. Warner struggled to keep her emotions in check. "Olivia, I am so sorry for the pain you must be feeling. I will come and give you a proper checkup as soon as I can get out of here and get some decent painkillers". Then, seeing the other battle scars Olivia had from Lewis, Warner thought back to the day she'd first photographed them. When they were red raw. Snapping back to reality, Warner began speaking in the Dictaphone again, pausing occasionally to take a photograph. Then, using a sheet, she covered Olivia's body, leaving her head clear.
It was at that point Chief McGrath nervously entered the morgue. Looking uncomfortable, Warner beckoned him and, although he went over to Olivia, he could not bring himself to look at her. He mumbled to Warner "Can she hear me?"
"Everything you say" Warner replied, deliberately not making this easy for him. Just then the telephone rang, and Warner excused herself.
Jet and Bell were breathing a huge sigh of relief – the plan, on the whole, had worked. Both the leader of the Five Points and Smith were in Custody. Amelia had been reunited with her mom and was unharmed. They were on the home stretch.
Watching what was going on in the morgue, Bell was enjoying watching McGrath's discomfort. When Jet spoke sharply. "We have company!"
"What do you mean 'company'?" Bell responded
"Someone has hacked into the morgue security feed and is watching – wait, scrap that, we have two people watching."
"Can they hear what is being said as well?" Bell asked urgently "No, only visual", Jet confirmed.
Bell immediately phoned Warner to apprise her of the situation, then contacted Elliot to be on standby to collect Olivia once everything was in place and Jet had cut the security cameras.
McGrath eventually got the courage to look at Olivia, and when he saw her swollen face and the bruise around her neck, he was shocked. "What happened to her face?" he asked Warner as she returned to the gurney. "The cut on her temple, we had to inflict that wound to carry the story that Olivia was incapacitated. The bruise around her neck is from the belt. However, the swelling to her face and nose is from when someone threw a gun and it hit her. At some point around then she began to wake up but did not move or cry out once. Chief, Benson's gone above and beyond on this one and it should be recognized at some point."
"But we have a bigger problem for now" Warner continued. McGrath looked up "What's that?"
Two people have hacked into the morgue security feed and are currently watching us. They have no audio though. When we're ready, Detective Slootmaekers from the OC is going to cut the feed for a little over a minute, and we have to get Olivia out of here and another cadaver in to take her place. I am going to need your help. I need you to get the female body out of number 3 and help me place her on the table."
McGrath looked decidedly uncomfortable and was about to protest, but Warner was having none of it. "Look at Olivia and everything she's been through today. You're surely not going to tell me you can't get a body out of a freezer and wheel it over here!?"
McGrath looked at Olivia and then nodded, "Number 3 you say?" "Yes, but not yet. Go into my office on the pretense you're signing paperwork, I'll start to bring Olivia around. We'll get a text from Bell when we need to move – they do have ears as well as eyes."
Warner went over to Olivia and quietly said "Liv, I need to bring you around now, but I'm unsure how much reversal I need to administer. Can you move your right fingers for me?" Looking at Olivia's right hand she saw Olivia's fingers slowly moving. "Brilliant" Warner said taking the reversal out of her pocket and, with her back to the camera, filled it to the correct dose and then said clearly "Ready"
Warned began to inject the reversal into Olivia, whilst quietly reminding her to not move just yet.
Suddenly everybody's phones came to life and McGrath opened up freezer number three and pulled out a body of a woman in her 50's who looked similar to Olivia. He placed her onto the trolley and began to wheel her over to Warner.
Elliot ran through the door carrying Olivia's coat. Warner and Elliot helped Olivia into a sitting position "Easy Liv – let us do this" as Olivia began to try and brush off their assistance. Realizing it was futile, Olivia submitted to Elliot's and Warner's help. Elliot then carried Olivia out, with instructions to get her into a warm bath but not to let her sleep until Warner instructed "I'll be around to give Olivia a more thorough checkup as soon as I can."
McGrath and Warner moved the cadaver onto the gurney, then while McGrath returned the trolley and exited, Warner began to cut from ear to ear and peel the lady's face up, making her unidentifiable from Olivia. McGrath, catching what Warner was doing, didn't make it down the corridor before he threw up.
The security cameras came back on and, to anyone watching, it just looked like a slight glitch and Warner was proceeding with the autopsy.
A huge sigh of relief was felt by everyone, knowing they had somehow managed to pull off a plan that, on paper, looked both impossible and highly risky. Bell tapped Jet's shoulder, indicated she was grabbing a coffee and would she like one. But Jet was lost in the world of hackers.