Chapter 3: Partners Again

I looked out my living room window and saw it was getting light outside. It must have been early morning and I realized I hadn't slept at all. How can Elliot's DNA be on Finch's body? Finch had to be linked to El's undercover case and I suddenly had a sick feeling that El could have been responsible for his death. I needed to see El and get all of this straightened out. I called the sitter Lucy and asked if she could come over and get Noah to school this morning. As soon as she arrived at my apartment, I headed over to Elliot's office to talk to his boss Ayanna Bell to see if she could reach him.

I had just finished updating Ayanna on our current case and was waiting for her to answer my question about how El's DNA ended up on Jamar Finch.

Ayanna responded, "I don't know Captain Benson, but you know I can't tell you anything about his current case. It's too dangerous and he is deep undercover right now."

I yelled back with more sharpness to my tone than I had intended, "I have two dead bodies and evidence that Elliot may have had something to do with one of their deaths. You must give me something. At least let me talk to him when he checks in again?"

She sighed, "He's supposed to come to the office this morning with an update on the case. I can let you talk to him then but only for 15 minutes. You are a major distraction for him, and I don't want him making mistakes that can harm him or our case. He fought me on even taking this case to begin with and I suspect that is because of you."

I was a little stunned by her words and wasn't sure how to respond. Had Elliot tried to get out of having to leave me again? How much had he told Ayanna about our feelings towards each other? I was suddenly a little embarrassed standing there in front of her and I had to look away from her intense gaze. I instinctively placed my hand over my chest on top of the compass necklace. I realized right then how much I missed him and how badly I needed to see him again.

Just then we both heard a door shut and footsteps coming down the hall. I looked up to see Elliot walking in. He paused when he saw me, a look of genuine surprise on his face.

"Liv, what are you doing here? Is everything ok? What's wrong?"

I had almost forgotten how worried he always was about me. I smiled back at him, "Hey El, I came here to talk about a new case SVU has. Your name has come up, so we need to discuss some things even though I know you are undercover. Can we talk in private?"

El furrowed his eyebrows looking concerned and confused. "Sure, let's go to the interrogation room which is empty at the moment."

We sat at the table in the interrogation room across from each other. His blue eyes stared at me, and I felt like they were boring into my soul. He smiled, reached across the table, and took my hands in his. His touch caused a flutter in my stomach and a yearning for him to never let go. "I see you are wearing the necklace. I have really missed you Liv."

I smiled back, blushing. "Um, I missed you to El, but I need to talk to you about something serious. We have an ex-con who has shown up dead with your DNA on him. Does Jamar Finch ring a bell?"

He sighed and rubbed one of his hands over his face. "Yes, he is part of the group I'm involved in right now. He is involved with making and distributing methamphetamine along with a huge dog fighting ring. He is a real dirt bag that enjoys watching dogs kill themselves for money and beats up on women for the fun of it. My temper got the best of me a few days ago and I beat him up. He had been bragging about showing his girlfriend whose boss and describing what he had done to her. I lost it and pummeled his face with my fists. I know I put the entire case at risk by doing that, but I promise you he was alive after I was done. My knuckles were bloody, so I am sure that's how my DNA ended up on his body."

I stood up and started to pace around the room. "His girlfriend, Tanisha, is dead. We found her body beaten, strangled, and dumped in an alley. Jamar Finch is dead and the only evidence we have is your blood on his body. Do you know anyone who would want them both dead?"

"I'm not sure Liv, but the group I'm involved in is very dangerous. They will take anyone out that attempts to stop their method of income which is drugs and dog fighting. I'm close to gathering enough intel to take the organization down but I can't let you get involved in this."

I glared back at him, "El, I'm already involved. I need to find out who killed Tanisha and get justice for her. I'm going to talk to Ayanna about working together on this. Maybe you can help get one of our UC agents into the group to find out more information on who may have killed both Tanisha and Jamar."

Elliot wanted to argue with me but decided against it knowing I was more stubborn than him when it came to solving a case. "Ok, talk to Ayanna and we can work something out. I just don't want you getting in deep with these people. It's too dangerous."

My cell phone started ringing and I glanced down to see Trevor Langan's name. Elliot saw it as well and assumed it had to do with a case.

I answered, "Hey Trevor, what's up?" I saw Elliot raise his eyebrows and his eyes widened at the casualness of how I answered the phone with him. He definitely looked a little taken aback and suspicious of this being more than about work.

Trevor responded, "I'm still a little heartbroken that you cut our lunch short yesterday. How are you going to make it up to me?"

I blushed a little, giggled, and said, "Sorry about that. How about you come over to my place after work tonight?"

I hung up the phone and then realized Elliot was sitting there listening to everything. There was suddenly a palpable awkward tension in the room, and I had this overwhelming feeling of guilt. I could see Elliot grinding his teeth and his face had reddened.

"So, Trevor Langan, huh? When did you two become a thing?" he asked in almost a growl.

"We aren't a thing, Elliot. We have just gone out a couple of times. Listen, he was around, and you haven't been, so I said yes when he asked me out."

I could see the hurt look on El's face and I really didn't mean to attack him like that, but he had hurt me too. The tension in the room hung in the air and I suddenly felt suffocated by it. I turned and left the room without another word. I headed to Ayanna's office to collaborate on the case and set up an undercover operation.