72 hours.
PART 1
Monday at the Courthouse 4:00pm
Rollins and Olivia walked back to the precinct from the Courthouse where they had just left Lewis in holding while the Judge and the lawyers negotiated a plea deal or a new court . Both detectives felt the chokehold of powerlessness as they attempted to trust the judicial system with their case, and take in the last bit of sun before dusk. Their hearts were both heavy from the long weird week they had sifting through the aftermath of a serial killer.
"This better not mistrial. It can't mistrial, right?," Rollins said
"I wish I could tell you our judicial system was fail proof, but I've seen it all, and it very well could mistrial," Olivia said, under a pair of her gleaming sunglasses.
Her hair blew perfectly to the side of her face. Her fist tensed thinking about a psycho like Lewis ever seeing the light of day again, and a hopelessness raged underneath her skin.
"What do we do, if that happens," Rollins couldn't let it go.
"We stock him until he fucks up. We certainly don't give up. I'll kill him myself if I have to. An animal like Lewis…doesn't stop. Doesn't change. He's hardwired to kill. He's charming and manipulative. A hunter. He tortures for fun. There is no diagnosis for a dangerous mind like his. It's unforgivable. He doesn't deserve jail or death. He deserves a long cruel life of hell, while he slowly dies. Anything less than that is inhumane and unfair to the women he made suffer. He will get his day. They always do. And we will make sure of it. "
Rollins watched Olivia look out into the darkening streets of Manhattan like she owned the place. Her unwavering strength was aw inspiring.
"Damn girl, where do you find your passion. I'm exhausted for you," Rollins sighed thinking about the weight Olivia carried everyday.
"Oh," she grinned from behind her glasses. "I could use a vacation, make no mistake."
Rollins laughed. "You should take one! When is Brian finished with this undercover case? You should do Can Cun!"
Olivia flushed with embarrassment. "A vacation with Brian? No no no. That'll never happen."
"Why do you say that?"
"Oh, I don't know. I just…," she hated this kind of small talk. She waffled on whether or not to say the words on her mind.
"You just what," Rollins pushed. "You love him, right?"
"We've been dating, heck practically living together, for 6 months now, and he's never said 'I love you'," Olivia squirmed saying it out loud and when Amanda paused to think her words through, Olivia shut it down quickly. "But I've never said it to him either, so I can't really complain. You're right. I need a vacation. Maybe with Brian. Maybe-."
"Or maybe girls weekend," Rollins nudged her arm, and Olivia smiled. "Hey, what ever happened to Stabler? You still talk to him?"
Rollins noted that just the mere mention of his name changed Olivia's entire demeanor. Her face flushed. Her body language softened. She cleared her throat, diverted her eyes, and stammered a bit.
"You okay," Rollins smiled.
"Ah, Elliot, actually, just sent me a postcard. It's been a while, I should call him and catch up with him."
"You two ever….hook up," Rollins smiled and wiggled her eyebrows provocatively.
"Nope."
"But you wanted to right," Rollins winked.
"Strictly platonic."
"Ow…platonic. You do know the true meaning of a platonic relationship means that he's your soulmate."
"Learn something new everyday. Well, I won't be holding my breath for our soulmate fairy tale ending," she smirked and changed the subject, as they walked into the precinct.
Monday, 16th Precinct. 5:30pm
Cragen opened the door of his office. "The Judge gave Lewis a mistrial."
"What," Olivia slammed her desk and looked over at Amaro who tossed his pencil like a spear into the top of his finished stack of paperwork.
Rollins shot up from her desk. "So tell me we have a few days to nail him for something while he finds bail money."
"And his lawyer paid his bail," Cragen finished.
"So he's out!," Olivia spat in disgust and befuddlement. She rubbed her weary eyes. "I'm just. So tired of it all."
"Then take a few days," Cragen added.
She thought about that vacation Rollins brought up earlier or finding Lewis herself…on her terms, and then decided she really was tired. "Really?"
"Really," he nodded. "Fin and Rollins will tail Lewis. Take two days. You and Amaro. This case was rough. You both put in too many hours. You deserve it. "
Olivia and Amaro didn't give it a second thought, they were headed to the door faster than a New York minute.
"Where you off to tonight?," she asked, noticing the scent of his cologne.
"My wife and I are going on a hot date."
"Nice," she beamed.
"How about you?"
"I don't know yet. Take out and Netflix is sounding pretty damn good right now though."
"No Brian?"
"He's on a demanding case load right now. He'll probably stagger in around midnight if he's lucky."
"Ah," Amaro held the door for her. "Well if you like Sci-Fy, Dara and I just binged Orphan Black. So good! "
"I think I'm leaning towards a Rom Com."
Amanda rushed by them with Fin close behind. "'What if' with Daniel Radclif," she yelled as she passed Olivia. "It's about a platonic relationship."
Olivia warmly cocked her head to the side and grinned. "Thanks. Be safe."
Her phone rang as soon as she entered the night air. "Good night, Amaro."
Elliot's name flashed on the screen. "Elliot?"
"Liv! Hang on, sorry."
He sounded like he was on a loud street corner.
"Where are you?"
"Getting in an uber," he yelled. "Hang tight."
She waited for him, feeling dread and excitement, and a hint of regret. She immediately reminded herself to keep her emotions in check and her expectations low.
"Liv, you there?"
"Hi. I'm here. Everything okay? Got your postcard the other day."
"Oh good! I'm in town. I'll be in Midtown this week for work. Would love to see you."
She hesitated. "Ah…"
"It's been too long. I know."
"Yeah. It has."
"I know it. I'm really sorry. I've been thinking about you a lot. I've just been so busy. Closed a huge undercover case. Would love to tell you all about it."
He could sense her apprehension. "Anyway…no pressure, but would love to catch up with you."
"Me too," her voice went up an octave.
"So you'll be around over the next few days."
"You have impeccable timing. I'm off for a few days starting now, so let me know what works for you."
"Tomorrow might work. You want to do coffee or…dinner?"
"Either works. Keep me posted," she responded with a half smile and a half worried brow on her face.
"I really do feel bad that it's been 15 months, Liv. I can understand if you're upset."
She was surprised by his openness and that he took note of their lost time. She let a wall down. "I'm sorry that I haven't called you either. The postcard meant a lot to me. It's okay, though. Let's make up for it while you're here, Okay?"
"You got it. I'll see you tomorrow," He almost ended the conversation but then something Tia said ….
"You love her. You've got nothing holding you back. Why are you here wasting so much of your precious time?"
"You said you were off tonight?," he quickly added.
"I am."
"Meet me for Tapas. Pil Pil. West End."
Her pinched eyebrows softened and before she could overthink any of it, she was in a cab headed to the West End.
Monday, Pil Pil Tapas. 6:15pm
The tiny Tapas restaurant had twisted grape vines crawling on every inch of the wall and ceiling with twinkle lights peaking out and around the room. It was better than anything a Rom Com Netflix had to offer.
The waitress sat Olivia down in an intimate corner of the room and she had a glass of Pinot Grigio to calm her nerves. She wondered how he knew about this place and if he'd brought any other women here. A glimpse of her warn face and frazzled hair flicked off of a mirror hanging near her on the wall, and ran some fingers through her hair. She looked exhausted. Quickly, she dug through her purse for lipstick and tinted her cheeks and lips with with the rose colored shade.
When he finally made it to the restaurant it was as if time stood still, and all of her fears were behind her.
"Hi," he smiled. His skin slightly tan. His five o'clock shadow chisling his jaw. His eyes pierced, even in the dimly lit room.
"Hi," she smiled and stood.
They both over shot the hug and then he awkwardly pulled her into his arms.
"You let your hair grow."
"I did?," she touched her hair. "I guess I did."
"Looks really good."
"You look really good," she blushed. "Who would have thought Italy would make you so tan."
"Oh yeah. The weather is bellissima. I sipe wine on my veranda all of the time."
The conversation came easy. They played catch up for the next hour. Olivia filled him in on all of her new and old SVU colleagues, and her promotion, and her new apartment, leaving out Brian, for the time being. Mostly she listened to his fabulous life in Italy.
"Wow…Italy sounds wonderful."
"Ah…it's okay," he shrugged.
"Amazing coffee and picture perfect sunsets while you breathe in fresh sea air. Sounds like a dream," she tilted her head and let her eyes steady into his gaze.
"It is…for sure. I'm thinking of coming back. I'm here to apply for a transfer."
"Oh….really."
"I miss…my family a lot. It's hard for them to visit. The soul searching has been exactly what I needed, but what is home if you have nobody to go home too."
She dropped her gaze to the table and nodded. A solemn feeling of familiar loneliness washed over them both. "I get that…"
The waitress interrupted and Elliot's jet lag started to hit him and he yawned. Before things could get too serious, he paid the bill and they found themselves outside waiting to hail cabs and not wanting the evening to end.
"This was great," Liv smiled. "I'm glad you called. Keep me posted about the transfer…I mean….there's always a place for you at SVU. You'll have to steal a desk…but we'd always…have you back."
He laughed. "Steal a desk? Nah. I'd just share yours," he softly smiled and touched the middle of her back.
She leaned into his hand and he rubbed her back while he hailed her a cab "Let's not wait so long to do this again," he said inches from her face.
"I'll call you soon," she agreed.
Monday, Olivia's apartment. 8:30pm.
When she got to her apartment door he texted a picture of stars. "Forgot to tell you about the stars. So many. You make it home okay?"
She texted back. "Italian sky is incredible. Take me with you one day?"
"I promise."
"Just got home. Goodnight, my…."
She paused searching for the right word. Partner was no longer a proper sentiment.
"Friend."
"Sweet dreams, my friend," he texted back.
Her face held a magnificent smile as she walked into her dark apartment and dropped her bags on the counter.
"Hmm," she almost giggled.
There was a rustling noise in her dark living room and her whole body tensed up.
"Hello?"
"Smiling for me?," Lewis grinned from behind the barrel of his gun. "That's so sweet. Now put your gun on the table, and sit in the chair."
A million scenarios raced through her panicked mind in that one second of fight, flight, or die. Visions of his last victim's with cigarette burns, wire hangers, and blunt objects to her insides or worse him. She knew if she sat in that chair it would be the start of her slow tortured death. She had fought death's fire before, but nothing ever like Lewis. She, however, had taunted Lewis' flames, and now he was here in her home, engulfing her private space, suffocating the air from her lungs.
He put his gun to her head hard. "Now! Gun on the table. Sit in the chair. Do as I say Detective."
"Or what," she gave him a look of rage, which was the wrong choice, and he wacked her over the head with the butt of his gun.
11:30pm
When she came too there was duct tape on her mouth and her arms and legs were tied to the chair with rope. He had destroyed her apartment looking for god knows what. Certainly not money. Personal items to fuck with her mind. Torture devices to fuck with her body. She stopped herself from imagining the heinous ideas he could come up with.
"There you are. Drink up," he said, holding out a bottle of vodka. He ripped the tape from her face and tried to pour the vodka into her mouth. "No," she tried to say and he burned her with a cigarette. "No time for love, Dr. Jones. We gotta get on the road, before they start to miss you. Now drink. Up."
She choked down the vodka and noticed the clock on her wall. "My boyfriend will be home soon. If you leave now they might not lock you up for life. Assaulting and holding an NYPD officer hostage is a long sentence and….a judge is less like-"
Her apartment phone started to ring and they both froze.
"Liv," Brian's voice could be heard over the answering machine. "I gotta work overtime again. I'll see you in a few days."
The machine beeped and Lewis started to laugh. "Looks like we just got a few days. Drink. You'll be long gone before a judge can sentence me with anything."
Olivia choked down more vodka that he forced on her until the entire bottle was in her system. She was ready to throw up, and hoped that she didn't, because her mouth was taped. She prayed someone would come looking for her before he took her from the apartment.
AN: Let me know your thoughts. Also, I love letting music motivate my writing. I accidentally heard a Whitney Houston song today, and it inspired part of this chapter. Anyway, drop me a song any song in your reviews.