Chapter One

Detective Benson leaned back in her chair as she held the phone against her ear. She tilted her head to the side as the phone rang on the other end a few times. Finally, there was an answer of a woman's voice.

"Cabot."

"Hey, Miss Cabot," replied Olivia.

"What can I do for you, detective?" inquired the Assistant District Attorney. She reached up with her right hand and pulled her black framed glasses off her face. "Uh huh? well?." She trailed off as her lips slightly parted and one end of her glasses slightly touched her lower lip. She took a deep breath as she continued to listen to Olivia Benson. "Alright look, I'll be there in five minutes. Keep your witness busy until I get there." She lowered the glasses from her lips and put them back on again. "No problem. Bye." She hung up her phone then looked down at her paperwork.

Alexandra Cabot decided to disregard the paperwork for now and knew they needed her down in SVU. She stood up from her chair and grabbed her attaché case from the floor where it rested against her desk. She hefted it up and proceeded to leave the office.

"What'd she say?" inquired Detective Stabler.

"She'll be here in a few minutes," answered Olivia.

"Keep the witness warm then?" inquired the captain.

Olivia slightly nodded to Cragen as she walked around her desk. "Are you coming?" She motioned for her partner to follow.

"Just don't scare him off," called Cragen as he turned on his heels and watched the pair head back into the interrogation room.

"We got it," promised Stabler. He followed Olivia into the interrogation room and quietly closed the door. He strolled over to the one way mirror and leaned against one corner of it.

Benson, however, took a seat from across the witness. "Sorry about that," she offered and gave a small smile. "I had to get a hold of our attorney."

The witness, a young male, shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "Is he going to help?"

"She," corrected Olivia, "and yes she can if you can provide enough information for her."

"Like what?" asked the shy teenager.

"Just your statement about your teacher," quietly replied the detective. She could see the fear in the teenager's eyes and she reached over to gently pat the man's hand. "It'll be okay, John."

The teenager, John, faintly nodded and he quickly turned his head when a tall blond entered the interrogation room. "Is? is she?.?"

Olivia understood the unspoken question; she stood up and pushed her chair out. She offered it to Alex, whom gratefully took it. "This is our ADA, John."

John's dark brown eyes float away from Olivia and met very crystal blue eyes.

"Hello, John," greeted Alex. "I am Assistant District Attorney Alexandra Cabot. Detective Benson told me you were having problems with one of your teachers from school."

"Y-yes, ma'am," replied John.

The ADA softly smiled to reassure the young man; she could tell he was rather nervous and she didn't want to scare him anymore than he already was by this. "What seems to going on, John?"

"Well?." John glanced between Olivia and then back to Alex. He really wasn't sure where to start and he laced his hands tightly together.

"Just tell Miss Cabot what you told us, John," persisted Olivia.

John licked his lips then returned his focus to Cabot again. "My math teacher, Mr. Stern, he is well? he's a little different than a lot of the teachers I have."

"How's that?" inquired Alex. She was trying to remain patient despite how much she had sitting back on her desk.

"Well I have trouble with my Pre-Calc so he always offers extra help to me. At first we would meet in his office at school, I had a period off when he had one off too so it worked out." John paused as his hands tightened and his knuckles were white. "But for some reason, he suddenly couldn't provide the extra help on my free period so instead he said I could come to his place. So that's what I did because he really didn't live too far from me and I just walked the few blocks and be at his apartment. The first couple of sessions were fine and nothing? weird."

Alex solemnly nodded then coaxed, "Go on."

"Well maybe after the third or fourth session, Mr. Stern started to touch me? in certain places." John sighed and lowered his head. "I thought it was just a freak thing or just me." He slowly lifted his head and looked at Alex. "But it wasn't and during the next sessions, he continued to persist and the most recent time he really? tried hard." John stopped there, not sure he could handle giving more details than that.

"Touched you how, John?" Alex could tell how hard it was for John to talk about it but she needed clearer details to be sure.

Olivia saw the resistance John was starting but she shifted closer to him and grasped his shoulder. "It's okay, John. Miss Cabot just needs a little more detail so she can be positive on what's going on here."

John swallowed hard but the squeeze on his shoulder gave him a bit more confidence. "He first would touch me just on the arm, a few times here and there but it became more constant. He would sit closer to me? eventually he'd touch my leg? the inside of my thigh? a lingering touch," he described in a quiet voice. "The last time I saw him? I tried to leave early because I didn't feel comfortable. He stopped me at the door, my back at the door and he forced himself on me."

Alex faintly nodded and she took a deep breath. She looked up at Olivia and Stabler, whom approached them. "I'll get you your warrant to search his premises." She was about to stand but John's voice stopped her.

"There? is more," quietly continued John.

Detective Benson flashed a look at Stabler.

Elliot pushed himself off the mirror and joined his partner's side.

John licked his lips as he shook his head some. "At school one of the boys kind of went missing," explained John, "nobody has seen him in about six days. He was also one of Mr. Stern's students in another math class. On the last session I had with Mr. Stern? he mentioned something kind of odd about the guy, Benny, who went missing."

"What was that?" urged Detective Stabler.

John lifted his head and looked up at the detectives. "He said he missed Benny but it was for the best and what Benny gave him he could never let go of. After he said that, I was out of there."

Olivia Benson partially smiled and reached out to squeeze the young man's shoulder again. "Thank you, John."

Alex Cabot stood up from her chair. "Thank you too, John."

Olivia's hand slipped off his shoulder and he looked up at the ADA. "What's going to happen to Mr. Stern?"

"Well," started Alex, "the detectives need to look into this with further detail. Then it'll go from there."

John lowered his head and he shivered with a bit of fear.

"I'm glad you came forward with this, John," stated the ADA. "Thank you again." She walked around the table and headed out of the interrogation room where she was greeted by the captain.

"I'll take you home in a minute, John if you can wait just a few minutes?" inquired Detective Benson.

"Yeah sure," replied the teenager.

"Thanks." Olivia headed out of the interrogation room with her partner right on her heels.

Detective Stabler closed the door and looked at Alex. "What you think?"

"Oh you'll have your warrant," promised the ADA. "Give me about thirty minutes."

"We can do that," agree Olivia.

Captain Cragen looked between his two detectives and said, "You two can take some forensics with you. Give me a call if you find anything? incrementing." He folded his arms over his chest. "I'll send Munch and Fin to the school tomorrow."

"Great." Stabler looked at his partner. "I'll round up some forensics to meet us there."

Olivia nodded then looked at Alex. "I have the papers on this Stern guy."

"I'll need that," agreed Alex.

The group moved into the squad room. Alex and Olivia went to Olivia's desk while Stabler headed out to find some forensics. The captain though went into his office but left his door open.

"Here it is." Detective Benson produced the folder on Stern and showed it to the ADA. "Howard Stern? he has a clean track record."

"Other than a few speeding tickets out of state," muttered Alex as she glanced through the file. "Great." She lifted her eyes to meet Olivia's. "Thank you." She was about to step away but she stopped when a thought occurred to her. "How are you doing?" she quietly asked.

Olivia blinked as she felt surprised by the question from the typically stoic ADA. "I'm fine."

Alex lifted her attaché onto the corner of Olivia's desk. She bought time by trying to file the folder away into her attaché. She looked at Olivia after getting the folder into the attaché. "You seem a little worn out."

Olivia puckered her lips some and faintly nodded. "It's been a long week."

"Tomorrow is Friday," reminded Cabot. She smiled in hopes it'd lift Olivia's spirit but the reaction she got from Olivia wasn't what she expected.

"I wish it wasn't." Olivia then shrugged but folded her arms over her chest.

Alex Cabot wasn't sure what else to say since she didn't quite know Olivia enough. She nodded then stepped back. "I'll get you and Elliot that search warrant."

"Thanks, counsellor."

Alex faintly nodded, turned on her heels and strolled out of the squad room.

Olivia tilted her head to one side and watched the ADA leave. She'd never expected that question from Alex and she wasn't sure which was more unsettling; the fact she was surprised or the fact she'd liked it.

"Benson," called Cragen from his office.

Her captain's voice brought her out of her musing and she quickly went to Cragen's office.

"Close the door," ordered the captain.

The detective gently closed the door and wondered what this could be about now.

Cragen stepped backwards and leaned back against the front of his desk. "I don't want you here this weekend, Olivia."

"Capt-"

"You heard me, Olivia," cut off Cragen. "You need to go home this weekend, stay home, and get through with what's happened."

"Cragen, I'm fine? seriously."

"As long as you keep working," persisted the captain, "but then you'll break, Olivia. We both know it." He pushed himself off the desk and approached the younger woman. He grasped her shoulder and looked deep into her eyes. "Please? just go home this weekend and mourn."

Olivia felt her eyes already starting to sting at the slightest mention of her mother's recent death. She tried to swallow the thick lump in her throat. "I will try, captain."

"Thank you," whispered Cragen. He squeezed his detective's shoulders tightly then released her. "Now go take care of this teacher thing before it gets any later."

"Yes, sir." Olivia partially smiled and headed out of the office. She sighed though because she knew the captain was right. She hated to admit it but he knew, just as much as she did, that she needed time to cry about her mother's recent death.

Detective Benson went into the interrogation room and John instantly looked at her. "You ready to go, buddy?"

"Definitely." John stood up and pulled his coat off of the chair.

"Your backpack is at my desk." Olivia stepped aside as he brushed past her. She shut the door and followed him to her desk. While John got his pack, Olivia caught site of her partner coming back into the squad room.

"I've got forensics on the way," announced Stabler.

"Alright? how about you take John to the car. I'll go get our warrant from Alex."

Elliot Stabler nodded and glanced at John. "Follow me."

John hesitated but followed the detective.

Olivia stepped to her chair and pulled her black leather jacket off the chair. She swung it on and she started across the threshold of the squad room but she paused and looked into Cragen's office. She saw he was on the phone so she gave him a wave to indicate she was leaving.

Cragen gave a faint wave back then returned his focus to the phone conversation.

Detective Benson hurried out of the double wood doors and went down the hall to get onto the elevator. She came up to the ADA offices and stepped out of the elevator, she went a few doors down and approached Cabot's door. She carefully knocked on the door and opened it when she heard Alex's response.

Alex had her head down as she listened to Cragen on the phone. From the top of her eyes, she could see Olivia step into her office. She reached down and picked up folded, blue papers. She held them out while saying, "I'll see what I can do, Cragen. Yeah? thanks." She hung the phone up.

Olivia carefully took the search warrant from the ADA and said, "Thanks."

"Make sure you bust this one hard, detective," spoke Alex. "I have a bad feeling about this one."

"So do I," agreed the detective. She tucked the warrant away in an inside pocket. "Thanks again, counsellor."

"Try Alex instead of counsellor," ordered the ADA. She peered up at Benson, who had shifted back to the door.

Olivia Benson felt a faint grin tug at her lips. "Try Olivia instead of detective."

Alex returned the wicked grin and nodded. "Alright, Olivia." She then reached up to pull her glasses off. "Before you go?." She saw how the detective was itching to leave.

Benson grabbed the doorknob but stopped and gave her full attention to the attorney.

"Will you be busy this evening?" inquired Alex Cabot. "I know I am in the mood for pizza this evening and I wouldn't mind some company."

Olivia's jaw went a little slack at the dinner invite she just received. "I... um...."

Alex had a half smug look at the detective's speechless response. "It's a simple yes or no, detective."

Olivia closed her mouth but finally replied, "Yes."

"Fine." Alex put her glasses on and lowered her attention to her paper. "I'll be here when you finished with work."

Olivia faintly shook her head and opened the door. "Thanks," she called.

"Bye, Olivia," called back Alex. She heard the door close and she quietly chuckled to herself at her job well done. She returned her focus to the stack of paperwork ahead of her. She could only hope she'd finish it by the time Detective Benson returned from the search on Howard Stern.



Chapter Two

Detective Stabler opened the wood door and it creaked at him in response. He took a step into the doorway and peered through the open door, his eyes focused on the set of wood steps that led down into a dark room. He looked to his right and found no wall so he looked over to his left and faintly made out the lines of a wall. Stretching out his hand, he felt around for a light switch on the cool wall.

Elliot blinked a few times when the light suddenly lit up and revealed the stairwell that lead down into what was a basement. He turned around some and looked into the kitchen where there was a forensic officer standing behind him, waiting. "Come on," he ordered. He hurried down the steps with the forensic officer directly behind him.

Olivia finished writing her note then looked back at Howard Stern. Her eyes stayed locked on him as he sat on his sofa chair in the living room. "Do you know of a boy by the name of Benny Rogers?" Olivia flipped to a new page in her small notepad. "From the high school," she added.

Mr. Stern fidgeted in his chair some then slowly nodded. "Yes, he was in my Geometry class? bright boy." He sat up some in his chair and adjusted his gold glasses. "Just a few weeks he disappeared."

"Any idea why?" inquired Olivia.

"I don't know," confessed the teacher. "He didn't seem to be having any problems in my class."

The detective nodded a few times as she summarized her notes onto her pad. "Did he ever come to you for extra help?" Her brown eyes lift from the pad and pinned Howard Stern inquisitively.

"Yes? yes he did," replied Mr. Stern. "Several times. There were a few things he couldn't quite? grasp but once he did, he remembered and applied the theories easily."

"You must have been proud of him," Olivia stated but her voice held an edge to it.

"Of course." Mr. Stern had a smile but he started to lose it. "But what does this have to do with anything, Detective Benson?"

Olivia lowered her hands to her sides; a pen in one hand and her notepad in the other. She opened her mouth to respond but suddenly she was cut off by her partner's voice.

"Benson?"

Olivia looked across the room and saw Elliot partially hanging around the corner in the kitchen. She lifted one eyebrow at him in question.

"You need to see this." Elliot motioned for her to follow him. His focus then flickered to the uniformed officer near the front door of the apartment house. "Stay with him," he ordered.

The uniform officer nodded and shifted away from the door, coming closer to the teacher.

Olivia Benson however hurried into the kitchen while tucking away her pen and notepad. She followed her partner down into the basement and went she got to the basement; she stopped when she saw what the forensic officer was holding up.

"I believe its? human," stated the forensics.

Olivia immediately covered her hand over her mouth; her stomach turned but she was able to control it. She took a deep breath and lowered her hand. Her brown eyes remained locked on the dangling heart neatly stowed in a zipped lock bag.

"You're sure it's human?" inquired Stabler.

"Well? I'm about 90 percent sure." The forensics officer turned the bag around some. "He was nice enough to use freeze bags instead of the regular zip locks." He then squinted as he read something written on the bag. "Also it seems it may have belonged to a? Benny Rogers." He turned his head to them. "Dated November 2, 2000."

"Oh my god," whispered Benson. She finally turned her head away.

Stabler took a deep breath and asked, "Anything else in that freezer?"

The forensic officer was bent over and putting the frozen heart into a brown paper bag. He then straightened back up with his flashlight now in his right hand. He peered more into the freezer and started to pull back with another freezer bag. "This one is? Johnny Garret. July 7, 2000." He held up the bag with his latex covered hand. "That's all that's in there." He lowered the heart into the bag beside the other one.

"What about the fridge?" quietly asked Olivia. Her voice shook some; she wasn't sure she really wanted to know what was inside of it.

The forensics officer moved the bag out of the way, closed the freezer, and started to open the refrigerator.

Detective Benson held her breath.

Elliot grasped Olivia's shoulder and whispered, "Go upstairs and arrest that man."

Olivia didn't hesitate as she quickly turned and went up the steps. She didn't know if she'd be able to wipe those images from her head.

"Quite a collector," muttered the forensics officer. He shook his head as he pulled out the jar that was filled with a light brownish liquid and what floated inside the liquid was a pair of brown eyes.

Elliot licked his lips and slowly turned his head away. His attention came to rest on the large wood table in the middle of the basement. He took a shaky breath and made his way over to the table. He dared not touch it but as he studied it, he could make out dark blotches splattered here and there on the table. "We're going to need some luminol tests done here."

"We will later, detective," promised the forensics officer as he continued to pull out the various jars in the refrigerator.

Elliot Stabler glanced over to his right where he saw hanging on the wall were several black nylon ropes. Beside the nicely wrapped ropes was a hanging rack of chief knives and other instruments that Elliot wasn't quite familiar with but had his own ideas. He shook his head and turned around in time to see the other officer pulling out a jar that held a collection of tongues.

The detective quickly walked to the steps so he could get away from seeing the contents of the fridge. "Let us know when you get this place processed."

The officer nodded to Elliot then briefly listened to detective's footfall going upstairs.

Detective Stabler caught sight of a forensics officer coming from the upstairs. "Your partner could use some help down in the basement," he recommended.

"Thanks." The forensics officer brushed past the detective and headed for the basement.

Elliot continued out of the apartment and went down the three steps onto the sidewalk. He found Olivia leaning against the squad car and talking on her cell phone.

"Yeah, we're bringing him in for more questioning." Olivia tilted her head down and stared at her feet. "Its pretty? incriminating, captain." She shook her head some after she'd lifted it. Her eyes met with Elliot's as she continued to talk to Cragen. "Alright? you think Cabot can still get it in before five?" Her head bobbed a few times. "Alright. Bye." She lowered her phone from her ear and closed it up. "Ready?"

Elliot sighed, nodded, and walked around the car without saying anything else.

Detective Benson turned and caught a quick glimpse of the teacher in the backseat, cuffed, and pretending to be confused. She opened the passenger door and got into her seat.

It wasn't long before they returned to the SVU precinct and they were hauling up Howard Stern. As soon as they came into the squad room, they escorted the man into the interrogation room and uncuffed him there. Stabler remained in the interrogation room while his partner retrieved Cragen from his office.

Elliot remained motionless and quiet as he stood across the room, his eyes borrowing into the suspect's eyes. He glanced to his left when Olivia came back into the interrogation room.

"You do understand why we arrested you, Howard?" inquired Elliot.

Olivia went over to the barred window and folded her arms over her chest. She carefully watched the man; using her knowledge from phycology to break this man apart.

"Yes," simply replied the calm man.

Elliot pushed off the wall and approached the suspect. "Did you enjoy killing those people? Were they all young men?"

"I didn't kill anybody," protested the teacher.

"Well you have quite a collection of? body parts in your basement." Detective Stabler bent forward, his hands resting on the table, and his eyes focused on the man. "How many did you kill?"

"I told you, I didn't kill anybody." Howard Stern kept a serious face.

"Right." Elliot straightened up; once again his arms over his chest. "How'd those hearts end up in your freezer?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Olivia slightly corked an eyebrow. "Did you kill them before or after you molested them?"

"I didn't molest any kids," hotly stated Howard Stern.

Captain Cragen slightly nodded at Alex Cabot's question. "I should get a full report tomorrow but Benson reported there was more than just two hearts."

The ADA sighed as she swept back a few strands of hair. "Well before I can prosecute, I need the links." She looked at the captain. "I need to know who these people were."

Cragen faintly nodded as he slipped his hands into his pockets. "Hopefully the M.E. will have something tomorrow afternoon."

Cabot didn't respond and just listened to the interrogation that Elliot and Olivia were preforming. "He's pretty convinced he didn't do it," she quietly muttered.

George Huang was to the right of Cabot and he quietly said, "That might be because he didn't."

Donald Cragen instantly looked at the phycologist. "You have to be joking??"

"I'm not completely sure, captain but this man is pretty convinced he didn't do it."

Alex Cabot narrowed her eyes. "Well he sure convinced you too." She briskly turned around and walked out of the squad room.

Cragen briefly watched her go then looked at Huang. "I think there's enough evidence to show he did it."

Doctor Huang sighed but decided not to pursue the topic; instead he just watched and listened.

"So how long have you been doing this for?"

Howard Stern looked up at Elliot after he asked him the question. "I don't kill kids? I teach them."

Olivia shook her head and walked over to the side of the desk. She bent forward and stared at the man. "How you explain those hearts in your freezer? The eyes?"

"Or the jar of about half a dozen tongues?" questioned Stabler. He came closer to Benson and also hunched forward. "How many boys did you slaughter on that table?"

"I didn't touch any boys," slightly growled the teacher.

Benson raised an eyebrow at her partner.

Elliot gave a very faint nod to her.

Slowly the pair straightened up then quietly walked to the door.

"We'll be back," commented Elliot, "don't move."

Howard Stern shook his head as the pair left.

"So what you think?"

Doctor Huang looked at Detective Stabler. "Oh I think he knows he had those body parts in his basement. Whether he killed them or not? that's another thing."

"Pathological liar or schizophrenia?" suggested Olivia

"One or the other," agreed Huang. "You'll need to? break him to figure that out."

Detective Benson folded her arms as she decided whether Huang was right on that or not. "Are we keeping him?"

The captain slowly nodded his head. "Cabot is getting our arrest." He looked at his watch then back at his two detectives. "Let's call the interrogation off, put him in jail, and let's figure out who his victims might be."

"I'll take care of the good teacher," commented Elliot.

"I'll pull everything on him." Detective Benson disappeared into the squad room.

Elliot went back into the interrogation room and pulled out his cuffs.

Huang quietly left to return to his office.

Cragen waited for Elliot so he could help him get Howard Stern to booking.

"Hey Munch, Fin," called Olivia from her desk.

The two detectives peered up from their desk.

"Can you two find everything you can on Howard Stern?"

"Yeah, no problem, 'Liv," replied Fin. He swatted at Munch and had him follow out of the squad room.

Olivia Benson sifted through her files on her desk then realized her brief file on Howard Stern was still with the ADA. She sighed and left her desk, headed to Alex Cabot's office.

Alex Cabot peered up from her paperwork when somebody knocked on her door. "Come in." She slightly smiled when Olivia entered her office.

"I need that file on Howard Stern."

The ADA nodded and reached forward; she thumbed through a stack of files and pulled out one from the top. "Here."

"Thank you." Olivia carefully took the folder.

"I'll drop by in about fifteen minutes with your arrest papers." Alex peered up through her glasses at the detective. "I think you have your handles full with this one."

Olivia's weight shifted from her right foot to her left foot. "I'm not sure? it seems pretty open and close."

"I hope so," quietly agreed Alex. She then suddenly stood up and picked up her attaché case. For a moment, she stared at her attaché as she realized she wouldn't be able to go between the courthouse and SVU. She looked up at Olivia. "Do you have a few minutes to spare?"

"Sure," agreed Olivia.

"I'll get these arrest papers signed and give to you because I have an arraignment shortly."

"This late?"

"Unfortunately, yes? kind of last minute." Alex pulled her long brown coat off her chair and put it on. "It seems it can't wait until the morning."

"I can't imagine why," slightly joked the detective.

Alex grinned at Olivia as she walked around her desk. With Olivia behind her, she went to the door and headed out.

Detective Benson quietly walked along side Alex.

Alex took a moment to adjust the strap of her attaché then she took in the fact the SVU detective was rather remote than normal. "Hard case for you?"

Olivia glanced over then shrugged. "Nothing I shouldn't be use to."

"I think I would worry if I became use to it." Alex Cabot faintly gave a questioning look to Olivia.

The detective half-heartedly smiled at Alex but she also knew Alex made a true statement.

Quietly the pair stepped into the elevator and went a few floors down. They came into the lobby of the building and they stepped out through the double doors.

Olivia was hit by the cool fall air and she held back her shiver. She simply wrapped her arms over her chest with Howard's folder neatly pressed against her.

Alex hurried down the steps and turned to the right. She wanted to say something to Olivia but at the same time she was trying to mentally prepare for the judges. She took a deep breath and peered over at Olivia. "I hope you're going to still be hungry after five."

The detective slightly grinned. "I will," she promised. "Where are we eating?"

The ADA glanced to her right and left before she crossed the street. As she stepped off the curve she replied, "Just this small authentic Italian place."

"Does this place have a name?" probed the detective.

Alex raised an eyebrow at the detective's natural curiosity. "Tony's."

Detective Benson suddenly had a huge smirk. "Very authentic."

"Don't knock it 'til you try it, detective."

Benson made the right up the huge courthouse steps. "Of course? counsellor."

Alex glanced over to catch the smug look on the other woman's face. She sighed yet a grin pulled at her lips. This was a side of Olivia she'd never seen and now Olivia was showing it; Alex enjoyed it.

The two women entered the courthouse and Alex led the way to one of the judge's offices. She came to the door but stopped. "Wait here? I'll only be a minute."

Detective Benson slightly nodded and watched the attorney go into the office. Olivia sighed and glanced about the large hall and watched the people filter through. Before she knew it, her mind was wondering off and she last track of how long she waited for Cabot.

Alex had taken about five minutes but she'd easily gotten the signature from Judge Swoop. She'd quietly left the office and find Olivia's back to her. She quietly came up behind Olivia and gently grabbed her shoulder.

The detective faintly jumped by being startled but she turned around.

"Here you are." Alex handed over the signed papers.

"Thank you." Detective Benson gave a smile and took the papers. She decided to tuck them away in the folder for safe keeping.

"Stop by my office when you're done," reminded Cabot. She gave Olivia a warm smile then walked off to attend to her arraignment.

Olivia Benson turned on her feet and watched the ADA stroll down the court hall. She shook her head some then decided to hurry back to the squad room.



Chapter 3

Alexandra Cabot swung her coat around and slipped her arms into the sleeves. After she had her coat on comfortably, she picked up her attaché case and pulled her purse from her bottom desk drawer. She slung both straps over her right shoulder then on her phone she pushed a button for her 'out of office' message.

Alex stepped away from her desk and pushed in her chair. She glanced at her desk clock and saw it read sixty thirty on the dot. "That detective must not know when to quit," she muttered. She walked around her desk, went to the door, flicked her lights off, and then left. She quickly made her way to the squad room and found it was dark inside except for one light. She immediately knew it was Olivia's desk light so she pushed in through the doors.

Olivia slightly cringed when she hurried the doors open. She didn't dare look up incase Cabot was angry at her. Instead, she pretended to continue reading through her file.

"Did you forget already, detective?" Alex approached Olivia's desk and came to a stop. She sat down on the edge of the desk where Olivia always left an open area for Alex.

"No," admitted Olivia. She peered up at the ADA. "And yes." She sighed and just scanned at all the papers cluttering her desk. "I just kept telling myself I'd go in five minutes." She lifted her gaze to Alex once again. "Five minutes turned into an hour and half." She noted the amused look on Alex's face and it made her relax.

"What are you doing?" quietly inquired the ADA. She now started studying the various papers and file, trying to make sense of the mayhem.

"I'm comparing missing children cases to that of Stern's history at schools." Olivia sighed and looked over at the stack to her right. "There seems to be some links between various missing students and the schools Stern worked at."

"You're going through his entire history?" probed the ADA.

Detective Benson slowly nodded. "Yeah." Olivia pointed at the folder in front of her. "I'm about halfway."

"My god," whispered Alex in awe. "How many schools?"

"A lot," admitted Olivia. "This guy moves around." She shook her head and stared at the right stack of papers of possible victims. "But I don't have them all."

"How do you figure?" Cabot reached up to brush back her hair behind her right ear.

Detective Benson swallowed and finally replied, "Elliot guessed there had to be at least fifty separate, various body parts."

Alex Cabot sighed and her eyes lowered to the floor. "What a?." She decided it was best not to finish her sentence. She knew she couldn't do anything until she had all the evidence gathered then she could prosecute this man to hell. She tried to pull her mind off work and right now she wanted Olivia to do the same. She lifted her head and looked at the older woman. "Are we still up for dinner?"

Olivia licked her lips as her eyes glanced over the papers and stacks on her desk.

Alex reached out and grabbed the cover of the folder. She lifted it and closed it over the thick stack. "Olivia?" When she saw brown eyes lift up to her. "This will be here tomorrow."

"Yeah? you're right," agreed the detective. After a heavy sigh, Olivia stood up and grabbed her leather jacket off the chair.

The counsellor also stood up and adjusted the two straps on her shoulder.

Olivia finished getting her jacket on then switched off her desk lamp. She then started to head for the door with Alex beside her. "How was the arraignment?"

Cabot gave a grumble.

The detective grinned. "That well huh?"

"Oh yeah," replied the ADA. "That well." She came to the elevator and pushed the down button. She fell silent as she and Olivia waited for the elevator.

Olivia peered down at her feet then lifted her head back up. Her hands slid into her jacket pocket and she rocked on her feet some.

"How the hell can this elevator take so long?" complained Alex. She just heard Olivia chuckling at her.

The detective shook her head, her expression completely amused. She then grabbed her badge from her belt and unhooked it. She pulled out her badge wallet from her back pocket in her jeans and hooked the badge in there. "A slow elevator can be good? for some things," she mildly commented.

Alex glanced over and raised an eyebrow in question.

Olivia was tempted to respond but the sudden ding of the elevator stopped her. When the doors opened, she stepped in with the other woman. Olivia finished putting her badge in her back pocket again, a sign of her being off duty finally.

When they made it outside into the cold night, Alex went to the curb and hailed a taxi.

Olivia stepped in front of Alex and opened the car door. Once the ADA got in, she hopped in as well. Alex told the taxi driver where they needed to go and the taxi sped away into the busy roads of New York. Through the ride, they both remained quiet and listening to the taxi driver's quiet classical music. It was the type of music that relaxed both Alex and Olivia. But soon the taxi came to a quick stop at a curb side of a block of restaurants and Olivia got out right away. Cabot finished paying the driver then scooted out as well. She slammed the door shut then turned to face the small Italian restaurant.

Cabot smiled at Olivia and quietly said, "Authentic." She then strolled off to the front door of the restaurant.

An amused grin crossed Olivia's face and she followed the ADA.

The pair was soon sitting down at a small table in a corner and a red candle in a wine flask separated their table space. They were soon greeted by a server and he took their drink orders. It then didn't take long for them to agree upon a pizza to split between them. After they placed their order, they both studied their drinks quietly and waited for the other to break the silence.

Alex took a small sip of her red wine then put the glass aside.

Olivia had just taken a drink of her sparkling water. She then lifted her attention to Alex and smiled at her.

The ADA couldn't help but smile back because Olivia had that type of smile that made anybody feel good. She noted Olivia chuckling and leaned back into her chair.

"It was a long day," quietly mentioned the detective.

Alex Cabot gradually nodded her agreement. "It was." She laced her hands together on the table. "So let's not drag it into dinner."

The detective grinned and nodded. "Agreed." She softly smiled as she decided on a topic starter. "So why the dinner together?"

The attorney gave a brief shrug. "I don't know you, Olivia."

"No," agreed the detective. "Why the sudden interest?"

Alex tilted her head to one side. "Does there have to be a reason?"

"There's a reason for everything," countered Benson.

The ADA softly laughed at the reply. "So I see, Detective Benson."

Olivia heavily sighed because she'd just received a hidden reminded of her off duty status. "Asking questions? being curious is my second nature? not just my job."

"I'm realizing this." Alex grinned and released one hand. She grasped the stem of the wine glass but didn't lift it yet. "I just realized you've had a rough week."

"And a good week at SVU is nonexistent with what we deal with."

"Unfortunately yes." Alex sighed inwardly but she took a small drink from her wine. After the glass lowered back on the table, she peered up at Olivia again. "But it's been a tougher week than normal??"

The detective slowly nodded her head in agreement.

Alex could tell the other woman didn't want to discuss it and she wasn't about to push it. She still had no idea what Olivia was like especially when it came to sore topics. She simply decided to focus on other things to help Olivia stop dwelling on what was wrong. "What kind of music are you into?"

Olivia chuckled but replied, "A little bit of everything."

The ADA grinned then asked, "Heavy metal?"

"I have my limits," countered the detective. She smiled at Alex's soft laughter. "What about you?"

"I'm an 80's girl," admitted the ADA. She lifted her wine and started to take a drink.

Olivia had a devilish grin. "So you were a cheerleader?"

Alex suddenly choked on her wine and quickly put the glass down. She coughed a few times and patted her chest. She noted the huge smirk on the other woman's face.

Olivia raised an eyebrow and noted how Alex was starting to blush. "Oh you must have been the team leader."

The ADA dramatically sighed. "Yes, I was," she quietly admitted. "I was in high school," she continued, "for my Junior and Senior year. But once college came?."

"Everything went to studying," concluded the detective.

Cabot slightly grinned but nodded her head. She could still recall the major changes she had to take on after high school. "How about you?"

"I majored in psychology at FSU then I went to the Police Academy here." Olivia shifted in her seat some. "Then a few years ago I earned my associates in Law Enforcement and Crime Scene." She realized Alex was just staring at her and as she read Alex, she knew the ADA had just lifted her respect level for Olivia.

"I?." Alex shook her head some. "You take this job seriously? more than most I've met."

"I do," agreed the detective. "I've always wanted to work in law enforcement."

The ADA smiled at the admission because she could understand the same desire and goal. "When did you graduate from Florida State?"

Benson wasn't sure the point of the question but she answered it. "In 1992."

The younger woman considered it, her eyes unfocused her mind doing some calculations. "1969, 1970?" Her eyes focused back on Olivia.

Olivia now understood what Alex's goal was and it made her laugh. "January 23, 1970."

Cabot softly smiled. "You're thirty-three."

The detective nodded her head but she picked up her drink. She took a long sip then she sat back in her chair again. She sat there and studied Alex as if assessing her. "Between twenty-eight and thirty."

"Twenty-nine," concluded the ADA. She mirrored Olivia's smile yet before she could say more, she saw their waiter coming with the pizza.

Olivia quickly moved to put the candle aside to make room for the pizza. She also pushed her drink aside.

"Thank you," spoked the waiter. He lowered the pizza stand down first then put the pizza ontop. "Let me get some plates." He quickly hurried off and went into the kitchen to get plates.

The detective sat forward some and studied the white pizza.

"Looks good huh?" teased Cabot.

Olivia grinned as a response; her stomach suddenly very hungry. She sat back when the waiter came back with their plates. After he left, Olivia pulled a slice of pizza off and put it on her plate.

Alex followed suit and got a rather large slice.

For awhile they both ate quietly but for once it was Olivia who started a conversation. "You have any siblings, Alex?"

The attorney nodded but swallowed her bite of pizza before replying. "An older sister and a younger brother."

Olivia felt a few chuckles bubble up inside of her. "The crème in the middle."

"I wouldn't say that," countered the ADA. "My family is? different," she admitted.

The detective suddenly grinned. "I think we all know how well the? Cabot family is distinguished around here."

"Oh it is," agreed Cabot. "The Cabots go way back."

Olivia's eyes twinkled with mischief. "I'm sure your family came over with John Smith."

The ADA raised an eyebrow and a grin pulled at her lips. "John Cabot."

The detective had a confused expression, her eyebrows knitted together.

Alex Cabot's grin broadened but she explained everything. "John Cabot discovered Newfoundland? my family is a direct descendent of him."

Olivia found it rather interesting. "That doesn't surprise me in the least." She grinned a little but went serious again. "Cabot is British??"

"Italian," countered the ADA.

The detective shook her head in surprise but she continued to take another bite from her pizza.

Alex took a moment to finish her crust and as she busied herself with a new slice, she explained the history. "John Cabot's real name is Giovanni Cabato? John Cabot is his Americanised name." Alex lifted her pizza up some but not too high. "His son, Sebastian Cabot, was also an explorer and in search of the Northwest Passage for Spain. He never found it but he did explore La Plata, Brasil."

Olivia considered what Alex said as she finished her slice. "I think I remember a Sebastian Cabot from history." Her attention focused on Alex. "He published a world map."

"In 1544," agreed the ADA.

The detective had finished her slice and was deciding on her next one. "How do you explain your looks then?" Her brown eyes focused on the attorney as she pulled a slice free. "You look nothing like an Italian."

"That's where it gets? interesting." A grin spread across Alex's face. "My middle name, Lise-Lotte, is Swedish."

That's when all the pieces fell into place for Olivia. She just softly laughed, and she shook her head. "Blond hair and blue eyes, pale skin? all Swedish qualities."

"Yes," agreed Alex, "The women in my family tend to show the Swedish qualities more and the men have the Italian side."

Olivia smiled at that because she found it rather interesting to learn some history on Alex. Slowly though her smile dimmed when her thoughts went to her family, one that was hardly existent now.

Cabot noticed the slight change in Olivia. She let it pass for a minute as she ate a bite of her pizza but then she broke the silence. "How about your family?"

The detective shook her head as her eyes lowered to the pizza. "Mine is? small. I don't have any siblings."

Alexandra was tempted to tease Olivia yet she didn't when she noted how Olivia was shying away from the topic. After a heavy sigh, she perfectly straightened up in her chair. "Do you want anymore?"

"No thank you," replied Benson. She finished eating the crust of her pizza then also pushed her plate away.

"Dessert?" The ADA raised an eyebrow in question.

Detective Benson shook her head. "No thanks. That pretty much filled me up."

"Alright." Alex noted their server coming back.

"Dessert, ladies?"

The attorney shook her head. "We're fine? can I get the check?"

"Of course." The server took the remaining pizza away along with the plates. He came back in about five minutes with the bill and a box with the pizza slices in it.

"Thank you." Alex took the bill and started to scan over it.

"How mu-"

"Nothing," quickly cut off the ADA. She peered up through her black glasses. "It was my invite."

Olivia smiled and she got one in return from Alex. "Thank you."

"You're welcome." The attorney was thumbing through her wallet in her purse. She pulled out a few bills and slipped them inside of the sleeve with the bill. She closed up the black bill folder and put it aside on the table. "Ready?"

"Yup." The detective stood up and waited for Alex to go first.

The ADA grabbed the pizza box after getting her jacket on again. She went out of the restaurant, Olivia directly behind her. She slowed down so the detective could join her. "My apartment isn't far from here."

"Central Park?" inquired Olivia.

"Only a couple of blocks." Alex smiled and led the way.

Olivia followed along but still rather quiet and her hands in her pockets. "Thank you again for dinner, Alex."

The ADA flashed a smile. "Thank you for coming." She paused in thought then added, "We'll have to do it again."

"I'd like that," agreed the detective. She stopped and glanced down the street to make sure it was clear. She continued along with Alex. "It was a good pizza."

"One of my favourites," agreed the ADA.

"Do you like all-American food?"

Alex grinned at the question. "Every once in awhile I have to have my steak or cheeseburger with fries." She shook her head and quietly laughed with Olivia.

"There's just something about a juicy burger," joked Olivia.

"Hmmmm." Alex happily sighed as she realized she was coming close to her apartment complex. At the end of the block, she steered to the right and went about a hundred feet down. "Here I am." She stopped and faced Olivia. "And you can have this." She held out the pizza box.

"No, no," protested Benson. "You paid."

"I know and I don't like leftovers." Cabot had some feeling Olivia wasn't a big eater. She could only hope that this would provide Olivia with something later. "Please?"

Olivia saw the desperate look on the younger woman's face. She sighed and carefully took the pizza from her hands. "Thank you." She took a step back. "Thank you again for dinner, Alex."

"My pleasure." The ADA had a bright smile. "Get some rest tonight."

Olivia didn't say anything, she simply nodded.

"Don't go back to work, Olivia," warned Cabot yet she could tell Olivia had every intention of returning to work. She sighed inwardly despite her fruitless attempts. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Goodnight, Alex."

Alex smiled once more then climbed the steps to the front door. She pulled her keys from her purse and had the door open in seconds. "Goodnight, Olivia." She gave a brief wave then stepped into her home.

Olivia watched until the door closed then her shoulders faintly slumped. She peered down at the pizza box but lifted her head and turned around. With a quick glance at her watch, she decided to go back to the precinct to continue with her work.


Continued.