46In what had become a constant inter-departmental quid-pro-quo, it was SVU's turn to ask for OCCB's help on a case. A serial rapist was targeting "women of a certain age" all over the island of Manhattan, which made him harder to catch. He didn't seem to have one hunting ground, never hit the same neighborhood twice. And, the only thing these women had in common was that they'd all participated in a "revive your sexless marriage" type group called Lemons to Lemonade.
"Hey, Liv," Elliot said, smiling from the doorway of her office after knocking.
"Hey to you," Olivia told him, offering a smirk. "I see the hair's back on your face."
It'd been two weeks since he'd returned from his latest job, whatever and wherever the hell that was. The moment he landed after checking in with his mom and kids, she was his next call. But this had been the first time they'd seen one another since he gave her the compass.
"Tried something different," he said. "Today was my first day back at OC and Ayanna had me rush over. You hate it?"
She'd imagined their 4th reunion (1st after Computer Crimes, 2nd after Oregon, 3rd after Italy) in one way. A hug. The lingering type where they clung to one another and didn't want to let go until it became awkward. But it wouldn't be because they'd missed each other with equal amounts of passion. Then he'd look down and see she was wearing his beautiful compass necklace, she'd notice he'd taken his ring off again, and they'd make plans for a date. That or get overwhelmed and have sex on her desk.
But it was the middle of the day, her squad room was busy and her detectives were no less nosy than they were in the months he'd been gone.
"I don't hate it," she told him. "Shorter and neater than what you had with the Albanians," she added. "It's just that I had twelve years with you with a bare face. Sort of…got used to it."
She ignored the way he began staring at her and stood to give him the file.
"What do you need from me?" Elliot asked after Olivia finished explaining the case.
"The guy's M.O. is to attack after the "sensuous whispers" stage of group therapy," she answered. "So, I need you to be the other half of the couple Jet created until we get to that," she added. "Hopefully we can find out who it is before he hits again."
"Bell didn't explain much before she kicked me over here," he said. "I'm guessing Jet already vetted everyone involved with Lemons to Lemonade?"
"She has," Olivia answered. "All clean. Nothing more than a few misdemeanors and parking tickets," she told him. "But Rollins worked up a profile for us."
She moved from behind her desk to share her tablet with him.
"Likely white, 20s to 30s with a history of strained or violent relationship with a mother figure –
"—Obviously."
"He leaves no fingerprints, uses condoms."
"So, no semen. What about hair or saliva?"
"No, he's too practiced," she answered. "Forced the women to shower after the assault."
"Got it," he said, returning to perusing the case file before his expression changed.
"What?"
"Huh?" He said, closing the file.
"You look…I don't know, disappointed," she responded. "If you don't wanna do this I can –
"—No. It's not that."
"Then what is it?"
He sighed heavily, put the file on her desk and turned to face her.
"It's just that, when I pictured you asking me to be your husband, I had something else in mind," he answered.
Olivia rolled her eyes with a smirk and returned to her desk.
"Right, okay."
But Elliot was undeterred. He'd missed her in those months. The natural levity that had returned during last case. The honest conversations.
"I thought there'd be a nice dinner," he continued. "Maybe some wine, candlelight…a little Coltrane."
"Elliot –
"—I gotta say I'm more than a little disappointed, Olivia," he added. "At minimum I thought there'd be a nice ring," he continued. "Nothing too fancy. A nice tri-color comfort band that'll go with anything."
Olivia laughs as she raises an eyebrow.
"As much as I know you're joking, you seemed to have put a lot of thought into this."
He shrugged.
"A guy can dream."
"You back in therapy or did she put you on the right combination of happy pills?"
He just smiled and moved to lean on the desk near where she sat.
"Yes, to the therapy, no to the pills," he answered. "I'm just glad to be back and getting to see you always puts me in a better mood."
The same was true for her for the most part. But Elliot's presence also came with a combination of emotions. Happiness was in there but so was trepidation, nervousness and a small dose of arousal. That was the part that caused the former two. But she didn't comment, simply let him stare until a subtle blush covered her skin from the heat.
"What's the sensuous whispers phase?" He asked, letting her off the hook.
"It's uh, exactly what it sounds like," she answered. "Couples whisper sensual things to each other to revive the honeymoon period of the relationship," she went on. "Done right, it's the one time they're allowed to…end the session early."
Elliot took a deep breath, released it slowly.
"Guess that's why the rapist strikes then."
"Yeah," she agreed. "They go straight home, he follows, restrains the husband –
"— Makes him watch."
"What if more than one couple leaves?" He asked. "How does he choose?"
"Not sure but he likes powerful women and…brunettes."
"You can't be the only boss lady brunette in these groups," he pointed out. "Are there any other factors?"
Olivia smirked. She knew he'd catch on.
"The men have to be so-called alpha males," she answered. "On paper and…physically," she added, avoiding his singular focus by powering up her laptop. "You happen to fit the bill and the build," she went on. "That's a little rarer in our particular…demographic."
It was Elliot's turn to smirk.
"What else does he look for?"
"Listen for," she corrected. "We think he's planted bugs sensitive enough to pick up those whispers," she went on. "And he uh, did to the wives what the husbands whispered."
"Guess I better make whatever I say irresistible then," he commented. "When do we leave?"
"Two days," Olivia told him. "We're borrowing a DEA-seized condo for the week to use for the op," she explained. "It'll be outfitted with surveillance equipment and a team in place to arrest him the night we –
"—Get so excited to tear each other's clothes off we have to hurry home."
"So to speak," she answered as he headed towards the door. "Jet will shoot you the when and where," she added. "The sessions are Monday, Wednesday, Friday and the sensual whispers is the 3rd one."
"See you Sunday, Liv."
"See you then."