Sad that Olivia and Munch died. And I'll never accept Elliott turning away from Olivia being abducted. But I do love that this is an Elliott-centric story. And not in the Elliot is an abuser vein. Most stories are more focused on Olivia. Love that she stays by Elliott's side throughout. And neither are surprised or bothered by the fact. Elliott reacting to Olivia's death made me cry. Not as sad as I should be that Eliott dies. It's almost as it should be and far as I'm concerned, Elliott got his third unspoken wish. Angsty and beautiful

Ouch.

The Cragen section is perfect, as are the reactions from all the kids.

Lewis surviving against all the odds...well...yeah. It's what he does. I'd hoped not. But. And I even believed you/believed Elliot as narrator. But. And...you're right thematically. So...yeah.

That's a pretty non-articulate comment, but this really is such a strong story throughout, no matter that it's nihilistic as all get out. Well done.

I love that you know that shootings leave your ears ringing so you can't hear for a while. Brian here, not wanting to kill another former friend, it's believable. Brian's pain at Munch being the one who came, the one he had to kill up close...that was good too.

And this sweet ending with Liv. So nice. It was nice to have her voice in a story I thought would be absent it after her death. But to see Elliot die, too...I was hoping he'd go home to his kids, though I do like his description that he'd spent all this time telling one primary lie: that he could live without her. And now...he's with her. It adds a layer of sense to him talking with Ghost!Olivia (he was a dead man walking), and to all the pieces of evidence I saw him leaving (and not caring about).

Last chapter...

This...this is entirely, brilliantly believable. It's intricate, it's piecemeal...it's really good plotting and writing. And Cassidy's voice is just right and just him. Very well done. How awful of a possibility...and how awful that it's believable. I LOVE his passage about how Liv deserved better than ANY of them. Elliot's insistence that you put a bullet in your own brain before handing her over...also SO him, and Brian's response is so well-considered; that it's easier to "die a hero" than go out knowing that you've never done things right. And, in Brian's slight defense...it wouldn't have necessarily kept Liv safe, either, not with Alik and Lewis after her. This is smart writing. Thank you for doing justice to the various layers of this story (just like the other one I've read).

I. LOVE. the conversation about wishes with Ghost!Olivia. I love that, even talking to a ghost or the air, even in imaginary conversations when nothing more could happen, even then, they won't wish aloud for one another. It's good.

So...wouldn't Elliot's rental car be found by the safehouse? Wouldn't his fingerprints be all over Lewis's car? There are still 3 chapters to tidy those up...or I'm missing something. Onward...

I. Love. Ghost. Olivia! She's wry and honest and forthright and perfect.

Oh...this scene, him seeing her, her haunting him...it's perfection. Their voices. I LOVE him picturing her as she was last he saw her. I love her wry humor directed at her funeral, Elliot hearing her in his head as irreverent toward this whole process...the force, funerals, life. I love that it ends, somewhat bitterly, on him saying he missed her "every minute, every day" and the her in his head being sad but honest, "But you still left." This is going to be the yardstick by which I gauge all El and Liv talking-again-after-a-long-time conversations.

I hope you’re proud of yourselfseriouslybecause this is an outstanding piece of writing. You didn’t create an alternate universe so much as you believably extended the characters into a reimagined universe. You’ve got complete command of Elliot’s and Olivia’s voices. Having ghost Olivia accompany Elliot in his periods of thought, not action, solidifies the notion that she’s his conscience , but even his conscience can’t stop his actions. She also fits the archetype of hero as scapegoat, who suffers for the sake of others. Maybe the best-known hero as scapegoat is Jesus, so Elliot’s talking to her is his way of talking to god, praying for understanding more than forgiveness.

Thanks for the great read and for making me blow the dust off what I learned in lit classes.

Awww I hated that he died but what a good ending. I must confess I almost stopped reading after Olivia died but I'm really glad I kept reading. It was exactly as it should have been. Thanks.

Your writing is like if SVU were written by George RR Martin and while I hate it I also love it so great job.

I don't understand how this story doesn't have more reviews. It was beautiful, and devastating, and I'm still thinking about it 24 hours later. It had sort of a magical realism style, which I enjoyed. Thank you for sharing your story.

Ughhhh, I hate this freaking ending! Horrible! Jk, great story but I'm not a fan of the ending!

Well, Elliot didn't win that one, but at least he went to his death believing he avenged Olivia. Don probably has the best advice to give in the situation with the death of a spouse, but advice on Elliot or Olivia can never be explained or broken down for anyone that's not them to understand.

Yours was a somber, but refreshing, detour from the usual fare on this site. A beautifully heartbreaking story with depth crammed into every dark layer. Bravo.

I'm not gonna lie this was. Damn good story! It was a change from what I usually read, and I still loved this. Hope you write more stories in the future.