A/N: Hey guys. So, this is the last chapter for this story. I hope you like it! As always, I'd love it if you'd review and give me your impressions of this chapter, or the whole story. If you've never reviewed this story before, I really want to know what you thought. I have ideas for a new action-type story, so hopefully I will be able to write that soon. In the meantime...hint hint...I'm doing a story that is about Alex from the POVs of a lot of the other characters, including Elliot and Olivia (It's called I Can't Do This). Thanks so much for reading!
Neither of us participated in the questioning of the perp. I was still on leave, actually, but Elliot didn't go, leaving it instead up to Fin and John. It was probably a good choice.
Elliot did explain it all to me after being briefed by the others. The man, Clayton Trefz, was a child of rape. He was angry about it and always felt like his mother hated him for being born. Hearing that sent shivers down my spine, but Elliot just kissed me and told me not to think about it. Anyway, Trefz found the names of other children of rape through some connections he had with hospitals in the area. He wanted to impregnate them…or us, I guess…to create a new generation of outcasts. Companions.
That, above all else, gave me comfort. I know that sounds strange…it's just that I have spent so much of my life trying to figure out if my dad's violence is part of me, and I finally had proof that I was ok. I would never wish the feelings of guilt and separation on anyone else. My goal as a detective for SVU is to prevent rapes and other crimes, but I also want to let the victims know that they can move on and enjoy life again. I want to decrease the impact that rape has on people's lives, and Trefz wanted to increase it.
It was good to get back to work after I was cleared for active duty again. I missed everyone. I missed spending my entire day with Elliot, even if we didn't get to talk much or anything.
I was sitting across from Elliot, both of us reading new files, when Cragen came over. "Another lead?" I asked, glancing up at him quickly.
He shook his head. "No. I wanted to tell you that Strapp was just executed."
Elliot's head snapped up. "Really?" he asked incredulously.
Cragen and I looked at him in surprise. "Change of heart?" Cragen asked.
"No," Elliot replied, almost smiling. "I guess I was just expecting…it feels like there should have been a bolt of lightning or something, doesn't it?"
I laughed, but I couldn't help agreeing. It did seem strange that the world hadn't given some sign, even a small one, that a notorious psychopath was gone.
"Anyway," Cragen went on, "I want you two to go and interview Yolanda McAdams."
Elliot and I both rose and headed for the door. It was a beautiful day, one of those days when it seems impossible that anything bad could happen.
Before I got into the car, Elliot pressed me up against it, kissing me passionately. "It's good to have you back, Liv," he said.
I hugged him. "It's good to be back."
We got into the car and drove away, continuing our never-ending task of standing up for special victims. It's daunting and dangerous work, but someone has to do it.
The world is a scary place, but I have Elliot's love and he has mine.
It's enough.