When Detective’s Stabler and Tutuola managed to fight off and kill the remaining of the baddies minus the one that really mattered aside from Sean and Trevor, they went outside and found Detective Benson and Craigen talking quietly amongst themselves. They stopped however when they came out giving Detective Stabler the impression that they were voicing their concern for him. Perfect…just perfect… he thought bitterly and he forced himself to keep the anguished expression off of his face. The last thing he wants is for the captain to use this as an excuse to get rid of him. Instead of going over to them right away and listening to his lecture he went straight for Dakota who was talking to a paramedic. He knelt down in front of her as she sat there teary eyed and he gently took her hands into his.


“Hey sweetie…how are you holding up?”


“Joshy is a jerk face for going after Ellie,” she sniffled. “He is always doing that’s. For once he shoulda just let her gets in trouble all on her own an’ stayed withs me instead” She vented. “An’ now they’re both gonna gets killed an’ I’m never going to see’s either of them again” she added and he could hear her voice falter as she tried very hard not to lose it. “They’re the two most important peoples in my life after mommy Ashee an’ Daddy.” Detective Stabler sighed softly as his heart broke with her and he pulled her into a hug. “An’ I’m never going to see’s them again either.” With that being said despite her best efforts she began to sob on his shoulder and he rubbed her back soothingly.


“You will if I have anything to say about it,” He told her as he gently placed a kiss on her forehead. “I’m going to try my very hardest to get them all back for you alive and safe sweetheart. I promise.” “Can you tell me what might have possessed Ellie to run off? Did she confide in you at all?”


“She’s being a poopy head an’ thinks she can change Sean. But I told her that she can’ts. She doesn’t listen – never.” Detective Stabler hugged her close for a long moment until he suddenly felt a gentle hand on his shoulder. He looked up at Detective Benson warily.


“Craigen wants you to take the kids to the hospital to be with Aaron.”


“I will take them because I am not done making sure Kota is okay but I will be back.”


“Elliot…”


“I promised her I would try my damndest to get her friends and family back. Are you going to try and tell me that I’m not allowed with her sitting right here in front of me, Liv?”


“No, I was only going to say that you shouldn’t.”


“Well thanks for your concern but you know me better than that.” Detective Benson rubbed her temples stressfully while she watched as he lifted Dakota up from the ambulance and stood after casting a questioning look at the paramedic and receiving permission. He hugged her close to him protectively and then walked off to round up the rest of the kids and she heard him talking to them about ice cream sundaes. While he was taking care of the kids Detective Benson went back over to the captain and Detective Tutuola where they would discuss their next plan of action. Hopefully they’ll come up with something before he gets back so they can do it without him. They don’t have time to wait on him after all…but knowing him as soon as he drops the kids off he’ll use his police benefits and become a speed demon making it almost impossible.


~*~*~*~*~

“Ellie I can’t believe you would do something so stupid!” Josh continued his complaining as he crawled through the air vents behind her. “What were you thinking? You are going to get us killed! Not to mention I am sure Kota is just—“


“--Oh put a sock in it Joshua!”


“—Worried sick!” Josh went on as if there wasn’t an interruption. “I hope your father gives you a real good spanking for going back in there! Did I mention you are going to get us killed? This is the stupidest thing you’ve ever done! We could’ve been with Elliot and we could’ve been safe right now, but no-ooo, selfish Ellie has to go and get us into trouble - again!”


“You didn’t have to come with me, Josh! You are the one who followed me it’s your own fault.”


“And if I didn’t who would be here to make sure you don’t get yourself killed huh?”


“Daddy Sean is not going to let anything happen to me an’ you knows it.”


“And what about me huh?”


“You are my cousin you’ll be fine.”


“THAT IS HARDLY THE POINT ELENORE!” Ellie whirled around then, grabbed onto Josh and shoved him up against the wall looking him into the eyes as her own flared with anger.


“IF YOU DON’T LIKE IT JOSHUA THEN YOU CAN JUST GO RIGHT ON BACK! I DON’T NEED YOU, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GOING TO BITCH ATS ME THE WHOLE TIME!” Josh narrowed his eyes at her as he stared at her for a long moment, and then he grabbed her by the arm and dragged her toward an air vent to the nearest bathroom.


“What are you doing, where are we going?” She demanded.


“We’re going to take care of something that is what we’re doing!” was all he said. When he reached the vent he pulled it open and then crawled out of it and onto the counter before reaching up and helping her down next. When they were both standing on the ground in one of the bathrooms of the deserted bedrooms she stared at him warily as he went straight for the cupboard under the sink. He opened it up and fished around in there purposely making it so she couldn’t see what he was doing. She heard him throwing stuff around and ripping something open and by the time he turned around and she saw what was in his hand she understood. Her eyes went wide and she turned to run only to have him grab her arm, whirl her around to face him, and gently push her onto the ground. He sat on her so she couldn’t get up and she shut her mouth shut stubbornly. Rolling his eyes he pinched her nose giving her no choice but to open her mouth and he forced a bar of soap into it.


“If AJ and Kevin aren’t going to wash your mouth out with soap, well then I guess it’s going to have to be me!” he informed her as she struggled underneath him to no avail. “From now on if I hear you so much as whisper a bad word you’re going to get it Ellie I swear to you!” He waited a good three minutes and when he felt that she’d been punished enough he pulled the soap out of her mouth only to have her shove him off of her sending him flying into the counter behind him with a loud thump.


“I won’t forgets this Joshua Lee, I promise!” she shouted at him as angry tears flooded her eyes. She wasn’t upset…just really angry and for some reason it was summoning up the wrong emotion.


“Yeah, yeah hate me more quietly will you? There are killers all over the place” Josh insisted casually. “And thanks to you we’re here all alone without a grownup – easy targets. Just rinse your mouth out so we can get back up in the sewers will you?” Ellie glared at him for a long moment contemplating on whether or not she should tell her daddy to spank him for her once she gets back in there before turning around and heading for the sink. Josh noticed while looking at her through the mirrors that her tears were spilling out over her cheeks and he heard her sniffle too and sighed heavily. He watched her as she turned on the sink and rinsed the taste of the soap out of her mouth and by the time she finished and turned around he was already climbing back up into the air vent. She climbed up onto the counter too and allowed him to pull her in as well and when he did instead of setting her beside him, he placed her in his lap and he hugged her. Despite her anger toward him, she nestled into him realizing right then how good it feels to have him hug her. He’s been yelling at her all night and she didn’t realize just how much it was getting to her. Maybe he of all people washing her mouth out with soap had been the last straw.


“I hope you have a plan as to exactly how we’re going to save him Ellie, because I am not going back in that auditorium without one” he told her softly.


“We Joshy? You are going to help me?”


“What choice do I have?” She looked up at him and he continued. “Do you think I’m going to just sit back and let my special cousin go in there and get killed? I don’t think so.” Ellie opened her mouth to argue and he placed his finger to her mouth interrupting her. “Okay, Okay, badly hurt…you know what I mean.”


“You think I’m special Joshy?” She asked instantly swooning over the words and more tears rolled down her cheek.


“Well duh, was there any doubt?” Ellie shrugged and he hugged her closer. “Who would be here to drive me bonkers if you weren’t around?”


“Thank you Joshy…that’s quite a compliment coming from you,” She told him while sliding her arms around him and nestling into him.


“Yeah yeah…don’t mention it. If Chris knew I said such nice things I would never hear the end of it.” Ellie giggled somewhat despite the situation and he squeezed her hand gently.


“So what is the plan to this almost impossible mission of ours?”


“I don’t knows yet we have to goes an’ see what he is doing through the vents,” Ellie insisted and then crawled out of his lap as he still has hold of her hand and she pulled him toward the direction of the auditorium.


~*~*~*~*~*~


Meanwhile, when Detective Stabler arrived at Banner Health with the kids he took them to the cafeteria and requested that they make them some dinner and ice cream sundaes after explaining their situation and when they informed the detective that they would have it all brought up to them, he proceeded to take them to Aaron whom Dakota was practically demanding to see by now. When they walked into the hospital room they found Angel sitting up in her bed with Aaron and Conner sitting on either side of her. She has her arm linked with Aaron’s and her head rested comfortably against Conner’s shoulder and she had been in the middle of answering Detective Munch’s questions. Detective Stabler sat Dakota so her feet were on the ground and she held her arms open and wordlessly walked over to Aaron who gathered her gingerly into his arms for a hug.


“Hi sweetie,” he greeted her softly needing no words to tell him that his niece is hurting right now. She buried her face in his neck and he kissed the top of her head before looking at Sarah who had crawled up onto the bed and went straight for Angel who wasted no time giving her hugs and kisses. While hugging Dakota close to him he reached out to Sarah with one arm and gently smoothed his fingers through her silky red hair offering her comfort as well.


“The captain has given me orders leave the kids with you Air,” Detective Stabler spoke up causing the young blonde to look his way and notice the rest of the kids standing with him and he is also holding the baby in his arms. “Nick has also informed me that while taking Ashley’s lead and being prepared for anything, he made it perfectly clear in his will that if anything should happen to him, Brian, and Ashley you would be the next in line to look after his girls – with Denise’s help of course. She would handle all grownup decisions and you would simply be there to be their loving Uncle until you are old enough to take the girls yourself.”


“Isn’t Denise trapped too though?” Angel asked softly.


“Yeah…well he has Detective Munch here to step in her place until we can get her out of there.”


“And if—“


“--I will be very happy to look after my nieces until Nick, Brian, Ashley, and Denise are safely rescued,” Aaron interrupted in a somewhat firm tone.


“No matter what there will always be a grownup who is close to Nick available to supervise Aaron,” Detective Stabler answered Angel’s question softly knowing exactly what she was going to ask.


“What about mom? Surely she would want to be a part of her Grandchildren’s life,” Angel reasoned and Aaron snorted.


“Over my dead body.”


“Nick made it very clear that it would be any grownup besides her,” Detective Stabler shrugged and gave her an I’m just the messenger kind of look.


“It doesn’t matter anyway,” Aaron insisted while cuddling with Dakota. “Nick is going to be here to take his kids from me soon anyway.”


“It is still good to get it all cleared up anyway,” Detective Munch spoke up for the first time and Detective Stabler carried Bella over to Conner and handed her over. “Someone from the nursery will be bringing in a crib and any baby items you should need to take care of Bells,” he told Aaron going on with his explaining and instructions. “And I’m positive that Dakota won’t have any problems with helping you out either with anything. She is very good with that. They will also be delivering food for the rest of the kids. I’m going back to the crime scene so is there any questions before I leave?”


“Yeah where are Ellie and Josh?” Aaron asked after counting heads and realizing the two delinquents of the gang are missing. He felt Dakota sink into his arms some more and watched as Detective Stabler’s face suddenly displayed a mixture of pain and irritation.


“Ellie being Ellie decided to run off when we went in to rescue the kids and Josh went after her. So now I have to go back and help devise a plan to rescue them.”


“Ah…well I guess I better let you get back to that then,” Aaron said softly and Detective Stabler nodded before turning around and walking out of the room without so much as a word as he saw Detective Munch about to suggest that Detective Stabler stay with the kids while he goes and takes over. Sighing heavily, Detective Munch turned his phone on hit the number 2 speed dial and placed his phone to his ear and after a couple of rings Craigen picked up.


“Yes Munch?”


“I’m sorry to bother you when I know you are very busy at the moment but why are you letting Elliot stay on this case Captain? He’s an emotional wreck right now and trying very hard not to show it.”


“Elliot can’t quit the case because he makes promises to me to get my daddy, Ashee, Ellie and Joshy out of there!” Dakota demanded suddenly taking her face out of the crook of Aaron’s neck for the first time to glare at the Detective.


“I rest my case,” Detective Munch said to Craigen in the phone.


“I would love to get Elliot off this case but you know as well as I do that kicking him off of it will only do more damage. He will do it with or without our help and it would be a lot safer if he had our help don’t you think?” Detective Munch grumbled.


“Fine…but don’t say that I didn’t try and warn you when he screws up and gets all moody with everybody” he said and then hung up his phone.


~*~*~*~*~*~


“I want Ellie out of this building,” Sean vented to Trevor as the two stood a little ways from their hostages. Sean was still fuming over the knowledge that Damien is in the building and even more so that he had dared lay a hand on his Trevor.


“I know baby I can tell but we don’t even know where Ellie is at the moment.”


“Blasted kid…she should’ve stayed here where I could keep an eye on her WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?” Sean raged. Trevor shrugged his shoulders and Sean kicked a nearby box sending it flying across the stage.


“Sean, don’t” Trevor pleaded and he reached out and took his hands. “At least she isn’t here watching everything that goes on.”


“No, but now she is god knows where with a man even more psycho and dangerous than I am on the loose! If she were here at least I would’ve been able to sit her in another room with goddamn security or something!”


“Let me just get something straight here Sean,” Trevor said gently. “Are you a father or a criminal? Because I was under the impression that you gave Ellie up.”


“I didn’t give her up just so she could get killed by the fucking lunatics in my world Trevor I gave her up with every intention of her being safe and having a better life!” Sean insisted and he ran his fingers through his hair irritably. “And just because I gave her up it doesn’t mean I gave up the annoying father connection that came with the whole goddamn package as much as I would like to!”


“Ellie is your daughter Sean,” Brian spoke up suddenly knowing an action like this won’t get him killed because he is close to Ellie. “Biologically…whether you’ve given her up or not and she’s a lot like you. She is tough and can take care of herself pretty well.”


“The last thing I want is for her to be like me, Backstreet Boy” Sean insisted firmly.


“Well, like I said, she is yours biologically” Brian told him gently deciding it was good to keep him on the subject of his daughter as it seems to make him soft the more he talks about her. “She is always going to have similarities to you there isn’t much we can do about that but we can keep her from following in your footsteps with a lot of work.”


“But that will take some cooperation from you” Jackie spoke up for the first time ever as she sat with Riley gently rubbing her pregnant belly in her attempt to keep her calm. “Ellie looks up to you whether any of us like it or not it’s beyond our control. How do you think this whole ordeal is affecting her? Changing her? Every time she sees you hurt someone she cares about.”


“All the more reason for her to get out of this building!” Sean demanded irritably.


“That won’t do any good,” Brian insisted. “She already knows you are in here hurting everybody she loves, if I know her at all…and I do very well, I’m pretty sure it’s safe to say that she is very distraught right now. This will be all she thinks about for the rest of her life…I wonder what kind of damage that will inflict.” Trevor who had stood there silently letting the Littrells talk to Sean suddenly took his hand into his and squeezed it gently.


“Kind of like the tragedy you witnessed so many years ago that forever damaged you Sean…right?” he asked.


“Children are such fragile things…” Jackie added. “Everything you say and do to them has such an effect on them in a big way, especially coming from a parent.”


“So if you want your daughter to have a chance at all of becoming good I think you know just what to do Sean,” Brian spoke up again. “Be the role model.” Sean suddenly felt an overwhelming feeling of love right then – a love that he hasn’t felt in years – a love that oddly enough, reminds him of his mother. As he suddenly remembered this feeling that only his mother knew how to give him so many unwanted good memories of the days when she was still alive rushed through his mind at full blast. The way she held him and how good it felt, the hugs and kisses she gave him, the times they spent together laughing and playing when his evil father was out, the way she made him feel good and safe during the hard times – she always knew how to do that. As Sean was completely consumed in memories he was unaware of Trevor who stood beside him with his eyebrow raised as he knows perfectly well what is happening to his lover. He can feel her too. Where had she come from? Had she been here all along but keeping those annoying vibes of hers on the down low? He glanced at their hostages then to see if the overwhelming emotions she was forcing her son to feel were having any affect on them too, just out of curiosity. How could they not after all? This is the strongest she has ever been for as long as he has known about her. It’s like she is putting her vibes on full blast, as high as they can go. To his surprise he saw confused looks on all of their faces except for Nick’s who just simply looked curious. He had learned to determine which emotions were his own and which ones were Lindy’s so she couldn’t take over again. Does he know what he is feeling right now? How could he know? Trevor wondered to himself. He watched as he gave Ashley a questioning look and listened as he whispered quietly to her.


“That’s Lindy right?”


“I don’t know…Ellie is the only one who can see her but it feels like her. I suddenly have an overwhelming need for my mother…”


“I don’t,” Nick insisted. “And not just because I’m not on good terms with her either, it’s just because I’ve learned to separate us.” Trevor arched his eyebrow once more upon hearing this private conversation. So that’s where you’ve been going when you weren’t with us…with your Granddaughter. When the overwhelming feeling was beginning to be too much for Sean to handle he shut his eyes out of protest in hopes of getting rid of the memories but he could still feel them all the same and the last thing Sean wants is to feel anything. With that thought slipping back into his mind helping him remember his anger he covered his ears and yelled at the top of his lungs.


“NO, NO, NO, NO!!!!!!!!! LEAVE ME THE FUCK ALONE, I HATE YOU!!!!!” He looked around for something to kick, or hit, or something and noticed that same box he had kicked earlier. He went to kick it again sending it flying against the wall before grabbing up other objects and sending them flying too. In his rage he went to punch a wall only to have a hand reach out and grab his wrist before he could.


“LET ME GO TREVOR, JUST LET ME GO!!!”


“Sean you are going to hurt your fist and then I’m going to have to fix it up for you is that what you want? A broken hand?”


“WHY THE HELL NOT?!” Sean shouted trying real hard to force his tears back and succeeding. “EVERYTHING ELSE IN MY GODDAMN LIFE IS BROKEN, ISN’T IT? WHAT’S A BROKEN HAND GOING TO DO?”


“Well, it might hurt a little bit don’t you think?”


“I don’t feel pain anymore Trevor and you know it! I’m fucking numb!”


“That isn’t true or you wouldn’t be reacting this way. And not EVERYTHING in your life is broken you still have a really great thing RIGHT in front of you and I am still waiting for you to open your goddamn eyes and see that before you completely throw it away!” Sean pulled at his hair and cried out in frustration before shoving past Trevor and he looked around furious and confused looking for something else to take his anger out on. His eyes suddenly fell on Kori then and they flared with hate. If anybody is throwing away anything it would be her, he silently reasoned with Trevor. She must be punished – he will punish her. She has everything at the tip of her fingers and she is just throwing it away. If she is going to be selfish he might as well help her.

His eyes fixed on Ashley then and making a quick decision in only a split second he looked to the other baddies that had come in with the doctors earlier and he motioned for them to keep watch on everybody, silently giving them permission to shoot anybody who intervenes with his next plan of action but reminding them of their boundaries too. When they moved closer to the hostages they put their guns on them and with that taken care of he pulled his gun out and before anybody even had the chance to realize what he was going to do next he pushed down on the trigger sending a bullet straight into Nick’s arm and he cried out in sheer pain as Ashley shrieked in horror. She moved to lay Nick down and take care of him only to have a pair of unwanted arms wrap around her waist and roughly pull her up into his arms before she could and she cried out in surprise as he carried her away from everybody. Several people moved at once to help her – Laney, Drew, AJ, Denise, Scott, and Kori and each and every one of them were shot or shoved back.

Trevor on the other hand taking it upon himself to make sure Nick doesn’t get anywhere near Sean went over and grabbed him holding him down. He wouldn’t put it past him to go after Ashley with an arm and leg wound because he would do absolutely anything for her. He put his gun to his head making it very clear that one false movement and he would shoot him. As he was being held back by Trevor he searched the room for his girlfriend hearing her cries for help ringing off the echoes of the auditorium. When he found her he saw that Sean has her lying face down on the ground with both of her hands cuffed to the legs of a chair and he was beating her with a belt getting her back for what she’d done to him earlier. His face twisted with pain as he watched him do this to his girlfriend and he knows he has to do something – anything. He’s not allowed to move but he never said anything about coaching her.


“ASHLEY BABY, LOOK AT ME!” he shouted eagerly. “COME ON SWEETIE, STOP CRYING. THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT HE WANTS IS FOR YOU TO SHOW PAIN. LOOK AT ME ASHLEY, CONCENTRATE ON ME.” Despite the sharp pain that the belt was inflicting on her back Ashley turned her head weakly toward the sound of her lover’s voice and brown eyes suddenly met with blue as Nick stared at her with so much love and urgency.


Nicky help me… She pleaded with her eyes.


I can’t baby, he’ll shoot me. This is one of those moments where you have to help yourself. You can do it…I believe in you. With a whole lot of effort on her part and her silent conversation with Nick Ashley managed to stop screaming and crying.


He doesn’t control you. Let him know that baby. Let him know that he doesn’t control you.


How? Ashley’s eyes practically screamed the unspoken question at him. Nick gave her a look and suddenly she knew exactly what to do. Sort of…how is she supposed to fight with him when she is handcuffed? Anything can be used as a weapon Elliot’s words suddenly flooded through her mind. She looked around eagerly for something to use and when her eyes fell on the chair in front of her she realized for the first time that it isn’t cemented into the ground. Grinning with satisfaction, she grabbed up the legs of the chair with her cuffed hands and turned around sending the chair flying into a frustrated Sean’s face with such force that he stumbled slightly nearly being knocked over. Before he could recover she turned around and booked it chair still in hands and all seeing as how she was currently handcuffed to it.


“RUN BABY, RUN!!!” Nick shouted just as Sean recovered and darted after her. He chased her through the auditorium climbing over chairs as she chose to run through the aisles and crawl under chairs. She made it to the door to what was once Trevor’s secret entrance way when he grabbed a handful of hair and yanked her back and she yelped. She went to hit him with the chair once more only to have him grab onto it. He un-handcuffed her from it and then slammed her back into the corner of the wall before holding her there by her neck and he raised his hand and smacked her hard across the face before beginning to punch her repeatedly and she forced herself not to cry much to his obvious frustration. He beat on her with his fists for a good long moment until suddenly a little voice from across the auditorium interrupted him.


“DADDY, NO!!!!!!!!”