Author's Note: This is an A/U, EO story. It is a story of friendship and love and the lengths Elliot will go to, to protect his best friend and partner. There is no Kathy in this story, Elliot was never married and there are no Stabler children. Although the topic of rape is discussed, there will be no actual rape scenes. This started out as a LONG EO one shot, but since it has already reached twenty five pages and I am not finished yet, I decided to go ahead and bust it into chapters so that I can start sharing it with you now. I am anxious to see what everyone thinks of this one! Thank you for reading it. Hope you like it! Please remember to review! ~ Detective Olivia Stabler ~

Beyond The Shadow Of A Doubt

(Chapter One: Ball & Chain)

Elliot sat at his desk trying to remember the last time he had seen her smile.

"What are you doing later?" he asked watching as Olivia dropped her pen and stretched.

She combed her fingers through her hair and yawned as she stared at him with tired eyes.

"Same thing you're doing. Finishing up reports and paperwork, we'll have our asses handed to us in the morning if this isn't finished by the time Cragen comes in."

Elliot scratched the back of his head and laughed.

"Somehow I was hoping the phrase 'having a drink with you' would come out of your mouth. I'll buy," he tempted.

"And it might be the last thing you buy if this doesn't get finished. Get to work, Stabler."

"Old ball and chain."

Olivia laughed and Elliot was pleased to see her smile again. Lately the Riverside rapist had kept them up to their asses in paperwork with no way out in sight. Few leads and no suspects, they had been trapped here in this office for the last two weeks.

"Ball and chain? You talk as if we're married."

"Who needs a wife when I've got you to keep me on track? Our partnership is like a marriage."

"How exactly?"

"Well, think about it. We share most of the important things married couples do. We are loyal and faithful to our partnership, fully trust one another and would do anything for each other….minus a few intimate details."

"If this is your way of asking me to have sex with you….the answer is no," she joked. "Now that that's all settled, back to work."

"Alright," Elliot laughed. "But the least you can do is let me buy you dinner tomorrow night to celebrate you're birthday."

"God, I was hoping you'd forgotten like everyone else," she groaned.

"Never. Infact I have already made reservations."

"You have?"

"Yes. I'll pick you up at seven. Wear something….nice."

"What?" she asked looking down at her casual dress. "Faded blue jeans and my NYPD sweatshirt aren't good enough for you?"

Elliot smiled.

"I am taking you somewhere elegant. And I don't think jeans and sweatshirts fit the dress code. If I have to wear a tie, you have to wear a dress."

"What kind of dress?"

"A dressy dress," he said.

"Suit or tux?"

"Tux."

"Tux? What kind of place is this?" she asked with a smile.

"Like I said, it's elegant."

"I appreciate it, El. I really do. But this is too much."

"No arguing. It's a waste of breath anyway, because you are not going to talk me out of it. Just be ready at seven."

"Seven," she agreed with a nod, "got it."

"Good. Now lets get this paperwork done, Cinderella. So we can go to the ball."

Olivia shook her head as she picked up her pen once more.

Two hours later Elliot dropped the last of his files on the top of the completed stack.

"Finished," he said standing to stretch. "How you doing? You need help?"

"Nope," she said shaking her head as she sighed the last document. "I'm finished as well."

"Now, how about that drink?" he asked.

"Elliot, it is two thirty in the morning," Olivia said looking at her watch. "All I want to do is go home and crawl into bed for a couple of hours before I have to get up and be back in here tomorrow."

"I see how you are."

They turned at attention as they heard a commotion in the hall.

"What the hell?" Elliot mumbled as he pushed the door open to see Fin escorting a man in handcuffs past them and into a holding cell in the back.

"What is this?" Olivia asked as Fin made his way to his desk.

"A guy I have had a hunch about for a while. Munch and I have been watching the area of the park where our three victims were attacked. This bozo has been walking through the area every night for the last week."

"Shopping for his next vic?" Elliot asked.

"Or revisiting his old hunting ground," Olivia noted.

"That's my bet," Fin agreed.

"Where's Munch?" she asked.

"We approached our friend here, we were gonna bring him in for questioning and he swung on Munch. I wrestled him to the ground and got the cuffs on him. He's high on something and reeks like booze. I figured I'd let him chill in there for a little while before I try to question him again."

"Is John okay?" Olivia asked in a concerned voice.

"I'll be fine," he said entering the room with tissue stuffed in both sides of his nose. "Just trying to stop the bleeding."

"Are you sure it isn't broken?" Olivia asked, her motherly instinct kicking in as she rushed to inspect his wounds.

"It's okay."

"It isn't broken, But it's probably going to be all puffy and swollen in the morning. You should put ice on it to help with the swelling. Here," she said opening her purse and dumping out a couple of Tylenol handing them to him, "you should take these every three hours or so. You'll probably be in a lot of pain tomorrow."

"Thanks. Are we ready to question this jerk," he asked looking at Fin.

"I don't know, man. You're already wounded, maybe you should sit this one out. Besides, you are liable to set him off if you step in that room."

"He's right," Elliot said stepping forward. "Why don't you head home? I'll run interference with Fin for a while."

"Are you sure?"

"I got this," Elliot agreed.

"Alright," Munch said grabbing his jacket and heading toward the door.

"How are we gonna do this?" Olivia asked walking to the back of the room to get another look at their suspect.

"I've already called Casey and Cragen, they're on their way," Fin said.

"Why don't you head on home and get some sleep?" Elliot asked Olivia.

"You guys might need help in there."

"You have not slept in two days and you're exhausted. Get some rest."

"Elliot, I'm alright. Just give me a minute to grab a cup of coffee and I'm good. We can just do this in rounds."

Elliot exhaled.

"At least catch a nap in the cribs. I'll take the first shift. I'll wake you in a few hours."

Olivia pressed her lips together and looked over her shoulder as Casey got off the elevator.

"Alright, but you know where I am if you need me."

Elliot watched until she had disappeared into the cribs.

"You ready," Fin asked standing beside the door to the interrogation room.

"As ready as I will ever be," Elliot said following him in.