For twelve years, they had been a pair. Never one without the other. Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler had been partners, best friends... until one day the daughter of a rape victim came to the Squad room with a gun and opened fire. Elliot, intent on protecting the people in the room... including Olivia... opened fire and killed the girl. Unable to cope with what he'd done, he left and didn't even say goodbye. A decade has passed and Olivia is en route to her award ceremony when she gets the call... a rental car registered under the name E. Stabler has blown up and there's been a 10-13 called. There's not a moment's hesitation before she turns the car in the direction of the explosion, her mind racing. Questions unanswered and wounds unhealed. ••• This will be a slow burn Bensler/EO fanfiction. I do not own any of the characters - but following the first chapter or so, the ideas held within are my own. We have waited a decade for the return of the prodigal son, so I want to explore the direction their relationship could take. ••• Dark themes may be discussed, trigger warnings apply for mentions of rape, sexual assault, violence, and the use of profanities.