note: See bottom of the page for all Arabic translations!!
 

PART ONE:

(two years earlier)

“Put the gun down.”

Varek's voice was clear as Ali raise her body from the sand. Red hair falling from under the cloth that covered her head. Blood dripped from her bottom lip before she rolled away as the gun's fired almost instantaneously. Sand flew into her eyes from her attackers bullet but she felt the body fall on her.

Standing, Ali Cavanagh coughed and brushed the sand from her eyes. “Aziim,*” she muttered brushing the cloth away from her head. Using it to brush the sand from her mouth, Ali looked at Varek.

Brown eyes meeting her green, Jonas Varek removed the covering from his own head. The dead body at their feet was the only connection to the kingpin.

Their only connection.

(Present day)

“Cavanagh!”

Fumbling the Nerf football before it fell onto the case file she was staring at. Spinning around in her chair, Ali raise an eyebrow before watching Cragen beckon her in. Swallowing, she probably was going to be packing to go back to Alaska. Funny thing was that she wanted to be in Alaska! “Yeah?”

Glancing at her, Elliot swallowed. He knew her story too well. After all, part of it was his! Her rage was something different. She was a good detective at least that was what Varek told them. Cragen wouldn't have hired her if she wasn't. Still though her stunts had gotten her the spot as the 'rebel without a cause' position on the squad.

“Your working a case with Elliot.” Cragen told her motioning for her to sit.

Like a cat, Ali moved and sat next Elliot. Crossing her legs, she took the file and flipped it open. “This mean I'm on the nice list?” she asked flipping through the file.

He chose not to answer that one. “The guy has given himself the name of the Night Casanova.”

“Either way,” Elliot stated as she closed the file to look at her. “He struck again.”

Her eyes flicked over to Elliot before back at Cragen. “Where's Olivia?” Ali asked. She wasn't IAB's favorite detective and rumor had it that once her morale of playing by the rules changed, Ali would not work in the field.

“With Varek on another case.”

Ali nodded. “So I'm gonna work with Elliot until she's done.”

“I'm giving you a bone,” Cragen returned as Elliot stood and opened the door. “Take it or leave it.

Standing, Ali nodded. “Honored Captain.” She returned before following Elliot back out. Collecting her coat, Ali zipped the tight leather jacket before pulling her locks out of the coat. “Can I drive?” Ali teased Elliot before following him out of the squad room.

PART TWO:

Her eyes fell first on the younger blonde pacing the hallway. By the girls appearance, Ali guessed she was family. However the attire, jean miniskirt, two shirts that exposed a pierced navel and a torn pair of fishnets. In her mind she could already claim it as hooker wear.

Falling behind Elliot, Ali glanced at the girl again who this time flashed her a small smile. Noticing Elliot turning into a room, she looked at the girl in the bed. It took every muscle in her body not to flinch.

Tubes came from every point of her. The large destructive wounds covering her face was an eye grabber. Ali knew that the girl wasn't awake. There was no words, English or Arabic, to describe the horrors in front of her. No drug kingpin had beaten any of his constituents this badly either.

“Bianca didn't even know what hit her.”

Both turned to face the blonde girl before flashing their badges. “I'm Detective Elliot Stabler, this is my partner Detective Ali Cavanagh.”

Wrapping her arms around her body, the blonde sat next to her sister. “K-”She swallowed, raising an eyebrow, “Friends call me K-mart.”

“K-mart?”

Facing Ali, K-mart swallowed. “Kylie Martin...K-mart.” She clarified. “Bianca's my sister.”

Elliot nodded. Glancing at Ali, Elliot noticed the distance in her eyes. “What can you tell us about your sister?”

K-mart moved her eyes to Elliot. “Bianca was going to a night class.” she informed them, motioning for the two detectives to sit in the open chairs. “Studying to be a doctor.” Pausing, K-Mart chewed on her fingernail before continuing. “No one would want to hurt her.”

“Did she mention anyone following her?”

Eyes flicking over to Ali, K-Mart shook her head. “No,” Pausing K-mart looked deep in thought for a minute. “She got some flowers two days ago. We figured that it was from Jack.”

“Jack?”

“Her ex.” K-Mart returned. “They promptly met the garbage disposal.” Leaning her head back, K-Mart closed her eyes.

“Are your parents?”

“They are currently in Hong Kong.” K-Mart returned. “Second Honeymoon.”

“They are flying back right?” Ali asked confused.

“No,” K-Mart returned. “The egg and Sperm donors will not be here.”

Nodding, Elliot handed her his card, followed by Ali giving K-Mart hers. Leading the way, Elliot stopped after pressing the elevator button. “You okay?” Listening to the strings of Arabic, Elliot raised an eyebrow. “English.”

“I'm fine,” Ali returned before leading the way into the elevator.

PART THREE:

Entering the squad house, Ali remained quite as she eyed Varek and Olivia talking over coffee. Returning to her desk, Ali swallowed as she placed down the notebook she carried. Red hair being a pillow for her head, Ali closed her eye attempting to try and picture a man who would have harmed a woman like Bianca.

“You okay?”

Eyes opening to see Varek extending a cup off coffee to her. Sitting next to her on the edge of her desk, Varek sighed seeing her face. “Maykhaalif?*” he repeated as Elliot passed.

“Laa**.” Ali Returned before glancing at Olivia and Fin. “biiid min maykhaalif.***”

He squeezed her shoulder. Part of her was damaged since their return from the Middle East. Some anger was part his fault, though Varek knew she couldn't remember. Shoulder throbbing from an old wound, Varek ignored it as he remained next to Ali.

To Varek he was the reason why she was there in the squad. Swallowing some coffee, he watched as Cragen glanced at the two. Part of him knew they weren't the most diplomatic detectives. Varek's own undercover past was that of a terrorist while Ali had been an arms dealer. Still they had busted the drug cartel even if they were bluntly left out of the coverage. With out them, Varek knew the case would have flopped.

But then he had brought her out of Alaska and back to the life of a police officer. She had been happy, supposedly, running a bar. Varek could tell she wasn't, but now with the involvement of a serial rapist, Varek knew that there were things that were going to unlock in her brain. Things he didn't have answers too.

“Was it linked to Casanova?”

Cragen's voice brought them both out of the silent funk. Ali feeling eyes on her, lowered the black coffee. “Hook line and sinker.” she returned. Feeling eyes on her, Ali took another drink of her coffee.

“Forensics is still out,” Elliot added. “The ER stated that she was raped by not only a person but with something else.”

Cragen nodded. “What about her sister?”

“Miss Martin,” Ali returned leaving out the nickname for K-Mart. “Wasn't touched.”

“We sure?”

“Trust me,” Ali returned, “With the force he raped her sister, Martin would have some kind of injury if he had touched her.”

“What's up with Haung's profile?” Varek asked Munch after a moment.

“He's been busy with some guy down in Louisiana,” Munch returned, “He did however fax this beautiful little statement down.” Handing the fax to Varek, Munch sat. “He's added Women hater to the long list.”

Varek lowered the profile to allow Ali to peer over his arm. The profiler had narrowed the man down to a bed wetter and incest. Still there was no connection to who would commit the crimes. “Charmer.”

“Extremely,” Ali agreed before looking at Cragen. “The man is starting to spiral.”

Cragen looked at Ali. If there was anything that she was good for it was stating the obvious and then to light some serious fires under butts. “Cavanagh, my office.”

Standing, Ali took her coffee with her. Ali had been so wrapped up with talking with Varek. To her speaking in Arabic was easier then English but it wrapped her entire mind around it.

“Close the door.”

Ali did. Taking a sip of her coffee, Ali swallowed it before looking at Cragen. “What's up?”

Motioning for her to sit, Cragen sat as well. Pulling her file from the group, Cragen leaned back as he opened it. “Don't make me regret this.” he warned first hand. “IAB is looking at me to collect your badge and walk you out the door.”

“Oh.”

“The order to keep you on Desk duty is now lifted,” Cragen told her, “No noses will be broken.”

“Got it.” Ali replied standing and moving back to the door.

“Ali,” Cragen called. Watching her turn around, Cragen gave her a loose smile. “Don't done anything stupid.”

PART FOUR:

Head covered, Ali walked silently into the darken mosque. Glancing at Varek for only a second before she moved back through the room. Weapon at her side, Ali knew she had to play the role of an arms dealer. Still the danger was thicker then air.

Light blinded her as she felt the arms of some one behind her. He smelled familiar. It had to be Varek. Coughing, she heard the gun shot before she froze. Swallowing, she felt the bar beat her on the head before she plunged into darkness.

“Ali!”

Varek made her jump as Ali opened her eyes. “What's the what?” She asked after a moment, blinking in the blinding light. Rubbing her eyes, Ali moved to look at him from the side of the cot.

“Forensics is in.” Varek informed her. “Cragen wants all of us.”

Standing, Ali threw her hair into a sloppy bun before following Varek out to the squad house. She was sleeping only thinking. After all, who could sleep. No the need for a dark place to think was her only desire.

And think she had, Ali's own attack plan on this man was coming. Moving out she saw Cragen eye her as her cell phone vibrated. Noting the pay phone number, Ali bowed out of the meeting before taking the call. “Cavanagh.”

“Detective Cavanagh....It's-uh-K-Mart.”

Arching an eyebrow, Ali propped herself up against a window as she took the call. “How can I help you?” She asked.

Silence reigned as if K-Mart was debating telling her. Hearing rustling on the other end, Ali was about to ask again when the other woman finally spoke up. “My sister got some flowers.”

“Parents?”

“No,” K-Mart returned. “They're signed Casanova.”

Nearly dropping her phone, Ali nodded. “Okay, what did you do with em.”

K-Mart moved away from her sisters bed. “Nothing!” she cried. “I went for something to eat and they appeared!”

Ali was moving before K-Mart had finished her statement. “Okay, listen we'll have some one there to pick them up. Don't touch them.” She told K-Mart. “I'll be there.” she added. Hearing K-mart agree before hanging up, Ali looked at the group. “Our boy just sent some flowers.”

“I'm on it,” Elliot returned. Glancing at Ali he gave her a loose smile. The Martin girl had been started by them and now he wondered if she was going to stay on since Olivia is back.

“I'm driving,” Ali returned bluntly before following him out of the squad.

__________________________________________________________

Glossary--

1. Aziim= great

2. Maykhaalif= okay

3. Laa= no

4. Biiid min maykhaalif= Far from okay.