A/N: This is the first Law and Order: SVU story I've written that I've posted. The idea came to me well before Chris Meloni left the show, so these events take place prior to "Scorched Earth", assuming that Elliot had gotten over what happened in the precinct at the end of "Smoked", and that the events in "Scorched Earth" don't happen. Which is what would've happened if Chris hadn't left. But enough of my babbling. I am proud to present...

Law and Order: Special Victims Unit: "Phoenix"

Prologue: Atlas

In the criminal justice system, sexually based offenses are considered especially heinous. In New York City, the dedicated detectives that investigate these vicious felonies are members of an elite squad known as the Special Victims Unit. These are their stories.

Stabler Residence
256 Central Park West, Apt #2A
Tuesday, July 26th, 2011, 1:05 PM

The front hallway was surprisingly dark and filled with shadows, as Elliot Stabler opened the door and stepped inside. He smirked as he noticed a familiar black patent leather purse hooked to the coat tree, and turned around to lock the door. It wasn't often that Elliot got a long lunch. His job got in the way of any lunch hour on a regular basis. But all was quiet at the precinct, for once. So, he'd thought of surprising Kathy with a visit in the middle of the day.

"Hey, hun! Guess who got an extra hour for lunch?" He yelled.

There was no answer.

"Honey? You there?" The cop inside Elliot woke up, his highly trained mind telling him that something was wrong. If her purse was here, than she was here, but if she were alright, she would've said something or come to greet him. She was a light sleeper, after all. And it wasn't like her to sleep in the middle of the day. Not wanting to take any chances, he took out his gun, a standard issue black pistol. He held the gun in both hands against his right leg as he walked cautiously towards the bedroom. When he turned the corner, his stomach flipped.

There was a pool of crimson seeping out from under the locked bedroom door. Blood.

"KATHY!"

Elliot ran at the door and grabbed the knob, his boots stepping in the gruesome puddle. The door rattled, refusing to let him in. His adrenaline pumping, he pointed his gun in front of him, and kicked down the door with all the force he could muster. He ran in as fast as his feet could carry him. But the scene in front of him made him stop in his tracks.

A path of red went from the door to the bed where Kathy lay naked, in a heap of white sheets that were soaked with scarlet around her pale form. Her eyes were closed, her mouth agape her hair messy and sticky. Her body was covered in bruises and cuts, including a horizontal gash going across her neck, where blood was still oozing out.

Elliot was speechless. It was like every other gruesome crime scene he'd seen- but this was his home. His bed. And worst of all, his wife lying there. Everything he'd ever learned as a cop told him that she was dead, but he couldn't bring himself to accept that, even if the evidence in front of him told him otherwise. He hadn't turned off his walkie-talkie- his hand trembling, he lifted it off his belt and pressed the button to call it in.

"D-dispatch, I need- a- a bus t-to- 256 Central Park West… Apartment 2A."

"Copy that. Confirm, that's your apartment, Detective?"

"A-affirmative."

"Ten-four. Bus on route."

His job done, he walked over to his wife, stunned, and picked up her limp form in his arms. She felt cold. The blood was getting on his clothes, but he really didn't care.

"Oh god, Kathy… Please, wake up. You gotta wake up, Kathy, please…"

His hand shaking, he placed two fingers underneath her chin in the side of her neck. No pulse. No, oh god no… Kathy, please… He hugged her tightly as he closed his own eyes, feeling hot tears streaming down his cheeks. It wasn't long before sirens grew louder, then roared to a stop outside.

A/N: And there it is, the first chapter of my first Law and Order: SVU fic! I'm looking forward to your reviews. The next chapter will be up on October 3rd; one week from today.