In one universe, tragedy trumps the Tower. In another, chaos causes the Devil to come into his own.

***

In one universe, Elliot Stabler leaves New York without a word to anyone other than his captain.

He stands in his kitchen, staring down at papers he has yet to deliver. All he sees when he closes his eyes is Jenna Fox bleeding out in his arm. All he hears are the gunshots ringing out in the precinct, many of them hers but the loudest is his. His shot, which killed a high school girl. She may have been a murderer, but she was still a kid. And he was the one who killed her.

In one universe, Elliot Stabler leaves New York without a word to anyone other than his captain. In this universe, before he has a chance to call his captain, another call comes in, this one from a different captain. He hesitates before he answers. When he does, he's glad he answers.

"Elliot, it's TK."

***

In one universe, Elliot Stabler leaves without any explanation to Owen Strand or Olivia Benson. He vanishes without a word to any of them and isn't seen for a decade.

In this universe, he rushes up the steps of TK's high school with Olivia and Fin, the 252's battalion vehicle parked outside. Jenna Fox is no longer on his mind. All he thinks about is getting through the throng of students, some of them shouting angrily at each other, some of them sliding down lockers to sleep on the floor, and some of them making out in corners. "What the hell got into them?" Fin asks in bewilderment.

But Elliot has a sinking feeling in his stomach, remembering the panic in Owen's voice. It had also been laced with dread, and Elliot can only think of one conclusion.

They give their names, and the secretary points them in the direction of the school infirmary. Owen sits on the bed next to TK, his arm tight around his son. TK is staring down at his clenched fists, and Elliot can see him shaking. One arm has his sleeve all the way down to his wrist. His other is covered by Owen's other hand, and only when the nurses are looking away does he remove his hand.

Shining on TK's wrist is an ombre XV, its colors black as pitch and red as blood. On Elliot's own wrist, his XVI tattoo throbs in answer.

***

"The Devil," Owen says in disbelief, running his hands through his dark and silver hair as he paces his kitchen. "Out of every card I thought he could be . . . I never thought he would be the Devil."

"The Devil represents more than traits people see as wrong, Owen," Olivia says gently. "We know the cards aren't just upright. They're reversed, too."

Owen drops his head into his hands. "He's been through so much in his life already, Liv," he says quietly. "When he came into his powers, he didn't even know what he was doing. When I got to the school and saw how the rest of the students were reacting just by being near him – "

"But this is different than any of our cases," Olivia gestures between him, herself, and Elliot. "TK isn't alone. He has us, and he has Fin. We can help him learn, Owen."

"I know," Owen sighs and drops into his chair with a sigh. "I know, I just . . . "

Words fail him, but Elliot steps away from where he leaned against the doorway. He hesitates for only a second before he squeezes Owen's shoulder. "You've got us, Owen. So does TK."

Owen nods silently, and Elliot thinks back to the papers he left on his kitchen counter. In one universe, Elliot leaves without a word to Owen or Olivia.

In this universe, when he returns home, he puts the papers in his bedside drawer. Not now, he thinks as he stares at his reflection. Not now.

***

In one universe, Elliot Stabler leaves New York. With that departure, he leaves behind a boy who saw him as a second father, one he wouldn't see for ten years.

In this universe, Elliot is sitting at his table and writing his report on the precinct shooting when there's a hasty knock on the door. He knows who it is before he even stands from the table. He can feel his fury at his actions bubbling inside him, can taste his helplessness at being unable to do anything other than shoot Jenna Fox.

He opens the door and beckons TK inside without a word. "Does your father know you're here?" he asks as he checks the time.

"No," TK cleared his throat, fiddling with his backpack strap as he steps inside. "No, uh . . . school just let out. I took a taxi here. Dad's shift ends in an hour."

Elliot nods and pats the table across from him. "Your powers acting up?" he guesses.

TK glances guiltily up at him. "Am I affecting you?"

"A little," Elliot admits as he sits across from him. "Enough that I knew it was you when you knocked on the door."

TK groans and drops his head into his arms. "I knew this was a bad idea," he huffs. "I could affect the rest of your family."

"Tyler, you came to the right place," Elliot shakes his head, placing his hand on top of TK's and squeezing. "I'm here for you, whatever you need."

TK gulps. "I don't know what I'm doing," he whispers. "I'm not stupid. Ever since Mom and Dad divorced and he told me who he is, I've known what each of the cards stand for. I know what I am, and I know I'm only scratching the surface of what I can do. Dad . . . he's scared for me, Elliot. All the negativity that comes with the Devil – "

"The Upright Devil," Elliot reminds him gently. "The Reversed Devil is another thing entirely."

TK's lips twitch in a bitter smile. "I don't seem to fit the Reversed Devil right now, do I?"

And Elliot can't find a good counter to that at all. "No," he sighs and rubs his forehead. "You don't, Tyler."

TK scoffs and runs a hand through his hair. The action is so like Owen that Elliot almost smiles. "There's so much damage I can cause to people," he says. "I can't physically hurt them, but I saw the students fighting when this tattoo first appeared. Whatever I mentally did to them, it can make them hurt each other. I don't want that to happen."

"Tyler, that's not always going to happen," Elliot tells him, tightening his grip on TK's hand to make the boy focus on him. "I didn't learn to manipulate lightning immediately. Liv didn't figure out how to teleport from one borough to the next just by pointing on a map and deciding to go. Your father didn't master his control of the mind with a single thought. It takes time and practice. Most importantly, you have teachers."

TK looks at him with tears in his emerald eyes, mirrors of his father's. "Dad, Liv, and Fin don't know chaos like you, though," he whispers. "I have you?"

In one universe, Elliot leaves New York and a surrogate son. In this universe, he squeezes TK's hand and nods. "I promise, you do."

***

His papers are submitted to Captain Cragen before the IA investigation concludes. He makes a call to Olivia that evening.

He's waiting in the doorway when the detective comes storming up to him, tears brimming in eyes threatening to turn to stained glass. "You quit?" she demands, her voice trembling in rage.

Owen follows her, his steps more measured and even. If he feels any anger, it doesn't show in his bearing. "I did," he nods and steps back, gesturing for them to come inside. "You two are the second and third to know."

"Are you kidding me, Elliot?" Olivia all but explodes, and Elliot muses about how much effort it took to keep her voice relatively low so his kids weren't woken. "The investigation is going to clear you! Jenna would have killed more people if you hadn't shot her!"

"And is that supposed to make me feel better, Liv?" Elliot snaps, his hand clenched in a fist so hard he feels his nails bite into his palm. "Is that thought supposed to make the memory of shooting a girl Tyler's age go away?"

Olivia freezes, her mouth hanging open as she comprehends his words, and Owen shakes his head. "No," he says quietly. "Because in our professions, we see things that will never go away no matter what people say."

Olivia wilts at the statement, the fight leaving her. "I know," she whispers. "I . . . I know, Elliot. I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that."

Elliot smiles sadly and holds out his arms, and Olivia curls into them like a puzzle piece fitting into place. "I know you didn't," he says, dropping a kiss to the top of her head. "But Owen's right, too. My head isn't in the right place right now, Liv. And I owe it to victims to make sure my headspace doesn't get in the way of their justice."

Olivia nodded against his chest. "I understand," she says with a sniff as she steps back. She does a terrible job of trying to hide her tears. "The squad isn't going to be the same without you."

"I'll still be around, Liv," Elliot chuckles. "You aren't getting rid of me that easily."

"You're still staying in the city?" Owen asks hopefully.

Elliot smiles. "Well, someone has to keep an eye on you two, right?"

Olivia snorts. "What are Fin and Munch, chopped liver?"

Owen coughs to avoid full-blown laughter, and Elliot smiles at them. "We promised to stick together and find the others, right? I can't do that by running away."

Owen grins in delight. "Damn right, you can't."

Olivia doesn't even try to speak with how widely she smiles. She engulfs him in another hug, one Elliot accepts without complaint. When he extends another arm to Owen, the captain joins them. A feeling of rightness settles on Elliot's shoulders, and he closes his eyes to avoid tears brimming in them.

How had he ever thought leaving was ever an option?

***

In one universe, Elliot Stabler leaves New York without a word to anyone except his captain. He leaves with no explanation to Owen Strand or Olivia Benson, and he leaves behind TK Strand and doesn't see any of them for ten years.

This is not that universe. In this universe, Elliot Stabler responds when his brother and surrogate son needs him. In this universe, Owen and Olivia are told upfront that he leaves the NYPD. In this universe, Elliot vows to support TK.

In this universe, Elliot Stabler stays.

***

I wonder if anyone has figured out the general order in which the cards are revealed? ;)