Skin Crawl
Author: Mrs. Data
Rating: Mature
Disclaimer: Dick Wolf owns everything except the original characters which belong to me.
Author's note: This is a first story of a crossover series (Criminal Intent). In the SVU universe, the events of "Cold" did not occur and will obviously not be acknowledged. For Criminal Intent, any episode past "Kissinger" will not be acknowledged in this series.
Chapter 1
Timothy's heart pounded against his ribs like a wild animal trying to escape from its cage. His breathing became more ragged as he ran down the series of fire escapes hoping to out run Detective Olivia Benson. He thanked God when he landed on the pavement unscathed and continued down the alley. Unfortunately, for him, Detective Elliot Stabler's elbow was waiting to greet him around the corner.
As Elliot told Timothy his Miranda rights, Olivia cuffed him and thanked her partner for his impeccable timing.
"Don't mention it, Liv," Elliot said as he gave her a crooked smile.
As she brushed her hand through her short dark tresses, Olivia entered the interrogation room alone and sat across from Timothy. She crossed her long legs and looked him straight in the eyes.
"Timothy, your stepdaughter, Lisa, said that you raped her and by the looks of those scratches on your face, she also got a piece of you. It's only a matter time before the DNA that she provided us will match up with yours. So, you're pretty much screwed whether or not you confess…but the judge and the DA might be lenient if you do. The choice is," she leaned back in her chair, "yours."
He covered his face with his hands and wept.
"I..I don't know what- what got into me..I swear! I was just so angry at her for coming home looking like some slut and.."
From the other side of the two-way mirror, Elliot, ADA Casey Novak and Captain Don Cragen watched the haggard looking 40-year-old perpetrator break down.
"Well, I didn't expect him to sing like a canary so fast," Elliot said.
"I think he's ready for a plea, Casey," Don told her.
"I'm on it," Casey paused before opening the door, "I wish they'd all roll over as easily as him."
Don and Elliot silently agreed as they watched her enter the interrogation room as Olivia walked past her.
"You two have a good night," Don told Elliot and Olivia s they walked into the squad room.
"It's still kind of early," Olivia said as she grabbed her coat. "Do you want grab a burger or something?"
Elliot checked his mobile phone for any messages from his wife, Kathy; there were none.
"Sure, who's buying?" He grinned at her.
"I will," she shrugged. "I have a coupon, buy one get one free."
That's nice, so 'free' is how much I'm worth to you?" He joked.
"Pretty much," she gave him a playful smile while leading the way out of the squad room.
"Night Captain," John Munch called out as he shut off his computer and threw his coat his shoulder.
Don closed his office door and locked it," John, did you have dinner tonight?"
"No, but I knew there's a rock hard TV dinner waiting for me in my freezer," he quipped.
"In that case, you wanna go to Pinelli's?"
He adjusted his glasses. "Captain, are you asking me out on a man-date?"
Don answered, "No, are you turning down a free meal? Because that would be a first for you."
"No, I was just making sure..Still, don't expect anything from me by the end of the night..I am a gentleman," he smirked.
Sighing, Don shook his head as they left the squad room.
When he heard the front door close and the familiar jingle of house keys, Elliot rolled over in the bed and faced the door. Moments later, Kathy came in.
"Hi," she said to her husband as she began to undress. "You're still up?"
"Yeah..where were you?" He asked her.
She replied as she put on her nightgown, "At my sister's, you know that."
"It's almost midnight."
"There was traffic."
"Then why didn't you call?"
"I forgot my cell at home-why are talking to me like I'm a suspect?"
He paused, "I'm..uh..I'm not..I just want to know where you and Eli were, Kath."
"Well we were fine," she defensively answered. "Next time I won't forget my phone, Elliot."
They looked at each sensing the tension between them but unsure of what to say next.
"I have to wash my face," she told him before heading for the bathroom.
With an exasperated moan, he rolled over to his side of the bed and closed his eyes.
After handing his menu to the waitress, Munch looked at Don and said, "Ok, what is it Don?"
Don folded his hands and answered, "What?"
"I know something is going on. You just let me order lobster."
He knew he shouldn't have underestimated his friend.
"Look Don, whatever it is just tell me. Although I am flattered that you chose to wine and dine me first."
His dark eyes glanced down at the table before meeting John's stare.
"I've been talking to One PP for the last couple of days…You're getting a partner."
John held back his joy and instead asked, "When?"
"Tomorrow…unless you don't-.."
"Captain, I'm not going to sit here and pretend that I've enjoyed being a desk jockey for the last couple of months."
"I know John, I know…"
"So, who is he..or she?"
"Her name is Sothea Ma. She's transferring from Vice, Bronx."
He sensed that his captain was keeping something from him. "How old is she?"
A moment passed before he replied, "Twenty-eight. She was sworn in a few days after her nineteenth birthday. "
His mouth dropped. "Ok..with all due respect Captain, what is it with you having me babysit kids? First, it was Cassidy and then Jeffries. Is this to get back at me for being promoted last fall when you were bumped to the Chief of D's office? Because I honestly didn't want your job!"
"Come on John you know me better than that!" He defensively stated. "And for your information, Thea is not a hot head and unlike Jeffries, she has strong ethics and is professional."
Upon hearing his words, John pulled his head back a bit, "You know her?"
Leaning back in his chair, he said, "Her mother and I went to college together…it was before I went to Vietnam. And I know what you're thinking, but she is a damn good cop. She assisted on a couple of SVU cases throughout the years and she's brought in a lot of collars. She's earned this John, it wasn't handed to her. Just trust me."
The adamant tone of Don's voice and the sincerity in his stare assured him. He knew that his fellow officer and friend had sound judgment.
"All right..I'm sorry but this is kind of sudden," John told him.
"I know it is and I would have told you earlier but the Chief of D's didn't want me to say anything. He wasn't sure if someone so young could handle being in SVU."
"Do you think she can?"
"I do," he said with a little nod.
They stopped speaking once their waitress returned with their food.
"And let's face it," John said as he picked up his fork, "people aren't exactly lining up to be transferred to SVU."
"You're not wrong about that."
"I trust you, Captain."
With a half smile, he replied, "Thanks, after ten years together I wouldn't have expected any less."
"I always forget our anniversary," he joked.
Don chuckled.
