Hello and Goodbye
Olivia looked up from the report in her hand, her eyes catching the time on the clock on top of the TV. She set the report on the arm of the couch to her left and headed into the kitchen. As if on cue the oven timer went 'ding' and she donned oven mitts to pull out two trays of chocolate cupcakes. She set the trays on the counter and pulled off the mitts, searching frantically around the kitchen for the frosting. Just as she found it, her cell phone began to vibrate, bouncing its way towards the edge of the kitchen table. She reached for it, trying to open the container of frosting with one hand.
"Benson," she spoke, balancing the phone between her shoulder and her ear.
"Olivia…where are you? The party's about to start," Elliot replied from the other end.
"I know…I'll be there. I just have to take care of something first," Olivia explained. S he wanted her dessert idea to surprise them all.
"Ok," her partner muttered and hung up. Olivia flipped her phone shut and tossed it on the table, giving the container of frosting all of her attention. Twenty minutes later all of the cupcakes were frosted and placed neatly on a tray. She set them in the back of her car and headed for the precinct. She pulled into the garage and climbed out, nearly colliding with Casey in the process.
"Oh good. I'm not the only one who's late," Casey murmured, offering Olivia a hand with the tray.
"Yeah," Olivia agreed as the two women walked up the stairs.
The sight that met them at the top of the stairs was astounding. Balloons clung to almost every surface of the room and Munch sat in Cragen's leather chair.
"Someone care to explain what the hell is going on?" Casey questioned, trying very hard not to laugh.
"I'm being treated like a King," Munch informed her, flashing her a smirk.
"Well don't expect me to bow down and kiss your feet," the ADA muttered, making a beeline for the punch. Elliot greeted Casey with a quick "hello" as he headed for where his partner stood.
"Cupcakes?" he asked.
"Yeah…I made cupcakes," she answered, the room suddenly growing quiet.
"You mean you bought them, right?" Fin interjected.
"No, Fin. I made them," Olivia repeated.
"You bake?" Elliot asked, sounding rather amused.
"Yes. For Munch….I bake," the female detective replied.
"I'm honored," Munch said with a smile.
The party continued on, everyone enjoying themselves. Fin was currently on his third cupcake with a fourth already on his plate. Olivia couldn't help but laugh at him.
"What's so funny?" Fin shot, pulling the wrapper off the rest of the partially eaten baked good.
"You've had three. You're going to be sick. And I'm not going to hold your head while you puke," Olivia retorted.
"I have a high tolerance," Fin remarked.
"I thought that was for alcohol. I didn't know it applied to chocolate too," Munch commented from the drink table.
"I think Olivia should bake for every party," Elliot called over the small crowd.
"Oh no. I told you...only for Munch," Olivia informed her partner.
"Has anyone seen the Captain?" Casey asked, suddenly noting his absence.
"He was here to help set up but then he peaced out," Fin answered, starting to reach for another cupcake. Olivia darted over, picking up the tray and walking away.
"Now that's not fair," he shouted after her.
"You've been cut off, my friend," Munch teased. Casey couldn't help but laugh along with Munch at the crestfallen look on Fin's face. Olivia set the tray down on her desk and stood in front of it, barring Fin's way. Just then Cragen walked in.
"Welcome back, Captain," Munch greeted his superior.
"How's everything going here?" Don inquired.
"Olivia made cupcakes. Try some," Fin stated immediately, sending the squad into giggles.
"I think Fin's secretly a chocolate addict," Olivia whispered in Cragen's ear, handing him a cupcake.
"Thanks," Cragen stated, indicating the baked good and headed to pour himself some punch. They'd elected not to have alcohol. They didn't want to tempt Cragen.
"Well, we're all really going to miss you, John," Elliot finally announced.
"Yeah…it won't be the same around here without you," Olivia agreed.
"Who am I going to sit and listen to spew conspiracy theories?" Fin asked.
"I'm going to miss you all too. I'm sure I'll see you around…I'm still a cop at heart," Munch replied sincerely. He'd been with the unit for eight years. It was a long time for this line of work and he was both glad and saddened to be leaving. Sure he wouldn't have to deal with the heart breaking cases everyday but it didn't mean he wouldn't still see them on the streets.
Down on the street below a car pulled up to the front of the building. The lights went off and then the engine, the drive just sitting there, staring at the building. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and checked herself in the rearview mirror. She pulled some foundation from her purse and applied it to under her eyes. She looked so much older than she was. She guessed that's what the stress of her line of work would do to people. Satisfied with her appearance, she climbed out of the car and with a concussive 'slam' shut her door and walked up the stone steps. She reached the second floor and heard loud voices and laughter. This had to be the right place. Confidently she walked in to see balloons strewn everywhere and six people lounging around.
"Can I help you?" Elliot asked of the woman who had just appeared in their midst.
"I'm looking for Captain Don Cragen," she answered.
"I'm Cragen," Don called and motioned for her to follow him into his office. She did so dutifully, her gaze landing one ach cop in turn.
"Who is that?" Fin asked as the door shut.
"No clue," Olivia murmured. She picked up her glass of punch and took a sip, her gaze locked on the door. She got a funny feeling about this woman.
"Olivia," John interrupted her thoughts. She looked over.
"What?"
"You ok?" the older cop asked.
"I'm fine," Olivia answered shortly and averted her gaze from the door just as it opened again and Cagen emerged, followed by the woman.
"Not to ruin the party or kick you out, John but this your replacement," Cragen began. John stood up and extended his hand to the woman.
"This is Detective Elle Greenaway," Don finished. Elle almost cringed at the word 'detective'. She had bit her tongue to keep from saying that was a 'Special Agent'. She took Munch's hand and shook it.
"I hear I have some pretty impressive shoes to fill," she said with a small smile on her lips. John just chuckled and dropped her hand. She looked at the other people in the room.
"I' Olivia and this is my partner, Elliot," Olivia introduced.
"You must get tired of introducing each other to people," Elle commented.
"It comes with the job," Elliot muttered, shrugging it off.
"And this is Assistant District Attorney Casey Novak," Cragen introduced.
"Nice to meet you," Casey said, giving Elle a firm handshake.
"You're welcome to join the party, Detective," Cragen told Elle.
"Please, just call me Elle," Elle instructed. The surveyed the group once more before accepting a glass of punch. This was certainly going to be a change. There wasn't going to be long plane rides. Maybe this is just what she needed.