Disclaimer: Dick Wolf and NBC own "Law and Order". I don't.

A/N: I love the episode "Zero". What M/C shipper doesn't? Ugh, Carly drove me nuts, stupid bimbo. LOL Back off of Mike! He's Connie's, and you're too dumb for him! :-P Anyway, I re-watched that episode on 10/30/11, and this one-shot came to me. I'm dedicating it to anyone who has ever read one of my fics here. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedules for my little hobby here. You rock! ^_^

Interested

Connie spotted Mike out of the corner of her eye, as she sat at her desk, typing on her laptop. He was headed towards his office, carrying a fresh cup of coffee.

"Mike, wait," she said, turning to him.

Mike stopped in his tracks and turned to her.

"What is it?" he asked her.

"I'm proud of you," Connie said. "Very proud."

Their eyes met.

"What for?" Mike asked gently. "I just did my job is all."

"No," said Connie. "Mike, you showed me just what an honest and decent man you are. It would've been so easy for you to do what Carrie or Carmen, whatever her name is, did—to take advantage of Judge Reynolds' dementia and use it to help you win the case, but you didn't. Instead, you were honest, and you did the right thing by trying to get another judge to preside over the trial. And I'm so sorry I accused you of only doing so for your own pride. I'm so sorry…I—I haven't said this to a man in a long time because it's been a long time since I've met one who deserved to hear it, but…Mike, you're a good man. You really are. You're honest, decent, caring, sweet…I just thought you needed to hear that…"

Mike melted.

"You want me to list all your good qualities, 'cause we'd be here all night if I did," he then said sweetly.

"Don't put me on a pedestal, Mike. I don't deserve it," Connie said sadly. "I can't believe I couldn't give you the benefit of the doubt here…"

"Connie, if you're skeptical about me, it's my fault," said Mike. "You were absolutely right—I pimped you out to the jury during the Mason case, and I will never forgive myself for that…I was wondering if you even like me anymore—if you're just tolerating me…But apparently, you aren't…You know, I still want to continue to make that up to you. But I don't know if I'll ever feel like I have."

It was Connie's turn to melt. She hoped that some day, she'd be able to tell him exactly why her faith in men had been shaken to its core—and maybe add that little by little each day, he was restoring that faith to what it had been before she'd ever met Marcus Woll.

"How about you let me decide that?" she said warmly.

Mike nodded.

"I can do that," he said softly.

"Mike—I already have forgiven you," Connie said, unable to keep herself from staring into his eyes.

He returned her gaze.

Connie could tell by his expression how grateful he was.

The two of them looked at each other for a moment.

Then—

"So," Connie said, catching her breath, "that's too bad about what's-her-face. Fired and being investigated by the Attorney General. That's too bad," she went on, not sounding the slightest bit sorry for Carly.

Mike smiled adorably, displaying his dimples.

"Try not to cry so hard," he flirtatiously teased her.

Connie laughed.

"Yeah, I'll try. Can't make any guarantees, though—I'm pretty broken up about it," she then bantered back.

Mike snickered.

"You know," he then said softly, becoming serious again. "Carly was kind of right. I am interested…just not in her."

Though Connie had returned her attention to her computer screen, she'd heard that comment—and it made her smile.