Disclaimer: I don't own these characters. Please don't sue!

THE NEW PA

Chapter 1

It was Monday morning and Cragen was sitting at his desk, his head in his hands. A long week loomed ahead of him and he was already exhausted. A knocking at the door forced him to lift his head. Standing in the doorway was a woman.

"May I help you?" Cragen asked.

"Are you Captain Cragen?" she asked.

"That's right," he answered.

The woman stepped into Cragen's office and said, "I'm your new PA." She approached Cragen with her hand outstretched. Cragen took her hand and shook it briefly.

"I don't understand. We already have a PA." he responded in surprise.

She woman shrugged and said, "The bureau called me really early this morning and said that your PA was going on a month's administrative leave. That's all they told me."

This wasn't good: anytime someone was put on administrative leave it was because they had screwed up.

Cragen looked at the woman more closely. Although no one's idea of a fashion plate himself, Cragen knew this woman was dressed very unprofessionally. Jeans, flip-flops, and a t-shirt with a questionable message on it. Her hair was unkempt and she was chewing a wad of gum.

Cragen spoke again, "I'm sorry, I didn't get your name."

"Oh, sorry, Sherry Brandywine, at your service," she said cheerily.

Cragen was sure he had misheard. "What was that again?"

"Sherry Brandywine. My parents were these radical hippies from the sixties and they thought a name like that was just the coolest. Weirdo's."

"Thanks for clearing that up for me. Not meaning to be critical, but we do have the vestiges of a dress code. No jeans, except on Friday. Close toed shoes, and shirts without messages. And no gum," said Cragen.

"Gee, the bureau didn't tell me that. Sorry," said Sherry.

"Well, tomorrow try to dress a little better. For today let me show you where the PA sits and we can get you started." Cragen suggested.

Cragen and Sherry left the office and walked out to the PA's desk. Cragen acquainted her with the phone system, showed her where the copy room was, and gave her an approximate schedule to follow. He left her to her own devices and to get to his own work.

As the morning progressed the detectives and uniforms checked in. Sherry introduced herself when convenient and jumped in with both feet on her new job.

By the end of the day Cragen had essentially forgotten about the new PA. As he was preparing to head out he stopped by her desk. A moment of guilt struck him. He had not even stopped to check on her during the day. If it bothered her, she didn't let on.

On her second day Sherry arrived in plain black dress pants and a simple white blouse. Boring, but regulation at least. Sherry was rapidly learning all the names of each person in the squad. She made fresh coffee (that was actually drinkable) every few hours. The week passed rapidly and on Friday Sherry brought in a big box of donuts. Cragen called Sherry into his office at 5:30 on Friday. Cragen asked how her first week had gone.

"Pretty well, actually. This is a nice squad; most of the folks working here have been very nice to me. I like it here." Sherry answered.

Cragen looked at the woman sitting across from him. She was in her late thirties he estimated. Her "jacket" had arrived with her but Cragen had not found the time to examine it. His official opinion was that she was going to be fine for the squad.

"Yes, the detectives have told me that you are very good at giving them messages and keeping general order. I've been hearing good things about your work," responded Cragen.

"Sir, I'm glad your pleased with me work," Sherry replied with a smile.

Cragen glanced at his watch. Almost 6pm. "Why don't you call it a day, and I'll see you on Monday."

Sherry jumped to her feet and said, "Thank you, sir, and have a nice weekend." She left briskly.

In the next week Sherry proved a willing worker. She was pleasant and good tempered. She knew very person by name, how they liked their coffee, who worked late, who came in early, who was calm and who was volatile. She volunteered to run errands and seemed to like every person equally. Cragen was impressed despite himself.

When Sherry had been in the squad two weeks Olivia Benson stopped by her desk. "Good morning, Sherry."

"Good morning, Detective Benson. How are you today?" asked Sherry, brightly.

"Oh, fine, I guess. I have a favor to ask, but only if it's convenient for you," Olivia said.

"Certainly, how can I help you?" Sherry asked.

"Elliott is on a tear today. He is in a very bad mood and I need to get away for a few minutes. Can you tell him that I got called away on a follow-up to a case?" asked Olivia.

Sherry nodded, writing a note to herself. "You got it. If Elliott comes by here I'll try to distract him and tell him you went to interview a witness or something."

Olivia nodded. "Thanks, Sherry." She quietly slipped out of the squad.

Olivia was hardly out the door when Elliott entered. His face was a mask of tension. He paced past Sherry's desk and walked down to the women's restroom. He waited outside for a few minutes then rapped on the door. "Olivia?" he called. There was, of course, no answer.

Sherry jumped into the breach. "Oh, Detective Stabler, are you looking for Detective Benson?"

"Yeah, who else would I be looking for?" Elliott snapped.

Sherry was unfazed by his outburst. "I believe Detective Benson went out to interview a witness on some sort of follow-up on a case. She left a little while ago. That's all she told me."

Elliott leaned over her desk and said very softly, "So, how long were you going to let me pace up and down this hall, huh?"

Sherry was nothing if not unflappable. "Detective, I didn't know you were looking for anyone until you called for Detective Benson." She gave a somewhat snide smile "Sorry I wasn't able to read your mind."

Elliott's bad mood got the better of him. "Don't be a smart-ass with me. Think I don't know what you're up to?"

Sherry took on a wide-eyed, innocent look. "No, tell me, detective. What am I up to?"

Elliott was slightly embarrassed. He hadn't meant to say that, exactly. He only wanted to make sure that she wasn't withholding information from him. "I said, don't be a smart-ass. I don't need it, not today." He walked away.

Olivia returned in about an hour. Sherry communicated by hand signals that Elliott was looking for her. Olivia mouthed "thank you" and hurried into the squad.

Sherry heard the disagreement between the detectives. She listened as Elliott and Olivia squabbled about duties and responsibilities. The worst seemed to be over and everyone went back to work.

At the end of the day Elliott stopped back at Sherry's desk. "I'm sorry I acted like a jerk earlier. Bad day, you know?"

Sherry smiled at Elliott and said, "It's OK, detective. We all have a bad day sometimes. Forget about it." She seemed relaxed and sincere.

"Thanks," Elliott said. "Good night." He left for the night.

Olivia stopped by Sherry's desk, too. "Thanks for the help today. Sometimes I don't know how to handle him."

Sherry looked up at the detective. "I think you do an awesome job of handling him. Men can be such a pain."

Olivia just nodded.