DISCLAIMER: I clearly do not own Law & Order, any variation, so this is purely a work of fiction and my first in a really long time so please don't be TOO crazy with feedback, but all is welcomed and considered. Thanks! Relationship Pairs: Main - Barba x Carisi, Rollins x Dodds

Chapter 1:

"Carsi…."

It seemed like a far off echo that was whispering its deathly cold sense into a spry detective's ear.

"…Carisi…."

There it was again. Yet, why was it slowly getting closer? The irony he supposed of the sound of his name seeming to match the somber view before crystal blue irises now shadowed with the nauseating image. Of course, he had seen so many horrific scenes on the job; so much death it would make the strongest sailors pale in comparison. The inhumanity of this act was almost unbearable to comprehend.

"Sonny Carisi! Earth is calling, you'd better answer." The image suddenly distorted away to see an almost flustered Amanda Rollin staring up at him with water dripping into her face and drenching her hair which was held back in the infamous ponytail.

Her lips were pulled tightly into a frown, nearly as tightly as her ponytail, and she was emitting this strong anger at his person which pulled Sonny's musings away from where they had been floating in la la land it seemed. "What are you doing? We need to get this crime scene processed before the rain pours harder and washes away our evidence!"

Lips parted in a small "o" shape as though confused before shaking his head and promptly nodded, the normally zealous young detective had been infatuated with what seemed to be a never ending killing spree of Latino based law enforcement officials: from correctional officers to a judge from Manhattan– both male and female in the three boroughs of Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn. The number seemed to now have tallied up to around 12 within the last 6 months and they were no closer than they had been on day one.

"Sorry Amanda, I guess my head's not in the game." A sheepish expression tossed back which rewarded the Staten Island native with a mild glare, hands tossed up as if in defeat when his own eyes seemed to only grow in a plead for forgiveness.

"Fine, whatever. Let's just get the vic back to the ME's office and we can get outta this rain." Her gloved hands went to rubbing at her arms to further emphasize the chill the rain brought.

Both knew the rain was but a small factor, it was more the horrific scene before them where the latest victim; number 12, had been found. This one a traffic cop from Brooklyn.

A man not much older than Carisi himself and leaving behind a wife with 3 kids. The reason this landed in their laps and not with the Homicide Unit is the evidence of sodomy committed prior to death. The Brooklyn officer, Ernesto Lopez, had been sodomized with his own police baton that was located 3 feet away in a dumpster completely dusted for prints. His mouth slashed ear to ear, tongue removed and was stuffed with a lacy purple thong which was the signature of this serial killer; each victim had their mouths stuffed with a different color yet always the same style – lacy and a thong. The clothing around his lower half discarded with the baton, leaving him bleeding out and half naked on the floor beneath the Brooklyn bridge. The true cause of his death was not entirely clear, but they knew from the first few that it was from asphyxiating on their own blood as their mouths were ripped open.

It was like a real horror movie of the 20s when the Black Dahlia, whose murder had also been unresolved, was replaying back in their day and age. Carisi's hand were checking the pockets of Ernesto's police jacket to find a small note neatly folded.

He opened to peer at the neatly scribbled, "A perfect dozen…shall I bake another to make it a Baker's dozen?" Sonny read aloud, standing from his crouched position as the medical coroners worked on removing the body promptly from the rain and into the awaiting ambulance. "Why aren't we close Amanda?"

"Carisi, if I knew….if only I knew." She sighed, removing her gloves after bagging the dumpster evidence that had been meticulously absent of fingerprints …as the others were…and both looking so worse for the wear. "Call it in."

A quick pull of his phone from his SVU jacket, Sonny called the familiar number back to his precinct and strolling back to the patrol car with the new mother who seemed to be texting her nanny to see the status of her daughter and the nanny. "Yeah, hi Lieu it's Sonny. So Amanda and I finished up here…is it…possible to send Fin or Dodds to tell the widow the news? We're kinda not in the right sorts, the killer worked a real number on 'im and we're just gonna head back." He paused outside of the driver's side, leaning against the door and nodded as rain dripped into his neatly coiffed hair that was falling out of place. "Uh huh….okay…got it. Thanks Liv, Rollins and I will be there like in 30 min."

Hopping behind the wheel, the radio playing soft tunes as the taller of the two buckled in and glimpsed to Amanda from the corner of his eye, "Jesse okay?" The questioned asked, trying to distract them both as he started the drive back.

"Huh?"

"Now who's head isn't in the game?" A laugh escaping him from having his arm punched. "Hey hey, don't hit me, I'll make us crash."

"She's good. The nanny just put her down for her nap….so I'm in for a comfortable night of a glass of wine when I get home." Amanda laughed, rubbing her face as the rainwater dripped against the windows of their vehicle. "We're not even close are we…." A statement more than a question. The rest of the ride back was quiet.

When stepping back into the squad-room, both dripping wet and the coffee in their hands not helping the shiver that passed through when a short woman ran past in hysterics only to fall on the nearby officer at the elevators and dry heaving.

"Ernesto! My Ernestooooo….por que Dios por queeeee." It was a heart-breaking wail that made Sonny wince as the officer pulled the woman into the elevator and escorted her downstairs the mess she was in.

Amanda peeked into the room where stood Dodds, holding onto his left cheek that was reddening promptly and Fin who seemed almost at a loss. "I'm taking you talked to the widow."

"How'd you guess?" Fin Tutuola, the veteran of the group besides Olivia Benson, mentioned with his normal sarcastic drawl before taking his seat once more. He picked up the habit no doubt from his long-time partner Munch who had long retired. He twined his fingers idly on his chest as he leaned back, "I take it there wasn't much else we could tell her at this time right? It's what got Dodds a right smack. Sorry Sarge."

Mike Dodds, in all his law enforcement career, had never been slapped so it was a little bit of a shocker so he could only shake his head and go back to his seat. "It's alright, someone had to be outright and take it. Her reaction was warranted."

"Might wanna ice it, it'll start to bruise." Amanda mentioned, heading to go find said pack of ice before the other could protest; definitely motherhood was becoming of her.

Carisi could only shake his head as he sank into his own desk, trying to brush off an excess of water as he tossed off his jacket and shook his head of the water. "I woulda taken the slap over the view any day…I'm tellin' ya guys. It's getting' worse…" He mused, uploading the photographs from his phone to log them into his computer files for sharing purposes as Rollins returned with the ice pack to the reluctant Mike who did not want to be given special treatment just because of his father's status.

Before anyone could tease the new Sergeant, out came their fearless leader and trailing behind was ADA Rafael Barba; the man who could turn heads with a witty comment or a silence with a fierce gaze.

Both were coming from Olivia's office and had a presence of in itself. Including that of Sonny Carisi, who was honing his attention on the Assistant District Attorney. The Hispanic man slightly shorter, leaner than himself and still could keep a jury of 12 captivated in his emotional and tantalizing prosecution skills: in short, his idol. When it skirted to something more, Sonny could not say or be clear off, yet he knew nothing good would come from puppy love or a crush with a man who would sooner kick him than kiss him.

Growing up in a Catholic home, the young detective had been taught that relations that were sanctioned by God and considered holy were only between a woman and a man ONLY. Anything besides the fact was considered flirting with the devil and forbidden, but the devil being presented in the form of a mouthy ADA was still too hard to not peek. He knew that he was bisexual since his patrolman days when he had the biggest crush on his partner who seemed to catch onto his affections late in the game and demanded a switch. It had been devastating yet an almost wake-up to him, he had to pick his battles and know when it would be appropriate to chase down an office affair considering they would always be together: working or otherwise. Imagine if he could not get his hands on his partner, what made him think that chasing down a powerful yet really beautiful ADA? It was definitely skirting with danger and the thought enticed him.

Besides to the fact, he knew Rafael Barba was a lady's man considering his gallant appearances to police charity affairs in expensively tailored suits and beautiful women that practically sparkled at his side so there was no room for "ifs, ands, or buts."

Yet speaking of butts…. Rafael's was looking rather perky in his three-piece, the vest not covering as much the long jacket would so it allowed him quite the view when the attorney had turned to whisper briefly to Olivia. When he had turned back, the blonde was still clearly out of it and not removing the beautiful image that helped replaced the horrible one from earlier.

"Carisi!"

There goes his name again. Yet this time it was definitely closer, not echoing and yelled in that Spanish accented voice that made his mouth fall open slightly.

A sheepish smile came onto his lips after blinking his baby blues rather rapidly to clear his vision and was greeted with several faces at once this time around: An amused Finn, an unamused Olivia, an Amanda who had her hand to her mouth to stifle her laughter, a Dodds who held the ice pack and shaking his head, and finally landing on Rafael whose eyebrow was perched up in that curious manner and lips pursed. "Are you done drooling in your odd dream world Carisi?"

"Ah, yes Counselor. Sorry about that….lack o'sleep ya know?" He mused in his own native accent that was covering up as he wiped his mouth and cleared his throat.

All of them stood there and then shook their heads almost simultaneously as if this was the norm sometimes. Soon though the tone of the conversation went from amused to serious in two seconds when Olivia mentioned, "We're running out of time….it'll be soon when another body will appear." She commented as she ran a hand through her hair, hands on her hips as they all sat there and let the finality of those words come into play.

Done