This story tells the murky tale of how the Puppet Master, unknown to our detectives at this point, rewrote history. It is set before The Key to the Truth and will be two chapters long. Inspired by various interviews that I tortured myself in reading for the purpose of this story. Honestly; the background reading was hard going.
Disclaimer - not mine as things would be a whole lot different if it were.
November 2011
Munch knew. Munch always knew what was really going on. The trouble is, nobody listened, and with what he was on to now, he doubted they were going to start listening now. It was a crazy theory, if they shook their heads at some of the other well researched theories he held, there was just no way that they would believe this.
He debated how to broach his theories with Olivia, 'Hey Liv, ever watched the Twilight Zone?' Perhaps 'Remember Invasion of the Body Snatchers'..or the more direct, 'Are you in fact a pod person?' might be the best opener.
He couldn't be sure whether Olivia really was Olivia... he had to talk to her to find out the truth - and discover whether they were all victims of widespread mind control or whether...and this theory unsettled him the most; Olivia Benson was actually a pod person.
He glanced around the squad room apprehensively, feeling paranoid and suspicious, but realised to his relief that they were alone; he had to pick his moment, having no idea who might be involved and even if the squad room was bugged. Deciding to take the risk, he leaned forward, watching Olivia with curiosity.
"Hey Liv?" he whispered, the secretive tone of his voice causing her to look up.
"Yeah Munch?" she replied happily.
"You hear from Elliot?"
She paused, a flash of familiarity crossing her face before her expression changed to one of slight confusion.
"Elliot?" she asked,with a puzzled, questioning tone to her voice.
"Yes Elliot, your best friend and partner of over twelve years, the person you hold a deep emotional mutual co-dependence with (I read your psych file…) ...have you spoken to him since the shooting in May?"
"Nope!" she casually replied.
Munch sighed and stood up, walking over to her desk and sitting on the edge, leaning down slightly to speak to her.
"You don't think that's strange?" he whispered with a conspiratorial tone.
"Strange? What do you mean? Why would it be strange?" she asked.
"Olivia, it's been six months since you spoke to him?" Munch asked, "Why haven't you gone to see him?"
Olivia frowned, looking confused, "I left him a message but he hasn't called back," she shrugged.
"You left him a message...and you haven't tried to contact him since? For six months?" Munch said, "Olivia, can't you see that something is wrong here?
"Wrong?" she replied, confused, "The only thing wrong was that I thought I mattered to him, but he didn't return my calls. I was clearly nothing to him, so he cut me out of his life in a cold and callous way. I mean, I couldn't even make decisions without him; it's like... I can reboot my life now!" she paused, smiling.
Munch frowned, watching her intently as he silently assessed her words.
"I can be happy and live a whole new life! Finally!" Olivia said as she stood up, an overjoyed expression suddenly taking over from the confusion she wore, "I feel...sort of free...like something was holding me back, but now - I can do anything!"
"Olivia, nothing you just said made any sense! I think I know what's happening here, but if nobody believes me then this will only get worse," he sighed, "hear me out Liv, OK?"
Olivia raised an eyebrow and shook her head, "Ok John, what do you think is going on then? Government plot to steal identities? Alien abductions? What is it this time?"
"Oh, there is a plot Olivia, but it's far more sinister than anything I have researched before...our minds are being altered...and you are being affected the most."
Olivia laughed and shook her head, "wow that really tops your crazy theories Munch."
As she grabbed her jacket and turned to leave Munch gripped her arm causing her to turn and frown. "What is it? Don't tell me you really believe this?"
"Olivia, somebody is trying to destroy Elliot, and change history, rewriting the past! Making you think he was stopping you from living your life - they are changing our memories and hitting you the hardest...you haven't even gone to see him Liv...can't you see how abruptly out of character you are acting?"
Olivia stared at him in disbelief, "wow, mind control Munch? You seriously believe this? I think you'd better talk to Cragen about a psych evaluation of your own!"
Munch sighed and dropped his hand from her arm in defeat.
"Olivia - Elliot Stabler has disappeared under a strange cloud of disbelief, and you are not even questioning it, you are not even concerned about him!"
"This is insane Munch - you are insane, i'm going home," said Olivia shaking her head as she turned and began to walk away.
"Olivia!" Munch called, "just one more thing, ok?"
Olivia sighed and stopped, turning around to face him as he walked toward her.
"Ok what?" she said.
"Who is Elliot Stabler?" he said simply.
Olivia looked baffled, "Why?"
"Prove to me that you are Olivia Benson," he said.
Olivia laughed but her smile soon faded when she realised the grave expression on Munch's face.
"Jesus Munch, you think i'm what? A clone?"
Munch took a mental note to discuss the clone theory with his ex wife when he checked in with her later.
"Who is Elliot Stabler?" Munch repeated.
"Ok, if it'll get you to leave me alone, but you are really losing it Munch," she said, irritated.
Munch stared at her intently, awaiting her response while mentally assessing the likelihood of her being a clone, and wondering where the real Olivia Benson might be stashed.
"Elliot Stabler is a detective, umm...he...he...damn it, why is this hard?"
Munch sighed, "I'm not certain, but I don't think you're a pod person Liv. I do think you are a victim of mind control however - your memories are being altered, we have to act now to stop this and find Elliot!"
Olivia laughed, but Munch could tell his words were slightly unsettling to her.
"This is crazy Munch, you know that right?" she said quietly, glancing around to check noone else had heard him.
"Olivia," Munch continued, unperturbed by her disbelief, "Elliot Stabler….who is he to you?" Munch asked.
"Just someone I worked with, but he's gone now," she shrugged.
Munch felt his eyes widen in shock, "Olivia, how do you feel about him leaving?"
"Fine...no actually great! I have three dates lined up this month, and now noone can stop me going on them and meeting someone and being happy and having babies!" she smiled.
"Elliot didn't stop you doing any of that, your crazy work schedule did!"
"All that will change now Elliot has left!" Olivia exclaimed happily.
"Think about what you're saying, it's madness - how can Elliot leaving change the impact of your working hours on your love life, or the likelihood of you having a baby?"
"He wanted me to be unhappy Munch, and now I am SO happy, it's like my life has turned a new wonderful page - it was black and white, but now everything is in colour!"
Munch shook his head, Olivia may not be a pod person, although he had not totally discounted that theory, but her mind had been affected far too greatly, she would never hear him out. This was bad, and Munch was certain that he was the only person left who could see what was really happening.
In chapter 2 - Munch talks to Fin even though Fin isn't really listening, and we see how truly obsessed and power crazy the Puppet Master is. Will anybody ever take Munch seriously?