Apocalypse now

A/N: Hi everyone! I'm back again, after sorting out a lot of things going on in my private life. Thank God I now have time again to get back to writing, so this is my first multi-chapter story in a very long time. Hope you enjoy it!

Spoilers: There are none. And Matt's still very much intact.

Disclaimer: With so many L&O spin-offs, one would think Dick Wolf could afford to give this one away. Sadly, I think he might disagree, so they're his. Damn…oh well, on with it.

At school, during bible class, the Apocalypse was sometimes mentioned, especially when your teachers felt like you once again deserved to know what would happen to bad kids like yourself and your classmates if you didn't stop misbehaving right that very moment.

And like every other kid, you forgot everything about it as soon as school was out for the day.

Now you wish you had learned your lesson, but how could you possibly have known that your personal hell would come in the disguise of your very best mate, stabbing you in the back, betraying you? Is there any way life can prepare you for something like that?

You thought he was your friend. Thought you could trust him explicitly with anything and everything at any given moment. That there was no jealousy between you and that you always wanted the very best for each other no matter what.

So much for that trust.

Why? Why had he done it? Why hadn't he trusted your own judgment? You're a big girl, you can take care of yourself. Sure, you appreciate his support in the choices you make, you ask him for his advice many times, but at the end of the day, those choices are still yours to make, right? Right! So Matt freakin' Devlin had no business snooping around in your love life! Matt freakin' Devlin, your formal 'mate', should be happy you even have a love life again! God knows it took you long enough.

In a time where an honest man is harder to find than the next Hope diamond, you consider yourself extremely lucky to find a bloke like Adam. He's a hotel manager with a big, luxury chain of hotels and resorts all around Europe, he travels a lot and he gets remarkable discounts when you want to take a vacation. He makes good money, he's intelligent without being condescending, funny without getting annoying, attentive without being patronizing...and quite handsome. In short, he's a catch.

Still, it wasn't enough for your so-called friend. No, he had to humiliate your new man in the worst possible way. And what was worse, he expected you to be grateful for it too.

It had all started so well. When the six of you (Jake, Henry, Natalie, Ronnie, Matt and yourself) had decided to get together at your usual pub for some drinks that Friday, you had opted to bring Adam along. You were eager to introduce him to your mates and you were, to be honest, even more eager for them to like him. And for Adam to like them. Though you weren't sure why you needed their approval, you were looking for it nonetheless.

And at first glance, it seemed he got it. Adam was forward and open, even when Matt went into interrogation mode, something you had brushed off as an occupational hazard combined with his concern for your wellbeing. At least you didn't pay much attention to it at the moment. Adam stood his ground perfectly well without you and if you were honest, you were a little flattered that Matt cared so much. Besides, he stopped when you shot him an annoyed glare.

So everything settled down again. But that was until he took it too far.

A week later, when he and Ronnie had come by the CPS office to drop off some files, Matt was holding one manila folder back, motioning for you to come over for a somewhat more private conversation.

Sensing it might be important, you nodded and followed him into your own office, closing the door behind you. Ronnie, who was apparently informed, left to get lunch.

When you focussed on your mate, he was unnaturally fidgety. Something must be seriously wrong for him to act this peculiar. It was unnerving to see him act so out of character.

"Something wrong, Matt? You look so serious. Something about a case?"

"Yeah...I mean no, not really. It's eh...God it's complicated."

He slowly shoved the folder over the table to your side, barely touching it, as if the mere edges are dipped in poison.

Curiosity peaked, you opened the folder. How you now wish you hadn't. It contained a full report on gathered evidence of several crimes, including drugs trafficking, money laundering and bribery, committed by management and staff of a renowned hotel chain.

Adam's chain.

It dated several years ago and though the evidence was sufficient to bring the culprits to trial, the case was settled out of court for a hefty fine.

At first, you were not sure why Matt would want you to see it, but then with one look, he urged you to read further.

And there it was. Adam Garrison. His name. On file. In a criminal investigation.

Not good.

Even if he was just a witness, even when you read that no charges were brought against him personally, that there was no evidence pointing in his direction as, at that time, he was no partner, as he is today, to have your name on file like this is a permanent mark that can seriously damage the good name of both the person as well as the firm.

The more you read the angrier you got. At Adam, for keeping this from you, even if it was years ago and you were not even a prosecutor yet, but also; even more so, at the man sitting opposite from you. For butting in, for having the audacity to check out your new boyfriend's track record. Sure he's a copper and he can't help himself (apparently), but he should be able to trust your good judgment in picking your own potential love interest! Even if his past might be a bit shady. Might be. It might not have had anything to do with him.

You wondered at that moment and you still do about what would have happened had Matt not found anything (possibly) wrong with your current beau. Would he have kept trying?

And...had he done this before without telling you? Was he the one who chased Will away after only three weeks without as much as a text message? Is he the reason Craig simply stopped calling after the second date?

Blazing with the insult of it all, you flung the file from the table, loose bits of paper getting scattered on the floor. Matt looked at you with mild surprise; probably still thinking your anger came from what you'd just read.

That lasted all of five seconds.

Then you started screaming.

"What the hell is wrong with you, Matt!?"

Startled and confused, he sat back, not answering but then again, you never did give him a chance to rebuff.

"Why, why on earth did you feel the need to check out my boyfriend? What made you think I would appreciate you snooping into his private affairs? In MY private affairs?!"

"Lesh, I just thought..."

"No, you didn't. You didn't think at all! You just want to destroy a perfectly good relationship and for the life of me I can't figure out why a friend, or someone who dares to call himself a friend, would do such a thing."

You could feel the burning behind you eyes but refused to cry. You wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing you this humiliated. Still, your voice faltered when you continued.

"What have I done to you Matt? That you can be this cruel?"

His eyes were cast down, his shoulders slumped. Like he was the one defeated. You remember how you waited for the rush of satisfaction to come, but it never did.

"It was never my intention to be cruel. If you never believe anything I say to you from now on I want you to believe this. You're my friend, and I refuse to apologize for wanting to look after you."

"I can look after myself, thank you very much. I don't need you."

All colour drained from his face at those last fatal words. Even if you thought he was cruel, than you certainly took it to the next level. But there was no taking it back. He hurt you, you hurt him right back. A fight without winners and the best friendship of your life lost. Possibly forever.

The silence was deafening as Matt picked up the pieces of paper from the table and floor and shoved them back into the folder. Without looking back even once, he left the room, called out to Ronnie and disappeared around the corner.

Part II coming soon. Let me know what you think, please. I would very much appreciate it.