Disclaimer: Dick Wolf and NBC own all of these characters and the shows Law & Order, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

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The SVU team had justclosed one of theirmost difficultcases and was celebrating. Captain Cragen decided it was time for him to leave and walked into his office just as the phone rang.

"Hello."

"Hi Don, it's Anita."

Lieutenant Anita Van Buren hadreplaced himwhen he transferred out of the precinct.

"Hi Anita, How are you?"

"Okay, you?"

"I'm great. What's up?"

" I have some bad news," Anita's voice started to crack.

"What? What's wrong?" Cragen asked with concern.

"It's Lennie Briscoe, he died last night." Cragen had been Briscoe's Captain for about a year before Cragen was transferred out of the precinct to be head of the NYPD's Anti-Corruption Task Force. Cragen was shocked. How could he be dead!? Cragen had just seen Briscoe the other day, he seemed to be doing well as a DA Investigator.

"How?" Cragen asked.

"Cancer – Prostate cancer, he just found out a few weeks ago andhad beenresponding well to treatment."

"Oh! I can't believe it." Cragen practically fell into his chair. "Have you told Ed Green or Mike Logan?"

"No, I'm going to tell Ed after I get off the phone with you. I thought you might want to tell Mike."

"Yeah, sure, I'll give him a call later."

"Don, when you talk to Mike let him know the funeral will take place Friday at 11am."

"Okay, Thank you for calling me, Anita."

Cragen hung up the phone. This was impossible, Briscoe was one of the best cops out there. He couldn't be gone. A knock at the door startled him.

"Come in"

"Hey Cap," Detective Elliot Stabler said, "We're all going out for drinks to celebrate and wanted to know if you wanted to join us?"

"Huh? I'm sorry, what did you say?" Cragen replied.

"We're going out for drinks to celebrate and wanted to know if you wanted to join us?" Elliot said, realizing Cragen had something other than celebrating on his mind. "Is something wrong?"

"Do you remember Detective Briscoe?"

"Yeah, he helped us out with a few cases, nice guy. I hear he transferred to be a DA Investigator" Elliot said, now wondering why the Captain brought up the subject.

"I was his captain for a year before transferring to the Anti-Corruption Task Force. I just received a phone call from Lt. Van Buren down at the 27th precinct, she told me he passed away last night of cancer."

"I'm sorry. You okay Cap'?"

"Its such a shock. We stayed in touch even after I left the precinct. I can't believe he never mentioned he was sick."

"Are you sure you wouldn't like to join us for a drink?" Elliot decided to ask one more time.

"No, I have to callMike Logan. He was Briscoe's partner for three years"

"Well, if you need anyone to talk to, you know where to find me." Elliot offered.

"Thanks, I appreciate it."

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Next chapter to be put up tomorrow.