This story is based on the events of the episode "Agony." A serial killer, Matt Bergstrom, toortured and murdered at least six women, both in New York and Texas, and left almost no evidence. Then he confessed to a murder he had not committed in a deal inwhich he told about the other ones. Then when they found the real killer of the murder he'd confessed to, Abbie wanted to give the real killer to the Feds and convict both men of the same crime, one in federal court and one in district court, but Jack refused as that was too unethical even for him. They they made a fake extradition request from Texas and Abbie convinced him that if he didn't confess to one of the murders in New York and make a deal with them, he would be extradited to Texas, where he would get the death penalty. I hope I summarized it okay for anyone who hasn't seen it.

This story takes place about season 17 or so.

I don't own Law & Order.

The cold air washed over Abbie as she stepped out of the Chinese take-out restaurant, her arms full of boxes of food. She could have had it delivered, of course, but it was only a few blocks away from her office and she needed to get away from her desk for at least a few minutes.

Although the sidewalk was crowded, she recognized him right away. The tall, lean man standing only a few yards away from her had brutally tortured and murdered at least six women. But Matt Bergstrom had pled guilty to one of his murders to avoid being extradited to Texas, where he would face the death penalty.

Despite the fact that he should be in prison, Abbie knew it was him. She would never forget his face as he described the details of his murders to her, clearly wishing that he could do those things to her instead of just telling her about it. Although she was a hardened prosecutor, she still had nightmares about Matt Bergstrom sometimes. Abbie knew she was not mistaken. It was him.

Now, on the sidewalk, he caught her eye and gave a tiny, bone chilling smile. She began to walk, quickly, but not fast enough to attract attention. She looked over her shoulder twice. He wasn't following her, or if he was, he was very good at it.

The Chinese food was still hot in her hands when she arrived at the U.S. Attorneys' office. She started to go in, then stopped. Matt Bergstrom was supposed to be in jail, but he wasn't. Had he escaped, or been paroled? She could make a few phone calls and find out, but she suddenly had a better idea.

She turned around and went into the building next door instead, the District Attorneys' Office. Although it had been years since she'd worked there, the place had not changed, and she was soon in Jack McCoy's office.

"Abbie! How are you?"

"I'm good," she replied automatically, before remembering that at the moment that was not exactly true. "I need to talk to you. Are you busy right now?"

"No more than usual."

They both sat down. Abbie offered Jack some Chinese food, which he accepted. She hadn't eaten since morning, and had been ravenous when she went into the restaurant, but at the sight of the serial killer her appetite had vanished. "Do you remember Matt Bergstrom?" she asked him.

Jack looked at her sharply. "Of course. He murdered six women, confessed to one he didn't commit, you eventually got him to plead to life without parole to avoid the death penalty…"

"I saw him on the street today."

Jack looked at her, took in her serious expression and the fear hidden behind the anger in her eyes, and did not ask if she was sure. Instead he said, "He was sentenced to life without parole."

"I know," Abbie told him.

After several moments of silence, Jack said, "I'll find out if he's still- what happened." He got up and made a phone call. Despite her lack of appetite, Abbie began to pick at the Chinese food.

Jack hung up the phone, and started to turn back to Abbie, then suddenly stopped, picked up the phone again, and made another call. He spoke so quietly Abbie couldn't hear what he was saying.

He finished the phone call and sat back down. "He was paroled, two weeks ago."

Abbie dropped the plastic fork she was holding. "Paroled? What happened to life without parole? That's supposed to mean he stays in prison until he dies, not gets out in, what, nine years!" Her eyes flashed anger.

"The guy I talked to isn't sure how it happened. He thinks it probably has to do with prison overcrowding."

"Prison overcrowding???" Abbie was almost yelling. "I think out of every single criminal I've ever convicted, Matt Bergstrom should be the very last person who should be let out of prison!" She ranted about Matt Bergstrom and the problems of the criminal justice system for several minutes.

When she finished, Jsack said, "Abbie, you need to be careful. I ordered an around-the-clock guard for you. Remember, Bergstrom hated you."

Abbie did remember, and the thought that he was coming after her had occurred to her- there was no way it was just a coincidence shed seen him. Even so, she immediately protested. "Jack, I don't need a bodyguard, I can take care of myself!"

They argued about it for a few minutes. She lost the argument.

TBC

Please review. Oh, and I'm not abandoning "Life and Death," I'm about half way done with the next chapter on that,