Author's Notes:
A series of drabbles (100-word stories) for Law and Order: Criminal Intent. Written over a series of time, each was written in response to a challenge in a Law and Order drabble community. Here, I consolidate related drabbles into chapters (each chapter will be labeled with which characters/theme the drabbles within revolve around). More chapters will be added as more drabbles are written. :)
Feedback is always love.
THESE ARE THEIR (non Goren/Eames) DRABBLES
CHAPTER 1: ZACH NICHOLS/MEGAN WHEELER
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The New Guy
Ross looked up when his office door was opened—without knocking first—by his new subordinate.
"These corn muffins are amazing. Who knew One PP had the best muffin cart in the city?" Nichols cheerily asked as he ceremoniously placed a muffin on his Captain's desk.
Ross eyed him silently as the detective plopped down in a seat. Taking a big bite of his own muffin, Nichols asked, "So, has Wheeler decided if she likes me yet?"
Ross's face was expressionless, "Zach, we've known each other for years and years and *I* haven't even decided if I like you yet."
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Big Feet
"Footprints? As in *foot*prints, not shoe prints?"
"Three different pair as far as we could tell, Captain, one set quite large, the other two more normal." Wheeler responded.
"And you know what they say about big feet," Nichols said, seemingly lost in thought.
Wheeler and Ross turned to him, dreading what he might say next.
"Big feet, big shoes," Nichols concluded before turning and wandering out of Ross's office.
Wheeler looked at her captain, as usual not knowing whether to be amused or annoyed with her partner's oddities, "I have to live with that every day."
"Been there, done that."
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It Is What It Is
Wheeler came waddling out of the diner, apologizing again profusely to her partner for the ever more frequent bathroom breaks she was requiring.
In answer, Nichols bent over next to Wheeler's abdomen, "Hey! Hey you in there!" he tapped his index finger on her stomach, "Stop sitting on mommy's bladder!" Then he stood back up and gave Wheeler a smile.
She raised an eyebrow, "I don't think that's going to help."
Zach gave her a pointed look, "Exactly. It is what it is." His voice softened then, becoming sincere and understanding, "So stop worrying about it and stop apologizing, okay?"
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That Space Between Your Ears
"What's that thing in the space between your ears?"
"Your brain?"
"Oh, right," Rodgers pointed down at the body on her table, "Well, his was missing."
Nichols ignored this rather interesting information, asking instead, "You really couldn't remember 'brain'?"
Rodgers looked at him witheringly, "Of course I could. I was trying to make a joke." She crossed her arms, "You don't think it was funny?"
"Oh. No, it was funny. Very funny. Haha."
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Later, outside, Nichols turned to Wheeler, "She's... a little odd, yeah?"
Wheeler looked at her partner for a moment. "Okay. Sure." She paused before tacking on, "Kettle."
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Yellow Light
"Okay. But remember, he's got friends in high places."
"So that's a green light to go question him."
"I wouldn't say that exactly."
Nichols cocked his head to the side, "So, it's a red light."
Ross inhaled, "No. Detective, it's not a light at all, it's just a caution."
"So, it's... yellow?"
Ross exhaled, "Fine. It's yellow."
Nichols nodded and Wheeler ushered them out of the captain's office, but just as they got to the door Nichols turned back around, "Like, like a flashing yellow or a solid yellow?"
Wheeler shoved him the rest of the way out the door.
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