Author: mccoylover 1. Chapter 1 2. Chapter 2 3. Chapter 3

A story shortly after the 'death' of Alex Cabot. SVU regulars, I do watch SVU, but not as much as the mothership. If I blew it on any essential facts, PLEASE let me know, so I can edit them out. Some mentions of the Cabot 'death ep., as well as 'Juvenile'. As always with my stuff, just accept my fantasy regarding Donnelly's ex as just that and not canon!

"…after the service, be sure to have Serena," Arthur Branch began as the driver opened the passengers side door for Branch and his senior EADA.

"Arthur, wait!"

Branch stood up right, both men staring at the tall blonde dashing towards them.

"Elizabeth, I thought you wanted to meet us at the church after you -"

"He's gone. That son of a bitch is…," she gasped, struggling to catch her breath. "I just called Zapata's lawyer. He told me-"

Branch stepped aside, motioning for McCoy to enter the vehicle.

"I know. I got the call from justice right before we left the office. Get in and I'll explain on the way."

Donnelly gave him a look as she complied, finding herself sitting between the two most powerful men in the New York county District Attorney's office.

"I'm so sorry Liz, "McCoy said, as he made room for the woman dressed in a black Chanel suit and matching silk blouse. He knew what was coming wasn't going to be pleasant.

"Thank you Jack," she said turning her attention to Branch as the door closed. "All right, Arthur. We're off the street. No nosy reporter can hear any of this," she said accusingly. "What song and dance did the justice department give you to convince you, to let them take the killer of one of your ADA's out of your jurisdiction?"

"Liz, I know you're upset. Alexandra's death hit all of us hard-"

"It wasn't just a 'death' Arthur, it was an assassination. On a New York street. Ordered by a two bit drug lord that didn't like the fact a woman was going get justice for the mistress he murdered, because she took issue with his performance in bed," Donnelly snapped.

"How Liz-"

"Don't patronize me Arthur. The hit took place in New York county. The victim was a New York county Assistant District Attorney. It's only decent to prosecute the case in your jurisdiction. It's only fitting that another woman is lead prosecutor on the case that gets Zapata the needle."

Branch shook his head, looking away from the eyes of the Bureau Chief for the sex crimes unit of the New York county DA's office.

"It's out of my hands, Liz. The attorney general himself called," Branch replied. "Zapata can lead them to some of the main suppliers of cocaine in this country-"

"At the expense of justice for a murder victim - no make that two murder victims, that we know of," she said coldly. "If Zapata had hit a federal prosecutor, justice would change their tune in a heart beat."

"You're probably right," Branch admitted. "But it wasn't a federal prosecutor. Even if we can't prosecute him for Alex's murder, Zapata will be off the streets. His drug cartel shut down. The feds know how to do their jobs. Your forgetting the man had a federal agent killed, as well. They will prosecute him just as well as if we-"

"No one at justice would handle this case as well as I would have," Donnelly countered coldy.

McCoy looked sharply at his colleague.

"Liz, even if Zapata stayed our jurisdiction, you can't seriously think Arthur would have let you handle the case? Alex Cabot was one of your top prosecutors. You're too close-"

Donnelly sneered at him as she replied condescendingly. "As if you'd have it any other way, if one of your ADA' s was murdered in cold blood. Please Jack, save your hypocrisy for someone that doesn't know you as well as I do."

"It's not hypocrisy," he said stiffly. "It's concern."

Donnelly started to snap back a reply stopping suddenly, as she saw the look of genuine caring, in the dark eyes.

"Listen, we can debate this into next week," Branch said as the car slowed. "Right now we have a funeral to attend and a grieving family to think about."

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As the trio walked up the steps to St. Marks chapel, the press bombarded Branch with questions. Donnelly kept her eyes on the door of the chapel and her mind on what she would say when she met Alex Cabot's mother face to face.

They had spoken on the phone several times in the last few days, Gwen Cabot turning to Donnelly for practical help with finding a funeral home in Manhattan, getting an obituary into the Times, and finding a priest to perform a service she never dreamed she'd have to plan.

Before she realized it, Donnelly had lost McCoy and Branch. The reporters had both men involved in a discussion about the change of venue for the case. Donnelly looked around in confusion, tempted to go back down and give her take on the change to the reporters.

"Liz, over here!"

Donnelly turned back to the door of the chapel. She nodded at the middle aged man who stood in the door way. As distraught as he was, Captain Donald Cragen looked surprisingly dashing in his NYPD dress uniform. She followed him into the chapel and squeezed his hand.

"How are you holding up, Don?"

The tall man shrugged his shoulders.

"In AA they say take it one day at a time. Right now, I'm taking it one second at a time."

Donnelly nodded as she scanned the crowd outside the doors leading to the chapel.

"Have you spoken to her mother yet?"

"A few minutes ago. She's holding on, seems to be in shock. Elliot and Olivia are with her now. How did Zapata's arraignment go?"

Donnelly looked down at the floor as she answered.

"The feds took him before I could get him in front of a judge."

"What," Cragen said loud enough to cause heads to turn towards them. He took Donnelly by the arm and moved to a corner. "How did that happen, Liz? I thought Branch of all people would want this case prosecuted here?"

As Donnelly relied the explanation Branch had given her, McCoy and Branch joined them.

"So this is the thanks that one of your own gets," Cragen began angrily.

"The decision was out of my hands," Branch began.

"Since when is a murder not two blocks from a precinct house 'out of ' the DA's hands," Cragen countered. "If we can't hold on to a guy that has our freakin' DA murdered, who can we hold on to?"

Branches met Cragen's condemning gaze without wavering.

"Captain, I understand your frustration. But now is not the time or the place-"

"It never is," Cragen snapped as he left the group to find a seat in the chapel.

Branch turned to Donnelly who turned on her heel to follow Cragen, refusing to meet Branch's gaze .

"I guess someone has to be the bad guy in situation like this one."

"We all agree on who the bad guy is, Arthur," McCoy interjected. "We just don't agree on how to make him pay for what he's done."