Disclaimer: I own nothing. All characters and stories belong to NBC and Dick Wolf.

A/N: Just a little one-shot about the episode Innocence. Please review. Thanks. Love, Lawabidingchild.


Why?

Mike Cutter walked the halls of the DA's office. He had a feeling that something like this would come sooner or later, but just not now. Connie found out, Jack found out, the bar found out...there was no end to it. But that didn't cost him his job, thank God.

He walked alongside someone, but he didn't notice her presence. Connie never reprimanded him for everything that happened. In fact, he was more worried that he scared her in that visitor's center back at Rikers. He wasn't thrilled about any of this. About Emily Ryan coming after him and about whatever might happen next.

Mike sat down on top of the sofa in his office. Connie sat down too. Not in front of him, not behind him, but next to him. As close to him as she could get without anything being weird.

She looked at him with soft brown eyes. He failed to notice. Connie was always there when he did something stupid. There was only one time when she didn't go along...okay, two. But she was still there. She still backed him up. He never questioned it until now. Why is she still here?

"Mike, nothing that happened is your fault," Connie whispered to him. "It never has been, and it never will."

"Thanks Connie," he said half-heartedly. He was still out on another planet. Somewhere where people couldn't reach him.

"Earth to Mike!" called Connie, cupping her hands to the contours of his ear, "come back down Mike!"

He was suddenly brought back from his own thoughts. Maybe it was a mysterious force or just a feeling of guilt. "I didn't mean to scare you."

"I wasn't," said Connie, "maybe a little startled, but definitely not scared."

There was a question burning at the tip of his tongue. It was a question that might burn a hole in it if he didn't ask it. "Why do you stay with me?" he asked. "You could have left the minute I paraded you in front of the jury or I roped you into another one of my escapades. Why is it that you choose to stay with a man that would get you in trouble?"

"I think you're forgetting that I also worked alongside Jack before he became district attorney," said Connie, "and I think he sometimes forgets that he used to pull the same stuff." She kept his gaze. "Besides, if I didn't keep an eye on you, who else would?"

"Is that pity?" asked Mike.

"No," stated Connie, "but, honestly, there is nothing that will chase me away. You'll have to kill me first."

"Really?" he asked, baffled that Connie wasn't going to run away. She was going to stay.

"Really," she confirmed. "Honestly, Mike, there is nothing that will make me run. Maybe flinch or cower, but that's it. I think you need to keep your head on straight."

He did realize that his head was on a little crooked, but he didn't think it was affecting his judgement. He just reached over for Connie, wrapping his arms around her shoulders and giving her the biggest hug he could. She tensed her body up in surprise. He didn't let go. "This is an apology for everything I've put you through and a thank you for putting up with my antics."

"No apologies or thanks are needed, but you're forgiven and you're welcome," she whispered to him. She relaxed and returned his embrace. She'd never held him before, but there was always a first for everything.

After all, they were friends.