Welcome to my summer project!

A while back, Justicerocks and I were talking about what a Season 21 of Law and Order would have looked like if it had happened. Knowing that Alana De La Garza's pregnancy was going to be written into the show, I really believe that Mike and Connie as a couple would have happened in 21. There are just so many little moments in season 20 that I feel like were leading us there. (My husband says I'm just seeing what I want to...but I tell him it's his fault for getting me the Season 18-20 DVDs for Christmas and giving me the opportunity to review and dissect every little moment!)

So this story was born! It will be mostly mid- or post-episode stories from some (but not all) of the episodes from season 20, and then going on into a virtual season 21, if you will. Just my brainchild of how Mike and Connie may have come to be if given the chance. Full disclosure, sometimes I pay attention to the episode scene cards that tell the dates within the episodes and sometimes I don't….please don't get too hung up on it if they don't really match.

Big thanks to Justierocks for bouncing ideas around and for your wonderfully encouraging pre-reading.

I kind of love these characters, but I own absolutely nothing. God bless Dick Wolf and NBC for bringing us Law and Order.

I hope you all enjoy this! This is my first multi chapter story, so I'm kinda nervous! I will try with every fiber of my being to post at least once a week (at least until school starts again!) Please let me know what you think as we go along!

TRUTH BE TOLD

Chapter 1 - Boy Gone Astray

They walked wordlessly out of Jack's office. Mike was torn between mentally replaying the instructions that they had just received from Anita Van Buren regarding their security details, and trying to control the simmering combination of fear and anger that was roiling within him since Connie had looked at him and quietly said, "The dead female lawyer. They're threatening me."

For her own part, Connie was simply trying, without success, to banish the words of the narcocorrido from her head. She felt anxious and unsettled, but she was striving to keep up the facade of resolve and control that she had portrayed moments earlier when she responded to Jack's suggestion that she remove herself from this case with, "I want to see this through."

Yes, see it through, she thought to herself, keep working, stay focused, and you won't have time to be afraid.

Neither of them was really sure what to do. They had been told not to leave the building until they received word that their protection was in place. Mike opened the door to his office, then getsured for Connie to precede him into the room. She sank down onto the couch, watching as Mike picked up a worn leather baseball from his desk, pacing around the room as he tossed it between his hands. He glanced down at her as he continued his path back and forth in front of his desk. Finally, he drew in a deep breath before he spoke, because he knew she wouldn't like what he had to say.

"You know, maybe Jack's right," Mike began,

Connie turned to look at him, her eyes narrowing accusingly, "Not you, too."

"I'm just saying, under the circumstances, no one would think less of you if you stepped away."

"Oh, that's just great," She muttered, rolling her eyes. "And would you just step away Mike?" she challenged him. "Rafa needs us! I'm not going to be intimidated by a bunch of drug-pushing thugs!"

"So you're willing to put your own safety on the line?" Mike challenged her back. "Because I'm not! I want to help Rafa and get these guys just as much as you, but I am NOT willing to risk your life in the process!"

They just stared at each other for a long moment. Connie saw the fear in Mike's eyes, along with something else. Something she knew she had been seeing in his eyes for awhile now. Truth be told, it was something she knew he was beginning to see reflected back in her own eyes.

If only life weren't so complicated. "Mike," she said in a voice barely above a whisper.

He sighed again, this time in resignation, and sat down beside her. He knew there was no way to keep her from working on this case. He knew he couldn't really ask her to stop. To force her to step away, even for her own safety, would be like trying to change her - her tenacity, her resourcefulness, her strength - all things he admired and, yes, loved about her. He couldn't force her to change and be anything less than everything that she was, "Just promise me that you'll be careful?" he asked.

Connie instinctively reached out and took his hand. "I will," she said. "I will be careful, and I will listen to Anita and the officers on the protection detail. But I can't just walk away from this. Rafa and his family, they need our help. I want to keep working."

Mike nodded his head, a whispered, "Okay," escaping his lips, He placed his other hand on top of hers and gently squeezed. "I know how strong you are, but you don't have to be strong all the time," he said, looking directly into her eyes. "Not with me."

Connie's eyes locked on Mike's. She seemed to get lost in their blue depths. She felt herself being drawn toward him.

And her phone rang.

They jumped apart as if bitten. "It's Van Buren," Connie rose from the couch to take the call.