AN: Okay folks, here we go again. Let's start with the disclaimer: I don't own any of the LO characters or names,
etc. Dick Wolf does, and he's the man. For the most part, you should be able to figure out which characters I made up.
Chapter titles equal song titles. They are credited. Keep in mind while reading this that a) this is a sequel to Rusted Armour And A Broken Knight, you will probably want to read that one first. b) All my court, law, medical knowledge comes from watching TV and movies and news, so if I'm off- just go with it. I do my best to make it realistic and also fit the story line. c) My timeline is on it's own clock, so the character changes will be introduced in their own time, bare with. d) There are breif moments of strong language, nothing too obscene- but you've been warned. 5) Most of all, please enjoy! Comments/reviews make me happy and make me want to update sooner. As with the first one, I am on the final editing stage of this story and as the chapters get their final edit, they will be posted. I will do my best to update, but I am a busy woman so go easy on me. That's all. Read on.

Prologue

Walking down the city street at a slow stroll, he breathed in the evening just enjoying being home. He'd been back roughly two hours and the first place he found himself was outside a familiar apartment. He looked up at it and walked inside. He took the stairs two at a time, went down the hall, and knocked on the door. After a moment, it opened and she smiled out at him.

"Hi Olivia," he said, smiling back.

"Hey. When did you get home?"

"Tonight. I know I said I'd call but..."

"Do you want to come in?"

"No...no it's late...I just wanted to say hi." He reached into his pocket. "And bring you this. I-uh...y'know I saw it and thought of you, and thought-," he stumbled along, then stopped. "And on the way here I planned out a whole speech just to make it sound like I hadn't planned on buying you a thing, but the truth is I spent the entire trip looking for it." He handed her the small box. She grinned and accepted it. "I wanted to play it off, but guess I flubbed that..."

"Thanks, Ed. You didn't have to buy me-"

"It's a thank you. For everything," he said as she opened the box. She pulled out a silver chain bracelet with a small Eiffel Tower charm hanging at the clasp.

"It's lovely."

"It's nothing."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome." They smiled at each other for awhile. "How about dinner tomorrow night?"

"Okay."

"Okay then. Good night, Olivia."

"Good night, Ed." He waited until she shut the door and locked it before he started to walk away, then he heard the door open again and he turned around. She stepped out of the apartment, walked up to him and kissed him. "I'm glad you're back," she said quietly before going back into her apartment.

Ed left the building and headed home. He was still staying with Bobby. During the trials Ed hadn't found an apartment, so Bobby let him move into the guest room temporarily. It was before used as a makeshift library. The two had become good friends, and enjoyed the company and the money they each saved. It had started out as a temporary situation, but neither were worried about changing things.

He walked in and dropped his keys on the side table. Bobby was at the couch reading. Ed glanced at the television. "Hey, Iron Giant," he said, using the nickname Bobby had gained months before. "Don't you ever watch TV?"

Bobby looked up at Ed and then at the off television then back at Ed. "Yes." Ed laughed and sat down in the armchair. "How was she?" Bobby asked, his eyes returning to his book.

"How's who?" Ed kicked off his shoes and turned the TV on.

"Benson."

"What're you talking about?"

"You got back from your trip and ran right out the door again. Now you're smiling and flustered." He glanced at Ed again and smiled. "Plus I saw you two the day before you left."

Ed raised his eyes to Bobby. "I really don't know what you're talking about."

"Uh-huh."

Ed flipped to Family Guy and left it. Near the end, Bobby was chuckling. Ed looked over and saw Bobby Goren, of all people, watching the cartoon and laughing. "I will never understand you."

The following day, Ed was actually happy to be back at work. Joe Fontana was even happier, though. The second Joe saw his partner, he jumped up.

"Thank God! You will not believe the schmuck they stuck me with this time."

"Good to see you, too," Ed said.

"Come on globe trotter, we've got a call already."

It was nearly quitting time when Ed finally sat at his desk. His cell phone chirped. "Green."

"Hey," came Olivia's voice.

"Hey." He couldn't help but smile.

"I hate this, but I'm gonna hafta cancel dinner. We've got an ugly case going."

"Oh. Well...that's okay, I understand."

"Not mad?"

"No. I've canceled too many dates to remember," he said.

"Tomorrow night?"

"Yes."

"Thanks for understanding."

He hung up. Joe had a raised eyebrow. "You just got back and you had a date already? What, did you meet her on the plane?"

"No." Ed picked up his keys and phone. "Good night, Joe."

The next night Ed got stuck on a case and had to cancel dinner with Olivia. They said they'd meet for dinner at the end of the week, but then plans got canceled again. So they rescheduled. Then suddenly, it had been a month since he'd been back and two weeks since they'd spoken, and they still hadn't had dinner.

Ed and Joe were having a very slow day. So slow, they were catching up on paperwork. Ed's stomach grumbled. "I'm gonna take an hour lunch," he said to Joe. "Call me if something comes in." He stepped outside and drove to his favorite sub shop and grabbed a bag of food, then he went to the SVU.

When he walked in, he spotted Olivia at her desk. Her partner, Elliott Stabler, wasn't at his desk. Ed walked up to Olivia and set a sub in front of her. She looked up and smiled.

"Ed! What are you doing here?"

"Bringing lunch." He pulled a chair next to her and sat backwards on it. He said in a low voice, "I figured if I didn't, dinner would never happen."

"I appreciate this, really I do but-"

"But what about gossip?" He asked. He held up the bag. Just then, Stabler Munch and Fin walked over.

"Hey Green, long time no see." Stabler said. "What brings you out here?"

"Brought lunch." He took a sub from the bag and passed the bag onto Elliott.

"Good man." Elliott said. He took a sub and passed the bag on to Munch and Fin. As the guys gathered around and proceeded in guy-talk, Ed winked at Olivia. She smiled.

After a short visit, Ed stood. "I gotta get back to the 2-7. I left a thrilling day of paperwork."

"I'll walk you out," Olivia said. The two left after Ed said his goodbyes, neither noticing the raised eyebrows behind them. They stood awkwardly outside.

"I'm sorry we haven't caught dinner," he said.

"Me too. Thank you for lunch, it was a very nice surprise."

"Dinner tonight?" He asked.

"Sure."

"I'll call." He touched her arm gently, then left. All he could do was pray that nothing would come up.

Ed rushed home from work that day. The apartment was empty, and he was glad. While he took a shower and got ready for his date, he had the local news playing on the television. He climbed from the shower and patted his face down, then wrapped the towel around his waist. He went to the sink and started shaving, the news filtering down the hall.

"...and in other news; a man convicted of murdering three people, and currently being tried on a fourth murder, is asking for an appeal. Paul Johnson-" Ed's head popped up and he ran into the living room. "-was arrested six months ago, this week, for the murder and rape of Misha Sullivan. Once arrested, he was also charged with the murder of Harvey Tate and Nathan Foster who were gunned down earlier that week in Johnson's club. His club The Blue Moon was no stranger to crime, and has since gone out of business. Johnson was sentenced, by a judge, to death by lethal injection. The DA has since uncovered information that Johnson may have been involved in the murder of another young woman. The man who was convicted of the crime will be released if Johnson is found guilty."

"Now this appeal Paul Johnson is going after-" Bobby walked in the front door and saw Ed standing in the middle of the room in nothing but a towel with shaving cream on half his face and a razor in his hand. He went to his friends side and watched the news with him. "-pertains only to the case of Misha Sullivan. Johnson's lawyer is claiming that his client was being targeted by the detectives on the case, and that they were so determined to pin him that they framed him. No word has been issued from the DA on these allegations. If Johnson was wrongly accused on this murder, it will likely not change his death sentence. Now let's check the weather..."

Ed was frozen in his spot. Bobby looked over at him. "It's a game, Ed." He saw Ed's jaw set and eyebrows furrow. "He wants to upset you."

"Why do I have to hear this on the news?" Ed growled. "I didn't have a vendetta against the jackass...he did it."

"We all know that." Bobby turned off the television.

Ed's cell phone rang. "Yea," he said into it.

"From your tone, I'd say you saw the news?" Asked Lieutenant Van Buren.

"Did you know?"

She hesitated a moment, "I spoke to McCoy today, yes."

"And neither of you thought I needed to know?"

"McCoy warned me, but asked me to wait a day before telling you. He and Branch are trying to deal with it, but it was leaked to the media. Likely by Johnson's lawyer."

"What's gonna happen?"

"Jack's working on it. I just wanted to call and tell you to keep your cool. It's all bogus and no one will believe him."

"Yea...whatever." He hung up his phone. Without a word to Bobby, he went to his room and slammed the door shut. He pulled on a pair of sweat pants and wiped his face with his towel. He glanced at his alarm clock. If he didn't finish shaving and get dressed right away, he'd be late for dinner. He wanted to go...but his heart just wasn't in it. He called Olivia to cancel.

"Everything okay?" She asked.

"Fine," he said distantly.

"Are you sure?"

"Yea. I'll call you." He hung up and lay back on his bed. He'd been doing good lately. His moods had evened out, and he had been able to go days without thinking of Misha and hating himself. He hadn't visited her in a couple weeks. He had planned to go the next day, when she would be gone for exactly six months. He couldn't sit around. He had to go see her.

On his way to the cemetery he picked up a yellow rose. He set it in front of her gravestone and sat down. He traced the words on her stone as he had done so many times. As he pulled his hand from the last groove, he spoke. "I'm not gonna let it happen. I swear to you. He's not...not..." Ed clenched his fists. This time it wasn't anger he was feeling. It was sadness. Even when she was dead, he felt unable to keep her safe.

The next day Ed was watching a news conference on TV with his co-workers. Branch was finishing his address. "...and now that the judge has overturned this ridiculous accusation, we can all get back to prosecuting Mr. Johnson on the case at hand. Yes?" He said, welcoming a question.

"Is it true that this Detective...Green? Is it true he tried to kill Mr. Johnson when he was arrested?" A female reporter asked.

"Mr. Johnson's life was never in danger. There was an incident, but it was handled and the Detective was briefly suspended."

"Should the citizens of this city be concerned that such a man is on the force?" Another reporter asked.

"Detective Green is a fine officer. He works clean and efficiently. The Chief of Police stands behind Detective Green and is proud to have him serving this city. That will conclude the questions, thank you." Branch turned and walked away from the podium. Everyone's eyes left the TV and fell on Ed.

"Well I love the entire city thinking I'm a lunatic," Ed said.

"I'd like a word, lunatic," Jack McCoy said from the doorway with a small smile.

Ed walked over. "What's up?"

"I just spoke with Johnson's lawyer. They're willing to consider a plea."

"Really? What changed?"

"Nothing. Johnson will think about a plea only if you go visit him." Van Buren had walked over. Jack glanced at her. "I don't want you to feel like you have to do this. In fact, it would be best to ignore the request, but-"

"He wants to talk to me...I'll do it," Ed crossed his arms.

"I don't like it," Van Buren interrupted. "We all know how much you hate him. We also know he's enjoying watching you squirm."

"I won't touch him," Ed promised.

"Oh we've heard that one," she replied.

"I'm done playing games with him, Lieu."

"I'll be in there, as well as ADA Borgia," Jack assured.

"And we'll take Joe."

"Okay, okay." She looked at Jack. "Do not get my detective in trouble."

"Yes ma'am," Jack smiled.

McCoy, Borgia, Ed and Joe sat on one side of a the table at Rikers. Jack straightened his folders and cleared his throat. "Detective Green...I think you should know that depending on how this meeting goes, there's a chance of offering Johnson a deal."

"What kind of deal?"

"I spoke with the judge from the last trial. If Johnson will give full confessions on all of these cases, she'll be willing to overthrow the death sentencing and give him life for all of it."

"No. Uh-uh. You can't do that," Ed shook his head. "He needs to pay for what he did."

"I'm not asking your opinion, I'm just warning you so that we'll at least appear to be on the same team."

"We are. I just-"

"Let's see how this goes," Borgia said to them quietly.

A moment later, Johnson and his lawyer were led into the room. Johnson sat and stared at Ed. He had a glimmer of a smile on his evil face.

"Good afternoon, Ed," Johnson jeered. "Or should I call you Eddie?"

"It's Detective Green," Ed told him calmly.

"Of course it is. I'm disappointed." Johnson looked at everyone sitting across from him. "I wanted to meet with just you, Eddie. Not the whole gang."

"Sorry Mr. Johnson, this is what you get," Ed was doing his best to stay calm and in control. "What do you want from me?"

"I missed you. We haven't seen each other since my trial."

"That's the way it works."

"She never spoke of you, you know. You're girlfriend. She must not have been very impressed with you, what with the way she ran around."

"I didn't bring Detective Green here to be harassed," Jack said.

"Your detective should have no problem talking to my client if he claims he's so clean," his lawyer, Mr. Ross said.

Ed held up a hand. "What do you want Paul?"

"Just shooting the breeze."

"Get the breeze moving, then. I have places to be."

"It's just...well, Eddie, I was thinking...if your pal here," Johnson nodded to McCoy, "wants me to, I'll talk."

"Paul, be quiet," Mr. Ross said.

"No I'm good."

"So talk," Ed prompted.

"I want something first."

"What would that be?" Jack asked.

Paul grinned. "Clear me of all charges for Misha's rape and murder, and I will tell you anything and everything you want to know." Joe glanced to his partner, waiting for the backlash. Ed was leaned back in his chair with his hands folded and eyes set on Johnson. He was even smiling a bit.

"Not happening," Jack said quickly.

"Come on. Would you really want to leave here empty handed just to save a conviction on a useless, nothing to nobody, druggie whore?" Again, Joe looked at Ed. His face was expressionless. He didn't flinch. Joe had to wonder if Ed could hear at all.

Jack looked at Mr. Ross. "The fact of the matter is, your client isn't doing well right now. I'm sure you can both see that the trial is in our favor. I have two more cases just like this one, with the exact same pattern and young men just like Brandon serving time. I have two unsolved murders, and several women now stepping forward calling rape. Make us go to trial and we'll put up a hell of a fight and win each one. You will spend every final day of your pathetic life in a court room. Or...you confess now, tell us everything, and we remove the death penalty. You get life without parole, and we won't worry about all the trials.

"Why should we bother?" Mr. Ross asked.

"Because even if he gets off on the others, he's still getting the needle," Borgia put in.

"Sure would be fun watching all those tax dollars at work," Johnson said.

"This is your final chance. We leave today and you're looking at your own death shortly down the road. Your choice."

Mr. Ross leaned in to his client and they whispered. After a short discussion, Mr. Ross nodded. "Alright Jack, we'll take the offer."

"Very well then."

Paul Johnson spoke about everything Jack had in his folder and confessed to each one, with details only he would know. He didn't take long. As they took his signature, he glanced at Ed. "Want to hear about Misha?"

"You've already been convicted," Jack said. "You don't need to-"

Johnson stopped signing. "No. This isn't final until I say what I want to say."

"Then say it," Ed finally spoke. Joe started to get to his feet and pull his partner out. "Let him talk." Ed leaned over the table. "C'mon Paulie. Get it off your chest. I will never be back here."

"She was pretty, Eddie. Real pretty. I couldn't stand her when she spoke, though. She seemed to think she was so smart, just because she spent all that time at the library. She thought she was actually on my level. Nothing that a good smack around didn't fix, of course." His eyes sparkled. "Nathan was crazy about her for some reason. Spent all this money...tried to fix her up. She seemed to want me. Obviously, I have more to offer a woman than Nathan ever did," he directed that comment at Borgia with a smile. "And that night, after everyone left..." His eyes went back to Ed's and bore into them. "Well...it was fun. You don't know what you missed out on, Eddie. You really don't. But, I'm sure you know how good she tastes, don't you? You'd have to be dead not to get some of her...the way she got around."

"But then...she went and said I raped her? Please. She wanted to tell you everything. That night...in Nate's apartment...I crept in and waited for her. Unfortunately, the bitch figured me out. I went for her and she fucking stabbed me! I told her to stay away from you cops, but she kept going on and on about her precious Eddie. 'Oh I'm telling Eddie! I'm getting Eddie after you! He'll never let you get away with this...blah blah blah...be scared of Eddie.' She just wouldn't shut the hell up! So I pulled the gun on her in hopes of making her see it my way. She screamed. She begged. She was crying and begging for her life. She lunged at me again with that damned knife. So I shot her. But hell if one bullet in her shoulder just wasn't enough...oh it hurt her." He nodded, grinning now. "All that blood...then she was going for the phone, probably to call her knight in shining armour...so I shot her again. Had no choice. POW, right into her stomach. And...POW, right into her chest. Usually I try one clear shot, but I had to make sure the bitch wouldn't wake up. She was on the floor...crying...trying to speak. I leaned over her and listened to her drowning in her own blood...I watched her tears fall...it wasn't happening fast enough. So I popped her in the head. That was it. By then, I knew I needed to get out and I started to clean up, but I was bleeding everywhere and feeling lightheaded...so I had to hurry out of there...and...well...you know the rest." He leaned back in his seat. Everyone in the room was repulsed.

Ed pushed back in his chair. "That's all then. Deal complete." He stood and walked away.

"Poor Misha...all she wanted was her beloved Eddie! Some hero you are!" Johnson shouted after him. Joe ran out after Ed and caught him down the hall.

"You okay?"

"Fine," Ed said, his voice still calm and even. "Let's get back to the 2-7. It's almost time to go home."

The whole way back Joe kept waiting for the shoe to drop, for Ed to loose it, but it didn't happen. When they got back Ed sat at his desk silently working. Joe told Van Buren what happened and they both stared at him. Ed packed up and walked out. "Good-night," he said to them.

Van Buren raised an eyebrow and looked at Joe. "I'd be a lot less concerned if he had his fist through a wall like normal," she said. Joe nodded in agreement.

On his way home, Ed called Olivia. "How about diner?" He asked.

"Are you sure? I heard about Johnson. We don't have to-"

"No, I'm fine. Really. It's over now, so let's just go out. We've been waiting nearly six months for this."

"If you're sure. Okay, come on by."

"Five minutes."

He picked her up and they went out for pizza and beer. They had a great time, without a single word of Paul Johnson or Misha. When he took her home he kissed her goodnight and told her he'd call. And he would. He liked her too much. He went home and tried to go to sleep, but he couldn't. He looked at the clock. It was after 2 AM. He went to the living room and turned on the TV. Before long, Bobby walked out of his bedroom. He looked at Ed, then went into the kitchen. He came back with two beers, handed one to Ed, and sat down. Then they silently watched the late night movie.

The new vivid images of Misha's death played over in Ed's mind. They'd been on a loop ever since he left Rikers. They wouldn't let him sleep, they wouldn't let him concentrate, and now they were something he'd have to carry with him. Always. No, he didn't sleep that night. Bobby sat up with him all night. Ed didn't sleep the following night, or the one after. The only sleep he managed to get were short drifts at his desk or cat naps in the early evening. Each time he did manage to sleep, he was quickly awoken by dreams and the sound of gunshots in his mind.

Two weeks passed and Ed never spoke of the afternoon at Rikers. He didn't explode, as so many were expecting. He and Joe were coming in from lunch when they were called into Van Buren's office.

"Paul Johnson was killed this morning," she said straight out. The men stared at her with their mouths open.

"How?" Ed asked.

"He was stabbed to death in the showers." She crossed her arms. "None of the guards saw a thing. None of the prisoners are talking. No one knew how the knife got in."

"Will there be an investigation?" Joe asked.

"Yes, but not by us."

"Well...the man had one too many enemies," Ed said. "Those three men that were wrongly convicted probably have friends still behind bars."

Van Buren raised an eye at him. She watched him carefully. "Have anything else to say?"

He shrugged. "Like what?"

"Get back to work."

The two went to their desks and sat down. "Know anything about this?" Joe asked.

"What are you suggesting?" Ed asked, offended. Joe just held his palms up. "C'mon, man. You know me better than that. That isn't me."

"Okay. I believe you."

"Good." Ed rolled his eyes and pulled open the file they were working on.