Disclaimer: Dick Wolf and NBC own "Law and Order". I don't.

A/N: This story is the fifth installment in my little series. The first three were "Nothing", "Admit It", "Newly-Attached", and "First Date". Connie's new partner, Allison Barclay, is an OC of mine. The first part is just everyone at a bar chatting and some cute and funny M/C moments. The second part is Connie's first trial as EADA. And in regards to Connie's promotion, let's face it: she could TOTALLY handle it. I mean, remember when she and Mike had to be on opposite sides of the Dresner case, and she was totally kicking his ass for the majority of the proceedings? She's just as good an attorney as he is, so she could totally do it. Let's be real here. LOL So yeah, if I were in charge of "L+O", that's what would happen.

This is for Linus, Alana, Jeremy Sisto, and Anthony Anderson. I heart you guys! ~Abby

EADA Rubirosa

Chapter One

"So are you all settled in?" newly-promoted EADA Connie Rubirosa asked her new ADA Allison Barclay.

"Yeah, I'd say I am," Allison replied thoughtfully. "Listen, Connie, thank you so much for being so welcoming. I've been so nervous about this whole thing."

"Well, of course!" Connie said pleasantly with a smile. "You're my new partner. I've really been looking forward to meeting you!"

"I've been looking forward to meeting you, too!" Allison said, smiling back. "I'm really moved by the fact that everyone's been so welcoming. I mean, this move was not easy. I've lived in Pennsylvania my whole life…You know, this all seems so surreal, too. I mean, here I am in New York City, in Manhattan, working for Jack McCoy—the Jack McCoy, 'Hang 'em High' McCoy…But I tell you, Connie, I have worked so hard."

"I'm sure you have!" said Connie. "And now it's time to enjoy the pay-off…While still busting your ass, but you know what I mean," she added.

There was a split-second pause and then they both laughed.

Then—

"Will you update me on the Sullivan case?" Connie asked.

"Yeah. The police ruled out the rival. Three co-workers alibi'd her. She was there working overtime with them."

"Okay. Anything else?"

"Lupo and Bernard interviewed the victim's parents and best friend, as well as a few neighbors."

"Cool."

"The witnesses and the evidence point to the victim's ex-boyfriend, so he's now a suspect. Lupo and Bernard picked him up and are questioning him now. They sent me a text message a couple minutes ago."

"Great! Hey—Lupo, Bernard, and I are gonna call it a day at six and go to our usual bar. It's not too far from here. You wanna join us? My boyfriend is meeting us there—my sister might meet us if she can get off work then."

"Nice! I'd love to get to know everyone better, especially my new coworkers," said Allison.

A couple hours later—

Connie checked her watch.

"It about six," she said. "You wanna get going?"

Allison looked up.

"Sure."

As Connie was exiting the office—

"Aww, you're such a beautiful family!"

Connie turned around to see Allison bending down, looking at the framed pictures Connie had on her desk. Allison had commented on the picture of Connie with her parents and siblings.

"Thank you!" she said brightly.

"Of course!" said Allison. Then, looking at the picture Connie had of her and Mike together, she added, "Is this your boyfriend?"

"Yeah!" Connie said, smiling.

"Wow, he's a good-looking guy," said Allison.

"Yeah, he is…I miss him—and my family…"

Suddenly, her Android beeped, and she dug it out of her purse. She'd received a text message.

"Aw," she said disappointedly, after reading it.

"What is it?"

"It's from my sister. She's not going to be able to make it…Well, darn. Maybe you'll get to meet her some other time. Ready?"

"Yeah."

As they were about to pass Jack's office, the door to which was ajar, Connie peeked in and said, "We came in at seven, Jack, so we're calling it a day. We're going to our usual bar, you wanna join us?"

Jack looked up.

"Not tonight, Connie," he said.

Connie offered, "I'll buy you a scotch—or two."

There was a split-second pause, then—

"I'll think about it," Jack said.

Allison rode with Connie to the nearest bar, the favorite hang-out of Manhattan's cops and D.A.'s.

"Nice place," said Allison, looking around, as she and Connie entered the bar.

"Yeah!" Connie agreed. "This is one of our main haunts."

Allison followed her over to the counter, and the two of them sat on adjacent stools.

"Hey, Connie," said the bartender.

"Hey, Rick!" said Connie.

"What can I get you?"

"A vodka and cranberry—Smirnoff, please," said Connie. "And this is my new partner Allison," she added.

"Hey, Allison!"

"Hi!"

"What can I get you?"

"Can I get a martini—stirred, please?"

"Sure thing!"

"I'd say the Simmons deposition went well today, wouldn't you?" asked Allison.

"Yeah!" Connie agreed.

"Here you ladies are," said Rick, placing Connie and Allison's drinks in front of them. They thanked him.

A few minutes later, Connie saw Mike enter the bar, and she waved at him to get his attention. He smiled and came over to her and Allison.

"Hey!" Connie greeted him, standing up so she could hug him.

"Hi!" Mike said sweetly, returning her embrace.

They kissed and then sat down.

Mike then exchanged greetings with Rick the bartender and ordered a beer.

"Mike, this is Allison Barclay, my new ADA. Allison, this is my love, Mike Cutter."

"Hi, Mike, nice to meet you!" Allison said amiably.

"Nice to meet you, too!" said Mike.

The two of them shook hands.

"Connie tells me you're a prosecutor, too," said Allison.

"Yeah, I'm with the Queens D.A.'s office," Mike said. "Connie said you were with the Pittsburgh D.A."

"Yeah," said Allison. "I was with a private firm in Philly for a while, then I went there, and now here."

"Your former boss was one of my law professors," said Mike.

"Don?" asked Allison.

"Yeah."

"He's a piece of work, isn't he?"

"No kidding…I had him for Criminal Law Seminar on 6th Amendment Issues, State Prosecution Function, and Criminal Law and Procedure. He hated me," Mike said, a smile playing about his face.

"Why?" Connie asked, surprised.

"Probably because I was so outspoken," Mike said, clearly amused.

"You, outspoken? Shocker!" Connie joked. "But maybe he was one of those professors who doesn't like it when their students are ridiculously intelligent. Maybe he felt threatened by you," she added seriously.

"Maybe," Mike said with a smile and a shrug.

"Or maybe he just thought you talked too much," she then joked.

"Most people seem to think so," Mike joked self-deprecatingly with a small smile.

"How was your day?" Connie asked him.

"Long and stressful. This damn Goodwin case…We just keep grasping at straws," Mike replied.

"It'll work out," Connie said warmly. "I've got a good feeling about it."

She gave him a reassuring smile.

"I needed that," Mike said gratefully, gently touching her face. "Thank you, Connie."

"Of course!" Connie said.

"So how was your day?"

"Busy. We had a deposition for the Simmons case, a new suspect came up in the Sullivan case, and we won the motion hearing for the Collins case."

"Wow," Mike said.

"Right?" Connie agreed. "I'm exhausted."

"I bet!" said Mike.

Connie kissed him on the cheek and then dug her phone out of her purse.

"Jack really should join us," she said. "He doesn't give himself enough of a break. I'm going to call him." She dialed his number. "Hey, Jack, it's Connie…Yeah, we are. Do you want to join us?...Are you sure?...Jack, I think the voters will spare you just a little bit of time to have a couple drinks…All right. You're disappointing me, Jack," she joked. "Okay…You, too. See you tomorrow morning…'Bye…Well," she said to Mike and Allison, "no rest for the weary, I guess. I'll twist his arm more next week."

"Did he know I'd be here?" Mike joked.

"Mike, he does miss you," said Connie. "You know what?"

"What?"

"The day after you left, he wore the tie clip you bought him to work."

"He did?"

"Yeah! Don't be silly, Mike. You know how important you are to him!"

"I actually can't tell what he thinks of me," said Allison. "To be honest, that worries me."