14x03: Twenty-Five Acts Pt. 1
A young blonde NYPD detective absently tapped her ballpoint pen against a pad of paper as she stared at the computer screen in front of her. With her other hand, she fanned at her face. Despite being in the air conditioned station, she was still rather warm from having stepped outside for a few minutes. That had been a big mistake. 20 days in a row over 90 degrees in New York City was close to living in hell and the fact that there had been 16 murders over the 4th of July proved that. But those weren't the only things that factored into her decision. The fact that Captain Cragen had been cleared a month ago for duty and had yet to return to duty compounded the situation. Yes, living hell about summed things up.
Detective Jillian Jacobs, more affectionately known as JJ, worked for the Special Victims Unit of the NYPD. It was a far cry from where she had thought she be at this place in her life, but for the most part, the job was rewarding. Tiring, but rewarding. Sex crimes weren't the easiest or most enjoyable cases to work. In fact, they were typically downright grueling, but someone had to do them…and do them right. Otherwise, where was the justice in this cruel world?
From the desk across from hers, Sergeant John Munch reached over and placed his hand over hers. She looked up at him, her clear blue eyes showing confusion. He glanced at her over his glasses down at the pen in her hand. "I don't think the NYPD needs another scandal," he said wryly as she raised an eyebrow. "If you don't stop tapping that damn pen, murder might be my only option. And after all my years of experience, I know how to get away with it too."
The blonde softly smiled as he gave her a wink. Munch had been her partner since she had transferred to SVU. She had learned a lot from him and she trusted him with her life. He was like a father figure to her, more of a father to her than her own father ever had been. "Getting ornery with old age, Munch?" she teased her partner.
Munch caught JJ's gaze and then shrugged his shoulders, removing his hand from hers. "Maybe. Or it could be this damn heat. Who knows? But I wouldn't risk it if I were you, JJ."
JJ chuckled as she set her pen down and leaned back in her chair. She ran her fingers through her long blonde hair and groaned. She should have brought a hair tie, but she hadn't. Hoping that she had left one in her desk, she opened the drawers only to be disappointed. From behind her, Detective Amanda Rollins whistled. JJ turned around to see Amanda with a hair tie dangling from her index finger. "Thank god," JJ muttered as she clapped her hands for Amanda to toss her the hair tie. Amanda tossed it and JJ caught it and pulled her hair back. "You're my savior. You know that?"
Amanda smiled and walked back to her desk. JJ glanced across her desk to see Munch staring at her. "That hurts, JJ," he said putting his hand over his heart. "You said the same thing to me last week."
JJ rested her elbows on her desk and rested her head on her hands. With a smirk, she shrugged her shoulders and said, "Yeah, I lied." Munch chuckled and shook his head. He then glanced over JJ's shoulder and rolled his eyes. JJ turned to see what caused Munch's reaction.
Acting Captain Steven Harris walked out of Cragen's office and into the squad room. Harris wasn't very well liked among the SVU detectives. He had them doing the unnecessary paperwork that Cragen often overlooked. After the recent scandal, they were supposed to play everything by the books. Books for which JJ didn't mind following. In fact, her background in law often proved to be somewhat of a moral compass. But there were still sometimes when those books got in the way of getting the victims the justice they deserved and that wasn't something that sat well with her.
"Okay, folks, listen up!" Harris called before he cleared his throat. JJ glanced over at her partner who was leaning back in his chair like a grumpy old man. She then faced Harris as he continued. "Looks like we're stuck together a little longer."
"What? The captain was cleared a month ago," Amanda said, speaking up for the rest of them who sat at their desks with a look of confusion on their faces.
"Of criminal charges," Harris pointed out. "1 PP still hasn't declared him fit for duty."
"Of course they haven't," JJ scoffed before turning toward Munch. "Don't even think about it," she warned wagging her finger, knowing he was bound to come up with some conspiracy or another. But her warning was too late.
"What?" Munch groaned toward JJ before facing the others. "1 PP. Welcome to the puzzle palace."
Like usual, they ignore Munch's comments, something one learned to do within their first two weeks on the job. But Detective Olivia Benson asked, "But they did say he was coming back. Right?" JJ glanced at the female detective with the most seniority. She had always looked up to Olivia, even before JJ had joined SVU.
"Far as I know," Harris responded. His answer didn't really sit well with any of them. But he wasn't done shaking things up. "Meantime, I've been thinking some things over. I'd like to move some pieces around on the board."
Munch immediately shot back, "You can move me back to France."
"Hey!" JJ hissed, her blue eyes growing a little brighter, as she shot back. "You need to get away from me that badly?"
"Well, you did lie to me," he said, referring to their conversation before Harris walked in. He then made a circle with his index fingers. "Circle of trust. Broken." JJ placed her hand over her heart and feigned heartache which made Amanda laugh, having witnessed the earlier exchange.
Harris just stared at them for a moment, like they were crazy before he continued. "I'm not entirely sure what is going on there, but I'm actually pairing you back up with your old partner."
JJ's eyes bugged-out as she turned to look at Detective Fin Tutuola, whose gobsmacked expression matched hers. Like Liv and Munch, Fin had worked at SVU for over a decade and was well-respected, but the move to partner Fin and Munch back up didn't make sense. Especially given the fact that JJ and Munch worked well together, as did Fin and Amanda. "Really?" Fin questioned.
"Captain, Fin and I have been kind of-" Amanda started.
Harris put a hand up to stop her. "Getting to that," he said. "Rollins, I'd like to pair you up with Benson, I sense you'll work well together." Amanda glanced over at Liv. Liv nodded her head acknowledging Amanda's glance, but again, this shake-up didn't seem to be going over very well.
Or at least not well with everybody, except Detective Nick Amaro. Judging from his expression, this really didn't come as a surprise to him. JJ found that rather odd, but she said nothing as Munch once again interjected his wry sense of humor, "You got two couples on the dance floor. What about Serpico and Jessica Fletcher's dance cards?"
"Murder She Wrote, really?" JJ scoffed glaring at Munch. "Really, Munch?"
Fin shifted his stance as he leaned against his desk and looked at JJ with a knowing grin. "Aw, c'mon, JJ, we all know what you be doing on your free time," Fin chuckled.
JJ rolled her eyes as Harris looked at her with a quizzical expression. "Not all of us," JJ retorted before quickly changing the subject from her life outside of work and focusing on the task at hand. "So...I take it that you're partnering me with Amaro, then. I mean, seeing as we're the only two left."
"Yes...and...no," Harris answered. "You'll be partnered depending on the call. But I do want you both working swing, ready to assist or go solo if need be. That alright with you two?"
"All good with me," Nick said, finally adding his voice to the conversation.
Harris then looked at JJ. "Jacobs?" he asked.
"Yeah, whatever," JJ said, despite the fact that she didn't understand the shake-up. Things had worked out just fine before. Sure, there was trouble in paradise for Nick and Liv recently, but it wasn't anything they couldn't get through. Still, JJ wasn't going to go against orders. She would do as she was told.
Harris looked around the squad room and nodded his head. "Okay then," he said before he walked away. Everyone remained silent until Harris was out of earshot and in Cragen's office.
JJ leaned over her desk and whispered to Munch, "Did you know about this?"
"What do you think?" Munch asked looking down at the paperwork on his desk. He then glanced up at JJ, who was watching him intently. "No, I didn't. And before you ask, I didn't request it either."
"I didn't think you would request it," JJ said before she slightly smiled. "Fin's not as pretty as I am."
"I heard that," Fin said from his desk. "And he never complained about my looks the last time we were partnered up."
"You just never heard it," Munch muttered to himself which made JJ laugh.
Over her shoulder, JJ could see Nick and Liv talking near the coffeepot. Things looked tense. If JJ was a betting person, her money would be on those two as the reason for this new madness.
~*~Dun Dun~*~
That night after work, JJ unlocked the door to her apartment and walked inside. She quickly relocked it and set the deadbolt before she leaned against the door. Home, sweet, home. JJ lived in a studio-style apartment. The only other room beside the one she was in was the bathroom. It wasn't that she couldn't afford a better place, although, that did factor into things. But honestly, it didn't really make sense for her to have a big empty place when she was the only one who went home to it.
For years, she had dedicated her life to her job and sometimes, it felt like she had nothing to show for it. She knew that it was the typical life of a cop, but she couldn't help but want more. Since she was little the thing she had wanted the most was a family. It was the one thing she never really had. Her mother died when she was young and her father was either never home or he shipped her off on relatives. No, JJ had never really known what it was like to have family who actually cared about you. That was part of the reason she did love her job so much. The NYPD was like a family-they looked after their own.
JJ set her keys down on the counter before she walked over to the refrigerator. She opened it. Inside was a bottle of ketchup, a couple sticks of margarine, a mason jar of honey, and a bag of cheese. Nope, not much she could do with that. She closed the door and walked over to her small pantry. Inside the pantry was one lone package of Ramen noodles, a box of crackers, and baking supplies. With a sigh, she grabbed the package of Ramen and put a kettle of water on the stove before she pulled off her pants. That was one of the nice things about living alone. She could be pantless whenever she wanted.
Leaving her pants discarded on the kitchen floor, JJ walked into the living area of her apartment and turned on the TV. After surfing through the few channels she had, she landed on Adam Cain's television show. While she wasn't particularly fond of his show, the show she wanted to watch came on after his show and she didn't want to miss it. So, she settled for it and settled down on the small sofa, snuggling-up with the fuzzy blanket carelessly strown over the back.
The TV blared Adam Cain's voice: And speaking of torture, is your local sex shop sold out of whips and handcuffs? Well, you can blame it on our next guest. Her runaway bestseller Twenty-Five Acts follows a woman's journey into a world of domination, and it's revolutionizing women's attitudes toward sex. Frankly, I'm just glad they want it at all. Now her book makes Fifty Shades look like a Disney story. She's hot, rich, kinky...I think I'm love. Ladies and gentlemen, Jocelyn Paley.
JJ rolled her eyes as she fumbled to reach for the TV remote. She quickly pressed the mute button. She had never read the book. She dealt with enough brutal sex stuff at work that she didn't need to put herself through more of that. Although, the writing thing she did get. Fin had been right about that. But she still kept her writing very close to her pocket. Not murder mysteries or sexual fantasy stories. No, she had to keep things light at home or she might never see the light again.
The tea kettle began to whistle, so she quickly got up and walked back to the stove and pulled it off the burner. While the kettle set for a minute, JJ grabbed the last clean bowl from the cupboard and dumped the Ramen in it before she poured the hot water into the bowl. As she waited for the noodles to cook, she glanced toward the TV to see Jocelyn Paley grinning from ear to ear. To think, a life somewhat like that could have been hers.
~*~Dun Dun~*~
The next day at work, they all gathered around the television in the squad room. On the screen was the very interview JJ had muted the night before. Apparently, someone from Jocelyn's team had called 911. Liv and Amanda had taken the call and met with Jocelyn Paley. Jocelyn didn't think she would be able to claim rape because of her book, which made perfect sense, but it wasn't right. No means no.
"She's giving as good as she's getting," Nick pointed out.
JJ drummed her fingers against the table. "If her story is credible then it turned ugly later. So, just because of what happened on TV doesn't mean she asked for what happened later."
Nick looked at JJ rather pointedly. "You think I don't know that? You of all people should know as well as I do how this is gonna look if this ends up in front of a jury. Court of public opinion."
"Yeah, I know. I'm just saying it sucks."
"Clarify something for me," Harris said, rubbing his brow. "She's not claiming rape, but she agreed to a rape kit?"
Liv sighed, "Reluctantly. She has anal fissures and a severe ligature mark on her neck." Liv made a motion around her neck and JJ absently rubbed at hers. She knew that marks like those didn't come easily.
"She didn't press charges?" Fin asked in slight disbelief.
Amanda jumped in. She grabbed the copy of Jocelyn's book which sat on the middle of the table and handed it to Fin. "No, she's worried, you know, because of her book." Fin flipped through the pages with an arched eyebrow.
"Her prose is pretty florid," Munch started. He stopped for a moment and then continued. "Although I admire any author who can work in nipple clamps and Albinoni's Adagio in one sentence." Both flabbergasted, JJ and Fin looked at their Sergeant who simply shrugged his shoulders.
"You read this?" Fin asked holding Jocelyn's book up.
"Yeah-you read that?" JJ mimicked.
Munch rolled his eyes and responded, "The yentas at my mother's retirement home were passing it around and my mother's losing her sight, so I read it to her." He gave another shrug of his shoulders to which both Fin and JJ responded by shaking their heads.
It was Amanda that said what they all were thinking. "That is something I would never do for my mother," Amanda laughed.
"Okay, this isn't a book club," Harris said bringing the team back to the subject at hand. "If she's not pressing charges, why are we wasting our time?"
The six detectives looked at each other with expressions that read who's gonna tell him? Without even thinking about it, JJ placed her finger on her nose like she had when she was a child. Amanda followed suit and even Fin joined it. Liv shook her head and took one for the team. "Captain, you're new to SVU. Victims sometimes take time to process. She said stop. He tightened the belt."
"He probably thought that, given her book, that he could get away with it," Amanda added.
"And there are definitely some rumblings about this guy," JJ continued pointing toward the TV screen. "He's forward with his female guests, especially the hot ones, and they're there for only a short time. It's a possibility that he's had dozens of pretty female interns, who come and go, that he may have crossed the line with."
"Hold on," Munch said holding his hand up. "Cain may be a ladies' man, but he's one of the good guys."
Fin then continued, "We've seen him at benefits. Police widows. Battered women. He never says no."
"You mean, he never hears no," Liv said in finality. JJ pointed at Liv and nodded her head, fully backing her up. Amanda too gave a nod of approval.
'Okay, okay," Harris said settling the group down before he handed out their assignments. "Fin and Munch, pay Cain a friendly visit before charges before he lawyers up. Benson, Rollins, check and see if Jocelyn's had time to process."
"What about us?" Nick asked motioning between himself and JJ. Before Harris could answer, JJ snatched Twenty-Five Acts from Fin's hands and slid it across the table to Nick. She smirked at him and he gave her an unamused expression. Harris nodded his head and Nick looked up at their acting captain in disbelief. "I'm reading the book?" he questioned.
"And following up on the rumors about Cain and his interns with JJ. If he did do what she says, he's done it before." With that, Harris walked away with Liv. Fin patted Munch's shoulder and the two of them headed for the door. That left Nick, Amanda, and JJ. JJ and Nick both stared down at the book before glancing at each other.
JJ gave Nick a quick wink before she pushed the book across the table at him, "You can start with the book. I insist."
"It seems a little more your speed," Nick said sliding the book across the table.
JJ slid the book back across the table at him. "Your skillset is much more suited for it."
Nick slid the book again but before he could say anything, Amanda slammed her hand down on the book. "How about I run down to the corner store and buy another copy while I wait for Liv. Or better yet, maybe you can get both get started on the rumors and I'll come back with signed copies for both of you."
JJ and Nick looked across the table at each other and then to Rollins. "Works for me," JJ said with a shrug before she got up and quickly walked away. Nick followed after her to his desk. "Aw, c'mon guys, I was kidding," Amanda groaned still holding the book.
When JJ sat down at her desk, she moved the mouse to her computer causing the black screen to brighten. She typed in a password and set to work when Nick called over to her. "JJ, you do realize we both have to read the book, right?" Nick asked.
She nodded her head. "Yeah, I know. I just wanted to see Amanda's reaction," JJ said with a smile glancing over her shoulder back at Amanda, who set the book down and stared over at Nick and JJ.
Nick smiled back and looked at Amanda. 'Yeah, me too."
"Figured. Besides, I'd much rather read that in the privacy of my own apartment where I don't have everyone watching me for my reaction."
"True that."
~*~Dun Dun~*~
The next morning, after a long night of research, JJ found herself standing in line at Starbucks. While it wasn't one of her healthiest habits, she would admit that she was a coffee junkie. But hell, it could be worse. She could be addicted to heroin. In perspective, coffee didn't seem so bad. Since it was still sweltering outside, JJ ordered an iced vanilla latte and pulled out her debit card to pay.
The barista swiped JJ's card and then her brow furrowed. Definitely not a good sign. "I'll be right back, I need to get my manager," the young and stressed barista told JJ.
"Is there a problem with my card?" JJ asked quizzically, knowing full-well that there shouldn't be any problems with her card. It had been years since she had run into any serious money issues. She wasn't living check to check like she was when she first started out.
But the barista shook her head. "There's something going on with the system."
"Great," JJ muttered, as she pulled her phone out to check the time. Harris hated it when they were late. Cragen was more or less forgiving to a certain point, as long as they did their work and they did it well. But Harris was always on them for everything these days.
The swamped supervisor came over and pressed a few buttons before swiping JJ's card. This time the supervisor looked rather worried. "Just give me a second, ma'am," the supervisor said before the crossed to the drive-thru register.
Ma'am, ma'am was something you called women over forty. JJ wasn't there...not yet. But she ignored the comment as she glanced over her shoulder at the growing line behind her where people were already beginning to grumble. She then turned to see the supervisor looking at the screen rather frantically. JJ overheard the words restart the system as she drummed her fingers against the counter.
The system reboot didn't seem to do the trick. "You wouldn't happen to have any cash on hand, would you?" the barista asked handing JJ back her card.
JJ opened her somewhat over-sized purse to dig for some cash, which she rarely kept on her person. Having a credit and debit card was much more convenient. As her hand dug further into the bag, she accidentally knocked out the copy of Jocelyn Paley's Twenty-Five Acts that she spent most of the night reading. "Shit," the blonde detective muttered, hoping that no one noticed. But she had no such luck.
As JJ bent down to pick up the book, a sharply dressed man bent over and picked it up for her. Holding onto it, he stood up and JJ took a good look at him. He was dressed in a crisply pressed button-up shirt, a snazzy tie, and suspenders. His suit coat hung over his other arm as he looked bemusedly at the book in his hands. He ran his fingers through the many, many post-it notes that hung outside the pages of the book, which she had put them in there just in case something could be used as evidence."Your favorite parts?" he asked rather cockily.
"It's for work," JJ groaned, her face slightly pink. That was clearly the wrong answer. The man raised an arched eyebrow at her and for once, JJ was at a loss for words. Although, in her defense, she really couldn't say what her work involved...especially not to some random stranger in a Starbucks. So, JJ just held her hand out for the man to place the book. Thankfully, he said nothing more before he placed the book in her hand.
"Ma'am?" the barista asked rather timidly.
"Oh, right," JJ said turning toward the barista and digging through her bag again. She groaned as she rummaged through the bottom, only managing to find spare change that would hardly amount to anything. "Dammit," she muttered as she continued to dig, hoping that some dollar bills would magically show up. While behind her, the people in line began to complain a little louder.
JJ was about to tell the barista to cancel her order when the man behind her stepped up to the counter. "Brooke, just add her order to my usual," the man said holding a twenty dollar bill between his fingers.
"You don't have to do that," JJ groaned reaching out to stop him. She rested her hand on his arm, but the barista had already accepted his money. He looked down at her hand on his arm and then at her before she awkwardly withdrew her hand.
"I'm not doing it for you," the man said rather gruffly. "I want my coffee and I suspect the same of the people behind us." The barista gave the man his change, which he put neatly into his leather wallet. JJ stood there for a moment before the man roughly motioned for her to keep moving. She shook her head. She was never this absent-minded. It must be an off morning. Most likely caused by the material she pored over last night. She stopped near the pick-up counter and awkwardly stood beside the man, who was busy checking his phone.
"I-uh-thank you," JJ stammered.
He responded without even looking up from his phone. "Like I said, it was because you were holding up the line."
She shifted rather uncomfortably. "Well, if we ever run into each other again…"
"You will owe me $4.45." The man said, his fingers furiously pressing buttons on his phone, which JJ assumed was him texting.
JJ gave a nod of her head, which he didn't see before she stood there with her arms folded across her chest and her foot tapping impatiently as she waited for her drink to finally be ready. The man beside her didn't even glance once her way, at least not that she could see. It seemed like forever when a new barista came to the counter with a drink that read JJ. She walked up to the counter to grab it before they even said her name.
Once the cold drink was in her hand, she opened the straw and stuck it in her drink before she turned around to walk away. She took a few steps before she stopped near the man, who was still looking at his phone. JJ cleared her throat and the man glanced up at her, with an almost annoyed expression on his face. "Yes?"
"Thank you again," JJ said, standing a little straighter. "I do appreciate the gesture."
The man looked at her for a moment and nodded his head before gaze dropped right back to his phone. JJ reasoned that whatever was happening was really important or she was annoying him. So, JJ nodded her head and then moved to walk away when she heard him say, "I hope your research proves to be useful."
For a moment, JJ froze. When she realized he was referring to that damn book, she groaned and quickly walked away hoping that was the last time she would ever have to see that man again.
~*~Dun Dun ~*~
When JJ walked into the 16th Precinct, she found most of the SVU detectives gathered around Amanda's computer. "Sorry, I'm late," JJ apologized as she walked to her desk and set her iced coffee down. She opened her bottom desk drawer dropped her purse in before she fished out her copy of Twenty-Five Acts. "Starbucks credit card machine fritzed and then there was this guy…"
"A guy?" Amanda asked curiously, leaning back in her chair and raising an eyebrow as JJ walked toward them carrying her iced coffee.
After a sip of coffee, JJ's nose crinkled in disgust. "Uh-no. Nothing like that. The guy was just an ass, that's all."
"Was he at least cute?"
"As much as I'm going to kick myself later for joining in this conversation...does that really matter?" Munch asked Amanda rather dryly.
"You should know better by now," Fin muttered to himself, clearly disappointed that Munch had decided to join the ladies' conversation.
"Depends," Amanda said with a shrug of her shoulders, answering Munch and ignoring Fin. She then turned back toward JJ. "So, was he? I mean, it has been awhile for you."
JJ rolled her eyes. "How about we forget about me and we focus on whatever's on your computer screen," JJ said pointing to the computer. "I'm guessing it's important since ya'll are gathered around it."
"Have a look."
Amanda clicked a button and security footage began to play on her screen. JJ sipped her coffee as the footage showed Jocelyn Paley stepping into the elevator. A few moments later, she was followed by Adam Cain and what happened after wasn't something that should happen to anyone. "You've got to be kidding me," JJ scoffed. "He did it again?"
"She came by my place last night after it happened," Liv said.
"Guys like this really piss me off," JJ groaned.
Amanda nodded her head. "Agreed. I mean look at him. He's pretty brazen. He had to have known that there were security cameras."
After having been silent this entire time, Nick finally spoke. "He also probably knows it's Act Nine of the book-elevator sex." The detectives working with him looked at Nick curiously, but he just shrugged. "I read the masterpiece last night."
"Me too," JJ said flashing her copy of the book.
Fin snatched JJ's book out of her hands and flipped through the pages. "Damn girl, how many notes did you take?" he said.
JJ chuckled. "What can I say, old habits die hard." The detectives then turned their attention back to the video.
Munch shifted uncomfortably as he stared hard at the computer screen. This wasn't something he could easily process. He thought he had known Adam Cain-at least enough to know that he thought he was a good person. But he was a sergeant with SVU and it was his job to protect people like Jocelyn. "It doesn't look like she's enjoying it," he said.
"Doesn't look like she's resisting either," Fin stated.
"That's called tonic immobility, Fin," Amanda said glancing over her shoulder, clearly somewhat annoyed at Fin.
Liv then shared her knowledge with the group. "She was traumatized from the night before. He goes after her again. Now everybody knows fight or flight, but there's a third response. You freeze."
JJ nodded her head, completely agreeing with Liv. "She's right. Tonic immobility happens a lot more than you'd think."
"Good luck trying to sell that to a jury," Fin responded.
JJ arched an eyebrow at him. "It's been known to happen," she said, but fully aware of the point Fin was making. Many juries could take the person not fighting back or not fleeing as a sign that they wanted it. That deep down there was a part of them that wanted this, a rape fantasy, they might call it. But JJ also knew that until one was put in that situation, it was hard to understand.
Captain Harris then walked into the squad room and stopped a few feet away from them with his arms folded across his chest. "Rollins knows her stuff," he said nodding at Amanda. "Jacobs too." He then nodded at JJ. "Wouldn't hurt you boys to keep up with the literature." Fin and Munch didn't look too impressed by Harris' statement, but they said nothing. Harris then took a step closer to them. "So...Jocelyn ready to press charges?" he asked.
Liv stood up and announced, "We're ready to go to the DA."
"Which one?" Munch scoffed sardonically. "They've all lawyered up since Delia Wilson named names."
JJ sighed. Munch had a point. The scandal involving NYC madam Delia Wilson ran high in the ranks. DA's, vice officers, deputy mayors, and more had been exposed in wrong-doings thanks to SVU. It was going to be an uphill battle to find a DA who wanted to prosecute for them after that, but Captain Harris just smirked. "I've got a guy," he said. "Rafael Barba."
JJ's brow furrowed. "Why does that name sound familiar?" she asked looking at her coworkers.
Amanda thought for a moment before she asked, "Isn't he the guy that put away two johns for raping a prostitute?" Harris nodded his head acknowledging that Amanda was correct and now that JJ thought about it, she had heard of that. But she could swear she knew that name from somewhere else.
"That was a tough case," Liv said walking toward Harris. She stopped and rested her hands on her hips. "I thought he was in Brooklyn."
"He was," Harris responded. "He just requested a lateral to Manhattan. The guy's got big, brass…" He paused for a moment.
JJ raised an eyebrow at Harris.
"Ego," Harris finished with suspecting glances from his detectives. JJ just shook her head. He should have just said balls. They all knew he was thinking it. But Harris immediately recovered, "Adam Cain's high-profile. So's Jocelyn Paley. He's perfect."
"Alright then," Munch said folding his arms across his chest. "So who's the lucky one that gets to go talk to this guy with big, brass...ego?" His words clearly mimicking Harris'.
Harris just shook his head. "Benson, Rollins, why don't you both come with me and I'll introduce you."
"No disrespect to your decision sir, but I think JJ should tag along too," Liv said to Harris. He gave Liv a slight look of confusion, but she quickly responded before he could say anything. "JJ's background has proven helpful when meeting new DAs."
"Yeah, she can speak lawyer and God knows I can't," Amanda added. They all looked at JJ for a moment. She knew that Liv knew JJ's background, Amanda knew, Munch knew, and Fin knew. But Harris did not...neither did Nick. Or if he did, he never mentioned it.
Harris looked between Liv and Amanda before he sighed and nodded his head. "Fine, Jacobs you can tag along too. Anyone else want to come along?" he asked sarcastically. Fin, Munch, and Nick shook their heads. "Good. Let's go."
~*~Dun Dun~*~
JJ tugged at her necklace as she walked up the steps of the courthouse with Liv, Amanda, and Harris. After making a phonecall, Harris found that A.D.A. Barba was due in Arraignment Court. Harris decided they would catch him after the arraignment. "You didn't have to drag me along. I'm sure I would have met the guy eventually," JJ muttered to Liv as they walked a few steps behind Harris.
"JJ, you went to law school. You're an asset to SVU. With a new DA, we need to play our strongest hand first. So that means having you along," Liv said brushing her hair out of her face. "It's what Cragen would have done."
Harris held the door open for each of his three detectives to walk through. JJ avoided making eye contact with him as she passed through the entrance. She already felt awkward enough tagging along at Liv's request and she didn't want to make things any more awkward. But awkwardness was bound to find her.
The SVU detectives walked into Arraignment Court and stood in the gallery, waiting for their A.D.A. JJ stood closest to the court but when she immediately spotted the man she was fairly certain was Rafael Barba, her eyes widened in shock. A tiny squeak escaped from her lips before she covered her mouth with her hand. She quickly turned around so that her back was to everyone inside.
Amanda, who was standing beside her took noticed of JJ's strange behavior. She looked around the room but could find no reason for it. So, she leaned close to JJ. "What is wrong with you?" Amanda whispered.
"Do you see the A.D.A?" JJ whispered back refusing to look over her shoulder but tapping her foot nervously as she looked at Amanda.
Amanda looked over JJ's shoulder at their new A.D.A. He looked quite smug and sure of himself, not to mention he was nicely dressed. But nothing to tell her why JJ was acting so weird. "Barba? Yeah. So?" Amanda said with a shrug of her shoulders.
"That's the asshole from Starbucks this morning."
Amanda's mouth opened like she was about to laugh, but she suppressed any noise by cupping her hand over her mouth. She shook her head at JJ, no doubt with a smile under her hand. "Only you," Amanda whispered.
JJ folded her arms across her chest. She then closed her eyes and shook her head. "That's not the worst of it. Twenty-Five acts slipped out of my purse this morning...in front of him. He picked it up and noticed all my notes. I told him it was for work and now I'm pretty sure he thinks I work in the sex industry." JJ rubbed at her temples.
It was then Amanda began to shake with laughter, but she made no sound of it. "Oh my god, JJ. Only you. Only you."
"It's not funny. I-I panicked. I don't normally panic like that, but I did." JJ explained as Liv looked over at Amanda and JJ curiously. JJ just gave a quick raise of her eyebrows and Liv looked away. JJ then leaned a little closer to Amanda. "Is it too late just to slip out?"
"Liv stuck her neck out for you."
"I know that."
"Besides, you gotta meet him officially sooner or later."
"Preferably later."
Amanda shook her head. "Too late, he's coming this way."
JJ rolled her eyes and threw her head back. Just her luck. She wanted nothing more than to bolt from the room, but that would now be quite obvious especially since Barba a.k.a Starbucks guy had spotted them. So, she stood there with her back to him. She wasn't going to reveal herself until it was absolutely necessary. Until then, she was going to pray he didn't recognize her.
"Captain!" Barba called as he strode closer toward them. "Take your daughters to work day?" he joked as he noticed the three female detectives with him. He glanced curiously at the one who appeared to be studying the woodwork before he stuck his hand out for Captain Harris to shake.
"Detectives Benson," Harris said nodding to Liv. Barba shook Liv's hand. "Rollins." Barba then shook Amanda's hand. "And Jacobs. Jacobs?"
JJ turned around to face A.D.A. Barba. Her left hand absently scratched at her neck as she extended her right hand for him to shake. She didn't miss the giant smirk plastered across his face as Barba reached out and shook JJ's hand. "We've met," Barba said making eye contact with JJ.
"You have?" Liv and Harris asked simultaneously. Amanda covered her mouth once again to hide any sign of amusement.
Barba continued to shake JJ's hand as he chuckled. "I paid for her coffee this morning because she was holding up the line." Not wanting to let him know he intimidated her, she continued to shake his hand until things were obviously awkward and Amanda cleared her throat. JJ and Barba released their grips on each other's hand and stood there.
"What can I do for you, Captain?" Barba asked Harris.
"I lied and told them you know your way around a courtroom." Barba smiled at his comment and then Harris continued. "I'm sure you've seen the Jocelyn Paley and Adam Cain press going on recently," Harris said. Barba nodded his head. "Ms. Paley's decided to file charges against Mr. Cain."
Mr. Barba nodded his head again. "And that's where I come in." Barba then turned toward JJ. "Your work isn't quite what you led on," he said with a stupid smirk on his face. Amanda understood what he was talking about, but once again Liv and Harris weren't entirely quite sure what to think.
But once again, JJ attempted to hold her ground. She folded her arms across her chest. "You never asked for more specifics." Amanda snickered while Liv and Harris simply watched on.
Barba nodded his head and chuckled. "I didn't want to have to indict you. Luckily for you, now I won't have to." JJ gave him a fake smile before he turned toward Harris. "Captain, why don't we take this to my office?"
"I'm needed back at the precinct," Harris said. "But I'll let you get my filled-in by my detectives. Benson, you have all the paperwork?"
"Yes, sir," Liv responded.
"Good. Well, then, have fun," Harris said before he walked away, leaving Liv, Amanda, and JJ with Barba.
"Follow me," Barba said as he motioned with his arm for them to do as he said. He walked out of the room and into the hall. Liv walked closest to him as Amanda and JJ held a little bit behind. Without saying a word, Barba reached out his hand for Liv to place the folder in his hands. He snapped his fingers to get her attention before she handed the file over to him. He said nothing as the detectives continued to follow him while he read the case file.
Amanda leaned over to JJ. "He is cute." She was making reference to their conversation earlier this morning, but JJ just rolled her eyes.
"No comment," JJ muttered, pulling her long blonde hair behind her ear.
Amanda smirked at JJ. "You gonna plead the fifth while you're at it?"
"If I have to," was all JJ replied.
Wisely, Amanda said nothing more. But she also knew that if there was such a thing as instant chemistry, JJ definitely had it with the new A.D.A. Not that Amanda ever expected JJ to go there, but still, it was nice to see her friend like that. Especially given the dry spell JJ was currently going through.
Barba didn't speak to them until they finally reached his office. "This girl, she appears credible?" he asked without glancing at them and focused solely on the case file as he walked into his office. The detectives followed behind him.
"She's concerned about perception," Liv responded. "But she was raped. Twice."
Barba stopped behind his desk and quickly turned on his heel. "I didn't ask if she was raped. I asked if she appears credible."
"Excuse me?" Amanda scoffed.
"He has to ask that," JJ responded almost as an intermediary. She paused for a moment before she added. "Especially given that it would be his first high-profile case in Manhattan." Barba looked at JJ somewhat stunned. Clearly, he hadn't anticipated that remark. But he simply nodded his head once.
Amanda rolled her eyes. "Look, I get that you have to ask that…"
"Reason being…" Barba started and then dropped the file folder onto his desk before glancing back up at the detectives. "We had a case about two months ago, red hook. Guy strangled a girl so hard, her eyes had petechial hemorrhaging. Punk tells the jury they met in a bar, she's into S&M. It's a complete lie. The jury deadlocks."
JJ winced whether you were a cop or the prosecuting lawyer, a jury deadlock wasn't a good thing. But there had to be a point to the story. "Why did they deadlock?" JJ asked with her arms folded across her chest. "I assume it's pertinent to this discussion."
"A detective who can read between the lines, good," Barba said glancing toward JJ. She was rather taken aback by his compliment, unsure whether he actually meant it or was once again being facetious. Barba shifted his stance and then continued. "Later we find out that half of them read your victim's book."
"That'll do it," JJ muttered to herself, shaking her head.
Barba looked at her curiously but his attention was quickly diverted away as Liv made her opinion known. "Okay, I'm confused," Liv scoffed. "Harris told us you win cases everybody else ducks."
Liv stared him down for a few seconds before he responded. Barba smiled for a moment and said, "Sometimes." Clearly, Liv had made him...and he knew it. He nodded his head. "Let me talk to the victim."
"She's had a rough couple of days…" Amanda started, clearly not wanting to subject Jocelyn to him quite yet.
"If we go forward, it's not going to get any easier," Barba said.
JJ sighed and responded, "He does have a point. If she can't make it through a discussion with the prosecutor on her case, she'll never survive. Especially if she's called to testify and then put under cross."
"Like Detective Jacobs said earlier, this is going to be high profile. I need to know everything so I can get out in front of any fires Cain or his defense might try to set."
As much as she hated to admit it, the guy knew how to do his job. Amanda looked at her and JJ nodded. "It's in Jocelyn's best interest."
"Okay then," Liv said. "We'll see what we can do. Thanks for your time. We'll be in contact." Liv stuck her hand out and shook Barba's hand once more. Amanda followed suit and so did JJ.
The three female SVU detectives then headed for the door. JJ thought that maybe the awkwardness of the situation was over, but she was wrong. Barba called for her once she reached the door. "Detective Jacobs, hold on a minute."
Liv and Amanda stopped. "Go on," she told them. "I'll catch up with you." Liv and Amanda nodded their heads and walked away. JJ turned back toward Barba as she tucked a stray tendril of blonde hair behind her hear. "Yes?"
Barba shoved his hands into his pants pockets. "You said you'd have my money the next time we ran into each other." He smirked.
JJ shook her head. She couldn't tell if he was teasing her or if he was being serious. So, she tried a response that could cater to either side. "You really think I've had time to stop at an ATM, Counselor?"
He shrugged his shoulders, still grinning.
With another shake of her head, JJ responded, "You know where I work. I'm sure we'll see each other again."
Barba nodded his head, this time softly smiling. "I'll be seeing you then."
Author's Note: So, there it is. I blame Brooklyn Knight (in a good way) for getting me readdicted to SVU. Hence the reason the barista is named Brooke. (Also if you haven't read her SVU story Waiting Game, you should) So, I know I'm splitting Twenty-Five Acts into two chapters because otherwise, it would get too long. After that, I have a feeling I'll focus more on Barba/JJ-I just wanted to get her established in the SVU universe. Thank you to everyone who has been so supportive of this story (especially on Tumblr) I hope it doesn't suck too badly. haha.