L.A and Order
After the last episode I feel like I don't really care if Danny and Kelli won't be back for season 17. So I've decided to write them this spin off.
We'll see where this goes…
It's all of the order without the W.
I don't own any of the characters who appear on SVU
"Look Nick" Cynthia said, he just dropped his son at her place and wanted to have a word with her alone "I know how you feel about this, but it's the best thing for Gil, he's going to live in a good place near his family, go to a better school, don't you want that for him?"
"I'm his family too!" he slightly raised his right arm "he's my son and of course I want the best for him, but isn't spending time with his father a part of it?" he didn't expect a response, she told him about the possibility of the two of them moving to San Diego and he's been trying to find a different solution. In the back of his mind he already knew is was useless, they were going to leave.
Not seeing his son was going to be hard for Nick, he was absent for nine years of his life and now he's not going to be there for him again. He couldn't really get used to Zara living in California and now Gil was moving there.
Maybe this was some kind of a hint from the universe?
"Nick?"
He's been staring at his computer screen, thinking about California, he never pictured himself living there, but then again, there were so many things he never though he'd do, like being arrested, or finding out he had a kid he never knew about, or having feeling towards a coworker…
"Nick?"
He turned his head to see Amanda staring at him.
"You ok? You seemed a little lost there" she asked.
"I'm fine, you need something?" how long has he been sitting there like this? It wasn't the first time he got lost in this sort of thoughts at work, not the first time he got caught either.
"We got the results from the rape kit back, they found fluids and we have a DNA match"
"That's good news, the vic said she didn't know the guy"
"Well, we know it now, his name is Anthony Taffer, he's got a gun charge" she handed him the file "and he's affiliated with a gang that's been smuggling fire arms"
"We need to get a warrant and arrest him"
"Yeah" Amanda nodded "but that's not all, the victim has also been connected to them, never been charged but looks like she lied about not knowing him"
"Wouldn't be the first time" he took a deep breath "I'll call Barba"
It started out like so many other cases, they got a call from the hospital about a possible rape victim. Amanda and Fin drove there to talk to her. She didn't have much to say, claimed she had no idea who assaulted her, she never saw his face.
After talking to Barba Nick turned to Amanda "he'll have our warrant tomorrow, so we can pick it up early and arrest him"
"Good" she gave him a little smile "I think I'm gonna call it a day, you heading out soon?"
"Yeah, that sounds like a good idea" he started gathering his thing "I think I'll walk you out" he smiled.
Amanda watched him, she could tell there was something going on with him, she just had no idea what it was about. She took her bag and coat and waited for him to get up.
"You ok?" she asked when he was away from the desk.
"Yeah" he didn't even look at her when he replied, she could see it wasn't a sincere answer.
"You sure? Cause you've been off for the last few days" he didn't react but it occurred to her it could be connected to his son "this has anything to do with Gil and San Diego?"
Nick looked at her and nodded, why keep it a secret? "It's final, they're leaving"
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that"
Nick let out a puff of air "I'm sorry too"
"You can still call him, visit, it's not going to be the same but you will still have a relationship"
"But what kind of relationship?" the elevator's doors opened and they walked in "he's my son, I want to be there for him"
They were quiet until the doors opened.
"What about the other option?" she walked out of the elevator and he followed "have you considered moving there?"
"You think I should move to California?" he was surprised by her offer, did she want him to leave?
"I don't know, but if you don't want just visitations and calls…what else can you do?" she looked at him "you thought about it when Zara moved there, but you decided to stay, a part of it was because of him right?" he nodded and she continued "you have to figure out what you want to do"
She smiled and looked hesitant for a moment, Nick wasn't sure if she wanted to say something else or is she was expecting him to talk. But then she touched his shoulder, her touch was light and she didn't keep her hand there for long. Still, it felt nice.
"I'm sure you'll make the right decision" she walked to her car and turned to him before getting into the driver's sit. He gave her a quick wave and walked over to his vehicle.
Amanda may think he'll do the right thing, but he wasn't. He wanted to be with his children, but…was there even a 'but'? If his kids are in California and he wants to be with them – he has to be there too.
Nick sat down and watched as Amanda's car left the parking lot. What about her? Leaving New York would mean leaving her and any chance for anything happening between them. Even after everything that had transpired between them he knew there was still something there, but it was too complicated and he had no idea how to simplify it. Sometimes he wished they could just be somewhere else, all alone, without their jobs, without their issues. If they could only have that, even for just an hour…
An hour wouldn't be enough though.
He took a deep breath and concentrated on holding it in, breathing was as simple as it gets. Automatic, no overthinking, just inhale and exhale. Why couldn't things in his life be that easy?
He drove away and walked into his empty house. Even though he's been living alone for a long time, somehow it felt emptier now.
"Crap" Nick called into the quiet room, he wanted to punch something, throw something, do something. But it was like he had no energy for that, as if suddenly he was just so tired.
He walked straight to the bedroom, taking off only his shoes.
Looking at the ceiling he knew there was only one choice, it would be tough, but if there was one thing he wanted to be – it was a good father.
A father who's there for and with his kids, he's not going to be that more than 2000 miles away.
He had to move to California.
