The characters of Don Cragen, Olivia Benson and Elliott Stabler, et al, belong to Dick Wolf. The rest belong to me.

This is dedicated to Mrs. Jeter who gave me the idea.

Please read and review. Thank you.

Cragens Daughter

"There's a woman in your office, Captain. She says she knows you and she seemed upset so we put her in there. She's just been sitting there since she got here." Olivia said when Don Cragen came in on Monday morning.

"Did she give you her name?"

"No, she said she preferred to be a surprise. She's not armed and she doesn't appear dangerous." Elliott said.

"We'll see. Is there anything new on that Barrettson case?"

"Not yet. We're waiting on ballistics." Olivia said.

"Get on them. We need that information."

"We're on it." Elliott said.

Don entered his office and closed the door. "I understand I know you?" he said before he looked at the woman in his guest chair. "Sue."

"Hello, Don." the woman told him with a small smile.

He went over with an outstretched hand and a smile. Her smile and manner was reserved so he restrained himself from hugging his old friend. "How are you? It's been what, ten, fifteen years since we saw each other?"

"Something like that. You're looking well."

"Time catches up with all of us, but I'm doing alright. What brings you here?"

"I need to talk to you, Don. It's serious, but I don't know that here is the best place to do it."

"Is something wrong? Do you need help?"

"Something is definitely wrong and you are the only one who can help."

Don pulled another chair over so he could sit beside the woman. At closer inspection, he could see definite signs that she was NOT okay. Unless he missed his guess she was very much NOT okay. "Tell me what I can do."

Sue reached into her pocket and pulled out a picture. She fingered it a minute then she handed it over to him. "This is Joanne."

Don took the picture and looked at the smiling young woman. "She's your daughter?"

"She is. That's her school picture from last year. She's doing well in school, she's a whiz in math and science, but she's rather stunted for her English and spelling, but I'm told that's normal for girls her age. She's just starting to discover boys."

"She's beautiful. She looks like you. When did you get married?"

"I didn't. I'm a single Mom. We do okay, her and I. We have a small house, a car that's paid for, all the usual things. What we don't have is time."

"You're ill?"

"I'm dying. I'm terminal, Don, and I need help getting Joanne to her father. That's why I came to you."

"I'll help you all I can. Give me the information you have and we'll see if we can find him for you."

"He's a good man, upstanding and handsome. I don't want to disrupt his life, but I have to let him know he has a daughter and he has to take care of her now."

"And he should. Hasn't he been taking responsibility for her all these years? Child support or medical coverage?"

"He doesn't know. I didn't want him to ever find out because I was afraid it might start something I didn't want to get into. It may have been a mistake but it's something I can't change now."

"Give me his name and we'll make sure he pays you for the child support he should have been paying all along. You need money for treatment?"

"No, there's nothing left to do. I'm dying of liver cancer. It's too advanced to treat. We've been through all the options. This is the last thing I have to do."

"Okay, so who is Joannes father?"

"You are."

"What did you" just say?"

"You are her father. Her full name is Donna Joanne Gentry."

"Do you know what you are saying?"

"I know, Don. Believe me I know. You have every right to be mad, I know I deserve it. I just couldn't, I just wanted to keep her to myself. She's all I have. I have no family, no husband, no one, I was selfish, but I thought after Marge died you might not want a reminder of the night we spent together when you were in so much pain. It's a weak excuse, I know, but there it is."

"How do you know she's mine? How can you be sure?"

"I know, Don. There's no one else it could be. I expect you will want a DNA sample so I brought her hair brush, a bandaid from where she cut her finger and her toothbrush. I hoped you could run a paternity test without her knowledge first so you're convinced before we take this to Joanne. I know you want proof."

Don jumped up and moved around behind his desk. "I can't...Why, Sue? Why, after Marge died, you know how much we wanted kids, I would have liked to know..."

"I was afraid. I thought you might want custody and I couldn't take the chance on loosing her. It was just easier to say I'll tell him someday and take what comes then. Except I'm out of time now. So here I am."

Don sank down in his chair. "We'll get the test done right away. When, how..."

"You came to me in so much pain, you wanted to talk about Marge, I was drinking and you took just one to dull the pain, remember? But you needed more. We got drunk and then we..."

"I got itm but I don't remember it."

"You were pretty out of it. You cried for her and one thing led to another and here she is. I found out a few weeks later. I came to the precinct to tell you but you were busy and I told myself you were too busy for a child and it was just easier to walk away and never come back."

"And when I never called you to find out what you wanted you took it as a good thing and just kept quiet." Don said harshly.

Sues face went hard with his anger. "Something like that. I already told you I wanted to keep her to myself."

Don closed his fists in an effort to control his anger. He slowly released it and ran his hand over his head. "That is all in the past now and I can't do anything about it. I'll take you down and we'll get that DNA test started. When do I get to meet my daughter? Assuming the tests come back positive."

"They will, but you have to know for certain, I understand that. I don't want you to meet her until you can control your anger. I don't want her to meet her father for the first time when he's angry."

"You should have thought of that... how long ago?"

"She's twelve."

"Nearly thirteen years ago."

"Don, if you're going to carry on about this over and over..."

"You'll what, Sue? Keep her from me? It's too late. Believe me, I know it's not her fault, but you have to give me time to process this. You owe me that much. You've known for all this time and I just found out I may have had a child for all this time. It's alot to take in."

Sue nodded and hung her head. "You're right. I'm sorry, Don. I realize I should have told you sooner. I can't change that now. This is not an ideal situation, but it's all we have."

"Let's go get that test started."

Sue rose and walked toward him by the door. "I really am sorry, Don."

Don nodded and retrieved his coat. He opened the door and allowed her to go ahead of him. As they walked through the squad room, Don told John and Fin. "I'll be back in a bit. Munch, you're in charge until I get back."

TBC