FROM DUST TO ASHES
PREFACE: IT ALL STARTED WITH A DANCE
Detective John Munch loosened his tie for what had to be the millionth time that night. It was a wonder it hadn't untied completely and fell off. He hated these sorts of things. It was state of New York's 30th annual celebration where certain members of different precincts were awarded and recognized for outstanding achievements, and it also welcomed new detectives to their squad and partners. Being one of the longest running, and sergeant of the SVU squad, it was his 'duty to come'(as Cragen had said). Not to mention they'll be unveiling his new partner since Jefferies decided to leave. He sighed as he picked up his second glass of champagne for the night, all the while scanning the room for potential dance partners. Not that he would be that lucky. He hadn't held a woman close in his arms since he and Billie Lou split. "You still believe in true love, and the pain of never having found it, is unbearable." The physiatrist's words still ran through his head when he was lonely. He sneered at the memory and downed his drink in a long gulp. Where the hell was his captain? If he had to be here, then Don better damn well be, too.
The detective set down his empty glass and rose from the bar in search to find a member of his unit. It wasn't long until he came across a hassled looking Elliot.
"Would you believe that woman has called the baby sitter five times tonight?" Elliot said, motioning to Kathy on her cell phone in a semi-empty corner of the busy room. John gave a sympathetic chuckle.
"That's why I never had kids my friend! Only thing they're good for is ending the sex life!" Elliot rolled his eyes.
"John, I have four children, does it sound like I have no sex life?" Elliot smiled smugly before scanning the crowd for his wife once more. Damn woman had a habit of disappearing.
"Say what you want, but you know as well as I do, when they get a little bit older, BAM, good bye midnight romance. It's not too late for adoption, ya know?" John teased. Elliot had went still and tense, his eyes locked onto the center of the room. "Hey, I was just kiddin' Stabler?" Elliot ignored him, and John finally followed his line of sight.
In the center of the room, Don Cragen had finally arrived. And he wasn't alone. On his arm, was the most beautiful woman he had ever saw. Her hair was long, chocolate ringlets. Her eyes were a bright, piercing blue. She wore an ankle long black dress, that hugged her curves and legs in the most tantalizing way. The arms of the dress was a fine lace, extending to her neckline, which dipped down just enough to get a peek of what rested beneath. Her smile lit up the room, and the low light seemed to dance off her caramel skin. The aging detective found it hard to breathe, as did the rest of the testosterone filled occupants in the room. The woman looked like she was in her twenties, but she had the curves and body of an experienced woman.
It wasn't long before the hushed room had quickly began chattering, whether it be jealous wives reprimanding their husbands, or petty gossip about the beautiful woman whose smile was stealing the spot light. "Damn, who is she?" Elliot asked, eyes glued to the mysterious woman.
"I've never seen her before. Think she's a friend of the captain's?"
"I don't know, if she is, then the captain is one lucky bastard," Elliot replied. John rolled his eyes and gave the younger detective a small push.
"Down killer, you're married, remember?" John reminded him. Elliot frowned and nodded.
"Yeah, so? Look, but don't touch!" Again, the older detective couldn't hold off the urge to roll his eyes.
"Hey, did you guys see the girl Cragen's with?" Olivia asked, taking a spot in between the two men, which of whom gave her sarcastic looks. "Ok, I'll take that as a yes. You'll never guess who she is!" Liv smiled at the boy's mutual looks of interest. Who said boys didn't like to gossip?
"Well? Who is she?" asked an impatient Elliot.
"The captain's daughter, Samantha." Liv said, nodding at the men's shocked faces.
"Don has a daughter?" Elliot asked, brow furrowed in confusion.
"I thought he and his late wife didn't have any children?" John asked, equally confused as his younger friend.
"I guess they had to have. Regardless, she's very nice." Olivia said. She had honestly thought a woman of that level of beauty would be stuck up, but the woman was anything but.
"You met her?" Elliot asked. Liv rolled her eyes.
"Obviously, El. Looks like you'll be meeting her, too," she nodded at the captain and his daughter slowly making their way towards the group. It was hard not to notice how her hips seemed to sway effortlessly with every step she took.
"Hey there, Stabler, Munch, I don't believe you've met my daughter?" Cragen smiled proudly at his daughter as she extended her hand to Elliot.
"Pleased to meet you, Mr. Stabler, I'm Sam," her voice was like liquid chocolate and honey. It was sultry, with a twinge of southern. Elliot seemed to swoon a moment before he smiled and shook the woman's hand.
"Please, call me Elliot," he replied. Olivia fought the urge to roll her eyes. The man was ridiculous sometimes.
"Ok then, Elliot," Samantha smiled, but quickly frowned when she laid eyes upon a glaring blonde.
"Hey El," Kathy said, grabbing her husband's hand, "the kids are fine. Who's your friend?" It was odd how much disgust there was in the word, 'friend'.
"Kath, this is Samantha, the captain's daughter. Sam this is my wife, Kathy," Elliot murmured. He hated the way his wife acted sometimes. Sam extended her hand to the woman, but quickly drawled it back in when she saw the woman made no effort to take it.
"El, let's dance, ok?" Kathy said, fluttering eyes at her husband. Elliot sighed and excused himself from the group. Sam watched Kathy with distaste.
"Jesus, is she always like that?" she asked. Olivia laughed and patted her shoulder.
"Worse. Believe me. I don't mean to be rude, but I really have to be going. I have court in the morning around seven. Maybe we can go for drinks sometime?" Olivia asked, a hand on the woman's arm. Sam smiled brightly and eagerly nodded her head.
"I'd love to, seeing how we'll be seeing more of each other," She said.
"I'm looking forward to it! See you tomorrow," with that, Olivia made her exit, genuinely glad to have made a new friend. Lord knew she could always use another one of those. Especially, one of the female variety.
Sam had finally turned her attention back to the last person she had yet to meet. She gave him a smile as he extended his hand. "John Munch, this is Sam, Sam, meet John Munch," Cragen introduced. Sam gave her father a quick look.
"So, this is the detective I've heard so much about?" she gave the man a coy smile. John raised an eyebrow.
"And, what pray tell madam, would that be?" he inquired, reluctantly releasing his hand.
"Oh, you know. Just stuff," she replied, same coy smile on her face.
Damn, he liked this woman already.
"Well, it seems I'm wanted on stage to prepare my speech," the captain sighed, "John, take care of my girl, and for the love of God, do NOT let her consume anything with vodka in it," he smiled at his daughter's laughter and gave her a quick peck on the cheek before hastily making his way to the bottom of the stage.
John felt that old twinge of anxiousness when she turned her full attention back to him. It had been a while since he'd been in the presence of a beautiful woman. Beautiful women liked to dance, right? Maybe he should ask her to dance. Ah hell with it, what's the worst that could happen?
"Care to dance?" he asked, thankful for the liquid courage he had consumed. She seemed to blush slightly, but smiled.
"Sure," she said as John took her by the arm. He couldn't help but smile smugly at the look on Elliot's face from across the room. He placed a hand high on her hip, and gently took her hand in his, while she placed an arm around his neck, and held onto his hand. He remained a respectful distance away, though he longed to pull her closer.
"So, how did Don rope you into being his date?" he asked. He was delighted to hear a chuckle from the woman in his arms.
"I had to come anyway, so why not come with dear old dad?" she said. John raised his eyebrows.
"You mean, you're being inaugurated as a detective?" he asked, finally putting it together.
"Yep, following in dad's footsteps," she answered.
"But, you're so young? How did you become a detective so fast?" he asked. Sam gave him a puzzled look.
"Young? How young do you think I am?" she asked. 'Uh-oh. Good going John.' He thought
"You look like you are barely thirty?" he answered honestly, waiting for the inevitable face slap. Instead he got giggles.
"Oh, bless you. I'm defiantly not 'barely' thirty, Haven't been for a while now," she laughed even harder at his confused face.
"What do you mean, you're not 'barely' thirty? You could pass for someone in their late twenties?" he smiled now, watching her blush.
"Now you're just teasing me, detective. Flattery will get you nowhere," she smiled. On the contrary, he wasn't joking at all, she didn't look too far past thirty. If she was truly going to be a detective, her partner better be a woman. There was no way in hell a man could focus on his job with her around. It be damn near impossible to get anything done.
Too soon, it felt like for John, Cragen began his speech onstage and he had to reluctantly let go of his dance partner. "Welcome everyone. I'm Captain Donald Cragen with the Manhattan SVU," John drowned out the speech, and turned to the woman beside him.
"You never told me what bracket you were in, and what city?" he whispered. She gave the older man the same coy smile she had given him earlier. She leaned up and whispered in his ear, her breath making him shiver, "Manhattan SVU."
"And I'd like to welcome Detective John Munch's new partner, and my daughter, Samantha Cragen to the squad!" Cragen said, starting the round of applause. John stood, in shock, his eyes locked with his new partner.
'Shit.'
Well there we go! It's been a little while since I've written anything, so I'm a little rusty. I want some criticism, so dish it out! The quote that I used(you still believe in true love….etc) was from the Episode "Slaves" Season 1: Episode 22.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything, except for my Character, Sam. Everything else is the amazing Dick Wolf's.