Detective Donald Cragen cringed at the same moment Briscoe did, when heard Branson's remark. Cragen had seen Liz McCoy in too many similar situations. He knew how short her fuse was. He also knew from observing Briscoe's with Branson, this guy would like nothing more than to light that fuse, just to watch the explosion.

"Detective.?"

Cragen turned to find Jack McCoy appearing haggard and slightly dazed.

"Counselor, what brings you to the squad? Last I heard, you were working Major Felonies?"

McCoy opened his mouth to respond, as he causally glanced at the interrogation room scene. Suddenly he paused, his eyes widening with surprise.

"I'm here for Henderson - the triple homicide? Your guys were involved in the arrest. I'm told he was brought here for questioning, until Manetii and Styles get here from the 2 7?"

Cragen followed his gaze as the voices from the other room grew louder. Briscoe was on his feet moving towards Branson.

"Henderson's in a cage waiting for the PD," Cragen said as he hastily opened the door. "Excuse me."

McCoy watched as Cragen joined Briscoe. The two men flanked the other man. Cragen reiterated Briscoe's admonishment for Branson to pipe down.

McCoy could feel his pulse quicken as he listened to his wife press the suspect. As enlightened as Jack McCoy thought he was, he hated the fact his pregnant wife was sitting less than three feet from felon. A felon involved in some kind of sex crime. Early on his career, McCoy had done a brief stunt in the Sex Crimes Bureau; covering for an ADA who had to take an unexpected medical leave for aw few weeks. In that short time he saw things he'd never seen, even in the most grizzily of murder cases. Things things that kept him awake at night weeks after he returned to his own job. Things he prayed no woman in his life would ever have to see.

The first trimester of the pregnancy, he had tried to ignore his feelings. McCoy put up a supportive front that his initiative wife had quickly seen through. By the middle of the second trimester he had threatened to go to new DA Adam Schiff, if his wife wouldn't transfer out of the Sex Crimes Bureau or at minimum, talk to Schiff herself about cutting back her case load.

At that point, Liz had retorted they didn't have much of a marriage if McCoy did trust her judgment in both her career choices and the protection of their unborn child. With that, he had reluctantly dropped the subject.

"If I walk out that door, any chance of a plea, goes with me," Liz said as she moved to get up.

"All right, you want it so much. I'll give it to you, bitch. But first, I want to know what you're going to give me."

The faintest hint of a smile flashed across Liz's lips, one only her husband had caught. She returned to the chair and folded her hands in front of her.

"Being pregnant doesn't make me naive, Mr. Branson. Any deal depends on what you have to say and how you back it up "

Branson nodded and opened his mouth to speak as the Detective Anita Van Buren joined the group, report file in hand.

"Briscoe, the captain needs you in his office," Van Buren announced as she handed Liz the file. "Mrs. McCoy, the captain thought you might want to look this over before you agree to any deal with Mr. Branson, here."

Liz nodded as she opened the file. As Briscoe and Van Buren left Liz looked up at Cragen, who had moved to her side of the table and was reading the lab results over her shoulder.

"Gee, Mr. Branson, looks like you missed your window of opportunity," Cragen said softly.

"What? Wait just a damn minute," Branson shout. "what are you talkin' about?"

Donnelly leaned back in her chair, as self satisfied smirk resting on her lips.

"Detective Cragen is right. No deal. In your haste to leave the victim's apartment, you neglected to notice the victims blood on your shoe, Mr. Branson. You also overshot the toilet when you tried to dispose of your condom after the rape," she said dispassionately as she stood. "I'd image this wouldn't be the first time you, ah, overshot."

"No fucking bitch talks to me that way," Branson screamed. Suddenly on his feet, pushing the table out of the way he lunged for Liz, who stood instinctively stepping back, loosing her balance.

Cragen moved to keep himself between Branson and Liz, reaching out to her to keep her from falling, while Branson reached out as well, trying to shove Cragen out of the way.

Before Cragen could react, Branson found himself flying across the interrogation room, landing head first against the opposite wall.

"I'll have your badge you son of a bit-,"Branson began, interrupted by the fist that smashed into his gut.

"Jack!"

"McCoy back off," Cragen hissed as he cuffed Branson shoving him back into the chair. "Liz, get him the hell out of here - now!"

Branson still doubled over in pain, strained to look up at McCoy, as Liz stared up at her husband with a mixture of astonishment and fury.

"You're finished man. I have witnesses-"

"You think so," McCoy scornfully countered, to rolling up a sleeve. " In for a penny in for a pound."

"Shut up Branson," Cragen snapped as he turned to McCoy. "Both of you. Go. Now!"