Author's Note: Sorry this took so long guys. I haven't had much time to get around to it. But I love this chapter so enjoy! ^^
"I have a pair of nines," he said, tossing his cards down on the table. Olivia showed her hand next; nothing. Munch had folded closer to the beginning. Fin grinned. He turned down his cards, revealing a full house. He thought he had won.
I turned down my hand. "Straight flush," I said grinning. They all groaned. I grabbed the pot and pulled it back towards me.
"I give up," Elliot moaned. He pushed his chair back from the table and stood up, stretching. Olivia had joined after the first hand and Munch and Fin a little later in. We had a good time. I totally massacred them though. We were playing with Oreo's because, as Olivia pointed out, it was unethical to play for money and Cragen would kill us if he found us playing with money. We had checked the cafeteria and the most edible thing they had were Oreo's. We actually just got a ton of the little packs out of the vending machine.
Just as I was about to convince everyone to play another hand, Casey walked in. A smile that stretched from ear to ear graced my face as my eyes lit up. "Hey, Casey!" I called enthusiastically. She walked over.
"Munch, Fin, play time is over; you need to go arrest the guy," she said, handing them a warrant. She hadn't yet acknowledged me but I didn't mind. She was all business right now; I could understand that. She turned to me. "You look fine."
"You told me I would be," I teased. "I just didn't believe you. We played poker for Oreo's."
"How did you con them into playing poker with you?"
"Hey, I did no conning. Elliot brought it up all on his own. His idea completely," I said pointing at him. "Counselor, arrest him!" I joked.
She just rolled her eyes. "Elliot, why would you offer to play poker with her? That's the only card game she's good at."
"Hey! I'm good at all card games!" I argued.
"Only at the games where you can count the cards," she said shaking her head.
"You count cards?!" Elliot was taken aback.
"Nah, I just have a good memory."
"You soooo cheated! Those Oreo's should all be mine!" He pretended to grab for my Oreo's. I slapped his hand.
"My Oreo's!" I eyed him and shook my head. He frowned and hung his head. I couldn't help but laugh. He just looked so silly like that.
"So you all got along okay?" Casey asked, concerned.
"Yeah, until you told them I cheated," I teased, winking at her.
"Somebody had to tell them or they might just think you're lucky," she said.
"My luck sucks. You know that," I thought out loud. "Anyway, this was fun, but there's got to be more to do than just play cards here. Why haven't you guys gotten a case yet or something?"
"I'm sorry no one has gotten raped yet so that you can have an interesting day." Munch. I would quickly find out just how cynical he was.
"That's not what I meant!" I called apologetically. I looked around at everyone else. "Sorry."
Elliot just glared at Munch. "That's just typical him; don't let it get to you."
I nodded but still felt horrible inside. Was I really the kind of person who would ask for someone to be raped just so I wouldn't have to sit around and play poker with some nice people?
The answer is and was no, but it completely made me rethink the internship with them. I didn't want to be the person who watched someone else's life get destroyed while I pretended to be a hero. Behind every hero are the people that needed saving, the people the monster hurt. I didn't want to be a hero.
"Anyway, Claire-Bear, we do have a case. Cragen was just telling me about it. Down on 32nd street. Hop to guys," she said gesturing at Elliot and Olivia. "You can go with them or Fin and Munch. Your choice."
The way she said it was as if she didn't know exactly which pair I was going to choose, which pair anyone would choose: Elliot and Olivia. There was something going on there. It had seemed like the perfect opportunity to figure out what that was.
"I'd like to go with Elliot and Olivia if they don't mind." I glanced over at them pleadingly. They obviously didn't mind.
"Come on, short-stuff," he called as he grabbed his coat. I wasn't the shortest person you would find while walking down a street in New York City, but I wasn't the tallest. I was probably about 5"4 at the time. He only called me short because he was tall.
Olivia smiled at me but then looked at Elliot. "I'm driving." You could tell this was going to start something. You could taste the tension in the air.
He glared at her for a moment, as if trying to decide the best way to proceed. "I think not. Last time you drove we got pulled over by an officer," he stated. He wasn't teasing. This seemed to be something that showed power and superiority.
"Wait, you got pulled over? But your cops?! How could you get pulled over?" I interceded.
"It was only because the lights on the car went out. It's your fault for not getting it serviced," she glared. He stared at her in mock disbelief.
"Yeah, it was my fault." Sarcasm coated his voice thickly. It went on like that for a few more minutes before a thought occurred to me.
"I'll drive," I said.
They both turned and stared at me. "What?! I have my license." They continued to stare. I grabbed the keys off Elliot's desk, and started to walk out. "Are you coming or what?" I called to them.
"Is she allowed to do that?" Elliot asked, turning to Olivia.
"Does she have any idea where she's going?" Olivia asked, mirroring his movements.
They seemed to have formed a truce whilst they tried to convince me to give up the keys. I refused. We made it to the crime scene in record time. The roads in New York weren't that hard to follow.
The argument over the drive back to the precinct would be interesting.
"Hang back," Elliot said protectively. He didn't want me seeing anything I couldn't handle. But I thought I was ready. I was young and cocky.
We walked toward the crime scene. It was a little park where the neighborhood kids probably went. I wasn't so sure I was ready for this anymore. My first murder-rape case and it was a child. Olivia noticed my apprehension. "If you want to wait in the car or back here it's okay. We've been where you are. The first cases are always hard; they all are," she whispered. Elliot hadn't heard our conversation. Good. I feared he might make fun of me.
"I'll be okay," I promised, but I sounded very unconfident and shaky in my answer.
As we walked closer it felt like someone was watching me but I couldn't understand why. I was sure someone had to be looking at me but I wasn't sure why it was giving me such a creepy feeling. The body was coming up quickly and I stayed back a few feet. I did it partially for my benefit but also out of respect for the little girl and the officers working to find her murderer. They huddled around her and I stood there feeling very out of place.
I don't think I felt out of place because I wasn't doing anything but because of the odd feeling I was getting. It was getting worse and I didn't want to stand still. I began squirming. I heard some yelling behind me and turned to see what it was all about, but I didn't get a chance to turn all the way around before I heard the loud crack of a gun. Everything went black.
Bam. Bam. Shot.
Author's Note: Oooo, intense, huh? What will happen? Anyway, please read and review! ^^ I can't write if you guys don't review.