On their way in to work the next morning, John got out of Fin's car a few blocks before the precinct parking lot to pick up a big box of doughnuts for the squad. He was in a good mood, after all, between last week's successful bust and the weekend's...well...everything. So how better to celebrate then by sharing an overload of refined sugar and carbohydrates with his best friends and colleagues?
He ended up in the elevator several minutes later with Olivia rushing in not far behind, calling him to hold the car for her.
"Thanks, John. Hey, are those for everyone?" she asked, eyeing the large box in his arms.
"Of course. I'm feeling that kind of generous today."
"Good, then I'll take first pick before the boys get all the best ones." John popped the lid as the elevator stopped on the second floor to let some other passengers off. Olivia chose a strawberry-iced doughnut with sprinkles and after a bite said, "By the way, nice scarf."
"Sore throat," John replied with his well-planned answer. "Think I caught a chill last week, you know, the weather lately." He could have picked out one of his own scarves to wear today, to cover the evidence of Fin's over-enthusiasm. But truthfully he had become rather fond of this one, what with the traces of Fin's cologne and aftershave that clung to it, a way to keep him close at all times.
"That's funny. Here I thought you'd caught a Fin."
John nearly dropped the box at that remark, stumbling over his own feet upon getting out of the elevator when they reached their floor. "What was that?"
Olivia leaned in closely as she walked beside him. "I remember teasing Fin about that scarf, before he told me it was a Christmas gift from his mother." She smiled slyly at him before she took another bite of her doughnut.
"Damn. Hopefully you're the only one with such a keen memory, 'Liv."
"Mum's the word. But I take your weekend went well."
"Exceptionally. I'll spare you the details."
"Please and thank you."
"Who bought the doughnuts?" Elliot shouted out, always with an eager eye for any free food in the vicinity.
"Who do you see carrying this box?" John replied.
"Yeah, but who never chips in for food unless he's cornered?"
"I resent that remark, even if I resemble it."
"What's with the scarf?"
"Munch has a sore throat," Olivia answered for John, already eyeing up a second selection from the doughnut box to take back to her desk.
"Is it something contagious?" Elliot asked, his hand hovering over the doughnuts as if they suddenly represented a biohazard.
"I doubt it," Fin said, coming up now to join the others and claim a Boston creme for himself. "Bet he's just being his usual hypochondriac self."
"This is the thanks I get from everyone for doing something nice? What's going on here, is it 'Pick on Munch Monday'?"
"We tease because we love ya, John." Elliot grabbed a toasted coconut and headed for his desk.
"Speak for yourself," Fin said, scowling after Stabler but then gracing John with a small, private smile as he sucked custard off his index finger.
John swallowed, hard. This is going to be a bit more of a challenge than I thought.
Captain Cragen stepped out of his office, his loud voice cutting through the squadroom chatter. "Morning everyone. I know we've still got work to do on the Gannon case, but who's catching the first new call of the week?"
"'Liv and I are still working the Hudson rape from last weekend," Elliot said. "Need to talk to that student advisor this morning who might have been doing a bit more than 'mentoring' freshman regarding their planned majors."
"So I guess that leaves us," John answered, glancing sideways at his partner and then at Cragen. "Just tell me I'm not going to need the brain bleach after this one."
"Dead prostitute in Riverside Park." Don handed him a file.
"Ah. Same old, same old."
"Yeah, except someone mutilated and disemboweled the body in a very...artistic manner. Could be related to a similar murder from last year that was never closed. You might want to finish those doughnuts before you meet Warner at the scene. I have a feeling you'll be skipping lunch."
"Thanks for the warning." John grabbed two chocolate glazed and said to Fin, "Shall we?"
"After you. But I'm driving."
"So I've got to ride shotgun? Great. Good thing I stocked up on the dramamine last week..."
Olivia went over to the coffee station to fill her first mug of the day.
"I'll never understand how those two haven't managed to kill each other yet," Elliot said, nodding after the departing, bickering detectives.
"Maybe some things aren't meant to be understood, El. Maybe they're just..." she shrugged and smiled, "simply meant to be."