December 12th: Menorah Part 1

Amanda, Carisi, Fin, and Benson are all sitting around listening to Munch spew his latest theories on anything and everything. Amanda smiles. She remembers fondly how entertaining he had been around the precinct before his retirement from Manhattan SVU. And despite their strong differences of opinion, she's always loved seeing the camaraderie between Munch and Fin . . . the way they always gave each other grief over just about anything - yet in the end they always remained close, loving even. Brothers. In the truest sense of the word.

Munch's latest topic of discussion had been the Menorah and its symbolism, its history. One thing sticks with her and makes her look over at Carisi time and again. Munch's introduction to the topic had included how in the Jewish tradition, people would light the candles of the Menorah during subsequent nights of Hanukkah to ward off the darkness. Pushing it back with their light.

She finds she can't stop looking over at the man she so recently lost, his bright smile beaming every time Munch and Fin bait each other. She wishes his light was turned on her – she's missed its radiance. He had driven away her darkness – almost all of it. And she is so afraid it will consume her once again.

A lump rises in her throat the very next time he smiles. He doesn't even notice her. The lump turns into an ache. She wishes she had been good enough for him …


Disclaimer: Everything I write about the Menorah & Hanukkah in this (and the next) chapter is from stuff I referenced online. Meaning – I'm probably wrong about a lot of it … so I do apologize if I'm way off-base.

I did not have time to have this beta'd or even looked at by someone who actually knows about the Menorah and/or Hanukkah in depth. I usually do thorough research before posting anything, but for this story I am really pressed for time (and I'm very behind at this particular moment) so I can't even get it beta'd either. So sorry. I hate flying blind…forgive me?


Based on the OTP Calendar fic prompt list posted by yankee countess at Tumblr. Thank you so much!

Stay tuned for tonight's Menorah Part 2!