Sitting hunched at his desk and clacking away at his keyboard, a throbbing vein was growing in Detective Munch's temple. Instead of helping him, Odafin Tutuola, Elliot Stabler, and Olivia Benson leaned against the desk near by, each with a different expression. Stabler's face appeared a mixture of amusement and mild disappointment. Benson, the ever gentle, seemed concerned and slightly fearful. But Fin…

"A'ight, I'll say it." he started, looking like someone had just given him a brand new sports car for christmas "I never thought Munch was gonna be the one to break the 'don't mess around with a victim' rule."

Munch's gaze snapped to his partner, eyes narrowed. "I'm just sayin man!" he chuckled.

"I'm a little disappointed in you, Munch." Stabler sighed.

"It's like I'm talking to a group of mentally deficient children." Munch growled, his eyes back to the screen "I did not intend to go to Miss Clome's home nor did I do anything inappropriate. I simply walked her home, accepted an invitation for coffee, and happened to fall asleep rudely on the couch, since, you know, I've been exhausted from actually doing my job which I would like to continue doing."

The three detectives all looked at each other. Fin raised his arms, a grin still plastered on his face "I get it man, what happens in the bedroom stays in the bedroom."

"If he says nothing happened, nothing happened Fin." Stabler scolded, but his tone wasn't convincing.

Benson eyed them both, but also still looked a little fearful. Munch had walked in two hours ago after he had a run in with one of the perps. Unable to apprehend him, he was now furiously making lists of apartments in the area with new tenants or staff, trying to create a grid of search. Cragen hadn't been happy to see Munch in the office, but the fact that he'd sighted the suspect meant that they had new information and John was the primary.

However, Cragen had received an interesting telephone call that morning. The only living victim in the "Twin Terrors" case (Miss Ann-Marie Clome) had phoned the Captain to explain that one of his detectives was passed out on her couch. She assured him he had just been doing his job and she just hadn't wanted to wake him. Cragen had asked that Ann keep the situation to herself as he didn't want the higher ups getting the wrong idea. When he returned to the office, Cragen confronted him and "gently" reminded him that sleepovers with victims were frowned upon by internal affairs. Munch was more than displeased with this public chastising as Fin had been less then three feet away and now acted as if he'd been given a very expensive present.

"What do you need from us, John?" Benson asked the ever vexed elder.

Munch sighed. "Anything. Everything." He answered, leaning back and rubbing his face in a dramatic fashion "I need a miracle."

"How about something we can achieve." Fin threw in, crossing his arms.

Munch considered. "I need all of this information made into a grid." he started as he hit the print button "I need someone to get this circulating. I need someone to bring me a better cup of joe."

He shoved the cold instant coffee away from him with a mild look of disgust. "Okay, we'll take care of this." Benson encouraged, retrieving the documents from the printer "You go stretch your legs and do a starbucks run."

Munch sighed. He supposed clearing his head and letting the peons do some of the grunt work would be ok. He stood up and reached for his coat "Keep an eye on those two." Munch said to Olivia, squinting at the younger gentlemen.

She nodded and gave him a smile "Nothing I can't handle."

Starbucks Coffee

"So that'll be one Mocha Latte, a Caramel Macchiato, a triple shot expresso, and a venti black coffee?"

Munch nodded as the barista read back the order. He didn't even pay mind to the total, handing her a twenty. His mind was running a thousand miles a second and there was nothing he could do to slow it down. He moved aside to allow the next eager coffee addict to places his order.

As he looked around at the filled Starbucks, his eyes darted from face to face. Was the parasyte he was chasing here to? How long was this going to torment him? His eyes gazed at the teenagers sitting with their fancy coffees and huge glasses. They only cared about their term papers and film projects, or what environmental protest they'd be blogging about. He couldn't help but consider his own youth, something he did often, although typically bitterly so.

As his eyes traveled the room, he found a familiar face. His heart thumped heavily in a way that felt as if it had slammed itself into his rib cage. Hair tamed back with a slouching hat that sat at the back of her head, make-up done naturally, clothes consisting of tight leggings, high heeled boots, and a long loose shirt lacking in sleeves, Ann was perched on a high stool, her eyes scanning the laptop screen before her. She was engrossed so deeply in whatever it was she was reading that her eyebrows were furrowed, concentration in every line of her face.

Munch swallowed hard. She hadn't been kidding when she said she lived by the precinct. He probably would have realized if he'd come from her home to his office. He supposed the University was close by as well. He'd done a seminar there once for the criminal justice program. She was likely working on something for one of her journalism classes. Of course, Munch was just going to stand there like an absolute creep, gaping at her rather than greet her, since, you know, he didn't want to bother her. Besides, he was technically on the clock.

He continued to watch her as she sighed and shook her head, closing the laptop. She reached for the beverage that seemed to be an iced tea. Just as she was about to take a sip, Munch was jarred from his mildly sketchy observing by the barista. "Order for Munch?" she called loudly, listing his drinks once more.

Turning red in the ears, he whipped around and scooped up the drink carrier. But before he could make for the door, he heard his name.

"John!" Ann called, having heard the detective's name called.

Munch composed himself before feigning innocence, looking around before pretending to spot her. "What, you stalking me now?" he joked as she waved him to the table.

She gave him a faked look of disapproval before beckoning him to sit. "I can't." He shrugged, gesturing with the to-go drinks in his hand "I'm on duty."

"I thought your captain gave you the day off?" she furrowed her eyebrows in concern.

"Oh he did." John admitted "But considering the same phone call that got me a day off also almost got me a trip to internal affairs…"

He looked over his glasses and raised an eyebrow in fake scolding. But Ann flushed. "Oh my god, John, I am so sorry!" She began apologizing "I...I didn't think how that would look to your Captain! Oh jesus."

Munch looked taken aback. He supposed he'd expected her to just throw something back at him about how it was his own fault for passing out there. "Hey, woah, take it easy!" Munch raised a hand, motioning for her to calm down "I was half joking!"

Ann still seemed quite flustered. "He made a joke about it and now Fin's up my ass, but that's standard around the office anyway. No harm, no fowl."

She started to simmer down. "Well, I still apologize." she breathed, sipping her tea "It probably was inappropriate of me not to wake you up. I just felt guilty since it was my fault you were so exhausted in the first place."

Munch shook his head. "It's the perps fault not yours."

Suddenly, Munch remembered the happenings of earlier today. The take-out joint where he'd spotted the doer hadn't been far from Ann's new place. Coincidence? "Hey Ann, since I ran into you…"

Ann looked up at the detective in interest. He set his coffee down for a moment, sitting so he wasn't over heard as easily. "Just...uh...do me a favor and try not to leave your apartment too much, alright?"

The brunette eyed him with curiosity and suspicion. "Why?"

Munch sighed. "Don't freak out...but…"

Before he could finish, Ann's mouth formed a straight line. "I see." she commented, reaching calmly for her tea. She raised the straw to her lips and took a quick sip, her gaze trailing towards the wall opposite her. She cleared her throat. "Where?"

But before he could tell her, someone called across the room. "Ann!"

Munch looked round to see a small, very ginger girl waving from the entrance of the coffee shop. Ann waved back, suddenly seeming perky. The girl rushed towards them. "Sorry I'm late! Professor Stevens would not let us leave until he finished that booooring language lecture!"

Up close, Munch noticed small freckles dotted her round nose. She had very bright eyes and a large smile since her teeth seemed to be very slightly bigger than the average persons. She was looking eagerly between Ann and Munch. "It's alright, Sylvia!" Ann replied with a grin "I wasn't waiting long!"

The girl, whose name was apparently Sylvia, Had seated herself and was still glancing back and forth between himself and Ann. "Sooooo…." she began "Who's your friend?"

"I was going to ask the same question." Munch stated, leaning quizzically against his closed fist "Last I heard, you didn't have any of those."

His eyebrow shot up to his forehead as he fought a teasing smile. Ann pushed John's arm playfully "Oh shut up you." She giggled and the detective could have sworn his heart hit his chest so hard he flinched "This is Sylvia. I just transfered into her writing class. We met this morning. She's….very friendly…"

Sylvia nodded "Ann seemed really shy! I just wanted to make her feel welcome and then I saw her shoes and I just freaked out they were soooo cute!"

Munch could feel his interest in the conversation fading fast. The last thing he cared about was women's fashion. "So is this your dad?" Sylvia asked, staring curiously.

Munch nearly spit the coffee he'd taken a drink of. Ann looked at Munch trying to resist a laugh but she just couldn't. The sweet sound of her ringing mirth filled Munch's ears. Again, he thought for sure that thud was audible. When she was able control herself, Ann breathed "No, no. This is Detective Munch. He's..."

Ann paused, her gaze suddenly locking Munch's. Another slam. She seemed to gasp softly. Was that blush? "He's a friend." she finished, her eyes still staring into his.

Munch couldn't look away. He was entranced. Never had she looked at him with such a piercing stare. It was like she was reaching into his soul, trying desperately to convey something she could not say with words. God, she was beautiful. After what felt like a lifetime lost in her eyes, the sound of a throat clearing jolted the detective from his hypnosis. Ann shook her head. "He uh…I'm interviewing him for a project!" She recovered quickly.

"Ooooh thats interesting!" Sylvia exclaimed, sounding honestly intrigued "I bet that's got to be a hard job! Solving crimes and stuff! I couldn't imagine it. I mean my boyfriends in the criminal justice program but I-"

Amidst the enthusiastic girls wild chatter, Munch realized why he had come to the coffee shop in the first place. "Sorry to cut in" he lied, interrupting Sylvia's long and mind numbing tale "But I have a group of very coffee starved addicts in need of their mid afternoon fix."

He stood up and scooped the drink carrier off the table. Ann stood as well but then seemed embarrassed by the action. "Er...it was good to see you again, Joh-um Detective."

"Sure." John replied smoothly "You just call me when you're ready for that interview."

Just because he was feeling a little saucy, he winked at her. She eyed him suspiciously. "Yeah, keep that up and I'll go in a different direction."

Munched faked a shot to the heart, doing his best to look hurt. "What on earth could be more interesting than me?" he teased, pretending to sound upset.

"Oh, I don't know. An accountant, a banker, an actuary, a real estate agent…" she listed off as many boring jobs she could think of "I'll think of someone."

She smiled at him smugly. "You'll regret that one, Miss Clome." he scolded, shaking his head.

But he smiled. "Remember to stay away from 5th street."

He had never answered her original question due to the chatterboxes untimely arrival. Ann nodded. "Right. I heard traffic over their is particularly awful." she added, playing along.

Munch smiled and gave a small wave. "Nice meeting you." He gestured toward Sylvia, who waved back.

"Yes you two! Don't be a stranger!" She replied, her hand still swinging back and forth in farewell.

Munch looked one last time to Ann before he turned to walk out the door, but he ran into someone causing him to drop his coffee. "Hey, watch where-" he began to say but froze.

The man he had collided with was looking up at him in fear. The blond scruffy man who had haunted his nightmares and waking moments for days. It was the perp! Well, one of them.

Before Munch could grab his cuffs, the perp bolted for the door. "STOP!" Munch yelled, reaching for his peace "POLICE!"

Luckily, this time, the man tripped, falling out into the street. Munch moved forward quickly, forgetting everything that had happened before this moment. As the perp tried to scramble to his feet and down the sidewalk, John grabbed him by the shirt collar, lifting him. He slammed him hard, face down, into the pavement. "Well, well." Munch muttered into the struggling man's ear, his elbow forcing into his back "Looks like you just couldn't stay away."

"P-please!" The man sputtered "It...it's not what you think!"

Munch's elbow dug deeper between the man's shoulder blades and he groaned. "Bullshit! I know exactly why you're here."

Pushing himself against the still fighting man, he withdrew his hand cuffs. Yanking his arms behind his back, the detective slapped each cuff around his wrists. "You're under arrest for the rape and assault of Ann Marie Clome and the murder of Natsha Beckett." He said loudly and firmly, forcing the man out the door and reaching for his cell phone "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you can not afford an attorney one will be provided for you."

His finger hit the first speed dial and he lifted the cell to his ear. It only took a few seconds for Finn to answer. "Whats up? You finally go so senile you can't find the coffee shop?"

"Send a car over to the starbucks." Munch breathed, ignoring the snarky comment "I caught him."

Ahahaha wow I am so good at updating….Sorry if this seemed abrupt, I'm having some issues getting the story to point B so I figured I'd move it along! This should be just the kick I needed! I'll try to be a little more prompt with the next chapter...12 already dang…

~Sven