Set after Season 11, Episode 24 "Shattered"
The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.
Well Epilogue time. I'm very hopeful on DADT repeal and I've missed a lot of the characters and storylines from Stepping Time.
I am a bit curious if anybody knows, but since I wrote the last chapter on 10/26 (Chapter 49), Chapter 21 has consistently been outpacing all other chapters of this story in hits and visitors by almost a 3 to 1 margin. I read Chapter 21 again assuming it must have been one of the "smut" chapters, but no, just a transitional chapter. Heck, it could just be one person who really, really likes or dislikes that chapter and keeps going back to it day after day-but it has me perplexed.
I appreciate so much the support of all those who read and commented along the way and those who have read Stepping Time since I finished Chapter 49. Thank you again!
"Stepping Time"
Epilogue (Sequel to come)
"I think this is worse than being a kid waiting to open presents Christmas morning," Olivia muttered.
"But just like Christmas, you know it's good," Casey said, patting Olivia on the knee as they sat on Olivia's couch, Olivia's laptop with Skype open, resting on the coffee table in front of them.
"And you got a very nice Christmas present early," Olivia smiled, looking at the engagement ring on Casey's finger again.
"Yes she did," Alex smiled. "Liv it's only 5:12. Erin's e-mail said Skype around 5, but more importantly that she'll be home in six weeks."
"I know," Olivia agreed. "It's just last weekend when she was supposed to call she got called out on a mission and then when she did call finally I was at a crime scene."
"You need another beer. Casey you want another rum and Coke?" Alex said, walking to the kitchen.
"Sure, thanks Alex. Just focus on the positive Liv. Six more weeks and she'll be calling soon," Casey said. "Alex when does Angie get back from her trip again?"
"Eight days," Alex said, placing the drinks on the coffee table and taking a seat on the couch.
"Do you regret coming back as ADA now that Angie basically has your previous position…you know…with all the travel?" Casey asked.
"Angie is in a similar position, but not the same, and when she is gone she'll mostly be going to The Hague, since it is the ICC seat," Alex said. "So when I do have vacation time, I certainly won't mind tagging along with her to the Netherlands."
"I've never been to The Hague, but Amsterdam is one of my favorite cities," Casey said.
"And although were exclusive now," Alex started. "I think it is good that I have my career here and she has hers and travels some. That doesn't sound right. Things are good, really good between us. I just am trying not to rush this with her."
"Did she find an apartment here yet?" Casey asked and Olivia nearly choked on her beer with laughter.
"Shut up," Alex said, playfully slapping Olivia on the shoulder. "She's closing on it when she gets back next week."
"It's in Alex's building, three floors below hers," Olivia grinned.
"But it is also a very good deal with this economy," Alex countered. "A solid investment. Besides what would be the point of her getting an apartment 20 or 40 blocks away when…"
"When you're always together when she's not traveling," Olivia interrupted. "Which was my point on why she should just move in with you."
"Hey smartass," Alex rebuked. "If we do move in together at some point than there will be an apartment for you and Erin to lease from us. See what good friends we are."
"We have talked about getting a place together," Olivia replied. "But since she is coming home in six weeks…six weeks," Olivia smiled. "I guess that means I'll be making a lot of trips to D.C. I'm sure by the time she retires and comes back to New York for good you and Angie will probably have a house in the 'burbs."
#-#
"Can you see me and hear me okay?" Erin asked.
"Yep, and I've got the mini-speakers attached so we can all hear. You look exhausted babe," Olivia said, looking at Erin on the laptop screen, her ACU jacket off, dog tags and Fearlessness pendant hanging on the outside of her t-shirt and ACU pants un-tucked from boots partially laced.
"Nice way of telling me I look like hell," Erin joked. "Hey Case, hey Alex. Casey I can only see half your face…you need to scoot closer."
"So you are really coming home in six weeks?" Olivia asked.
"I don't have orders in hand yet…but I had a meeting with my colonel and the general here earlier today…that was after a conference call with Senator Rushing and the general…so timeline is in place for six weeks," Erin said.
"We're going to throw you one hell of a welcome home party," Casey smiled.
"Much rather be drinking an alcoholic beverage with you all now, but cheers to that," Erin said, lifting up a can of Dr. Pepper and toasting across cyberspace. "My replacement is coming from Germany and she got her orders yesterday to be here in four weeks."
"So Rushing and the brass are obviously confident DADT repeal will go through during this lame duck session," Alex commented.
"With the study out now, a couple of Republican senators on the record now to vote for repeal and the fear of the Courts taking the action…it seems highly likely," Erin said. "If for some reason it doesn't lame duck or early next year, they'll probably just stick me in some other vacancy at the Pentagon."
"So no chance of coming back to Fort Hamilton?" Olivia asked.
"Of the contingencies that they believe aren't likely to happen anyway, Hamilton wasn't mentioned," Erin said. "I just liked that no contingencies involved staying here until June."
"I totally agree. Just want you out of there and back in the States," Olivia said.
"So Casey…do you have any news you want to share with me…or maybe you should just hold your left hand up so I can see," Erin said.
"I thought I was going to surprise you," Casey laughed.
"It looks great…so be honest…is it one you would have picked? I don't even know how many pictures of rings Jeff sent me last month to look at," Erin grinned.
"You did very well in advising him," Casey said. "I should have known he would consult you on this. Did he ask you how he should propose too?"
"No, just wanted help with the ring selection. And congrats Alex on the impending elevator move," Erin smiled and Casey and Olivia laughed. "Liv's become quite the e-mail informant as the months have progressed. I'm happy for you and Angie."
"Thanks," Alex smirked. "We were just talking about when you two are going to get a place together."
"Definitely on the to do list," Erin smiled. "Hey Casey, I know you've only been engaged about 72 hours, but now that I know I'm going back, but not to New York, when Jeff gets back from his trip I guess we'll need to figure out if you all want to keep renting my house."
"You're still going to get some leave before you have to go to D.C., right babe?" Olivia questioned.
"Just a little. I guess only four or five days. Their thinking is that they need me in D.C. and I'm getting out of here over a month earlier than what was discussed originally with this position," Erin said. "Serena and Abbie gave me an agent to contact in D.C. a few months ago. I need to get on that to find an apartment to rent."
"Carmichael told me that she has been trying to keep you entertained with e-mails," Alex added.
"Oh Lord," Erin howled. "I read and delete, but I told her to save all the ones she has sent to me. I want to print them out and put them in…I don't know…like a deployment scrapbook. I got a package from her and Serena earlier this week, and I was scared to open it."
"What was in it?" Casey inquired.
"I think most of the stuff was Serena's doing, cookies and candy and stuff," Erin said. "But hold on you got to see the t-shirt Abbie had made for me."
"Do Ask, Do Tell Official "Hottie" Spokesperson," Casey laughed reading the wording on the front of the t-shirt.
"They don't search the packages you're sent do they?" Alex asked.
"No, not usually…and besides the general and my colonel here know that I am not being selected for the position at the Pentagon just based on my military record," Erin said. You got to see the back too," Erin added turning the t-shirt around.
"Colonel E'HT2,'" Olivia laughed. "Why the two, it's just E'HT'?"
"Because according to Carmichael's note she is the original hot Texan of the group, so I have to be hot Texan two. I e-mailed and told her I would just tell everyone I'm two because she is older, even though I'm two years older than she is," Erin smiled. "She even had the full-bird rank screen printed on the front."
"Speaking of that," Casey said. "You'll be back now before you pin on colonel in March. Are you going to have Liv and Jeff pin you?"
"Well that was subtle Novak…I'm cutting her off," Alex laughed. "Dr. Pepper for you now too, Casey."
"Why yes, I was going to ask my girlfriend and Jeff to pin me as soon as I asked Liv and Alex to be two of your bridesmaids Novak," Erin cracked and Alex and Olivia laughed.
"I'm so sorry Erin," Casey blushed.
"Luv ya Case," Erin grinned, and while they were all relaxed and laughing Erin decided it might be best to try and downplay an upcoming mission. "Hey babe, I've got a 'lil in country trip coming up. Not sure of the details yet…and of course couldn't reveal anyway…but I won't be able to call and I'm not sure how much I'll be able to get to e-mail."
"How long are you going to be out?" Olivia asked, her laughter from moments ago replaced with a solemn expression.
"Don't know for sure, but around two weeks," Erin said casually. "And maybe it'll make the final six weeks go by faster for me."
"Nice try," Olivia smirked sarcastically.
"When Olivia's not working her dangerous job," Alex said, "we'll keep her busy and entertained."
"Thanks Alex and good point. You know I worry about you and all the shit you have to deal with it when you're out there, Liv" Erin said, popping some M&M's in her mouth. "I'll still have quite a few years to worry about you while you're working. Only six more weeks and my all-expenses paid trips to war zones will be over."
"I know babe…I was just hoping since you are so close to coming home…maybe you would be staying in at Camp Phoenix the rest of the time," Olivia said. "And I know you can't discuss, but I can tell…"
"Ok, I certainly didn't volunteer…but I have to do it," Erin sighed. "But once I finish this upcoming gig, I should be here at Phoenix and sleeping in my beautiful 'lil quarters the rest of the time in country, transitioning to my replacement. Can you guys see the wall next to my bed? I've got a lot of pictures tacked up from when we were all at Humphrey's the last time?"
"Can't really make them out," Alex said. "But that was a great night. Do you want you're welcome home party there or somewhere a little more upscale, maybe?"
"Humphrey's is great…besides if Abbie and Serena come up…Carmichael would probably get us all tossed from a fancy place," Erin smirked. "I was talking to one of my troops in here the other day…she's going through a time…and anyway she was looking at all the pictures, well the ones I could put up…and she asked if Abbie was my sister."
"I still think you two might be long lost cousins or something," Casey said.
"I told my troop at first, Abbie was just some obnoxious woman who kept jumping into all our pictures," Erin said. "So what do you all have planned for the rest of your evening?"
"Drinking, eating and watching movies," Casey said.
"I'm not even on call this weekend. Are you getting anything resembling a day off tomorrow?" Olivia asked.
"Almost, doing a couple media escorts and interviews, but all inside Phoenix. I probably should get going though. I'm running on four hours sleep and I have to be up in six and a half," Erin said glancing at her watch. "I really need a shower too…good thing you can't smell on Skype yet."
"Erin, Casey and I are going to go look through some delivery menus. It was great talking to you again. Take care of yourself," Alex said sincerely.
"Thanks a lot Alex. Tell Angie I said hello. And Case, I'll try and call you and Jeff before I go out. He gets back Wednesday right?"
"Wednesday evening," Casey said. "I'll talk to him tomorrow though and we'll e-mail before you then. Be safe."
"I will and congrats again," Erin smiled. "Liv, I should be able to call you tomorrow night too, but I will definitely call again before I go out on that little excursion next week. I love you babe."
"I love you too," Olivia said softly. "I am thrilled it is just six more weeks."
"Me too," Erin said pulling off her boots and unbuckling her belt.
"You can keep going," Liv smiled. "I am very happy to sit here and watch…"
"Didn't you say I looked like hell," Erin smirked, tossing off her t-shirt.
"No, I said you looked exhausted…but you're still sexy as hell," Olivia countered.
"Skype sex, maybe we should go pick the food up," Alex laughed as she and Casey perused menus in the kitchen.
"Would be pretty hot though," Casey commented, drawing shocked laughs from Alex and Olivia.
"I didn't hear what Casey said," Erin complained.
"She's a lightweight, the drinks are already sliding her Kinsey Scale into Skype sex," Olivia laughed.
"Oh cut her off…that is so wrong, she's like a little sister to me," Erin shouted. "On that mood killer…I'm really going to go take my shower now and get some sleep. Have fun tonight ladies."
"We will," Alex and Casey yelled.
"Good night gorgeous," Erin said softly. "Love you."
"Get some sleep babe. I love you."
Olivia got up from the couch and padded to the kitchen and grabbed a fresh beer.
"Thanks so much for being here you two," Olivia said after taking a long drink of her beer. "That's the second longest call we've been able to have and I love when she calls…it just always sucks for a little while after they end."
"It's almost over Liv," Alex said reassuringly, pulling Olivia into her arms and hugging her tightly.
"Thanks Lex," Olivia whispered. "You're an amazing friend."
"So are you," Alex said, kissing her softly on the cheek. "And you have an equally amazing girlfriend."
#-#-#-#-#
I will be starting the sequel to Stepping Time soon and my muse has a lot of ideas, but as an upfront disclaimer, the ideas do not include having Olivia leave Erin for Alex. But once again, thanks to all who have read Stepping Time and especially those who reviewed and sent private messages along the way. Much appreciated!
