Author's note: Thanks for all ya'll's support! I've really grown to appreciate how hard it is to write. On the one side, I want to get it out on paper, but on the other, I don't want to be untrue to any character, especially Munch. So it took a bit to solidify the next 3 chapters, thank goodness for episodes ondvd. That's all I have to say! I hope you enjoy and I hope I did them justice. So without further ado...

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When Munch and Fin entered the squad room, they were greeted with an akward silence, as if the others weren't comfortable in the situation. Munch quickly guessed that nobody expected to see him back this soon, but since he was there, they weren't sure if they should act like nothing happened or avoid eye contact at all costs.

The moment was broken by Captain Cragen storming across the room. "Fin! Why the hell did you bring him back here! He's not cleared to come back to work yet!"

"So clear me Capt.," exclaimed Munch, "because I feel fine - really!"

Cragen, Stabler, and Benson eyed him skeptically. Fin had sat down at his desk and shoved his nose in the paperwork lying there. John could hear him absent-mindedly shuffling papers. This was the signal that Fin wouldn't be the first to speak and defend his partner, but if convinced, he was listening and willing to cover Munch's back.

"Look," started Munch, "If you thinking I'm going home right now - forget it. I know how the NYPD works - I'm sure half of my apartment still looks like a crime scene. I doubt going back there would be very comfortable at the moment. Besides, I have something I think you all will want to see."

Munch sat down at his desk and started to unlock his bottom drawer. The other 4 took this as their cue to come closer and get a better look at what Munch was about to show them. John was secretly grateful when Fin bent down and helped to pull the stacks of envelopes from the drawer. He didn't want to admit it, but his shoulder twinged a bit, it probably wasn't a good idea to lift anything at the moment.

He looked up and saw Benson, here eyes wide with surprise as she ran her finger through the identical envelopes. "What is all this?" she asked Munch quizzically.

"Well, at first they were just articles from a police shooting, one against my fellow detectives," Munch got quieter, "One I kinda witnessed."

He had never told them before. He felt that his past should remain there - in the past. Oh sure, he complained about his ex-wives and about JFK and all his other conspiracies and eccentricties, but this was different. Those things were public knowledge. The shooting had affected him personally. He didn't like to talk about things like that. So he had never mentioned it before - just like he never mentioned his father's suicide.

His coworkers scanned the articles. "So what's the deal then?" asked Stabler.

Well, then this one came," replied Munch. He held up the paper for all to see.

"THIS TIME,I WON'T MISS"

He could tell by the looks on their faces, that they were reacting the same way he did when he first read it. "You were being threatened, and you didn't say anything?" Stabler angrily accused.

"Probably being stalked too," mentioned Fin.

Munch gave him the look - the one that means, "you're joking right."

"I doubt it," Munch replied, "look all these letters are coming from different spots in Baltimore. Check out the postage marks."

"Yeah, but you were shot in New York!" snapped Fin.

"Alright!" Cragen took control, "Let's get gloves on and sort through these letters. John, how many did you open?"

"Twelve."

"Okay - it looks like this guy has been busy - there has to be at least 60 or 709 more of these. Let's get them open and see what else this guy had to say, and then we'll take them down to the lab and hopefully get some prints or DNA or something. In the meantime - I'll get Huang down here and see if we can't get a profile on this wacko - maybe figure out why he thought it'd be a good idea to torment one of my detectives. Alright people! Let's get moving!"

Everyone flipped into work mode. Suddenly it wasn't about him, it was about a case - one they desperately wanted to solve.