Disclaimer: Gimme an N! Gimme an O! Gimme a T! Gimme an M! Gimme an I! Gimme an N! Gimme an E! Put it all together and what do you get? NOT MINE!
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Olivia and Elliot left the interview room looking both sickened and triumphant.
"Got him?" inquired Fin as they approached his desk.
"He confessed to everything," said Elliot. "Hardly took any persuading once his lawyer told him what he'd be facing if he didn't plead guilty."
"How's Maria?"
"I'm on my way to talk to her now," said Olivia. "Have you seen Schmidt? I wanted to see if she wanted to come along. I know she and Maria had a rapport going."
"I think she's on the roof," said Fin. "Munch went up there a while ago and was saying something about taking her some chocolate."
"The roof?" said Elliot. "That doesn't sound good."
The roof of the precinct was generally the place to go when a case got to be too much to handle, when emotions ran so high that fresh air and height were the only remedies.
"I'll go make sure they're okay," said Olivia, and she pulled on her jacket, making her way up to the roof.
DOINK-DOINK
Caroline stood leaning over the barrier of the roof, staring down into the traffic, the loose, wavy strands of hair that had fallen from her braid whipping around in the wind. She hadn't bothered to bring her coat up with her and was freezing, but would never admit it. She sensed the presence of another and turned to see who it was. Predictably, it was Munch, who had her coat in one hand and a candy bar in the other.
"Hey," she called softly.
Munch approached and handed her the coat, which she pulled on gratefully. He then unwrapped the candy bar, broke it in half, and handed it to her, keeping half for himself.
"I came up to apologize again," said Munch.
"I know. It's okay. I'm sorry I went off on you like that."
"I don't blame you."
They were both silent for a few moments as they ate their chocolate and listened to the sound of honking horns and sirens below.
"How are you holding up?" Munch asked.
"Obviously not too well," said Caroline. "I hate being the detective who shows up, pisses off the precinct, then gets sick a few months in and has to take time off. It's pathetic."
"First of all, it's not like you're taking a vacation. Second of all, pathetic my ass. Third of all, you didn't piss off the precinct, just me and Olivia a few times," said Munch.
Caroline managed a smile at the memories of the quarrels that took place when she had first arrived at the Special Victims Unit.
"Look, anything you need, I'm here, got it? Even if you're a pain in the ass sometimes, you're a pain in the ass who's my friend, and I want to make sure you're okay," said Munch.
Caroline laughed right aloud. "Ahem. Pot. Kettle. Black."
Munch gave a half-smile back at her.
"Are you scared?" he asked.
"Not really," said Caroline, and Munch could tell she was telling the truth. "I'm more scared about not being able to do my job."
"You don't need to worry about that. If I know you at all, you'll be barking out orders and solving cases at lightning speed again in no time."
"Thanks, John."
There was a pause in which both detectives tried to think of something to say. Finally, Caroline just laughed again.
"Wanna hug it out?" she offered, and Munch grinned.
They gave each other a tight hug, something rather unusual for NYPD, but nonetheless a nice gesture. As they did so, Olivia joined them, peeking out the door.
"Hey," said Caroline, pulling away from Munch.
Olivia had an eyebrow raised, as though silently asking if she'd interrupted something. Munch tried to summon all his powers of telepathy to will Olivia not to ask if she'd done so. Evidently, he had no psychic power whatsoever.
"Am I interrupting something?" she asked slyly.
Munch tapped his head. "Is this thing on?"
"Nah," said Caroline, ignoring Munch. "What's up?"
"Daryl Sedivi confessed to raping Maria. He'll plead guilty, of course, and he'll serve twenty-five to life because of the previous bad acts. He'll be eligible for parole, of couse, but we'll pretend that's not true for now. I was about to go tell Maria, want to come?" Olivia offered.
"Absolutely. Oh, and there's something I need to talk to you about…" said Caroline as the women left.
Munch watched as they left through the door and down the stairs and sighed, wishing more than ever that he felt as though he had a God to pray to. It would definitely come in handy right about now.
THE END
