Yay! I got reviews! Thanks so much for those who reviewed! It makes me think this wasn't a dumb idea. Here's the next chapter. Now some parts, you will see a character's name, then an another character's name in parentheses. The character's name in parentheses is the true person, while the name outside of the parentheses is whom the other people are seeing. Um, does that make sense, or make you more confused? Maybe if you see it action, you'll understand better. If it still doesn't make any sense, let me know (nicely) and I'll try to fix it. Thank you.
Chapter 2. Results of Wishes"Elliot, you have to wake up. Cragen wants us, remember? Elliot?" Olivia said and shook him slightly.
Dickie opened his eyes. Elliot? Someone was calling him Elliot. He had heard that voice somewhere before, but he couldn't place it. Like a bullet, it hit him, he remembered: Olivia Benson, his dad's partner. But… but why was she at his home? He knew his mother would never let her into his room, unless his parents had a divorce. Lately, his mother wasn't very happy about anything relating to his father.
Dickie sat up. To his surprise, he was staring up at… well, the bed above him. He stared at the dirty yellow sheets and rough brown wood of the bed overhead. Where was he? He had never seen this place before. Looking down his body, he was shocked and startled. He was definitely not wearing his pajamas. He looked at his hands; they were now huge and rough. He noticed he was wearing a golden ring on one of his fingers. Dickie turned around and saw his dad's colleagues. Dickie first looked at Olivia, then at Fin, and finally at Munch. He rarely saw his dad's colleagues, but having them all here, watching him, gave him the shivers. Fin looked like he was going to bash his head in, if Dickie was to speak. Munch looked like he was probably going to give him a verbal bashing to go along with it. Olivia looked more gentle, like she was the barrier protecting him from Munch and Fin.
"You all right?" Fin asked.
Dickie nodded. What was he supposed to do? Jump on his feet and start banging his head against a wall? They might take him for being insane, crazy, then send him to a mental ward. That is, if they didn't already think he was insane.
Dickie excused himself to the bathroom. What was going on? What this a dream? A joke? It wasn't very funny. He stared at himself in the mirror, hoping that something he saw was flawed. Something to indicate that this was really a dream, not reality. He had pinched himself till parts of his skin were bright pink, until he finally understood his situation.
Dickie was trapped in his father's body, his father's life. His father's life couldn't be that hard. At least he didn't have anyone bullying him anymore. Bullying… His mind flashed back to the night before, when he was in his own room. It struck him like lightning, his wish; it was his wish, it came true. Did it? Was this his wish? To be his father?
He admired his father's tattoos. He wanted one just like it. He shook his head. He needed to think straight. Think about everything. This wasn't right. What if his dad's colleagues found out about him? They wouldn't believe him if he said he was Dickie. He knew for a fact that if someone were to go up to him and tell him that they weren't who they were, he would just laugh. The only thing he could do was to act like his father. To sit down at his desk and pretend to work. Maybe eat a doughnut or two like the police officers do on television.
Dickie mumbled to himself as he left the bathroom. He sat at his father's desk, and stared aimlessly at the pile of files in front of him. Dickie stared at the pile as if he touched one of the files, the file will come alive and try to bite him.
"You okay?" Olivia asked.
'Am I okay? Of course I'm not!' Dickie thought, but instead he said, "Yeah, I'm fine, thanks."
Olivia gave him a weird look before going on with her own work.
Dickie grabbed one of the files and flipped it open. Inside there was a picture of a body. It was mutilated into… well, Dickie didn't know any words to describe it. He pressed his lips together, hoping that his stomach wouldn't come hurling out. Dickie quickly closed the file, and tossed it aside, wishing he could throw the file away, and wipe his memory of what he seen.
"Coffee?" Munch's voice asked. Dickie looked up. Munch was offering him a cup of coffee.
"Sorry, I don't drink coffee…" Dickie stopped. Munch and Olivia were staring at him; their faces showed the same baffled expression. "I mean... I mean…" Dickie tried to think of a way to explain this, "I do, but… but… I don't feel like it today."
Dickie forced a smile on his face. Munch and Olivia went back to work without further question. Dickie wiped away droplets of sweat from his forehead. That was close. He had to be careful now.
/\
"Dickie! Mom says to get out of bed and get dress now!" Kathleen's voice declared.
Elliot slowly blinked his eyes open to see Kathleen standing in the doorway.
"Kathleen?" Elliot said, confused and still sleepy, as he slowly sat up. He wasn't even aware that his voice sounded . . . younger. Why was Kathleen at the station?
"Come on, breakfast is getting cold," Kathleen said, and left Elliot.
Elliot's vision soon became clearer, and he realized he wasn't at the station. He was in a bedroom; it looked similar to Dickie's room. Where was he? Maybe he was having a weird dream that Huang will enjoy deciphering.
Elliot still felt sleepy as he got up. Cold water and coffee will fix that problem. Elliot walked towards the doorway and looked around. He soon located the bathroom, and entered it. As Elliot closed the door behind him, he noticed how everything looked bigger, like he shrunk a few feet. This must be one crazy weird dream.
He was about to turn on the cold water, when Elliot noticed something wasn't right. His hands were now smaller, younger than what they were supposed to be. These hands belong to a young boy, not an experience detective.
Elliot quickly examined his arms. His tattoos were gone. Elliot slowly lowered his arms and looked at the mirror to see his refection.
Elliot almost screamed out loud as he backed away from the mirror. He was a child again! No, wait, there was something different, yet familiar about the reflection. It's wasn't his, and yet . . .
"Dickie?" Elliot thought out loud. Elliot then swallowed, and tried to clear his throat. He was used to his voice full of strength and confidence, not the voice of a young boy. He then looked at his reflection again, and touched Dickie's . . . well, now his, face. Elliot examined his reflection. He had a bad feeling that he wasn't stuck in a crazy weird dream.
"Dickie?" Maureen's voice said from the other side of the door, as she knocked. Elliot looked at the door.
"Maureen?" Elliot responded, still not used to his younger voice.
"Are you done? I need the bathroom now," Maureen's voice asked.
"Uh . . . sure," Elliot said, and opened the bathroom door.
"Thank you," Maureen mumbled, walking in, as Elliot reluctantly walked out. Elliot looked up at Maureen, something he never had to do before.
"What are you looking at?" Maureen asked, noticing Elliot was looking at her.
"Good morning?" Elliot said, saying the first thing that came to his mind.
"Yeah, good morning," Maureen said, flatly, and then she closed the bathroom door.
Elliot stood in the hallway for a second before heading back into Dickie's room. Elliot closed the door behind him, slid onto the floor, and rested his head on his lap, trying to figure out what happened. Why he was Dickie? Elliot tried hard to remember the last few things he did before he went to sleep. He was upset that the suspect was set free, Munch mentioned that celestial event, he went up to the roof to view the celestial event, he wished . . .
'I wish to see the world like a child,' Elliot realized, lifting his head up. 'I wish to see the world the way Dickie does . . . is that why . . . I'm in Dickie's body?'
Elliot then realized something.
'Wait, if I'm in Dickie's body, then where's Dickie? What happened to my body?' A thought then came to Elliot. 'What if Dickie is in my . . . my body? I got to get back to the station.'
"Dickie, aren't you coming for breakfast?" Kathy's voice called out.
'Kathy,' Elliot thought, sitting up.
"I'll be there!" Elliot responded, opening the door, and closing it behind him.
Elliot looked around Dickie's room. Fortunately, Elliot quickly figured out where Dickie placed his clothes, and was soon dressed.
Elliot entered the kitchen and saw Elizabeth and Kathleen eating breakfast. He then saw Kathy. There was so much he wanted to tell her, but if he said anything the way he is now, he would surely be locked up in a mental institution. Kathy then noticed Elliot.
"Dickie? Is there something wrong?" Kathy asked, seeing Elliot.
"Uh, may I talk to you about something . . . Mom?" Elliot asked, feeling uncomfortable calling Kathy 'Mom.'
Kathy looked a little concerned as she walked to Elliot.
"What is it, Dickie?" Kathy asked, when she was next to him. Elliot then hugged her.
"I missed you," Elliot whispered, as he hugged Kathy, hoping she wouldn't hear him, but she did.
"What was that for?" Kathy asked, somewhat surprised, after Elliot's hug.
"I . . . I had a bad dream last night," Elliot said. "I dreamed that you left me and you said you didn't love me anymore."
"Oh, sweetie," Kathy said, giving Elliot a hug. "I will never do that. I will always love you. I will never leave you."
'I just wish that was true for me,' Elliot thought.
/\
Each minute passed like a snail. Dickie looked around nervously. What was he supposed to do? There were no instructions on his dad's desk to tell him what to do, and all the other detectives were too busy researching through files to notice Dickie. Maybe this was good, maybe if he keep pretending a little while longer, no one would notice that he really wasn't his father, Elliot.
He put his head down, picked up another file lying on the desk, and flicked through it. Just a few more hours of doing this, and maybe he could solve his own mystery on how to get out of this mess.
"Elliot?" Olivia asked.
Dickie didn't look up.
"Elliot!" Olivia said a little louder.
Dickie finally looked up. He had to remember that he was now Elliot, not Dickie, the school kid, but Elliot, the detective.
"Yeah?" Dickie asked.
"What are you doing? You're working on the Wright's case, not that one!" Olivia took a deep breath, "You sure you're okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Dickie answered, and put down the file he was reading. He then glanced at the other files on the desk. Which one was the 'Wright's case?'
"Elliot, if there's anything wrong, you know you can talk to me," Olivia said, and went back reading the file she has.
Fin and Munch stared at Elliot. What was going on with him?
/\
"These are delicious," Elliot said, finishing his fourth pancake. Elliot had almost forgotten how wonderful Kathy's home cook meals were.
"Why, thank you, Dickie," Kathy said. She got up to bust the dishes, but Elliot stopped her.
"No, I'll do them," Elliot said, and began gathering the empty dishes.
"Honey, you don't need to-" Kathy started to say, but the telephone rang. "Well, I guess you can. You just rinse them in the sink, okay?"
Elliot nodded back, as Kathy left the room to answer the phone. Elliot took the empty dishes to the sink and began cleaning them. He then felt someone watching him. Elliot turned to see Elizabeth looking at him. It was weird now being around eye-level with his daughter.
"Yes?" Elliot asked.
"What's with you?" Elizabeth asked.
"What?" Elliot asked, when he was finished cleaning the dishes.
"You're being so nice to Mom," Elizabeth said. "Do you want something?"
"What's wrong being nice to . . . Mom?" Elliot asked.
"It's like I'm talking to someone else," Elizabeth said.
"What?" Elliot asked. Did Elizabeth know the truth? Wait, how could Elizabeth know?
"You know how people say twins have a special connection? I feel like I'm not talking to you, Dickie, I feel like I'm talking to someone else," Elizabeth said. "But someone I know, and really cares for me."
Elliot wondered how to handle this. He knew he had to find Dickie. Elliot had a feeling that he could find the answers at the station, and he knew he had to get there, but how? He couldn't drive there; Elliot was now too young to drive.
"Didn't you hear me?" Elizabeth asked, breaking Elliot from his thoughts.
"What?" Elliot asked.
"What's with you?" Elizabeth asked. Elliot then noticed Kathy walking back into the kitchen. Elliot got an idea.
"You're right. I do want something from Mom," Elliot said, watching Kathy.
"I thought so. What is it?" Elizabeth asked.
"I'll tell you later," Elliot said, walking pass Elizabeth and towards Kathy. Kathleen was still at the table, reading a magazine.
"Mom?" Elliot asked, looking at Kathy.
"Yes, dear?" Kathy asked.
"May I . . . visit Dad today?" Elliot asked.
"Why do you want to see your father today?" Kathy asked.
"I need to talk to him," Elliot said. "It's important."
"Dickie, Dad's probably busy at work," Kathy said. "I'm sure you can wait until the next time you see him."
"No, this can't wait!" Elliot exclaimed.
Elliot then noticed everyone staring at him, and he realized his mistake. He then noticed Kathy's upset expression.
"All right, young man, you are going to explain to me what's so important that you have to see your father this instant," Kathy said, almost glaring at Elliot, making him feel uneasy. Elliot never felt so uncomfortable ever since, well, ever since he was originally a kid and his parents wanted him to tell the truth.
What should he tell Kathy? The truth? Maybe it could work, but he didn't want to say it in front of Kathleen and Elizabeth yet.
"Um, right here?" Elliot asked, hoping he could talk to Kathy alone.
"Yes, right here and now," Kathy said.
So much for that plan.
"Well . . . it's kind of private," Elliot said, trying to find a way to explain his situation to Kathy. "It's something that Dad knows, and only he knows. A . . . guy thing."
A loud moan was then heard. Kathy and Elliot turned to see Kathleen getting up from the table, looking disgusted.
"If this is about puberty, then I'm leaving," Kathleen said, and left the room, taking her magazine with her. Elliot then heard Kathy laughing.
"Sweetie, is that it?" Kathy asked, looking relieved.
"Uh . . . Yeah," Elliot said.
"I guess it will be okay to see Dad," Kathy said. "Let me call him so he knows you're coming."
Kathy then left the room. Elliot felt a little better, but he was still nervous. Who's going to answer his phone at the station? Elliot's thoughts were broken when he heard laughing behind him. Elliot turned to see Elizabeth smiling.
"That was good," Elizabeth said.
"What was?" Elliot asked, wondering what Elizabeth was talking about.
"The new way to gross out Kathleen," Elizabeth said, smiling.
"Oh . . . thanks," Elliot said. Kathy then reentered the room.
"Dickie, your father isn't answering his phone," Kathy said. "Maybe this isn't a good day to see him."
"I really want to talk to him," Elliot said. "Besides, maybe a surprise visit from me will make him happy."
"Well . . . okay," Kathy said. "But promise me if he's doing something important, you'll come home, and wait until there's a good day to visit him."
"I promise," Elliot said, nodding back.
Kathy smiled at Elliot. A few seconds later, Maureen walked in the room.
"Mom, I'm taking the car to go shopping," Maureen said, getting the car keys.
"Oh, honey. Dickie wants to visit Dad. Could you drop him off there while you're out?" Kathy asked.
"Sure, Mom. Not a problem. You just get yourself ready Dickie, then we can go," Maureen said.
"Thanks, Mom," Elliot said, hugging Kathy. After the hug, he followed Maureen.
"Bye, Mom. See you in an hour," Maureen said.
Elliot hoped he could solve this strange mystery an hour.
/\
Dickie looked up. Casey had just placed some folded up blue documents onto the desk. He opened the documents and quickly looked at them. He then stared at Casey.
"Yeah, I know. The defense has subpoenaed you to testify against their client," Casey said and shook her head.
'Subpoenaed? What is that? Is it good or bad? What does it mean?' Dickie thought.
Casey noticed the baffled expression on Elliot's face. It was definitely not the reaction she had expected from him. Casey knew she didn't know that much about Elliot, but she knew him well enough to know that Elliot should have been upset about this. Elliot should have stood up and start protesting about the subpoena now.
"Oh, okay," It was the best response that came to Dickie's mind.
"That's it?" Casey couldn't resist asking.
Dickie blinked. What would his father do in this position? His mind was blank. His dad was rarely at home, and he didn't really talked about what happened at work.
"Um, yeah," Dickie said.
Cragen then walked up to Casey.
"About that search warrant-" Cragen said.
"I'm working on it," Casey said. She then turned around and left. Cragen then looked at Dickie.
"Elliot, are you feeling all right? You're not acting like yourself," Cragen said.
Dickie stood up and looked around; he felt he was being overpowered. Cragen, Olivia, Munch, and Fin were staring at him. Dickie didn't know what to do. Well, he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to cry, but he was twelve, not a baby, he was too mature to cry now, right? Dickie wanted to go home, to be with his mom and his sisters . . . even though his sisters annoy him some times. Dickie wanted his dad here. His dad would help him, but Dickie didn't know where he was. Well, Dickie knew where his dad's body was, he was in it, but where was his real dad? Dickie knew he had to think a way out of this situation.
"Elliot?" Olivia asked.
"Um, I . . .I need to be alone for a few minutes," Dickie said, and looked around for a room. Dickie soon found a room where he could stay in and think for a while. Dickie walked into the room and closed the door behind him. Unfortunately, Dickie wasn't paying attention to what room he went in.
"Is it just me, or did Elliot just locked himself in an interrogation room?" Munch asked, watching Elliot. Cragen sighed.
"You three, in my office, now," Cragen said, walking back into his office. Olivia, Munch, and Fin followed Cragen back inside his office. When they were all inside, Olivia closed the door behind her.
"I think you know why I called you in here," Cragen said, as he sat down at his desk.
"It's about Elliot, isn't it?" Fin asked. Cragen nodded back.
"I already called Huang to evaluate Elliot," Cragen said.
"Captain, do you think-" Olivia started to say.
"Olivia, we all care about Elliot, but I have to follow procedures," Cragen said. "You've all seen the way he's been acting. If Elliot is not fit to do his job anymore, I'm afraid I will have to let him go."
"Isn't there something you can do?" Olivia asked.
"I'm sorry, but I have to follow the rules on this," Cragen said. "I want you three to keep an eye on him. I don't want him to do anything to put his career further at risk. Clear? Good."
Olivia, Munch, and Fin walked out of Cragen's office. The same thought was on all their minds. Did their worst fear come true? Has Elliot truly lost it?
/\
Elliot stepped out of the elevator and walked down the hall to the SVU office. It was weird walking the same route in a different perspective. He stopped when he reached his destination. He didn't know he'd find when he entered the room. Elliot took a deep breath and walked inside.
He saw Olivia, Munch, and Fin, talking together, huddled around Munch's desk. As he continued walking, Elliot noticed Cragen opening the door to his office for Huang, before closing it behind him. Everything looked the same, except where was he . . . his body?
Fin then looked up and saw Dickie (Elliot).
"Hey, Dickie," Fin said, with a smile.
Munch and Olivia turned around and saw Dickie (Elliot) as well. Elliot stopped, as Olivia, Munch, and Fin walked up to him, and began talking to him. This was so weird for Elliot. All of his friends were being so nice and friendly to him, and smiling at him. Elliot smiled back, but inside, he was complaining. All of his friends now towered over him. Elliot didn't like being small.
As he talked to the other detectives, part of him wanted to say out loud "It's me, Elliot!" but he knew this wasn't the right time to say it. Finally, he asked the question that he wanted to be answer.
"Um, has anyone seen . . . my Dad?" Elliot asked.
Elliot then noticed everyone's expressions changed from smiles to seriousness. Elliot then began to worry. What happened to his body? Was he declared dead? What?
"Dickie . . ." Olivia began, but Elliot wasn't paying attention to Olivia, because something caught his eye.
Elliot saw his body, his own body, walking by itself! He had heard of out-of-body experiences, but this is ridiculous! Lucky, no one seemed to noticed Elliot's shocked expression, as he watched his body acting on it's own.
Dickie noticed the other detectives, and then he saw to whom they were talking. Elliot's (Dickie's) expression reflected the same shock as Dickie (Elliot). Dickie walked up to Elliot and the other detectives. He then took Dickie's (Elliot's) hand, and walked off with Dickie (Elliot).
"Sorry. I have to talk to him . . . in private," Elliot (Dickie) quickly said before anyone could react.
Dickie soon found a room that he could use. Unfortunately, Elliot's and Dickie's minds were so focus on their strange situation, that they failed to noticed that the room Dickie choose, was the interrogation room right next to Cragen's office.
Dickie let go of Elliot's hand, when they were inside the room. Elliot had to sit down, as he watched his own body closed the door and looked around the room. Elliot's body then looked straight at him.
"Dad?" Dickie asked.