Note: Just a reminder, you will see a character's name and then another character's name in parentheses. The character's name in parentheses is the true person, while the character's name outside of the parentheses is whom the other people are seeing. Maybe if you see it action, you'll understand it better. Thank so much to all whom reviewed!
Chapter 4. Proof
The door to Cragen's office slowly opened, as Elliot and Dickie walked inside. They both looked like a couple of young boys who knew that they did something wrong.
"Close the door, Elliot," Cragen said to Elliot (Dickie), which he did. Cragen then looked at Dickie (Elliot).
"Olivia . . ." Cragen said, looking at her. Olivia nodded back, understanding what Cragen wanted. She then walked up to Dickie (Elliot).
"Come on, Dickie," Olivia said to Dickie (Elliot). "Let's go out and get something to eat."
Elliot wasn't stupid. He knew what was going on. They wanted him leave, so he wouldn't see Cragen lectured Dickie. Why are they doing this? He wasn't a kid . . . oh wait, he is a kid now. Dickie, however, was clueless to this situation.
"Wait, why are you taking him?" Dickie asked.
"Elliot, we need to talk in private," Cragen said to Elliot (Dickie). He then motioned to Olivia to continue.
"Dickie . . ." Olivia said, trying to coax Dickie (Elliot) to come with her.
"Don't do this to me," Elliot said. Olivia was taken back hearing this.
"What?" Olivia asked, surprised.
"I am not leaving him," Elliot said.
"Dickie, we know you're worried about your father," Cragen said to Dickie (Elliot). "We're concerned about your father as well. That's why we need to talk to him."
"'Talk?'" Dickie asked, getting worried hearing that word.
"Your behavior, Elliot," Cragen said, looking at Elliot (Dickie). "Your behavior lately isn't appropriate for detective. If you can't act like a detective, then maybe you are not fit to be a detective anymore."
"What?" Dickie exclaimed. "You can't punish my Dad!"
"What are you talking about?" Cragen asked.
"Don't punish my Dad for something I did!" Dickie said. "I'm Dickie! He's my Dad!"
Huang, Cragen, and the other detectives looked even more concerned now. This was worst than they realized. Meanwhile, Elliot mentally groaned in frustrated and embarrassment. Dickie shouldn't have blurted out the truth now; it wasn't the right time. However, what was the right time to explain that he's in his son's body and his son was trapped in his body?
"Elliot . . ." Huang said. "This is the reason why we need to talk."
"But it's the truth!" Dickie said.
"He's right, Captain," Elliot said, trying to support Dickie.
"Dickie," Huang said. "You're not helping by trying to protect your father."
"I am not protecting my father," Elliot said, as he walked next to Dickie. "I'm trying to protect my son! You heard what happened. I know it's unbelievable, even I had hard believing it, but it's the truth."
Cragen, Huang, and the other detectives didn't look convince.
"Why can't you believe us?" Dickie asked, seeing that nothing was changed.
"Captain, I take full responsibility for this," Elliot said. "Just don't blame Dickie."
"You want us to just take your word?" Cragen asked. "You got anything to back it up?"
For a while, nothing came to Elliot's and Dickie's minds, then Dickie thought of something.
"Wait, all those cases you talked about this morning, ask me about any of them," Dickie said. "I won't know anything about them."
"How do we know that you're not playing dumb?" Fin asked.
"Well . . . um," Dickie mumbled, and became quiet when he realized the flaw of his idea. However, Elliot was thinking over what Dickie said: " . . . all those cases you talked about this morning, ask me about any of them." Elliot got an idea. He then gently pulled Dickie aside to a corner of Cragen's office.
"Dad?" Dickie whispered, when they far away to talk alone.
"Dickie, I want you to stay here, and don't say a thing for now," Elliot whispered. "And . . . try not to overhear anything I'm going to say."
"But why . . ." Dickie started to say, wondering what his dad was planning.
"Please, just trust me," Elliot said. Dickie nodded back.
Meanwhile, Cragen, Huang, and other detectives watched Elliot and Dickie, wondering what they were talking about. Maybe Dickie wanted to tell them the real truth, but didn't want Elliot to hear him talking so he wouldn't feel betrayed. Soon Dickie (Elliot) walked over to Olivia.
"Olivia," Elliot said, looking at her. "Do you remember the case with Bess Sherman? We were investigating the nursing home when I said 'I don't want to grow old.' Do you remember what you said me?"
Olivia stared at Dickie (Elliot). How did Dickie know that?
"'Be careful what you wish for,'" Elliot said. "I guess you're right."
Olivia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Elliot then walked over to Cragen, Munch, and Fin.
"Remember Gorden Rickett?" Elliot said. "We had twenty-four hours to question him. We tried every trick in the book to get information from him."
Munch, Fin, and Cragen were baffled. Dickie wasn't even involved with that case. There was no way Dickie could have known about it.
Elliot then walked over to Huang. It was going to be difficult to convince Huang, but Elliot knew what to say.
"Huang, remember Matt Brodus?" Elliot said. "He was on death row. We questioned him to find out if he truly murdered a girl, Debbie, but he had other plans for us. He attacked us. He slammed you against the wall so hard that you went unconscious. To tell you the truth, I thought there might have been permanent damage seeing that much blood."
Huang stared at Elliot. He knew Elliot would have never told his family that much detail about a case, especially that one. Huang couldn't think of an explanation to figure out what was happening.
Everyone stared at Dickie (Elliot). Nothing made sense. The only answer was that Elliot and Dickie were telling the truth, but that couldn't be right. What they said was impossible. Olivia then walked over to Dickie (Elliot) and looked into his eyes. For a moment, she didn't see a boy; she saw her partner, her friend.
"Elliot?" Olivia asked. Elliot nodded back. Olivia then looked at where . . . Elliot's body was standing.
"Dickie?" Olivia asked.
"Yeah?" Dickie said, turning around.
"No way," Fin said, then looked at Huang. "Doc, tell me there's a logical answer."
"I have never heard of an instance like this," Huang said, walking over to Elliot (Dickie) and examining him. "Unless I have further evidence to contradict their words, the only answer is that they're telling the truth."
"Elliot, is that really you?" Fin asked Dickie (Elliot). Elliot nodded back.
"Fin, it's me," Elliot said.
"This can be fixed, right?" Cragen asked, sitting down at his desk. Everyone looked at him.
"Captain, you believe us?" Elliot asked.
"I guess so," Cragen said.
"Hey, why didn't anyone asked me if I believe them?" Munch asked.
"Because you always believe the unusual," Fin said.
"Okay, you're right," Munch admitted.
"Back to the subject at hand," Cragen said. "Can you fix this?"
"Well, if we wished ourselves like this, I'm sure we can wish ourselves back," Dickie said. "All we have to do is wait until tonight."
"Next Wednesday," Munch corrected, mumbling.
Everyone looked at Munch now.
"What did you say?" Elliot asked.
"The celestial event appears once every 250 years, and lasts for a week," Munch said. "It only appears for one night, then seven days later."
"What?" Dickie and Elliot exclaimed.
"You mean I'm stuck like this for a week?" Elliot exclaimed.
"Dad . . . " Dickie said, starting to panic.
"Elliot, a week from now, I want you back to your . . . original body," Cragen said, finding it awkward saying those words.
"Yes, Captain," Elliot said, looking at Cragen.
"For now . . . Elliot, I have to take you off this case," Cragen said.
"What? Captain-" Elliot started to say.
"Elliot, you are literally in no condition to be working on this case," Cragen said. "Plus we can't have Dickie out there. He's not experienced."
"I understand, Captain," Elliot said and sighed.
"What should be tell the brass?" Olivia asked.
"Well, we can't exactly say 'Sorry, Elliot can't work, since he regressed into a child overnight,'"
Munch said.
"That's not funny, John," Elliot said.
"Yeah, Munch, give the kid a break," Fin said, and then realized what he said. "Sorry, Elliot."
"Elliot, I believe you have enough sick days to last a week," Cragen said. "Then that's what I'll say. Elliot, starting today, you're on sick day leave."
"Thank you, Captain," Elliot said. "Listen, I'm sorry about this. I didn't know this will happen."
"I'm sorry too," Dickie said, sounding like a boy who realized the consequences of his actions. "I just don't want my Dad to get into trouble."
"No one is getting into trouble as long as what is said in this room, stays in this room," Cragen said. "Clear?"
Everyone agreed.
"Um . . . Captain Cragen? Now what happens?" Dickie asked.
"You go home," Cragen said.
"How?" Dickie asked.
"Drive . . ." Cragen started to say, but then realized Dickie's problem. Olivia came up with the solution.
"I'll take him home, Captain," Olivia said.
"Thanks, Olivia," Elliot said with a smile.
"There is another problem," Huang said. "Who's going to take care of Dickie?"
"Hey! I'm not a little kid!" Dickie said. "I can take care of myself!"
"Are you ready to live by yourself?" Huang asked.
"Well, . . . um . . . no," Dickie reluctantly admitted.
Everyone wondered how to solve this problem. Elliot then came up with a plan, and left Cragen's office.
"Dad?" Dickie asked, and followed Elliot, along with the others. Elliot walked up to his desk, picked up his phone, and dialed a number.
"Dad?" Dickie asked again, as they all stopped around Elliot's desk.
"Dickie, I have a plan. I just need you to go along with it, okay?" Elliot said. Dickie nodded back, as someone answered the phone.
"Hello?"
"Hi . . . Mom," Elliot said. "It's me . . . Dickie."
"Dickie. Is everything all right?" Kathy asked.
"Yeah. I was wondering if I can stay with Dad for a week," Elliot asked.
"A week? Honey, you have school," Kathy said. "Plus Dad is probably busy with work."
"Actually, he's not," Elliot said. "I haven't seen him for a long time, and I really like to spend some time with him. May I, Mom? Please?"
"Let me speak with him," Kathy said.
"Sure," Elliot said, and covered the mouthpiece, as he looked at Dickie. "Do you understand what to do?"
Dickie nodded back as Elliot handed him the phone.
"Hi Elliot," Kathy said.
"Hi Mo. . . . Kathy," Dickie said.
"So you heard what our son said?" Kathy asked.
"Yeah. I think it will be fun--fine," Dickie said.
"Are you sure it's okay?" Kathy asked. "If you're busy, I don't want him getting the way."
"It's pretty calm here," Dickie said. "So I don't mind him hanging around."
"Just promise me he'll get to school on time," Kathy said.
"Sure," Dickie said.
"Very well. Maureen will pick Dickie up so he can get his stuff from home," Kathy said.
"Thanks!" Dickie said, a little too excited.
"What?" Kathy asked.
"I . . . miss being with him," Dickie said.
"Oh. Let me talk to Dickie," Kathy said. "Bye Elliot."
"Bye," Dickie said, and handed the phone back to Elliot.
"Dickie?" Kathy said. "Dad seems to be fine with it, so I guess it will be okay for you staying with him for a week."
"Thanks, Mom," Elliot said.
"Maureen will pick you up and bring you home so you can pack your things," Kathy said. "I want you to be on your best behavior while you're at your Dad's."
"I will, Mom. Don't worry," Elliot said.
"Okay, dear. See you when you get home. Bye," Kathy said.
"Bye," Elliot said, and hung up the phone.
"You really don't mind me staying with you for a week?" Dickie asked.
"Seeing that I'm not going to work, I don't mind," Elliot said. "I do need a list of your things to take to my house."
"Sure," Dickie said, nodding. "I hope I didn't mess things up with Mom."
"You did fine," Olivia said, using the same tone she uses to talk to nervous witnesses. She then looked at Elliot. "Elliot, I'll come too. That way I can drop you and Dickie off at your home."
"Thanks, Liv," Elliot said.
Just then, Casey walked in, holding a legal document.
"Here's the search warrant you wanted," Casey said, handing Cragen the document. "I love to stay, but I have a meeting to attended."
As Casey turned around to leave, she saw Dickie (Elliot).
"Hi, Dickie," Casey said, with a friendly smile.
"Hi Mrs. Novak," Elliot (Dickie) said, as Casey continued walking.
Casey then stopped in her tracks and turned around.
"'Mrs. Novak?'" Casey asked.
"Whoops," Dickie admitted, embarrassed. Munch then walked over to a confused looking Casey.
"Casey-" Munch began, but then paused. He then noticed an empty chair, and escorted Casey to it. "You better sit down."