"How are you been?" Kathy asked, as she hugged Dickie (Elliot).
"I'm okay," Elliot said.
"Hurry, go get your stuff," Kathy said to Dickie (Elliot), as Elliot walked through the house.
"Hey," Kathy said, when she saw Elliot (Dickie), and followed Dickie (Elliot) in.
"Hi," was all Dickie could say.
It was strange; his mother wasn't fussing over him. Then he remembered that he wasn't in his body, he was in his father's. There was no reason for his mother to fuss over him. Dickie kind of missed the attention that his mother gave him that she was now giving his father. He felt sort of lonely. He wondered if his dad ever felt this lonely.
/\
Elliot checked Dickie's list again to make sure he got everything. Let's see . . . clothes, shoes, toothbrush, books, comic books, video games . . . school stuff. Elliot looked around Dickie's room and found where Dickie placed his backpack and his homework. School, that was the subject that everyone discussed on before Maureen picked Elliot up.
It was agreed that Dickie . . . or in this case, Elliot, should not miss school. Kathy would raise questions if she found out Dickie had miss school because he was sick or some other excuse. So Elliot had to take Dickie's place in school. Elliot tried talking out of it by explaining that if he goes to school, Dickie will be home alone unsupervised. However, Huang, Casey, and even Cragen, volunteered to visit Dickie and make sure he's safe. Even the other detectives volunteered to drive Elliot to and from school. Elliot thought he saw Dickie smile when he finally agreed to take Dickie's place at school.
Soon Elliot got everything packed up to take to his house. He was walking out of the house with Dickie's belongings when he saw Kathy and stopped. There were so many things he wanted to ask her, but there was never a right moment to talk to her. This was his chance.
'Dickie's going to kill me if he finds out what I did,' Elliot thought, as he walked away from Dickie's stuff and towards Kathy. Kathy turned around and noticed Dickie (Elliot).
"Hey sweetie. Got everything ready?" Kathy asked. Elliot nodded back.
"Mom, I have a question," Elliot said. "I probably asked this before, but I forgot what you said."
"What is it?" Kathy asked, a little concerned, as she escorted Elliot to a place where they can sit down.
"Do you . . . miss Dad?" Elliot asked, as they sat down.
"Honey," Kathy gave Elliot that look. The look that said: 'I don't really want to talk about this.'
Elliot frowned, "I just want to know."
"I know, I know," Kathy said with a sigh, "I do miss your father."
"Then why are you still separated? Why can't you guys get back together? Be like old times," Elliot asked.
"Sweetie, it's a lot complicated then just that. Now, you better not go tell any of this to your father. Okay? Do I have deal?" Kathy asked.
Elliot nodded in agreement. What else was he suppose to do?
"Good. Now hurry up. Your dad is waiting for you," Kathy said, and kissed Elliot on his head.
Elliot hugged Kathy and kissed her on her cheek. He then picked up Dickie's bags and ran out to the car.
/\
"You know where to put your stuff," Elliot said, as he and Dickie walked inside his house. Dickie nodded back, and took his belongings to the room he stayed in when he visited Elliot.
Elliot walked into his own bedroom and sighed. It was going to be different seeing everything as a kid again.
"Dad?" Dickie asked, poking his head in his dad's bedroom.
"Yes?" Elliot asked, turning around.
"May I . . . sleep in your room?" Dickie asked, walking in the bedroom.
"Why?" Elliot asked, curious.
"It's just that . . ." Dickie said. "I . . . I can't fit into my bed."
"Oh," Elliot said, realizing Dickie's problem. "Yeah, I guess it's okay. I'll go sleep in your room then."
"Thanks, Dad," Dickie said, smiling.
Dickie then took off Elliot's coat, and placed it on the bed. Elliot was about to tell Dickie to place his coat in the closet, when he saw something that was more important.
"No wait!" Elliot exclaimed, seeing Dickie reaching for his belt that held his badge and gun. "Let me handle it."
Dickie stood still as Elliot walked over to him. Elliot then carefully removed his belt, badge, and gun, from Dickie. When he was done, Elliot walked over to his coat, and took out his cell phone.
"So . . . are you ready for lunch?" Elliot asked, trying to change the subject.
"Sure," Dickie said.
"Just let me put some things away first, then we'll see what we can find to eat," Elliot said. He then walked out of his bedroom, as he placed his cell phone in his pocket, and looked for a safe place to put his gun and badge.
/\
"So, what do you want for lunch?" Elliot asked.
"Pizza?" Dickie suggested.
"Pizza… um… okay," Elliot said. He then searched through the pile of junk mail till he found the pizza ad at the bottom of the pile.
"What do you usually have for lunch?" Dickie asked, curious.
"It depends. If I'm out of the street I get whatever's closest: hot dogs, Maccas, sandwiches. But if I'm in the squad room, I have whatever the other detectives gets," Elliot said.
"So you rarely have pizza," Dickie said.
Elliot thought for a minute, "Yeah, I rarely have pizza. Anyway, what do you want?"
"Hawaiian," Dickie responded, smiling.
Elliot smiled back as he reached for the phone.
/\
Thursday Afternoon"Hey, Dad," Dickie said, as he walked into the kitchen, and saw Elliot making a sandwich.
"What is it?" Elliot asked.
"I forgot to tell you something," Dickie said. "My friend Rick invited me to hang out with him on Sunday."
"When?" Elliot asked.
"In the afternoon," Dickie said. "His mom was going to pick . . . me up at Mom's house."
"Is there something I can do?" Elliot asked, when he was finished putting the sandwich together.
"Well . . ." Dickie began.
"You still want to meet him," Elliot concluded. "So I guess I have to take your place."
"Can you?" Dickie asked.
"Sure," Elliot said, calmly. "Just give me Rick's phone number, and I'll tell his mom how to get to my house."
"Thanks, Dad," Dickie said, smiling, as he sat down at the kitchen table. "What are you doing?"
"Making a lunch for tomorrow," Elliot said, as he wrapped up the sandwich and placed it in a bag.
"Dad, I want to thank you for doing all of this for me," Dickie said. "If you want me to help out, just say it."
"Actually, there is something you can do," Elliot said, as he cleaned up after himself, and left the kitchen.
"What?" Dickie asked, watching his dad. Elliot soon came back with some papers and a pencil.
"Your homework," Elliot said, placing the homework and the pencil in front of Dickie.
"What?" Dickie was surprised, "Can't you do it?"
"I've been to school; I've learnt all of this before. Now you have to. Just because you're in my body, doesn't mean you get off," Elliot said.
"Fine," Dickie said and sighed. He then looked down at the homework. "I don't get any of this."
"Okay, well, let's start with this-" Elliot started, as he sat down next to Dickie and talked through some problems. However, Elliot had to stop when he heard his cell phone ringing. Elliot excused himself, and encouraged Dickie to try some problems on his own. He then left the kitchen to answer the call.
"Stabler," Elliot responded, when he was in another room.
"Elliot?" Cragen asked. "I thought I was going to get Dickie."
"I thought it would be best that I keep my stuff with me for now," Elliot said. "What's up?"
"I tried talking to the brass about allowing you sick day leave," Cragen said. Elliot had a bad feeling about this conversation. "However, they want every available person working on this case. I tried to persuade them that you weren't well enough to work, but they didn't buy it. Elliot, they want you, or rather, Dickie, on this case."
"What?" Elliot exclaimed. "But you said yourself Captain. Dickie is not experienced to be a detective."
"I know that. Look, I did convince them that you weren't well enough to work in the field," Cragen said. "That means you're on desk duty. All Dickie is going to do is just some simple paperwork, take messages, and do some research. Just enough to look busy and make them happy."
"But Captain-" Elliot said. He really didn't want Dickie to do his job, even desk duty.
"Elliot, I know how you feel," Cragen said. "Just remember that we'll help Dickie. He's not going to stay long; he'll be home before supper. We'll keep an eye on him. I don't want Dickie working, no one here does, but we have to follow orders. You know that, Elliot. He's in good hands."
"Just promise me he'll be safe," Elliot said and sighed.
"I promise," Cragen said. "Olivia will stop by your house to drop off some files so you can brief Dickie on the case. Hopefully the next time we'll met, you'll be back to your old self."
"Yeah," Elliot said, and hung up the phone. He then sat in a chair and sighed.
"Dad?" Dickie asked, walking in the room and saw Elliot's upset expression. "Dad, what's wrong?"
"That was Captain Cragen," Elliot said, looking at Dickie. "The brass didn't buy the sick day idea, so they want me to work."
"What?" Dickie exclaimed. "Dad, I can't do your job! I know I can't do your job!"
"I don't want you to do it," Elliot said. "I never wanted you to do my job. However, this isn't my or Cragen's idea, it's theirs."
"What should I do?" Dickie asked, starting to worry.
"Olivia is going to drop off some files so I can discuss the case with you," Elliot said, as he stood up. "The good news is that all you have to do is desk duty. Just some paperwork and help the other detectives out. Dickie, Cragen is going to be there and the other detectives: Munch, Fin, and Olivia. They're all going to help you. You're not going to be alone. I'll even help you."
"But-" Dickie said.
"Dickie, remember what you told me earlier? That you wanted to help me," Elliot said. "I need you to take my place, like I'm taking your place at school. Do you think you can do it?"
"I'll try, Dad," Dickie said.
/\
Elliot walked to the front door when he heard the doorbell rang. He opened the front door to see Olivia holding a few files in one of her hands.
"Olivia," Elliot greeted, and invited Olivia inside.
"Hey," Olivia said, as she walked inside and looked around. "Where's Dickie?"
"He's doing his homework," Elliot said, as he closed the door. Olivia responded with a nod.
"Here's the files so you can brief Dickie on the case," Olivia said, as she placed the files on a near by table.
"Thanks," Elliot said, as he sat down on the sofa.
Olivia then noticed the expression on Elliot's face. She recognized that expression, no matter what body Elliot was in.
"So . . . how are you doing?" Olivia asked, sitting down next to Elliot.
"Let's see . . . I'm trapped as a kid, my son is trapped as a grown man, and I can't help you on this case because I have to go to school tomorrow," Elliot said, frustrated. "Other than that, I'm fine."
"Elliot, you didn't know that this will happen," Olivia said.
"I just don't think I can do this, Liv," Elliot said.
"Look, all you have to do is to act like a kid," Olivia said. "You handled tougher cases before. You can do this. Who knows? It might be fun."
Elliot gave her an odd look.
"I did say 'might,'" Olivia said.
Elliot sighed and looked down.
"What about Dickie?" Elliot said. "He's not ready for this."
"We're going to look after him," Olivia said, and placed her hand on Elliot's shoulder to reassure him. "We'll take care of Dickie. He's not going to do anything serious. All he has to do is to make an appearance."
"I just feel . . . useless," Elliot said, looking at Olivia. "I'm just a kid now. I'm no help to you like this."
"No one is asking you to do anything," Olivia said, as she removed her hand. "If you want, I'll try to inform you in any new developments in the case. Don't worry Elliot. It will be all right."
"Thanks, Liv," Elliot said with a small smile.
"Hey Dad," Dickie said, poking his head into the room. "If you need me, I'll be playing my video games."
"Is your homework done?" Elliot asked, looking at Dickie.
"Yeah," Dickie said.
"Then have fun," Elliot said.
"Thanks," Dickie said, smiling. Dickie then noticed Olivia. "Oh, hi Olivia,"
"Hi," Olivia said, as Dickie left the room. 'Then again, this might be unusual for us.'
/\
"Okay, this case is about, um… about this guy… and he…" Elliot said, as he went through his mind, trying to find the right words.
"Dad! I'm twelve years old! You don't have to keep protecting me!" Dickie said. Elliot looked Dickie in his eyes.
"Well, I don't want you to see what I have to see, but I guess you have to now. Okay, this guy, he's out there somewhere and he, um… hurt a little girl. We think that maybe he might hurt other kids more, so we need to find him. If you have any other questions, ask Cragen, or the other detectives that know that you're Dickie," Elliot said and paused. Was there anything else essential to tell him about this case? He decided that since Dickie was on desk duty, this was all the information that he needed to know for now.
"Now you only need to sit at my desk. Cragen's going to be in his office most of the time, so if you need anything, just go ask him. Just look through the files on my desk and stare; pretend you're in deep thought. See if anything clicks. Oh, and if Olivia, John, or Fin, or anyone else asks you to research something, first try Google. If that doesn't help, then ask Olivia. She's tell you what to do, but be careful when someone important comes in the room. This person you probably won't recognize, and Cragen and the others would act different around this person. Try to act like an adult; pretend you know what you are doing," Elliot said and took a breath.
"What if I don't-" Dickie started pointed out.
"Yes, I know, but just try pretend. Also, when the phone rings, answer by saying 'Stabler.' Try to agree with whoever's on the line, and if it sounds important, tell Cragen or anyone else, okay? Any questions?" Elliot asked. He hoped he didn't miss anything important.
Dickie shook his head, "I think I got that."
"Okay then. Oh, and don't touch my gun! Please! Ask Cragen to put it in his office. Do not touch it!" Elliot stressed.
"Okay, okay! Dad, I get the idea! Must not touch the gun," Dickie said.
"Good," Elliot said more to himself than Dickie.
"Dad? Tomorrow at school, I have gym. I don't like gym class. I think the teacher hates me, so I usually stay with David. He's the teacher's pet. Oh, if you run into a boy named Melvin, stay away from him," Dickie advised.
"Why?" Elliot asked, wondering what Dickie was talking about.
"Just . . . try not to run into him," Dickie said, not wanting to talk about his school problems right now.
"Oh . . . okay," Elliot responded, getting the message that Dickie didn't want to talk about that subject anymore, but he knew that some time he must try to urge Dickie to talk about it. "Anything else?"
Dickie shook his head. Nothing else came to his mind.
"All right then," Elliot said.
/\
Thursday EveningDickie felt really good. Well, any kid would feel good watching television and eating ice cream. Elliot had finished up telling Dickie everything about his job, and Dickie had told Elliot about his school, his classes, his teachers, and his friends. Elliot was also watching television, but he wasn't paying attention to the show; his mind was on other things: the case, Dickie's school, something to get his mind off of what he's wearing. Since his old T-shirts and boxers were now too big to wear to bed, he had to settle for clothes that did fit him, which were Dickie's pajamas. Elliot knew it wasn't a big deal and that no one saw him, but he still felt embarrassed.
Elliot then yawned; Dickie noticed that.
"Dad?" Dickie asked. "You're sleepy?"
"I guess so," Elliot said, rubbing his eyes.
"Why?" Dickie asked. "Its not even my bedtime."
"My job has long hours," Elliot said.
"But you stay up real late," Dickie said, smiling, as he finished up his ice cream. "That's cool!"
"Try doing that almost every night in a row," Elliot said.
"Oh," Dickie said. "That's not good, is it?"
"No," Elliot said, calmly.
Soon they heard a knock at the front door.
"I'll get it," Dickie said, getting up.
"Thanks," Elliot said, rubbing his eyes again.
Dickie walked up to the front door and checked to see who was outside. He then opened the door for Casey.
"Hi," Casey said.
"Hi Mrs. Novak," Dickie said, letting Casey in.
"Is your dad around?" Casey asked. "I need to talk to him about rearranging some court dates."
"Yeah, he's right here," Dickie said, leading Casey to Elliot.
"Dad-" Dickie began when he was near the sofa, but stopped when he saw that Elliot had fallen asleep.
"Oh, um . . ." Dickie mumbled, lost, when Casey saw Elliot asleep.
"I'll try another time," Casey said, softly. "I'll let myself out, okay? Good night, Dickie."
"Night," Dickie softly said, as Casey left them. For a moment, Dickie just watched his dad sleep. He then turned off the television, and picked Elliot up. Dickie felt weird, yet fine, carrying his dad to bed.
Dickie gently placed Elliot in bed, and covered him with the blankets. He was about to leave and close the door, when he stopped, and took one last look at Elliot.
"Good night, Dad," Dickie whispered, as he closed the door behind him.