Guess what? IT'S THE FIFTH CHAPTER EVERYONE! Enjoy!

Corner of Fifth Avenue and Madison Avenue

Mid Town

Manhattan

Wednesday, December 21st, 2005

"Okay, people," said Cragen as the squad huddled around him, "We're going shopping for tuxes and gowns. I'm trusting you guys because I know you'll buy the right clothes…"

Everyone smirked at this.

"I didn't give you your Christmas Bonuses," he began as he eyed everyone warily, "So you could go and blow them on something stupid. Okay?"

Everyone nodded.

"So we'll meet back here at noon for lunch, got it?"

Everyone nodded and went off looking around the shops.

Benson and Stabler were looking at the shopping windows when Benson broke the silence.

"So, what kind of tux you're getting?" she asked.

"I don't know. I saw some with ruffles though. I wonder if Munch we'll be getting…" Stabler began, but Benson interrupted him.

"We're not talking about Munch. We're talking about you," she said sternly.

"Okay, I was thinking about getting the ruffles! I personally don't know. I just figure if I see something I like, then I'll buy it."

"This is going to be good," she muttered.

"What? You don't trust my taste in clothes?" he asked jokingly.

"No, I'm just wondering if you listened to the Captain's pep talk."

Stabler laughed and shook his head when Benson stopped at a window.

"Oh yes, that's the perfect one right there!" she pointed out.

Stabler looked down at the price.

"Half off," he said, "You might wanna…"

But Benson did not need to be told to check on the ball gown. She was already walking inside the building.

"Hey! Wait up!" he shouted.

Benson walked to the clerk with Stabler behind her. The clerk looked up.

"May I help you?" he asked.

"Yes, that dress in the window, um, do you have any left?" she asked.

"Very few Ma'am. What size are you?"

"An eight."

"I'll go check…"

"Can you tell me where you have your tuxes?" asked Stabler.

The clerk looked at them. "Are you guys getting married by any chance?" he asked.

"NO!" shouted both Benson and Stabler.

"I mean…uhh…we're just…" stammered Benson.

"We're looking for nice clothes for a dance that our employer is hosting," said Stabler quickly.

"Oh, but you're not getting…" began the clerk as he looked at the both of them.

"No…no," said Stabler.

"Nope, never. Just dance partners," said Benson.

"Ahh, okay then," he said as he left and went to check on the dress Benson wanted.

Munch and Fin were walking along and looking around in the shops looking at the windows and talking.

"So, did you find someone yet?" asked Munch.

"Yes, but I'm not telling you," said Fin.

"Why not?" asked Munch slightly offended.

"Cause you'll blab to the others if I told you who it was," he said.

"No I wouldn't."

"Yes you would with this particular person."

"Who is it, then? You can tell me! I swear I won't tell anyone, not even my blow up doll," said Munch.

Fin stopped walking and gave Munch a strange look.

"What?" asked Munch.

"I'm not gonna even ask," said Fin as he shook his head and began to walk again.

"It was a joke," said Munch.

"Sure it was, John."

"I'm serious!"

"Why should I believe you now?"

"Because I'm an innocent old man telling the truth."

"Whatever, man."

"Oh fine."

They walked in silence for a couple of minutes.

"Are you even looking at the windows?" asked Munch.

"No," said Fin, "I was really looking forward to spend my money on something else."

"Like what?"

"Well, certainly not a tux."

"Let me guess…you wanted that XBOX 360," said Munch.

"No," said Fin.

"Then what?"

"I wanted one of those flat panel LCD TVs. I've been saving my money for ages and I was hoping my Christmas Bonus would help me get the one I want."

"Now it's going for the tux," said Munch.

Fin nodded

Then there was silence, until…

"So, who are you going out with?" asked Munch with a sly grin.

"Goddamn it, old man! I AIN'T TELLING YOU!" exclaimed Fin.

Cragen looked around. He had called some lieutenants and captains from other precincts the night before, but they had all been asked by someone else. The last name on his list was the recently promoted Judge Elizabeth Donnelly. But it was going to take a lot of guts to ask her. As the unit's previous chief, she was no sucker. She liked to get to the point and not fool around. Would she consider this dance as a complete waste of her time?

He had the shoes and his tux all ready back at the precinct. He was going through his closet when he came across it, with the black bowtie and all. It still even had the ruffles on it. And it was still there, after all those years since their last party.

His last party with Marge.

It was still wrapped in plastic and he still fit in it too. He left it there, to gather dust or rot away with time. But it did not. It was as if it was waiting for him and that moment.

He had come a long way. His squad, his family, were always there for him even thought it seemed like he was there for them more than they were for him. So he suggested for the past couple of years that they spent Christmas together. Despite dragging Munch from his apartment, Stabler's uncertainty of whether he could make it, Benson's plans with her date, and Fin's debating whether he should just spend it alone, they had all made it. For all two years, they had made it despite all of them going to Munch's apartment and dragging his ass out.

FLASHBACK FROM TWO YEARS BEFORE

"John! Open this door right now," barked Cragen.

"No," said Munch through the door.

"THAT'S IT!" roared Fin and he took the door rammer from Stabler and tried to ram down the door.

"Fin! Wait man! Let the Captain say his peace," said Stabler as he struggled with him.

"Come on, Munch. We know you're Jewish, but we don't want you to be alone. You're too sweet of a man to be left alone on this cheerful holiday," said Benson.

"Come on, man. Open the door," said Stabler.

"OR IT'S COMING DOWN!" roared Fin.

"John, if you don't open this door, I'm going to let Fin ram your door until it breaks, then we're going to sing Christmas carols until you go insane," said Cragen.

Silence, then they heard a few clicks and Munch opened the door. He was still in his pajamas and he was wearing…

"Bunny slippers?" asked Cragen curiously.

"My other ones were worn out. Someone in Baltimore, particularly from my squad, got me these one Christmas. I've never had wear them until now," said Munch frowning and turning a very bright red.

"White fluffy bunny slippers?" asked Stabler, grinning.

"Um…they look…uh…great with your all back pajamas," said Benson, trying to hold back her laughter.

"Great with them? HE LOOKS HILARIOUS WITH THEM!" cried Fin, laughing, "Where's the camera when you need it!"

WHAM!

Munch had slammed the door and was in the process of locking it when Cragen used his body mass and rammed it open. He was scolding Munch when he thought he could faintly hear Stabler say,

"I shall always remember this year as The Year of the John Munch White, Fluffy Bunny Slippers."

END FLASHBACK

Now this year, he was being challenged by the brass to see if his squad could dance. What the hell…they were spending Christmas together, so they could go and poke some fun with the brass. And if they could, they would try to bring the house down as well. That was they tried to do back in his college days.

"Munch was right. Since when do these idiots up on high require us to dance?" Cragen laughed softly to himself.

So, what does Benson's dress look like? What does Stabler's tux look like?Who is Fin going out with that is driving Munch mad because he doesn't know who it is? And will Cragen convince his squad to bring down the house? Stay tuned until I post the next chapter! But while you're at it, R&R please. (It's that little purple button you see below this)