So here's the next chapter. And guess what everyone! IT'S CHRISTMAS! WAHOO!
Of course, I don't own them. Shame really.
ON WITH THE SHOW!
SVU Squad Room
December 25th, 2005
Not this again.
Not this nightmare.
He tossed and turned in his bed.
Then the loud noise came.
He fell.
He saw Novak being thrown to the floor.
Another shot rang out. Then one after that.
A noise he never heard before came from his partner's mouth.
Another shot then screams of "Federal agent! Don't shoot!"
His breath came in ragged gasp now.
His eyes were moving so fast he couldn't tell what was going on.
He saw Novak crawl to him.
"You're going to be okay…hang in there. Don't go out now…"
The doors burst open and in came two of his friends. They ran to their partners.
Fin got next to him.
"Did you call an ambulance?" he heard him ask to Novak.
"No," was her reply.
Then the boy who got shot was getting up. He was walking through the benches and now to him. Fin and Novak did not notice.
"DON'T CALL THE AMBULANCE!" he screamed, "LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!"
They took no notice of him screaming or the boy.
"FIN, LOOK…"
He saw the gun pointed in his face. He eyes grew big and then he closed them quick.
BANG!
Munch awoke with a start. His body covered was in sweat. His hair was soaked. He put a hand to his forehead and closed his eyes.
"God, it's back. That stupid nightmare...fing nightmare…go away," he muttered to himself.
He looked at the clock. It was five o' clock a.m. Now he began to get cold and shivered in his black pajamas.
It was almost two months ago when he got shot. He recovered from it physically, but some nights, when he had a rough day, it came back and haunt him psychologically.
He had seen Huang of course, but that had helped him only so much. Even some nights when he had this nightmare, he could have sworn that he felt the pain where he got shot. Talking to Fin did help some though, eased whatever tensions he had from this nightmare.
He quietly got up and walked down the stairs from the crib. The tree was still on from the night before and Munch stopped to look at it. For the past couple of days leading up to Christmas, it was nothing but Christmas shopping, dancing, and snow ball fights. Last night on Christmas Eve, the squad played some poker late into the night (they were all drunk with the exception of Cragen, who was watching the game from a safe distance) and Munch turned out to be the second place winner. He earned fifty dollars from the game. Benson won the poker match earning one hundred dollars and after that, Cragen send them upstairs to the crib. He knew that they were too drunk to drive to their homes.
Perhaps the alcohol made him have that nightmare. He did not remember much from the night before, seeing as he got drunk right after Fin. It was possible that they did stupid stuff. They always did when they got drunk.
Oh well.
Munch began to brew some coffee. He was in the process of serving himself some when Fin walked down the stairs and looked at him.
"You up already?" asked Fin groggily.
"I should be asking you the same thing," said Munch as he got a second mug to pour Fin some coffee as well.
"Damn headaches. Why did God invent hangovers?"
"To discourage people from getting drunk. Pop some Tylenol after you've had a drink of coffee."
"Don't need to tell me twice. Why the hell are you up making coffee for us on Christmas Day?"
"It's part of my Christmas gift to you guys."
"That nightmare woke you up, didn't it?"
"Fing stupid nightmare you mean. Yeah, it did. Damn thing keeps changing from what actually happened. I dreamt this time that boy got up and Casey and you ignored him and he shot me in the head."
Munch passed Fin his coffee mug and took a sip of his own when abruptly slammed his mug on the table.
"Damn nightmares. F post-trauma shock syndrome or whatever the hell it's called right after you get shot. Can't an old man, like me, forget what happened! I got the scar on my ass as a souvenir of what happened to me. Why did God invent those things!" Munch hissed loudly.
Fin sat his mug down and looked at him. "John, it ain't your fault."
"I don't give a sh if it was my fault. Do you fing think I care about that? I just don't want to have these fing nightmares anymore! I want to go to bed knowing I can sleep for eight hours peacefully without dreaming that some kid is going to blow my brains out…"
"Will you fing stop it!" hissed Fin and slammed his mug down on the coffee bar.
Munch jumped a little and then sighed and lowered his head.
"Sorry man. Got carried away. Old man's rantings you know."
"Just try not get carried away on that subject or next time I'll bomb you with snowballs until the winter season is over, old man."
"Agreed," said Munch and lifted his glass to him and sipped his coffee.
Fin returned the gesture and sipped his coffee. After a moment's silence, Munch broke the silence.
"So, who are you going out with tonight?"
"Go to hell, old bastard! I AIN'T TELLING YOU!" hissed Fin.
"But it's Christmas! You said you would tell us on Christmas!"
"SHUT…UP!"
Stabler poked Benson on her shoulder. She pulled the blanket around her tighter and groaned.
"Five more minutes…" she moaned.
"Munch, Fin, and the Captain are already up. You can sleep later on," said Stabler.
Benson mumbled something under the covers before she finally got out of bed and gave him the finger.
"Merry Christmas to you too, Liv!" said Stabler cheerfully.
Benson wrapped the blanket around her and walked down the stairs to the squad room and Stabler followed. Cheers greeted them.
"Merry Christmas guys!"
"Let's hurry this up already. I have one nasty headache," said Benson as she sat down in her chair.
"Okay, I want to give my gifts first," said Cragen and he pulled out two boxes, both of which were a pretty good size, "These are for the squad. And as usual, I got your gift cards and they're in your stockings."
Stabler took one of boxes and looked at. "What is it?" he asked.
"Just open it Elliot," said Benson and she tried to take it from him.
"Hey! Get your own wrapped up box!"
"I want to open it!"
"Let go!"
"Mine!"
"EXCELLENT!"
Benson and Stabler looked at Fin who was holding a box in the air that said…
"NINTENDO GAMECUBE! WITH THREE EXTRA CONTROLERS! IT'S EVEN GOT SUPER SMASH BROTHERS, MARIO KART DOUBLE DASH, MARIO PARTY 4, MARIO POWER TENNIS, STAR FOX ASSAULT, ANIMAL CROSSING…I LOVE YOU CAPTAIN!
Cragen shrugged. "Fine, but don't kiss me or hug me," he said smiling.
"YES! COME ON MUNCH! I'M GOING TO KICK YOUR ASS IN ALL THESE GAMES!"
"Hold on, Fin. Everyone else hasn't open all their presents yet," said Munch, "And I want to see what I got in my stocking plus the present that El and Liv are fighting over."
Benson and Stabler were both tearing apart the wrapping paper until they saw what it was.
"Yes! A brand new toaster!" cried Stabler.
"There's Eggos in the freezer and bread in the cabinet when you go make breakfast today in the kitchenette," said Cragen.
"You're making breakfast again, Elliot?" asked Munch incredulously.
"Yes," said Stabler.
"But that's been your Christmas present for two years now. Can you come up with something else!"
"Gift cards, maybe today's newspaper…"
"Oh cut it out, Munch. Elliot makes a great breakfast," said Benson.
"Can I please kick Munch's ass on the Gamecube now?" pleaded Fin.
"Not until everyone has opened their presents," said Cragen shaking his head.
"Damn."
So everyone exchange gifts. Benson had got the boys some nice pens, memo pads (which everyone really needed including herself), and gift cards, Stabler would be fixing breakfast as usual for his gift, and like Cragen, Munch and Fin had gotten everyone gift cards.
"May we please…" began Fin.
"Just go kick his ass already so I don't have to hear it anymore!" cried Cragen.
"YES!"
"Hey!" cried Munch.
They both scrambled up the stairs to the crib where they had the TV. Benson soon followed and moments later, funky sounds could be heard with the occasional shouting from one of them. Stabler and Cragen sighed.
"Do you need any help with fixing breakfast?" asked Cragen.
"No," said Stabler.
"Then I'm going to referee those guys up there. They're having way too much fun."
Stabler smirked as he made his way to the kitchenette and began to fix them breakfast.
Fin's date will be revealed very soon, I promise. Have patients everyone! Meanwhile, I'll give you a hint to what Fin's date might be: IT'S FROM THE LAW AND ORDER FRANCHISE (no it's not Alex)! Guess who it will be when you R&R!