Tortured
Chapter 8
by KaraB

Fandom: Law and Order: Special Victims Unit

Rating: T contains content not suitable for children under 13

Summary: The SVU squad works on solving a case and one of their own becomes a target. Cliché summary, but not the target you think.

Warnings: Mucho angst

Part 1: http/ 2: http/ 3: http/ 4: http/ 5: http/ 6: http/ 7: http/aricadavidson. month passed and eventually the lawsuit was dropped and Munch was back on duty. However, Munch knew that every action was scrutinized for signs of weakness… of being unable to do his job.
As a cop, to an extent, it was part and parcel of the job. IA was always on top of any situation. But this was a lot worse than just their normal aggravation.

Oddly and perhaps somewhat ironically, it was Huang he respected the most. Huang didn't make any pretense about what he wanted from Munch… or for him. Whichever… Munch sighed and tossed his keys on the table by the door, then collapsed onto the couch. More and more he found himself wishing he had something or someone to go home to. "Maybe I should go ahead and get a cat or something," he mumbled. "A demonic little furball wouldn't be too bad." He had scarcely begun to relax when his beeper started going off and he immediately stood and headed out the door, already dialing his partner's number to find out what was going on.

He felt something in his chest freeze when the first words out of his partner's mouth were, "We've got another one John, just like your case."

The scene itself was a mess. Ambulances, fire trucks and police cars were everywhere, the lights of the vehicles shining through the night. "What happened?" he asked as businesslike as possible.

"We cornered the suspect," Fin replied, approaching and taking the questions. "He killed the girl and then turned the gun on himself. It's not pretty."

"I need to see," Munch said, turning to look at him. "I need to know if it was the same guy. I need to know." To Munch's surprise that seemed to be enough to satisfy his partner, who stopped the mother hen routine.

"Just remember, it's pretty bad down there John." Fin led the way down into the basement of the house. He followed into the room and for a moment couldn't see a thing, until he turned on his flashlight, illuminating the gore spread across the walls, as well as the ceiling and certainly the floor.

Munch looked around for a long moment and froze as Fin shone his flashlight on the man responsible for all the terror in the city for the last few months as well for Munch's personal torment.

Fin immediately noticed the change in his partner, though he knew that John could and would insist on holding it together until he left and was alone. "Is that him?"

Munch nodded slowly. "That's him." It was all he could say and all that really needed to be said. He avoided Fin's gaze and turned around, walking away quickly. Fin didn't catch up to him until he'd reached his car.

"Come on man, let me in. I'll drive and we'll go grab a couple beers."

"You can't leave the scene," Munch insisted massaging his temples.

"Captain said it was okay. He's taking over and Elliot and Liv are there." Munch glared at him for a long moment before relenting and moving over into the passenger's seat. Fin started the car and they both drove in silence for a long few minutes. "I'm here man, if you want to talk," Fin finally said, breaking the silence.

"What's there to talk about?" Munch responded a few moments later.

"You blame yourself." Being subtle didn't work with Munch so Fin figured he might as well go ahead and hit the problem right on the nose.

"Damn right I do," Munch replied.

Fin didn't miss the first tear or the second as Munch said there, trying to remain stone-faced. The kindest thing he could do for his partner was let him vent and then let the reaction go, whatever it was. "I think I'd blame myself too." It was an offering, of an excuse.

"Captain told you to call me didn't he?"

Fin debated whether or not to tell the truth. Finally deciding it was probably the right course of action. "Yes. He knew you wouldn't trust yourself until you'd gone to another scene like that. Or until you saw that the guy was dead."

Munch gave a low mirthless chuckle. "So kill two birds with one stone."

"I can imagine…"

"No," Munch interrupted, "You can't. And I hope you never have to go through it either. Because what happened to me is something that will haunt a person for the rest of their lives. It leaves you… tortured."

The End.

Possible Sequel to be considered.