December 22, 1979: 5:21 p.m.

"Judge Marx!"

A hand pushed the elevator doors back open. A haggard looking man in the black robe stepped out of the car. His eyes widened as he recognized the young woman sprinting towards him.

"Elizabeth Donnelly? How the hell are you," he asked a wide smile forming on his lips. He reached out to adjust her drooping veil."I haven't seen you since you started in Special Victims."

"I've been better. My fiancée is in lock up," Donnelly explained as they moved down the hall."I can't pay the fine because the clerk's office closed twenty minutes ago -"

Marx shook his head, taking in the frantic young woman and her attire. "Slow down… you're marrying some guy in lock up?" Marx stopped walking, smacking his head with his hand. "Mary, Mother of God. Elizabeth. Not that idiot ADA? I thought Schiff was blowing smoke when he said that pompous Mick was getting married today."

"Well, now you know it wasn't smoke," Donnelly said firmly. "And for the record, that 'pompous mick' is about a far as can you get from being an idiot. Please, Nathan. Drop the contempt charge."

"Elizabeth, the man played me in open court. He made me look like a fool. I can't have-"

"Listen, Nathan. I'm calling in a favor here. You said it yourself. Nat Junior passed his Criminal Procedure class thanks to the tutoring I gave him. Your exact words were, 'I owe you big, Elizabeth. What ever you need, you just say the word'. Well, the word is groom."

"McCoy knew he was supposed to marry you tonight and he still pulled this stunt?" Marx grumbled. "That skirt chasing ass has no business buying you dinner, much less marrying you. Elizabeth, I'm doing you a bigger favor leaving that SOB to rot in lock up."

"I'm well aware of who and what Jack McCoy is," she continued undaunted."Whether I should marry him isn't the issue. The issue is: Are you a man of your word?"

The pudgy man drummed his fingers against the wall, as he weighed his choices.

"I'm sorry you're going to be hurt, Elizabeth. But, I can't drop the charges. Not even for you,"he said firmly."Don't blame me for your boyfriend's lack of priorities. Maybe this delay is for the best."

Donnelly's jawed tightened as she impatiently eyed her former superior with a mixture of alarm and disgust.

"Dammit Nathan. You're just being spiteful. Just like the summer I clerked for you. Jack McCoy is no saint, but you make that 'skirt chasing ass' look like an amateur. The only reason you didn't try playing footsie with me, was that your son and I were good friends," lowering her voice she added contemptuously,"I know where the bodies are buried, Judge Marx. Don't think I'm afraid to dig them up."

"Careful Elizabeth, or you'll find yourself in lock up with that worthless sack of shit you're so hell bent to-" Marx recoiled, reaching for the side of his face, the slap coming too fast to be blocked.

"I just committed assault on a public official. You want lock me up? Do it, you arrogant son of a bitch,"she taunted hotly."I'll use my one phone call to call Barry Lowenthal at the Ledger - whom I will be sure to fill in on all of your extramarital activities. What Jack did today shows more integrity than you've shown in your whole career. Do what you have to do, I'll do what I have to do."