I don't own Law & Order.

The detectives waited as long as they could, but eventually they had to book her. Abbie had to go through the ordeal of being fingerprinted, photographed, strip-searched, and placed in a cell with three other women, two of them apparently prostitutes and one obviously high on something. They ignored her, and she sat there in silence, trying not to dwell on what had happened, what was happening.

She didn't sleep at all, just sat there, trying not to think.

In the morning, she was arraigned. She'd done so many arraignments that being on the other side of it, being the one to say, "Not guilty, Your Honor," when the judge asked how the defendant pleads, felt like something out of a bad dream. She had a public defender, although she planned to hire a different lawyer once she got the chance, and she stood next to the defense lawyer in what felt like the wrong place, and watched the woman who had what had one been her job request that she be given $100,000 bail, cash or bond, which was granted.

She was then taken back to her cell.

She sat, motionless, trying to figure out what was going on and what she could do. It was clearly self-defense, she could easily prove it. Right?

After a while, she heard footsteps approach the cell. She assumed it was a guard, but when she looked up, Jack McCoy was standing there.

"I talked to Arthur. You probably figured out he wouldn't budge," he told her, taking her last dim ray of hope.

"Thanks anyway," she said dully.

"I paid your bail."

"Thanks."

Jack waited while she was slowly released, then walked out with her. Once outside, he asked her, "Have you found a lawyer yet?"

"Not yet. I'm thinking of trying the lawyers I've most hated working against." Jack was glad to hear a trace of humor in Abbie's voice.

"What about a lawyer you like working with?" he asked.

"What do you- you?"

"I quit my job," he told her.

"So what are you going to do now, become a defense attorney?"

"Only for this case, if you'll have me, then I'm planning to run against Arthur in the next election."

Abbie smiled, and said, "Assuming I'm not a convicted felon and can still vote, I'll vote for you. And I'd love for you to represent me."

TBC

Author's Note: I know Jack didn't actually run against Arthur, he was appointed to serve out the rest of the term, but I'm using poetic licence here.

And sorry it's so short, I'll try to update soon, although I go back to school tomorrow so I probably won't be able to update much during the week, but we'll see.

Please review!