Chapter 8

"Yes, Your Honor. We ask that bail be denied this time. Mr. Samson shot a detective; he assaulted another detective and raped his daughter. Not to mention when he was released on bail he threatened the lives of the very same detectives he harmed."

Judge Preston turned to the defense. "How does your client plead, Mr. Berger?"

"Not guilty, Your Honor." Berger replied.

"I'm denying bail, Mr. Samson. You shot a police officer and therefore should not be aloud to walk around freely. Bailiff escort Mr. Samson to lockup." Judge Preston said and banged her gavel.

/Chung Chung/

Nicole and Jamie were standing out side the precinct. Nicole looked at Jamie, "So what do you want to do now?"

"Not much I can do with one broken wing." Jamie replied.

"We could go for lunch." Nicole suggested.

"Good plan. I am pretty hungry."

Nicole thought for a second, "Well, I got 20 bucks that's it. So pick a place."

"We could always go to the Brooklyn Diner on West 57th street" Jamie suggested.

"I don't think I've been there. Are they good?"

"They make the best cheeseburgers. But that's my opinion of course. I sent Fin there when I was in the hospital." Jamie replied smiling.

Nicole laughed, "I was thinking something Spanish. But that's just me. I've always wanted to try their cold soup – the tomato one."

"Gazpacho?"

"Yeah that! I think my memory's a little messed."

"Don't worry about it. You did hit your head pretty hard. But if you're in the mood for Spanish, I know just the place then: Gitana on Columbus Avenue."

"Sounds good. You can still get your cheeseburger right?"

"Don't worry about it. I can always send Fin out later." Jamie said chuckling.

Nicole laughed, "I take it, your training him?"

"Not really, but he can't say no to me when I'm injured."

Nicole laughed again, "So you up for that Gazpacho? With Spanish cheeseburger?"

"I'll accompanying you to Gitana but I'll wait till later to eat." Jamie said smiling.

"Why don't we just pick someplace, and like share a pizza or something?"

"No, no. You want gazpacho and that's what you're going to have." Jamie said and started walking toward Columbus Avenue.

Nicole looked at the retreating form then took after it, "Whoa, you sure?"

"I wouldn't say it if I wasn't. But don't worry you'll get use to me." Jamie said looking back at Nicole over her shoulder.

Used to her, Nicole thought, shouldn't be too hard. She caught up in stride with her new partner, "Well if they have cheeseburgers, which seems to be the only thing you eat. Order one there."

"Believe me, it's okay. Fin will get me my cheeseburgers later. Right now we're on a mission to find gazpacho. So let's go."

Nicole laughed, "All right then."

"See how much easier things are when you just go along with me?" Jamie asked.

"Only cause my head is still sore, and I don't feel like arguing."

"You wouldn't win anyway." Jamie said and winked at her.

Nicole smiled, "One thing, you have to try this with me."

"Sorry, a partner only goes so far. I'll risk my life for you, but there's no way I'm eating cold tomato soup."

Nicole laughed, "It's supposed to be really good. But I see your point. I wouldn't eat bugs if you wanted me too."

"Okay, well, there goes dessert." Jamie said laughing.

Nicole looked at her and shook her head, "No chocolate covered grasshoppers for me. Thank you. I draw the line there."

"So, ants and cockroaches are still fair game then?" Jamie asked.

Nicole shuttered, "No. No bugs."

"Okay, okay. But Gitana should be just up the street here." Jamie said turning onto Columbus Avenue.

"Remind me again why we walked."

"I don't know. But does it matter we're almost there anyway."

"Well true. And I don't have money for a taxi either."

"Ahhh, walking's good for you. I have a car but considering my condition, I can't exactly drive."

"There's nothing wrong with driving one handed." Nicole pointed out.

"There is if the one hand you drive with is in a sling." Jamie countered.

"I've never had to drive one handed with a sling. But with a cast on my left hand I did. But then again that was a tractor."

"I can't really do anything with my left hand. That's why I'm on medical leave from work. If the brass saw me shooting left handed they take my badge away." Jamie said chuckling.

"Well, I can see that. And with my head, doctor said he would kick my ass if I went back to work, for a while." Nicole said laughing.

"So, we really do have time to kill." Jamie said stopping in front of Gitana.

"Understatement. I haven't had time off like this since I went back to Dallas," Nicole replied, opening the door for Jamie.

"I hear that. The last time I had time off was, well, the last time I got shot."

"Sounds like we are two of a kind."

"Yeah, I think this partnership is gonna work out just fine." Jamie said smiling at Nicole.

"I think so."

The waiter seated them at a table and left them with some menus. "So, do you see that gazpacho you want?" Jamie asked.

"I don't know if I want the hazel nut or the tomato."

"Well, you're definitely asking the wrong person about that." Jamie remarked.

Nicole laughed, "I guess I'll go with the tomato."

"Good choice."

"I thought you just said you were the wrong person to ask."

"I did. But hazel nut just sounds bad."

"Why don't you order it and find out?"

"No thanks. I'll wait to have my cheeseburgers later." Jamie said putting the menu down.

"Why don't you try this La Chocolata thing?"

"No really, I'm fine. Stop trying to force me to eat."

Nicole smiled, "I think its hot chocolate."

"That's fine. I still don't want anything." Jamie said returning the smile.

Nicole shook her head, "Okay then. Sit there like a cowpoke, and I'll be the only one eating."

"A cowpoke?" Jamie asked. "Just enjoy your meal. Don't worry about me."

"A cowpoke. You'll get used to my terms. And I really hate eating with someone who doesn't order something."

"I'm not gonna give in, so you'll just have to suck it up." Jamie said with a smirk.

Nicole looked at Jamie, "Next time we go somewhere, we both order."

"All depends if I'm hungry or not." Jamie said.

Nicole shook her head, "Your worse then my ol' partner down in Dallas."

"Naw, I just take after my big brother. He was just as stubborn as I am."

"Stubborn ain't the half of it," Nicole answered, then gave her order to the waiter, "You remind me of my grandpappy."

"I'll take that as a compliment." Jamie said smiling.

Nicole laughed, "Well, you got more teeth then the ol' geezer. But then again, my cous' Bobby had more teeth then him and he was a toddler."

Jamie laughed. "Sounds like you got yourself an interesting family."

"To say the least. You've heard of Jeff Foxworthy. Well it's like he's talking 'bout my family."

"That's a scary thought." Jamie said.

Nicole laughed. "Aw, they ain't too bad. I mean, I turned out okay, I guess."

"Yeah, mine are pretty cool, too. For the most part."

"I see. I heard 'bout your brother. Do you have any other sisters or brothers?"

"I have a younger sister. She's back in Chicago."

"She a cop too?"

"No, she's a teacher actually. Teaches English in high school."

"One of my worst subjects." Nicole laughed.

"Mine too, until I hit the 12th grade. It helps to have a teacher you like."

"I ain't never had a teacher I liked. I almost dropped out in the 10th grade, tell I decided to get my diploma and become a cop."

"Yeah, I followed in my dad and my brother's footsteps. Well, it was mostly because of Nate that I became a cop."

Nicole smiled, "Family can be why you become something."

"It was a good enough reason for me."

"I can see that." Nicole said as her food arrived.

"I'm glad I did. It was the best decision I ever made in my life. Well, that and moving to New York." Jamie said and smiled.

Nicole returned the smile, "I have to say, becoming a cop was tough enough, then moving to New York. Well that is a whole 'nother story."

"Yeah the city's a little overwhelming but being from Chicago it wasn't that big of a change for me."

"The city can be. But it took me a while to get used to it. But I have other reasons."

"Would Detective Munch be one of them?" Jamie asked.

Nicole laughed, "For staying here, he is one."

"So, what's the story with you two. If you don't mind me asking?"

"It started when I started at SVU. Cragen still hadn't found me a partner, so I was to work with him and Fin. Like you I got injured on my first case." Nicole explained, "I was stabbed by the suspect. And for the week I was in the hospital, John was there. And since then we have been close."

"He seems like a really nice guy." Jamie stated.

"He is." Nicole smiled.

"So, then you're having no problem staying with him?"

Nicole shook her head, "None at all. How about you and Fin?"

"Me and Fin?" Jamie asked shaking her head. "I never should have let him go in the first place."

"You sound like me when I left for a week and went to Washington. You know it was Fin, that helped me decide to come back."

"Really? He told me to retire when I got shot last time. That's one of the reason's we parted ways. Thinking about it now, it was a stupid one but at least he's back in my life now."

"Retire?" Nicole asked, "Wow."

"Yeah, well, he can get really overprotective of me sometimes. But telling me I should retire, that was taking the joke too far."

"I can see where you're coming from. The only way I plan on retiring is when I'm six foot under."

"Amen to that." Jamie said.

Nicole nodded, "But like my pa says. Me moving to New York, made all my kin in the ground roll in their grave. Or when I say things like that."

"My mom married a cop and then Nate became one. So by the time I joined the force the shock value was pretty much dead."

"Well, the shock value was on full when I became one. I'm pretty much from a family of redneck farmers."

"My family was pretty much like that Charles Bronson movie: 'A Family of Cops'. Well, not that exciting but you get my drift." Jamie said laughing.

Nicole laughed, "I get it. Kinda like a day, out in the field, seeding."

"Sure. Whatever floats your boat."

Nicole laughed, and finished her soup; "Seeding or anything in the field is boring. Back and forth – with nothing but the sound of the tractor."

"So, how was the gazpacho?" Jamie asked noticing the empty bowl.

"It was different, I'll tell you that much."

"I have to ask, you a vegetarian? I mean you turned down a cheeseburger, the best in the city I might add, for a bowl of cold tomato soup."

"I ain't no vegetarian. I just wasn't in the mood for meat. And I wanted to try something different."

"Well, I have to say, cold tomato soup is different I'll give you that."

"I heard it was supposed to be good. Which it was, or blame it for the knock on the head."

"I'll blame the knock on the head. Yeah, that's gotta be it."

Nicole laughed, "So tell me something. Is cheeseburgers your favorite food or somthin'?"

"Yeah, why?"

"It's all you ever seem to talk about when we get on the topic of food."

"I just really enjoy them that's all."

"Okay…" Nicole said raising an eyebrow, "I happen to love coffee, and I don't talk about it like you do cheeseburgers." She said with a laugh at the end.

"Well, the Brooklyn Diner happens to make the best cheeseburger in New York, that's all."

"I'll have to take your word for that."

"I'll take you there sometime and then you won't have to."

"Okay," Nicole said raising an eyebrow again, "Let's go get ya that cheeseburger."

"No, it's okay. I'll get it later."

Nicole sighed, paid for her soup and looked at her partner, "What's next?"

"Home or the precinct. It doesn't matter which."

"Your choice."

"Okay, let's go back to the precinct."

TBC…