Author's note: Hey everyone, sorry for the delay! The next chapter I post will be the last of this story. Please Read and Reply. Thanks Metal chick, Riplee and ElliotOlivias!

Chapter 5

His eyes left the newspaper and traveled to the entrance. A moment later, she walked in. Never once in their forty years of friendship did her presence ever fail to bring a smile to his face and this morning was no exception. He admired her effortless beauty before waving her over to him.

"Good morning, Don," Sambath said with a smile as she sat down across from him and flipped her shoulder length black tresses off her shoulder.

He put down his coffee, "It's good to see you too."

A waitress approached them, "Can I take your orders?"

"I'll have my usual," he told her.

"OK and you, Ms.?"

"I'll have pancakes, two sausage patties, scrambled eggs and a glass of orange juice, please," she handed her the menu.

The waitress glanced at Don and grinned, "Coming right up."

Her delicate eyebrow arched when she asked Don, "What?"

"Nothing," he held back his smile as the waitress returned with their orders.

"That was quick," Sambath said in amazement.

"Yeah," the waitress said, "Don made a bet that you would order pancakes, scrambled eggs and orange juice..I betted against you. So your meals are on me. Anyway, if you need anything, I'll be around."

With a small but embarrassed smile on her round face, she replied, "Am I really that predictable?"

He shrugged, "A little, it's not a bad thing," he recognized it the necklace she wore.

Sambath noticed where her friend's eyes were focused and was surprised; he had always been a gentleman. "Don, are you looking at my.."

His gaze immediately met hers while he felt his face become flushed, "No, no..I—that's the necklace you wore that first time we met in Hudson's library."

"Oh my God, I should have known that you weren't—wait, you're right," she touched the necklace's pendant. "How can you remember such a small detail?"

He stared into her dark almond eyes and considered telling her truth. The moment he saw her, he had became a believer in love at first sight.

"Don?"

"I'm observant and that necklace, it stands out. In a good way," he nodded.

"Oh," she heard a trace of disappointment in her voice. She had purposely worn the necklace hoping that he would recognize it.

Hoping to change subject, Don said, "Thea did a good job helping close the Diaz case. Munch and her worked well together. Elliot, Olivia and even George seemed impressed."

"That's great," she nodded. "I read about it in the paper..what he did to those boys.."

"He won't be able to do it again."

"I know..," she glanced down before meeting his stare. "How do you do it Don? Every day you see how horrific people can be to one another."

He looked into her eyes, "When Marge was alive I used to talk to her."

"She was a good woman."

He simply nodded.

Her hand reached across the table and rested on top of his, "I know that Thea is going to do well and I have you to thank for that."

"You did an amazing job raising her," he touched her hand and realized that his wife Marge was the last woman whose touch comforted him, until now.

His eyebrows furrowed once he saw John and Thea in his office when he arrived.

"What's going on?" Don asked them.

"We just came back from CSU and lo behold, they found sweat on both of The Crwaler masks."

"It doesn't match Diaz's DNA," Thea added.

"And both masks had matching DNA, so the perp wore both."

Don shrugged, "Diaz had a partner."

"Then why hasn't he sold him out?" Thea asked. "He sounded pretty adamant about his innocence."

He sighed, "Please don't tell me that you believe him?"

John said, "We should at least check it out Captain."

His eyes searched John's face, "All right, you two go down to Rikers. I'll get Olivia and Elliot to talk to Logan's witness."

Diaz looked at Thea and John with confusion as he sat down across from them.

"I'm Detective Munch and this is my partner Detective Ma. Or bad cop," he pointed to himself, "and good cop."

"What do you want from me?" Diaz asked.

Thea answered, "I want to know if you had a partner."

A frustrated sigh came from him, "I don't have a partner because I didn't do it..wait, why are you asking this now?"

"Because there is evidence that proves you had one," John said.

"Or you're innocent," she added.

He stared at her with wide eyes, "You think I am."

John interrupted, "She's the only person that does."

"Just to be clear," she stated, "I'm not a bleeding heart. I know the kind of sick person you are. But I'd rather have your perverted desires stay in your movies and out of reality."

With a nod, he said, "I-I have an alibi but I couldn't..say it. I was with someone that night, it wasn't my boyfriend."

When John realized what he was talking about he raised his voice, "Another kid?!"

"You are unbelievable!" She said.

"He's 15 and—I fucked up! My lawyer told me not to say anything but now..You have to find him."

Thea unclenched her jaw. "What's his address?"

Leaning back in his chair, Mike opened a folder and then noticed Barek looking at him.

"What?" He asked her.

"I heard that you became a diplomat with your other partner, Falucci." She leaned forward in her seat and rested her elbows on Wheeler's desk.

A wry smile touched his lips, "You don't think I can be?"

"It's a little hard to buy," she gave him a half smile.

"If you met Falucci you'd know how easy it was to play the good cop."

She nodded, "Hot head?"

"Yeah and a red head."

"Of course," she waited a moment before speaking again. "You did surprise me though."

"Really?"

Her shoulders rose then dropped, "Everyone told me that you were a time bomb. I was kinda worried; I worked my ass off to get here. I didn't want to lose it over a partner. But then I saw how you were on the job. You're smart, you have great instincts. You impressed me, Mike." Her grin was small.

He sat up and tipped his head graciously, "Thanks."

A mobile phone rang.

"It's mine," Mike answered. "Captain, all right. We'll be there."

"What'd he say," Barek stood up as she watched Logan put on his jacket.

"The Diaz case isn't closed yet. We're picking up a witness."

"This is bullshit," Elliot said as him and Olivia stepped off the elevator.

She blinked, "Elliot, you just heard the witness describe the man she saw being tall and lean. Diaz is 5'9 and pushing 300 pounds."

"Yeah and the witness is 80 years old-."

"And coherent. You just don't want Thea to be right," she shook head before getting into the car.

He shrugged, "This is an open and shut case, Liv and it's being jammed up by a rookie."

Her head tipped slightly towards him, "Well I'm giving her a chance."

"Why?"

"Because she hasn't given me a reason not to," she told him. "I'm going to judge her on how she handles herself as a detective. And not on what others say about her. Of all people, I would think you'd understand that."

The hint of disappointment in her voice and eyes took him by surprise. She had never once mentioned all the times she defended him against rumors and lies. He opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by his mobile phone's ringtone.

"Stabler, he does? Ok, we'll be there," he hung up.

"What is it?"

"We're going back to the house, Diaz has an alibi." His confused expression mirrored his partner's.

Captain Cragen watched Barek and Logan interrogating the witness they had picked up. Elliot and Olivia walked in.

"Who is he?" Elliot asked.

"Tyrin Meacham, he's a pro and Diaz's alibi," Don told them. "Security tapes from Meacham's apartment building proves it."

Olivia furrowed her delicate eyebrows, "Why didn't he mention him before?"

"Because Meacham told him he was 15, he's really 21."

Mike leaned against the wall, "Why didn't you come forward when your boyfriend was arrested?"

"That ugly pig isn't my boyfriend!" Tyrin said. "Someone hired to screw him."

"Does this somebody have a name?" Barek asked.

Tyrin looked at them, "I'll say it and I'll give you a tape of our negotiations. The bastard has only paid me half."

"What do you want?" Mike walked away from the wall and placed his hands on the table.

"A deal with the DA. Because I didn't kill anyone and I don't know why that guy hired me."

"We'll consider it, but it depends on how legit your information is," Barek replied.

Tyrin nodded, "His name is Lionel Stephens."

Olivia and Elliot looked at one another.

Noticing their reactions, Don asked, "Who is he?"

"Diaz's assistant," Olivia answered.