Author's Note: The sequel to this story is titled, Malice. Metalchick, you are so fantastic for taking the time out to read and reply to this story. Thank you so much.

The End

Confused and shocked, John hung up his mobile phone.

"What?" Thea asked.

"That was Benson," he told her. "It turns out that your little boy toy is actually a man. He's twenty-one and a pro," he said to Diaz.

"What does he mean?" Diaz asked Thea.

She turned to him, "A pro is short for prostitute. He was hired to be with you."

John sat on the edge of the table, "Yep, by Lionel Stephens."

Diaz straightened up in his seat and looked at them in disbelief, "That can't be, he's my best friend he wouldn't do this to me."

"They have him on tape making the deal with Tyrin," John explained. "He set you up."

He held his head in his hands, "How could he…"

"What would he have to gain with you in jail?" she asked him. When he didn't respond she called him by his first name, "Hernando."

"Everything," he lifted his head. "He would take over directing the movie and my estate.." Trying to understand why this was happening, he said, "I don't have anyone in my life that stuck by me like he has."

"Forgive me, I forgot my violin," John sarcastically answered.

"Munch," she half scolded him.

He simply shrugged.

"This is ridiculous," Lionel said after he sat down across from Elliot and Casey.

"Really?" Elliot turned on the television. "Then who's that?"

Lionel's face fell once he saw himself on the television screen.

"Your evil twin?" Casey said with a blank stare.

Lionel looked at her, "You can't use that, it's not legal and even if could it doesn't prove anything," he said trying not to keep him his composure.

Leaning forward in her seat she answered, "You were in Central Park on a bench in a public place. There was another person on the bench next to you two. You had no expectation of privacy. Also, Tyrin's apartment building has security tapes that confirms Diaz's alibi."

"You set your friend up," Elliot said.

Tears of fear and anger overcame his eyes.

"You got tired of riding his coattails," Casey said.

"That asshole is not my friend!" He cried out. "I have worked my ass off for years trying to just get my foot in the door and I have nothing to show for it! But him?! He's a fucking predator and what does he get? A successful movie career! This is a fucked up industry that forgives perverts like Diaz and Polanski and rewards them!"

"So he had to pay!" Elliot said intentionally encouraging him.

"You damn right he did! Now he's where he belongs because of me!"

"And three families have to bury their children because of you," Casey glared at him.

He paused then shook his head, "Sacrifices have to be made for justice to prevail."

Elliot looked into his eyes barely containing his anger, "This wasn't justice, it was vengeance. Now, you're gonna get what you want because you're gonna be Rikers most famous bitch."

Lionel sank in his seat.

When Elliot approached her desk, Thea took her eyes off the computer screen.

"Hey, can we talk?" He asked her.

A warm smile spread across her face, "Sure," she gestured towards John's empty desk.

He saw on the desk and said, "You did a good job closing the case. I thought it was open and shut from the start."

She shrugged, "I just followed my instincts."

Nodding he replied, "They were right."

"There's something else," she saw him slightly lift his chin, "that you want to talk to me about."

"Yeah…" He scratched his neck and took a breath. "Why did you work with internal affairs against your father?"

Once she heard his question, she clenched her jaw hoping to restrain herself from saying something she would later regret. Instead of responding to him, she stood up and began to gather her belongings.

"Thea," he said sounding a bit surprised at how she was acting.

"There's no point in explaining it to you, Elliot," her tone was curt. "I assume that one of your cop buddies at Staten Island told you about me, right?"

"How else would I know? I'm giving you a chance to-."

She cut him off, "To convince you that I'm not a rat, right?"

He waited a few seconds before saying, "You didn't just hand over a cop to the rat squad, he was your father!"

"And a criminal," her voice was firm. "You have NO idea what kind of an officer and man he really was yet you're defending him. So you obviously have your mind made up," she left the squad room.

Sighing, Mike put on his jacket and said to Barek, "I'll see ya Monday."

"Um," she stood up and touched his arm, "Do you want to go out for a drink? Things have changed around here with Deakins gone and uh..I thought you could tell me more about Captain Ross?"

He blinked not expecting to receive such an offer, "Maybe some other time. I'm meeting someone tonight."

"Oh," she said while trying to hide her disappointment. "A date?"

"Just drinks," he simply told her.

Her arms folded as she said, "With a certain blond DA?"

Before he could answer, a brown haired man walked into the squad room, "Carolyn!"

"Josh," she reluctantly embraced him and avoided the curious stare coming from Mike.

"I finished up the surgery sooner than expected. So," he gazed down at her, "I thought I'd surprise you and take you out for dinner."

"That's great," she glanced at Mike. "Josh, this is my partner, Mike Logan," her head tipped in his direction.

"Hey," Mike's smile was cordial, "it's nice to meet you."

"Likewise, it's good to meet the man that my fiancée has been talking about."

His eyes briefly widen and then went to her before returning to Josh. He grinned, "Yeah, congratulations. I..uh..I have to meet someone tonight," he gestured toward the exit with his head. "So you two have a good night," he began backing away.

"You too," Barek said with a quick yet uncomfortable nod.

"It was nice meeting you," Josh called out.

Barek watched Mike until he turned the corner.

The clanking of silverware filled the kitchen. Kathy looked at her husband hoping he would say something to break the silence between them. He gave her a closed mouth smile which caused her to release a little sigh of disappointment.

"I was at my sister's bakery today," she told him.

"Oh yeah? How's it going?"

With a smile she answered, "Pretty good. Even though the economy isn't so great right now, she's getting a lot of customers. She's..um, she even asked me to work for her."

"She did?"

"Yeah. I mean, I didn't want to give her an answer without talking to you first. So.."

"Do you want to?" He looked at her.

"I do. It would be during the day and there's a daycare right next door so Eli would be fine. And we could use the extra money."

"Then you should do it," he gave her an encouraging smile. "The kids are busy with their own lives and they don't need us as much as they used to, except for Eli but he'll be fine."

She blinked not expecting him to be open to the idea, "Ok, I'll do it. Thanks."

Silence returned to the room until the sound of Eli's cries came from the baby monitor.

Elliot sprang up from his chair, "I'll get it," he realized how desperate he sounded, "you've been watching him all day, you deserve a break."

"Thanks." Her grin faded once he walked out.

As a long time New Yorker, John Munch learned how to drown out the sounds of the city. He spoke into his mobile phone to Thea while occasionally glancing before him as he walked the streets. Unfortunately for the woman ahead of him, he looked up too late.

"Damn it, I'm sorry," he apologized looking at her soda stained t-shirt.

She dabbed the stain with a napkin and said, "It was an accident. Besides, I can call up the GAP and get another couture t-shirt," she joked before looking up at him.

He chuckled, "Are you sure they can pencil you in?" When their eyes met he paused; he hadn't seen a woman as beautiful as she was.

Her lips formed into a little grin, "They will, and if they don't I can count my two best friends Dolce and Gabanna." She brushed a stray from her face.

"You're on the job?" He pointed to the badge on her belt.

With a nod she explained, "Major Case, Alexandra Eames," she offered her hand and he gladly accepted it.

Her strong grip surprised him because of her petite figure; he was instantly fascinated by her. "John Munch, Special Victims."

"Really? I hear that detectives don't last more then 2 years in that unit."

"I've been there for over a decade so I guess that makes me the exception."

Impressed, she tilted her head towards him, "Looks like," she caught a glimpse of the clock in a store's front window. "I have to go; I promised my nephew I'd take him to Chuck E. Cheese tonight."

He handed her his card, "I'm sorry for ruining your shirt; I'll buy you a new one."

"Thanks but you really don't have to."

"If you change your mind, you have my number," he reminded her.

"OK, I guess I'll see ya around"

"I hope so," he smiled at her.

She suppressed a smirk and instead gave him a quick wave before leaving.

"John? Hello?" When she heard the dial tone, she cursed under her breath before crashing into someone. Beneath her hands she felt the warm pavement and saw papers scattered around her.

In an apologetic voice, Bobby Goren said to her, "I'm-I'm so sorry I wasn't paying attention-," he stopped speaking when she stared up at him. A warm smile brightened her caramel complexion while her dark eyes reassured him as she spoke.

His dark eyes almost hypnotized her. "Um, uh.. No I shouldn't have turned so fast. Let me help you with these," she began picking up the papers.

He squat down and helped her, "You shouldn't it's my fault."

Her eyes stole a glimpse of the forms before she placed them in the leather binder that he held, "You're a detective?"

"Yes, Major Case," he flashed a little smile through his breaded mouth.

"That makes you the second detective I know from that squad," she took a hold of his hand and he instinctively helped onto her feet.

"Who's the first person?"

"Mike Logan. I was a beat cop when he was in homicide at Staten Island."

He blinked at her last statement; she looked too young to be a cop, "Really? That's..interesting."

She noticed his expression, "I know I don't look like a typical detective but I am."

He didn't expect her to read him like she did but he was intrigued by it, "Vice?"

"I was back in the Bronx but now I'm in SVU at the 1-6. Sothea Ma," she shook his hand.

His head cocked to the right, "Sothea. You're Cambodian?"

"Yes. I prefer Thea; it's easier for people to say."

"I'm," he decided not to introduce himself like he usually did to strangers, "I'm Bobby Goren."

"Well Bobby, it's nice to meet you."

His gazed down at her surprised that she didn't know of him and his reputation, "Likewise."

Her mobile phone rang.

"That's my partner John," she looked at her phone's screen, "we're supposed to see a movie together in fifteen minutes."

"I have somewhere to be too," he gestured past her with his leather binder. "So.." he couldn't believe that he was at a loss for words.

She offered her card to him, "If any of your forms for the case are missing then just have Captain Ross call me. I'll explain to him what happened."

"That's very thoughtful. Thanks," he held up her card before placing it in his binder.

"Bye," she said as she walked past him.

He kept his eyes on her until she stepped into a taxi cab.

An enticing aroma came from kitchen and brought Sambath onto her feet. The tips of her delicate fingers light dragged along the corridor's wall. When she arrived at the kitchen's entrance, she leaned her slender figure in the doorway and watched him prepare dinner.

Sensing her presence, Don glanced up and saw her dark eyes peering at him in the window's reflection. He grinned to himself but continued to act like she wasn't there.

Her eyes slowly poured over his masculine form. Despite his troubles with alcoholism and the stress of his work, he had aged well. He moved with a certain ease and strength that could not be taught or even imitated. It is something that only a man of his experience and stature possessed. She couldn't help being a little turned on.

"Need a hand?" She pushed herself off the door frame and went over to him.

"More like feedback," he dipped a spoon into the sauce and held it up to her mouth.

Her lips opened allowing her tongue to lick the spoon, "It's.." A low gasp came from her when he softly cupped her face and wiped a spot of sauce from her bottom lip.

His strong hand lingered on her face before he reluctantly removed it, "It was about to drip onto your chin."

"Oh..thanks," she timidly said. "The sauce, it's good."

"It is?"

"Yes, it's not too sweet or salty, it's just right," she smiled.

With a gracious nod he replied, "Good. Can you bring the glasses into the dining room?"

"Sure," she picked up the tray off the counter and briefly grinned at him when he allowed her to lead the way.

A pleased smile appeared on his face when he saw her release a blissful sigh.

"Don that was absolutely amazing," she told him.

"Thanks, although we both know who the better cook is," he gestured to her with his head.

"Please," she dismissively waved him off. "I only know a few recipes. And besides, I can't name a straight man who has cooked for me except for you."

He was surprised at her last comment. "They probably prefer taking you out."

"Yeah..if I only went out. I seem to attract the wrong kind of men," she sat up in her seat, "Today a gray haired man on a motorcycle named Jack tried to ask me if I wanted go out for dinner."

"Jack…" He said slowly realizing who she may have been talking about, "Jack McCoy?"

Confirming his guess with a bob of her head she answered, "Yes, you know him?"

"He's the DA."

She blinked, "Well, a lawyer who rides a motorcycle. I'm definitely glad I turned him down."

His lips held back a smile, "He's a good DA."

"Any man who owns a motorcycle likes taking risks and isn't afraid of danger…I had enough of both from my first and only husband-," her eyes focused on a box in the corner of the room. Something hanging over the edge of the box drew her away from the dining room table.

He looked at her with curious eyes as he joined her, "What is it?"

After reaching into the box, she held a worn out backpack, "You used this when we were at Hudson."

Amazed at her memory he said, "Yeah, I was cleaning the attic last night..You remember that?"

"Of course I do," her eyes gazed up at him. "I even remember what you wore. Jeans and a white t-shirt..it was timeless..unlike my 60s look," a small chuckle left her lips.

"Red bellbottoms, white pleasant with a floral print," he watched her almond eyes widen as he continued, "You had daisy barrettes in your hair and you wore the necklace that you have on now."

A slow breath of surprise left her mouth, "You remember..all of that?" She heard her voice shake.

The dark round pools that were his eyes stared into her eager face. After a few seconds, he spoke, "You never forget the day you meet a person who changes your life."

Until that moment she hadn't known how he felt about the day they met. Now that she did, tears of bliss began filling her eyes. Her heart began to sink when he took a step backward.

"I uh..I should," when he heard his voice quiver he stepped back but froze when he felt her hand clasped his wrist.

She closed in on him.

He became powerless once their eyes locked.

"The moment we met.. I knew that you were always going to be with me. No matter where I was," her hand held the side of his neck.

"You were the first woman who took my breath away," he held her face.

She lifted herself up onto her tiptoes. "I'll be the last."

At first, their lips tenderly touched. As they embraced one another their kisses grew in fervor. Before they realized it, they found themselves in the bedroom where he reluctantly removed his lips from hers.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" He asked with the utmost concern in his voice and eyes. "This should happen if we both want it."

Any doubt she may have had was quelled by his words. Touched by his sincerity, she brushed his cheek before planting a sweet kiss on his lips. With her lean arms, she pulled him onto the bed.

Clothes were scattered around the bed where they were about to cross a new threshold in their relationship. Forty years of unspoken love was now moments away from being fully realized.

Beneath the blanket, he let his eyes take in the sight of her bare body under him, wanting its wondrous image to stay forever in his mind.

"Make love to me," she whispered into his ear.

His lips captured hers and then traveled to her neck before returning to her mouth. He held her stare as he proceeded to fulfill their need for each other.

A loud gasp came from both of them when they relished in the enrapturing warmth of their love. The sensation of their intertwined bodies filled them with utter exhilaration. Each moment their bodies bonded their souls became connected. They clenched to each other once they reached the peak of pure passion.

Their haggard breaths reverberated through the empty room. Once they caught their breaths they embraced one another. Not a word was said between as they enjoyed the afterglow. It was then that they realized fate had kept them apart until the time was just right for them to be united in mind, body and soul as one.