The victim

Chapter 7

Mike took a sip of the freshly brewed coffee as he sat at his desk. As hard as he tried, he could not conceal the smile as he thought of his morning coffee interaction with Connie.

He loved watching her expressions. In fact, he loved all of Connie's little nuances, gestures that had been so familiar to him back in New York.

His musings of Connie were interrupted by the arrival of his client, Paige Regan.

Mike could not believe the change in her. From a naïve office clerk, she had now evolved into a street-wise woman who had obviously fallen on difficult times.

They exchanged greetings as Paige sat down in the chair opposite Mike.

"Thank you, Mr. Cutter, for taking my case," Paige kept her eyes downcast, as if she didn't deserve to be on equal standing with him, "When I first called you in New York, I just hoped you could make a few calls ...but instead, you're here! I can't, just can't believe it...for someone, like me…"

Her face was tinged with embarrassment.

Mike saddened at the path Paige Regan's life had taken. While in New York, she had put her trust in the legal system and it almost cost her life. Since then, everything that had happened to her was indirectly caused by the Marcus Woll case.

He was determined to help her.

With a year behind him working as Bureau Chief for SVU, Mike knew more than anyone, how a victim was never the same after a violent act such as rape. He tried to keep his feelings impersonal, but when he saw how far Paige had fallen from the last time he had seen her, his heart went out to her.

"Paige," said Mike, in all sincerity, "We are going to do everything possible to make sure you get the justice you deserve…we are going to do right by you…"

She finally looked up at him with a tentative smile.

"I don't know how to thank you for your kindness…."

"You can thank this office by stepping forward like you did and bravely facing your attackers…you are going to help not only yourself, but future victims as well, believe me."

Mike then started asking her questions pertaining to the case.

It was time to get down to work.

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From her office, Connie was getting her own files ready to take to court.

Back in New York City, she and Mike used to go to court together as a united front. Dekker, however, had a whole different strategy worked out. He liked having a driver take him to the courthouse. That's how they did it in LA, he told her. It was all about status.

Connie would be driving herself in her blue Mustang to the courthouse. Right now, however, her mind was not on the impending case.

She was reliving with puzzlement with what had occurred in the breakroom between Mike and her. Earlier she had been upset with Mike for taking over the case and yet those feelings had simply evaporated because she had helped him make coffee.

What was it about him that always seemed to soften her heart?

Focus, she thought, she needed to think about the Cooper case at hand.

She was not looking forward to the long afternoon of testimony.

She stared straight ahead at her empty thermos on her desk.

Sighing, she looked at her watch. She was due at the courthouse soon. At the last minute she liked to fill up her thermos for the drive over to the courthouse.

On average, a person living in Los Angeles person spends a quarter of his or her life on the road. And like all LA motorists, drinking liquids and driving while hitting Sig-Alerts (any unplanned event that causes the closing of one lane of traffic for 30 minutes or more, a term unique to SoCal drivers) was all part of the commuting experience.

Grabbing her empty insulated container, she proceeded down the aisle. This time when she past by Mike's desk, she surreptitiously glanced over.

Paige Regan was seated with Mike. Paige seemed to be listening to some instructions he was giving her, probably prepping her for court.

By chance, Mike happened to look up and spotted her. He couldn't help but give Connie a long measuring stare, his chest rising and falling in a rhythm much faster than normal.

Her eyes also continued to watch him as she proceeded on. Connie's mouth went dry at the way he was looking at her; goosebumps surfaced on her skin.

A burning color rose on the crests of her cheeks. Connie was embarrassed by her response to Mike, especially since they had just shared that coffee earlier that morning. Forcing her eyes forward, she continued on her way to the snack room.

But before she reached the doorway, Connie heard Paige's voice above the noise of people working, file cabinets opening and closing, and fax machines whirring.

"Miss Rubirosa! It's me! Paige! Paige Regan!"

Connie stopped in midstep. She closed her eyes for strength before opening them again. She did not want Mike to see her inner turbulence exposed regarding him. For a split second, she thought of continuing on, but no, Paige deserved better, especially after what she had gone through.

Connie walked over, pasting on a smile as she stood in front of a seated Paige. Mike got up from his seat in Connie's presence.

"Hello, Paige... " Connie acknowledged; she then look over at Mike, her insides slightly quivering. She couldn't help the sigh that had escaped from her lips before she said, "...Mike."

His intent gaze fastened on her flushed cheeks and Connie became lost in his eyes. She felt hot and cold chills chasing throughout her body as her heart raced.

"What I don't understand, Miss Rubirosa," Paige broke the spell as she addressed Connie, "is how come you're not working the case with Mr. Cutter? I specifically asked for you, you know..uh not that I am not lucky to have Mr. Cutter for my lawyer..."

Connie looked at Mike questionably. Even though Connie was responding to Paige's question, her eyes were focused on Mike as she began to explain.

"It's rather complicated, Paige...but let's just say it's due to company politics; you know how that is," Connie managed to pull away from Mike's gaze to give Paige a reassuring smile, "but you are in very capable hands, for Mr Cutter has worked for the past year at the Special Victims Unit over in New York."

Mike nodded appreciatively at Connie. He sat back, trying to look comfortable, but he could feel his stomach excitedly do a flip in Connie's presence.

"I know!" Paige was saying "It's just...I wish you were on this case, too."

So do I, Connie thought. Perhaps she should work on making that happen...

Instead, she tried to look nonchalant, "Thank you, Paige, I appreciate that...but...I really do have a pile of work to do and I have to be in court in about an hour…so Paige, good luck with your case!"

"Oh...sure... and thanks, Miss Rubirosa, I hope we'll talk again..."

"I'm sure we will... soon," assured Connie. She then looked over at Mike and her lips slightly parted as she nodded to him as well. As she walked away, Mike turned his head, addressing the back of Connie.

"...I hope we will talk even sooner!" Mike spoke out, his voice enriched with amusement, as he sat back down.

Even though they couldn't see it, Connie was grinning. Without looking back, Connie casually held up one arm and gave a playful wave, a gesture he had seen before. The small but indelible memory caused him to smile as his eyes followed her the entire way until she disappeared in the break room.

The entire interaction was not lost on Paige.

Paige Regan could easily see the attraction between the two prosecutors. Somehow that knowledge made her feel more comfortable around Mike. Instead of the hardnosed, detached lawyer she assumed he was, she now saw him as a person with a vulnerable quality.

She was able to relax and lean back in her chair now, a slight grin appearing on her face.

"Uh, Mr. Cutter?" Paige remarked, "There's something going on between you two, isn't there?"

The question was unexpected. At first Mike was going to pretend he didn' t know what she was referring to, but instead he chose to hide his expression.

He glanced over at the breakroom doorway, making certain that they were alone before he spoke again.

"As you know, Miss Regan," stated Mike, not sure he even wanted to have this conversation, "Miss Rubirosa and I were working colleagues back in New York City. Nothing more."

Paige tilted her head, noticing how Mike failed to look her right in the face.

"Nothing more?" she repeated his words, "I may not have gone to college, Mr. Cutter, but I don't need to take a chemistry class to see chemistry!"

Mike tried to make a dismissive sound as he worked at keeping his voice steady.

"I assure you, Miss Regan, I am not picking up what you are putting down!"

A smile tugged at one side of her mouth as she saw his face slightly redden. Paige enjoyed watching the progression of emotions on Mike's face. She now felt totally relaxed with him.

He cleared his throat.

"Miss Regan, we are here to talk about your case, remember?"

The mood had shifted.

His voice had taken on a gravelly seriousness as Mike made it clear it was back to work. Paige nodded reluctantly. Her expression became somber as she once again recounted her version of what had occurred that night.

He watched her expressions, listened to her haunting testimony while at the same time separating his emotions from what she was saying. The good news was that her story was consistent with the reports.

The bad news was that the two names she mentioned were not the same as the suspects.

Jesse and Phoenix were the names she insisted the two defendants had called each other, although their actual names were Patrick Martin and Edward North.

He was missing something here. Those other names had to mean something. He just couldn't figure out what.

Instead of continually mulling over something Mike had no answer for, he, instead, prepped Paige for her first day at trial.

When Paige asked what she should wear, Mike said to just look how she normally look, there was no need to downplay her looks. She needed to feel comfortable on the stand and she wouldn't if she wore clothes that didn't suit her or a lesser amount of makeup.

"Remember," Mike warned her, "Whatever I ask you, keep your answers short. Don't elaborate unless I ask you to."

"Got it," Paige replied nodding, "Anything else?"

"Answer all questions honestly, don't hesitate or look uncertain."

Every now and then during the instructions, his eyes would dart towards the breakroom, as if he were waiting for someone to reappear. He yearned for just a quick glance of Connie since she would be gone for the entire afternoon.

"Hello... Mr. Cutter?"

Paige had been talking to him and he had not heard a word she had said.

"Uh..sorry…Paige...Miss Regan…just mulling over the case," recovered Mike, "…and you were saying?"

"How's Cyrus?"

Michael scowled. The question seemed so random; it had caught him by surprise.

"Uh,Cyrus Lupo?"

"...the one and only!" Paige looked hopeful, "I always thought…me and Cyrus had a thing going, you know? You see him around or what?"

Mike smiled, glad that he could concentrate on something else. Someone else.

"He's fine."

"You ever talk with him, Mr. Cutter?"

"Not often now, since I don't work cases with him, but I heard he's still at the 2-7."

Paige nodded, satisfied, "I dreamt of going back to New York someday now that it is safe for me. Kinda want to. And when I do…I thought I might give Cyrus a call. You think he's still single?"

"Uh…I wouldn't know, but yes, I think he might like hearing from you," concluded Mike, not knowing what else to say.

"Y-you think so, Mr. Cutter?" She wanted to believe him.

Mike looked at her evenly, "I'll tell you what, Paige. After I prep you, I'll call him and maybe you two can at least say hello to one another. Would you like that?"

Paige's whole face lit up.

"Oh! Yes! Very much!" she smiled, "Thank you, Mr. Cutter!"

Mike returned the smile. Let Paige experience a little happiness in her life.

"Can we finish up here now?" Mike asked.

"Sure! I want this done and over with!" Paige remarked, and then as an afterthought remarked, "I hope Cyrus remembers me!"

"I'm sure he will be pleased to hear a familiar voice, " assured Mike.

Paige nodded. She then leaned forward, as if she were telling Mike a secret.

"You know what, Mr. Cutter?" she almost whispered it, "I really do plan to make it back to New York one day... I certainly don't want to always be doing this forever... you know what I'm saying? I want to make something of myself...I'm always telling myself 'Paige, first a dream and then make it happen, right?"

First a dream and then make it happen.

Mike knew what his dream was. It included someone, but they were nowhere near the beginning to any sort of relationship. Outside of a few exchanged lengthy glances, he actually did not know how she felt about him, nor vice versa. He shook his head to clear it.

"I hope whatever dreams you have, they come true for you, Miss Regan," stated Mike with sincerity, "but for the present, let's finish prepping you for your day in court."

Paige nodded in acknowledgement, hoping her day in court would help to heal her wounds, just like what Miss Rubirosa had promised.

And like Paige, Mike, too, was also thinking of Connie.

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Next chapter is the court scene!

I'm so excited!

(I always try to thank all reviewers, but am unable to thank all the anonymous reviewers who have been kind enough to leave reviews. Please know that your reviews are read and truly appreciated)

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