"Double Time" Sequel to "Stepping Time" (Highly recommend you read Stepping Time before starting this sequel but including a brief synopsis of where Stepping Time ended below this chapter)
The main characters of Law and Order SVU belong to Dick Wolf and NBC Universal. This is meant for entertainment, not profit.* There are several characters I have created. I hope you enjoy, and I welcome feedback.
Author's Note (Especially for laurelhardy) Characters guide-Primary SVU Characters Olivia Benson, Alex Cabot Primary Original Female Characters Army Lt. Col. Erin Mathison, Attorney Angie Secondary SVU and L&O Characters Elliot Stabler, Casey Novak, Abbie Carmichael, Serena Southerlyn Secondary Original Characters Jeff Stockton, Amelia Stockton, Dylan Mathison, Petraeus (Erin's Chihuahua), Senator Rushing, TJ McCoy
Happy Holidays all! Hope to have chapter 3 up on Sunday.
#-#
"Double Time" Chapter 2
Jalalabad Air Base, Jalalabad, Afghanistan 1500 hours, December 22
"Colonel Mathison," Erin heard a male voice call as she read over memos, directives and assorted flyers on a bulletin board in the small building off the helicopter tarmac at the airfield. Erin turned and saw the stocky warrant officer, clad in a flight suit approaching.
"I'm Colonel Mathison," Erin smiled.
"Nice to meet you ma'am. "I'm Chief Warrant Officer Ritchie and Chief Warrant Officer Chambliss and I will be the pilots for the trip to Camp Phoenix. As always there's a little weather we're waiting to clear in the mountains. But we should be taking off by 1730."
"Thank you," Erin replied. "Since we're delayed a little bit is there a chow hall close by and maybe internet and/or phone access for my soldiers?"
"Specialist Tompkins," Ritchie called.
"Yes, chief warrant officer," the young soldier responded stepping out of the tiny office.
"Take the colonel and her soldiers to the dining facility and the MWR building for internet and phone please," Ritchie calmly ordered and then turned to Erin. "Ma'am if you'd like you can use the phone in the office here."
"That'd be great," Erin smiled. "Ok if my captain makes a quick call on it too?"
"Sure," Ritchie replied. "Your troops can keep their gear grounded here, but of course need to take their weapons. And need to have everyone on the manifest back here by 1645."
"Sergeant Dwyer and Specialist Weston, Specialist Tompkins is going to take you two to the chow hall and to the MWR building," Erin said, beckoning the two soldiers over. "Get some hot food, send an e-mail, call home but be back here by 1630."
"Yes ma'am," they both answered.
#-#
"Detective Benson," Olivia answered her phone blandly.
"How's your morning going sexy?" Erin asked enthusiastically.
"God it is so good to hear your voice," Olivia exclaimed, standing up from her desk and smiling widely.
"Tell my favorite colonel hi," Elliot smiled, knowing that it had to be Erin…finally.
"Yours too babe," Erin replied. "Glad this part of my Afghan adventure is done."
"So you're back at Camp Phoenix then, right?" Olivia queried.
"No, but out of mountain madness marching. There's some really rough terrain in this country…but I don't think I have been in this good of shape physically since I was in my early twenties," Erin laughed.
"So where are you then?"
"About a 75-minute helicopter ride away. We were scheduled to fly in a few minutes, but we're delayed a little…just waiting for some weather to clear," Erin said. "And this way I got to call you sooner."
"So everything went ok while you were out wherever you were…you're all good, all okay?"
"We had a few adventures, a few hairy moments, but we're all okay. We've got it good at Phoenix compared to a lot of the Marines and soldiers that we were with," Erin remarked. "So how are you doing? How's your shoulder feeling?"
"El and I have stayed busy and my shoulder is fine. Glad we have had some cases to keep me occupied the past two weeks," Olivia said.
"I know desk duty was driving you crazy…but I worried less when you were pushing paperwork…"
"I know I got shot babe, but I do think your current assignment is much more dangerous than mine," Olivia playfully challenged.
"Thirty-four more days…Senator Rushing did call you and tell you right?" Erin questioned.
"Yes, yes she did and she said we're having dinner with her and some of her colleagues on February 5th," Olivia smiled. "Thank you for having her call me…my woman has a lot of power."
"Not really…but I was pretty insistent once she asked if there was anything I needed," Erin laughed.
"Well when I was talking with her I asked if she could get you back on the line…so kind of surprised she still invited me to dinner," Olivia said giddily.
"Benson, Stabler," Olivia heard Cragen shout.
"Shit," Olivia mumbled. "Captain is calling me."
"No problem Liv. I'll call you later when I'm back at Phoenix. I love you babe," Erin said quickly.
"Thank you for calling Erin," Olivia said, signaling to Cragen that she was coming. "Be safe. I love you babe. And I'll talk to you later."
#-#
"Sure Casey. Glad you called. Sounds good to me. Think El will be fine with it too," Olivia smiled.
"Free pizza…I doubt he'll object," Casey laughed. "We'll be over about six."
"And I have plenty of beer and wine. You all have spoiled me," Olivia added.
"What are Angie and Alex up to tonight?" Casey queried.
"They're going to see Wicked again."
"I thought they just went to see Wicked two weeks ago," Casey questioned.
"They did, actually this will be the third time they've seen it. I like a good Broadway show, but lord they were quoting lines back and forth this weekend," Olivia laughed.
"Not singing too, I hope."
"Well actually Angie can sing…but you know Alex…not so much. Elliot is ready to get out of here. We'll see you in about an hour then. Bye Casey," Olivia said ending the call.
"So where are we going instead?" Elliot queried, putting his coat on.
"Casey and Jeff are bringing pizza over to my apartment. They're finishing up some last minute Christmas shopping."
#-#
"Liv the weather over there is dicey at times. They're probably still grounded at Jalalabad," Jeff said reassuringly.
"But why wouldn't she call again then or at least send an e-mail. She called me from there and you too," Olivia challenged.
"The Army is a lot of hurry up and wait and they may have some flights and missions ok'd in the area or to the south. Just like at any airport here. You might have most flights running on time to most parts of the country but not to a region with storms going on. Same with the helicopters," Jeff replied, even though he was also becoming apprehensive.
"Still doesn't explain why she hasn't called," Olivia grumbled.
"She told me that she was calling from an ops building right off the flight line. So you know not really where personal calls are supposed to be initiated," Jeff said. "I know her troops made their calls from the MWR building and you know Erin…if they're holding in a pre-flight area she isn't going to make a personal call if her soldiers can't too."
"That's very true," Casey interjected.
"But it is like three o'clock in the morning, wouldn't they have just scrubbed flying by now 'til daylight?" Olivia questioned.
"Just depends on the weather…but they fly at all hours when the weather is good. They're probably catching some zzz's in some very uncomfortable folding chairs or on duffle bags or rucks," Jeff smiled.
"Here have another beer and relax Liv," Elliot said, handing Olivia a bottle and wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. "She could be just getting back to Camp Phoenix now. You know how our days and nights can be at work, a lot of hurry up and wait also."
#-#
"Colonel you okay?" Ritchie called.
"Yeah," Erin moaned, trying to ignore the shooting pain she felt from her left foot to her knee.
"Tompkins, Eddy?" Ritchie yelled.
"Good sir,' Tompkins replied.
"Sound off Sergeant Eddy," Ritchie called again.
"He's out but breathing and has a pulse," Specialist Weston called leaning over the sergeant on the floor of the helicopter.
"Captain Winthrop, Sergeant Dwyer," Erin yelled.
"Hooah ma'am," Dwyer sounded off. "Fine colonel," Winthrop shouted so both pilots could hear.
"Fuck," Warrant Officer Chambliss yelled. "We got no radio comm."
"GPS?" Erin queried.
"About 20K from Phoenix and five clicks from Outpost Mercury," Chambliss replied.