"It would have been nice if we could have skipped the dog and pony show" Munch said as he placed the box of tapes in the trunk "Right now is not the time to worry if big brother is over stepping his bounds."

Cragen cocked his head to the side and stared at Munch in amazement. There was no way Munch, the king of conspiracy theories, was saying not to worry about big brother right now. Hell every opening he had he would point out how it smelled like a conspiracy theory when they worked a case.

'What?" Munch asked seeing the look Cragen was giving him.

"Nothing it's just out of the ordinary to hear you say something like that."

"Well she just cost us precious time on locating and apprehending Olivia's shooter."

Cragen reached up and squeezed the detectives shoulder before giving him a slight nod. Munch had never been one to outright show any emotions or feelings. Years as a homicide detective in Philadelphia and three divorces had taught him to compartmentalize better than an officer he had ever met. Any pain, anger, or any emotion he ever felt was expressed with his dry humor and numerous conspiracy theories. They all knew it, which was why they tolerated his wild off the wall rants at times. So to hear him say there was no need to worry about big brother told Cragen exactly how bad the shooting had affected him.

"Take these tapes to Morales and let him work his magic" Cragen said after a few minutes of silence "Once you drop them off head home and get a decent meal, a hot shower, and some sleep. I'm going to head to the hospital and give Elliot the same opportunity."

"I'm good Capt." Munch said as he slammed the trunk closed "I'll get a bite after I drop the tapes off with Morales and take a shower and nap at the precinct."

"Munch" He started to say but stopped with the shaking of his head.

"Every second we're not looking for this low life is every second they are a step ahead of us. I'll rest once we catch the bastard or read him his last rites."

"Be careful." Cragen said as he turned and headed for his car. It was times like these that he greatly appreciated the dedication his officer's had to not only the job but each other as well.

Munch used lights and sirens all the way to TARU and dropped the tapes off to Morales. He instructed Morales that this was top priority, not that he needed to, and he was to be notified immediately if he obtained any pictures or information from them. Once that was completed he quickly made his way back to the precinct. After a quick shower in their locker room he literally drug himself into the crib and fell onto a bed, within seconds he out like a light getting some well overdue sleep.

He felt as if he had only been asleep when he was being woken by someone. Whoever was waking him from some much needed sleep better have a damn good reason.

"Munch wake up I have it." Morales repeated again. As bad as he wanted to walk over and shake Munch away he knew better than to place his hands on him. It wasn't just because he knew Munch hated to be touched but because the last thing anyone ever wanted to do was wake an officer by shaking him. He had made that mistake not long after he had started with Olivia and found himself on the business end of her Glock. A mistake he vowed to never make again.

"What?" Munch asked throwing his legs over the side of the bed

"I have the picture of the shooter."

"About damn time." Munch said standing forgetting his need for sleep as he headed out of the crib to see what Morales had.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Fin fell back against the couch and pinched the bridge of his nose. It had gotten to the point of all the words and letters running together after spending all day in Alex's office working on his backlog of paper while Alex did the same. The one thing he had come to realize was that he had a new found respect for the attorney and what she did daily.

"Are you ok detective?" Alex asked as she looked up from the brief she was currently working on.

"Yeah everything just seems to be running together." He said as he rolled his head from side to side trying to work out the soreness he felt building "I have no clue how you do this on a daily basis."

"Actually you get used to it after a while." She said closing the file and stretching behind the desk "I haven't had a day of straight paperwork since I clerked in law school though. For over a year all I did was research and preparing briefs. I know that first year I felt just like you do know."

"Believe me when I say I have a new found respect for you and your job."

"Thank you Fin." She said smiling. "If you want you can take a break and stretch your legs."

"Want to move around?"

"Actually I'm fine but I can't imagine how sitting all day as affected you."

"Driving me up a wall." Fin said as he stood and stretched "But the bright side is that I am now caught up on my DD5's and that will never happen again."

"I think I would have a better shot at pulling teeth without Novocain when it comes to getting DD5's from Olivia." Alex said laughing as she remembered one of their many fights over the paperwork.

"It's not exactly high up on or list."

"Who are you telling detective. I called her one time for it and she informed me that there were more precious things to do than the damn paperwork I wanted."

"That must have been the day you came storming in the precinct and informed her that what you had to do and needed was just as precious as what she was doing."

"Oh you remember that?"

"Remember it" Fin said as he looked at the ground "Hell to date I think that had to be one of the hottest fights you two have ever had. Just put that passion in the bedroom and oh yeah."

"ODAFIN TUTUOLA" Alex almost screamed but managed to control herself.

"What?" He said with a little cocky smile "I'm just stating the obvious."

"Do you men ever get your mind out of the bed room when you see two women fighting?"

"What's the fun in that?"

Alex just laughed as she leaned back in the chair. "Let's head to the station and see what Munch and Cragen have?"

When Fin and Alex walked into the bull pen Munch, Cragen, and Morales was all standing around the electronic station staring at a picture on the screen. As they neared the screen and Alex was able to get a closer look at the picture she felt the blood drain from her face and before she could stop herself a blood-curdling scream rip from her lips.

A/N: Oh yeah another cliff hanger. Sorry ;)