Under Her Skin 38
Under Her Skin 38
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Spoilers: Lowdown Episode 5.20
Disclaimer: They're not mine, but I signed them out and have custody for the duration of this story!
Author's Note: Without 37, you'll be scratching your head over 38. That being said, I'm hoping this is the 38th AN you've read (yes, I will get some sleep!) lmao, enjoy ;)
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"And then, kaboom!!!"
"Man is she gonna be pissed at you!" Detective Elliot Stabler guffawed, wiping tears from his eyes as he shook his head at Detective John Munch.
"Why me?"
Elliot smirked, "Because you're the one that ditched her."
Munch grabbed his chest in mock agony.
"I'm worried about Casey," Detective Odafin Tutuola interjected, "we shouldn'ta left her there to deal with Liv in that kinda mood."
In tandem, Elliot and John turned towards him, obviously stunned at the comment.
"I like Novak," Fin defensively replied.
They continued to stare as he turned and walked away.
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Shaking his head as Munch followed his partner, Elliot decided to step outside and find out what had happened with Olivia. Pulling out his cell phone, he placed the call.
"How far did you go?"
"And hello to you, Detective Stabler."
"How far did you go?" he repeated, obviously in no mood for chit chat.
"Wow, haven't heard that one since senior year!"
With a frustrated sigh, Elliot demanded, "Answer the question."
"Well, she knows that I know about her connection to this case," Jenny answered, "and I may have told her to be a little nicer to Casey."
"And by nicer you mean???" he prodded.
"Don't I have the right to remain silent?"
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Munch and Fin were at their respective desks, positively ignoring each other.
"What?" Fin growled at his partner's questioning stare.
"Nothing," Munch innocently replied.
Too innocently.
"Got somethin' to say, say it," Fin challenged.
"Are you in love with her?"
It was Fin's turn to stare in disbelief.
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"You're not under arrest," an exasperated Elliot patiently explained, "therefore you cannot invoke that right. Please Jen, I really need to know what happened before that phone blew up."
"Another one?" Jenny giggled, as if she were clueless about the phone massacre that had occured at the morgue.
"Haha smartass," he countered, "what did you say to her?"
Eyes widening, jaw dropping, he silently shook his head and hung up the phone.
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"No Mister Conspiracy Theory, I'm not in love with her," Fin snapped.
"Then why the sudden concern?" Munch persisted, more than happy to irk his very irksome partner.
"It's not sudden. I know what it's like to be the new guy around here, and the constant Casey bashin' is gettin' old."
Munch raised his eyebrows.
"She's not Alex," Fin continued, "but she's just as good. Maybe better. She cares more about the victims," he expounded, "but Liv refuses to see that 'cause she's too busy punishing her for not being Alex."
"Do you really think Liv's issues with Casey are because of Alex?" Munch softly asked.
"Sometimes," the younger cop replied, "don't you?"
Taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes, John responded, "She didn't die in *my* arms."
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"We've got trouble," Elliot warned, effectively ending the conversation between his fellow officers.
Nothing ended a discussion about Elliot or Olivia as quickly as one of the pair entering a room.
"Enlighten us," John replied.
"I found out why Olivia threw that phone," Stabler said, "and it's not pretty."
"Explain."
"Okay," Elliot started, "to understand what happened, we gotta go back a little bit."
Pausing and taking a look around the squad room, Elliot suggested they move the conversation to a more private area.
Exchanging exasperated glances, Munch and Fin followed him up the stairs.
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Captain Cragen watched the three detectives ascend the stairway, shook his head in disapproval.
The captain had a long running history of mutual respect with both Casey's mentor Mary Conway Clark and her boss Elizabeth Donnelly; he also knew the truth of Donnelly's advances, Benson's rejection, and the resulting tryst that had profoundly affected his detective's outlook on this case.
Knowing how Elliot liked to meddle, as well as how Olivia seemed incapable of controlling her impulse to lash out at Casey, he returned to his desk and picked up the phone.
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"So," Elliot continued once they were all settled, "first I almost tipped Warner off about Liv and York, but I swear, I realized my mistake and turned it into a joke!"
"You told Warner? That's cold," Fin replied.
Munch sighed his disapproval, but Stabler staunchly defended his joke theory.
"Anyhow," he continued, "right after all of that happened Donnelly came clean to Novak - "
"Really?" a stunned Munch interjected.
"Semi-clean," Elliot corrected, "enough that Casey knew about Liv's fling with York and the rumors that he was not only gay, but also HIV positive."
With a growl, Fin snapped, "That bitch put telling Liv the truth on Novak, didn't she?"
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"Really?" Cragen said into the receiver.
Listening for a moment, he added, "Well I'm glad somebody else around here is looking out for her best interests."
Another pause, then, "Okay, thanks Mary."
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"To be fair," Elliot continued, "Olivia's made it impossible for Donnelly ever since that night with York. Hell, I don't blame Liz for avoiding her at all costs."
As Fin was about to explode, Munch calmly defused, "Personal opinions aside, what happened next?"
"Casey came here, tried to tell her, but I interrupted," Elliot sighed, "then I basically told her to get out, promised to call her before we searched his place, and - "
"You rat bastard, you didn't call her."
"Neither did Liv!" he defended, "how was I supposed to know it was that serious? The way they're constantly bickering, I figured what's the harm?"
At Elliot's shrug, Munch responded, "So Olivia found out the hard way. God Elliot, she found out that her former lover was HIV positive by searching his apartment."
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With a small smile, Mary Conway Clark shook her head and returned the phone back to its cradle.
Picking up the case file she'd been reviewing, she wondered if Detective Olivia Benson had any idea how many people truly loved her, watched out for her, and considered her family above all else.
Probably not.
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"So anyhow," Elliot continued, "as we were searching York's place I snuck away and called Novak, but she already knew. In fact, she'd just heard the true story of Liv and Donnelly from Mary Conway Clark. So she decided to call Warner, at which time she convinced our M.E. to do the HIV test the next time Olivia was at the lab."
Impressed, Fin softly stated, "Novak's got balls."
"I hope not," Munch smirked.
His partner scowled.
"Anyhow," Stabler continued, "after Donnelly berated her for not personally confirming that "Benson's buddy at the morgue didn't lie about doing the test" a frustrated, overwrought, emotionally drained Casey went to see her best friend."
"Explains how Jenny knew everything," Munch surmised, "but still doesn't explain why Liv was so pissed."
With a cocky smirk, Stabler said, "Oh, just wait for it...."
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A commotion downstairs interrupted his tale, as a very loud, very upset Mary Ellen Abbot exploded into the squad room.
Peering over the railing, Elliot watched as the Captain approached her, received an ear beating, patiently let her finish before helping her into a chair beside Olivia's desk.
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"We got like five minutes boys," Elliot reported, "so let me give you the short version. After all of this went down and we decided to leave the two of them together to work out their personality conflict," he explained, making air quotes around those final two words, "Jenny called Liv and told her what I just told you guys. As Olivia was fuming because Jenny hung up on her, refusing to answer her phone, Jenny repeatedly called Liv's desk - not knowing, mind you, that the line forwards right to the rest of the unit if not answered. So the Captain snapped at me to answer it, then ordered me to call Liv and tell her to straighten out her mess."
"Oh man," Fin replied, "so that's why you used the direct connect."
"Right," Elliot agreed, "but little did I know that Jenny already had her in a lather!"
"And?" Munch prompted.
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"And," Elliot continued, his expression very serious, "you two gotta promise that what I'm about to repeat never leaves this room."
"Done," Fin responded immediately.
With a sigh, Munch agreed as well.
"Apparently," Elliot smirked, "Jenny told Liv that - "
"ELLIOT!!!" Captain Cragen's voice boomed, "MY OFFICE! NOW!"
DOINK DOINK
Rating: PG-13 (for now)
Spoilers: Lowdown Episode 5.20
Disclaimer: They're not mine, but I signed them out and have custody for the duration of this story!
Author's Note: Without 37, you'll be scratching your head over 38. That being said, I'm hoping this is the 38th AN you've read (yes, I will get some sleep!) lmao, enjoy ;)
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"And then, kaboom!!!"
"Man is she gonna be pissed at you!" Detective Elliot Stabler guffawed, wiping tears from his eyes as he shook his head at Detective John Munch.
"Why me?"
Elliot smirked, "Because you're the one that ditched her."
Munch grabbed his chest in mock agony.
"I'm worried about Casey," Detective Odafin Tutuola interjected, "we shouldn'ta left her there to deal with Liv in that kinda mood."
In tandem, Elliot and John turned towards him, obviously stunned at the comment.
"I like Novak," Fin defensively replied.
They continued to stare as he turned and walked away.
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Shaking his head as Munch followed his partner, Elliot decided to step outside and find out what had happened with Olivia. Pulling out his cell phone, he placed the call.
"How far did you go?"
"And hello to you, Detective Stabler."
"How far did you go?" he repeated, obviously in no mood for chit chat.
"Wow, haven't heard that one since senior year!"
With a frustrated sigh, Elliot demanded, "Answer the question."
"Well, she knows that I know about her connection to this case," Jenny answered, "and I may have told her to be a little nicer to Casey."
"And by nicer you mean???" he prodded.
"Don't I have the right to remain silent?"
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Munch and Fin were at their respective desks, positively ignoring each other.
"What?" Fin growled at his partner's questioning stare.
"Nothing," Munch innocently replied.
Too innocently.
"Got somethin' to say, say it," Fin challenged.
"Are you in love with her?"
It was Fin's turn to stare in disbelief.
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"You're not under arrest," an exasperated Elliot patiently explained, "therefore you cannot invoke that right. Please Jen, I really need to know what happened before that phone blew up."
"Another one?" Jenny giggled, as if she were clueless about the phone massacre that had occured at the morgue.
"Haha smartass," he countered, "what did you say to her?"
Eyes widening, jaw dropping, he silently shook his head and hung up the phone.
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"No Mister Conspiracy Theory, I'm not in love with her," Fin snapped.
"Then why the sudden concern?" Munch persisted, more than happy to irk his very irksome partner.
"It's not sudden. I know what it's like to be the new guy around here, and the constant Casey bashin' is gettin' old."
Munch raised his eyebrows.
"She's not Alex," Fin continued, "but she's just as good. Maybe better. She cares more about the victims," he expounded, "but Liv refuses to see that 'cause she's too busy punishing her for not being Alex."
"Do you really think Liv's issues with Casey are because of Alex?" Munch softly asked.
"Sometimes," the younger cop replied, "don't you?"
Taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes, John responded, "She didn't die in *my* arms."
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"We've got trouble," Elliot warned, effectively ending the conversation between his fellow officers.
Nothing ended a discussion about Elliot or Olivia as quickly as one of the pair entering a room.
"Enlighten us," John replied.
"I found out why Olivia threw that phone," Stabler said, "and it's not pretty."
"Explain."
"Okay," Elliot started, "to understand what happened, we gotta go back a little bit."
Pausing and taking a look around the squad room, Elliot suggested they move the conversation to a more private area.
Exchanging exasperated glances, Munch and Fin followed him up the stairs.
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Captain Cragen watched the three detectives ascend the stairway, shook his head in disapproval.
The captain had a long running history of mutual respect with both Casey's mentor Mary Conway Clark and her boss Elizabeth Donnelly; he also knew the truth of Donnelly's advances, Benson's rejection, and the resulting tryst that had profoundly affected his detective's outlook on this case.
Knowing how Elliot liked to meddle, as well as how Olivia seemed incapable of controlling her impulse to lash out at Casey, he returned to his desk and picked up the phone.
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"So," Elliot continued once they were all settled, "first I almost tipped Warner off about Liv and York, but I swear, I realized my mistake and turned it into a joke!"
"You told Warner? That's cold," Fin replied.
Munch sighed his disapproval, but Stabler staunchly defended his joke theory.
"Anyhow," he continued, "right after all of that happened Donnelly came clean to Novak - "
"Really?" a stunned Munch interjected.
"Semi-clean," Elliot corrected, "enough that Casey knew about Liv's fling with York and the rumors that he was not only gay, but also HIV positive."
With a growl, Fin snapped, "That bitch put telling Liv the truth on Novak, didn't she?"
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"Really?" Cragen said into the receiver.
Listening for a moment, he added, "Well I'm glad somebody else around here is looking out for her best interests."
Another pause, then, "Okay, thanks Mary."
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"To be fair," Elliot continued, "Olivia's made it impossible for Donnelly ever since that night with York. Hell, I don't blame Liz for avoiding her at all costs."
As Fin was about to explode, Munch calmly defused, "Personal opinions aside, what happened next?"
"Casey came here, tried to tell her, but I interrupted," Elliot sighed, "then I basically told her to get out, promised to call her before we searched his place, and - "
"You rat bastard, you didn't call her."
"Neither did Liv!" he defended, "how was I supposed to know it was that serious? The way they're constantly bickering, I figured what's the harm?"
At Elliot's shrug, Munch responded, "So Olivia found out the hard way. God Elliot, she found out that her former lover was HIV positive by searching his apartment."
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With a small smile, Mary Conway Clark shook her head and returned the phone back to its cradle.
Picking up the case file she'd been reviewing, she wondered if Detective Olivia Benson had any idea how many people truly loved her, watched out for her, and considered her family above all else.
Probably not.
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"So anyhow," Elliot continued, "as we were searching York's place I snuck away and called Novak, but she already knew. In fact, she'd just heard the true story of Liv and Donnelly from Mary Conway Clark. So she decided to call Warner, at which time she convinced our M.E. to do the HIV test the next time Olivia was at the lab."
Impressed, Fin softly stated, "Novak's got balls."
"I hope not," Munch smirked.
His partner scowled.
"Anyhow," Stabler continued, "after Donnelly berated her for not personally confirming that "Benson's buddy at the morgue didn't lie about doing the test" a frustrated, overwrought, emotionally drained Casey went to see her best friend."
"Explains how Jenny knew everything," Munch surmised, "but still doesn't explain why Liv was so pissed."
With a cocky smirk, Stabler said, "Oh, just wait for it...."
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A commotion downstairs interrupted his tale, as a very loud, very upset Mary Ellen Abbot exploded into the squad room.
Peering over the railing, Elliot watched as the Captain approached her, received an ear beating, patiently let her finish before helping her into a chair beside Olivia's desk.
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"We got like five minutes boys," Elliot reported, "so let me give you the short version. After all of this went down and we decided to leave the two of them together to work out their personality conflict," he explained, making air quotes around those final two words, "Jenny called Liv and told her what I just told you guys. As Olivia was fuming because Jenny hung up on her, refusing to answer her phone, Jenny repeatedly called Liv's desk - not knowing, mind you, that the line forwards right to the rest of the unit if not answered. So the Captain snapped at me to answer it, then ordered me to call Liv and tell her to straighten out her mess."
"Oh man," Fin replied, "so that's why you used the direct connect."
"Right," Elliot agreed, "but little did I know that Jenny already had her in a lather!"
"And?" Munch prompted.
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"And," Elliot continued, his expression very serious, "you two gotta promise that what I'm about to repeat never leaves this room."
"Done," Fin responded immediately.
With a sigh, Munch agreed as well.
"Apparently," Elliot smirked, "Jenny told Liv that - "
"ELLIOT!!!" Captain Cragen's voice boomed, "MY OFFICE! NOW!"
DOINK DOINK