Animal - Ch. 15
Sep. 16th, 2010 08:23 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whedonistThe lobby’s quiet when I step through the doors to my apartment complex. I look down at my watch and see the brownish goop smeared over the face. Great. Sighing, I step in front of the elevators and wipe my watch on my pants. I look back down to read the display, five-forty-six am. Well, who needs sleep anyhow?
The bright side in Buffy’s screwed up world is that no one is around to see me covered in dirt and demon goo. The dry cleaning bill on this outfit’s gonna give Will kittens. I turn my attention back to the elevator doors as they slide open and I step through, deliberate for a second and then hit the button to take me to the top floor.
Some quiet time on the roof will be good. Then I can go and shower in boiling water and a full bottle of body wash. Maybe after I make Buffy soup, I’ll smell like a person again.
Maybe…I’m really not holding out much hope.
The doors nearly slide shut, but an umbrella stops them from closing completely. Crap. A man in running shorts and a shirt steps on and looks me over.
“Rough night?” he asks, smiling at me.
“Just one of many,” I chirp back and smile, “but you should see the other guy.” I wink at him and fish my badge out of my jacket pocket to flash him my shield.
His eyes lock on the shiny piece of metal then skirt away. I smirk. People have such strange reactions to cops. They weren’t ever really my favorite people either, but look at me now…well, some of them still aren’t.
“What floor?” I ask.
“Uh, eighth,” he says and goes back to studying his Nike’s.
I press the button for his floor and a few seconds later, I watch as he scurries off disappearing around a corner. The doors close once again and I ascend to the floor with the easiest roof access. Running a dirty hand through my dirty hair, I wince as it catches on a few knots courtesy of the sweeps of the top half of New York’s financial district. I wonder if ‘rats nest’ will become a trend in hairstyle? It would save me time in the morning.
The elevator stops, the doors slide open and I step off, head right and hit the exit door with a little more force than necessary. The fresh air hits my lungs first and I suck it in. Looking up, the last of the night is being pushed away by the predawn light on this Saturday morning.
I move to the east side of the building and hop up on to the ledge, letting my legs dangle over the edge. My arms prop me up and I lean forward, close my eyes and empty my mind for just a few moments. No job, no slayers, no vampires and certainly no sewer smell.
Happy, blissful, nothingness.
I release the breath and allow the world to encroach on me once again. I look out over the city that I’ve come to love. The tree tops of Central Park, the taxis and cars whizzing by down below and the tops of the buildings that surround ours, it’s all come to mean more than I thought when I first got here. Now, there’s all of this crap that’s piling up. Between vicious attacks on slayer compounds, the Miami mess that’s come north and the vampire that’s responsible for this…I laugh bitterly…
Will says we’ll get through this and it’ll be back to normal.
Maybe, maybe not. Normal’s relative anyhow.
I have five slayers here in New York with me and I’ve got Elliot, Olivia and Jimmy all running their own small squad to break the island of Manhattan up and make it easier to search. Willow’s been eating up Alex’s generous offer to assist in research so she has help outside of the Council and what Dawn and Xander have been able to put together.
Debra…I stretch and try not to think about the woman crashing in Jimmy’s room. She’s nearly healed thanks to Will, but she’s snappy and impatient. It’s helpful in the not sorta way. It grates on my last few nerves. Maybe we’ll send her with Jimmy’s team to help search tonight. That may help.
I look out, see the first piece of sun crest the top of the buildings and push myself over the ledge. I free fall for the briefest of seconds, enjoying the weightlessness before I touch the steel grating of the fire escape. I land softly and make my way down a few flights before slithering into the open window of my bedroom.
I take a second and let my eyes adjust to the lighting. The bed’s rumpled, but empty so I look to the bathroom and see the light on and door cracked. Hearing the shower start, I shed my clothes and pad naked into the bathroom.
“Will?” I call out before entering the shower.
I step in and Will’s smile falters, as she looks me over. “Didja leave any dirt for the streets?” she jokes.
“Nah,” I say reaching for her. I spin us around and let the water cascade over me, tipping my head back to let it run through my hair. “I figured the city’s had enough bonding time with the grime. I was feeling left out.”
“Uh huh,” I hear her say. I feel a washcloth begin working its way over my body, up my legs, over my hips and belly and then my chest. Moaning, I relax and let Will clean me. She’s gentle and thorough and suddenly all the shit seems to slip away, going the way of the grime down the drain.
My lover presses her body against me and says, “Well, I’ve bonded with it enough. Turn around please.”
I comply and she takes just as much care on my back as she did my front. Her lips press against a bruise on my upper back and trail their way to my neck. I spin around and pull her against me, making sure to capture her surprised lips.
The idea of sleep seems silly as her leg slips between my thighs and presses up.
Yep, it’s confirmed, sleep’s for dummies.
“Cabot,” I answer stepping from the cab and into the mild April morning.
“Alex, it’s Jack,” my boss’ voice comes through my phone. A call this early from Jack can’t be good.
“Hello, what can I do for you this morning?” Walking north, I stop in front of the Starbucks a few blocks away from the courthouse and wait on Elliot and Olivia to show.
“Nothing. I just wanted to get an update on the joint case you’re working with the A.U.S.A.”
I sigh and hike my bag up higher on my shoulder. “For now there’s really not a lot to report. The leads have been minimal and the team that’s been assembled hasn’t been able to drum anything up.” I switch the phone to my other ear and lean against the building behind me. “The F.B.I. and the detectives are getting along well enough which is a surprise. No pissing contests and the A.U.S.A. has been great.”
“Alright. Como isn’t following up on anything, but let me know if you need any help,” he says.
Right like you can do anything about vampires…
A sharp pain hits right between my eyes and I rub the spot hoping that it won’t grow into a headache. I still can’t believe the word vampire has become part of my regular vocabulary.
“As soon as there’s a break, Jack, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks and good work on the Gutierrez ring. Great press for the D.A.’s office and your squad of detectives.”
Because press coverage was exactly what I was after there. “Thanks,” I say instead.
“I’ll talk to you later. Goodbye Alex,” he parrots and disconnects.
I end the call, lock the keypad and drop the phone in my coat pocket thankful that he didn’t want details. What exactly could I say to him? The suspect’s a centuries old vampire that has a bug up her ass and likes to torture people?
If that didn’t get me fired, then I’m not entirely sure what would.
There’s the idea that that might not be a bad thing. I know Olivia wants to know what’s happened with me. Why I came back to S.V.U., but what can I tell her, that if Cragen hadn’t called and asked for a favor until they found a replacement for Greyleck I don’t know if I would have.
I was honest when I said I had pulled my head from my ass, but there was still too much time between my return from witness protection and my return to S.V.U. I didn’t know what to expect when I showed up at that scene. Until the call from Don came in, I had been debating leaving the D.A.’s office. My political aspirations are…were…they aren’t there anymore.
The only good I’ve ever felt that I was doing was working with S.V.U. and I’m not even sure if this stint is permanent. There are underlings gnashing their teeth trying to get me put back in Appeals.
Appeals, I snort, they should re-label the whole division as the “Asshole of Hades” and be done with it.
Still, there is value in S.V.U. and for now, I’m staying. I’ve faced the squad, Olivia and I are together. Finally. After so long and so much, things are going in the direction they should have three years ago.
I look around and notice that I’ve been standing around for a few minutes. Glancing at my watch, I see the dynamic duo is late so I check my phone. No missed calls and no text messages. While they may run a few minutes behind, this isn’t usually like Olivia. She usually sends me a text message.
Although…
The last week or so, she’s been…different. That’s the only word that comes to mind. Like she’s pulling away and I wonder if this is what Willow was talking about a few weeks back. Is this what she meant when she said Buffy had tried to pull away from her? The only time that I’ve seen Olivia outside of work has been at Willow and Buffy’s apartment when I’m helping the doctor with research and she leaves to search the city.
Sighing, I run a hand through my hair and twirl the phone in my palm. Should I call? Give them a few more minutes?
“Alex?” A woman’s voice causes me to look up and I see Liz Donnelly and Lena Petrovsky looking at me oddly.
“Liz, hi,” I smile and slip the phone back in my coat pocket, “Judge Petrovsky, what a pleasant surprise.”
“Alexandra,” Lena says, “Is everything okay?”
I look at both of them for a moment wondering what they’re doing this far away from the courthouse, usually they stay with in a block of the place. “Yes, everything is fine. I hope. It appears two of my detectives are running behind and haven’t bothered to let me know.”
“Well,” Liz says, holding the door to the coffee shop open, “Let’s wait inside and catch up a moment.”
I nod in acquiescence, following the two older women inside. “So what brings you two out this way?”
“We needed to stop by our office before we leave,” Lena says, “Liz offered to pick me up as we have a conference in D.C.”
“Ah the International Franchise Associations’ Legal Symposium?” I ask. It was something I had debated on going to, but I’m never that bored.
Liz snorts, “Alex, your tone on the matter suggests that you may feel just like we both do.” Her eyebrow rises and she smirks.
I tip my head and say, “The implication was one of mere curiosity, your honor.”
Lena laughs as we sit down at a table near the door and says, “Counselor, we aren’t in court, there will be no contempt charges ordered inside of Starbucks.”
“But if you could, you would,” I say smiling.
“We all would!” Liz barks. Our table howls with laughter for a few brief moments all three of us knowing that some days it would be appropriate. “So,” my old boss and mentor starts in, “waiting on Elliot and Olivia?”
“Yes.” I check my watch again and see they’re over a half hour late. “It appears I’ve been stood up. Usually Olivia lets me know if she can’t make it.” My mouth sours and I sip my coffee to rid myself of the bitter taste that’s built up in the back up of my throat.
“I’m sure it was unintentional.” Lena smiles at me and I realize that I actually like the woman outside of the courtroom. She’s actually not half bad in either.
“Did you know they saved my life while you were buried in Appeals,” Liz says
I shake my head. “Was the defense tired of your lack of sympathy for repeat offenders?” I joke.
“Ha! I wish. No, actually it had been one of our own C.S.U. techs. If you’ve met Ryan O’Halloran, he was injured and the tech, uh…Stuckey…something Stuckey, went off the deep end on the thought that killing the people damaging his credibility was the smart way to go about increasing his credibility.”
A little shocked because I had no idea, I ask, “Why did he come after you?”
She shrugs and Lena fills in, “She dressed him down in court during a cross.”
“And the little shit poisoned me! If it hadn’t been for your two white knights, I would be six feet under,” she states matter of factly.
I smile at her and say, “Well, Liz I think it’s safe to say that we all know a little poison running through your veins can do nothing to the occasional toxic slip of your tongue.”
She nods and smiles at me.
“She does have your number Liz,” Lena jokes.
“Be that as it may, I think that on a personal level, now that we’re done laughing about my near death, we should turn a more critical gaze to Alex. Counselor would you like to tell us what is going on with you and Detective Benson?”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you mean,” I say shifting in my seat. I maintain eye contact with Liz because if I do back down Olivia and I are hosed.
“Alex,” Lena steps in, “Don’t be coy. You wouldn’t be the first A.D.A. to get involved with a detective and trust me you certainly won’t be the last.” The other judge offers a kind, motherly smile and I have to wonder what they’re up to.
I’m about to respond, but I feel my coat vibrate so I reach in and pull my phone free. I see Olivia’s name and hit ‘talk’. “Cabot.”
“Lex, it’s me,” Olivia’s voice comes through clear and safe.
“You and your partner stood me up, detective.”
I see Lena and Liz nod while I listen, “Yeah, I’m sorry, but there’s been a new development. Do you want to meet us at the scene?”
“Bad?” I ask while a knot forms in the pit of my stomach.
“I haven’t seen anything like it,” her voice goes softer and she sighs. “We’re at the Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Riverside Park.”
“I’ll be there in twenty minutes,” I say.
“Alright. Lex, I …” she stops talking and I know what she was going to say.
“Me too, Liv. I’ll be there soon.” I disconnect and see that Liz and Lena are standing waiting on me.
“Come on Cabot, I’ll give you a lift,” Liz offers and I accept as the knot in my stomach grows.
“Jimmy,” Deb calls my name and I look up and over the small stack of books between us on the kitchen table. “How did you handle all of this?”
I raise an eyebrow and shrug. “You mean the whole vampire, demon world thing?”
“Yeah,” she says fidgeting with the fork in her good hand.
I chew my lower lip a moment before answering. There really isn’t a good answer one way or the other and I think she needs to hear something reassuring so I venture, “It was hard at first, ya know. Irish Catholic kid and you get these clear perceptions of right and wrong of how the world’s supposed to be ya know?”
She nods and I continue, “But I think of it sorta like when you were little and your parents tell you about Santa Clause, the way he’s painted, and then as you grow up you realize that that’s not true that it’s really your parents.” I scoot the stack of books over to the side and she searches out my hand from across the small table. “So you just find a way to accept it, because it’s fact.”
“And how do you reconcile that with the idea of God?” she asks softly, running her thumb over my knuckles.
“God? I don’t really know, Sweetcheeks. It’s like solidified the idea of a God in my mind just ‘cause the world works that way, positive and negative ya know. I’ve come to think of it like this, the idea of a higher power is really complex. So knowing about demons gives me proof that there’s something more out there. What it is?” I shrug. “Who knows? Maybe we’re not meant to know. I know that doing good things and trying to be a good person counts in the positive way more than just blind faith.”
“So, you’re getting new age on me and you’re saying you don’t know?” She smirks and her eyes go to our entwined hands.
“Well, yeah. So what if I don’t know. I don’t really care. There’s something out there and I can understand that when it’s my time. If there’s a heaven or a hell, it shouldn’t matter. I can only concern myself with how I live my life. If I do what feels right, then the things that may or may not judge us when we die can’t ask for more than that.”
She nods and lets it drop. I get where she’s coming from, I had the same questions about it, that same doubt.
Maybe we all do at some point. But it’s not like things have changed. We just know more than what most people do. I look to my right as my cell rings and pick it up. “McAllister,” I answer.
“Detective, it’s Captain Cragen. I need you and your partner over at the Soldiers and Sailor Memorial in Riverside Park A.S.A.P.”
I nod and say, “We’ll be there in fifteen, we’re in the neighborhood.”
“Elliot and Olivia will meet you there.” Cragen says and disconnects.
I flip my phone closed and stand. “Seems we got some trouble.” I move away from the table and call out to Willow and Buffy, “Red! Cupcake! Get out here!”
As I approach the door, they both come out tugging on clothes. “You get a call?” Willow asks.
“Yeah,” I say, “Partner, we’re needed over in Riverside Park.” I look at Willow and she’s gathering her gear. “You comin’?”
“Yep, Melinda called and told me this was one I’d probably want to take.” She’s tugs on her jacket then hands Buffy hers.
“Alright then. Red, coat?” I ask holding out my hand. I catch my sports coat as she tosses it to me and feel Debra come up behind me.
“You got one I can borrow?” she asks.
The three of us turn and look at her. Debra’s arm’s still in a sling, but she’s on her own two feet and moving pretty well. Her eyebrow raises and she huffs, “Don’t think you’re cutting me out of this anymore. I’m healed well enough. I can go to a fucking scene.” She stands firm.
Buffy and I exchange glances and we both shrug. “Go change,” my partner says.
Debra turns around and disappears into my room it takes them a few minutes to get Debra something to wear and to change into before we’re all downstairs and in the squad car. The short trek over to scene was quick with minimal traffic which on the whole was good, but once we got there, there was a fifty yard barrier of crime scene tape and between the tech’s and media it took a half hour to clear the barrier.
The first thing we see before looking at the memorial is a few Uni’s losing their lunch in the bushes nearby. The thing about the memorial is that it’s right next to a running path where you walk a series of steps and a wide concrete path with benches along the side. There’s a small fountain towards the large set of steps that lead to the memorial’s door.
I look around not seeing anything out of the ordinary and then I hear, “Sunavabitch,” hiss from Debra’s lips.
Buffy taps my shoulder and points upward. My eyes follow her finger and I look up. Involuntary, my right hand goes to my forehead, down to my chest, to left shoulder and then my right as I make the sign of the cross. A body is strung between two of the pillars at the top of the memorial, techs are skirting around the base placing markers of footprints and other things of interest.
The four of us silently move forward and see Olivia, Elliot and Alex standing in a semi-circle engaged in hushed conversation. They nod and make room for us as they see us approach. Liv has her notebook out and is scrawling notes as they talk.
“Who found the body?” Buffy asks.
Elliot points over his shoulder to a jogger sitting on a bench near the base of the steps, his head’s between his knees and a medic has a blanket draped over his shoulders.
“Has anyone been up to look at the body?” Willow asks.
Everyone shakes their heads and she follows up, “So we get to it how?”
“There’s a set of steps inside that lead to an access door. We can go that way,” Olivia says.
Running a hand through my hair I begin to make my way up and inside with the rest of the team following. It wasn’t warm outside and inside there’s a dampness in the air that causes the chill to set in your bones. While we make our way up the steps, I prepare myself mentally. Whatever’s gonna be waiting for us up there is gonna be lots worse than anything I’ve seen. Just from the glance at it from the ground up, it wasn’t pretty. Blood ran down the side of the monument and the body was wet and red from head to toe.
The access door empties on to the reverse side of the monument and we hang a right and work our way around. As the body comes into view, all I see is blood and exposed muscle tissue. Buffy hisses behind me, Elliot gulps, Deb cusses while Olivia and Alex remain silent.
Willow brushes past me and gets closer. Her hair’s in a ponytail this morning and I see the blood drain from her ears to the base of her neck. Quietly, she says, “Buffy, come here.”
My partner moves past me to stand next to her wife while both women slip gloves on. Buffy grabs the envelope taped to the left pillar that the body’s lashed to. I move and stand behind them as they slit the envelope open and peer inside. A slip of parchment sits inside, mocking us. Rage burns through, hot, bright and fierce. Buffy moves first and taking it out, unfolds it so that we can all read together.
My jaw clenches and I whip around. Needing to lash out, but Deb catches the fist that went swinging towards the concrete wall behind me. I stand shocked, numbed and frightened. “I…” I stutter.
She shakes her head and releases my hand. Nodding, I turn my attention back to our task. From behind us, Olivia says, “We’re going to need an I.D., is there anything that can be used here?”
“We know who it is,” Buffy hisses.
I look down, between the feet of the victim, resting there are a stake, a cross and a sword.
“It’s Siobhan,” Deb finishes.
Her words turn my blood to ice and for the first time in the years since I quit smoking, I itch for one so bad it hurts.
“Okay,” Willow says, too evenly, too calmly. “Let me and the techs start processing the body.”
“Will,” Buffy lays a hand on her lovers shoulder and Willow whips around.
“Not now Buffy,” she pleads, eyes closed.
“Will, baby, look at me please.” Buffy grips Red’s shoulders and forces her to open her eyes.
I stare in shock, Red’s eyes are coal black. I know from experience that this isn’t even sort of okay. Buffy and I crowd around her, blocking the others from seeing her.
“Don’t,” Buffy clips in a harsh whisper, “This isn’t your fault.”
Willow scoffs and pulls away. My Red rages just as quiet, “The hell it’s not. Who else do you know that has a sin like this? Who else do you know that’s flayed a person alive?” She spins away and opens up the kit she carried with her. Kneeling down, she begs, “Just let me do my job.”
“Will, you’re…” my partner tries to reason.
“I know. Okay. I know.” She fishes in her coat pocket and pulls out a pair of sunglasses. “Give me a few minutes before you send any other techs up. Please?” her voice hitches on the request.
Buffy’s head drops as she squeezes her wife’s shoulder in support. Turning away, Buffy heads back the way we came with the rest of us on her heels. I glance back for one last look at my girl before disappearing around the corner.
It’s going to be a long fucking night.
