Homicide

Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order SVU or anyone you may recognize from Homicide: Life on the Streets. (Yes there will be character appearances.)

Summery: Fin only knew Lake for two years. It wasn't as if he had the time to get to know his ex partner. He at least knew bits of his ex partner of five years Sergeant John Munch.

Authors Notes: I have now seen the episodes surrounding the Gordon Pratt murder however I haven't seen all of Homicide so I apologize in advance if any of the characters from this officially wonderful show seem out of character.

Chapter Three

Chester Lake had been surprised when it had been called that he had a visitor. Especially, since it had been a visitor outside visiting hours. Yet when he saw his ex partner sitting on the other side he wasn't surprised.

"How'd you get in? Flash your badge and say you needed me for questioning about a case?" He asked sitting down, "you don't look too good."

"Yeah, well you don't look too good yourself" Fin said in defense.

"Being in a prison cell does that to you. What's your excuse or has Cragan let his standards down that low since I left?"

"Nah just didn't feel like making myself look all pretty just for you." Chester couldn't help but snort. This was how it should have been. Why had it taken this long?

"What you doing here, Fin?" He watched as Fin tensed up a little bit and after a moment of silence, Fin sighed.

"Munch was arrested two days ago." Chester blinked twice.

"You're talking about conspiracy loving, aliens do exist, John Munch?" He'd heard the rumor but had just brushed it off, but if Fin had confirmed it, then Chester didn't know what to think.

"Is there any one else?"

"What for?" He finally questioned. Then Fin said something that couldn't help but put chills down his spine.

"Murder, in the first degree."

John knew they where there sitting behind him. He also knew he couldn't face them knowing what he was about to do. Alex was sitting beside him waiting for the trial arrangement to begin. She'd gone over what he was going to say. Well what she thought he should say.

But he couldn't.

If he said what was planned it was going to be a long drawn out trial. One that could take months and it would create a lot of work for Alex. It was for the best. His partner might never forgive him for it. She might never forgive him for it.

Yet he had to.

"Docket number 1452. The state of New York vs. Sergeant John Munch, one count murder in the first degree." He and Alex both stood. As he got up he refused to look behind him and instead looked straight at the Judge in front of him. Thankfully he had Judge Donnelly. Someone he considered a friend.

"Sergeant Munch, I must admit I'm surprised to see you in this position." He stayed stubbornly silent. A lot of people where probably surprised that he was in this position, "alright how do you plead?" This was it.

"Guilty, your honor." Three words that was about to change his whole life, but he had no regrets in saying them.

"What? John" Alex started to protest. Judge Donnelly first glanced at Alex who was still protesting and then stared at him.

"Are you sure you wish to plead this way, Sergeant Munch?"

"Yes, your honor." His voice was almost void of emotion there was a hint of defeat located within. A gasp was heard. Olivia he thought to himself.

"Very well, I'm not normally this lenient with officers breaking the law but bail is set at Two thousand dollars, trial date to be arranged, next case." As he turned around he refused to make eye contact with anyone that had been sitting behind him. Instead he let him be led away without looking back.

He didn't feel a step of guilt.

Even if he had just lied in court.

Somewhere between watching another member of their squad being led out in handcuffs and watching him plead guilty in court she had gone completely and utterly numb.

He hadn't even looked her way when he'd been led out. Something didn't feel right. Alex had disappeared after John and she had followed Elliot and Don numbly out of the court house ignoring the press completely. Fin hadn't attended the hearing and Olivia couldn't help but wonder where he was.

Wonder if he even cared.

"Munch is going to blow a gasket if he finds out how much press where here." She heard her partner comment.

"He's probably worrying about his case." Cragan responded back, his voice sounding duller than she'd ever heard it.

"If he is even worried about it." She finally spoke. She was aware of her two colleagues looking at her in shock, "he's pleading guilty. Not even protesting his innocence." The John Munch she knew and loved would do that.

At least the John Munch she thought she knew and loved.

"He's been arranged today, now actually." Fin said looking steadily at Lake. His ex partner raised an eyebrow. Then there was the ultimate question.

"Why aren't you there?" It was a good question really. Why wasn't he there, supporting the partner he thought he knew? He'd been there for Lake's hearing although he wasn't sure if he'd noticed him.

So why hadn't he been there?

"Fin." He looked up from his hands, "Why are you here 'visiting' me instead of being at your partners hearing?"

"I don't know." He finally said.

"Bull." The simplicity of the statement caused Fin to look questionably at Lake and his ex partner shook his head, "You don't want to be there because you're a coward." It was amazing how fast the tension in the room changed.

"You better explain yourself fast" Fin growled out finally finding an emotion he could channel quite happily.

"You're a coward because you don't want to hear how he pleads. You don't want to hear him say one simple word because it would mean you failed again. That you were a self absorbed partner." Lake spat out. If Fin had been standing he would have taken a step back but instead he folded his arms.

"That's not the case." Fin finally growled out.

"Oh?" It was fine. He was going to be fine. Munch was going to be back to his annoying self in no time. They could put this ugly business behind them.

"Because he didn't do it." Fin stated firmly, "He didn't do it because Munch doesn't shoot someone in cold blood. He wouldn't."

"And if he did?" Lake questioned with a small smile on his face.

"Then I'd still be behind him because it would have been a mistake. He's John Munch."

"Then why aren't you going out there doing something about it?" Fin nodded and started to head of the room his mind too engaged to say anything else.

To Be Continued.

Authors Notes: Some might ask why I put the bail at two thousand, basically because I know it would probably be much higher. It's just the fact that Liz knew John wouldn't run. He's pleading guilty. He's not going to be a flight risk.