Chapter Text
SVU Squadroom (Scene from Episode)
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Carisi's eyes were intensely focused on his laptop screen while Fin sat at his desk. Rollins strolled into the squadroom and approached Carisi.
Rollins: Nothing yet?
Carisi: They’re supposed to post the link any minute so…
Fin looked up curiously and then made his way over to Carisi's desk.
Fin: Post what?
Rollins: Bar results. Today’s the day.
Carisi: Okay, shh. It’s up.
Carisi typed in his ID Number and he impatiently urged the next screen to load.
Carisi: All right. Come on. Come on.
The screen loaded and he scanned the list of ID numbers that passed the bar exam.
Carisi: There it is.
Carisi seemed like he was in shock.
Rollins: What?
Carisi: My ID number. It’s…it’s on the pass list.
Fin: You passed?
It took Carisi a minute to process the results.
Carisi: I passed.
Carisi began celebrating. He was so relieved that all his hard work had finally paid off. Attending law school while being a full-time detective was grueling, but it finally paid off. He was now certified to practice law. He was one step closer to his dream. Now, he just needed to find his dream position. A dream position that didn't yet exist...but he'd take care of that later. This was a time to celebrate.
Fin: Oh my God!
Fin actually seemed genuinely excited for Carisi.
Carisi stood with relief washing over his face as Rollins hugged him.
Rollins: Ohhh…congratulations!
Benson had just walked into the squadroom and overheard the congratulations.
Benson: Somebody win the lottery?
Rollins pat Carisi on the back as she replied to Benson.
Rollins: Sort of. Carisi passed the bar.
Benson: Carisi, congratulations.
Benson's tone sounds less than excited.
Carisi: Thank you.
Carisi eagerly accepted his Captain’s congratulations. He had a half smirk on his face reminiscent of his mentor’s.
Benson: Does that mean you’re leaving, too?
Yep. Benson wasn't excited. In fact, her tone induced a somber atmosphere in the squadroom.
Carisi: What? No.
Fin turns to Benson.
Fin: What do you mean too?
Benson: Dodds is going to Joint Terrorism. This is his last week.
Fin: Last week? He just got here.
Benson: Yeah. He’s on his own journey.
Fin: Uh huh.
It seemed that perhaps Benson and Fin both suspected this career move was not what Dodds wanted, but rather sounded like what the Chief of Detectives wanted for him, his father, Chief William Dodds.
Rollins wasn't about to let Carisi's accomplishment be overshadowed by this disappointing news. She playfully squeezed Carisi’s elbow.
Rollins: Well, Carisi did it. We should celebrate.
Benson: Yeah, how about I take you all to lunch?
Fin: Today? I can’t.
Rollins: Come on Fin. Don’t be like that.
Fin: No, I got to go meet up with my son. He says he has some news. Hope he didn’t quit his job.
Fin said this with a sarcastic expression referencing Dodd's decision and maybe even Carisi's future decision.
Sergeant Dodds entered and approached the group.
Dodds: Hey.
Dodds looked at the uneasy expressions of his colleagues.
Dodds: “You told ‘em?”
Benson nodded.
Benson: I did.
Fin: Task force? Really? (somewhat judgemental/but in light humor). SVU, we go after bad guys and lock ‘em up. Terrorism, you can get yourself killed.
It seemed like Fin was going to try to talk Dodds out of leaving SVU and it looked like that he was going to start that task right now.
Dodds nodded hesitantly. He doesn't look excited about this decision further confirming that it wasn't his decision. Dodds walked away.
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Case Synopsis
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SVU is called to the hospital to interview a rape victim, Charisse McCabe. Charisse was just released from prison, but the CO who was raping her while she was an inmate was continuing to do so on the outside. After taking the victim's statement and gathering information on Munson, SVU decided to involve their ADA before they start their investigation because some of the assaults have gone on behind bars and involved a correctional officer which could be lead to a very sticky investigation.
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ADA Rafael Barba’s Office at 1 Hogan Place (Scene From Episode)
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The leadership of the SVU squad--Captain Benson, Sergeant Dodds, and the most senior member, Detective Tutuola, were gathered in the ADA's office to brief Barba.
Barba paged through a file.
Barba sat down at his round meeting table.
Barba: Gary Munson. What do we know about him?
Benson: CO at Rikers for seventeen years. Never charged. Never disciplined. Puts in for a lot of OT. A wife, two kids.
Dodds: His father-in-law is a deputy inspector at Queens South. Now, the second time Gary fails the police exam, strings get pulled, he makes D.O.C. He’s got three complaints in his jacket. Nothing stuck.
Barba: Nothing ever sticks at Rikers. The CO union has more power than any place I’ve ever seen. Putting that aside, these cases are never easy. Your complainant has twelve arrests?
Fin: Misdemeanors: drugs, prostitution. My son says she’s turning it around.
Dodds: This guy covers his tracks. There’s no DNA, no witnesses, vulnerable victims.
Benson: Look, we really caught a break when Charisse called Ken.
Barba: Did we? It’s still the word of a corrections officer versus a black single mother with a drug problem and a prison record.
Dodds: All right, if he’s raping her on the street, how many is he raping on the inside? Is there any value in having DOI look at him?
Barba: Don’t---Rikers is where investigations go to die. Violence, rape, assaults, hundreds of allegations, almost no prosecutions.
Dodds: Are you saying just walk away?
Benson: If a CO is having sex with an inmate, forced or not, that’s rape.
Barba stood up and walked over to his desk.
Barba: It is, but Rikers—it’s like “The Lord of the Flies” there. If anyone finds out we’re investigating him, Munson gets tipped off, and his vics pay.
Benson: So we’re not investigating him. We need the guards’ help. We’re investigating a trafficking ring with ties to gang members who were involved with female inmates.
Barba: All right, yeah. Put up a good front. Pick another dozen women who have rotated through Charisse’s unit with similar records.
Barba seems too like Benson's deceptive plan.
Finn: Charisse says she was raped in the chapel. We should pull the surveillance video from the hallway outside.
Barba: And plus another six cameras. Hand them a laundry list. With luck, they won’t realize that Munson is the target.
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Leaving Barba’s Office (NEW Scene)
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Benson, Fin, and Dodd's were leaving Barba's office.
Dodds: I’ll start the paperwork.
Benson looks up and spots Carisi heading their way. "Carisi? What are you doing here?"
"I have to talk to Raf...Barba."
"He's going to brag about passing the bar," Fin speculated.
Carisi smirked, but then suddenly he became serious. "You didn't tell him yet, did you?"
"No, that honor is all yours," Benson said.
Carisi smiled again.
"Then you're probably going to sweep him off his feet..." Dodds teased Carisi.
"Mike!" Carisi hissed.
Carisi's crush was obvious to all of his his colleagues. Plus, his flirting wasn't all that subtle. And they had also seen the look in Barba's eyes, of which Rollins reminded Carisi of every chance she got.
"Oh, just ask him already!" Fin encouraged.
Carisi turned a light shade of pink.
"Okay, that's enough. Give Carisi a break," Benson said putting an end to the teasing. "We've got work to do. Sonny, join us when you're done at Barba's."
"Sure, Captain," Carisi replied.
As his colleagues left him in the ADA's suite, he stood at the door to Barba's office.
"Is Mr. Barba expecting you?" Carmen asked looking up from her desk.
"It's sort of a surprise. Is he...umm...busy?"
"You're talking about Mr. Barba," Carmen replied indirectly answering his question.
"Oh, right. I forgot."
"No you didn't," Carmen said giving Carisi an ognery smile and giggle.
"Don't you start on me, too," Carisi said running his hand nervously through his hair.
"Just go in," Carmen said.
Carisi grinned, opened the door, and walked right in without so much as knocking.
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Barba's Office
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Barba was seated behind his desk looking down at his cell phone.
Carisi was expecting some sort of witty remark about not knocking, not being on his schedule, or that he was busy, but Barba didn't even notice his presence.
Carisi cleared his throat, and greeted him, "Counselor."
Barba jumped just barely maintaining contact with his chair. His face was tense, his eyes wide from being startled, and he was slightly pale looking.
"I didn't mean to startle you," Carisi said in an indirect apology.
Barba's tenseness and wide eyes could be explained from being startled, but not the paleness. Carisi speculated that perhaps the ADA was ill and being the stubborn man he was, that he was trying to work despite of some unknown illness.
"Detective? Your colleagues just left."
"I know," Carisi said closing the door.
"And you're just going to waltz in here..."
That was the response Carisi was expecting.
"I wanted to share some news with you."
"It's called email," Barba grumbled leaning back and relaxing in his chair.
Carisi must have looked at him too long before saying something.
"Can I help you?" Barba demanded.
"Is everything alright?"
"You didn't come down here to ask me that," Barba replied deflecting.
"Are you feeling okay?"
Barba sighed. "Carisi, I'm fine. What did you need to tell me?"
"Well, I just wanted to let you know that I...passed."
"Passed?"
"The bar," Carisi clarified. He couldn't believe that Barba needed clarification. The ADA was always on his game and knew where conversations were going.
"Oh, uh..that's good."
"Barba, you look stressed."
"Of course I'm stressed. I'm at work!" the ADA snapped.
"Uh, right. Sorry," Carisi mumbled turning to leave.
Barba sighed immediately regretting his harshness. He had been in Carisi's place once. Passing the bar was important. It was a very big deal and a career milestone. He called after him, "Carisi, wait."
Carisi turned back around as his mentor got up from his desk.
"Really, congratulations," Barba said as he extended his hand.
Carisi shook his hand. "Thanks." He was definitely less excited about passing since he had first been when he came into the room.
"Did you find out today?" Barba asked.
Carisi nodded. "This morning."
"Good for you. I suppose you're going to be leaving SVU now?"
"I don't know. I guess. Maybe."
Barba looked at Carisi with those eyes that were met only for Carisi. Carisi thought these must be what Barba's bedroom eyes must look like.
"Carisi, there's no pressure. You have two career paths now."
"I passed so I have to..."
"Not if you don't want to."
"I don't want to waste..."
"Your education is not a waste. Even if you stay at SVU, your law degree makes you a better detective. You can bring me more winnable cases..."
"Ah, I see. I'll make your job easier."
"Obviously," Barba said rolling his eyes and putting a hand on Carisi's back directing him towards the office sofa. "Do you have time for a drink?"
"During the day? And I thought you were busy?"
"It's a special occasion. It's not everyday that someone passes the bar exam."
"Uh...sure," Carisi replied as he sat down.
Barba retrieved two shot glasses and poured some of his best Scotch. He handed one to Carisi and then sat down on the sofa with the other glass in hand.
"To passing the bar," Barba toasted and they clinked their glasses together.
After they both downed their shots, Barba poured them each one more and then put the lid on the bottle. Then he scoot back on the sofa ending up slightly closer than they had been. They sat sipping their second shot slowly as they talked for the next half hour about Carisi's next or not so next steps.
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Case Synopsis
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The SVU squad visited Rikers Prison and did some investigating under the ruse of investigating a gang-related sextrafficking ring. While interviewing COs and obtaining camera footage, Munson must have become somewhat suspicious. That night, five police officers cornered Charisse and her boyfriend and illegally searched them. They found drugs on her boyfriend, but when Charisse started filming them with her phone, she was immediately arrested and notated as resisting arrest. SVU suspected that this might have been Munson's doing to let Charisse know that he knew and that he owned her. Now Charisse was at the precinct being interviewed by Benson and Fin.
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Outside of the Interrogation Room at the Precinct (Scene From Episode)
Barba and Dodds are observing Benson and Fin’s interview of Charisse about her illegal arrest.
Barba: So a possible illegal search.
Dodds: Probable. We’re checking security cams near the arrest.
Barba: What about the arresting officers?
Dodds: It’s a big surprise. They’re not returning our calls so we’re pulling the 61 and the arrest report.
Carisi barges into the viewing area somewhat excited.
Carisi: Hey, lucky break. Security cam footage from the bodega on the corner caught the whole thing.
That caught Barba’s and Dodd’s attention and they followed Carisi back into the squad room.
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Squad Room (Scene From Episode)
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Carisi had the street camera footage set up on a monitor and Rollins is seated at a table.
Barba watched the security cam footage with standing a little closer Carisi than customary. Carisi is pointed at the monitor.
Carisi: See they move right in. Nothing indicates probable cause. Am I right?
Barba: It doesn’t look good.
Doods: Now, when Charisse starts filming, they go up to her.
Rollins: They call that resisting arrest? They didn’t even give her a chance to resist.
Barba: They’re not worried that they’re directly in view of a security camera?
Dodds: What worries me is this can’t be coincidence. She and her boyfriend were targeted as soon as she started cooperating. Munson is trying to intimidate her.
Barba: Yeah, maybe. Maybe. Find out if there’s any connection between these five officers and Munson.
Barba looked and sounded somewhat skeptical, but not because of the correlation of Charisse's cooperation and then unlawful arrest, but rather of this case. He hadn't liked this case from the get go and knew it was going to be hard. He knew there was going to be a tough battle ahead and he dreaded it. It made his blood run cold.
Dodds: Or his father-in-law.
Benson appears in the squad room.
Benson: So the surveillance video backs up Charisse’s story. Man, these guys are bold.
Rollins: And they’re MIA. I put a call in to their captain. Radio silence.
Barba: Clearly there’s no cause to arrest her. I’d feel better if her boyfriend wasn’t in holding. What do we know about him?
Dodds: Jay Raymond. He’s got a record. All for misdemeanor possession, no ties to CPB. He pleaded not guilty last night.
Benson: Which means he’s in Rikers, and he’s not safe there, and neither is Charisse. Can you get the charges dropped, Barba?
Barba: That’s a bad move. I don’t want anybody thinking that we’re looking out for her. Did she make bail?
The ADA's warning was due to him being worried about Munson or a colleague taking the investigation out on Charisse or other inmates. The others knew the ADA were worried.
Benson: Five grand, no bond which might as well have been five hundred grand.
Barba: I can get the judge to reduce that. Her defense attorney will go along with it.
Barba turned to walk out of the room to start his mission with Benson called after him.
Benson: Hold on.
Barba stopped and turned back around.
Benson pointed at a bulletin board of photos of three other inmates who were also suspected of being raped by Munson.
Benson: What about these three? Right, they’re in Riker’s too. If Munson thinks that we’re investigating him, they’re gonna be in trouble.
Barba: What are they in for?
Rollins: LaTanya Franks. CeCe Thornhill Zahara Letts. They’re all in for Class A misdemeanors.
Barba: Do NOT talk to them at Rikers. I’ll let their defense attorneys know that I’ll be asking the judge to reduce their bail as well.
Barba turned and left to start his mission of getting Charisse and the other three female inmates out of prison for the time being.
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Still In The Squadroom (New Scene)
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Carisi saw Barba had taken his phone out of his pocket and had looked at a message as he was walking out of the squad room. Barba turned just as pale as he was the other day in his office when Carisi had stopped by to tell the ADA about passing the bar exam.
"Captain? Mind if I punch out early today? I've got to check on someone."
"Go ahead. We're wrapping up for the day, anyhow," Benson said.
"Thanks," and Carisi replied and then sprinted after Barba.
"He's in love," Rollins remarked causing an eruption of laughter in the room.
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SVU Precinct Elevator (New Scene)
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Barba had just gotten on the elevator and much to his relief, it was empty. As the door closed, he slumped against and laid his forehead against the wall. Well, he hadn't exactly laid his head...it was more like hit it against the wall and just left it rest against the wall.
Barba must have been walking fast because Carisi barely caught up to him. The elevator door was about closed, but he stopped it with his arm and squeezed through the door inside.
Barba sighed.
"I'm going to ask you once more. Are you alright?" the detective demanded as firmly as he could.
"Fine," Barba answered still not lifting his forehead from the wall.
"You could have fooled me," Carisi remarked as the elevator traveled to the ground floor.
Once at the ground floor, when the elevator bell dinged, Barba picked up his head and was about to make his get away when Carisi stepped in front of the elevator door and pressed the emergency button.
"Detective, let me out," Barba grumbled looking over Carisi's shoulders at the door in order to avoid eye contact.
"Not until you tell me what is wrong. Barba, your forehead is bleeding."
"It's not your business and that tends happen if one smacks their head against a wall."
Carisi stood his ground.
After a moment of silence, Barba said, "Please, Dominick."
It was almost like that ADA was begging. Barba had used the detective's first name. Not his nickname, but still, this was not like the ADA.
"Just talk to me."
Barba rolled his eyes, but he was still avoiding eye contact.
"Fine. You need to relax. For you, that means caffeine. Let's get some at the coffee cart outside and then I'll walk you home. My treat."
"I'm taking an Uber."
"That's fine, too," Carisi said inviting himself.
"Did you just say that you're crashing my Uber ride?"
"Yes. And I'm going home with you so that I can clean up that cut."
Barba's emerald eyes widened at Carisi's continued boldness. "I can clean it up myself. It's called a mirror."
"I'm sure, but this will give you the chance to tell me what the hell has you so worked up."
"I'm not worked up," Barba denied.
"You're breathing hard and pale as a ghost. You're worked up. You're stressed and you look like you're going to fuckin' implode at any moment."
"Fine," Barba said surrendering.
Carisi stepped out of the way and pressed the button opening the door and releasing them from the elevator.
"I need something stronger than coffee. I've got Scotch at home," Barba said.
"Aren't you going to be in court all morning?"
"Since when do you know my schedule?" Barba snapped.
"Barba, we literally just discussed getting the bail reduced for all those inmates."
"Oh."
"Yeah, oh," Carisi said mockingly.
"Fine. I didn't say I was getting drunk though."
"I'll make sure that you don't."
"You're fixing up my head and then leaving."
"We'll see about that." Carisi was pretty sure he heard Barba growl.
Barba took out his phone and quickly booked an Uber.
Carisi decided that he was going to start prying right then and there. "Is it the case? You know, with the CO union?"
"Shut up."
"How's your mami?"
"I said shut up."
They waited in silence for the Uber.
