Chapter Text
[I Want To Know What Love Is
In my life there's been heartache and pain
I don't know if I can face it again
Can't stop now, I've traveled so far
To change this lonely life]
Zapata is nearly finished with verifying that her weapons are fully
mission-ready; the task has taken much longer than normal, since
her mind really isn't on the task at hand: it circles back over and
over to the discussion she and Edgar Reade had had overnight:
"I think...I think that we made a-a mistake Reade" (this after several hours
of highly-satisfying sex...some of the best in her memory)...“I’m not talking about the sex.
That was extraordinary…really. You don’t know me like you think you do-NOT REALLY. I'll
make you miserable, and then I'll lose a very valuable friend, and I can't take that."
"I'm...I don't know what to say to that." Reade sets the coffee cups he'd been carrying on top of his
dresser, his face bears a expression that seems to say"Well-saw THIS coming
You don't want someone like me for a romantic partner, Reade. I poison everything I touch-getting mixed
up with me is the worst mistake you could make.”
You got THAT RIGHT!, that snarky, harping voice of her Mother pipes up, nastily, from the deep
dark corner of her mind she’d managed to push it into years ago. “Puta que fueras!” (Whore
“No soy Puta (I’m not a Whore),” She whispers, in a vain attempt to fight back.
“WHAT? What did you say?”
“I’m just saying that…you don’t really know the real me-the TRUE ME. I’m doing you a favor. Once you do,
KNOW-the ACTUAL ME-believe me, you won’t want me. You'll thank me for warning you away.”
The look on the handsome Federal Agent's dark face changes from confusion, to disbelief, to anger.
“You know your own mind. I’m heading out to the staging area. Don’t be late-lots of brass will be there.”
There is no friendless (AT ALL) in his manner, or tone of voice.
Zapata is suddenly desperate to clarify her statement. “Reade…” (TOO LATE...HE'S GONE...GONE.)
That VOICE AGAIN: Vez?! Los unicos que te quieren son los drogadictos, los borrachos, or Los
(contemptuously) Negroes.”
(You See?! The only men who want you are drug addicts, drunks, or BLACKS.)
HOW she longs to retort, "Tu tienes tanto derecho de hablar mal de drogadictos y borrachos, Mama"
(You're one to talk shit about DRUGS or DRUNKS, Mama)...she's always been powerless against her Mama's
baseless insults, accusations, and abuse, both verbal and physical, and so she does now as she always did
THEN-shuts up and takes it...
Allie Knight and Patterson interrupt her runaway thoughts, much to her relief.
"Hey, Hey, Hey!" The female U. S. Marshal is more chipper than usual, which is NOT VERY.
"That delicious Brit, Stonebridge, from Section 20 is asking about you."
Patterson shakes her head, mildly disgusted. "Allie-just last night This One was bawling her
eyes out about her and Reade's situation; now you're pushing her ontoStonebridge:
STONEBRIDGE-that delicious Brit who's banging Agent Martinez from the DEA?
GOD-DAMN, Allie!"
Allie rises to the defense. "All that I said was..."
"Ladies...it's fine. IF he approaches me, I'll set him straight-I just hope that he doesn't do it in
front of Reade. I told him last night was a mistake; I didn't get the chance to say That I DO WANT to
try-THAT WE DESERVE TO TRY...there's a saying Spanish: "El que no riesga no gana"(he
who risks nothing, gains nothing.)
Patterson, ever the faithful and optimistic friend, does her best to reassure her best Friend: "Tash...give
Ed some space, then approach him again. This time PHRASE shit better-PLEASE."
The three Woman share a laugh, then walk together toward the area where the final briefing will be held
"Welcome everyone. You may know that I'm US Attorney General Eric Holder, and I offer our Nation's heartfelt
thanks to all of the Agencies participating in the largest joint agency attempt to eradicate the most insidious
child trafficking cartel in recent memory, once and for all. With the assistance of the best Men and Women the CIA,
NSA, FBI, US Marshals Service, InterPol, Mossad, NYPD, and Section 20 have to offer, I have every confidence in a
successful result to our endeavors. I apologize for any agencies I neglected to mention. I'm needed elsewhere, so
I introduce you to the US Attorney for the State of New York-Consuela Rubirosa."
A tall, very beautiful Latina Woman steps to the podium, flanked by several Men and Woman dressed
in suits. "I'm U.S. Attorney Connie Rubirosa, and along with ADA Raul Esparza, we are available for on the spot
issuance of warrants, Federal and State, as needed. Chief ADA Vanessa Hadid is available by telephone until the
completion of the mission.
"Our tip of the spear is The Critical Incident Response Group, led by Special Agent In Charge Kurt Weller.
Special Agents Reade, Zapata, Zidan, and Bell, along with Field Operative Jane Weller are his team. Their POC
Point Of Contact) is AD Bethany Director, available by telephone for the duration of this mission."
"Our SVU Team is Sonny Carisi, DA's Office, Captain Olivia Benson, Sergeant Odafin Tutuola, and Detective Amanda
Rollins. ESU to back them up. From VICE, Katriona Tamin."
"Our Tech Staff, all from the New York FBI: FBI Special Agent Patterson, Special Consultant Rich dot Com,
Analyst Kristen Chazal, and Aram Motjabai. I've assigned them to ASPC Jubal Valentine. Raul, will you take over, please."
She steps away, raising a mobile phone to her ear, and the very dapper Esparza takes her place at the podium.
"U.S. Marshals have provided a Team headed by Allison Knight; The DEA Team has Kim Martinez leading them."
"Also, I nearly forgot: A two Man Strike Team from Section 20, Sgts Michael Stonebridge and Damien Scott, under the
supervision of Major Rachel Dalton, are attached to SA Weller's team. Lastly, Deputy Director Jake Keaton is on site with
us today, coordinating the CIA's response to this threat. Our Mossad counter-parts have sent Samar Navabi...please excuse
any persons or agencies I've failed to mention"
"I cannot stress enough the danger these Cabal scum present. They are international, they are RUTHLESS, and they have no
problem engaging with law enforcement. Their resources-UNLIMITED. They have contacts in the highest levels of most country's
governments. Our goal is to kill or bring in as many of them as possible, however-we want to see EACH OF YOU back here at
mission's end-the less damaged, the better. Thank you-God's speed."
[I wanna know what love is
I want you to show me
And I wanna feel, I want to feel what love is
And I know, I know you can show me]