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Release	By : KaticaLocke Category: G through L > Law & Order Views: 3499 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Law & Order, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

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"What's a morrigan?" Logan asked, breaking the silence.

"In Celtic mythology, the Morrigan is a goddess of battle, strife and fertility," Munch said.

"Her name means either "Great Queen" or - or "Phantom Queen" and either is ... more than appropriate." Bobby said.

"She can appear as a hooded crow," Deakins chimed in, grinning, "a single goddess, or a trio of goddesses; Morrigan, Badb, and Nemain."

"She's also the Washer at the Ford," Alex added, suddenly remembering the high school Mythology class she'd tried to sleep through, "an old crone who kneels at the riverbank and washes the clothes and arms of the men about to die in battle."

"Do you geeks have a club, or something?" Logan asked, frowning at them. "Is this the kind of crap they teach at those seminars I never go to? And what does any of this have to do with her?" He jabbed a finger at Bishop.

"According to my great-grandmother," Bishop said, not bothering to open her eyes, "we are descended from the only child of the Great Queen. As the legend goes, after a great battle, the Tuatha de Danann - the Fair Folk, were driven into the Hollow Hills by the Milesians, never to return." As she spoke, her voice took on a slight Irish brogue, sounding less like Bishop and more like an old woman. "The Morrigan, angry at their defeat, in the guise of a young woman, lay with King Milesius and conceived a child.

"When the child was born, a daughter, she appeared to a young farmer and his wife and bade them raise the child as their own. Then she disappeared from this world. The child, named Eriu, though by no means a goddess, could take the form of a crow and understand the tongues of birds. She could call up no magick of her own, but neither could magick be worked against her. She could sense impending war and death in battle, and sometimes, if she wished it, her touch could doom a warrior. She was very much her mother's daughter, just as I am very much her one hundred and twenty times great-granddaughter."

"That's a nice story," Elliot said after a moment, "but you can't really believe all that mythology crap." Bishop raised her head and looked at him, her eyes back to their normal green-gray color.

"Every woman in my family has the same powers I do. Some believe, some don't, but they all have them, so why waste time and energy denying facts. Denying what I am won�t make it go away. I am a Daughter of the Morrigan, regardless of my origins." She glanced up at Bobby. "You can put me down now, Detective Goren. I'm quite all right, just tired." He set her carefully on her feet, one hand lingering at the small of her back until it was clear that she wasn't going to fall over. What a perfect gentleman - Alex would have dumped her on her ass. Bishop turned to Munch. "So, do you just talk big, or can you really do something about this screaming ache in my shoulder?" His eyes jumped up to her face and his neck went a shade darker in the dim light.

"Right, yes, your shoulder." He placed his hands on either side of her shoulder, bowing his head as he muttered his spell or incantation or whatever. In a moment he pulled back and Bishop rotated her arm experimentally.

"Not bad," she said. "A little stiff, but time will take care of that. How about the rest of this?" All eyes traveled the length of her battered body, and Alex had the feeling that several of the men were suddenly lamenting the fact that they weren't warlocks as well. While Munch patched up Bishop, Alex pulled Bobby aside.

"Did you have any idea about her?" she asked. He shook his head.

"We never ... talked, really."

"The two of you worked side by side the entire time I was gone and you never even suspected there was something wrong with her?" Alex found that hard to believe. If your socks didn't match, Robert Goren could sense it.

"Everything was wrong with her, Eames. She wasn't you. I was too busy with - with cases and trying to pretend that nothing had changed, trying to make her ... you, I didn't really notice her." He frowned. "That wasn't fair, really." He turned suddenly, stepping back into the crowd of onlookers. She followed, curious to see what he was up to. She had a good idea, but with a man who half the time seemed to possess all the social graces of an orangutan, surprises were the norm.

"Every Sabbat?" Munch was saying as his hands moved methodically over Bishop's body. "Even Yule?"

"Of course. Don't you?"

"I have poor enough self esteem without dancing naked in the snow in the middle of winter, thank you," he said with a grimace. "Though by all means, let me know where you and your young, nubile friends are going to be and I'll be more than happy to watch."

"So how do you celebrate Yule?" Bishop asked. Munch muttered something about hanging a wreath and then stepped back.

"Okay, good as new." She took a moment to stretch her shoulders and back, running her hands over her body as if checking the craftsmanship. Alex could feel every man up there holding his breath.

"You can put you clothes on now," Alex said coldly. Bishop regarded her a moment with those wintery green-gray eyes, then headed across the roof toward her pile of clothes. "And you two," she said, turning toward Deakins and Carver. Their heads snapped around. "You're married."

"But not dead, Detective," Carver said. Alex sighed and rolled her eyes.

"At least we're not helping her into her underwear," Deakins pointed out with a barely contained laugh. Alex glanced, not at Bishop, but to where Bobby had been standing. He wasn't there anymore. Now, most people had a little voice that warned them not to look at a crime scene. It was usually ignored, but just about everyone had one. Alex's little voice had given up a long time ago. Glancing over at Bishop, her first instinct was to open fire. She couldn't hear what he was saying, but Bobby was speaking animatedly about something, Bishop's bra swinging from his fingers as he gesculated with every other word.

Knowing full well that her boss, at least, was watching her like a hawk, she forced a smile and shook her head.

"The big ape," she said. "He has no clue when it comes to personal boundaries. Last week I caught him going through my gym bag because he thought he could smell papaya."

"You gotta love the guy, though," Deakins said with a crooked smile. You sure do, Alex agreed silently. She turned as someone touched her shoulder.

"You want me to take care of those burns?" Munch asked. His face had an ashen pallor and was slick with a cold sweat.

"No, I'm fine," she answered, reaching out to take his arm as he swayed slightly. "Are you okay?"

"Just tired," he replied with a weak chuckle. "Don't worry about me, I'm just out of practice. Haven't done this much magick since Samhain. That's Halloween, to you laymen." He took a shaky breath as lines of sorrow etched deep into his face. "Kia always organized a costume ball for women and children who were victims of abuse."

"So what, you'd tell ghost stories and bob for apples?" Fin asked, stepping up next to his partner. He gave Alex a covert, worried glance.

"Among other things," Munch said, "There'd be good, hot food for those that hadn't eaten in a while, and face painting for kids without costumes. Then, when the night was just about over, we'd cast a protection charm on the lot of them, hop on our broomsticks and fly away."

"Do you wear those pointy hats and striped socks, too?" Fin asked.

"Always with the sarcasm," Munch said to her, raising his shoulders. "He thinks I'm joking."

"You mean, you really can fly on brooms?" Alex asked. He gave her a tired smile. He was still pale, but the sickly gray color had left.

"Sure, and if you play your cards right, I might take you for a spin sometime."

"Thanks," Alex said with a shudder, "but I hate flying."

"Flyin' don't bother me," Fin said, shooting his partner an eager look.

"Good for you," Munch replied, winking at Alex as he turned away.

"You know, I hope somebody drops a house on your ass," Fin called after him. He shook his head, then gave Alex a crooked grin. "He'll take me, you wait and see."

~*~*~*~*~*~

They dared not wait too long to proceed with the ritual. Dawn was coming, and there was no telling what Raum might try next. Once Munch had rested a bit and Bishop was properly attired once more, their warlock gathered them together for one last pep-talk.

"Raum underestimated us," he said, sounding pleased with himself. "He's probably off somewhere nursing his wounds and wondering what other tricks we might have up our sleeves. Just in case he's not, and he does return, it is imperative that once the circle is joined, no one must break it under any circumstances. As long as the circle is unbroken, his magick can do us no harm."

"Then why bother us at all?" Edward asked. "I mean, he has to know it won't do any good."

"Even experienced witches have been known to break a circle," Munch informed them. "If he can scare someone, make one of us panic, the spell will collapse." He stopped talking, but Alex could feel an 'and' coming on. "And if that happens, I'm not sure any of us would survive." The rooftop burst into loud, angry chatter.

"You could of told us that earlier." Novak's voice rose above the hubbub.

"He said it was dangerous," Elliot said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"He never said we might all die," Novak shot back. She was scared, her eyes wide, wild.

"I'd probably survive," Bishop put in, not helping the situation at all. The ruckus rose up again, everyone talking at once, trying to be heard. Alex stuck the tips of her fingers between her lips and silenced them with a sharp whistle.

"All right then," she said in her clipped, no nonsense tone of voice, "I think we're all overlooking one important fact. This only becomes dangerous if the circle is broken. The solution: hold each other's hands like your lives depend on it." Glances were passed around like bad hors d'voures. She couldn't exactly blame them. The thought of putting her life in Novak's hands didn't exactly leave her with a warm, fuzzy feeling. Half these people had only just met, but there wasn't time to build a fire and sing Kumbayah while they got to know each other. The sky to the east was already beginning to silver with the coming dawn. "I don't know about the rest of you," she said softly, "but I won't let go."

"Neither will I." Of all the people that could have backed her up, Bishop would have been her last guess. The willowy detective was standing next to Bobby, her hand resting on his arm and Alex felt that cold knot slink back into the pit of her stomach. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Bobby, who was watching her with twitching lips and laughing eyes. Oh yes, her hanging all over you is so amusing, she wanted to snap. Almost as entertaining as watching you play with her underwear.

Green is not your color, he'd reply with a smile, and he'd be right. Jealousy did not become her. And what the hell did she have to be jealous of? This was Bishop, for crying out loud. He'd sooner hook up with Elliot.

"Me neither," Fin said from beside her, jarring her from her thoughts.

"And neither will I," Edward said. Almost as one, the rest vowed the same. Munch cleared his throat.

"Why can�t we feel this kind of camaraderie every day? Why does something bad always have to happen first?� He sighed and shook his head. �Detective Goren, if you would enter the circle, please. Careful not to disturb the salt." Bobby moved to the center, his fingers playing over the stem of the hydrangea as he glanced from face to face, his head cocked slightly to one side. "Okay, Casey, you're first." He took the wide-eyed red-head by the elbow and escorted her to the northern point of the circle. Alex tried to pay attention to what Munch was telling her, but she found her attention drawn again and again to Bobby. For such a big bear of a man, he looked so fragile standing there in a circle of salt, a faded flower clutched in his nervous fingers.

He raised his head and their eyes met. Yes, he was nervous, but he wasn't afraid. His face, for once, was an open book. He knew she wouldn't let him down. She looked away, wishing she was as sure. "Alex, you're up." Bishop had been placed in the east, and Munch was waiting for her in the south. Alex took her position, across from Novak, with Bobby directly between them, the wand held tight in her right hand. Her stomach fluttered as Olivia stepped up to the west point. Here we go.

"Okay, ladies, nice and easy, remember what I told you."

"With this Wand/Chalice/Pentacle/Athame I summon the spirit of the South/West/North/East," Alex and the others said in unison, their voices rising and falling as one, diverging on their own separate paths, and then joining together again. "Spirit, I call upon the power of Fire/Water/Earth/Air; let your energy pour through me and aid me in this task." As Munch as instructed, Alex held her wand at arm's length, catching movement out of the corner of her eye as Olivia did the same. "An it harm none, do as you will." The words echoed in the suddenly silent night. As the echoes died away, there came a muted crackle, a rumble, a rush, a roar, and Alex jumped, almost dropping her wand as the tip of the wood burst into flames. Eyes wide, she glanced over at Olivia, whose mouth was hanging slack as water poured over the lip of the chalice. Novak was shaking as rich, black soil fell from between her fingers onto the roof. Bishop stood calmly as her hair danced around her face in an unseen wind storm.

"Well done," Munch said quietly, "we have their attention. You can set them down now, carefully, on the outside of the circle." Alex laid the wand on the graveled roof, half expecting it to go out, but the flames danced higher, racing down the entire length of the wood. Instead of blackening, the polished white surface gleamed brighter. She tried to swallow and found her mouth dry and tasting of ash. She shivered. "Gentlemen, take your positions."

Logan stepped up to her right, Carver to her left. Apparently, Logan needed someone even calmer than the stoic ADA. She smiled as Dr. Huang took that position of honor. They looked like a clock, Alex realized suddenly. Novak was at twelve o�clock, Munch at one, Fin at two, then Bishop, Edward, Logan, herself at six, then Carver, Deakins, Olivia, Elliot and Dr. Huang, with Bobby right in the middle. Once everyone was in place, Munch had them take their plants in their right hands and extend that hand palm up, toward the person on their right.

With Munch�s guidance, Novak took his hand, the edelweiss clasped between their palms. The second they touched, Alex could feel a change in the air, a heaviness, like an electrical storm on the rise.

�An I stand firm, let no power harm that inside this circle,� Novak said, her voice shaking, �but an the circle break, let all be undone.� Munch took Fin�s hand and the hairs on the back of Alex�s neck stood on end. He repeated the sentence and Alex tensed as Fin reached for Bishop. It was like standing under the heavy lines that ran beside the road near her cousin�s farm in Nebraska, the air buzzing with electricity. Except this wasn�t electricity, it was magick. The others were glancing about, most with wild, jumpy eyes.

�It�s all right,� Munch assured them. �This is perfectly normal.� No one looked convinced, but they held their ground as Bishop joined hands with Edward, and Edward with Logan.

�Careful,� Alex whispered as Logan took her hand. She�d tried to offer only the bare stem of the holly branch, but the wicked leaves scratched him anyway, drawing a thin line of blood. He gave her a crooked smile as he said his piece, and then it was her turn. She touched Carver and forced herself to draw slow, steady breaths as the power crawled all over her skin. �An I stand firm,� she said, her voice muted, hollow, like she was talking into a bucket, �let no power harm that inside this circle, but an the circle break, let all be undone.� She closed her eyes, telling herself over and over again to be calm, to stay still, to not freak out. The power pressed upon her, like she�d been buried in sand, but sand that crawled and dug under your skin, itching against the inside of your skull. She was barely aware of the others, listening only for Dr. Huang�s voice, as he was the last.

�All right,� she heard Munch say, his voice strained, �on three, step forward, well into the circle. One. Two. Three.� It was like stepping through a sheet of icy water. Alex gasped as the magick lifted, leaving her shaking on the other side. The others weren�t much better, all of them staring around in shock and disbelief at the shimmering curtain of light surrounding them. It reminded her of the force-fields on Star Trek, only a deep, dark purple, almost black, with lighter threads of blue racing across the surface. �Make sure you stay clear of that,� Munch said, nodding at the light. �Any living that tries to pass in or out now gets turned to ash.� Several people shuffled forward another few inches.

"What now?" Alex asked, taking slow breaths to try and calm her racing heart. She still felt slightly light-headed.

"Time to ask for a little divine intervention," Munch said. "Whatever deity you believe in, visualize yourself receiving their blessing, their energy. Or if you can't do that, picture the energy coming from the earth, or the stars. However you want to do it, imagine yourself filling with power, like a white light, saturating every particle of your being." Alex hadn't been one of the 'faithful' for a long time. It was hard to maintain a belief in the benevolent Almighty when one saw the things she did everyday. She had never consciously stopped believing, and when things got rough she still prayed, but she rarely felt that connection with God that she used to have as a child. She used to miss it, but lately, she'd forgotten to even do that anymore.

Closing her eyes, she turned her face to the sky, trying to picture a brilliant beam of white light shooting down from the sky into her. Wow, isn't this just like a kid, she thought to herself, ignoring You until I need something, and then expecting You to just hand it over.

That's what parents do, came the amused reply. The voice almost sounded like her own, but with a bit of Bobby thrown in there - a strange combination for the voice of her subconscious mind.

Yeah, well, it doesn't make it right, Alex argued. There wasn't anything better to do while she visualized the light filling her from her feet up to the top of her head.

What does right or wrong have to with love? the voice asked. Love just is.

Somebody better slap that on a greeting card quick, Alex thought, her lips quirking in a cynical smile. That kind of prefect love doesn't exist.

Gives you something to aspire to, though. There was that amused tone again. Alex couldn't see anything funny about the situation. Now, open your eyes, Alex, and see what perfect Love and perfect Trust has made of you and your friends. Alex opened her eyes, her entire being settling into a quiet stillness as she looked from one face to another.

When her nephew had been born, and she lay there in the hospital bed, aching and exhausted, with her sister by her side, both of them with tears running down their cheeks, and then the nurse placed that tiny little person on her chest and she looked down at the life she had helped bring into the world, in that moment, nothing else in the whole of human existence mattered the way he did. Looking into his face, it was like seeing color for the first time, like holding all that was divine and magical in her arms. That was what it was like as she looked at her friends, seeing in their faces the same divinity, the same magic that she saw every time she looked at her nephew. They glowed.

She glanced at Bobby, standing alone in the center, staring at her as if he'd never truly seen her before. Around the circle, the others were looking around, making small sounds of wonder and awe. "Just as divinity is within us all, so shall Their power be ours to call," Munch said quietly. The light began to fade, but Alex could feel it drawing deep into herself, concentrating at her core. She glanced over at Munch, their eyes met, and he nodded once. �Okay, Alex, show time.�
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