PREVIOUSLY ON BLUE:

Last Season on NYPD BLUE, the 15th had a shooting instead of a wedding. Now the 15th must wait and see if their Lieutenant, Tony Rodriguez, will pull through…

((For the 10th Season Finale of Blue go to: http://www.stwing.upenn.edu/~sepinwal/summaries/22skidoo.html ))

ONE;

Detective Ashleigh Troy hated hospitals; she also hated elevators for that matter. Looking over the rim of her baggy black fisherman’s hat, she kept her blue eyes locked on the floor as she exited the elevator. The news of Tony Rodriguez’s shooting kept going round and round in her head.

Rodriguez had taught her everything she needed to know about Narcotics. Glancing up as she brushed some of her long brown hair behind her shoulder, Ashleigh stopped just in front of the viewing window.

After a few minutes she walked into Rodriguez’s hospital room. “You look like shit.” She told her ex-partner with a smile. Sitting next to him, Ashleigh pulled off her hat to let the long hair fall around her shoulders. “But nice shit in a way.”

~~

“Relax.” Detective Connie McDowell snapped at her lover and fellow squad mate, Detective Andy Sipowitz. He had been pacing the floor of the break room.

Andy glared at Connie. “Right.” He muttered. Running a hand over his bald head, Andy’s scowl deepened. Walking out of the break room, He spotted Ashleigh, sitting next to Rodriguez. His angry flew over the top at the fact that the girl was either a reporter or a Fraker protector in IAB…assessing Fraker’s damage. “A person’s got to ask himself why a person is bending over a hospital patient.” He told Ashleigh standing in the door way. “At this time of night it’s probably IAB.”

“Let me guess…Andy Sipowitz.” Ashleigh muttered as she stood. Looking at him, she sighed. “Ashleigh Troy…Friend of Rodriguez and I come in peace.” She told him holding her hands up as if Andy had pointed his gun at her.

Letting the dark haired girl go past him, Andy looked at Medavoy and Jones. “Andy.” Medavoy called as they. Looking at Ashleigh, he glanced at Andy before speaking. “John just called…” He looked at Ashleigh again wondering if he should continue tell the case as the others of the squad came out.

Sighing, Ashleigh reached into her coat’s inner pocket, and tossed Andy her badge from over her shoulder. “5609.” She told him.

“On the job?” Clark asked.

“Took a leave, to check up on my old partner.” She told him cocking her head back to Rodriguez’s room. “Any questions.”

Connie looked at Ashleigh. “You worked with the boss.”

“Well till he became a boss.” Ashleigh told Connie.

“Andy.” Medavoy called again getting the group’s attention back to his issue.

Scratching his head, Andy looked at Medavoy irritated. “What is it Medavoy.”

“John just called.” Medavoy repeated looking down at the note. “A rape victim just arrived…”

“Get to the point.” Andy snapped.

“They wanted to -to- know if we could spare a detective or two for the case.”

“That’s great.” Andy started to rant. “They want us to work a case with Rodriguez in the hospital.”

Connie rolled her eyes. “Tell em to call another squad.” Clark told Medavoy.

“So just cuz Rodriguez was shot you all aren’t going to catch a case?" Ashleigh asked confused. "He wouldn't like that very much."

"And you know what he wants?" Andy snapped at her.

Ashleigh pulled her head back as if she had smelled something fowl. "And you do? That's a shocker. Rodriguez is in the hospital, take the case."

Backstepping, Ashleigh looked at Andy as took a step towards her. "And who's going to run the squad?"

Medavoy looked at Andy before clearing his throat. "Maybe, we should choose who we want as a temp boss."

"Like who?" Clark asked.

Ashleigh looked at Andy before pointing at him. "Him." Ashleigh stated. "Well I mean you did it when Fraker set up Rodriguez right? And this would be different cause?" She locked eyes with Andy. "What you want IAB to send some punk over here and take over. Twist the truth about Rodriguez."

"You staying around?" Andy asked stepping closer to Ashleigh.

This time Ashleigh didn't move as the two stood toe to toe. "Until you throw me out." Ashleigh told Andy bluntly.

"Junior..." Andy paused. "Take Troy here and go talk to the girl." He stated warily.

Nodding, Clark cocked his head and left with Ashleigh. Connie looked at Andy. "You doing the right thing." She told him softly before squeezing his hand.

~~~

Elliot Stabler rubbed his eyes as he spotted his partner coming out of the elevator. "Nineteen year old girl. Raped." He told her. "No ID." Pausing he looked at Olivia Benson. "What took you so long?"

"Didn't you see that press out side." She asked. "Something is going down."

"Cop was shot." Elliot told her as they came around the corner. Looking at the two other people at the counter he flashed his badge.

"Where's the rape victim?" Clark and Elliot asked at the same time before all four detectives looked at each other.

TWO:

Ashleigh was the first to speak. "Who the heck are you?" She asked Elliot.

"Detective Elliot Stabler. This is my partner Detective Olivia Benson." Elliot informed the two of them. "Are you the parents."

"Do I look like I gave birth to a nineteen year old?" Ashleigh asked. "Detectives Ashliegh Troy and-"

"John Clark." Clark interuppted for her. "We're detectives from the 15th. Mind telling us what your doing here?"

"Working a case." Olivia told them. "You."

Clark nodded. "Working a case." He repeated. "Nineteen year old rape victim. No ID." He stated reading the note from Medavoy.

"That's the case." Elliot stated.

Ashleigh looked at Elliot. "That's our case." She stated bluntly to him. "Where are you from any ways?" She asked.

"Special Victims"

"Sex crimes, your territory." Clark stated. "Our Case. We're working it."

Olivia looked at Ashleigh and Clark. "Come on." She stated bluntly to both of them. "Thanks for the help but we can take it from here."

"Like Hell." Ashleigh snapped moving infront of Olivia.

"Ashleigh." Clark stated. "I'm sorry Detectives. I'm afraid you've got the wrong case."

Elliot looked at Clark. "How about you let us take the case and you can go back to filling out fives on perps that shoot gas station clerks."

Lunging, Ashleigh Grabbed Clarks arm. "Don't. Fraker all ready has put enough fire on our asses to cook us alive." She hissed at him. "Go talk to your captian." She told Elliot. "We're not handing it over."

"Excuse me." The nurse behind the counter stated.

"Yeah?" All four asked.

"She's not seeing anyone." She told them. "She's uncousious and in critical condition. Your disturbing my paients, please leave."

"We should go tell Andy." Ashleigh stated.

"It was your grand scheme to take a case with Rodriguez in the hospital."

"Kiss me bum." Ashliegh snapped.

Elliot looked confused. "You know about the shooting?" He asked them.

"Maybe." Ashleigh told him.

"Who was it?" Olivia asked them. Looking at Ashleigh and Clark, she sighed. "We're on the same team."

"Our boss." Clark sighed. "Tony Rodriguez."

"And the asshole Fraker." Ashleigh agreed.

"Rat Squad. Couldn't have happened to a better person." Elliot muttered sarcastically.

Ashleigh snorted at that comment. "Whose leading the case?" Olivia asked.

Both Clark and Ashleigh didn't answer.

"How is your boss?" Elliot asked softly.

"Stable." Clark stated. "We've got a case to work."

Shaking her head, Olivia looked at Ashleigh. "Do we need a court order?"

"Well." Ashleigh stated. "If it makes you feel powerful. Get it." She told her. "It's our case. So Go get your court order." She ordered Olivia. "Good night Detectives."

"OUT!" The nurse snapped at the four of them.

The four detectives made it for the elevator and were silent as they road down it. Clark made sure that Ashleigh didn't spark a fight with Olivia. Part of him wondered if Rodriguez had to deal with her smart mouth at times too. But then he had trained her so Rodriguez was part of the reason for the smart mouth.

Looking up, Rita spotted Clark and Ashleigh coming down the hall with Elliot and Olivia behind them. "What's wrong? IAB?" She asked Clark.

"Sex Crimes." He muttered as Andy stood up to look at the two of them. "Hey."

"Bring home the Rats?" Andy asked looking at Ashleigh.

"Detectives Stabler and Benson." Elliot told Andy, "Sex Crimes." He added flashing his badge. "You in charge..."

"Detective Sipowitz." Andy told him. "I'm in charge." It felt odd saying that. "How's the girl?" He asked Clark.

"Critical. Unconious." Clark answered. "We couldn't get into talk to her."

Andy looked at Elliot. "They were just leaving." Ashleigh snapped looking at Olivia and Elliot. Both Clark and Andy knew the back story with Ashleigh. Rodriguez's old partner, there was a loyality that not many could place since both worked undercover narcotics. Now Ashleigh saw herself as her partners protector, which was something that Rodriguez needed more then anything.

THREE:

"What was their names again?" Cragen asked Elliot in the morning at the station house.

"Ashleigh Troy and John Clark." Olivia stated.

Odafin Tutuola looked up. "Troy?" He repeated.

Cragen, Elliot and Olivia looked at him and John Munch. "Heard of her?"

"Works Narc." He told them. "She's a whirlwind."

"We found that out last night." Olivia stated.

Cragen nodded. "What's a Narcotics detective doing working rape case?" He asked them.

"Clark dropped then name Tony Rodriguez." Elliot told Cragen.

Cragen rested his head on his chest. He knew what had happened to Rodriguez. "Lt. Tony Rodriguez." He corrected Elliot. "He was shot last night by Captian Fraker."

"Of IAB?" Munch asked. "That's showing the government is-"

"Shut up, John." Cragen snapped at him. His attention turned to Alex. "Consulor."

"Captian." Alex greeted. "Well do we have a case?" SHe asked Elliot.

Swallowing Elliot shrugged. "We didn't get to talk to her." He told her. "We were stopped by Two other detectives."

"What?"

"From the 15th." Cragen clarified for Alex. "They were all ready at the hospital when the call came over the wire."

"And?"

"They won't hand over the case." Olivia informed her. "Can we make them?"

"I'll try." Alex sighed.

~~~

Valerie Haywood looked at Ashleigh as she slept next to Rodriguez. The detective's hand clasped her partners tightly as her other was used as a pillow. "Valerie." Baldwin called. "How can we keep the case?"

"I can file an appeal saying that it's in our precient area." Valerie sighed pulling her eyes back to the memebers of the 15th. "It's a long shot, seeing that your going up against the SVU. They work these types of cases for breakfast. It's never been challenged of having two different precients going for the same case. The judge will probably rule in the favor of the victim."

Andy nodded. "What do you need to know?"

"Who's Troy?" Valerie asked him. "Relationship wise to Lt. Rodriguez."

"Ex-Partner." Rita told her. "The boss taught her in the ways of undercover Narcotics. She came on her own clock after hearing about the shooting."

"She working the case?"

"Unofficially." Andy told her.

Valerie sighed again. "Make it official I don't want Alex Cabot to have the case taken due to Detective Troy investigating the case."

~~~~

"The case is clearly a case for Special Victims, your honor." Alex argued to the judge. "They handle cases of this magnatude everyday. Plus with the added stress Lt. Rodriguez's shooting, the detectives of the 15th are in no shape of working this type of case."

"No Shape?" Valerie muttered. "Please Alex. The detectives of the 15th are well and capable of working this case. If not they wouldn't have even gone up to question the victim."

"It wasn't just the Detectives of the 15th though." Alex countered. "Detective Ashleigh Troy works for the Narcotics Division, undercover. A case like this could blow her cover on future cases."

"I've heard enough counselors." Judge Roggers stated. "This is the most appaling thing I've ever seen. Two squads fighting over a case. I hope that they both have the victim's interest in heart?"

"Yes your honor." Both women stated.

Sighing, Roggers shook his head. "I'm sorry Miss Cabot, Miss Haywood. I see no reason on why one squad shouldn't work it just because it's their specialty or because it's in their division. Work the case together or hand it over to another division."

Both DAs were silent but nodded. Leaving Rogger's chambers Valerie was the first to speak. "How about having them meet at the Hospital?" She asked Alex.

"What's wrong with the station house?"

"None of them are wanting to leave Rodriguez. Plus having your detectives at the hospital will insure that they get a chance to question the victim the minute she's awake. Deal?"

Alex nodded after a minute. "Deal." Pausing Alex looked at Valerie. "Why is Detective Troy involved."

Valerie shook her head. She refused to tell. "Just have your detectives at the hospital."

FOUR:

Even Cragen was at the hospital for the meeting. Stepping out of the elevator the squad could all ready smell the scent of coffee brewing and it was strong. Sitting around the room that their lieutenant was in was the 15th as if they were gaurding them. Ashleigh's hair was now pulled back in a sloppy bun as she sat infront of Rodriguez's room. All seemed foul so it was safe to say that Valerie had all ready told them of the combining the two squads. "Let's play meet and greet." He ordered.

Watching the 15th state their names, Cragen looked each over. Till they came to Ashleigh. "Miss Troy. Care to tell everyone your involvement?"

Biting her lip, Ashleigh hung her head. "Rodriguez is an old partner. He taught me what I know." She told him. "Happy?"

"Not at all." Cragen stated. "This isn't your squad, or division."

Standing, Ashleigh looked at Cragen. Her face blank and emotionless. Reaching into her coat, she handed him the papers, John had gotten for her. "I'm on loan." She told Cragen bluntly and with a detached tone. "To the 15th, Captian. So for the present, This is my squad. I report to Detective Sipowitz until Lt. Rodriguez tells me otherwise."

"You've got a mouth on you, Troy." Fin stated.

An eerie smile came over Ashleigh's face. "You have no idea, detective." She taunted. "Who you all?"

Listening to the SVU detectives, Ashleigh looked at Andy. "What's the what boss man?" She asked as he came forward.

"How close are you to finding the girls identification?" Andy asked. His question however was more indicated to the members of the 15th instead of to both squads.

"No ID on the scene." Elliot answered to Andy. "She awake?"

Andy looked at Elliot with his usual, 'You got to be shitting me look'. "We just hang around talking to you if she was."

"I'm just checking." Elliot snapped back at him.

Connie rolled her eyes. "Andy!" She snapped at him, getting his attention. "Missing Persons just came through." She whispered in his ear. "Girl fitting her description was just called in. Natalia Guilani."

"An immigrant?" He snapped at her.

"Russian." Connie corrected. "Legally here. Student Visa."

"Oh yeah that's just great." Andy ranted. "More here on student Visas. And Russian." He looked at Fin who raised an eyebrow at him as Andy ranted. Rubbing his bald head, he sighed. "Her name is Natalia Guilani. She's on a Student Visa from Russia." He told them respectively. "At least we think."

"How do you know?" Olivia asked them.

"Missing persons." Connie told Olivia. "We won't know till the girls awake but everything fits the description on her."

"What's the story on her?" Elliot asked the seemingly only civil one of the squad.

"Here to study art from Russia. Not sure where, yet. Room mate reported her missing two days ago."

"Two days ago?" Cragen asked. "She was kept and then raped?"

Connie shrugged. "Don't know until we talk to her...sir."

"Easier said then done." Rita stated coming out of the Elevator. She looked at the SVU squad. "We loose the case?" Watching her partner shake her head, Rita listened to her explanation. "Detective Rita Ortiz, She was just taken to surgery. Her Blood pressure dropped and she tore some stitches inside of her. They don't know if she's going to pull through."

"Fin, Munch," Cragen stated starting to dish out orders. "I want you to go with- Baldwin and Medavoy to talk to the school about Guilani. Elliot, Olivia, you go with Clark and Troy to talk to the room mate. See if she had any boyfriends. McDowell, Ortiz, you two go to Missing Persons and see if you could have the file."

Elliot looked at Ashleigh and Clark as the two waited for Andy to clarify what he wanted them to do. Andy nodded. "On the Radio if I hear anything."

"All right let's go find out about Natalia." Ashleigh stated putting on her coat.

"Right." Olivia stated watching her carefully. She didn't like the fact that Three different station houses were involved in one case. To many people but it would definitely cut down on the over time and all. of course that also was if She didn't end up killing Ashleigh for being a bitch