I love the Dodds okay. I know what's coming but I love them.
Like, Chief Dodds strolls on day 1 all "omg pick your battles you don't know politica Benson" within 1 case is all "omg Olivia you're the best" (ends up taking her to events and cheering her into Lieutenant status after Tucker told her to do it - THIS WOMAN HAS IAB AND HER CHIEF AT HER BACK OKAY)
Meanwhile, Dodds Jr is all "omg doesn't she know the pick your battle rules?" Whole Fin is just like "lol this is Olivia Benson she'd fight all of NYC for a victim haven't your heard?"
I just love that both of them are immediately in a "wait this isn't how you play this game how could she?" And then immediately back her as well. Like yeah, Chief Dodds still bosses her but that is his job he wants her to climb and do good and we see that.
We get told "they want someone they can trust as your sgt" but then Dodds Jr blatantly tells Olivia "my dad said I'm here to help you with " - 1PP may wanted someone they trusted but Dodds went "bet my son is trusted" and put him there so he could learn, grow, and HELP her as well in the process.
Just... I love the fact this family that is clearly a raised in it family took one look at this woman who is pushing boundaries and not playing politics by anyone's comfort and went "yeah, we back her"
hi here's a rambling of my thoughts, warning this is kind of long.
so I'm just sitting here thinking about law & order SVU as always, and I'm thinking about how seasons 1-12, and Season 13 onward are two totally different shows. the show premiered only two months after I was born but I watched it my whole childhood, probably not great for my development probably not a great thing for me, but I remember watching episodes of the show as early as when I was 6 years old. but then in like 7th grade I fell in love with the show so I've seen every single episode, and they're just 2 different shows to me. the big reason is because seasons 1-12 had a fiercely established cast. the only thing that really changed was when Jeffries left after only one season and Ice T came on, and when Cabot was replaced with Novak, and then the big big change was when Elliot left after season 12, but that's not all that changed.
cause in seasons 1-12, there was an extra element of the show that i kinda miss; the medical examiner was a main character, as was a psychologist, and a forensics guy that we saw consistently, we even saw the taru guy Morales on a regular basis. the forensics, psychology, and autopsy element of the show was a big part of it, sort of similar to NCIS. but then in season 13 and onward we don't really see any of that stuff, and it's a treat when we do. and also in the seasons following 13, there was a lot of consistent cast changes, meaning you could break down those seasons even further.
seasons 13, 14, and up to the halfway point of 15 is an established cast. we have Nick and Amanda join the crew to replace Stabler, no one leaves and during that time frame we also get Barba. but then in season 15, Munch and Cragen both leave and this is when Olivia is placed in a leadership position. now this is a significant change in the show cuz her role is completely different after that point.
and then season 16? new character. Sonny Carisi is here everybody. but then at the end of 16? Nick is gone. so then 17? another new character, Sergeant Dodds is here but then he dies, but no one replaces him, so season 18 is pretty chill. but then what happens halfway through season 19? Barba leaves, nother new character, Peter Stone is here and he stays on through season 20, so season 20 is chill like season 18. but then guess what? Peter Stone is leaving, so season 21 you would think the new character would be an ADA but instead ooh let's give Carisi a career change so now he's the ADA, so that's a structural change and then a few episodes in what happens? nother new character, Kat's here now. now it's season 22 guess what? nother new character, Chief Garland is a main character now.
so when you rewatch the newer seasons, you can actually pick a character to base your rewatch around like oh I'm going to watch the Nick Amaro years and watch Seasons 13 to 16 or oh I'm going to watch the Barba years or the Carisi years, hell you could even watch the detective Carisi years or the ADA Carisi years.
I'm not saying this as a bad thing i think it's neat. i don't feel like svu 1.0 is better or worse than 13 onward, i actually have what feels like the unpopular opinion bc I really love Carisi, Amanda, and Barba so I watch those episodes more than I do early seasons, but it feels like two completely different shows to me.
the only complaint I do have is the fact that we never got to see Carisi and Munch interact because I think they would be a good duo.
The sun was setting on the horizon as you strolled along the path in Central Park alongside Mike. Your hand was resting upon your stomach, smoothing over the fabric of your shirt absentmindedly. You had caught yourself doing that a lot lately. You let your hand drop back down to your side, accidently brushed Mike’s. You pulled your hand away tucking it into the pocket of coat.
You couldn’t bear to touch him, despite the fact you still loved him, there was no way you could forget what he had done to you. Walking out on you like that had left a scar that wouldn’t heal no matter how much you wanted it to.
"I want to be a part of the baby’s life." Mike said quietly into the air between the two of you.
He buried both of his hands into the recesses of his dark coat, the hem fluttering around his shins as he walked.
"Yea I want that too." You told him, running your hand over you growing baby bump.
You had always longed for a family of your own, you and Mike had been talked about it before he had ‘died’. The problem had always been conception, your chances of conceiving were always going to be low due to an issue with endocarditis. If you hadn’t managed to conceive within a couple of years, the two of you would have considered adopting or fostering.
The last time you had made love had been the first time the two of you had forgone the contraception. You’d both been too worked up to stop and at the time with your plans for the future it hadn’t seemed to matter.
“You getting tired?” Mike asked kindly, the fact your strides were getting shorter and your hand had come to rest on your lower back hadn’t escaped his notice.
"Yea. I am a little." You admitted as Mike gently guided you towards a vacant bench.
The two of you sat down alongside of each other. Mike waited for a moment for you to make yourself comfortable, his arm coming to rest upon the back of the bench. You could feel the heat rolling from his skin and resisted the urge to lean into him. You would always love Mike, the two of you had created something beautiful together but your relationship was over.
“I can’t forgive you for what you did.” You said quietly. “I’ve tried, and I’m sorry Mike I just can’t.”
The truth was out between the two of you and you could see how much it hurt Mike to hear those words. He swallowed hard, his gaze downcast as he nodded his understanding. You knew it was a bitter pill to swallow. Six months ago, the two of you had everything you ever wanted, you were planning your future together and now you were separate entities trying to decide what was best for the life that you created.
You knew without a doubt that Mike would be an excellent father and that he would do anything for this child. The two of you would figure out a way to co-parent, you and Mike were strong enough to make it work.
"I still want to be a dad.” Mike told you resolutely. “Even if we can’t be together, I want to be a dad to this baby.”
You reached out for his hand, taking it in your own and squeezing it tightly.
It was half seven in the morning and for some reason Mike was awake and alert. His shift didn't start for over four hours but here he was in the kitchen, making coffee for you. Not that cheap instant stuff you used either, today he was actually using your coffee machine, a device he both feared and hated since it had scalded him one too many times.
The alarm clock was chirping the bedroom as he entered, coffee in one hand, flower he'd picked from the shared garden in the other. His palm smacked the sleep button as he put the coffee on your night stand. You shuffled under the sheets, your arm going under the pillow as you turned on your side.
"I brought your coffee." he said in his deep, sleep fogged voice, before bending over, his lips brushing your forehead.
"Hm." you responded, burrowing even deeper into the covers.
You were grumpy first thing in the morning. Grumpy and immobile. Mike moved around to the bottom of the bed and climbed on board. His arm wrapped around your waist as he drew you and the covers up against him. His head propped up on one hand before he used the flower on you. He let it glide up the length of your bare arm. His head bent to kiss your neck, his lips brushing all those sensitive spots as the petals danced upon your naked skin and across your shoulder, then along the strap of your sky-blue strap top.
"Mm, what is that?" You mumbled as Mike's teeth grazed that erogenous zone behind your ear, causing you to shiver.
"It is a flower I picked for you." he murmured as you rolled onto your back.
Your hands were palm up on the pillow, your hair splayed out across the cool material. Your top rode up exposing your stomach, the flannel pyjama pants were riding low on your hips. Mike used the delicate petals to doodle a pattern on your stomach. You wriggled, biting your lower lip for a second, your face turned away into the pillow as he teased along the line of your pyjama pants.
"You like that." he whispered, his breath ghosting in your ear.
His words sent a shudder running through you, his proximity and body heat were giving you dirty, sexy thoughts. You nodded with an encouraging moan. Mike discarded the flower off the side of the bed before using his fingers to walk across your stomach until he got to the tie at the front of the pyjamas. He pulled the drawstring lightly until the knot came undone.
"I wanna make up for last night." he muttered, his palm slipping underneath the pyjama bottoms.
His hot mouth descended on your stomach. His tongue flicked around the circle of your belly button before he moved in between your legs. You could feel yourself getting wet already. His mouth was always promising, and you were always wanting.
Heat rushed through you as his tongue flicked over your sensitive nub. Your head tipped back into the pillow as Mike used his dexterous hands to slide your pyjama bottoms down over your legs.
"But you didn’t do anything last night." you reminded him, lifting your ass so he could take the pyjama bottoms off entirely.
"That is entirely my point." he informed you with a wolfish smile.
Mike's hands ran up your legs, his hands came to rest on your thighs, spreading you wider. His thumb traced the outline of your clit, making your back arch and your body quiver. He loved the taste of you, that and your scent.
His tongue to flick over your swollen nub. You bit the material of the pillow trying to stifle your groan as Mike sucked at your clit, your hands raked the sheets as his tongue fucked you.
"Oh God." You whimpered as you begun to come undone under his skilful hands.
His fingers grazed your wet centre as his tongue lapped over your clit. He slipped his finger inside you, your hips bucked against his mouth as he inserted a second finger. Your body responded to his rhythm, your moans were a symphony to his ears as he brought you to climax. He felt you tighten around his fingers as you cried out his name.
The explosion of pleasure rocked your body, you jerked and spasmed against his mouth, uttering the word "fuck" out loud as you came.
Mike reclaimed his fingers, and shifted onto his side of the bed, his hand caressing you lovingly. His lips were on your throat all over again, gentle and nuzzling.
“I love you.” He whispered into your ear. “I love you so much.”
Part Four of the UC!Mike Series. - If you are coming into this for the first time best read:
Part One: Left Behind
Part Two: Reflection
Part Three: Blue
It was raining when Mike came to stand underneath the street lamp outside of your apartment building. His collar was turned up against the droplets of water that poured down from the black, heavy clouds above. His love for you was pouring out from his shattered heart like a facet. There were so many words he wanted to say to you, to the unborn baby residing inside of you.
Instead all he could do was focus on the light gleaming from the bay window of your apartment. Your shape was clear in the warm glow. He could see the smile on your face as your palm rubbed over stomach tenderly. You weren’t showing much, just the beginnings of a baby bump straining across the fabric of your shirt.
You had to be almost five months pregnant.
He wondered if you could feel the baby moving around inside you, if it had started to kick.
Mike shoved his hands even deeper into the pockets of his leather jacket as he buried his face into the blue and green chequered scarf. He wanted to go up there and talk to you, to share the news but you had already made it clear that you didn’t want to speak to him.
After all he had found out about the baby the same way everyone else had. You’d informed your captain and been assigned instantly to desk duty. Word had gotten around after that and when he’d heard…
He had done the math and worked out that the baby could only be his.
Mike shivered against the cold, icy breeze that was blitzing through the air. He should be up there with you, holding you, loving you, instead he had left.
Now he was the one out in the cold.
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