Crux

Law

Crux

Original title: Quid

Story and English translation ©Αγάπη.

Law & Order characters ©Dick Wolf.

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Copies or reproductions without permission are prohibited.

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WARNING! The story contains/mentions sensitive topics: mpreg, sex, violence, torture, murder, cannibalism, discriminatory language, abortion, and religious cults.

NOTE!: I am not a native English speaker, nor do I live in an English-speaking country. I have utilized all the resources available to me and my expertise as an English-to-Spanish translator to ensure that the text reads as if it were initially written in US English. Please note that my grasp of English grammar and its nuances is still developing. Thus, I welcome your constructive feedback and proofreading assistance.

Thanks to Nine, Dovesliveon, and Aneria for their valuable observations.

NOTE 2: The TV shows Hannibal and Blue Bloods are mentioned.

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For Sandy.

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Law

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What would you do if we woke up and the whole world was gone?

Well, would you believe with me is where you belong?

-In the Middle, Theory of a Deadman.

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The windows of the emergency room at Harlem Hospital endured the relentless pounding of the violent storm. Betty, who was working the overnight shift, became worried as the water began seeping through the glass doors. She was grabbing the phone to contact maintenance when the power suddenly failed. The emergency generator took a few moments to light up the room when a car crashed into the wall beside the reception area, a mere step away from Betty. The nurse clung to the phone, pale, her heart pounding within her ears.

"Oh, my goodness!" a bystander exclaimed. "It's a carrier!"

Betty promptly relied on her training and hurried past the bystanders to the driver's side with the broken window. The sight that drew her attention was not the man with his bleeding face on the airbag, one hand on his slightly swollen and contracting abdomen, nor the puddle of thick, greenish liquid with the peculiar aroma of amniotic fluid that soaked the driver's seat and indicated fetal distress. Rather, the image that left her speechless was the torture marks all over the man's unclothed body.

"Please..." the man sobbed, "Help."

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The elevator doors in the ICU opened just before nine p.m. Detective Jalen Shaw took three steps forward before asking his partner, "Is everything okay?"

Detective Cosgrove was still in the elevator and paying close attention to his phone for a response to his last message. Putting his phone away and stepping out of the closing doors of the elevator, he raised his head and took in the room.