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Chapter Text

“Her absence is like the sky, spread over everything.”

–C.S. Lewis

1996

"There's been an accident," was the only thing that continued to repeat in Jack's head. The other thing that hit him was to get to Sam and Vincent. Claire's little ones who were peacefully asleep, unaware that moments before their mother had died in a car crash.

So here he was holding the little girl and boy who was fast asleep on his chest as he waited. Waited for what? He wasn't sure.

The detectives came later but the one who came second was his predecessor, Ben Stone.

He looked exactly how Jack looked now, tired, no sleep, and heartbroken. Heartbroken and grief stricken over the loss of a woman they knew, admired, and cared for. Sam was still in his arms when he opened the door and let Ben Stone into his home. Vincent was fast asleep on the couch, a blanket thrown over the sleeping boy.

He somehow was able to ask Stone if he wanted something to eat or drink. He asked for a drink, Jack came back with a nice ten-year-old whiskey, two glasses filled with it for the men. Sam was tucked next to Ben.

"I hope that they remembers their mother," Ben said softly not to disturb the sleeping child next to him. "Claire was always determined to make some time with them. She was a better parent than I will ever be."

Jack nodded. Samantha and Vincent will remember their mother the way that she was but did not know what would happen next to her. Foster Care would be the next path but Jack knew that Claire's ghost would haunt him if he let them take Sam. He would have to wait for the will reading.

The two men did not say anything after that until a few days later.

The DA somehow, someway got a speedy way to get Kincaid's will reading, Jack thinks its for the children's sake. Jack thinks that Samantha and Vincent will go to relatives as he notices what looks like Claire's parents, to stuffy looking older man and woman who never once glances at their grandchildren. The little girl was sitting squished between Curtis and a saddened Mike Logan who is trying his hardest not to cry in front of the little girl while Vincent keeps asking questions about the police cars that makes Curtis laugh delighted at the young boy's curiosity of the police. Briscoe had yet to come over mostly out of guilt but from what Curtis had told him, Lenny would come around soon. Jack never blamed Lenny Briscoe - he blamed the driver who hit the car.

He tried to remember what Claire told him about her parents. Not anything good as she told him, "They don't acknowledge Sam or Riley. They acknowledge my cousin's two kids and my brother's children and stepchildren but not mine. I never wanted Sam or Vincent to feel little in their presence so I never spoke about them and they never bothered to check in on us."

Seems to Jack that even now with their only daughter dead, Mr. Bob and Mrs. Joan Kincaid didn't acknowledge their grandchildren and it seemed neither did Claire's brothers Tom and Robert Jr nor their wives Lisa and Helen.

When the will was read there was outrage on the Kincaid's part and shock on the other side. Claire without anyones knowledge had written a very iron-tight will that stated the following: Everything that belonged to her, money, jewelry, books, and other items would all go to her only children - split right down the middle, half and half for the children. The person that would be in charge of finances and the kids college funds as well as being their guardian was Jack McCoy.

Claire's father and brother called it an outrage but the Judge saw that there was absolutely nothing to be done. Her will was said and done, nothing was left to her parents except a very eloquently expletive letter to her family members that Jack would keep and show the kids years later.

One of Claire's brothers came close to Jack who did not show an ounce of fear. "This isn't the end. Claire should have known better."

The Kincaid family left which would be the last time either Jack, Vincent, and Sam would see them. Or so they thought but that would be years later.

A few weeks later, Briscoe came to help with the move and brought pizza to the delight of the children. The little girl proclaimed that Lenny was her "favorite detective in New York City" much to the smugness of Briscoe and the faux out-cry of Logan and Curtis that it made Samantha and her brother laugh with delight.

Jack was in the other room making sure all of Sam's stuff was well where she wanted them from the bed to the dressers and small bookcase and the pictures of Claire, Vincent, and Sam scattered around that it broke Jack's heart all over again. Still, he put up a good face for the young girl with promises to take her to buy her choice in color paint for her new bedroom. He promised the same thing to Vincent who nodded. The young boy, close to turning twelve knew that their mother was gone. He had put on a brave face as his sister cried at the funeral. A few tears escaped down his face that he wiped away. Jack told him not to hold anything in, that it was okay to let it out. The car ride back from the burial, Vicent cried himself to sleep.

Claire's items were stored in another room in his apartment where it could be accessible to either Jack, Vincent or Samantha. He hadn't wanted to put it in a storage facility or in the attic. He feared the items in there would be ruined or Claire's ghost would come back to haunt him for ruining her stuff.

He went downstairs to find Samantha and Vincent laughing at whatever Logan at told them while Curtis waved him over. He handed him a water while they all didn’t drink out of respect to Lenny going almost three weeks sober now. 

Jack knew that he was going to have to raise these children, be the parent that Claire was and had enough trust in him to have him be her childrens guardian.

It would be a long road to make sure these children heal and perhaps for Jack to heal.

2005

The kids were grown, that much was certain as Vincent was finishing up his third year in college at John Jay University getting a bachelor's degree in Criminology before heading to the Police Academy. Samantha was a Sophomore and already knowing what she wanted to do in life much to the amusement of Jack.

When some of his assistants after Claire asked who the kids in the picture frame was, Jack would respond, "Those are my children."

He had two framed pictures on his desk - one of him and the kids when Vincent was still in middle school and another of the children and Claire. Claire seemed to be laughing at whatever was off camera, Vincent pointing with a grin on his face as Samantha seemed to focus on whatever was causing such amusement to laugh alongside her mother.

When Vincent had graduated and off to college, Jack had given him a framed picture that Claire had kept - one of just the three of them before the accident.

"Thanks, Dad."

2023

"They want to reopen a case," A detective was telling Brady. Riley tried to tune it out until the next thing that came out of the detective's mouth made him freeze. "An accidental car crash. 1996 killed one person, an Assistant District Attorney. Granted this is a deathbed confession but it sounds legit, lady wants her niece and nephew to hear it. Says her nephew is a New York detective and her niece is an ADA but didn't get further than that before the nurses kicked me out. She did say that they were taken in by someone high powered."

"Who is it? Anyone we know?"

"Jack McCoy."

"Jesus," Leutnant Brady blows out of her mouth before saying. "Okay. Lemme take over. Go back to your other cases. I'll have Shaw look over." She sighed. "I have to make a call to Baxter."

Oh god, no! No! 

Because once Baxter knows then Price knows and then his sister knows... and Samantha won't be able to handle this. Hell, he isn't handling whatever this is now. Because his mother's death, unfortunately and fortunately was an open and shut case. A terrible accident that was closed and shut. Now, however, it seemed that was never the case at all.

It seemed that it wasn't an accident but possible a murder.

Chapter Text

“No one ever told me that grief felt so like fear.”
― C.S. Lewis, A Grief Observed

"We need to see Samantha's personal files," Brady tells EADA Nolan Price and DA Nick Baxter in her office with just Detective Shaw present. Shaw's partner and Nolan's ADA have both called out of work for the week siting "personal family issues" that at the time did not strike their bosses as strange. Now... now they realize both distanced themselves to avoid the blowback over the ties they held with the newly added murder investigation to a shut case decades earlier.

"W-why? Last time I checked Miss -" Nolan was cut off by Brady.

"Her last name is Kincaid, isn't it?"

"Yes but it's a coincidence."

"It's not," Brady said. She handed what Violet Yee had pulled up hours ago into the investigation that made them all pause. A New York clip of a newspaper that stated an obituary about their victim: Ms. Claire Kincaid, ADA of New York City and mother. "She leaves behind two children, a son, Vincent and a daughter, Samantha. End quote. Detective Vincent Kincaid and ADA Samantha Kincaid."

"But doesn't he go by Riley?" Baxter asked finally entering the chat as he had stood by and watched the talk unfold.

Brady nodded. "He does but it was a nickname that stuck from precinct to precinct." She tells them. "I also found this on his personal file. Kincaid isn't his only other last name. It's hyphenated to McCoy. And I bet Samantha Kincaid also has her last name stuck with McCoy."

Baxter and Price stare at the evidence in hand, silent just like the detectives who found it hours ago.

"Well, I think it's time we pay Jack McCoy a visit," Baxter states much to the bewilderment and confusion of the others. When asked why he merely shrugs. "Claire Kincaid was also the ADA under Jack McCoy before her untimely death as well as under Ben Stone. I do my research  as do all of you so it's best we pay Jack a visit to get to the bottom of this."

"Yes, we should," Brady says and grabs her coat. She tells Yee to come along. She had a feeling they would need all the back-up to help them with this.

Vincent had told the old man to lock the doors but Jack refused his son's request. He merely told him, "Start dinner, I have a feeling they'll be staying."

Samantha shoots their Dad a look but Jack smiles reassuringly at her before she leaves him to help her brother with the food.

The door knocks again and Jack finally answers. He sees Detectives Shaw, Violet Yee, and the new Lieutenant Brady. Behind the trio were Nolan and Nick. There's shock on their faces before they covert up.

"Jack," Greeted his successor as everyone else did not speak for a few seconds. "May we come in?"

"Of course," He said. Loudly for his kids to hear, "Join us for dinner. I insist."

The entered the home, the only noise that could be heard was the sizzling of food being cooked and footsteps with music all coming from the kitchen. Jack smiled and told them they can put their coats hanging on the coat hanger. Once they did that, they followed Jack to the kitchen.

It was there they found their colleagues cooking while singing softly to the music that was playing. Elton John's Goodbye Yellow Brick Road was playing as Sam and Vincent were moving around the kitchen as they finished cooking what seemed to be dinner.

"You may have to add more pasta after all," Jack said to his children. Vincent looked up to see his coworkers before merely nodding at his dad and went back to finishing up dinner. He dumped the rest of the pasta into the boiling water, then went to chop up the basil. Sam was finishing up making dessert. Neither had known their coworkers were coming over or staying for dinner. They just wanted dessert and they made some. Jack turned to his guests. "Something to drink?"

Each of them took a glass of red wine with thanks to the old man. Jack offered some to Vincent and Sam to which they declined. They were drinking something else. Jack nodded and sipped his glass of red wine while looking on.

"Are you here to interview?" He asked Shaw and Brady. "I'm sure you have the reports from the officers on the case from 96?"

None of them were expecting to jump into the case but they did just that. Nolan had brought the physical documents and handed it over to Jack who looked it over. Across from them, Sam and Vincent hadn't said a word. Yet Shaw could see the tension in his partner's jaw and noticed the way Sam kept looking back at Vincent.

"Yes," Brady cleared her throat. "Detectives Johnson and York reported on the scene. After Detective Rey Curtis arrived... along with yourself. His partner Detective Leonard Briscoe had been in the accident but had mild injuries. Um, the victim -"

"Claire," They all turned to Vincent who was staring at his boss with anger. In that moment to Jack, he was staring at that twelve year old boy who had been told that his mother was never coming through the door again. "Use her name. Claire Kincaid."

"Claire Kincaid died on impact. T-the M.E. said that she died instantly when the car T-boned her car."

"Why was it opened?" Now Sam finally spoke up. The food they finished while they asked their question. "Who was the person who said that our mom was murdered?"

"Your aunt," Shaw said carefully. He could hear the anger bubbling underneath both Sam and Vince's voices ready to cut down anything they saw wrong in their assessment of their late mother. "Mrs. Helen Kincaid?"

"That's Tom Kincaid's wife," Jack affirmed. He was just as confused by all this. "She made a confession?"

"She's dying from breast cancer," Shaw explained. "She's adamant that she wants her niece and nephew to hear this. She's been separated from her husband, a mister Tom Kincaid. From his social media's he moved on quickly getting a new slightly younger wife, Ms. Rachel Moss."

Sam frowned as did Vincent. "We never had any contact with our mom's side since, never. Mom never had a good relationship with them since the day Vince was born and when I was born... that killed any chance of reconciliation. If mom wanted one that is."

Vince nodded. "They were on the racist side and made it known when Sammie was born," He looked at Jack. "They were angry when they left the will reading, remember?"

"I do," Jack said. "They weren't happy that Claire made the thing iron-tight and basically gave them a middle finger. One of them threatened me but it was all words, I could see it behind all that smoke. Never heard a peep from the Kincaid family since then."

"So, we trust a dying woman's word? Is it even legit?" Vince asked.

"Well, so far the evidence is showing us that it could be a murder," Shaw states. The shocked looks on the little family makes the others feel like they brought the worst news to them. "The night of that accident it had been documented that one of the officers had been good friends of a man named Robert Kincaid."

"Our Uncle Robert," Vince says now the anger was quickly making itself known. "But why? Did mom know something or have something that they wanted from her? Clearly it wasn't us."

"Vincent!" Jack's voice was loud and crystal clear to make the man stop his rant to look down. "Enough. Whatever they did that night you are correct. Claire must have had something and getting rid of her must have been the only way to get it but it seemed your mother stopped them from inheriting her estate."

"So we have a family murder and a motive that is only known to our dead mother," Vincent laughed sounding hollow. He finally stopped laughing after a good minute to say, "I think we should speak with her."

"I think you should," Jack agreed. "Sammie bird? What say you?"

Jack could see Sam begin to press her fingernails from her left hand into her right wrist. Vince caught on and gently pried his younger sister's hand from doing anymore damage in front of their guests who obviously saw it but did not say anything. He grabbed his sister's hand tightly with his own, something he always did since before they lost their mother.

"I think we'll need a lawyer if things go south," Sam said thinking ahead of the battle that may happen if her maternal family tries to get their mother's estate. "I'm calling Abbie. If they had something... we need to find out what Mom had."

"Alright but I'll call her," Jack said. That at least broke the anger framing the Kincaid siblings giving their Dad a sly look that made him roll his eyes. "Do you remember anything before the accident. Your mother's actions or words?"

Vincent and Sam frowned. "I was only eight, Dad. The last thing I remember is her giving me a hug before she left for the day... she promised to help me with my spelling bee test."

Her brother looked at their hands before answering. "The book..."

"The book?"

Samantha seemed to know what her brother was saying. "The big book?'

"She was reading it for over a week, highlight and scribbling something down on a notebook, at least I think it was a notebook. Anyway," Vincent told them. "Mom was anxious. She tried to hide but whenever she drank two glasses of tea or was locked in the study it was not a good day for her. She was on the phone with her lawyer, the one for the - the will. Carter! Mom was adamant about "wanting them away from this" and "she was given the damn thing from the beginning". She promised to call back but... then she died."

"So what it's in a book that your mom had?" Shaw asked.

"I think I know which one. We'll have to find it but if it's in there then Mom had something that she wanted to keep away from her family's hands." Vincent said. "And whatever they thought she had, they were bold enough to kill her to get it."

But whatever that thing was neither Jack or his kids knew.

They did stick around for dinner at the insistance of Jack who wanted them there mostly for the sake of his kids. Once the food was served it was quiet until Violet spoke up and complimented the cooking.

"Thanks," Sam said with a small smile. "We usually cooked out of boredom or in some instant when we didn't want takeout."

Jack grinned. "Last time I checked you two begged to have pizza or Chinese food almost every night that I was cooking."

"We wanted to save you the extra work," Vince said earning a chuckles from the others.

"So, why do we call you Riley and not Kincaid?" Shaw asked his partner.

"It was a nickname," He told them. "It just stuck somehow and I never corrected anyone. When I got sent to the 27th it just stuck more. But it is on my legal documents just wanted to make sure."

Brady rolled her eyes, unamused at his antics. "But where did the nickname come from?"

"Oh, it's my middle name. I worked with my Uncle at Major Case when I became a detective and was his last partner before he retired for good. He always called me by my middle name and well it stuck since."

"Logan always did whatever the hell he wanted," Jack mused aloud shaking his head at the memories with deal with Detective Mike Logan.

"What were they like as kids, Jack?" Baxter asked his predecessor.

"Sweet when they wanted to be," He said with a laugh. "They always knew what they wanted to be. I always say that they both followed in their mother's footsteps to uphold the law just in different avenues." Sam and Vincent gave their father a smile.

"Vincent would always try to protect Sam but she would be right behind her brother trying to argue with anyone. They also are stubborn for their own good, something they inherited from their mother."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Sam said. "Also, pot calling kettle black. I remember we walked in on Jaime calling you bullheaded."

”And Abbie, Alex, Connie, Nora, Adam, Arthur, and Cutter.” Vince said making Sam nod, both smirked at their father.

"I don't recall that," Jack said making them all laugh and snicker. "Alright. Perhaps they did call me that."

"Is it just Kincaid?" Violet asked Sam and Vincent.

"Two years after the adoption went through, Sam and I asked Dad if we could have his last name alongside our mom."

"He tried not to cry in front of us when we asked him that question. Uncle Lenny teased him for weeks according to Curtis," Sam told them. "So we are Samantha and Vincent Kincaid-McCoy since 1998."

Yet as the night winded down the somber reminder of why they were here was brought back to the front. "Will you go and see her? One of us will be there," Brady asked them. She could see that it was hard for both the siblings to grapple with this all and the choice of what she was asking them to do.

"Yes," Sam said. She looked at Vincent who nodded his head to confirm his sister's decision. "We would want Logan and Curtis there, if not they can meet us back here-"

"I'll give them a call tomorrow," Jack told them. "I'm sure they will want to be here for both of you."

"We'll let you know of any updates we have," Baxter told them taking everyone by surprise. "If there is a case, you will be the first to know. I promise."

"Thank you, Nick," Sam said to her boss. "If we find the book, we'll let you guys know." Another nod of understanding was their response.

Once they said their goodbyes it took all of their will power not to scream. To Vincent Kincaid and Samantha Kincaid it felt like a wound that had once healed had been painfully sliced open and cauterized with salt.

In that moment, Jack feared that Vincent and Samantha had never truly healed from the death of their mother. That this had finally broken the glass surrounding their lives, threatening to shatter them into a million pieces. As the words of Claire's brother Tom came back rushing to his mind, all Jack wanted to do was to promise his kids that everything would turn out okay.

But even he wouldn't promise his children that in that very moment, less he summon the ghostly wrath of Claire Kincaid. 

Chapter Text

“Family quarrels have a total bitterness unmatched by others. Yet it sometimes happens that they also have a kind of tang, a pleasantness beneath the unpleasantness, based on the tacit understanding that this is not for keeps; that any limb you climb out on will still be there later for you to climb back.”

― Mignon McLaughlin

“Behind every great woman ... is another great woman.”

― Kate Hodges

The promise of updates came scarcely which they knew would happen but frustrated Samantha and Vincent nonetheless. Jack was also frustrated but had to keep a level headed way in case his kids went off the path. Which it seemed may be sooner than later much to the old man's dismay.

Once again he cursed the Kincaid stubborness.

Jack had been told by Nolan that since Samantha and Vincent are indisposed at the moment they had their subs come in ASAP. Carisi and Rollins were to be taking over the spots until the siblings returned. That being said, it did not diminish the frustration, anger, and grief in the household. To Jack it seemed to make it heighten to a level ten. Vince and Sam had become obsessed with finding the last item their mother had been using (the big book) almost tearing their rooms and the old guest room apart to find it even going so far as to searching the attic that held all of Claire's old stuff and mementos from their childhoods. So far, it seemed to evade them.

That was until they went to visit their Aunt Helen.

Rollins and Shaw greeted them in the hallway with Price and Carisi. Behind them was Jack who gave them a brief nod before they entered the house. It was modest townhouse in the Bronx where Helen Brooke-Kincaid now resided in. Sam noticed the pictures hanging on the hallway wall and on the little table in the living room. A smiling, happy family. It almost felt like the picture mocked them as they were led to see an older woman a few years younger than their father sitting on a couch. She was a modest woman despite the elegant home she had. Shocking blonde hair and blue eyes with the touch ups of make-up reminded them of Tippi Hendren. She could look like Tippi Hendren's twin.

On her coffee table in front of her was a large book.

Red leather bound book that looked very old, very valuable. A memory ticked in Vincent's brain of his mom having one on her desk in the study. Could it be? No. Why would it be here with a person that his mother never had any contact with?

Yet his instincts as a detective were too good not to notice. His sister seemed to have noticed the book and felt the same way as she gave him a look.

It did not go unnoticed by Helen who merely pushed the book their way with a sad smile.

"Your mother gave it to my lawyer for safe keeping. She felt that it shouldn't be in my home until it was deemed ready to be shown," Helen continued. Shaw asked why? And that's when the floodgates opened. Helen looked at Vincent, Sam, and Jack. "My marriage with your Uncle Tom was never good to begin with. Linda, who was married to Robert was the favorite of my in-laws. They used to tell me that I can't be worse than Claire."

Vincent and Sam scowled but kept quiet letting Helen continue.

"Tom and Robert tried to be better than Claire. How could they best the daughter who went to law school even though Robert went years before and is now a judge? Or that Thomas became the youngest CEO of the family company? When you children were born it seemed that their time finally came. But that crashed when she inherited their late aunt's home and money.  Suddenly it was all they could bitterly talk about. That Claire didn't deserve that money or that home." She looked at Price and Carisi. "I already called my lawyer and told him this. I will tell you this - Claire's death was a murder. My ex husband, my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law and their friends killed her. All for that money."

"Why didn't you report this to the police?" Rollins asked her.

Helen looked down at her hands before looking back up. The guilt was there, haunted in her eyes. "I didn't know about it until about a few months ago. My children were upset about the books

Vince and Sam looked stunned grabbing each other's hands as well as Sam grasping their father's hand. The information was shocking and it made them feel even more upset. Their mother ripped from them all because of greed? Because these siblings couldn't handle the fact that their aunts had very good reasons for leaving everything to their only niece?

She continued to gently tell them that the brothers had been upset that Claire wouldn't budge on giving them the share of the townhouse or splitting the inheritance or even royalties of their great aunt's novels. Sam and Vince had gotten royalties still coming in from the novels, still being bought and sold around. They felt this anger and sadness bubbling in the pit of their stomach. By the end of their talk, Helen gave them the book which contained the evidence that Claire had been keeping track of - even threats that appeared once in awhile.

"She was sure of one thing," Helen told them. "She told me that she would rather see her inheritance be given to charity before it went to either of her brothers. She knew that they would destroy her great aunt's legacy in mere weeks and knew it. Claire had something on her brothers and mentioned it to me that she would give them the thing they deserved. Legal-wise that is. She gave it to her children and it seemed she was right. I am truly sorry, Vincent and Samantha... for all of this. Your mother, God rest her soul, was better than any of those in that family. All three of you."

"Even your own children?" Sam responded wryly.

Helen shot her niece a wry smile. "Even my own children and those of my brother-in-law."

Once they left the house, Vincent handed the red leather-bound book to Shaw. Neither Sam or Vincent said anything as they walked away, mumbling goodbyes as they got into the car leaving their partners on the side.

"We better make sure our i's are dotted," Nolan told them as he looked at the car drive away. "For their sake."

None of them could argue with that.

The case was slowly grinding away as days came and went. Rollins and Shaw were looking into Claire's last days which was at work or at her children's school, that wasn't a surprise at all. Meanwhile, Carisi and Price were trying to even see if they had a case to begin with. They were at their wits end even with the evidence given to them by Helen Kincaid, when the detectives came into Baxter's office thus summoning the prosecutors to the office as well.

"What did you find?" Nolan asked them. Shaw and Rollins had been digging around the work of Claire Kincaid what they found was a woman that reminded both Nolan and Jalen of their respective partners. Baxter wanted this case closed and justice served for the family, for his predecessor's family. It's what they all wanted. What they found was a family full of secrets and grudges.

The Kincaid family hailed from Scotland coming to America for that American Dream in the early 1900s and settling here. By the 90s they were the WASP coveted family that seemingly became integrated into the high society of the likes from the Kennedys to the Vanderbilts and Astors. While the Kincaid's did separate with Mrs. Kincaid having remarried Mac Geller and Mr. Kincaid marrying Ramona Lithwick-Kincaid, the parents were still a very high force in each of their children's lives. Claire Kincaid was the middle child of three, Robert Kincaid Jr. was the youngest and Thomas 'Tom' Kincaid II was the eldest. Robert having been named after his father, Tom named after their grandfather, and Claire was named after her great aunt.

"It seems Claire was the Golden Child until she had Vincent in '84 and even with her Harvard law degree it didn't satisfy her folks. It got worse when Sam was born in '89. She got out of doge quickly going to New York after she graduated. She and Lawrence Jamaal stayed until he left her a year or so after Sam was born, wound up dead by cancer in 92 before Claire became ADA under Ben Stone. By that time she had already changed her kids names to her last name. The family didn't acknowledge Claire's kids and that was the end of that. But the Kincaid family... old money equals old fights."

Rollins then jumped in. "From what we gathered, it stems from the grandparents. Like the aunt corberrated - Thomas Kincaid Sr. and his sisters, Samantha and Claire had a very nasty falling out that trickled down to Tom Senior's son Robert and then to his two sons. Samantha was a novelist racking millions in money becoming a very well published novelist before dying at 45 in 1967 from an accidental overdose in her boyfriend's apartment. She gave her money and rights of her novels to her older sister Samantha who was another well accomplished author in her own right. When Samantha died in 1990, she willed her entire estate along with her little sister estate and townhouse to her only niece Claire Kincaid. Claire's grandfather tried to sue but he lost. Later on it seemed Dad and her brothers tried to get money from her but nada. The will was iron tight and all kept by Claire until she passed in 96. After, her will stated that everything that belonged to Claire including all the rights of her late great-aunt's estate be split in half between her children. Sam and Vince are the official owners of Samantha Kincaid's mystery and thriller books and Claire Sr. horror and gothic romance, Americana book empires to this day with that it's over 800 million dollars. That's how much their worth."

"Jesus," Carisi said. "Talk about old school style Astors over here. So Claire Kincaid's family gets upset over her life choices and the fact that she inherited very hefty townhouse with more money. It gets worse that she leaves everything to her two kids. But why not kill the kids and get the money from them? Helen did say that her kids had talked about the fact that the novels were still racking in money."

"They must have thought Claire had enough of them and they were going to get something. Vince said they wanted something. Not money but something." Brady reminded them. "They also had that family friend..." She checked her notes. "Johnson.  Police Officer Ian Johnson who had been high school buddies with Tom Kincaid. Graduated the Academy and was there the night the car accident happened but here's something interesting. The driver."

"The driver was twenty nine year old Luke Branagan and guess what else? He graduated with Tom and Robert Jr. Kincaid. We pulled the telephone records - which by the way was a pain in the ass - we found evidence that Luke Branagan was staying with the Kincaids in the family's home for the week. It also states in Claire's phone records that night that she was on the phone for a few minutes with her stepfather before she drove with Briscoe."

"We have to find out what that item was that got that family to kill one of their own and orphan two kids. Not to mention that justice was evaded for decades. The family had motive but we need more evidence," Nolan sighed. "We have to go back and talk with Riley and Sam to see if they have anything or to search their home."

"Wait what about property?" Baxter said. "You said that Claire Kincaid had split everything evenly between her kids. Was there any mention of property?"

Shaw nodded and handed over the will as he pointed to it. "It states here that per the wishes of the deceased, the home will be now in her children's name when they turn eighteen and do as they please with it. As for now it will be in their guardian's name. That guardian being Jack McCoy. It was transferred to their names when they did turn eighteen - for Vincent in 2002 and for Samantha in 2007. After that, the townhouse had been in their name since with no signs of selling from either of them. Both live in it."

"Well -"

Brady's cell went off. She answered it and once she hung up there was a look of concern in her eyes. "That was McCoy. We have to get to Samantha's home. Now."

Nolan and Shaw both didn't like the sound of that, the horrific feeling never left them as they drove up to the townhouse they had been discussing mere minutes before in Baxter's office. 

 Jack quietly sounded the alarm to rally around the kids the night after the meeting with Helen Kincaid. First calling Peter Stone to give him a heads up on what was to come. He thanked Jack and to pass along his sympathy to Vince and Sam. Next was to his colleagues he had worked with over the years and some that Claire worked with most notably Donald Cregan, Anita Van Buren, Mike Logan, and Rey Curtis who would get to the house in the morning to be there for the kids. He called Abbie who agreed to represent Sam and Vincent but lamented she could not arrive until a few weeks later so bowed out to only be supporting them. Jack was alright with that but was glad to hear from Abbie and that she would come by soon to support them. It was Mike Cutter who readily agreed to represent the Kincaid siblings if the family was ready to try and get the will over-turned. Connie would help was well as Cyrus Lupo and Jack had a feeling that once Abbie got here, she would happily help. Bernard, Ed Green, Donald Cregan, even Vince's old bosses Bobby Goren, Alex Eames and Carolyn would pop by in a day or two just to be there for them.

The first to come by were Mike, Connie, Curtis, and Logan. A few minutes later, Ed Green, Lupo, Bernard, Van Buren, Carolyn, Goren and Eames were here. Even Paul Robinette who had heard about Claire Kincaid's accident being reopened through the court grapevines had come to the house by the middle of the day. Eames had brought coffee and tea, Rey brought some bread from a Mexican panaderia a few blocks from his house as well as some muffins.

Jack had called Sam to let them know that guests were here to see them. Sam had dragged Vince out for the day telling him she needed his help to carry some books she had ordered at a bookshop she sometimes haunts. His brother, ever dutiful follows his younger sister out the door with a promise to come back soon.

"The place hasn't changed as much even with Sam and Vince living here," Mike mused aloud.

Jack smiled. "No, not since the 90s. Sam and Vince were determined to keep everything the way it had been. They found out during the pandemic out of pure boredom that the Kincaid Townhouse hadn't changed style since the 1800s when it had been constructed during the Gilded Age. Their mother hadn't changed things and neither did her children minus the added items of technology here or there. The grand staircase still the same, some of the furniture still the same from Claire's great aunts even down to some of the paintings and the fireplace." Yes, Claire's old home was still the same nuvo chic style she kept when he had come through the door and still kept up by her children. "Sam lives here now. Vince jumps from here or my home depends on how work keeps him."

Jack had stayed the night in the old townhouse apartment to keep his children company. He knew Sam and Vincent hadn't gotten a wink of sleep, Jack could hear the tv playing some movie and footsteps walking around the kitchen below him. Last night they had watched reruns of M*A*S*H.

The door unlocked, his children's voices were heard conversing with one another before a scream cut through the amiable atmosphere of the home. When Jack rushed to see what had happened, his stomach dropped. Sam was screaming, terrified as her hands were covered in blood. On the hardwood floor was what looked like an innocently looking present gift wrapped with a green bow - the contents inside were another thing. Blood seeped out of the box and two dead rats had come out of it from when Sam dropped it. Close by was a note that faced upwards was still in its envelope - the names of his children staring back at him.

Someone, possibly either Logan, Ed, or Goren yelled for someone to call 911 as Rey coaxed Sam to walk around the box filled with dead rats and blood. Vincent seemed to be in worse shape, shaken up and horrified at what they saw. He picked up the note but Eames told him to leave it until the police arrived.

"But I am the police," His son mumbled futile. Eames gave him a sad smile as she told him that yes he was but not right now. He did as he was told and walked into the kitchen to wait for help to arrive.

Jack wasn't surprised to see Nolan amongst the group. He had a feeling the man may have feeling for his daughter but when he tried to bring it up with Samantha once she flat out denied it and begged him not to say a word to Vincent about this. He was protective of his sister and if anyone sniffed around her, romantically-wise, Jack knew Vince would use anything in his power be it his detective skills or any influence or connections to find out who that romantic partner may be. "For safety reasons," His son tried to defend much to Samantha's annoyance. 

The sick looks that crossed the detectives and prosecutors faces when they saw the note and the name on it.

This is a warning: LEAVE THIS ALONE. SHE DIED FOR A REASON. HER CHILDREN WILL BE NEXT.

Jack had disappeared but when he got back, he had a small stack of letters as he handed them to Rollins. "This hasn't been the first time but this was one that was recent."

"They began after Claire died?" Shaw asked Jack. He nodded.

Vince and Sam stayed quiet but once they saw the stack of papers full of what they assumed were threats they spoke. "Why didn't you tell us?"

Jack sighed. "You were twelve and eight. I was not about to traumatize you with even further after you lost your mother. I took Anita and the detectives advice which was to shield both of you from this. They stopped after two solid months and after that not a peep until today."

Neither Sam and Vincent could not argue with that logic. Jack had the right motive to keep this information from them after their mother died as he pointed out, they had just been children and did not want to further traumatize them with the fact that someone was sending them death threats. Shaw and Rollins looked at each of the notes all close to the same message.

It did not go unnoticed once everything was said and done, the evidence sent to the lab to see if they could get any prints off the it that they were surrounded by very famous and infamous detectives and prosecutors from the One Plaza. From Anita Van Buren, Rey Curtis, Connie Rubirosa, Michael Cutter, and Alexandra Eames to Robert Goren, and Mike Logan. Rollins and Carisi even saw their old Captain Don Cregan walk through the door giving them a nod of hello before embracing Vincent and Samantha and shaking hands with Jack.

"We think this motive stems from this townhouse," Nolan said to them.

Vincent and Samantha looked at him with slight alarm. "This? The fucking townhouse is motive for killing our mom?!"

"Vincent!" Sam tried to get her brother to lower his voice but it seemed much to Jack's intuition and dismay the damn had been broken. The lack of sleep, the wound of grief being ripped open and the anxiety heighten finally unleashed from his children. The Old Guard of the One Plaza could only watch with dismay and sympathy as Claire Kincaid's children broke in front of them. "Stop! Let Nolan -"

"They tried to threaten us! And they killed mom for this place!? Don't tell me to calm down, Samantha!"

"Well stop yelling at me, Vincent!" She shot back, her temper and patience finally broken. "For fucks sake! Will you shut up and let them tell us something!"

After not hearing anything back from her older brother, Samantha turned to her boss who watched this all unfold with wide eyes to have him continue. If it had been any other setting she would have been mortified and embarrassed to have been seen like this by her bosses but right now Sam really could have cared less.

"Right. We looked further into the will reading and besides finances it seems that the townhouse was the thing that your mother had talked about. We managed to track down Carter Russell who was the lawyer that helped Claire with her will and was at the reading. He told us that Claire documented and handed over many things highlighting the fact that her siblings wanted the townhouse as well as shares of the royalties. It seemed her grandfather hadn't been pleased that the home wasn't passed down to him and skipped to Claire. It also pissed of her father and brothers that she wouldn't be passing it down to either of them, choosing to give it to her children, splitting the ownership in half per her wishes when they came of age." Nolan told them. "We'll be interviewing Johnson and will be interviewing the family."

"And after?" Vincent pressed.

"We'll be gunning for an arrest." Baxter told them. "The detectives uncovered amounts of corruption of both offices and some bogus attempts over the years to get their hands on your inheritance." He hesitated on the next part and when he did speak, it took all of Vincent's willpower to to punch someone. But it seemed Samantha's will finally snapped as Jack had predicted to himself. "The Kincaid family lawyer - a Mrs. Lindsay Kincaid-Hawthorne - had gotten permission from a judge... to have your mother's remains exhumed."

"This is the first we are hearing of this, her own children," Sam said, her tone on the edge of wiping away the politeness and going full volatile. "How did - they just want to humiliate mom even in death."

"We already got the judge who is overseeing the case to halt and that since the other side didn't notify the victim's children - her actual family - the judge overruled it and got it to stop. She said that there is substantial evidence that the body doesn't need to be exhumed or examined any further. That being said unfortunately nobody told the people doing their job so now your mother's corpse is in the New York mortuary."

"I'll make the call to have them release her to us," Cutter jumped in. He was in full lawyer mode that made Nolan realize just how big of shoes he had begun to full in after Mike Cutter left. "We can have your mother buried before the trial does start."

Samantha shook her head. "No. We might as well wait. I don't want to take any chance of them trying this ploy again." It almost looked as if it pained her to say the words aloud, Nolan wanted nothing more than to make her the promise that this wound end well but he didn't dare say it to his ADA's face. He couldn't give her false hope. Sam continued looking at her brother who was visibly outraged. "Vince. They might call us to the stand, you and I know that. You remember what Mom used to tell us and later what Dad used to tell us?"

Vincent seemed to soften as he looked at his sister, nodding. Whatever Claire Kincaid told them was not privy to everyone else here, the siblings seemed to be remembering the words of their late mother. They then looked towards their father who stared back. It was as if they were communicating through telepathy and whatever they were saying seemed to make the siblings release some tension in their body.

"Okay," He exhaled. "Okay. If we are going to take the stand, there's something you guys need to know. I know how you guys play dirty, I remember Dad's days in the courtroom and the stories Sam told me. I-I'm going to trust you two on this and to get on this before the other side will use it, I'd also get the IBA documents from when I got transferred over to the 27th Precinct. You guys will be needed that as well. I'll come by your office tomorrow to tell you."

Brady and Shaw waited for something that never came. Nolan agreed to a time for tomorrow and Vince offered to get coffee for all three of the prosecutors.

When Brady and Shaw headed back to the precinct Amanda showed them a text Samantha sent her. "Tell Brady and Shaw that I'll be there tomorrow. Don't worry about my brother but my father will be coming over to chat with you guys and Lieutenant Brady. Is 10 o'clock good?"

Chapter Text

“The term bisexual has ended up as the ugly stepchild of sexuality, in both name and meaning. Its fate is symptomatic of the bisexual's own lot in life: to be as common as can be, but unacknowledged.”
― Jennifer Baumgardner, Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics

I like to run in a new place to help me find my way around.

― Sara Shepard

During his last time as District Attorney of New York City, Jack had honestly thought that Samantha liked Nolan. Instead, he saw history slowly repeat itself with his daughter and his EADA just like it had with Mike Cutter and Connie Rubirosa, just like with himself and Claire. He had hinted at Nolan a few times and to Sam, who brushed it aside. 

"We're just coworkers, Dad." His daughter told him one late night as she was sitting in his office, picking out some of the law books he had. Jack made a noise of disagreement. "It's not like you and Mom. I'm fine being his friend."

He could even see it with his son and Detective Jalen Shaw. Jack knew that his son was quiet about his sexuality. Vincent had come out to Claire a few weeks before the car crash. After Claire died, the twelve-year-old thought it had been his fault that his mother had died for what he told her about his sexuality. After taking them to a child therapist and psychologist a few weeks after the crash, both Vincent and Samantha realized that it wasn't their fault that their mother had died. It took a little longer for Vincent to come to terms with his sexuality. During eighth grade, High School, and later College, he made out with both males and females. He had a few girlfriends and boyfriends, then married Liza in 2013 and divorced her in 2017.

Sam didn't like his ex-wife, and their dad was quiet about his opinion. (He did not like his ex-daughter-in-law, mostly for trying to be a wedge between the siblings and their inheritance, which she thought was her money. She tried to isolate Vincent and later tried to blackmail him for false cheating allegations. Needless to say, Jack McCoy never warmed up Liza or her daughter, Quinn. Last time he heard about them, Liza was getting cozy with some architect, and Quinn had graduated and was now some "Trad" Girl on TikTok.) The divorce was swift, and no alimony or child support. His son had yet to dip his toes back into the dating pool.

Jack couldn't blame him. He had two divorces, one before he became EADA and one after the accident that introduced his kids to his ex-wife's daughter, Rebecca. They were cordial with one another, but unlike Ellen, Jack could see that this dynamic would crash and burn.

So he tried to fight the battles when it came to his children's love lives. Even if he could see it and his kids couldn't, he would rather play the meddling father than see them not accept their true love in their lives. Call him an old sap, so what?

Yet he knew that his children would have a bigger battle to face in the courtroom when the case gets to trial, if by jury or judge. Jack didn't know which one he liked more because both could end horribly for his kids if the Kincaid brothers' lawyer was already adding the 'dirty laundry' of his kids to use as cannon fodder. Vince and Sam knew that they had to tell Nolan and Dominick all of this before it got out of control in the court.

At 9 o'clock, while Sam was in a room waiting for her brother's colleagues to meet her, he was in DA's office sitting across his sister's bosses. Next to him was his and Sam's lawyer, Mike Cutter. Dad agreed that it would be best to bring a lawyer even if it was a standard talk.

As promised, Vince had brought coffee and some baked goods to the men. Dominic thanked them, as did Nolan and Nick. "You'll have to thank my sister. I was about to accidentally poison you two - but your ADA saved you."

Baxter chuckled as he snatched a bear claw while Carisi got a Boston Cream doughnut, and Nolan took a maple glazed twister doughnut while Mike and Vince each got a maple long John. They ate for a minute before beginning the interview.

"So why the secrecy?" Baxter asked, curious about what the detective was willing to say to the three men but not to his partner and boss. He and the rest could see Vince Kincaid scratch the back of his neck, fidgeting with his tie as he mulled over the words to say. Cutter just nodded at him to say what he had to say.

"I'm bisexual," Vincent said aloud. "I never made it known to anyone else but to my parents, to Sam, and well, now to you guys. I never told my old partners. I made the mistake to entrust this to my ex-wife who proceeded to try to blackmail me both pysichally and mentally only for me to divorce her after that whole shitshow. Shaw nor Brady know."

Nolan blinked while Carisi jumped into the questioning. "Is that why you got transferred?"

"Sort of," Vince answered truthfully. "A fellow officer was talking shit about a victim, a trans kid, and well I lost it. None of them knew I was bi, and I never made it known. It was none of their business. I know my Uncles will go and dig up everything about me, my sister, and probably my Dad." He handed them the documents that his Dad had given to him this morning. "Dad wanted to make sure you guys had everything in order when it came to Mom. There are some documents about a case she worked on with Ben Stone in 1994. Mike Logan was one of the lead detectives of that time, so if they have to use that, we want you to be ready. My mom slept with her boss, Mr. Joel Thayer, who went on to become a judge and was later convicted of harassment and stalking. He died in 2008. He knew about me and Sam, but Mom squirreled us away with Briscoe and with Ben Stone's family, and even with Adam Schiff until the trial ended. We had a police escort pick us up and take us to school. This was the first time. The second time was when there was a hit list with Dad's name on it, once again police escorts to and from."

Nolan and Carisi look over the documents of the Thayer trial.

It was an open and shut case, he thought to himself. But it was a plain disturbing case. They skimmed Claire's notes and saw something that caught their eyes.

Take V and S to Logan's. Give him directions to OLM for S and SG for V. 

"OLM and SG?" Nolan asked.

"You're a catholic school survivor?" Carisi asks him. Vince smirked as Carisi explained to Nolan, "The schools that Ms. Kincaid wrote down were Our Lady of Mercy Elementary School and Saint Gabriel Middle School or as many of my old middle school called Saint Assholes."

"What school did you go to, counselor?" Vincent asked him.

Now it was Dominick Carisi's turn to smirk back at the detective. "Saint Mary's Middle School and later Ignatius High School."

"Oh god, you guys were such asses! Okay, we were close to championship on our baseball team - Saint Lourdes versus Ignatius - and you guys cheated!" Vincent said, laughing. 

"I'm guessing your mom was Catholic?" Baxter asked.

"Yeah. Sam and I were baptized and did our communions. We reluctantly did our Confirmations but by that time Dad was more pissed at the headmaster of that school." Vince's voice was quiet as the memories came back. Mike patted his arm. "After mom died and Jack took us in, it was hard. The Catholic school was slightly sympathetic but wholly conservative even in New York. I was caught... making out with a boy by a teacher. When it was mentioned to the Headmaster, he told a thirteen-year-old that being homosexual had been a reason as to why their mother died."

The horrified and stunned looks of the three men that sat across from him didn't faze him one bit. At this point, he and Sam and their Dad cracked jokes about it. 

"After that, we hadn't stepped into a church unless for funerals or if we feel like it." Vince shrugged. "When it's the anniversary, we go light a candle for Mom, say a prayer, and go to the cemetery to leave flowers for her. It's been that way since."

"Back to your ex-wife. The defense lawyer, Lindsay Kincaid-Hawthorn, told us that your ex will be testifying, and we want both of you to testify along with Detective Rey Curtis and Jack." Nolan told him. "I presume that Mr. Cutter will be defending the estate?"

Mike nodded. "Sam and Vince asked me when Sam turned eighteen. They wanted someone who was and I quote her, "Crazy, psycho, and all around bloodthirsty to fuck someone up legally!" end quote. I took that as a compliment and have been the estate lawyer since. Trust me, I will be having plenty of fun dealing with that side of the Kincaid family in court."

"We'll be there with popcorn," Vince joked, making Mike snort with laughter.

Before Vincent left, he pulled out a white envelope with a name on the front. Nolan saw that it was in Sam's handwriting. His heart did a funny flip before he realized too late that Vincent wasn't handing it over to him but to Baxter. His boss looked surprised as he took the note, turning it over. He was about to open it before Vincent made a noise of disaprovment.

"Not here. Sam made it clear it's for your eyes only." As he got up from the table, he paused. "I suggest calling Brady. You guys will have to compare notes."

Baxter nodded thoughtfully as he tucked the letter into his jacket. "I'll await Brady's call."

In the 27th Precinct, Sam sat across Brady, Rollins, and Shaw. They noticed the letter in her hand as they patiently waited for her to speak.

"My brother has always been the one to protect me, since I could remember. I tried doing the same, as best as I could, offering him legal advice or any advice for that matter. This... this is his truth. If you have anything to say about him, you say to my face." There was concern on Shaw's and Brady's faces. They felt an ominous pit in their stomach at what Sam was trying to say. She slid the letter to Brady, who took it and pulled out another two more, one to Shaw and another to Rollins, who took their letters each. "Open it when you're alone."

Taking a deep breath, Sam began to tell her brother's story - the same one that Vincent was currently telling Nolan and Sonny. From beginning to end, the expression was a flurry on their faces that by the end, Brady was already asking for the names of those nuns and the school.

Sam shook her head with a bitter smile that they would have never thought possible on the woman's face but reminded Shaw and Brady of Riley. Shaw was also reminded of Sam scaring Frank Crosgrove and knew not to cross her anytime soon. "Dad already took care of that."

"What we need is for you to get us justice for our mom," Sam told them. "I know you have many questions for Vincent. Give him time to tell you before the trial, but if you hear about it during the trial before he tells you, give him space. He'll come, but not now."

Before Sam left, she was pulled aside by Brady.

"Is this a letter of resignation?" she asked Sam.

Sam shook her head, which made Brady feel relief. "He just wants to clear somethings up for you before the trial. I wrote a similar letter to Baxter that Vince delivered for me."

Brady raised an eyebrow at the prosecutor. "Think we should compare notes?"

Sam shrugged. "Probably."

"You want me to fill in for you?" Sam asked Sonny for what felt like the millionth time. "Did Baxter even sign off on this? Did Nolan?"

"Yes, yes, and Baxter is telling him now. Hence why I'm still alive sitting across from you asking this," Carisi joked. "We know that you guys have gone a bit stir-crazy, so you're being loaned out to SVU till the trial's begun and over with. Plus, I asked someone to be your buddy in court for the time being."

"Oh yeah? Who?"

"Peter Stone," He said. "He's being assigned to a case, and he wants you to help along with Vince. Liv will be grateful for the help."

"Alright," Sam said and then grinned. "God help you when Nolan finds you at the office."

Seeing Carisi grimace made Sam laugh.

It was how she found herself in One Plaza early in the morning with her brother as they entered the squad room like two children having been dropped off at Kindergarten for the first time and unsure of what to do or where to go or who to hang around with.

Olivia Benson spotted them first, with a big smile on her face, greeting them. "Detective Riley. Counselor Kincaid. Welcome to the SVU. You both came highly recommended by both bosses." She guided them around, introducing them to the fellow detectives Finn, Silva, Bruno, and Velasco, as well as Captain Renee Curry. They said their hellos and went into the case. Sam went up to the board that had the crime scene photos.

"The victim's name was Janet Rudman-"

"Rudman?" Sam and Vincent snapped to attention at poor Bruno and Velasco, who looked at them curiously. He nodded to affirm what he said to them.

All of the SVU squad saw the color drain from their temporary detective and counselor.

"D-do you know her?" Detective Silva asked them.

"Janet Rudman," Sam began before Vince stopped her. There seemed to be a silent conversation between the siblings before the SVU squad's eyes. Finally, it seemed Riley let her speak, which drew more curious looks from the cops in front of them. "Janet Rudman... was a victim in a stalking case back in 1994. She and my- my-I mean, our mom, Claire Kincaid, testified against their harasser, Joel Thayer, who was a judge at that time. He and our mom had a relationship for three months before she broke it off with him. After he became possessive... he never knew about us, that she had kids. Unfortunately it wasn't the same for Mrs. Rudman. She was stalked, harassed, and had her daughter Laura threatened. She was five at the time. When the case was taking off and eyes were on Thayer, he accused our mom of leading the witness to his picture. After that, Mrs. Rudman and Mom testified on the stand. Thayer was convicted."

"And now he's been out of jail."

"What?" Vince looked at Finn with horror. "Since when?"

"Got out by good behavior... in 2017. He was granted by the parol board, and now he's free."

"Okay, well, I think your detectives should pay him a visit." Sam sighed as she got her case and coat. "I have to visit Baxter about this case."

"You need a buddy?" A voice called out. Peter Stone had returned to the SVU squad as he greeted Olivia and Finn. After greeting the other detectives, he hugged Vince and Sam. "If only our parents could see us..." He trailed off with a sad smile that was mirrored by Vince and Sam.

"Well, our Dad will see us, and so will Logan, so it'll be like they are here," Sam said before gesturing to the board. "Janet Rudman was murdered and raped. Thayer was let out in 2017."

"Thayer?! Who the hell let him out?" Peter asked, looking horrified. "Does he have an alibi?"

"We'll look into it."

"Do a whole scrub of his life, even the stuff that our parents missed back in '94. We can't let this fall through the cracks," Stone insisted. "Let's go, Sammie. We have a DA to speak with."

Vince left with Silva, Bruno, and Curry to go dig through Thayer's life while Finn and Velasco went to see Thayer. Sam, Olivia, and Peter went to meet with Baxter.

As she entered her old office area, Sam almost instinctively went to Nolan's office before stopping herself and directing to head to Baxter's office. She could hear muffled shouting from Baxter's office as they ventured to it. The door opened, and out came Nolan and Shaw, both looking very upset as Carisi and Amanda were followed behind alongside Brady, who was shaking her head. Nolan stopped as he looked at Sam. His eyes flickered to Peter before going back to look at Sam.

Baxter popped his head out of the door. "Ms. Kincaid, Mr. Stone, please come in. Is this about the Rudman case?"

Nolan's lips thinned slightly into a tight line at the mention of Sam's case with the SVU squad. It's not that he didn't believe in her. He did! He just wanted her back to his side, working with him and not in another part of the Plaza One. To put it plainly, Nolan missed his ADA.

It helped that Detective Shaw was in a similar position with Vincent, working on the same case at SVU. Both men had been speaking more with the other over their "missing my partner" rants. Carisi and Rollins knew about it, too, but they were looking at it through a different lens that was driving them insane. To the point that Rollins had begun to hatch a scheme, much to the dismay of her husband.

"Carisi, Rollins. Brady... Shaw... Nolan," Stone said before guiding her forward to enter the room, by-passing hellos from her friends. A protective gesture that did not go unnoticed by everyone, and Sam would be grateful about it. "Baxter." He shook hands with the DA as he and Sam sat down across from the man's desk. The same desk that Adam Schiff once sat in and the children of his EADA and ADA played under many times.

"So, is there a problem with the case?"

"There might be," Sam explained. "Our parents prosecuted the case. Well, my mom had to resign because she had a relationship with Thayer. She and Janet testified against Thayer."

Baxter nodded, thinking for a minute before speaking. "I trust both of you. I knew that the case would be personal for you, your brother, and Stone, but I knew that you both must know the case better than the detectives and any other prosecutors. So, could it be Thayer?"

"Unless he had a sibling helping him... I'm not sure, but he makes the post sense to go after Janet Rudman," Peter told him. "If it is him... We will push for the highest time. I hope you will back us up with that, Baxter."

"I will," He said. Then looked at Sam. "I want you to lead the trial, Stone will be your second chair. I also want to make sure you will be fine for the cross-examination when you testify, both you and your brother. Price and Carisi will let you guys know what time to come in to discuss. Until then, keep me updated on this case, and I will be there during the trial. Good luck, Ms. Kincaid, Mr. Stone."

"Thank you."

As they walked out, Sam and Peter began to discuss a strategy. "We need to look over the first case. I have a feeling that Thayer will be back in the courtroom again, but he wouldn't have done this alone."

"You think he had a partner?" Peter asked. Sam pressed the button to the elevator. "Who the hell would help him?"

"Someone who likes him a lot... he had an ex-wife, right?" Peter nodded. "We have to check her out. We have to look at Thayer and see what he was doing and what he did after he left prison."

Vince and Curry found the missing link the next day.

"He had a son?" Sam looked at the screen, where a boy who could have passed as Thayer's twin stared back. "I thought he and his ex-wife never had kids?"

"The wife, Melissa Wagner. She had twins, gave birth after her divorce was finalized, and Thayer was sent off to prison. She never told them for their entire life until Thayer got out of prison. Her son, Sean Wagner. He's a lawyer, with no criminal records or anything. Squeaky clean."

"We did look up the cameras around Janet Rudman's apartment before and after the murder. One person looked like Thayer, and another looked exactly like Sean Wagner. They met the victim hours before the murder and then entered the home minutes before she was murdered."

"Got something," Silva called out to the group. She pulled it up to the screen. On it was Sean Baker's Instagram stories, which had pictures of Claire Kincade and Ben Stone with their eyes X out, their mouth covered, and on the bottom read: THEY DIED TOO SOON BEFORE THE TRUTH GOT OUT. THEIR CHILDREN KNOW.

The next picture was the same, just with two different persons - Sam and Peter. JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED is written all in capital letters in black font.

"I think it's safe to assume we have motive," Finn said aloud. "Man was looking for revenge and got his son to help poor old dad."

Benson and Curry told them that they would have police outside their apartments to make sure Thayer and Sean wouldn't do any harm before the police arrested them. The detectives went to find Thayer and Sean while Peter and Sam began to piece together a case for the trial.

As they began to piece things on their board in her office (Carisi's office) Sam's mind wandered to how Nolan was doing on the different cases with Carisi. She knew that her brother was probably thinking the same thing about Shaw. They missed their partners immensely but knew that this would only be a little bit before things returned to normal. Or perhaps it will never be normal. After both trials, they somehow shined the spotlight on the two Kincaid orphans and their deceased mother.

"I kind of wish Dad was still around to give us some perspective on this case," Peter lamented aloud to her. "Same with Aunt Claire."

"Well, we still have Van Buren and Logan to help us out with this." She said. "I'll call them to begin times for the interviews. In the meantime, I have to meet for my interview for going on the stand for my mom's trial. So let's win this."

Sitting across from Nolan felt weird. It was the best way to put it as she began to unravel herself to make the case as easy and ready for them, for her mom.

"You and your brother went to therapy for extensive times," Carisi asked her. "It was on and off. In 1996 through 1998, and later in 2003 through 2009. Mental health reasons?"

"Yes," Sam cleared her throat. "My Dad had me and Vince go to therapy after our mom died. When I was eleven, I was diagnosed with anxiety, I began to go to therapy in '03. When I was thirteen..." Her throat tightened slightly before she pushed forward. This will be used against her when she goes up on the stand in cross-examination. She knows how ruthless the defense will be against her and her brother, who will pick them apart for her Uncles to get off scot-free. "I was thirteen when I tried to hurt myself. Dad and Uncle Logan found me with my wrist cut up. After that, it was therapy during my high school years and a bit during college. I started up again during the Pandemic, and I have been well since. Been working on my coping mechanisms and still going to therapy."

Nolan and Carisi jotted everything down.

She hated this.

She had wished she would have been able to tell Nolan on her terms, like her brother would have wanted to come out to his partner and Lieutenant Brady on his terms, not because this type of information would be used against them in a trial.

Sam and Vince had been told that their Uncles and Aunt had been arrested along with the police officer, all of them being arraigned in court today. They hadn't gone, but Jack, Logan, and Rey had all been there in their place. Now, they were getting ready to testify. Sam was just glad that it would be only a judge who would oversee the trial and not one with a jury. She was adamant about that decision, fiercely adamant about it to both Baxter, Carisi, and Nolan.

"Have you taken any medication for your Anxiety and Depression, Ms. Kincaid?" Carisi asks her.

"Yes. After I had tried to hurt myself -twice- my Dad, my doctor, and I discussed the pros and cons of being on medication alongside therapy. My therapist and doctor gave me some options, and it's helped me. Along with some coping mechanisms," She avoided looking at Nolan and Baxter instead choosing to look at Carisi. To her left, Mike slid them a copy of Sam's medical history that had the names of the medication she had been on and off or switched since she was sixteen. "As of now, for five years, I have been on Citalopram for my depression and anxiety. It hasn't compromised my work, not one bit, since I've worked in the DA's office."

"We know that, Sam. I know that," Nolan said quickly. That caught Mike's attention, feeling a sense of deja vu as if he was seeing what Jack had seen between Mike and Connie almost fourteen years go now between Nolan Price and Sam Kincaid. Jack probably could see this coming a mile away, but did his daughter? Mike was curious about this, but he did not to ask any questions, and he will... after they leave the office to save Sam from any embarrassment.

"They will use all of this against us," Sam told them. Nolan had never seen Sam like this before. He wanted nothing more than to embrace her or say something to take this hurt away, but he couldn't. He had to win this for Sam, or he would never forgive himself. "What they see is two bastards that had never and should have never existed. What they see is an inheritance that had been taken from them since before my mom died. My mom had her reasons as to making sure her will and choosing our Dad as our guardian for a reason, so we wouldn't be screwed over by her brothers and parents."

After she had left the room, Nolan looked over her medical file and saw something that made his stomach plummet. That Sam had tried to hurt herself a few times. Even though she had told them, at first he didn't want to believe it - refused to believe it until Baxter, after having read the file, slid them to Nolan to see for himself. There was sympathy in his boss's eyes, and at that moment, it wasn't just another boost of publicity or politics for Nick Baxter - this was personal as much as it was for Nolan.

He had a feeling that after this, Baxter would throw a welcome home celebration for the Kincaid siblings, as would Brady.

What neither Price nor Shaw knew was that two people saw something between their respective partners and began to meddle in their relationships. 

"Carisi!"

"Manda! We can't ask them this!"

"Yes, we can, and I will. I'm right about this, Sonny!"

"Amanda! Wait!"

It was like watching a car accident on the side of the road as Dominick Carisi watched as his wife bluntly asked her temporary partner and her husband's EADA, "so, how long have you two been crushing on the Kincaids?" was probably not the best way to start. He could see the way Shaw's face twisted while Nolan sputtered as his ears turned bright red. If Carisi wished for anything to happen now, it would be for the ground to swallow him whole.

Amanda continued to push. "You care for them a lot. Anyone with eyes can see it. What I see is you two pushing for the best outcome of this case for your partners. What I also see is that you guys might be in love with them."

"Rollins!"

"I am right!"

"Alright," Nolan broke the argument between the spouses. "Say we did like our partners... it wouldn't change anything. We don't even know if they feel the same way." Shaw agreed with Nolan.

Amanda was not easily impressed or swayed, for that matter. To Shaw and Price, she was right. "We can't tell them. It wouldn't be right to tell them this while their mother's murder trial is ongoing. It wouldn't be right by them."

They understood that, but as Amanda insisted, "Try and reach out to them. As friends!" Neither man could even argue with her or the glint in her blue eyes. "Just try. I think if you don't, you guys will regret it for a long time."

"We'll pick you guys up in a few and head to Sam's place. Think about it."

The couple left the detective and the counselor in his office to mull over Amanda's words. 

In an apartment that lived an retired D.A. and his kids, Mike looked at Sam across the table as she looked over files of an old case. Next to her, Peter Stone and her brother diligently looked at the evidence of their case against Thayer and his son. "So," Mike said, looking ahead to see Connie chatting with Jack, Logan, Rey, and Abbie. Unlike his children, Jack seemed to have taken another step with his ex-ADA as he and Abbie seemed to be glued at the hip over the past few weeks. His attention turned to his ex-boss's children and their love life. "How long have you guys been in love with your partner and boss?'

Vincent's head snapped up and sputtered while Sam opened her mouth and closed it. Peter Stone just smiled slightly, shaking his head. "We - I - hold on!" Vince turned to look at his younger sister. "You like Price? Nolan Price?"

"And you have a major crush on Shaw," Sam said, deadpanning. Her brother's face turned red. "Look, I know you are protective of me, but don't give me that look, Vincent Riley Kincaid-McCoy! I do like Nolan, but it wouldn't work out. It can't!"

"It could if you'd just let it!" called out their father from the kitchen. Sam and Vincent rolled their eyes. "The way they look at the both of you is enough to take the jump. So do it."

"It's not that easy," Sam began to argue like the prosecutor that she was. "It could mess up. the relationship that we have with them. Our friendship and work relationship. He saw all of me when I came in to discuss my history. Why would he want me?"

Because it was the truth, at least in her mind. Why would Nolan choose her? Her whole life had been brought to him in the past couple hours, and he was probably dissecting it, judging her for every little thing she had done. He would look at her differently after this case, after the trial. 

After dinner and after everyone left, it was the little family - just Sam, Vince, Jack, and Abbie who was staying with them.

"Let me just say this one last thing."

"Dad-"

"No, no. Let me tell you that your mother and I would want you two to have a love that is right in front of you. To take a leap of faith and take it. Why won't you both allow yourselves that?"

Take a leap of faith... easier said than done for them.