The Black Sand Bar:

[Truest Valor]

BaconBunch

Time for hiding her emotions behind a chill-but-obviously-fake mask was apparently over for both Steph and her father.

The girl finally succumbed to the emotional moment and broke her barrier, immediately burying her face in Papa's neck, her arms wrapping around his upper back, trying to find comfort and protection from him and trying her best not to let any tears fall from her eyes. Eventually, she failed, and she let out a few muffled whimpering cries. "I'm sorry."

(( Danke, Kazyan. ))

Well, Damon would have walked off had Stephania not suddenly been overcome with emotion. Needless to say, he was surprised. At the end of the day, she was a still a child. He kept his arms around his daughter and gently squeezed. "It's alright, my sweet."

And so he sat there and did his very best to comfort Stephania...

"There is nothing for you to be sorry for."

[BaconBunch]

"Yeah I do."
Stephania pulled away and sniffled, wiping her forehead on her shirt sleeve. I'm sorry for hating your wife. I don't even know why. It's probably because I feel like she's going to take you away from me. I shouldn't care if you love her or not. But I do." She put her head down and stared at her lap,her feet rocking back and forth over the edge. "I think I act rebellious for fun. And I know it's annoying, and don't say it's not because it would be lying.' She smirked.

[Truest Valor]

Damon put a gentle hand on the top of Stephania's head.

"You're my little girl. Nobody can ever take your place. And Ellie certainly doesn't intend to replace you or take me. She just wants to be a part of your life."

He ruffled her hair a little bit, a smile on his face.

"Where I go; you go."

It as plain and simple as that. That was just the kind of guy Damon was. Taking his hand from her head, he folded his arms across his chest. His gaze turned towards the ocean. "You know, you're going to have a little brother soon. I'm sure he'll need someone to look up to."

[Like Totally Not A Mule]

[Congrats, Ravens. Well played.

Be sure to thank your teammates, the refs.]

[Vintrict]

notmuch_23

"More like a medical examiner, but yeah: medicine really isn't our thing," Ellot tells Zoll.

It really takes a lot for Elliot Stabler to admit that he needs help, which is why his old partner Olivia Benson usually implored more stubborn victims to help. their case.

Zoll walked himself from around the counter, stepping up closer to the two guys. He looked at them each.

"I assume I'm not doing this for free. Even if I am still a student, I have a certification that deems that I get my just pay."

[BaconBunch]

Stephania briefly wondered if her being separated from her father would be better for him and Ellie -- And then pushed it aside as only her being melodramatic.

At the mention of her future brother, her head jolted over to meet their eyes in surprise, and after a few moments she returned her eyes to the horizon on the ocean. "I want to be a good sister. But I don't know how to." She made a smile that one would make accompanied with harsh irony. "I'm not really used to our family being big... Or together."

[notmuch_23]

Vintrict

"And I have enough evidence to report you to the medical board for this illegal practice, because I'm sure a student wouldn't be able to get a license," Elliot says.

"I'm sure that same board would question whether these specimens were legally obtained, too," Bobby adds.

"Yeah, and I'm sure every single chemical you have in here is perfectly legitimate as well, right?"

Truth is, neither one believes they have enough money to pay Zoll for his work, so the turn to a tactic that worked for both of them in the NYPD dozens of times before.

[Vintrict]

notmuch_23

"And I have enough evidence to report you to the medical board for this illegal practice, because I'm sure a student wouldn't be able to get a license," Elliot says.

"I'm sure that same board would question whether these specimens were legally obtained, too," Bobby adds.

"Yeah, and I'm sure every single chemical you have in here is perfectly legitimate as well, right?"

Truth is, neither one believes they have enough money to pay Zoll for his work, so the turn to a tactic that worked for both of them in the NYPD dozens of times before.

Zoll laughed heartily, letting the whole room be filled with it. This was the first time he showed such passion to his mannerisms. Such intensity. When it settled down, he cocked his head to the side, staring at them from its tilted angle with a grin painted on his face.

"I seeeee. So you plan to blackmail me into working for you. Unfortunately for you, I am certified by the Durem University to perform this study, if you knew a thing about my degree. But you are likely just two investigators who came unprepared. Unless you have anything to give me for my services, I suggest you leave me be and go find someone elsssseee."

This was just proof that those of the medical field, the specialists anyway, were far and inbetween. And his services were expensive. Aaron and Damon were the exceptional few who got pass this. Aaron he felt like having at his side because she was a pretty girl with something about her that made him attracted to her. And Damon's psionic abilities made him most curious. And then there was Ellie. Ooooh, Ellie. That woman was the most intriguing of them all.

[notmuch_23]

Vintrict

Of course, Zoll is also now a suspect of the murders.

"Not until you tell us where were on the fourteenth." The first murder happened the night before, but he wasn't going to tell that to Zoll.

Bobby Goren picks up a medical book on eyes and flips through to see if there's a section on extraction or surgical procedures.

[Vintrict]

notmuch_23

Of course, Zoll is also now a suspect of the murders.

"Not until you tell us where were on the fourteenth." The first murder happened the night before, but he wasn't going to tell that to Zoll.

Bobby Goren picks up a medical book on eyes and flips through to see if there's a section on extraction or surgical procedures.

Zoll turned around, walking back around the counter and pulling out a carbon notebook. He opened it up and scanned it until he spoke out what he was reading.

"I was out on Island C, performing some studies on the exotic plants present there."

He shut it closed, thereafter.

[Techpriest Enginseer]

(( C Island?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GkMj9T7xqY ))

[Vintrict]

Techpriest Enginseer

(( C Island?!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GkMj9T7xqY ))

((Exactly.))

[notmuch_23]

Vintrict

Zoll turned around, walking back around the counter and pulling out a carbon notebook. He opened it up and scanned it until he spoke out what he was reading.

"I was out on Island C, performing some studies on the exotic plants present there."

He shut it closed, thereafter.

"Can anybody verify that?" Elliot asks, as he had hundreds of times before.

[Truest Valor]

BaconBunch

Stephania briefly wondered if her being separated from her father would be better for him and Ellie -- And then pushed it aside as only her being melodramatic.

At the mention of her future brother, her head jolted over to meet their eyes in surprise, and after a few moments she returned her eyes to the horizon on the ocean. "I want to be a good sister. But I don't know how to." She made a smile that one would make accompanied with harsh irony. "I'm not really used to our family being big... Or together."

"You'll be a good sister, it'll come naturally. And as the family grows, you'll feel more comfortable and in place. Things will be good for all of us."

Damon hoped that he had brought Stephania around, perhaps helping her to see that she wasn't being replaced or going anywhere. He reached over and patted her on the shoulder. "You'll like it. And try to give Ellie another chance." Damon had to work that in somewhere.

"It's getting dark, so we should head back. Okay?"

[Vintrict]

notmuch_23

Vintrict

Zoll turned around, walking back around the counter and pulling out a carbon notebook. He opened it up and scanned it until he spoke out what he was reading.

"I was out on Island C, performing some studies on the exotic plants present there."

He shut it closed, thereafter.

"Can anybody verify that?" Elliot asks, as he had hundreds of times before.

"The birds and the bees," he answered.

"Listen. I'm sure you're here to claim me as a suspect of these murders you mentioned. I assuuuure you, they were not by my hand. If they were, you would know because you wouldn't find the bodies nor trace anything back to me. Take it as a lesson."

He turned around, sitting into his seat.

"However, I am good at what I do as a doctor. And if those are the skills you want, then call your department and tell them to send me over an invoice. If I am your only source right now, then I wiiiiish to be treated as such. That means I am to be immune to any of the actions dictated by law. Those are my only terms."