All characters belong to Dick Wolf

Olivia couldn't believe this assignment. For the last several weeks, she and Elliot had been working to apprehend a perp who got off on finding and taping women who had uploaded amateur sex videos of themselves online. And he was smart. No matter how close they got to him, he always seemed to be one step ahead.

She sighed and leaned over her desk, resting her chin in her hands. "I just don't get it," she whispered frustratedly.

"What's not to get?" replied Elliot.

"What do you mean? This guy has raped seven women in the last eighteen days. That alone is disgusting, but I just don't get why these women are putting these videos up in the first place. I don't mean to slut-shame them, I just don't understand."

"They get off on it. Some people like to be watched," Elliot shrugged leaning back in his chair. He waggled his eyebrows jokingly. "How about it, Liv? Sound like something you'd be into?"

Olivia groaned and threw a paperclip at him. "Yeah right. I never want to see what I look like in bed. I don't even like a mirror in the room."

Elliot took a moment to banish the infiltrating thoughts of what exactly his partner may look like in bed. Outwardly he just shook his head. He hadn't notices that Cragen had stepped up behind him.

"I couldn't help overhearing Olivia, and I hate to break it to you but you're going to have to get over that hang up."

Olivia furrowed her brow, confused. "Excuse me?"

Cragen sighed and ran a hand over his face. "Brass is coming down hard on me to get this case wrapped up. The perp is moving too quickly. Too many people are getting hurt."

"We've been doing the best we can, sir," Elliot said exasperated.

"I know," Cragen replied. "But it's time we took this to the next level. We're gonna try to bait him." As he said this his eyes rested on Olivia. She narrowed her own.

"Meaning what exactly?"

"We need to post a video of our own. We know which site he likes to pull from; we make a video, post it, and see if he takes the bait."

"And who did you have in mind to star in this video?" Olivia asked slowly.

Cragen hesitated. He at least had the grace to look contrite. "Now, keep in mind it won't be real. The two of you..."

"WHAT?!" Olivia cut him off. "Sir, that is completely inappropriate!"

Elliot, who had stood up and walked around to the back side of her desk, put a comforting hand on her shoulder. "What are you saying? Because I know you wouldn't put either of us in a position that would land us all at IAB."

"Which is why you need to listen to me. This wouldn't be a real sex video. Simulated only. We'll try to avoid any serious nudity."

"So like a sex scene in a regular movie?" Elliot suggested.

"Exactly. But with a closed set. We'll give you the camera and leave...I know this is probably going to be strange enough for the two of you without any other people there. Besides, it's supposed to be amateur."

Olivia had started to flush. She understood that the sex would be fake...she was just nervous about how she might feel in the moment. Her mind might be able to remember it was all for show, but in the heat of the moment, with El's body moving so closely against her own, she worried her body might forget.

"And it has to be us?" she asked weakly.

"It's your case," Cragen stated. He then added, "It helps that you're both unmarried." He looked at Elliot briefly. He and Kathy had divorced several months ago.

"Well, if that's what it's gonna take to get this guy then I guess I'm in," sighed Elliot sitting back down and staring expectantly at his partner.

Olivia glanced back and forth between her partner and her captain. She wanted more than anything to collar this perp, but she worried about what could happen if she and Elliot went through with this.

"Come on, Liv," Elliot said quietly. "We can do this."

She nodded. "Okay. I'm in, too."

Cragen looked relieved. "Good. I suggest you go home tonight, get some sleep and come in prepared tomorrow. We'll be filming then."

"Hey Captain," Elliot called out as Cragen turned to go. "If it's simulated sex, how are we gonna get this perp to bite? He likes the hotter scenes."

Cragen paused, and then said, "I'll leave that up to you two."

chung chung :)