A/N: Sorry it's been a bit later than usual, I've been pretty busy. Hope you like it and please leave a review. I'm thinking of writing another fanfic at the same time so please feel free to give me some shows/couples to write about. I do not own these characters. :)

"As you yourself have said, what other explanation can there be?'

Poirot stared straight ahead of him. 'That is what I ask myself,' he said. 'That is what I never cease to ask myself."
― Agatha Christie, Murder on the Orient Express

Chapter 4: Explain:

The doors to the elevator opened and the two women stepped out into the hustle and bustle of the one-six precinct, they'd gotten a case and this meant everyone meant business. Benson and Rollins rounded the corner to find Fin and Amaro already with the Captain. Rollins went to stand with Fin while Benson directly advanced towards Cragen.

"What we got Captain?"

"A case just came in of a thirty-eight year old woman who got attacked and beaten, she caught a glimpse of her assailant but nothing substantial and all Warner could get was DNA samples from under the vic's fingernails."

"So a typical attempted rape then?" Amaro said calculating the little work that would be needed for the case.

"It's not that simple," the captain replied pointing to the board, "our vic is Julia Hart, she's known for running a prostitution ring downtown. She was on bail when the attack happened but the interesting thing is she not only reported it but reported other cases of it happening to her girls. This perp only attacks women who are on bail for crimes that they've almost indefinitely committed."

"But why would he do that if he knows that they're just gunna go to jail and report it?" Rollins questioned.

"That's what we don't understand. He's targeting and attacking women that's why they've called us. Benson, Rollins I want you to go down and see what you can find out about Julia Hart and the others that have been attacked; see if anyone local knows anything. Fin and Amaro go and talk to Julia Hart and make sure her stories clear."

The detectives nodded their heads, grabbed their jackets and left for their vehicles. It took Rollins and Benson forever to get across the city, each taking glances at the other as they drove. Little did they know that they both were replaying the kiss from earlier that morning in their minds. It had taken Benson a lot longer to realize that she had feelings for Amanda and now that she'd finally admitted it to herself she felt a lot more comfortable around the younger detective. They arrived downtown and the pair got out and walked down some of the alleys before they came to a group of girls. Each dressed to impress, a certain clientele. And all eyeing the detectives suspiciously.

"I'm Detective Benson and this is Detective Rollins," she said showing her badge and indicating to Amanda, "I'd just like to ask you a few questions about the attacks that have happened recently." The women nodded in acknowledgment, one taking a puff on her cigarette while another chewed on her gum. Amanda began to listen as the girls explained the attacks and how they were worried about staying around the streets at night. Rollins stood aside listening to the sounds on the street and watching as Olivia effortlessly got information out of the women. She hadn't met someone so...perfect. That was the only way she could think of describing her.

The way she moved, the way she talked, her interrogation methods. It was everything about her that Amanda loved, she knew that she'd felt something for Olivia the first time she'd met her. But she hadn't been sure what it was she felt and she wouldn't even tell her partner. Fin had long questioned her on her personal life but she didn't like to share personal things, she much preferred to keep to herself.

From her daydreaming Rollins could see someone down the end of the street. He hadn't noticed her looking but she made sure to get a good glance at his face. He had a moustache and wore an unmistakable red and purple scarf; she remembered this because she'd thought it was an odd combination or rather an ugly combination. Rollins raised her head slightly so that their eyes met. He saw her look and disappeared quickly behind the wall and away down another alley.

She turned back to Benson who had finished questioning the women.

"You alright Rollins?"

"Yeh fine, just thought I saw somethin' down there."

Benson nodded and they walked back to the car and they drove back to the precinct. As they climbed into the elevator they soon realised they were alone, together. Olivia looked across at Rollins who always seemed to wear this intriguing look on her face. She turned back.

"You know it's natural right?"

"Natural for what?" Rollins asked.

"To be confused about this…about us. I'm as confused as you are. We just need to work out what we've got that's all."

"I dunno it feels like if I let it out Cragen's gunna think we won't be professional or the others won't understand. I'm new and I know how easily it is to form an opinion of someone who you don't know."

"Look" Olivia stepped closer to Amanda, "We wouldn't be human if we didn't feel just a little mixed up about this. Don't worry about Cragen, once we've figured out what we we've got he'll understand." she grabbed hold of Amanda's arm and smiled, she could feel the heat coming from her and she just couldn't help but want her more.

Rollins looked down at her arm, felt her touch. Looked up into those brown beautiful eyes and wished they were back in Olivia's apartment. But no they were there for a reason and had to solve this case.

The doors to the elevator opened and they walked into the squad room. Amaro and Fin had already told the Captain the information they'd acquired and Cragen could be heard in his office shouting at what Rollin's presumed was ADA Novak. Rollins went and sat in her chair and Olivia walked over and perched herself on the side of her partner's desk.

"So what'd you get?" Benson questioned Amaro.

"Well we checked the vic's story out and some of her girls and they all seem to be the same. He stalks them, attacks them and then leaves them to go to jail. It's all a bit strange if you ask me," Nick replied looking up as ADA Novak stormed out of Cragen's office. She ignored the detectives sat at their desks and walked to the elevator, a case in one hand, a coffee cup in the other and a threatening look strewn across her face. Cragen appeared a minute later to discuss the case.

"I've been talking to ADA Novak and we have both agreed that because most of our vic's our in prison and they won't talk to so us we're gunna send one of you in."

"Awww sweet, a little undercover work then. What do we get to be, a prison guard?" Amaro asked getting more interested by the second. He would much rather be doing undercover work than paperwork.

"No, we've arranged a trial," Cragen answered. Amaro looked at Fin who shrugged his shoulders and Benson and Rollins both looked at him puzzled.

The Captain clarified, "One of you is gunna be undercover as an inmate and is gunna try and befriend any of these women who we think have been attacked."

"Looks like you're up Liv after all you've done it before," Fin said pointing his coffee cup at Benson who turned to look at Cragen, he shook his head.

"Oh it's not Benson who's going undercover. It's Rollins."

Rollins looked up from her desk as the others peered over at her.

"Me? You want me to go undercover?"

"Look Amanda. Liv's already been undercover there once already so they're gunna know who she is. If we want any chance of catching him we've gotta find his vics. Now go get some rest you've your trial tomorrow morning."

"But Captain…."

Cragen turned around. "That's an order!"

Rollins had arrived back at her apartment, she was stunned. She'd told her sister about her fake trial that was to happen in the morning and had sent Kim back to Atlanta. She didn't want her hanging around here all week by herself, who knew what she'd get up to. Amanda was surprised that Cragen had sprung this on her, an undercover job. 'Why couldn't they get someone else to do it? And why had Casey and Cragen been fighting earlier?' were the only two things Rollins could think about at the moment. She looked up at the clock, it was nearly eleven and she'd promised Benson that she'd go and see her after work, so she grabbed her keys and left the house.

Benson heard a knock at the door, she looked at her watch. Eleven o'clock. She was on time. She unbolted the door and let the younger detective in, grabbing her coat and placing it on a chair at the table. Handing Amanda a bottle of beer she sat down on the couch. Rollins joined her.

"So what'd ya think?" Rollins asked.

"About the undercover work?" Amanda nodded, "It's gunna be tough but Cragen said he's gunna let me come in and check on you every two or three days to make sure you're alright."

Amanda smiled, taking a sip from her beer bottle and grabbing for Olivia's hand. Their fingers intertwined and they sat staring into each other's eyes.

"What are we gunna do Liv?" Rollins said after a long silence.

"What now or in general?"

"Now. Where is 'us' going." She said looking up into the other woman's eyes and feeling her stroke a stray piece of hair from her face.

"Well where do you want it to go?" Benson said placing her beer on the coffee table and looking more intensely into Amanda's eyes. She could feel a sense of passion run through her; at first she thought it was lust for the beautiful woman at her side. But no, it was a shear sense of belonging and companionship.

"At this moment in time, the bedroom, because I'm tired." Benson looked up as she heard the first part of the sentence then the two looked at each other and laughed as Rollins finished it. "I had you worried for a second then didn't I?"

"I wouldn't say worried is quite the word you're looking for." Olivia winked, the pair laughed again. Benson lent in and placed a small kiss upon Amanda's perfectly plump lips. They parted, their faces inches away from each other. Benson looked down and grabbed Amanda's other hand and led her towards the bedroom. They both changed into sweats and climbed into Olivia's comfortable double bed. Rollins slid across to her partner, finding comfort in her arms. She raised her hand up and stroked Olivia's cheek and giving her a small kiss on her lips. Benson pulled her closer and the two lay curled together in the middle of the bed.

Amanda laid her head beneath Olivia's chin and on her collar bone tracing the edge of her shoulder with her finger.

"I'm crazy about you Olivia Benson," Amanda said quietly. Liv smiled to herself, pulling the woman closer and the two fell asleep in each other's arms.

A/N: Please leave me a review and let me know what you thought and what you think will happen to Amanda in prison. Thanks for reading. :)