It's your lucky day. I'm actually close to finishing this story on paper and even closer in my head. I should be rewarding myself, instead I'm going to amaze myself with my own philanthropy by giving you this next chapter. Maybe even another one tomorrow – I've been busy. Please ignore the 'fanwank' (I learnt a new word today!) in this chapter. Just watched that particular episode and I couldn't help myself. Enjoy – and keep reviewing. Just because I make a terrible hostage taker doesn't mean you can't fuel the fire, keep it coming a little faster...

- - -

Chapter FOUR – Profiles and Jealousy, much?

"Doctor Huang" said Cragen, coming out into the squad room at about six. Olivia and Elliot didn't look up from their screens; they had immersed themselves in information about the victim, and the photographer. Olivia could have sworn she heard the Captain add "about time..." under his breath, and she smiled to herself. "And Alex"

"We met in the elevator." Olivia heard the mention of Alex and had snapped her head up. Alex caught her eye and smiled. Olivia smiled back. She still couldn't help but blush, ever so slightly, when Alex came in and looked at her like that – like she did every day, and had done for a very long time, come to think of it.

"So, this looks interesting" Commented Dr Huang, planting himself in front of the evidence board and scanning everything on it.

"Yeah, if by interesting you mean sick." Offered Elliot. Huang shrugged.

"Your victim was a model. Unobtainable?"

"Not exactly. She had sex with three different people in the week prior to her death – one of those is the post-mortem rape."

"Three people?" He turned. Elliot nodded. "Typically these sorts of cases have a stalker element attached to them – of a highly sexual nature. This is very well planned, it's so detailed. Your killer thought about it for months, perfecting every last part in his head before executing his plan. It's possibly that he's a latent neurotic, someone with a history of various nervosas in his family."

"Nervosa – like bulimia nervosa?" Asked Olivia.

"Could be one of them. I would say you're looking for a man in his mid-twenties, frustrated with his position and social status. The power from removing the one thing that made this woman rich and successful would be very important to him. There's a confused history of mental disorders, say, a depressive mother and an anorexic sister – just for example. The legs... they provide more than a memento of the attack, they were a part of the person. They almost have a practical use."

"Now, what's a perp going to do with a spare pair of legs?" Scoffed Elliot. Huang smiled, gave a little shrug.

"You know, in advertising there are certain... criteria that women usually fall into. There was a study done a few years ago. For example, 'the kiss'. The woman is shown leaning back and accepting the kiss initiated by the man. Comodification is also common; the woman touches herself, she is desirable and, by extension, so is the product. And dismemberment – focusing on the breasts, the lips, the eyes or the legs is something we see every day. This woman became known by her legs. Your killer was – still is – fascinated by them."

During Huang's profiling, Alex had moved closer and closer to Olivia, eventually sitting on the chair next to her. When Huang had finished, Alex leaned over very close to Olivia, speaking very quietly.

"I want to take you out, after this case"

"What?"

"After this. I want to take you out to an expensive restaurant, wine you, dine you, woo you."

"And bed me?"

"Most definitely."

"Would I get flowers?"

"Most probably"

"Chocolates?"

"Don't push it." Alex's eyes were laughing, dancing. They made Olivia want to go with her right now.

"I'll think about it..." They suddenly realised how close they were to each other, and pulled back sharply, glancing around. Everyone seemed fairly occupied; Olivia breathed out and focused her attention solely on the computer screen. Alex glanced up, caught Huang's eye for just a second. He gave the faintest of knowing smiles (or was she just being paranoid?) and turned to the door.

"Guess where our friendly neighbourhood photographer was last night. The club Clarissa was at." Declared Fin, marching into the squad room, Munch right behind him.

"Guess what he said." Added Munch.

"Please, enlighten us." Said Cragen, arms firmly crossed. Munch took out his notepad and pretended to study it.

"Quote: You're such a bad model they should cut off your legs and use them by themselves."

Cragen gave his orders; "Alex, doc, stick around. Elliot, Olivia – bring him in"

- - -

Zach Games leant back against the chair, one arm over it, one arm stretched out on the table. He seemed calm, arrogant – as per usual. Alex, Olivia, Elliot, Cragen and Dr Huang were all gathered behind the glass. It was crowded – and Elliot in particular was spoiling for a fight.

"You know, I'm not sure" admitted Huang, in a low tone. "This is someone already in the spotlight; in the modelling world. He would have no need to take the legs with him; they symbolise more than a momento, they have a function. But he already had control of them on a set."

"Maybe that wasn't enough" Suggested Olivia.

"What he said – it can't be a coincidence" Added Elliot.

"See what you can do" Said Huang. "He might fit a totally different profile when he's angry."

- - -

"I knew you liked me." The first words from Games' mouth as Olivia sat down opposite him, and Elliot took up his familiar position, leaning against the cold concrete wall of the interview room. "But you could have just called. Not that I mind, I guess this is kind of sexy..."

Behind the glass, Alex felt the back of her neck twitch, her hairs standing on end. She hadn't realised how strongly she was frowning until her glasses began to press on her brow.

"Be quiet." Ordered Elliot.

"You show up at my work, at my apartment, what do you want?" He glanced at Olivia, barred his teeth in what she supposed was meant to be a sexy, predatory smile. "Stalking me, detective?"

"How about we ask the questions." Dictated Elliot, coming forward and leaning on the table in between Games and Olivia, who had starting pulling out photos of the crime scene. Games didn't even look down – keeping his eyes fixed on Olivia. Alex hadn't felt this jealous since she heard wind that Olivia was dating someone called 'Michael' (after much probing, Olivia had admitted that 'Michelle' was so deep in the closet she could see the shoulder pads, and Alex had rewarded Olivia's honesty with a night to remember...).

Games cocked his head at Olivia. "You done any modelling, detective – Benson, right? You know, why don't you give me a call, I could set you up with some friends of mine, you'd be a model in no time at all..."

"I bet you say that to all the girls." Said Olivia, curtly.

"But none of them are as sexy as you..."

Two things happened; behind the glass, Alex shot out 'Bastard!' so fast even she barely heard it, jumping back from the glass that she hadn't realised she had been inching towards. In front of it, Elliot banged his hands down on the glass so hard that Olivia almost jumped, and Elliot hand landed so close to Games' that he drew back with a yelp. Such sudden force would have surely broken a little finger or two; shame Elliot's palm hadn't landed half an inch to the right or that might have happened.

Cragen glanced at Alex, giving her a look that said 'what on earth's the matter with you?', before turning his attention back into the room. Alex cleared her throat and attempted some deep breaths, as surreptitiously as possible.

"Finished?" Hissed Elliot, right into Games' face. "Believe me, by the time we're done here we have enough evidence to screw you so hard you'll wish you'd never asked."

Games looked like he was struggling between coming up with a slick response or keeping his fingers unbroken. Wisely, he chose to stay silent.

"What do you make of these then Zach?" Asked Olivia, pushing the photos across the table. Games barely glanced at them.

"Composition's terrible. It's not selling anything. It doesn't work as a picture."

Olivia leaned forward, incredulous. "You think these are modelling photos?" Games didn't bother looking at them again, just slid them back towards Olivia.

"What other photos are there?" He asked, nonchalantly, pushing the last photo back to Olivia. Elliot grabbed his hand, pushed it back so that it was right under Games' nose.

"Try crime scene photos."

"You saying this is real?"

"Yeah, and we're saying you did it." Said Olivia. "You remember what you said to Clarissa Rysik?"

"I said a lot of things to Clarissa."

"Which involved a direct threat to cut off her legs and use them in a shoot by themselves." Concluded Elliot.

"You've got nothing on me!" Hissed Games, leaning forward. The ugly personality became even clearer behind the perfect teeth and perfectly styled hair. For all the money, time and beauty products in the world, some people were still downright ugly. You just didn't see it at first.

"Oh no?" Asked Elliot, confidently. "We've got motive. We've got that little impromptu confession at the bar last night, that makes for intent. Anything else you can give us, Zach? Like, means?"

"Do you own a nice big shiny kitchen knife Zach?" Asked Olivia, her eyes gleaming as she bent forward too, staring straight into Games' eyes. Games shrugged.

"I do. But I sure as hell wasn't using it last night. I was busy."

"Anyone who can corroborate that?"

"Yeah, about three of them." He took out his wallet, opened it, pulled out a scrap of napkin with a name and a phone number on it. He glanced at the name. "Looks like 'Mindy' will be able to tell you all about it." He began to stand up, but Elliot grabbed him by the shoulder and pushed him back down again.

"Not so fast. Give us a DNA sample."

"A what?"

"You open your mouth, we take a swab, we clear you – or charge you." Olivia smiled. "It's easy."

"No way, I'm not doing that."

"And why's that? If you're so innocent, what's the big deal?" Elliot sat down next to Olivia.

"My lawyer. NOW!" Demanded Games, and proceeded to sit there with his arms crossed until the woman arrived.

The team reconvened in Cragen's office, apart from Elliot who had gone to check the man's alibi. Alex was sitting down in a chair, Olivia was holding on the back of it, and leaning forward just enough to have her arms brush Alex's back. They had always been like this – even before they finally, clumsily, brilliantly ended up together. There had always been something; if you were quick enough to spot it.

"Alex?" Asked Cragen, soliciting her entire professional expertise with one word. That was what she was there for, after all.

"I can't charge the guy for being an asshole, as much as I'd like to. But I'll sit in when you're talking with the lawyer. I used to know her – Lara Prole. She handles a lot of 'celebrity in trouble' cases." Alex's tone strongly implied 'sell out!', and Olivia could feel the ghost of a smile at her own lips. She was fairly certain Alex had an ulterior motive for being in the room – to watch Games' advances. "So I'll be there to make sure he – I mean, his lawyerdoesn't try... anything..." Finished Alex, lamely. She glanced at Huang, who had his eyebrow ever so slightly raised. His eyes were laughing at her. Shit – he knows thought Alex, shifting her attention determinedly back onto Cragen.

Elliot walked into the room.

"His alibi checks out – at least, so said Mindy, after a bit of probing."

Cragen sighed. "She might be lying – took him a while to give her up. Get back in there, get his DNA."

- - -

"Alex!" Said Lara Prole, as Alex walked into the room and pulled up a chair.

"Lara. Long time no see. Are you representing mere photographers now too?" This obviously irked Games, but he stayed silent.

"My client hasn't done anything other than make a comment which, in hindsight, might seem relevant but was actually nothing more than an off-the-cuff insult. My client apologises, but unless the occasional... slip of the tongue..." at this there was the merest glance at Alex, as if the phrase held some special significance. Alex struggled to keep her face impassive as Olivia searched it, an eyebrow almost raised. "... is now against the law, I suggest you let Mr Games go."

"My alibi check out then?" Grinned Games. Elliot stepped in quickly.

"Unfortunately, Mindy wasn't home. So how about a DNA sample while we wait?"

"There is nothing – nothing at all that proves my client is guilty!" Prole, exasperatedly.

"And there is even less that proves him innocent. A DNA sample is all we ask." Replied Alex. Games fidgeted in his chair. Despite everything, he still managed to look Alex up and down, and Olivia felt like punching him even more than she had done earlier.

"What will happen to my DNA after the test?"

"Why do you ask?" Alex frowned, as Olivia and Elliot exchanged glances.

"You got something against your DNA going into the system Zach?" Asked Elliot. "You got something to hide?"

"Alex, you know as well as I do that DNA gets around, and that a jury has a hard time finding the truth if a scientist even mentions the word! Even forensics is not an infallible form of evidence."

"Then what is infallible evidence Lara?" Dared Alex, a hint of contempt in her voice.

"Finding someone else's panties in your partner's pocket." Came the quick reply. Lara Prole stared Alex straight in the eyes. Olivia and Elliot exchanged more glances – over something else this time, as Games stared at his attorney, utterly confused.

Alex took just a second. Barely blinked.

"If we use your client's sample for the sole purposes of this investigation, and do not check it against police records will he consent to the test?" She asked. Prole opened her mouth but Games leant forward, finally feeling edgy.

"Yeah, I'll do it."