Author- Muppet

Rating- pg...13? i dunno. Why do i bother with this.

Disclaimer- None of the SVU characters are mine. No dave. No SWAT team unit. Only robert. He's the only I have one left. So forgive me for wanting to hang on to him and love him like a son... just kidding. Oh yeah and i have the fat TV guy as well. So i'm not at a complete loss.

A/N- Thanks for the great reviews. I think I might continue this into a sequel. I haven't decided. Again the reviews are great guys. Thanks and tell me what you think about the sequel thing.

With Munch in the hospital Cragen was down two veteran detectives, at least for the next couple days. They had just received news that the bullet hadn't gone through his bone it just passed through tissue. While this was good news, they didn't have a couple days. They didn't know how long they had.

Elliot had filled Cragen in on Roberts request to speak with him. Cragen was relieved that Olivia was still alright. Now they needed to prepare with a deal they could make with him.

Fin just arrived into the squad room. Cragen came out of his office and approached the two detectives.

"I called about the tape. They've already ran video on the air. They've been running it all day. Other networks probably picked it up by now. Right now they're interviewing the man who spoke with Robert when he delivered the tape." Cragen said sounding more worn-out than he'd been in a long time.

"On the air?" Elliot asked.

"Yeah." Cragen said switching on the television and turning it to the right channel.

There sat a freckly, overweight man in a grey button-up t-shirt collecting his fifteen minutes of fame. Elliot couldn't help but hate him.

"Well he was wearing a brown delivery uniform. And I asked him what was on the tape and he just said it was something that would boost my networks ratings. I had no idea. I watched the tape. And I just was like 'oh my god'. You know?' Said the fat man.

"Indeed we do. The tape is appalling. Did you ask him who he was? Or why he was there so late?" Asked a woman's voice from beyond the cameras view.

"Yes I did. He was wearing a delivery man uniform. He said he was the night time delivery service or something like that. I was confused. I didn't realy realize it was the same guy on the tape until I watched it the third time or so and then I realized and called the police." He said scratching his head.

"And what then?" The woman asked.

"They said they wanted the tape as evidence. And I said that I wouldn't give it to them. The people deserve to know what kinds of horrors lurk in the shadows. It makes them wiser when it comes to protecting themselves and their children. I said they'll see it with everyone else. They're trying to protect that woman. I'm trying to protect America."

Yes, Elliot definitely hated him. He wanted to strangle him. He only cared about his ratings.

"And so what'd you do?" The woman asked.

"I took the tape and drove to my office and made copies. I was later informed that the police already had a copy. I think they just wanted mine to hide the truth from the American people."

'Even Munch wouldn't say anything that stupid.' Elliot thought.

"I then prepared the tape for it's national debut. I called the staff this morning and now… here I am." He said.

"What about your children? Having a man like that so close to them; wasn't that horrifying?"

"Oh yeah I feel-" With that Cragen hit the mute button.

Huang and Casey walked into the squad room and caught a glimpse of a picture of Olivia tied to a chair in the upper left hand corner of the screen next to an old anchorman.

Their faces became distressed as they stood next to Cragen, Elliot and Fin.

It was five o'clock.

"It's five o'clock. He should be calling now." Cragen said. And with that the phone rang. The room went quiet and Cragen pressed the speaker button.

"Captain Cragen." He answered.

"Wow." Came the voice on the other end. "It is sure an honor to speak to the almighty captain himself. So, captain let's get right down to business."

"Let's"

"How much is she worth to you captain?"

"Are we talking money?" Cragen asked.

"No captain. We're talking lives. Would you die for her?"

"Yes." Cragen said, his voice unwavering.

"Would you kill for her?"

"I'd kill you." Robert laughed at that. Huang was studying his voice, his speech, everything about him.

"Funny man captain. Though I have to tell you; you won't be so humorous once you hear what I have to say."

"And what's that?" Cragen said more nervous now.

"You're detective...is dead." Cragen's heart sunk, along with everyone else's in the room including Elliot's. His face went completely white, all color drained. Roberts words hit him like a knife in his chest and he thought he would keel over on the spot. His legs were already beginning to weaken beneath him. Everyone looked at each other in confusion until the words sunk in. The room was quiet but somehow the silence was deafening.

"I'm only kidding." Robert's voice said breaking the silence. Elliot needed to sit down until he regained strength in his legs.

"She's fine. But I don't know for how long. It occurred to me that I have no way out of this. Everyone knows what I look like and I have no out. I have everything I need. She confessed you'll see that on the news, and now I'm sure we can make some sort of exchange: My freedom for your detective."

"I'm sure we can." Cragen said the distress still apparent in his voice.