A/N: I DO NOT own the rights to any part of the Law & Order franchise, or the rights to the song Forget You by Cee-Lo Green.

Forget You

Jodi lifted her leg gracefully, stretching it directly parallel to her body and ignoring the screaming pain throughout her body. Switching almost instantly, she drove it into the ground, rotating quickly and jumping on her toes, moving across the floor with grace.

As she continued to move, a young man named Christopher came up behind her, grabbing her waist and pressing his body to hers closely.

He grabbed her hand, pulling her around to face him, and she turned, leaping into the sky ever so lithely.

Mid-jump Christopher caught her, and tossed her once more. This time, she came down and he set her down gently, taking her hand and leading her into the next move.

"Okay, stop! Stop stop stop!"

Jodi turned around, almost plummeting to the ground as she tripped. Christopher caught her, pulling her up to face him and they turned around and looked to their lead instructor, who was glaring with an air of distaste.

"Jodi, is something wrong?" he asked.

"What? No!" Jodi responded quickly and honestly. Yes her feet her bloody and aching, yes every part of her body hurt, but she did everything not to let that show.

Her teacher walked over, looking at her through narrowed eyes before slamming his body against hers in a way Christopher had previously down, putting his hands on her hips.

"Do you feel that?" he asked, breathing down her neck.

As he did so Jodi felt a slight twitch go up her spine, and involuntarily strained against him.

"No." she said, not quite understanding what he was wanting her to feel.

Pulling her closer again, Jodi slightly moved away and it was then that she understood.

"Jodi, you and Christopher are in love. You have just fallen in love, and are professing that through this dance, however it looks as though you are a prostitute trying to please a John."

"What?" she asked, turning around and crossing her arms over her chest.

"You are supposed to be in love, and you simply look pained. As though you are not really in love with him. You're married aren't you?"

Jodi nodded.

"You are not here. You need to have an affair. An affair with the movements, the dance. Or perhaps pretend he is your husband."

Jodi held back a comical snort at the thought of John dancing ballet.

"Okay." she breathed, wiping sweat from her face quickly and turning back to Christopher who was standing on the side.

"Again." he instructor commanded.

Walking to the corner, he pressed PLAY on the stereo and the music from the scene began to trickle in.

Taking a deep breath, Jodi closed her eyes, sinking back into the moves. As she moved across the floor she met Christopher, and he swept her into his arms.

In the back of her mind she replayed the words. "Have an affair. An affair with the movements, the dance.."

And that was exactly what she did.

The threw herself at every single move, giving every part of herself. As the sweat poured down her body and her bones screamed, Jodi thrust herself through it all, focusing only on perfection.

She twirled, several times across the floor before stopping in front of her instructor Henry, stopping in time with the music and giving a quick curtsy.

Looking up, she searched his face for any reaction. He gave none, features blank and emotionless.

The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, and he nodded his head slightly.

"Just like that. Three more times."

When John opened his eyes, he was surprised to see a headful of red hair beside him.

Smiling, he rolled and put an arm around Jodi's waist, feeling the warmth of her body beside him.

Squinting, he looked up as the sun streamed through the blinds of their townhouse. It had to be at least eight. He had not gotten any calls from work, which was a very good sign.

He wrapped his arm around her tightly, and she shifted slightly, moaning as she stirred.

The previous night had been incredible. The two had made love fiercely in the dark, only stopping when Jodi had to take a break to check on the kids. John would not have been surprised if she didn't wake up for quite some time. He himself was still quite tired.

It really did feel as though none of the past months had happened. Te were together, just like always. Everything was going back to the way that it had been.

Brushing a strand of glistening hair from her shoulder, John leaned down and pressed his lips to the soft skin, smiling. Jodi move beneath him once more, before moaning and rolling over.

Her red hair as spread across her face, and she pushed it back gently before rubbing her eyes and stretching.

"Hi." she said in a small voice after she was finished.

"Morning." John replied.

"I have to brush me teeth." she whispered, eyes slightly swollen from sleep.

As she tried to get up, John pulled her back onto the bed, and slid his arms around her waist tightly.

"Not yet." he whispered, lacing his fingers through hers.

Jodi smiled, and gave hi a quick peck on the cheek before climbing out of the bed. John let her go, knowing how much morning breath irked her.

John got up as well, following her to the bathroom. As soon as he arrived, she had just finished up, spitting the last of mouthwash into the sink.

"I'm going to check on the kids." she said, stepping past him.

John nodded, and grabbed her arm before looking into her green eyes deeply.

"What?" she asked, a small smile playing upon her full lips.

"I love you."

Jodi opened the door to Andrew's room, walking inside quietly.

She smiled as she walked across the room and he let out a loud squeak. As she peered over the edge of his crib, she found him looking up at the ceiling and kicking his feet.

"Hi Andrew." Jodi smiled, looking at him.

He turned his head, large eyes upon her. Smiling, Jodi leaned down and scooped him up in her arms, clutching him tightly to her chest.

He opened his mouth, gums shining and Jodi smiled.

"Hi baby." she cooed, clutching his body tightly.

He looked up at her with interest, before the corners of his small mouth pulled upward into a wide toothless grin.

"Morning there."

Jodi turned around, as John stood in the doorway.

Walking inside of the room, he came towards Jodi and gazed over her shoulder, smiling down at Andrew.

"The girls are still asleep." he replied.

Jodi nodded, before looking down at Andrew, hoping for another smile. Instead, Andrew simply gazed at her before turning his attention to the ceiling.

Smiling, Jodi walked across the room and set him down on the changing table.

"So, the big night is coming up pretty soon. You nervous?"

As soon as she heard the words, Jodi dropped the diaper in her hand as they immediately began to shake.

A breath escaped her, and she clenched the table, feeling panic rise in her chest.

Just days. Days, until her performance. Before the ballet opened with Swan Lake. And Jodi had the part of the Swan Queen. Jodi had the part to prove.

The film Black Swan had sold more tickets for Swan Lake than any advertisement could. People who simply wanted to see a real version of it would be coming, and what was Jodi's fate?

Would she fall, just like Nina? Would she crash and burn?

No matter how much she practiced, it was becoming impossible to get the part perfect. She was struggling more and more with that reality each day, and it was far too late to tell the director to replace her with her alternate.

"You alright?" John asked, coming back and putting an arm around her.

Jodi silently shook her head, feeling a lump rise in her throat. She didn't quite trust herself to say anything.

"Why don't you go upstairs? I'll take care of Andrew." John said.

When she turned to look at him, she noticed his eyes kept going back and forth to her shaking hands. He did not trust her with Andrew, and she didn't blame him.

Nodding, Jodi turned around and all but bolted from the room. Climbing the stairs, she made her way all the way up to the third floor.

It was dark, dusty, the only light coming from the windows. Boxes cluttered the hallway, things she had never bothered to unpack.

Finding the bathroom, Jodi closed the door behind her before walking to the sink, opening the doors beneath it.

It had to be in there. Her old friend, the glinting silver that had never let her down.

She had a good life. Moving across the country after her father was imprisoned, but there was no denying the stress. It was hard to try and attain perfect grades, looks and appearances at all times. She was a cheerleader. One of the top in her class. Dancer. Musician. Athlete. Performer.

Perfection. Every last bit of it.

No one understood. No one but that one friend that lay secret beneath the sink.

A small box sat in the corner, and Jodi grabbed it, pausing for a moment to be sure she heard no sounds.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled the box from the cabinet and placed it atop the sink, gently lifting the lid.

Inside, nestled in tissue, was a gleaming silver razor blade.

Glancing down at her arms, Jodi saw that the scars had completely healed for the most part. Unless one was to really look, they would never be able to see them.

Taking her old friend, she sighed with trembling hands and sat down on the toilet.

It was a nasty habit, but it helped. Wasn't that all that mattered?

The metal edge sunk into her flesh, and immediately searing pain fled to the spot. Biting her lip, Jodi looked as blood began to bead at the wound and the pain distracted her from the truth of reality.

Her friend had never let her down.

"What's this?" Olivia asked, glancing down at the sealed envelope on her desk. John's handwriting was on the front, her name spelled out in slanted letters.

"Tickets to Jodi's performance. Couple weeks back you said you were interested."

"Wasn't the show sold out?" Olivia asked, looking up.

"Well, I mean I am the main stars husband." John grinned, walking to his desk.

Olivia smiled, setting the envelope down on her desk.

"Thanks. Feels kind of heavy."

"There's two, bring a date."

Olivia raised her eyebrows at that, but looked back down at her desk. Elliot walked over, two cups of coffee in his hands.

The two of them had been there for the past 36 hours, and there really seemed to be no end in sight.

"What's this about Jodi performing? She hasn't gone back to stripping has she?" Elliot asked somewhat condescendingly, taking a sip of his coffee.

"Sorry to disappoint but not anymore. Actually, Jodi has the lead role in the Juilliard production of Swan Lake and I got Liv tickets." Munch replied.

Olivia looked up at Elliot, surprised to see a strange look on his face.

"Any chance you can get me a pair?"

"What, does Kathleen want to be a ballerina now?" Munch replied nastily.

"No actually, Kathy has been looking to do something. I think she'd really enjoy it."

"I'll see what I can do."

As soon as Munch said the words, Olivia's phone rang.

"Olivia Benson." she answered.

The details went in one ear and out the other. It was the way she kept herself from really getting sick when she got the calls from the police.

"What is it?" Elliot asked.

"Police I.D.d our victim."

"Alive?"

"Far from. They only found a piece of her."

"And what piece was that?" Munch asked, his voice wavering.

"Her hand."

Jodi leaned into Christopher, grasping his hands tightly as he held her, his strong frame swaying against hers.

Turning she stood on the knuckles of her toes, lifting her leg behind her and coming into a deep bow, before stepping away from him.

Sweat poured down her body, and through the thick fabric of the heavy cut-off sweater she wore, the cuts on her arm stung fiercely.

Around them, the dancers erupted in applause and Jodi looked down off the stage into the empty auditorium, where their director was sitting in the darkness alone.

He stood up, and everyone became silent before coming into the light, hands behind his back.

Jodi breathed, her lungs fighting for oxygen.

She had just given it everything she had. If it was not good enough, then nothing else would be.

Everyone waited in anticipated for his criticism, but he simply stood with his hands behind his back before opening his mouth.

"Thursday. 2:30. Be here, we open at 7."

With that, he turned.

His footsteps echoed throughout the empty auditorium, and as soon as the door slammed, everyone began cheering loudly.

"Hey, great job. You're going to do amazing on Thursday." Christopher said, turning towards her.

Jodi blushed, looking down and gave him the smallest smile, feeling the ache of the cuts on her arm.

"I hope so."