"Who the hell are you and what are you doing at Olivia's desk?"

Ian Galloway looked up from 'his' temporary desk and into the eyes of a very confused, and almost angry looking man, whom he identified immediately as his new partner.

"I'm Detective Galloway," he said as she stood up. "And you must be Detective Finn Tutola. I'll be your new partner for the next little while."

Finn's expression went immediately to shock. "What the hell do you mean, new partner? Did John die or something?"

"I'm not that old," John said as he came in behind him, a cup of coffee at hand. "And it looks like you found your early morning present too. Got one just like him. Except mine is taller and has blonder hair."

That's when Finn noticed the young man in Elliot's seat, at Elliot's desk going through… wait, where was Elliot's stuff?

"What the hell is going on here? Where are Olivia and Elliot?"

John shrugged. "I wish I knew. You'd think someone would have told us they were being replaced. I mean, just yesterday they were working a case together and now… they're gone?"

Finn wasn't happy. And that's when he remembered their weird behavior for the past week. And the comments about Philadelphia, getting engaged, starting a new life. Was it all true?

Nah, he thought. Can't be.

But they were missing. Their stuff was missing.

And in their place were two guys who didn't look like they had a clue what was going on.

"Tutola, Munch," Cragen called from his office, snapping Finn out of his thoughts. He exchanged a look with his partner, his actual partner not this new crappy guy, and they both figured this would be where they got answers.

"Cap, what is going on?"

Cragen leaned back in his chair and rested his head on his hands. "You guys will have new temporary partners until they learn the ropes, get the idea of working in SVU. Once I have judged them capable of working on their own, you will be reinstated as each other's partners. Until then I hope you do a good job at giving them the full idea of how things work here."

They were both still as confused as could be.

"Who are they?" John asked, not too sure about this. Was this some kind of twisted joke?

"Ian Galloway and Charles Benet. Cops from Philadelphia. They'll be with us for the next little while. So be nice."

Finn shook his head. "I… I don't get it? Where are Olivia and Elliot?"

Cragen didn't get the chance to answer. A voice from behind them did instead.

"Right here silly."

Both Finn and John's attention was brought to the doorway, and relief washed through their bodies at the sight of their teammates.

"I knew this was all some twisted joke," Finn said with a half laugh. "Nice try Cragen."

Elliot shook his head and cracked a smile as he made his way into the already crowded office. "Oh, this is no joke. Olivia and I leave in an hour for Philadelphia. You guys are stuck with the newbies. We wish you the best of luck. I know what it's like to have a new partner who has no idea what they're doing."

Olivia let out a laugh. "I hope that wasn't intended for me, because I would be quite insulted."

Elliot smirked in Olivia's direction before turning back to the perplexed faces of Finn and John.

"Okay, I don't get it," John said as he raised his hands in the air, defeated by the utter confusion the situation brought. He didn't know what the hell was going on anymore and he was getting to a point where he didn't think he really cared.

That's when Finn noticed something no one else had caught onto yet.

"Holy crap!" he exclaimed as he pointed to Olivia's left hand. He looked both Olivia and Elliot in the eye. "You guys weren't joking…"

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Elliot and Olivia had both gotten the call early in the evening the night before. Huang had given the PPD the thumbs up as to Olivia and Elliot's capabilities of getting into character. He had assured Captain Whelan that they were ready to face anything that would be thrown in their way from now on in this game. Whelan had immediately contacted his two newest undercover detectives and demanded they be in Philadelphia the next day, that there would be a small aircraft picking them up at 9o'clock sharp. After both had gotten the phone call, they had contacted each other and had headed back into Cop Central to get their stuff packed up and to inform Cragen of their departure, whom, they later found out, knew before them.

Cragen hadn't had as much to worry about as he had thought. The PPD had been grateful enough to send him two of theirs in exchange for his willingness as to giving up his two best detectives temporarily. He seemed quite content with the two that he had been given. Smart, young, ambitious… they we're going to do well in their field. But nothing would ever replace the team he would be losing for the unknown amount of time he wished he could countdown.

Once Olivia and Elliot had all their stuff gathered, they paid one last visit to the psychologist to get the last few details pinned out. It hadn't been much. A few last minute runs over their new persona. A last look at the case before having it laid out before them once they arrived in Philadelphia. A temporary goodbye to the man they had come quite close too over the past few years, but also in the past week.

It was the last minute accessory they hadn't been prepared for.

"Olivia," he said as he grabbed the small box from his desk drawer. When she saw the box, she thought she was going to faint. She was probably as beat red as a cherry tomato. And when he opened the box and took out the beautiful ring, both men laughed.

"I suggest you get used to wearing it," George said as he put it in her hand. "It'll be the key accessory to your daily attire. It cannot be forgotten at anytime. It is very important you wear it whenever you leave your house. It's what makes this operation complete."

Olivia nodded quickly as she slipped the ring onto her finger herself. It shouldn't be there, she thought. It felt too real. As if she was actually engaged. But to be engaged you had to be in an actual relationship. That she was most definitely not.

She had taken it off as soon as she had gotten home. Put it on her bedside table at first, then tried to sleep. But she could feel it there, as if it had eyes and it was staring at her, mocking her. She ended up getting so frustrated she shoved it to the back of one of the drawers on the table until she could no longer hear its snickers. As if it could talk, she thought with a sigh.

She couldn't imagine what the next little while was going to be like. They figured it would take several weeks to crack this case and even though she was pretty sure after a few days she wouldn't be able to handle it anymore, she almost hoped it lasted those full few weeks. She would be able to ignore her fluttering heart, her sweaty palms, control her roaming eyes. She wanted this job to strengthen hers and Elliot's friendship. She figured there was no way it wouldn't be modified with all the time they would be spending together. She just hoped it wouldn't get worse.

When she awoke that morning, the first thing she thought about was the stupid ring and how she couldn't forget it. She needed it. She couldn't leave it behind. So she reached into the drawer and pulled it out. She stared at it for a few minutes before finally slipping it onto her finger, the one that had been naked all these years.

She decided she better pack a few extra clothes, figuring it could be a long day and that she'd probably just crash in Philadelphia. She didn't know what it would be like there, she almost feared finding out. And she also figured she'd have the apartment to herself the nights she decided to stay. Elliot would want to get home to his family. His kids. His wife… Yeah, they would probably want him back at night so she wouldn't be surprised if he never stayed in Philadelphia.

He picked her up at quarter to eight. They wanted to go to the precinct before leaving, figuring they owed Finn and John an explanation as to why they were leaving them for the next little while. The fun and games of playing with their minds was over, and although it had been good while it lasted, it was time for it to be put to rest. Olivia could only imagine their expressions when they found out.

"You ready for this?" Elliot asked as Olivia slipped into her seat. She nodded and smiled, finally realizing herself that she could do this, she was ready for this.

"You can toss your bag in the back if you'd like," he said as he motioned to the backseat. She did as she was told and turned to put her bag in the back. She was surprised to note however that there was already another duffel bag there, and she saw the shaving kit and the toothbrush poking out of the opened pocket. She couldn't help but notice the shiver that coursed through her veins and feel the small smile appear at her lips. "Never thought we'd end up roommates, huh?"

This had finally gotten Olivia to talk out loud, and Elliot was glad. He wasn't too sure what was going on in her mind, but he found her much too quiet. "Ha," she laughed. "We work together all day. The least we need is to have to live with each other if we're not obliged to. We'd end up killing each other."

Elliot laughed. "Are you saying I'm too much to handle?"

Olivia shrugged. "I don't know. Maybe."

"Looks like we're about to find out," Elliot answered with a friendly wink.

And Olivia could feel that the adventure was just beginning.

"You didn't believe us?" Elliot asked as John too noticed the rock on Olivia's finger. A deep blush built on Olivia's cheeks.

"You're married Elliot! How the hell do you get engaged when you're married to someone else?"

Elliot laughed. "I may be married, but Sean isn't."

Finn and John exchanged a look before asking the obvious question. "Who the hell is Sean?"

Olivia needed to be distracted. She took the opportunity to answer. "Elliot's alias. We're going undercover."

Lights flickered on in both of the detectives minds. "That explains so much," Finn said with a laugh.

Elliot shook his head. "A full week. You had a full week to figure it out. And you guys have the audacity to call yourselves detectives."

Olivia, Elliot and Cragen let out a laugh at the baffled look on the other detectives faces.

"Sean Livingston and Kate Bradley," Cragen introduced them fully. "You guys better get a move on. You don't want to be late on your first day."

They both nodded and said their goodbyes before heading for the door.

"Behave yourselves!"Finn called out behind them with a laugh.

"Okay sure," Elliot answered.

And before they knew it, they were pulling into the parking lot at the small airport, getting ready to live the adventure of a lifetime.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Are you alright Liv?" Elliot asked as he took a seat beside his partner. She hadn't said anything since they had boarded the plane. They had just taken off and she seemed to be lost in her own little world.

"Huh?" she said as she turned around. She looked into Elliot's worried eyes and realized that it had been the first time she had truly looked into his eyes since the beginning of this whole ordeal. She could do that, she realized, without freaking out. "Yeah, I'm… I'm fine. Just… I don't know…"

"Nervous?" Elliot said with a smirk. "I'm hoping that's normal. I'm slightly nervous about this too."

She nodded slowly as she looked back out the window. "I wonder how the PPD can afford this."

Elliot was confused. "What? Hiring us temporarily? I'm sure they have the money…"

Olivia shook her head and laughed. "No, flying us back and forth at our will. The flight is only 13 frigging minutes long. We could have driven there in less than two hours."

Elliot laughed too. "Maybe we'll have to test that theory out someday."

Olivia looked at him. "Do you seriously think we could survive two hours cooped up in a car together?"

Elliot shrugged. "I don't know, but we're going to have to start getting used to each other. We won't have much distance from each other for the next little while. Just the two of us Liv."

She nodded and looked away once again. "Yeah, just us."

Elliot figured he had finally caught it. "That's what is making you nervous right? Having to spend all your time with your amazing partner? I'm flattered."

Olivia let out a sarcastic laugh. "Don't flatter yourself too much M. Hotshot. It's not spending all my time with you that makes me nervous. It's the thought that all this time together could put a permanent hole in our friendship."

Elliot smiled a reassuring smile. "I have a feeling that, if anything, having to put up with each other for all this time will strengthen our friendship more than bring it crashing down. And we've managed to stay friends for twelve years now Liv. What could a few more weeks be?"

Olivia shrugged. She was afraid to find out.

"Don't worry," he said as they felt the plane start its small descent. "We'll make sure that this experience brings us back stronger than ever."

Olivia smirked. "Okay."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

"Detectives Stabler and Benson I presume?"

Elliot and Olivia were greeted at the foot of the plane by a young man, probably in his late twenties, early thirties, and as gleeful as could be for a cop. He was a cop, they had established that by taking one look at his attire. But he had a smile on his face and a look in his eye that made it seem as if he had not a care in the world.

Elliot smiled as he nodded. "That would be us."

The young man smiled ever brighter as he offered his hand to both detectives. "Officer Brunet. Laurence Brunet. I'll be your escort throughout the duration of the investigation. Follow me and we'll get the two of you started."

Olivia and Elliot exchanged a look and followed him to the car parked just a few hundred meters away.

"I'm a big fan of your work detectives," he said as they seated themselves in the car. Both Elliot and Olivia opted for the backseat, sticking together like usual.

"Thank… thank you," Olivia replied, not having expected the conversation to shift so much on them. She was thinking they would talk about the investigation at hand, not their lives.

"I've been following your investigations for over four years now, and I must say I've never been as caught up in any stories, real or fake, as I am with the way the two of you do all the things you do. It would make a great TV show. I… You guys are amazing."

Elliot laughed. "We try."

"How… how do you guys do it? I mean, how can two normal detectives just be so good?"

Elliot and Olivia exchanged a glance. Olivia had never really thought about it, because she had never considered herself better than any other detective. Elliot on the other hand knew the answer, but figured he'd see what Olivia had to say first.

"I don't know," she answered. "I guess it's because we've got determination and we want what's best for the victims. We don't give up until they get their justice."

Elliot smiled. "It's the partnership," he answered. He glanced over towards Olivia before continuing. "You can have two ordinary detectives be good detectives alone, but when they find their perfect match, it makes them incredible detectives. Very few detectives find it. We're just lucky we did."

Laurence nodded. "So you guys are like a work couple? Married inside the walls of your precinct."

Elliot laughed and Olivia just went a shade brighter than the shade of red she would have permanently for the duration of the investigation.

"I had never thought of it like that before, but I guess you could say so."

Olivia was bewildered. Had he seriously just said that?

Laurence nodded. "That's… I wish I'll find a partnership like the two of you in my future."

Elliot leaned forward. "You wanting to become a detective, officer?"

Laurence nodded. "It's been my dream."

Elliot smiled. "Hold on to that and don't let go. Even when it becomes tough, you make some incredible discoveries as a detective. Learn things you never knew before. Live experiences you never dreamed of living. Find things you never thought you'd ever find."

Laurence smiled and nodded quickly. "I'll keep that in mind."

They pulled into the parking lot of the PPD and Officer Brunet led them directly to his captain's office.

"I'll be out here when you're done," he said as he headed towards a desk in the corner of the large room outside the office.

Elliot and Olivia looked at each other before knocking at the door.

"Come in," a voice invited them.

When Captain Craig Whelan noticed who his visitors were, he immediately got up from his seat behind his desk to greet them. "Detectives, it's my pleasure to have you here. I hope you're flight was comfortable."

"I didn't get the chance to really think about it," Elliot said with a laugh.

"It may be a short flight, but it beats having to drive the 2 and a half hours," Whelan answered. Olivia and Elliot exchanged a quick look before seating themselves in the chairs Whelan pointed out to them.

"I've been anxious to have the two of you here since I spoke with Don and he told me the two of you were in. There is no way to express how grateful I am to have you here."

Elliot smiled. "We really are looking forward to working with you on this case too."

"Dr Huang assures me you guys are familiar with the case. I feel no need to go over it in detail once again, but I will add a few details. There has been another complaint this week that a man's fiancée has come home slightly delusional and banged up. The man is not happy and was in our office early this morning wanting to know if we were getting anywhere with this. I assured him that the two of you were on your way."

Elliot nodded.

"Has anything been released to the media yet about the investigation," Olivia asked, wondering if these men were seeing it on the news, then claiming that their loved ones were one of the victims.

"Of course not," Whelan answered. "That would jeopardize the entire case. It is under strict order that no word leaves my precinct and yours back home. Other than a few detectives here and the two that were sent to your squad, no one knows about the investigation."

"Besides Officer Brunet," Elliot corrected.

Whelan nodded. "Yes, of course, besides Officer Brunet. He's quite capable of handling more than people give him credit for. He's going to make a great detective someday. One of mine, of course."

Both Elliot and Olivia nodded.

"Now, let's see what we've got with the two of you so far."

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

They spent most of the day being evaluated by different psychiatrist's as Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler, along with the evaluations of Kate Bradley and Sean Livingston. All were very impressed with results, and Whelan couldn't wipe away the smirk on his face to have the east coast's two best detectives under his command. It would be quite the experience, he was sure of it.

"When Don told me the two of you would be incredible, I didn't realize just how true his words could be. But I've seen it with my own eyes now. I can't wait to see the two of you in action."

Olivia let the red flutter on her cheeks as Elliot smiled and thanked him for the compliment.

"Now, your real job will start in the morning. Your first class with Carlos will be tomorrow morning at 10:30. You have already been signed up and will have no issue getting in. You will have your own vehicle for your traveling for the investigation, and it will be yours to use on your free time. After every meeting with Carlos, you are to report back here immediately unless notified otherwise. We have two detectives, Detectives Kyle Francis and Dylan Powell who will take any information you can get and they will do any of the work that needs to be done outside of these walls. And that's a key point to remember; after going through those doors," he said, designating the doors that led outside of his squad room, "the two of you no longer live the lives of detectives. You cannot compromise this investigation by going off and being the detectives you were trained to be. Olivia Benson and Elliot Stabler only exist in this room, or across the state line. When you're in my district, you play by my rules. Got it?" he finished with a quick smile.

Both nodded. They understood.

"Good. Laurence!" he called the officer.

"Yes sir?" he answered as he looked up from his desk.

"Show these two lovely people to their apartment. The keys to their car are in the vehicle. You know the combination. And I'll have another officer pick you up there."

Laurence got up from his desk and came to stand beside the others. "Yes sir."

"And stop calling me sir Laurence."

"Um of course… cap," he said instead, with a laugh.

Olivia and Elliot stayed quiet as they headed towards the parking garage.

"He's my uncle," Laurence said as they walked through the dark shadows of the garage. "My mom's brother. It just happened coincidentally that I was placed in his squad. It's not special treatment, but I'm his only nephew, so he doesn't like the fact that he has to be my boss. I think it's great and I have a great time reminding him."

Elliot and Olivia nodded and laughed.

The short drive to the apartment was a lot quieter than their drive that morning had been. Olivia took advantage of the quiet to just stare out the window and into the lights of the city. It was nothing like New York, of course, but it had its own kind of charm.

"We're here," Laurence announced as he pulled into another parking garage. He tossed Elliot the car keys, and led them towards the main office of the building.

"Hi I'm Bryan Crow," he introduced himself to the person working behind the desk. "We spoke earlier this week about renting an apartment."

"Of course," the lady answered. "These must be your clients, umm… " she searched her papers. "Here it is. Bryan Crow. And you must be Sean Livingston and Kate Bradley."

The two of them nodded.

"Well I'm just going to have to ask you to show ID and make a few signatures, then we'll be able to get you guys all set up."

"Great," Elliot said with a smile. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the license and Visa the PPD had put in his name. Olivia did the same.

"Everything seems to be in place," she said as she scanned the cards. "If you could just sign here, here and… here," she said, marking spots for him to sign, "and we'll be all set."

Elliot and Olivia did as they were told and were glad when she passed them the keys and a room number. She also gave them an information sheet giving them their parking pass and a personal phone number.

They made their way to the fifth floor, room 514. Laurence had left them at the bottom of the elevator, having gotten the page that his ride was there. He wished them the best of luck on their first appointment as he said his goodbyes.

And now Olivia and Elliot were alone for the first time since their flight that morning.

Alone in their very own, all technicalities aside, shared apartment, about to spend their first night together as an engaged couple.

How crazier could things get?