Sorry for the long wait- I was away celebrating Christmas :) hope you all enjoy this chapter... this fic will be coming to an end soon.

The three men stood at the front of CID. They had just walked into the room- full of bustle and noise, as usual- and had no idea how they were going to make their announcement. Shaz looked up at Chris and smiled, but he didn't smile back. She furrowed her brow in worry.

"Chris? Is something wrong? Ray? Guv?"

But they didn't reply.

After what seemed like years, Chris spoke.

"The ma'am's been taken" he said, his voice shaking.

The entire room went silent.

Chris looked around, absorbing all the shocked and horrified faces, and gulped. "It was... Michael... who killed George... Rebecca's ex boyfriend, Michael killed him. George killed Rebecca. Michael blames... uh, us. So... he took the ma'am. And he says- he says he's going to kill her." His voice cracked on the last words.

"But he's not going to," Gene growled. "Because we are going to get her back."

"How, guv? We have no idea where he could have taken her. For all we know, it's too-"

"DON'T!"

Ray went quiet again, and stared at his feet.

No one knew what to say. They had nothing. They were utterly helpless, and so was Alex.

Finally, Shaz whispered something.

"I think... I might know."

Gene frowned. "Speak up, sweetheart, didn't hear that."

"I said-" she sighed, and stood up. "I think I might know where he's taken her."

Gene rolled his eyes, and sat down in Ray's chair. "Well, that's very sweet, but how could you possibly know that?"

Shaz smiled a tiny smile. "Because he told me."

Alex woke up, bound and gagged in a white room. The first thing she saw was the door- it was painted a garish electric blue, and it stung to look at. She squirmed around, but Michael had tied her up tight. There was nothing for her to do but wait.

Wait to die.

She looked around the room- it was very small, tiny even, and completely empty. Although even if there had been something in the room, Alex doubted it would have helped her.

She relaxed against the wall, and realized she wasn't afraid. Nervous, yes, but not afraid.

She knew that it was extremely likely she would be dead in less than an hour, and that Michael would get clean away, but for some mad, insane reason none of that bothered her- one, tiny, little thought outweighed these facts by far.

I saved him. He's safe because of me.

I didn't save her. She's in danger because of me.

Even as Gene drove, even more madly than usual and barely avoiding pedestrians, he knew he could be too late. She was all alone, with that psycho... completely helpless.

Gene pressed down harder on the accelerator.

"Guv," Chris whimpered. "Do you think you might be going a bit too..."

Chris saw Gene's expression and trailed off, leaning back in his seat again.

Please, God, let it not be too late...

Alex gazed at the toes of her boots, smiling slightly.

She was trying not to think of what was coming, and instead of what the others might be doing.

They'll all be at Luigi's now... eating lunch together. Laughing, smiling.

She smiled wider at the thought, and closed her eyes.

She heard the sound of footsteps outside, followed by the sound of keys jangling.

This is it, Alex thought. This is where it ends.