Disclaimer: These characters are not mine. They belong to Dick Wolf.

Author's note: I managed to catch this week's episode even though we're away and it was really good (this was more of an Alex episode, which was a treat because I love Alex episodes) but I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT STEPHANIE MARCH IS LEAVING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Again. How many times will I have to say goodbye to my favorite ADA? This actually makes three. Luckily though, she's safe and isn't going back to WPP, so we can always bring her back (hint, hint, Dick Wolf). But still . . . Alex is my favorite. Humor me, please (or just skip over this and go onto the story . . .).

When Alex said goodbye, I was waiting for Olivia to hug her, pat her on the back something to externalize the emotions they both felt, but damn Dick Wolf for never letting anyone touch (except in Paternity, but that's another story).

Okay, if Alex isn't coming back, then at least let Casey. It's been a year so she's not disbarred anymore and SVU needs a real, permanent replacement who understands them, not like Greyleck or Paxton, or even Abbie; much as I love her, she doesn't fit too well with SVU. At the beginning, I hated Casey with a passion (simply because she wasn't Alex), but after her antics in Poison, she started to grow on me.

So, that's the end of my rant. Thank you for listening and now . . . on with the story!

(Sorry, again this one is really short but it's all I had time for.) Review for more!

Alex Cabot, for the first time in her entire life, skipped her afternoon classes and she didn't even care.

She ran the twelve blocks to Olivia's foster home and pounded on the door.

Grace opened it almost immediately and Alex saw concern flash across her face. "Alex, honey, is something wrong?"

"It's Olivia!" Alex burst out. "Her mother took her! I didn't know until now and I don't know where they are! Grace, please, please hurry!'

Grace's face drained of its color. She grabbed the phone and dialed 911.

* * *

Alex sat with Grace on the sofa, trying to stop her hands from trembling, struggling not to cry as they waited for Jonathan and the police to arrive.

Grace put her arm around Alex. "It's going to be okay," she murmured. "We'll find her."

Alex leaned into her, realizing all at once why tough-as-nails Olivia loved her foster mother so much. Alex's mother hadn't held her since she was a small child and Olivia's mother had never held her at all.

They heard a knock on the door and Grace got up to answer it. Alex, suddenly feeling clingy although she was no longer a child, clutched Grace's hand. She didn't know what it was but there was something comforting about Olivia's foster mother.

Grace invited the police officers in. She located Olivia's most recent school photo and handed it to one of the detectives, who introduced himself as Detective Cragen.

"Thank you," he said, taking it. "We're going to send out an Amber Alert and notify Interpol. They're not going anywhere, ma'am. We'll find them."

Detective Cragen interviewed Alex while another detective talked to Grace. "When did Olivia leave the classroom?" the detective asked Alex.

"Um, maybe ten minutes into geography. Second period. Around maybe 10:30 or so," she replied.

"And when did you realize she was gone?"

"At lunchtime, she wasn't there and I got worried. We always eat together. So I went to the office and asked if they'd seen her. They said she left with her mother and showed me the sign-out sheet. Olivia had signed out, but it wasn't in her handwriting."

"Was it in her mother's?"

Alex shrugged. "I don't know what her mother's handwriting looks like."

"Then how do you know it was her mother who took her?" asked Detective Cragen.

Alex rolled her eye. "Her mother abused her for years. I saw the bruises, Detective."

The detective nodded and wrote something down. "Okay. Thank you, Alex. We're going to find your friend."

Alex nodded, although she didn't really believe him. Serena Benson was dangerous. If she wanted to hurt Olivia, she would, and no one was going to stop her.

Review for the next chapter!