Disclaimer: SVU and its characters belong to Dick Wolf. I own nothing.

Gordon had left the house in the city a few hours ago. As he drove, his mind wandered back to what had happened before he left. He had no regrets about ambushing Matt after the man came back in from taking out the trash. After they'd finished the phone call to Stabler, things had moved quickly.

They'd wrapped a bound Detective Benson, still very much alive, in a blanket. The woman did have some injuries, as when Gordon was stabbing through the blood bags they'd laid on top of her, he'd pierced her skin a few times. None of the wounds were very deep though, and there was no danger of any of them being fatal. He didn't bother treating them, just allowed them to stop bleeding on their own.

After they'd wrapped her in the blanket, they'd secured it with duct tape so it wouldn't unravel. Together, they carried her to the garage, and placed her in the trunk of the car. As an additional precaution, Gordon taped her mouth shut again. Just in case the paralytic should wear off while he was driving.

With the detective placed in the trunk of the car, it was time to remove some of the evidence. They returned to the room, and decided what to remove, and what to leave. Gordon left the knife behind, knowing no prints would be found. He'd made sure to wear gloves the entire time. He instructed Matt to gather up the now empty bags of blood, and throw them away.

As soon as the man came back inside the door from depositing the trash in the alley, he'd struck him over the head with a cast iron skillet. Then he'd used the duct tape, and bound him to the table in the main room. A nice little present for the police to find.

His final stop on the way out the door was the bedroom where he'd been sleeping. There, he grabbed the bag he'd packed for himself. It contained several days worth of clothes, a few disguises, and a passport. Under a false name, of course. Everything he'd need to get across the border. Then he made his way to the car.

He reached across to the passenger seat, grabbing himself a drink out of the cooler. Something else they had done before carrying out the plan involving Detective Benson. Matt hadn't even been suspicious. Gordon had suggested putting the cooler and food bag in the front seat of the car, so whomever was driving would have access to it. That way, whoever wasn't driving could lie down in the backseat and sleep while the other person drove.

In another hour or so, he'd probably have to stop and use the restroom. There were plenty of places along the highway where he could pull over and not raise any suspicion. Once he'd made it further upstate, a little closer to the border, he would stop and get some supplies.

Changing the radio to a better station, he wondered how things were going back in the city. By now, the police would have surely arrived at the house. Matt was likely in custody. Gordon wasn't worried. Even if his 'friend' were to rat him out, there was nothing to tell. While he'd shared some of his plans with the man, he'd never once revealed any of the locations.

He also wondered how Detective Stabler was faring. Not because he cared about the man's well-being. He wanted to know if the Detective was still able to work the case of his partner's 'murder', or if he'd crumbled under the weight of it all. Would this be what caused the man to finally snap?

From his hiding place earlier this week, he'd seen when Stabler had sent his wife and children away. The next day at the warehouse, he'd alienated his partner. He was a man on the verge. The timing couldn't have been more perfect.

Gordon recalled the time, a little more than a year ago, when he had squared off with Stabler in the interrogation room. The look on the detective's face when he had asked him what he'd be if all of his controls went away.

One by one, he'd taken away those controls. His wife and children were gone. Yes, they were still alive, but he'd lost them just the same. It had been that loss that caused him to berate Olivia in the first place.

That was what had given Gordon the perfect opportunity to pounce. With his partner missing, Elliot had no controls left. He was hanging on by a mere thread, just waiting to snap. If only he could have witnessed the detective's reaction to the bloody scene. It might almost be worth the risk of capture, just to see Stabler become so completely unhinged.

A brief glance in the rear view mirror caused his heart to leap in his throat. There was a state police car behind him. No lights or siren, but they were following at a close distance. Casting a glance at the speedometer, he saw he was well within legal limits. He flexed his fingers on the steering wheel and tried to relax.

A few moments later, the car behind him moved into the passing lane and accelerated. He kept his eyes facing forward, focused on the road ahead. Soon, the cruiser had passed him, continuing on down the highway.

That prompted Gordon to make a decision. Even though it was still relatively early in his journey, he was going to stop at the next rest area. If it wasn't crowded, he would duck into a stall, and slip on one of the disguises he had brought. Nothing too extreme, just perhaps some contacts, and a jacket.

With that decision made, he focused his attention back on the road. He couldn't let his nerves get the better of him. There wasn't much for Matt to tell. He hadn't seen the car for long, plus he'd switched out the plates before leaving. Even on the off chance that the man had memorized them, those old plates were still sitting back in the garage of the house.

Despite all his efforts to concentrate, his mind wandered yet again. How much longer would the paralytic work for? He'd given it to her over three hours ago now. He guessed there was maybe another hour left to this particular dose.

Yes, she was bound and gagged, but she could still create trouble for him. If nothing else, Olivia Benson had proven that she was resourceful. He wouldn't put it past her to somehow kick out one of the taillights and attract the attention of a passing driver.

That left him with a dilemma. How to incapacitate her for the rest of the drive. He hated to inject her with another drug so soon. What could he do?

Then, he remembered. Along with the blood bags, Matt had brought along chloroform with his supplies. He just hadn't had the opportunity to use it on her earlier. She'd been trying to escape, it was easier to subdue her by striking her with the gun.

At the next rest stop, he would find a secluded area. Then, he would use the chloroform to ensure the detective remained unconscious until they reached their destination. After that, he would quickly slip into a disguise. Then, it should be smooth sailing all the way to Canada. Seeing the signs for what he was looking for, he flicked on his turn signal, and prepared to exit the highway.

The mood back at the sixteenth precinct was a somber one. It had been the outcome none of them had wanted. They were all grieving in their own ways. None of them felt comfortable showing it openly yet, though. Instead, they were all driven for a singular cause – finding Gordon Rickett. Arrest the man, and find Olivia's body. Give her the justice she so desperately deserved.

So far, none of them had been in to question Matthew Adams. Before they'd had the chance, he'd asked for a lawyer. They were waiting now for a defense attorney to arrive.

They'd also called the ADA as a preemptive measure. While it pained them to do it, they were willing to deal with the man in custody. Nothing as sweet as what he was hoping for. But in exchange for information that would lead to the arrest of Rickett, they'd take the death penalty off the table. The one thing Adams couldn't escape this time is life in prison without parole. He was going down for four counts of rape and murder, plus his role in what was done to Olivia.

It had been Fin and Munch who had broken the news to Casey about Olivia. Once they'd gotten back to the station, Elliot had excused himself. Everyone had just let him go, knowing he needed some time alone. No one knew exactly where he went, though it was suspected he went to the roof. When he'd returned twenty minutes later, his voice was hoarse and his knuckles bore fresh bruises.

Upon hearing the news about what had been found at the house, Casey had broken down. She'd been so worried about her friend, and had been praying that she would be found safe. After spending several minutes crying uncontrollably, she managed to center herself once more. Taking a tissue from the box on the desk, she wiped the remaining tears from her face. Then, she squared her shoulders, and vowed to do everything in her power to get the harshest conviction. Not only for Adams, but for Rickett as soon as he was captured.

With Elliot back in the squad room, everyone seemed to be avoiding him. What could you say to a man who had just lost his partner? Yes, they were all close with Olivia, but not the way he was. Plus, they all knew the man was likely blaming himself.

Everyone's attention was drawn to the doorway when a young man carrying a briefcase entered. He was wearing a suit and tie, but looked as though he had only barely passed the bar. They all assumed this must be Adams' legal aid attorney. The man hadn't been able to afford a lawyer on his own. Before they could ask why he was here, he stepped forward and spoke up.

"I'm here to meet with Matthew Adams. I do hope no one has violated my client's rights and questioned him without counsel present."

Though they were all biting back a sharp remark, it was Fin who answered first.

"We wouldn't do that. He's waiting for you in interrogation one. I'll show you the way."

With a wave of his hand, he indicated that the man should precede him down the hallway and out of the room. They would grant the man a few moments of privacy with his client, then get started on their questioning. There was a lot of ground to cover.

Fin returned shortly after, and even though they were all thinking the same thing, no one spoke. Everyone was hoping this legal aid attorney would be green, and that they could push through the deal they wanted in order to get Adams to talk. But judging from what they just witnessed, it didn't seem likely.

The shrill ringing of a cell phone broke the silence. All who were gathered cast glances at one another, before their collective gaze fell upon Elliot. The sound was coming from his pocket. He reached for his phone, a resigned look on his face. Who could possibly be calling?

Looking at the display, he saw that the caller was none other than Ryan O'Halloran. He pressed the button to accept the call, but before he could even say 'Hello', the other man began talking. He was speaking at such a fast pace, Elliot could barely make out what he was saying.

"Olivia...not dead...trash...blood bags...coming to precinct soon."

Elliot had to stop the man. He couldn't believe what he'd just heard, and needed the words repeated again. This time, in a more clear and concise manner.

"Say that again, Ryan."

"I don't think Olivia's dead, Elliot. I found empty bags in the trash, like the kind you'd get from a blood bank. I'll be back at the precinct soon, where I can verify it at the lab."

As soon as he had finished speaking, the other man hung up. Elliot stood statue-still, still holding the phone to his ear. His mouth hung open in shock.

"Elliot, what is it?"

The question came from Munch. They all could tell that whatever the phone call had been about, it must have been extremely urgent. The lab tech didn't tend to call about information. He delivered it in person after all the details had been processed. All eyes were on Elliot, waiting for him to answer.

"That was Ryan. He said – he said he doesn't think that Olivia's dead."

There was a collective gasp among the group. Could it be true? How could it be true? Fin, Munch, and the Captain had witnessed the scene for themselves. There had been so much blood. No one could survive losing that quantity from their body. No one wanted to rush Elliot, but they were all desperate for more details. Thankfully, he didn't make them wait for long.

"Ryan didn't say much, but he mentioned something about finding bags in the trash. The kind from blood banks."

Realization began to dawn on the others standing around. If the blood found at the scene was already bagged, then perhaps Olivia hadn't really been hurt. Maybe it had all just been a ruse. But how would they have gotten hold of Olivia's blood, let alone such a great quantity of it?

Elliot sank down in his desk chair, dragging his hands down over his face. He felt like there was something he should be remembering. But what could it be? Something about Olivia and blood - that's it! Shooting back up to his feet, he exclaimed aloud.

"When I was at Olivia's on Monday, she had a bandage on the crook of her elbow. I questioned her about it, and she told me she'd just donated blood that day! She was a regular blood donor!"

Munch hurried to his computer. They had a lead now. This was something they could work with.

"Did she happen to tell you which location she used?"

Munch asked the question, trying his hardest not to sound too impatient.

"No, but I'd be willing to bet she used the one closest to her apartment."

Going off that theory, Munch began a search. Using Olivia's address as a starting point, he found the nearest blood bank in relation to where she lived. Within seconds, he had a name, street address, and phone number.

Something else suddenly occurred to Elliot. He voiced his theory aloud.

"What if Matthew Adams got a job at the blood bank? He was a former nurse, he'd have the skills and know-how to draw blood."

No sooner than Elliot had spoken, Fin and Munch were standing. Each were pulling on their coats, getting ready to leave. They carried with them a photo of Adams', along with a copy of the addresses. In addition to the one closest to where Olivia lived, they had printed out the locations of two other nearby blood banks. There were off to get some answers.

On the heels of all this information, Casey hurried to find a judge. She needed to get warrants as soon as possible. On the off-hand chance that they located Adams' place of employment, they would need access to any of his personal property, like a locker. Even better, should the employer provide them with a residence, they would need to search that, too.

The wheels were turning slowly, but they were starting to turn. Now that they'd received that bit of information about Olivia, they were all filled with a renewed energy. Something else was driving them now – hope. There was still a chance of bringing their friend home alive.

Gordon was in a parking lot, consulting a map. After some careful thought, he'd decided to go back to his original plan. He would take the detective to a cabin upstate that belonged to Matthew's family.

While he was in a hurry to get across the border, it was too risky to try and take her with him. Best to get rid of her stateside. At least the cabin was only thirty miles from Canada, so when he did complete the job, he could get there easily.

For now, though, he needed to get some supplies. He got out of the car, and made his way inside the store. It didn't offer a big name, but that made it all the better. Plus, it seemed to carry a wide variety of products. In addition to offering hardware, there was a second shop attached that sold grocery and clothing items.

Gordon made his way up and down the aisles. He didn't plan to be at the cabin for long, but selected some things so he'd be able to eat. Also, he picked up some bottled water, since he wasn't aware of what the situation was like where he was headed.

After picking up a couple more things, he headed to the hardware section. There he chose a tarp, a collapsible shovel, and some bottles of propane. Matt had already told him the cabin was equipped with lanterns and stoves, they would just need to stock up on fuel. None of those purchases would raise any red flags, they were all standard camping supplies.

He paid for his purchases, and declined an offer of help to his car. Using the empty backpack he'd brought in with him, he stored the supplies inside. That left his hands free to carry the groceries. With a smile, he bid the owner a good day, then left.

Back in the parking lot, he quickly loaded all the supplies in the backseat. Now was not the time to check on the detective in the trunk. He wasn't worried about her though. When he'd stopped to use the bathroom a little over an hour ago, he'd held a handkerchief doused with chloroform over her nose. He knew that would keep her unconscious until they reached their destination.

With everything put away, he got back into the driver's seat. A final glance at the map told him there was only about half an hour to forty-five minutes worth of driving before he reached the cabin. Turning the radio up, he pressed down the accelerator, willing the miles to pass by quickly.

In the trunk of the car, Olivia was stirring. She'd opened her eyes to the dark. At first she'd thought she was blindfolded, but then she felt the movement underneath her. It was then it dawned on her exactly where she was.

Her body was aching from its position, her head throbbing. It had to be from a combination of things. The drugs she had been given, the close quarters she was in. She tried to move her hands to see if she could free them, but her arms and legs were immobile still.

While her body may not be cooperating, her mind was in overdrive. Where could Gordon be taking her now? What would happen when her squad found the room she'd been kept in? Yes, it was true she'd been drugged when they took her out of there. But she was still completely coherent. She had seen the blood – her blood – on the walls. There had been so much of it.

Olivia shivered. It was so cold in this trunk. She supposed she should be grateful that Rickett and Adams had wrapped her in a blanket before tossing her in here. But still, the weather hadn't changed that much. Why was she so cold.

If only she had her hands free, she could wrap her sweater tighter around her. Wait a minute. Her sweater was missing – all her clothes were missing. Save for her tank top and underwear, she had nothing else on.

Her mind began whirling faster than she could keep up with it. Then, she remembered those last few moments in that room. She had been strapped to the bed, unable to fight back. Gordon had taken bags of blood from Matt, and laid them at various parts of her body. Then, he'd grabbed the knife and begun stabbing them viciously.

She recalled the times when he'd been so erratic with his movements that the blade had pierced the bag and entered her skin. While she'd certainly felt worse pain in her life, she still hadn't been able to keep from crying out at the shock of it all. She had thought for certain he was going to continue on his rampage and stab her to death.

As the horrifying images flooded her mind, something else came back to her, too. Right before they'd wrapped her in the blanket, they'd removed her clothes. Matt had placed them in a trash bag, along with the empty blood bags.

Even now, she could feel where blood still seeped from some of the wounds. His intention may not have been for her to bleed to death, but he certainly hadn't cared that he'd injured her. Olivia's mind continued to spiral, and then the car hit a particularly rough bump in the road. A metal tool box in the trunk slid sharply across the area, striking her in the head, and she was unconscious once again.

Gordon hit the brake sharply after that last bump. He hadn't been expecting it. Turning around briefly to make sure everything in the backseat was okay, he returned his gaze to the road. According to the map, the turnoff to the cabin was just ahead. He didn't want to miss it.

He found the road without a problem, even with it being hidden among the treeline. The road was bumpy and secluded, but that suited him just fine. He knew that meant no one would bother him.

If he had to guess, he'd say the driveway back to the cabin was about a half mile long. More of an access road, really. As he pulled up to the small structure, he knew without a doubt he'd made the right decision in coming here.

The cabin was surrounded by forest on all sides. He parked the car under the covered area meant for that purpose, and exited the vehicle. Knowing he couldn't get anything out until he'd first unlocked the cabin, he went in search of the key.

Stepping onto the small porch, he crossed to the railing. Underneath the ceramic statue was the spare key, just like Matt said it would be. Using it, Gordon let himself in. The electric was working for the time being, but he knew it could be spotty at best. That was why he'd brought along the propane.

He spent the next several minutes taking inventory of the place. He quickly saw that there were two bedrooms. While the doors couldn't be locked, the one had a bed he could easily tie the detective to.

The main problem was there was only one bathroom. He couldn't very well remove the handles from the faucet here to prevent her from drinking. He'd simply have to stay in the room with her, and turn his back. Maybe rig up a curtain of some sort out of a spare blanket.

Pushing that thought aside for the time being, he headed back to the main room. It was time he started bringing the things in from the car. While it was still early, the sky would be getting dark soon. Best to have the woman in the cabin and tied up before that happened. He could always bring in the supplies later on.

Back at the sixteenth precinct, Elliot was still waiting to question Matthew Adams. Casey would be going in with him. Normally, they wouldn't be so open to offering a deal with someone so soon, but Adams had information they were in desperate need of. Plus, its not as if they were willing to let Adams walk away. The man was going to jail. They had plenty of evidence to hold him, whether he agreed to the deal or not.

Gathering up the evidence they had, Elliot and Casey headed toward the interrogation room where Adams and his attorney were waiting. They knew that Munch, Fin, and the Captain would all be listening in over the intercom. Now that they had the hope that Olivia might still be alive, they were saving that key piece of information as a final lure to get Adams over to their side.

Elliot knocked once on the door before opening it. Even if it was a courtesy he felt Adams didn't deserve. It was a habit ingrained in him over years of police work. Plus, if he was really being honest with himself, he hoped the tactic might startle the two men within. Make them a bit off-balance.

With great effort, Elliot pushed all his feelings of worry and anger deep inside himself. Olivia was still counting on him to get this right. He owed it to her, and that meant he couldn't let his emotions show. It was time to be the hard ass detective everyone knew him to be.

"Matt!"

He walked into the room with a superficial grin on is face, his arms spread wide by way of greeting. Laying some files down on the table, he grabbed a chair for himself. Instead of sitting in it as he normally would, though, he spun it around so that it was facing him. When he did finally sit, it was so he could brace his arms on the back of the chair.

Casey reacted a bit more demurely, pulling out the other chair at the table. She took her seat, and crossed her legs at the ankles. Without speaking a word, she also crossed her arms against her chest, and leveled her gaze at the two men sitting on the other side of the table.

"You've brought the ADA in already, I see. I assume that means you want to make a deal?"

The legal aid attorney spoke up, and there was no missing the cockiness in his tone. Elliot had to bite his tongue to keep from retorting, and he knew Casey did, too. They had wrongly predicted by his appearance that he would be green. He was not. They'd have to watch their step very carefully here. It was Casey who spoke up next.

"We're willing to deal, so to speak. Provided your client tells us what he knows."

The two men conferred briefly. Adams whispered something into his attorney's ear. The man nodded, then addressed the pair sitting across from him.

"My client will tell you everything you need to know. In exchange for full immunity, of course."

Despite all his promises to himself to hold his temper in check, Elliot's fist slammed against the table. Full immunity? They had the audacity to ask for full immunity? When they had concrete evidence that the man was guilty of not just one, but four murders? Unbelievable! That wasn't even counting his crimes for his role in what he may have done to Olivia.

Luckily, before Elliot could fly off in a complete rage, and quite possibly terminate the conversation then and there, Casey intervened.

"Nice try, but no. I was thinking more along the lines if your client cooperates, we'll take the death penalty off the table."

She gave the two men time to process what she'd said, then went in for the kill.

"Because if you refuse the deal, and this goes to trial, I will win. I have enough concrete evidence to put a needle in your arm. And while you may be able to keep it in the courts for years with appeals, you'll still be a very old man before anything gets resolved."

Both Adams and his attorney swallowed visibly. They'd taken her threat seriously. She wasn't bluffing, this woman meant business. Exchanging a glance, the young man in the suit nodded at his client. Then he turned to face the redheaded woman.

"What is it you want to know?"

Hiding her victorious smile, Casey instead deferred all questions to Elliot. In turn, Elliot produced a notepad and a pen. One by one, they went through each murder. Even though they'd recovered the wallets at the house, he still wanted to see if Adams could identify his victims by name. Was this a premeditated crime, or were they randomly chosen?

Two hours later, they were still working through details. Elliot had offered to get both Adams and his lawyer something to drink, which they both accepted. They had declined any offers of food, though.

Now, they were working on how Gordon and Adams had met. Matthew was walking them, step by step, through the way the plan had come together.

They'd finally come to the part where Adams had been released from prison. He admitted to getting the job at the blood bank, and to stealing all of Olivia's donations. It was all part of the grand scheme.

He walked them through, sparing no details. He even told them how he'd hit Detective Benson twice with his gun when he'd caught her trying to escape. Then came the hard part. What had happened earlier today.

Elliot was desperate. There had been so many details, it was impossible to take them all in to process. He just couldn't let it register right now. If he did, he'd shut down. Or, he'd explode. Trying to keep the desperation out of his voice, he asked the lone question he'd been avoiding and dreading the entire conversation.

"Tell me the truth, Adams. Is Detective Benson still alive?"

The moments of silence that passed seemed like eons. Finally, he got an answer. It may not have been the definitive one he was looking for, but what he got still left him hanging on to hope. That was more than he had a few hours ago.

"She was the last time I saw her. That was when Gordon and I put her in the trunk of his car."

Elliot took this information, and stood to leave. Casey stood, too. They were almost at the door when Adams called out to them again.

"Wait! I think I might know where they are going."

This time, Elliot couldn't contain his fury. He stalked over to the table, and braced both of his fists on it. Leaning over, he got right in the other man's face.

"You know where they are, and you're only telling us this now? What the hell made you wait so long?"

Seeing the anger in the other man's eyes, Matt shrank back slightly. He knew there was no hope for him now. But he wouldn't have to sit in a cell alone. He was going to see to it that he had company. Gordon would be right there beside him. It really didn't matter to him whether or not Detective Benson survived. He couldn't tell her partner that, though.

"Because he'd talked so many times of changing the plans. I still don't know what he ultimately decided upon doing."

Slamming the notepad and pen back on the table, Elliot demanded that he write down an address. Once it was on the paper, he grabbed it back up. As he and Casey turned to leave, Adams and his attorney were informed that he would be kept there overnight, then taken to court in the morning. He would enter his guilty plea then. Then, he would be taken to prison to await sentencing. As they left, a uniformed officer entered to take him to a cell.

Gordon slung the bag over his shoulder and shut the car door. Everything else had already been taken inside. He made it up the stairs and through the door. Then he turned and locked it. As a final precaution, he pulled the curtain covering the window closed. He didn't think anyone would be up here, but he wasn't taking any chances. In fact, part of him was considering moving the car behind the property so it couldn't be seen. He hadn't decided yet what to do.

He carried the bag into the bedroom he had chosen for himself, and set it down on the bed. Then, he removed a pair of sweatpants and a tee shirt. It wasn't that he was planning on changing clothes, these weren't even in his size. He'd bought them at the store today. They were for the woman tied up in the other room.

He'd stripped her and left her clothing behind at the house, having Matt throw it away with the trash. Part of him knew it would be discovered in the subsequent search. While he relished the idea of keeping the detective as uncomfortable as possible, the mere thought of seeing her in nothing but a tank top and panties disgusted him. Plus, giving her clothes would totally throw off her thought process. She wouldn't know what to think. He'd take it off her again in a day or two when he carried out the final step of his plan.

Carrying the clothes with him, he went to go to the other room. On the way, he stopped in the bathroom. There, he was pleased to find that he wouldn't need to rig anything up for privacy purposes. A half wall separated the toilet area from the rest of the room. It was perfect.

His next stop was the room where he had stashed his prisoner. When he'd removed her from the trunk, she was still unconscious. However, a new injury was present on her temple, along with fresh blood. The metal toolbox was lying nearby. He had deduced sometime when he had hit the bumpy section of road, it had struck her in the head. He wasn't worried about it.

Stepping closer to the bed, he withdrew a knife. It was a spare, as he'd left the other behind. Using the blade, he freed the woman from the zip ties that were binding her arms and legs together. He left the on the tape that was muzzling her mouth.

Next, and with great difficulty, he dressed her. As she was still unconscious, her limbs were not cooperative. After a time, he managed, and she was now wearing the sweats and tee. He ignored the shallow stab wounds on her torso. While most had scabbed over, a few were still weeping blood.

Deciding he wanted her awake, he retrieved some water. He splashed the liquid in her face, and watched as she sputtered and coughed. It was then he removed the tape, even though he had enjoyed watching her struggle.

"So glad to see you awake, Detective."

He sneered in her face, his voice cruel. Her eyes darted from side to side as she took in her new surroundings. There was no denying she was always aware. He'd been right to move her. At least here, there wasn't anywhere for her to run to should she try and escape.

"Yes. I can see you've noticed we've changed locations. You're very observant."

He carried on speaking to her, taunting her cruelly. He made mention of her injuries, and how he wished all of them were more severe. That he had in reality stabbed her to death. How much he would have enjoyed doing so. Then he added something further.

"As much fun as that would have been, I have something even better planned. You'll find that out soon enough."

Before tying her back up, he asked her if she wanted to use the bathroom. Refusing to speak to him, Olivia only nodded by way of response. Gordon grabbed her by the arm and pulled her upright. He issued a warning, brandishing the knife in her direction. Then he tugged her to her feet and started dragging her toward the bathroom.

They reached the bathroom door and he shoved her inside. Olivia stilled and spun around sharply. She ignored the dizziness she felt. It had just occurred to her that Gordon wasn't going to give her privacy this time. Glancing around the room, it dawned on her why.

This must be the only bathroom here. He didn't trust her not to drink from the faucet, and so he would be monitoring her at all times. Because he would need to use the facilities too, he couldn't remove the handles. One thing did ease her anxieties. There was a wall separating the toilet from the rest of the room. She would still have minimal privacy. Yes, it would be unnerving to have him in the room with her, but she could manage.

"Don't you dare try anything."

Again his voice issued a warning. She listened to what was said, and made her way across the small room. Using the toilet quickly, she found she struggled to go. It must be because he'd stopped giving her water the day before yesterday. Dehydration would be settling in, if it hadn't already.

Pressing the handle so she could flush, Olivia stepped toward the sink, and cautiously turned on the faucet. Washing her hands under the stream of water, she even chanced to cup some in her palms. Instead of blatantly disregarding his orders, she instead lowered her head and used it to wash her face. Blood was caked to her temple from where the toolbox had struck her during her time in the trunk.

A quick glance in the mirror told her her face was clean. She didn't bother looking or asking for a towel. Plus the water felt cool and refreshing on her skin. It wouldn't bother her if it were to air dry.

The other thing she noticed as she looked in the mirror was that Gordon had put clothes on her. The gesture surprised her in many ways, as she had expected to be kept as uncomfortable as possible. Then again, she knew instinctively that he was not sexually attracted to her in any way. Most likely, seeing her dressed in just the tank top and underwear was making him uncomfortable. Either way, she was grateful for the added warmth and modesty the clothes provided.

Olivia stumbled slightly when Gordon grabbed her elbow once again, and began to drag her back down the hall. She found herself in the room she'd woken up in. He pushed her back on the bed. It didn't surprise her in the least when he removed zip ties from his pocket.

Gordon bound the detective's arms to the headboard of the bed. While there was nothing to secure her ankles to, he did tie them together. As was his habit, he taped her mouth shut, too. His final act before leaving the room was to go to the windows. He pulled down the blinds and closed the curtains, so no light would come in. There was no sense in boarding them up, as they wouldn't be staying here for very long.

Then he left the room, leaving the woman alone once again. He went back outside, where he was grateful to find some firewood already chopped. He grabbed enough logs to last him through the night, and carried them into the cabin. Then, he started a fire.

With that work done, he sat down to relax on the sofa. Grabbing one of the books he'd brought with him, he opened it and began to read. He couldn't concentrate though. His mind was wandering. He couldn't help but think just what had been discovered. Matt had no doubt blabbed a great deal by now. He figured he had twenty four, maybe thirty six hours before police discovered this location. For now though, they were likely still operating on the theory that Detective Olivia Benson was dead. And she would be. It didn't matter what time they got here, because by the time they did, it would still be too late. He hadn't changed his plans.

Come tomorrow, the final part of his plan would go into play. He'd strip her back down to a bra and panties, and inject her with the last of the paralytic. He'd wrap her limp body up in the tarp, and secure it with duct tape. Then he'd dig a hole in the yard, near the tree line of the forest. Once she was buried, he would head for the border.

After leaving the interrogation room, both Casey and Elliot were feeling satisfied with the outcome. Granted, they both wanted something definite in regards to Olivia's location, progress had been made. In addition, they had even more evidence against Rickett.

Now that they had an address, Elliot was anxious to get to the location. Time was ticking away fast. Olivia might not have much left. The phrase "the countdown begins" was still ringing in his mind. He knew, without question, that Rickett's ultimate goal was to kill Olivia. He'd just taken her someplace that would make it harder to find the body.

Shaking his head, he tried to dispel the thoughts. Adams had specifically said not long ago that Olivia was alive when they'd moved her to the car. That was after the phone call. He couldn't give up hope yet. He just needed to take the address Adams had given him, and drive there as fast as possible. With luck, both Rickett and Olivia would be there.

"Elliot, where do you think you're going?"

The Captain's voice stopped him in his tracks. In his haste, he'd almost forgotten to brief the man on the situation. Talking a mile a minute, he filled his superior officer in on everything that had happened during the interrogation. Believing that the man would have no problem with him rushing off to find Olivia, he started for the door a second time. Cragen's voice stopped him again.

"I'm sorry Elliot, but you can't just go off like that."

Elliot spun around, incredulous. After all this time waiting, they finally had the closest thing to concrete proof of Olivia's location. Now, the Captain was saying he couldn't go and get her? What could possibly be the issue?

Cragen felt badly as he saw the look on his detective's face. He knew Elliot wasn't thinking clearly. Knowing that he spent several hours in interrogation, he couldn't really blame him. But he was forgetting one important thing. Keeping his voice gentle, he reminded him of that fact.

"We're going to need a warrant for the cabin, Elliot. In addition to cooperation from the local police force."

Elliot blinked rapidly as the words registered. The cabin was upstate, making it out of their jurisdiction. They couldn't very well go in guns blazing, no matter how badly he wanted to. Judging by the look on his Captain's face, he could tell he wasn't going to like what he heard next.

"It's a small town, Elliot. Run only by a sheriff and a handful of deputies. They aren't even on duty twenty-four hours a day."

No. This was a nightmare. Wasn't there someone else they could call, someone with more power? Didn't the severity of their case trump the local sheriff's authority?

Desperate now, he turned to Casey for answers. The look on her face told her she couldn't help, no matter how much she wanted to. There were tears in her eyes. Still, she tried to soothe the man standing in front of her. Her voice was shaky as she spoke.

"I'm sorry Elliot. The court is closed for the night, and I've already used up all my favors to get the warrants I did today. I have to wait until morning."

Cursing mightily, Elliot could not keep his temper in check any longer. Though he knew he was out of line, he stalked up to his Captain. Standing toe-to-toe with the man he normally respected above all else, he found himself yelling in his face.

"To hell with you. If it's too late by the time we get there, her death is on your head. I hope you know that."

Turning on his heel, he stormed out of the squad room, nearly knocking over a returning Munch and Fin in the process. Neither man questioned their colleague's rage, only figured that the interrogation had not gone well. It was only when they learned what had really happened that they shared his anger. Of all people, it was Fin who came to Elliot's defense.

"No wonder he got so mad, Cap. Can you blame him?"

Even's Fin's voice was shaking with a barely controlled rage. He wasn't mad at any one person, but the situation as a whole. This was really fucked up. Olivia gave her all for every case, every victim. She trusted in the system, that justice would be served. Why was the system failing her?

He and Elliot didn't always agree. In fact they had come to blows just the other day. But Olivia was one thing they had in common. They were both driven to protect her, and they both wanted her home safe. Hoping it wouldn't provoke another fight, he headed off in search of his coworker.

Fin found Elliot on the roof. He suspected the place had become a refuge for the man. When he'd heard footsteps approaching, Elliot had turned suddenly, all defenses on alert. In a non-threatening gesture, Fin had raised both palms. He continued walking forward. Only when he was a few feet away did he stop. Knowing Elliot wouldn't say anything, he took the opportunity to speak first.

"I'm not here to fight with you Elliot."

The other man's head came up abruptly, meeting his gaze. Still, he remained silent. With the merest nod of his head, he indicated that Fin should continue.

"I know we've had our differences, but I'm on your side here. I think this is bullshit."

With those spoken words, Elliot's tense body language relaxed. He knew then, that Fin had truly meant what he said. The man wasn't there to argue. He had an ally. But what could they do about it?

If they were to defy the system and go rogue, it wouldn't solve anything. Yes, they might ultimately end up rescuing Olivia, but their actions could also result in Gordon escaping charges yet again. Neither of them wanted that. Like Fin said, they may disagree on many things, but their hatred toward Rickett was one front in which they were united.

Before Elliot could offer any suggestions, his cell phone rang. Retrieving the device from his pocket, he answered. It was Ryan. The tech was asking him to come to the lab immediately, he had something important to show him. Hesitantly, he informed him it had to do with Olivia's blood.

Hanging up the phone, Elliot relayed the message to Fin. Again, the sick feeling returned to his stomach. What if everything Adams had said had been a lie? What if Olivia really had been killed today?

Fin watched as Elliot stood in front of him. He could tell the moment when his thoughts began to spiral out of control. Knowing the man likely wanted to visit the lab alone, he hoped his offer of company would be accepted. He wanted to know what the information was, too.

"How about I join you in the lab? I need to know for myself what is going on."

Elliot nodded in reply, and the two of them went off to meet Ryan. One way or another, they were going to get some answers. Both of them were hoping the news would be positive.

Ryan greeted Elliot, and did his best to hide his surprise when he saw that the man wasn't alone. That wasn't important. There was a lot of evidence to cover. In fact, the more people who heard it now, the better.

Before the lab tech could speak, Elliot's eyes spotted something laying on the table. At the mere sight of it, his heart was in his throat. Before he could stop himself, he reached out to touch the object in question. It was already securely bagged, so there was no danger of contaminating evidence.

Even through the bag, he could feel the softness of Olivia's sweater. But that wasn't what had his attention. That was focused on the blood that stained the fabric, ruining it almost beyond the point of recognition. Still, he knew without question that this was the sweater his partner was wearing on Tuesday. The day he let her get taken.

As the guilt threatened to consume him, Ryan's voice cut into the darkness. Elliot was pulled back from the brink yet again.

"It's not what you think, Elliot. At least, it's not as bad as you think."

Tearing his gaze away from what he held in his hands, he leveled his sights on the lab tech. The sick feeling in his stomach grew as even more evidence bags were produced, all of them containing clothing he knew to be Olivia's.

Before either detective could speak, Ryan continued on with his work. He laid out even more bags. Each one of these held an empty specimen container bearing the label from a blood bank. They had been torn to shreds, most likely stabbed or slashed. Elliot counted five in total.

Five pints of blood. That would certainly account for the scene they had witnessed at the house earlier today. While the DNA would inevitably match Olivia's, he could breathe a little easier knowing that she hadn't been violently stabbed to death while they'd all been made to listen. That had quite possibly been the most helpless he's ever felt.

Fin, knowing that Elliot couldn't find words, decided to ask a few questions of his own. He'd put together that the clothes were Olivia's and that the empty blood bags were hers as well, but what exactly where they doing here? Trying to keep his patience in check, he asked Ryan that very thing.

"I was just getting to that."

Ryan took no offense to the short attention spans of the men standing in front of them. He couldn't blame them. He, too, had wanted the answers much faster than what he'd gotten them. But his work needed to be precise. It wasn't just any life that mattered here, it was Olivia.

Now that they'd seen two of the more pivotal pieces of evidence, he began walking them through the third. Granted, some of these items were still being tested for fingerprints and additional evidence, but there were photographs available.

"We found several other things at the scene after you left."

Flipping through the photos, he showed them the objects in question. There were two syringes, and a knife. In the kitchen they'd discovered a cast iron skillet on the floor with traces of blood on it.

Again, it was Fin who asked the questions.

"Why two syringes? Wouldn't he only need the one? I know Gordon isn't going to worry about hygiene."

Ryan nodded briefly, agreeing with him. Then he went on to explain.

"We found one syringe at the warehouse, and two today. I think they are filled with single doses of medication."

Fin and Elliot were quickly catching on to this theory. So much so that when they spoke next, it was simultaneously.

"That's why there are so many."

Ryan was getting caught up in the heat of the moment now. He had yet to tell them the most fascinating discovery.

"And that's not all. The syringes we found today – the evidence found on them had two different blood types."

Despite the fact that the situation was still grim, Elliot felt a surge of pride. He'd understood immediately what that meant. The text message from earlier came back to him. Olivia had tried to escape. She'd injected Gordon with a drug meant for her. If Matt hadn't arrived when he did, she'd have succeeded. As of a few hours ago, she had still been fighting. He prayed that fighting spirit would last just a little bit longer.

Fin and Elliot thanked Ryan for taking the time to explain everything to them. Just as they were about to leave, he also informed them of one final fact. He'd finished with the wallets, and would be passing them along to Melinda in the morning. The four Jane Doe victims would be identified, so that their families could be notified.

When the two men returned to the squad room, Reuben was waiting for them. The TARU technician tried not to show his impatience, but couldn't help himself. It was only when he learned where they were that he understood. Still, he had important information for Elliot as well.

Despite its importance, it was something he was hesitant to share. Given the man's unpredictable moods since his partner had gone missing, this was sure to incite a reaction. Just what remained to be seen. Reuben was so anxious in his need to talk to Elliot, that he barely let the detective return to his seat at his desk. Sensing the other man's anxiety, Elliot gave him his full attention.

"What's going on, Reuben?"

Others in the squad room had noticed the conversation, too. Figuring it was something pivotal about Olivia, they gathered around. Reuben didn't wait long before he began to speak.

"We recovered a couple things from the house today. Among them, a computer and a digital recorder."

Elliot didn't understand. What could that have to do with Olivia? Unless they had a map of where they were going, they were basically useless. He opened his mouth to tell Reuben as much when the man began to speak again.

"You're going to want to hear this, Elliot."

There was something about the way he said it. Instinctively, Elliot knew that he would not like whatever he was about to hear. Nevertheless, he took a deep breath, and steeled himself as best he could. Nothing could have prepared him though for what played over the digital recorder.

"Special Victims Unit. Detective Stabler speaking."

"Detective Stabler. I believe I have something – or should I say someone – of value to you."

"Listen to me, you bastard. I don't care about Olivia. I don't care if you kill the bitch!"

Elliot jumped in his seat, startled. That was most definitely his own voice that he just heard. There was no denying that. But he'd never said such a thing. Nor would he ever. How in the hell did Gordon get a recording of him saying such a vile, terrible thing? Even worse, did he play it for Olivia to hear?

With desperation in his eyes, he looked to Reuben for an explanation. The TARU tech felt bad, and realized now he should have led with the fact that he'd found a program on the computer that manipulated taped conversations. He'd just been so shocked by what he'd discovered, he wasn't thinking straight.

Instead of trying to use words to explain how the program worked, he gave them a simple demonstration. It dawned on everyone then, how the recording had been made. Just like they had been doing, Gordon also taped the first phone call between himself and Elliot. Then he'd altered it so it would suit him best. The man was doing everything possible in order to destroy Elliot. Right down to making his own partner believe he wished her dead.

The fire Gordon had built was serving its purpose. The chill had evaporated from the room, leaving a pleasant warmth in its wake. He was calmer than he expected to be, despite everything that happened. After he'd eaten, he'd received a phone call on the burner cell. It was from an unknown number, but he'd answered it anyway. It was a good thing he had. The caller was none other than Matt.

Gordon was worried at first. Despite his phone being a burner cell, all calls from a prison were monitored. Someone could still be listening in to their conversation. Then, he learned that his former accomplice was merely in lockup for the night. He was borrowing his attorney's phone. He wouldn't be headed to prison until the following morning.

While Matt was angry with him, his hatred for Olivia Benson ran deeper. That was what had driven him to make the call. He told Gordon everything that he had confessed. Right down to the fact that he had told the police of the location of the cabin. Upon hearing this news, Gordon began to sweat a little. Then, laughter rang out over the line. He realized then that his friend had given a fake address. That should buy him at least another twenty four hours to prolong the torture. Make her sweat it out. The call ended shortly after. Gordon knew there wouldn't be another. He also knew that once the police discovered Matt's deception, any deals the man had made would likely be revoked. The man would ultimately be facing the death penalty. Unless he had a greater plan that Gordon was not aware of, Matt was going to die.

Even though he knew he had more time now, he still had to be careful. He went outside, and moved the car to the rear of the property, keeping it hidden behind the cabin. In doing so, he discovered an attached shed. The shed wasn't big, and seemed to serve mainly as a storage space. Gordon was pleased to find a couple propane heaters. He grabbed them up and carried them inside. He put out the fire, having decided that the smoke was too risky. Plus, now he had an additional source for warmth.

It was starting to get late, so Gordon placed one propane heater in the room where he would be sleeping. He wasn't quite ready for bed yet, but this way it would allow for the area to warm up some. He hadn't given Olivia any source of heat, or even returned the blanket she'd been wrapped up in. She should be grateful he'd given her clothes.

While it would be chilly in the main room, he opted not to light the second heater. Not until morning. He had a limited supply of propane, and wanted to save some for cooking. Returning to the sofa, he picked up his book again. By the time he finished reading the chapter he was on, the bedroom should be warm enough.

A short time later, he was turning out the lights. Ensuring the door was locked, he headed down the hallway. Despite not wanting to, he knew he should check on his captive. First, though, he saw to his own needs.

Barging in the room where he was holding her, he flicked on the light. Olivia blinked rapidly against the harsh glare. He'd caught her sleeping. She hadn't wanted to, but couldn't seem to help herself. Her head was still throbbing from the blows she had taken earlier today. Both the ones Matt had given her with the gun, and from the time in the trunk when the toolbox had struck her.

"Do you need to go to the bathroom?"

For the first time since her captivity, Olivia had to shake her head in the negative. No matter how badly she wanted to stretch her legs, she couldn't risk the punishment. It would have been different if they were still at the house and she had privacy, she could fake it. Not here. Gordon would be able to hear everything.

It worried her, that she didn't have to go. Did that mean that her body would be shutting down soon? Would her organs start to fail one by one until they gave up altogether?Satisfied with her answer, Gordon checked all her bonds to make sure they were secure. Then he turned out the light and shut the door, leaving her in the darkness.

Olivia knew that she wouldn't be able to fall back to sleep. Not right away. Shivering against the chill in the air, she found herself wishing she still had the blanket. But Olivia vowed to herself that she'd sooner die before she asked Gordon Rickett for anything. As the thought crossed her mind, she couldn't help but laugh at herself.

"You're going to die anyway, Olivia."

No matter how positive she had tried to be, she had very nearly lost all hope. Her strength was fading fast. Even if by some chance she got free again, she didn't know if she could manage another escape attempt. Maybe it would be better if she just gave in now and accepted her fate. Truth be told, she'd never seen herself living a long life, or even retiring. She would simply be a cop until she died. But not like this. Never like this. Olivia always thought, even hoped her death would be more dignified. That it would mean something. She didn't envision herself a hero by any means, but anything would be better than this.

A steady patter against the windowpane told her that it was raining outside. Olivia briefly wondered what that could mean for Gordon's plans. She couldn't focus on that though, or she'd just drive herself crazy.

Closing her eyes against the darkness, she allowed her thoughts to drift back to a different time. She was in the squad room again, among the only family she'd ever known. Despite the seriousness of their job, they still teased one another often, bringing a levity and lightheartedness to their day.

Then there was Elliot. A time when she and her partner were so close, so in sync. How could it have gone so wrong, so fast? Or was he only ever pretending? Had it all been in her mind?

No, she couldn't have imagined that. There was no way she could have invented an entire relationship like that in her head. What she and Elliot had, that closeness, everything had been real. They were more than partners, more than friends. She searched her mind to find a word for it. Then the perfect ones came to her.

Kindred spirits.

That was why they were so alike. Why they thought so seamlessly along the same lines, could share a conversation without words. It was also why they fought so bitterly.

Elliot would never say those things to her, or about her. He'd told her to stay out of his life, yes it was true. But he hadn't meant it. How could she ever doubt him?

Gordon. Somehow, someway, the man had twisted her partner's words. She hated the man all the more for doing so. For making her doubt the one man she trusted more than anything. Even more so, she hated herself. For giving in to the despair and believing it in the first place.

Time was running out, it was true. But hope wasn't lost yet. She would fight until the last breath left her body. She had to get back to Elliot. When she did, first she would kick his ass for speaking to her like he did in the warehouse. Then, she would throw her arms around him, and hold on to him for dear life.

With Elliot at the forefront of her mind, Olivia tried her best to ignore the cold. She burrowed down against the mattress as much as her bound arms would allow. Then she let herself drift off to sleep. She would need her rest if she was to square off against Gordon again tomorrow.