Disclaimer: I do not own Law and Order: SVU. It belongs to a genius named Dick Wolf. No profit is being made from this story.

The phone rang, rudely interrupting the quiet. After four times, a hand reached slowly for the nightstand and picked it up.

"Hello," Kathy murmured sleepily.

"Kathy," he said quickly. "It's Don Cragen."

She became wide-awake in an instant. Her heart hammered and her chest constricted as she slid up against the headboard.

"Oh, God," she said shakily, her eyes closing. She felt tears welling into her eyes. "Where is he?"

He knew instantly what she was thinking. "No, Kathy," he said in a hurry. "It's not that…do you know if Elliot went anywhere after he left your meeting today?"

She sagged in relief and let out a breath, her heart slowing. It took her a minute to process what he said. "Huh…oh," she said. Her face scrunched up in confusion. "Um…no…well, he didn't mention it to me, at least. Why? What's the matter?"

"I need you to see if you can get hold of him at his place," Don rushed on quickly, ignoring the question. "I've already tried several times and got no answer. Keep calling…don't stop until he answers, alright?"

The frantic tone in his voice sent her heart racing for an entirely different reason. "Don, what's the matter?" she asked again, panicked. "Has something happened?"

"Please, Kathy." His voice was desperate now. "I'll explain everything later, bur right now I need you to try and get him on the phone. Please…hurry."

"Al-alright," she said in surprise. "Alright, Don. I'll do it."

"Thank you," he said frantically and immediately cut the connection to dial another number quickly.

Kathy switched on the bedroom light and dialed her ex-husband's home number, her heart in her throat.

He saw the hatchet come down as he was yanked up and frantically twisted to avoid it, but he was too late. The blade came down and sliced into his left shoulder. He howled in pain loudly, jerking desperately to the left.

The black man had a firm grip on his neck and was forcing him still while the other one raised the hatchet again. His eyes flew wide and he stomped hard on the black man's foot, making him yelp in pain and loosen his grasp.

Elliot twisted away a second before the hatchet came down a second time. He screamed, feeling a whoosh of air as he twisted his body inward to protect himself. Fire began shooting down his left arm and he quickly reached up to clutch his bloody shoulder, feeling raw skin beneath his hand.

He darted away quickly, crashing into the cardboard box pile and stumbling through it in panic. The black man was on his heels in what seemed like milliseconds, swinging the hatchet wildly.

Gasping, he scrambled as fast as he could through the basement, looking around frantically for somewhere, anywhere, that he could dart into quickly enough to avoid the blade coming at him full force.

He suddenly stepped on something and slid forward, crashing to the ground hard on his back. Gasping, he quickly looked for what it was and saw that it was the metal scrap that he had used to free himself. Scrambling quickly, he picked it up and turned around fast.

The black man swung the hatchet down at where he had landed so fast that it seemed to blur. Letting out a terrified yell, Elliot thrust the piece of scrap forward and jammed into his shin, scrambling quickly out of the path of the blade.

The man shrieked in pain as the hatchet came down. Elliot backed up frantically, falling onto his back. The blade slammed into the ground just centimeters from where his feet had been. He froze in shock, staring dumbly at the spot, unable to process how close of a call it had been.

Jed came striding up as the black man stumbled to the side, growling in pain. Elliot scrambled to his feet and took off again. The man only stared after him as he picked up the hatchet from the floor.

Gasping in breaths, Elliot leapt onto the stairs and pounded up fast. He flew at the door and pushed with all his might….only to find it locked.

"No, no!" he whimpered, jamming his right shoulder into the wood. "Come on, you bastard, come on!" He grunted and pushed as hard as he could. It held fast. He yelled anxiously, tears welling up in his eyes, and slammed his hand desperately against the door. "God damn it!"

"Enough of the games."

Jed's voice made him jump in surprise and whip around fast. He was standing a foot away from him, holding the hatchet in both hands. His face was twisted into a furious scowl.

"No more running," he growled.

He advanced closer. Elliot backed up against the door, his breath loud and fast as he contemplated quickly his options.

Rush to the left…rush to the right…plow into him…fake him out… His heart beat hard against his chest and he found himself shrinking against the door even more as he came closer. His mind screamed at him. What are you doing? Don't just stand here!

He remained frozen, his eyes fixated on the blade. When Jed got within inches, he found himself squeezing his eyes shut.

God…take care of my children…please, take care of my children.

Olivia could feel her heart thudding frantically in her chest as she burst through the squad room doors. "What the hell's going on?" she asked anxiously.

She had been roused from her sleep by the captain's phone call. Her initial unhappiness at being called to another case in the early morning had been frantically interrupted when he cut her off, telling her to get down to the station right away. The tone of his voice surprised and worried her, and she had immediately agreed.

She knew right away that something bad had happened when she stepped into the bull pen. Munch and Fin were there already. She lived the closest to the precinct. Even if Cragen had called her last, she still should have gotten there before the others. They were huddled next to their desk while the captain spoke into the phone. Their tense postures only confirmed her suspicion that this wasn't just another case.

Then she noticed a fourth person standing a little ways to the side, and she was startled when she recognized Kathy Stabler. When she met the woman's eyes, she saw tears on her face, and her stomach went straight to her feet. There would only be one reason why she would be here at this time of night.

She rushed over to Munch and Fin, startling them when she pushed between them quickly. "What happened?" she asked again urgently.

Fin was staring down at the notepad that Cragen was hurriedly scribbling on with an anxious expression on his face. Olivia looked at his partner with wide eyes, her face reflecting her fear. He met her gaze and sighed, taking her arm and leading her over to the desk she shared with Elliot.

"Captain called us right after he called you," he said gravely.

She looked pointedly at Kathy and back at him. "Is Elliot alright?" she asked frantically. "That's why Kathy's here, isn't it? John….tell me what happened!"

He looked at her frightened expression. His grave sigh sent adrenaline coursing through her veins.

What in the world could have happened? Elliot wouldn't have gone anywhere because of a case without her….would he?

He began fumbling around on her desk, and she noticed that a cell phone was lying on it, next to a laptop computer. He attached a small cable to the charger hole in the cell phone and inserted it into the side of the computer. He typed a few things, keyed a few buttons on the phone, and then turned the computer towards her.

She watched him anxiously, aware of how he hadn't answered her. "He got this call about forty minutes ago," he said, turning up the volume on the laptop.

"Help…help me."

Olivia felt her stomach turn when she recognized Elliot's shaking voice. She could hear his frantic breathing echoing loudly.

Cragen's voice interjected. "Elliot? Elliot is that you?"

"Ple-please…you have to help me."

Munch closed his eyes at the words that he had already heard numerous times. Olivia had to fight for breath. Her partner sounded weak and scared…two things she didn't think she had ever heard before.

The captain's voice came again, asking him where he was. Her heart was hammering so hard that she thought she was having a panic attack. No answer. He asked again. No answer.

She was aware of muffled thumps from her partner's end and what sounded like a choking sound as Cragen continued to frantically ask Elliot where he was. Then the call ended.

Olivia stood frozen, startled when she looked down and saw her hands shaking as they gripped the side of her desk. A lump had lodged in her throat and she could barely swallow.

Munch took a shaky breath and looked at her. She struggled to reign in her emotions and turned toward him. "Did…did you get a trace?" she asked thickly.

"Chesterfield," he answered softly. "The cell phone company confirmed his location at 123 Cypress Terrace, in Chesterfield."

Her eyebrows immediately furrowed in confusion. "Where the hell is that?" she asked. She'd never heard of the place. Her panic began coming out as anger. "Why the hell would he be-?"

"That's where I asked him to meet me."

Kathy's voice startled her, as she had momentarily forgotten her. She had forgotten everything the minute she heard her best friend's voice. She turned and saw the other woman coming over to them. Fresh tear tracks were coming down her face.

"We met up with to discuss alimony today," she continued shakily. "My attorney wanted us to meet him in Chesterfield because he had a family emergency and needed to be near there."

The blood rushed to Olivia's ears. My God, that's right…Elliot had told her about it…he was gone all day yesterday.

"I…I don't know what could have happened," she said, starting to cry again. "We walked out together and left the restaurant at the same time! I don't know…Jesus, what if he was in an accident?" Her voice was becoming shrill. "We left at the same time…the same time! I saw him getting into his truck as I was leaving the parking lot!"

Her shoulders were shaking as she began to sob. "What am I going to tell the kids?" she said in anguish. "I should have called him while I was driving home to make sure he was alright…God, why didn't I call him?" She was sobbing hard now.

Olivia was still frozen, still trying to process her words, as John came quickly around the desk and went to her. He put his arms around her as she buried her face in his chest. John looked a little unsure of himself, but immediately hugged her reassuringly.

"We're going to find out what happened, Kathy," he said softly. "I promise, we're going to find him…it's going to be alright. We're going to go get him as soon as Cragen gets off the phone. He'll be alright."

His words seemed to break through Olivia's frozen shell then. She strode over to where the other two were, leaving John and Kathy by the desk.

"What are we waiting for?" she asked urgently. "Come on! We need to get there!"

"Alright, everyone just chill out!" Cragen snapped as he hung up the phone suddenly. "Look, we can't have chaos right now, do you understand?" He came over to the middle of the desks. "I just got off the phone with the sheriff of Chesterfield…he's going to call the Syracuse police and have them meet him at that address."

"What about us?" Olivia said quickly. "Captain, we have to go there!"

He shot her a look that made her shut her mouth quick. "I contacted the air patrol and told them to get a helicopter…it's the fastest way from here. They're getting it ready now."

Adrenaline began pumping through her veins once more as Olivia looked at the others. Fin looked anxious to go, nodding quickly. Cragen went over and picked up the notepad he had been writing on. "Whatever happens, we have to let the Syracuse PD handle it, you understand?" He looked pointedly at Olivia.

"Don?" Kathy had broken free from Munch and walked over while they spoke. "Can I go with you? Please?" She looked at him desperately. "I promise I won't get in the way…please, I have to know he's alright."

Olivia looked at her and suddenly felt something that she hadn't before. For the past year, she'd had ill feelings toward this woman. She had broken her best friend's heart and turned him into someone that Olivia hardly knew anymore. Anger and bitterness had instantly taken over and she had begun to hate her for what she had done to him.

Seeing her now was surprising. She knew that Elliot still cared deeply for Kathy, but she was now seeing that she cared for him too. She was beside herself, and Olivia knew that it was genuine.

Cragen looked at her sympathetically. "Kathy-" he began gently.

She broke down again. The captain came over to her and hugged her warmly. "I can't let you do that," he said. "It's too much of a risk….Elliot would kill me if anything happened to you." He kissed her cheek softly. "Go home, honey. I promise you, I'll call you as soon as I lay eyes on him. I promise."

Kathy looked into his face and could see the concern and focus there. She felt a fraction of her worry ease a bit. Don Cragen had never broken a promise as long as she'd known him.

Jed reached out and grabbed his arm roughly, yanking him forward. Elliot shot his fist out instantly, catching him on the side of his face, and twisted out of his grip to run down the stairs past him.

The black man was waiting right behind Jed. Elliot yelped when he shot forward and grabbed him as he was scrambling down, flipping him hard over his shoulder. He flew through the air and landed on his back on the cement hard enough to knock the wind out of him.

The two of them scurried down quickly. He tried to get up, but was in too much pain to move. He could only groan as the black man grabbed him roughly by the arms and began pulling him across the concrete.

But when he saw the other one pulling out two large metal spikes from the tool chest, he panicked, instantly remembering the horrible image of the girl. He kicked and yelled, wrenching his hands as hard as he could.

The black man growled, yanking him upward so fast that it startled him and pinning his arms behind his back. He glared into Elliot's face.

"Much too feisty, this one," he said lowly. "Much too feisty."

Elliot gasped as he was shoved forward suddenly and stumbled. The man slammed up against the wall. He was turned around fast and pinned with his arms above his head.

Jed came up in his side vision and quickly wrapped rope around his wrists as the other man held them firmly, jamming his knee into Elliot's middle to prevent him from kicking at him. Then he positioned the spike over his hands.

He screamed as loud as he could and screwed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the horrible pain. The hatchet clanked loudly against the nail and he screamed again. The black man suddenly lifted his weight off of him and moved away.

He shook hard, wondering what they were waiting for. Slowly opening his eyes, he saw the other man move away as well. He slowly turned his head upward and saw the spike nailed through the rope, effectively pinning him to the wall.

Relief at not having his hands nailed through made him shake more. He watched through eyes blurred with tears as they began rooting through some of the numerous cardboard boxes on the floor.

The black man came up with five glass jars and set them on the ground while the other man was busy spreading a large sheet on the ground. He reached back inside the box and pulled out several large candles, setting them on the floor beside the jars. Jed pulled out a small wooden box and opened it, scooping out piles of what looked like ashes. He spread them along the sheet carefully.

The black man got up and walked up the stairs. Elliot heard him calling for the others. He watched helplessly as he came back down again and began helping the other one.

Footsteps came clambering down the stairs. Elliot looked up and saw the older woman step into the basement. The young black woman followed, leading the blind woman that he remembered seeing at the store slowly.

The women came over and stood in front of him, seeming to be examining his quivering frame. The white one looked at him in disdain.

"You had to fight them, didn't you?" she asked in disgust. "See what you've done to yourself?"

She raised her eyebrows and shook her head, turning back to the men. The other woman appeared uninterested in him as she led the blind woman over to sit on the sheet.

"Have you got everything?" the older woman asked the younger man.

Jed nodded and looked to the black man. "Ready?"

The black man nodded as well. Jed moved to take three of the glass jars and waited for the woman to take the other two before they all walked over to Elliot. The black woman sat down beside the blind one on the sheet and waited.

Elliot squirmed desperately as they approached, wondering what they were doing. The sight of the black man picking up the hatchet made his mouth so dry that he couldn't even swallow. He wanted to plead, but found himself transfixed on the blade again.

Eyes narrowed in concentration, the black man moved up to stand directly in front of him. Elliot shook hard as he rested the hatchet on his left temple, his eyes pleading with the man but unable to speak.

He began slicing the blade across his face. Elliot screamed loudly and thrashed.

"Stop, please!" he screamed, fear making his vocal cords work again. He whimpered at the fiery pain. "Please!"

The man paid no attention, bringing the blade down under his nose and across to the other side of his face.

Elliot felt blood pouring from his face as he cried helplessly, gasping in breaths. The man lifted the blade once he completed and set it aside. His chest shook as he whimpered.

All of the sudden, a slicing pain from his injured shoulder made him scream. Whipping his head in surprise, he saw the other man had his hands dug into the raw wound and was pressing hard. He screamed again, over and over as the pain made him see spots.

Jed held the jar up and continued to squeeze hard, directing the blood stream into the glass. Elliot watched him, his face going white when he saw the blood spurting from his wound.

His knees suddenly gave and he collapsed weakly against the wall, sagging with the ropes on his hands. The black man gripped his face and he screamed again with the agonizing pain. He began squeezing blood into the jar that he held as well.

Elliot groaned and screamed, praying for God to take his life so that he could be put out of his misery.

"How much further, Mick?" Don said, leaning over the seat of the helicopter pilot.

The man glanced at the altimeter to check their altitude as he answered. "About twenty minutes," he said, glancing at him. The anxiousness on his face was easy to read. "I've got it full throttle…just hang tight. We're almost there."

He turned back to watch in front of him. The powerful light on the top of the bird illuminated the darkness they were going through. Below was nothing but fields.

Olivia leaned against the window and looked out anxiously while trying to keep herself in control. Elliot had to be okay. He had to be okay.

The captain glanced back at the three detectives sitting in the rear of the chopper. They were all quiet, determination and anxiety fixed on each of their faces. They were as worried as he was and struggling to hide it.

After a little while, Olivia suddenly saw something that made her heart jump.

Police cruiser lights.

"Guys!" she exclaimed, making Munch jump. She clambered against the window quickly. "Look, right there! They're right there!"

Mick spoke into his earpiece. "Jack, we're circling ya," he said. "Confirm status?"

A voice came through the radio. "Gas station," the man said. "Looks like a struggle inside…there's an abandoned Ford Explorer parked at the pump, black."

Fin met Olivia's eyes. "Elliot's," he murmured immediately.

"Can you land us?" Cragen said quickly.

The pilot looked around. "Jack," he said into the earpiece again. "I'm going to circle over and try to put us down. Confirm?"

After a minute, the voice responded. "Roger that, Mick," he said. "We're waiting for you."