After Sheppard made them switch cars three times before they got out of the city, they finally got on the highway out of town.
"What's in the bag?" Alex asked referring to the duffel bag in the back of the car.
"I grabbed it out of the police car," Sheppard shrugged, "I guess it's police stuff."
He leaned back in his seat and watched Alex drive.
"Pull off at this next gas station," he stated, "I need a drink."
Alex turned into the gas station and parked.
Sheppard grabbed the keys out of the ignition, "Just so you don't go anywhere." He got out of the car.
As soon as he was out of sight, Alex started rummaging through the duffel bag. She was looking for a gun. And of course there wasn't one in the bag. There was a few flares, a Kevlar vest, some reflectors and some gym shorts.
A few minutes later, Alex was pulling her hoodie down when Sheppard got back into the car with a cup of coffee and a bottle of water.
"Let's go," he ordered and handed Alex the keys.
"They've been spotted!" Fin called from his desk, setting the phone down, "She said a guy matching Sheppard's description walked into a gas station an hour North of the city while a blonde woman sat in the car." Fin walked over and put a pin the map in Hurley, New York.
Cragen immediately got on the phone.
Olivia looked at the board. Her nerves were shot to hell and it was all she could do to keep it together.
"They're making good time," Munch commented.
Serena walked back in with coffee, "Anything knew?"
"Someone spotted them in Hurley," Elliot scratched his head.
Serena froze, "I know where she's going."
Olivia flew out of her chair. "Where?"
"My parents own a house on Lake George," Serena explained. She took out her phone, "If we hurry, we can get there before they do." She dialed and put the phone to her ear.
"There's no was we could possibly get there before they do," Elliot pointed out, "Even if we went a hundred miles an hour the whole way there."
Someone seemed to answer Serena's call because she ignored Elliot's observation, "Trey, this is Serena Southerlyn…Yeah, I need you to get the helicopter ready. We're going to the lake house…Alright, bye." She snapped her phone closed, "C'mon, he'll be ready in a ten minutes."
The detectives all looked shocked.
"Go bring Alex back," Cragen told his detectives.
They all nodded and followed Serena out the door.
"It's a four hour drive to the house," Serena explained on the car ride to the private helipad the Southerlyn's used. "It's an hour and a half helicopter flight."
"So we'll get there an hour before they do?" Olivia asked, concentrating on any way she could help Alex.
"Yeah," Serena replied as Elliot pulled the car to a stop by the helipad. It was pitch dark everywhere around them, except for the bright flood lights pointing at the black and red helicopter that was starting up on the pad.
Serena got out and led the way to the man in a red jumpsuit that was standing at the gate to the helipad. "Hi Trey!" Serena yelled over the noise of the blades.
"Hi Miss Southerlyn!" he yelled back, "Everything is ready for you and your friends."
She nodded, looking back at the intimidated group.
"C'mon, we gotta go!" Serena yelled at them.
Olivia was first to unfreeze and follow Serena to the helicopter. Once everyone was on, Trey slid the door shut and got into the pilot's seat.
Fin held onto his armrests as the helicopter took off. Munch had his eyes closed and Elliot was casually looking around.
"Why aren't you scared man?" Fin asked Elliot.
Elliot smirked, "I was in a Marines remember? I repelled out of these. Well they weren't this nice."
Serena looked at Olivia who's eyes were out the window at the ground flying past them. She reached over and patted Olivia's knee, "Alex will be fine."
Olivia looked at Serena, "I hope your right." She sighed and looked out the window, wondering what Alex was doing right now. She could feel her hands shaking, thinking of all the horrible things that could be happening to Alex right now.
Serena could only watched Olivia and helplessly wonder if her best friend was okay.
Elliot looked over at Olivia and knew his partner was beyond worried. He reached over and took her hand, "She's going to be fine."
Olivia looked at Elliot and she had to blink back tears.
Elliot's heart broke for Olivia. He had no idea what he'd do if Kathy was in Alex's position. It was completely obvious Olivia was in love with Alex, every time Alex floated into the squad room.
Olivia let out a small smile, "Fin won."
"Won what?" Fin asked.
"They bet you guys had going," Olivia replied, "I found the envelope in Elliot's desk. Fin had the second day of our forced vacation."
"You know we always knew something was up," Fin smirked.
"Alex has had the hots for you for a long, long time," Serena told Olivia.
"Really?" Olivia looked genuinely shocked.
Serena chuckled, "I'm pretty sure she called me after her first day with SVU and was raving about this sexy detective."
"How do you know she wasn't talking about me?" Elliot joked trying to lighten the mood.
Serena smiled, hearing Olivia's small laugh. "I don't know, it could have been you. Were you wearing tight jeans and a leather jacket?"
The guys chuckled and Elliot spoke, "No way. That would definitely be Olivia though."
"Miss Southerlyn," Trey's voice came over a speaker, "Your drinks are in the refrigerator."
Serena reached over and pushed a button on the wall, "Thank you Trey." She reached under her seat and pulled out a drawer with drinks in it. "Anybody need a drink? There's water, champagne, uh…orange juice."
"Water please," Elliot stated.
Serena passed out water bottles and picked up the champagne, looking the bottle over, "We're drinking this on the way home."
They all nodded in agreement.
Olivia was looking more positively about the outcome of the situation. She would get Alex back. No matter what.
Alex yawned. It was nearing dawn and she still had an two an a half hour drive. She looked over at Sheppard who was starting to doze off, the gun hanging limply in his hand.
She checked her rearview mirror for signs of anyone following them. There was no one on the road behind them. She adjusted something under her hoodie as she drove.
She thought about reaching over and grabbing the gun, but if Sheppard suddenly woke up and squeezed the gun, his finger was on the trigger, so it would go off.
Alex sighed, wondering where Olivia was right then and hoping Serena figured out where she was going.
And hour and a half later, Olivia looked out the window. The sun was coming up over the lake making the water sparkle. It was beautiful.
"We're starting our landing on the lawn Miss Southerlyn," Trey told them.
Serena sat back in her seat and looked at the other occupants. They were all exhausted, but still awake, fearful of the fate of their beloved ADA.
Munch looked the window and saw four police cars with their lights on at the edge of the large lawn in front of the Southerlyn lake house. "What's with the cops?"
"Cragen called them," Serena replied, "They're here to help, if something goes wrong."
"Well they need to get those cars out of here," Olivia stated as the helicopter was gently set down.
The engine went off and the door slid open.
Trey helped Serena out and the others followed.
The detectives met a man in a uniform halfway between the helicopter and the police cars, "I'm the police chief Randy Walker."
"I'm Detective Stabler," Elliot shook his hand, "This is Detective Benson, Detective Munch, and Detective Tutuola."
"So you're in charge?" Chief Walker asked Elliot.
Elliot shook his head, "She is," he pointed to Olivia.
Walker looked at Olivia and nodded.
"We need to get those cars out of here," Olivia stated, "If Sheppard sees them, they're gone again. Put one out on the edge of town on the road in. We don't know what kind of car they're driving so stay on the look out for a blonde woman driving with a man in the passenger's seat. Do not under any circumstances engage them. We're going to go in the house and surprise them when they get there. Get back here with an ambulance ten minutes after they pull into the gate."
Walker nodded and walked back to his men who got in their cars and drove off.
Serena walked up to him, "Once we're inside, Trey's going to take the helicopter to the hanger across the lake."
Olivia nodded and led the way to the house. Serena unlocked the door with her keys and let them in. They walked into a massive living room, elegantly furnished.
Olivia looked at Munch and Fin, "I want you on the second floor, watching the road."
They both nodded.
Serena pointed the way to the stairs and looked at Olivia, "What are you planning to do?"
Olivia took a deep breath, "I guess someone will grab Alex and someone will grab Sheppard. Are there any other ways in?"
Serena nodded, "There's a door to the dock and one in the garage."
"Okay," Olivia nodded, "Go make sure those are locked."
Serena jumped into action disappearing through a doorway.
Olivia took out her gun and checked the clip.
"Do you want me to grab Sheppard?" Elliot asked.
Olivia nodded, "It might be better that way."
"Okay," Elliot agreed.
Serena returned. She turned on the TV and started flipping channels.
"Are you seriously going to watch TV when your best friend is in life threatening danger?" Olivia asked obviously aggravated.
Serena stopped on a channel. It was a security channel. There were pictures of the garage door, the front door, the dock door, and the front gate.
"I forgot about this until I saw the camera in the garage," Serena replied.
Olivia sighed, "I'm sorry Serena."
Serena shrugged, "Don't worry about it."
"We got a black car coming down the road!" Fin yelled.
Olivia, Serena, and Elliot looked at the screen. They saw the black car drive past the front gate.
"Never mind!" Munch added.
They sat for a while watching cars go by.
"We got a green one!" Munch called.
The green car slowed down by the gate and turned in. "That's her!" Serena squealed.
"They're here!" Olivia yelled to Munch and Fin, "Don't let them see you in the window!"
"Got it!" Fin yelled back.
Olivia stood to the side of a window so she could see without being seen. Serena stood in the corner of the room taking deep breaths. Elliot moved the curtain a little to see out the window.
Sheppard got out and ran to the driver's side of the car. He threw the door open and pulled Alex out by her arm. She yanked her arm away and yelled something.
He put the gun to her back and pointed to the house. She started walked to the house with Sheppard right behind her with the gun.
When she opened the door, neither one walked in.
"How do I know this isn't a trap?" Sheppard asked.
"How would I know you were going to kidnap me?" Alex asked, "Because this certainly hasn't been a pleasant experience. Look, I'm tired, can we just go in and go to sleep?"
There was a pause. "There's someone inside."
"What?" Alex asked.
"The curtain just moved," Sheppard grabbed Alex jerked her away from the door, "You tricked me!"
Olivia looked at Elliot and nodded.
"Let her go!" Olivia yelled, pointing her gun at Sheppard who had Alex around the waist with the gun to her head.
"You tricked me Sarah!" He yelled again.
"Let her go Sheppard," Elliot called, "And this will all be over."
Alex looked at the two, then spotted the other two detectives jumped down the stairs. Serena stopped them and pointed to the dock door. They nodded and ran off. Serena turned and caught Alex's eyes. They exchanged worried looks before Alex was brought back by Sheppard shifting his weight.
Munch and Fin had gotten to the side of Sheppard so he was surrounded in a half circle of detectives.
Alex had had enough. She elbowed Sheppard in the stomach and took off running.
"Sarah!" he screamed.
She turned around.
Sheppard raised his gun at Alex, who looked for cover, but couldn't get to any fast enough.
Five guns went off at the same time.
Sheppard got off two shots before he was riddled with bullets from all four detective's guns as sirens blared towards them. The police cars and an ambulance rushed in.
"Alex!" Serena shrieked.
The detectives saw Alex hit the ground at the same time. Olivia's gun dropped on the soft grass and she ran over to where Alex was. She dropped her knees next to Alex. Olivia looked down and saw the two holes in Alex's hoodie.