Six months earlier, in Dublin, Ohio, a kid named Kyle created the Shadowerk server instead of going to his grandmother's for Christmas and then got picked up by a driver. He tells her he does top secret government work. The dirver explains her boyfriend's family is racist so she didn't go for Christmas. He asks her to celebrate Christmas with him and they go to a diner. He tells her he doens't have friends because people in this town are too normal and are all liars and no one will care when they die. He pays for lunch and says he has to go home and work on something that will change the world.

He leaves a note for his mom saying the problem is other people. Everyone in the world causes pain. He hangs himself then changes his mind as his computer beeps with the first Shadowerk job asking to kill a man.

Jet explains that Shadowerk has mirrored the server. McGrath wants a warrant. JEt says for the whole globe?

Bensons and Stabler talk to Jason, the IT kid they arrested. The kid heard from someone on a burner phone.

A federal agent takes Benson and Stabler off the case because of the threats. They ignore her and question someone about who has access to the computers.

THe yogurt lady says Larry Wilcox might have done it. Larry says it's the Russians and they're the ones who got Biden elected. ANother woman confesses to smoking pot once in the bathroom.

Linda claims not to know anyone matching the discription. However, she is Kyle's mother. She insists that they're wrong. 

The cops break in and find no Kyle but do find a creepy display of nativity dolls and a suicide note dated this past Christmas.  No one knows where Kyle is.

Stabler wants to get out of here. The US attorney won't let him leavve without an escort. BEnson suggests they all go out to eat together.

Benson raves about the mac and cheese which means that Stabler has to comment it's nice to see her embracing normalcy.

Meanwhile, Kyle gasses a bunch of FBI agents in a car and goes into the diner where Benson is eating and gasses the kitchen and then the dining area. There is a shooting match. Benson gets shot in the hip and can't walk. Stabler carries her out.

Stabler has taken Benson to urgent care. Meanwhile, the shooter has been arrested and the FBI is doing everything by the book in this investigation. 

Linda is not very cooperative and FIn threatens to have her charged with a variety of serious crimes if she doesn't cooperate, but it doesn't work. They ask Rollins what to do.

Rollins comes in. Linda claims not to know about the suicide note. Rollins explains how he wanted to get revenge on the world and changed his mind about dying when his website worked. LInda says Kyle was always a little off but a child psychologist couldn't help. ROllins tells her there's no cure and no amount of love from his mother would help. They need to find him.

The doctor says the pellets are all out but Benson can't do any physical activity for two weeks. She asks Stabler to help her up. THey look ready to kiss. Benson asks if he's okay. HE says he couldn't see anything and heard that shot and thought he lost her. Stabler gets a call. Linda gave Kyle up.

The cops all go to an isolateHd area where Kyle is. Rollins warns them that Kyle would rather die than have his website taken down. The cops split up to search for Kyle and his computer. Whelan and Reyes discuss how they can't wait to get out of Ohio.

Kyle appears to not be gone from the cabin but they find a disturbing collage of selfies and a computer connected to security cameras.

Everyone hears a gunshot and goes toward the lake.

Bell sees the cameras as they walk. THere is another shootout and Whelan gets shot in the neck. Kyle runs away and Whelan cannot be moved because he's seriously injured. However Kyle is also wounded and drops his rifle. The cops close in on him. He takes out a sword and says go ahead, shoot, take me out, I don't care.

Reyes calls again for the medic and lies to Whelan about how serious it is. Whelan can't feel his legs.

Bell tries to talk Kyle down. He says Shadowerk will live on after he dies. He stabs himself with the sword. Now they need the medic too as Stabler wants the suspect alive.  Reyes tries to keep Whelan calm. He will need an airlift.  Whelan tells the medic to go help Kyle. The medic tells Reyes to take over and takes off to take care of Kyle.

Kyle is taken to a prison hospital in New York. He refuses to shut down his site and passes out. 

Bell calls Reyes to find out about Whelan. She tells Reyes to tell him they got the kid. Whelan is out of surgery. The bullet went through his spine.

McGrath is upset that arresting the guy has not stopped the rapes -- in fact the site is more popular than ever.  He wants Kyle arraigned NOW.

Kyle's lawyer wants to go for an insanity defense. Kyle says he wanted people to see the truth about themselves and see who they really are. He will not shut down his website and says it's not his fault people are being hurt. His lawyer wants to talk to him alone. He screams at him to shut up. The cops offer his mother's freedom if he shuts down the site. He thinks his mom gave him up. They explain how loyal she was to him and that for her love is not a lie. Kyle claims to love his mother. Bell says prove it.

Jet talks to Whalen and tries to convince him the paralysis may not be permanent. Whalen says he has a device that sends shocks to his nerves so he can breathe. Jet says she loves him.

Whelan doesn't want to live like this. He wants Reyes to help him die.  Reyes says Whalen will be fine. Reyes says this is not a life. He wants Reyes to disconnect the breathing box. Reyes says he cannot do that. Whelan's father arrives. HE touches Whelan's cheek and Whelan cries.

Kyle is willing to cooperate. Carisi says Kye will do life and shut that site down or no deal. Kyle doesn't care about life anyway.

McGrath watches as Kyle is wheeled in in cuffs and made to delete his site. He glares at Stabler.

Whelan flatlines.

Jet's phone rings. 

Reyes cries. JEt looks stunned.

Stabler and Bell are upset.

Whalen's body is removed as Kyle is taken to jail.

At SVU, Muncy hugs Fin who says he will miss her. 

Stabler goes to check on Benson who is back to work already. She's so sorry about Whalen.  Stabler says it makes him realize how precious life is. He wants to give her something. He will be gone a while on a new case.  He wants her to open the other box from the McCanns first. She says if he opens it he keeps it. It's a live, laugh, love decal. Stabler says he'll treasure it. Her turn.  It's a necklace with a compass. Is it supposed to lead her somewhere? He says to happiness.