Inspired by the movie Journey to the West.

This first chapter is a little long to set up the rest of the story. The other chapters won't be quite as long.

Need to know: This takes place right after the season 6 episode Sense Memory.

Need to know: I will put in here my own version of how the Ian Doyle events take place

Need to know: Things are as they are currently during season 6 with all character relationships. The events in the story will lead to the relationships that form later on.

"One is never afraid of the unknown; one is afraid of the known coming to an end."
-Jiddu Krishnamurti-

Jessica was packing Jack's lunch for the day when she noticed the time, they were running late. Stepping towards the threshold into the living room, she saw Jack sitting with his empty cereal bowl, watching cartoons. "Jack, honey, we're running late. Brush your teeth and then we need to leave." She smiled watching him promptly obey her request, running down the hall, towards the bathroom.

For a brief moment, she had a memory of her sister. Since Haley's death the memories became more bearable and less painful.

There was no mistaking that Haley's spirit lived on in Jack. His understanding, kindness, playfulness and laughter were pieces of Haley shining through. Talking quietly, as if in conversation she said, "He's really growing up into a nice young man. And you would be so proud of Aaron. He talks to his teachers, takes him to the park, tells him about how you met and devotes every spare minute of his time to him. Every day they celebrate your life."

"I'm done!" Jack yelled from the bathroom.

Jessica jumped out of her thoughts; almost as if she had been caught talking to herself. A tear was trailing down her cheek. Quickly she thumbed it away and collected herself, zipping up Jack's lunchbox. Jack had yet to run up the hallway so she called to him again, "Okay buddy we need to hurry!"

"I'm coming!" He said running down the hall.

His swift footsteps alerted her to the doorway. She couldn't help but smile and embrace him as he ran into her arms. "Okay are you ready for school?" Jessica asked, giving him a quick peck on the cheek. Letting him go she stood up to grab his backpack.

"Uh, huh. We get popcorn today!" He said jumping up and down.

"That sounds like fun!" She said excitedly, holding his backpack for him to put on.

"We get to watch a movie too!" Jack said slipping his arms through the straps.

"Cool!" Jessica flipped the light switch and un-locked the door. Like every morning her hand twisted the door knob and opened to an empty porch, but this particular morning she was met by two men, aiming a gun straight at her head. A brief moment of dread, a gasp, she pushed Jack behind her but was met with a bullet, falling dead in the doorway.

"No!" Jack screamed, "My daddy! Find you!" He yelled as a large man covered his mouth and picked him up by the waist, whisking him away.

Morgan was stopped in his tracks by a beautiful woman walking off the elevator, to him she seemed a bit lost with her messy bun, fitted George Strait T-shirt, black workout pants with two white stripes trailing down the sides and sneakers. He was quick to come to her rescue or so he thought. "Excuse me…" And he was cut off.

"You must be Derek. Before you come to my rescue, I'm not lost, I'm a slouch." The woman looks at herself and explains, "Well I'm a slouch for today anyways." The woman held up her hand flashing a Texas Ranger badge. "My name is Rachel and before you spend all your time profiling me I'm Aaron's sister and I'm no more pleasant than he is. So excuse me."

She walked away from him, and Morgan heard the words, "Crash and burn." Coming from behind him.

Morgan turned around and saw Rossi standing there, "I can't believe you didn't know about Rachel." Rossi stated.

"How does she know my name?"

"Does it matter?" Rossi said with a bit of a smirk on his face.

"Yeah it bothers me that she knows who I am and I don't know who she is." Morgan said watching her embrace Emily, through the glass doors.

Rossi put his hand on Morgan's shoulder, "Do you want to know her after that encounter?"

"Hell yeah she's my kind of woman."

"You do realize that she is at least ten years older than you?" Rossi looked at Morgan who seemed a little speechless.

"No way, she is a total babe."

"I believe that's more my age range than yours, so hands off the merchandise and besides she's taken." Rossi said giving him a pat on the shoulder, before heading towards the glass doors.

Morgan shook his head and smiled, "He's got to be kidding, there ain't no way." He took a sip of his coffee and followed Rossi into the bull pen.

Rachel walked through the double doors and was greeted warmly by Emily. "Rachel! Oh my gosh, I can't believe you're here! How are you?"

Rachel smiled sincerely and was comforted by her friend's welcome and comforting embrace, "I'm okay, taking it day by day."

Emily felt a little saddened that her friend still seemed so sullen, it wasn't quite like her, but considering the circumstances it was expected. "Well Hotch is in his office, I'm sure he'd be happy to see you."

"Thanks Emily. Dinner later?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

Rachel casually walked up to Hotch's office door and knocked. "Come in." A muffled voice was heard through the barrier.

She turned the silver knob, heard a slight click and pushed open the door. Rachel smiled at her younger sibling, looking at him from across the room. Serious and professional as always he was intently looking through a case file, not once within moments after opening the door did he look up. Rachel giggled and said, in a lower mocked tone, "Always so serious."

This caught Hotch's attention. He looked up in surprise, at her arrival. He stood up and smiled, "Please come in."

Rachel shut the door and walked to his desk.

With the small observation he took of her, his smile quickly faded, it was obvious she was struggling. A smile couldn't hide her torment. Her eyes had marginally dark circles beneath them, which she tried to cover with foundation. She looked tired and stressed. Her disheveled look was something out of the ordinary, but appropriate for what she had went through.

Rachel looked back to her brother and saw the look he had on his face. "Don't profile me Aaron."

Hotch let out a frustrated breath, "You sound just like Shawn. Did you ever stop to think that maybe I'm just concerned?"

Rachel was now mad at herself; she never made assumptions about Hotch she was more understanding. Pull it together Rachel, don't let him see you lose it. "Ugh…Aaron I'm sorry." Rachel takes a seat in front of his desk, taking her hands she pushes lose strands of hair, behind her ears.

Hotch followed her lead and sat after she did. Hotch could see her fighting for composure and it hurt him. Why does she always have to hold everything inside? "I'm sorry I didn't make the funeral." Hotch said tilting his head slightly as if trying to understand how Rachel was feeling.

"I understood, there is no need to apologize."

Hotch looked down and then back up, knowing the next thing he was going to say may press her buttons, "I talked to your supervisor."

"Aaron." Rachel said in an aggravated tone, without raising her voice. "You had no right."

"When my older sister calls me once every week and then suddenly stops its concerning."

Rachel just hung her head, thought a moment; she looks back up and says, "Well considering what happened did you think it was out of the normal. I do recall you going through the same thing a few years ago and if I remember correctly you quit answering your phone."

"You're right." Hotch said, remembering when Haley was killed.

"So have you spoken to him recently?" Rachel asked, analyzing by his behavior he had.

"As a matter of fact he called me three days ago. He said you left without notice and placed your resignation on his desk. He wanted to know if I had seen you." Hotch waited for a response and didn't get one. "He's really worried about you. He's like family and he deserves a call."

Rachel wasn't in the mood for talking about her supervisor or what happened. Changing the subject allowed her to avoid the conversation completely and she said, "Anyways I stopped by to let you know that I'll be moving into the area. I wanted to offer my services to help watch Jack and maybe give Jessica a break."

"She would appreciate that and I know Jack would be more than happy to spend some time with his Aunt Rachel."

"Good. If you don't mind I'd like to stop by and see them today."

"They would like that. Darcie just finished going through the Police Academy, she's back in town and I'm sure she would like a visit as well."

"Great. Well I'll leave you to your work. By the looks of it, you look like your getting ready to leave for a case?"

"Yeah, we have a case in Hawaii, I'm just getting ready to present it to the team. We probably won't get there till early tomarrow morning."

"Well be safe and it's good to see you Aaron."

"You too and Rachel if you want you're welcome to stay at the house as long as you need. I think Jack and Jessica would both enjoy it. If you leave now you might catch them before Jack leaves for school."

"Thank you." Rachel went to leave and just as she opened the door she heard Hotch's voice behind her.

"Rachel, you might want to say hi to Rossi. He could be someone for you to talk to."

Rachel never looked back at Hotch, but said, "That's the last thing I need right now." She finished opening the door and walked down the stairs. She was met by Emily again and said, "It looks like we'll have to reschedule dinner, ya'll got a case."

"So you'll be around for a while?" Emily asked.

"For a good while." Rachel gave her a hug. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Rossi but didn't speak to him, instead she focused her attention on Reid, JJ, and Garcia who also happened to be standing in the bull pen. From them she received the same sympathetic looks that she had been getting for the past month and it was almost more than she could handle, but she kept up her charade. On the way out, she tried avoiding Rossi but was stopped by his hurt tone.

"Rachel." He said hoping she would acknowledge his presence.

Rachel stopped. She took a deep breath and turned around. Smiling she said, "Dave. It's good to see you."

"And you. How is Jimmy doing?" Rossi asked hoping to be able to start a conversation with her.

She thought everyone knew what happened to Jimmy, her husband and the mention of his name made her voice shaky. "He's fine." She lied and stood there for a moment trying to recover, but to no avail. Bowing out gracefully she never said another word and left the bull pen.

Hotch watched from his doorway and saw her reaction to the question and knew she was headed for trouble if she didn't accept what happened to her husband, a fellow Texas Ranger.

Emily, JJ, Reid and Garcia shared the same looks of sadness for their friend, knowing she had lied. "She must be hurting so bad. I couldn't imagine losing Will or how I would re-act." JJ said.

"She's obviously denying it ever happened." Reid said.

"Poor thing, maybe we should send her another card?" Garcia suggested.

"A card for what?" Rossi interjected.

Morgan now stepped up to the group, "Yeah what happened? And how you do you all know her?"

Hotch wanted to be the one to tell Rossi what happened. He knew about their history and how delicate Rossi would take the situation. "Dave." Hotch called from his door way.

Meanwhile Rossi walked to Hotch's office while Emily explained to Morgan how they knew about Rachel. "You remember three years ago when you took a sabbatical?" She asked.

"Yeah, so?"

"Well it was during one of Jack's birthdays and she was there with her husband." Emily dropped her head and so did the others.

"What about her husband?" Morgan asked.

Reid, JJ, Garcia and Emily looked towards Hotch's office. They knew a little history about Rossi and Rachel that Garcia had dug up, but out of being busy and pre-occupied with their work they forgot to tell him about her husband.

Rossi walked in and shut the door behind him, "Aaron what is going on?"

Getting right to the point and standing a few feet from Rossi he said, "Jimmy was killed in an undercover operation. He was posing as a blood diamond smuggler. One evening when he returned to his hotel they intercepted a call to his supervisor. Rachel and few others that were involved went days without word from him and decided to go in. When they raided the warehouse he was hanging by a noose from the ceiling."

Rossi was speechless and they only thing he could think to say was, "How is she?"

"You saw her. She lied to you about him, she's obviously in denial and as of three days ago she resigned as a Texas Ranger." Hotch watched Rossi's reaction and he was seemingly concerned but not easily readable, "Dave I think you should try to talk to her and God knows you and Jimmy are the only two people she has ever shown any type of emotion too."

"I will, but don't think I'm taking advantage of the situation to get close to her again. If needs a friend, I'll be there."

"I won't." Hotch paused and let the moment sink in then said, "We have a new case in Hawaii. Will you gather the team?"

"Of course." Then the two agents went to work.

Rachel parked alongside the road at Hotch's home. When she turned off the vehicle, a shot rang out and she quickly responded. Leaving her truck door open she ran in the direction of the shot fired, she saw a lifeless body lying in Hotch's doorway and two men carrying Jack away.

"Stop!" She said running in their direction. One of them held a gun at her and she fiercely kicked it out of his hand. Rachel was well trained in Martial Arts and could easily defend herself in an intense situation, but this man would prove to meet her match.

Vigorously they fought blow for blow. Jack cried and struggled, pounding his fists into the man's back as he stood watching the fight, as if it was entertainment.

Uncharacteristically Rachel eventually put herself in a vulnerable position, allowing her opponent to get her in a choke hold. Fighting for a breath, she soon succumbed to unconsciousness.

"Bring her." The other man said. "She can help watch the kids and keep them from crying."

It was late Friday morning when Will and Henry were watching Monster's Inc. and there was a knock at the door. "I'll be right back Little Man." Will said getting off the sofa.

"Okay daddy." Henry said without looking away from the T.V.

Will walked barefooted in his lounge pants and gray shirt to the wooden door. He assumed it was UPS only because they were expecting some early Christmas gifts, for Henry, that JJ had got a great deal on. Will opened the door and was staring down the barrel of a gun. A split second of panic and the gun went off, Will dropped lifelessly to the floor.

Henry heard the loud noise. "Daddy?" He called. Henry stumbled off the couch dragging his teddy bear. He walked out of the living room, to the hallway where he was met by three men. Thankfully the three men blocked the view of Will lying on the floor.

One man spoke and said, "Hello Henry."

Henry turned and went running away from them screaming, "Daddy!"

It was extremely late when Garcia made her final contact with the team, before clocking out. The team was going to try to get some rest before they landed in Hawaii and Garcia reveled in the thought of getting some rest herself. It had been a long day for Garcia, but productive none the less.

Taking one last look at the beautiful roses from her secret admirer, she gathered her things and walked out of the building into the parking garage. Her heels clicked on the concrete while she hummed a song to herself, she felt at ease and was not on high alert, for there was nothing she should have been afraid of.

Garcia pushed up her glasses and searched through her purse for her keys. Finally she found them amidst the sea of items. "Ah, ha! You can't hide from me, now let's go home." She said, smiling at the thought of taking a hot bath, and sleeping in her soft bed, with all her fluffy pillows.

The instant she stuck her key in the lock, she saw the ceiling of the parking garage, and everything went black.

Each agent found a comfortable spot and nestled themselves in for a long nap. Reid waited patiently to hear the deep breathing of his comrades, before using the lap top to Skype with his girlfriend. Reid wasn't known for using hi-tech stuff, such as a computer but in this case he would make an exception. Garcia showed him how to do it and in no time he became a Skyping pro.

He put in the headphones and waited for his dark haired beauty to appear. He quietly strummed his fingers on the edge, of the laptop. Finally there she was. Reid's face brightened and he smiled, "Hey. How are you doing?" He whispered quietly.

"Okay. Do you think it looks better?" She said putting her face up to the screen.

Reid looked at the fading bruises that covered the left side of her face. "It looks better but not good enough for you to see him." Reid watched as the young woman slumped in her chair.

"Do you think he's getting suspicious?" She asked.

Reid looked behind him at Hotch, who seemed to be sleeping peacefully. Convinced he was asleep Reid turned back around. "I think so. He's a profiler and he can't help but think something is up when you see him every week on the same day, then all of sudden stop coming."

"He has to hate me." She said rubbing her fingers through her hair.

"Darcie he doesn't hate you. You need to tell him what happened."

"Spencer I can't. I'm so embarrassed; he'll think I'm weak."

"Darcie it's not being weak when a 250 pound gorilla beats up on you. Are you going back to work?"

"Yeah, tomorrow but I don't know how I'll explain this." Darcie said pointing at her bruises.

"Tell the truth."

"I can't. I've only been a deputy for one month; they'll think I'm weak or something."

"How many times do I have to tell you? You are not weak. You're strong, beautiful and you can pack a punch with the rest of them. You could beat me up."

Darcie sat up quickly and leaned into the screen, "But I would never do that."

"I know, I was just trying to make a point."

"So where are you going?" Darcie asked.

"Hawaii." Reid said with not much emotion.

"It sounds like fun. Wish I was going."

"I didn't think about it, but if you were here I would get to see you in that red bikini."

"I could model it for you, that is if you don't mind getting all hot and bothered." Darcie said seductively.

"Darcie I'm on the jet."

"So." Darcie said smiling. She started to take her shirt off, she pulled it over her head and when she looked back at the screen to see Reid's reaction she abruptly ducked under her desk.

Reid was a little alarmed, "Darcie? What's wrong?"

Reid saw her hand rise above the desk, pointing at him, "Look behind you." Darcie's voice said into his ear buds.

Reid slowly looked behind him and saw Hotch towering above him.

"Give me an ear bud." Hotch demanded. Timidly, Reid took out one of his ear buds and handed to Hotch.

Hotch then had his say, "Darcie do you mind telling me why you haven't came to visit."

"Dad, not now." Darcie pleaded still hiding under her desk.

"Fine but we'll talk about this when I get back."

"Okay. Love you dad." Darcie said raising her hand and waving where he could see it on the screen.

"Love you too. Be safe." Hotch handed the ear bud back to Reid. Not wanting to completely embarrass his daughter he told Reid, out of ear shot of Darcie, "No sex Skyping on the jet."

Hotch took a seat in front of Reid, waiting for him to end his conversation with Darcie.

"He's gone." Reid said.

"Thank goodness." Darcie sat back in her chair. She could tell by the look on Reid's face her dad was sitting in front of him. They couldn't continue their private conversation so she said, "Well I'll let you go. I know dad is sitting in front of you, just don't tell him. Please." She begged.

"I promise." Reid said.

"I love you Spencer. Be safe and take care of dad for me."

"I love you and I will." Reid blew her a kiss and they disconnected. Reid shut the lap top and said, "You can't make me tell you."

"I'm not asking, but if my little girl is in danger or is hurt, I have a right to know." Aggravated and knowing Reid wasn't about to tell him what was wrong, he stood up and went back to his seat, clearly hurt.

Reid looked out the window and said a silent prayer. He wasn't sure he believed or not but it couldn't hurt.

Morning came and the pilot made sure everyone was awake and buckled in. Reid stared out the window as they approached for landing. "Guys, something isn't right."

"What's wrong?" Emily asked.

"We should have landed in Hawaii by now."

"What do you mean?" Morgan asked.

"I mean we should have been in Hawaii 6 hours ago."

"Oh my…is that what I think it is?" JJ said pointing out the window.

Morgan unbuckled his seatbelt and rested his hand on Emily's seat; he leaned over her to look out the window. Hotch and Rossi followed his lead. Hotch leaned over JJ and Rossi leaned over Reid.

Emily gaped and said, "Is that the…"

Reid finished, "Great Wall of China."

Added Characters:

Rachel - She is Hotch's older sister. She is a former Texas Ranger and her back story with the Rangers is based of of Walker Texas Ranger but you do not need to be familiar with the show to get what's going on. I particularly chose Season 9 episode Blood Diamonds as inspiration for her background. She has a history with Rossi that will be revealed in due time. Always has taken care of Hotch and Shawn but resembles Hotch in many ways with her personality. She is a trained Martial Artist.

Darcie - Hotch's daughter. She just completed the Police Academy. She has only been in contact with Hotch for four years now, and they have gotten off to a great start like they have never been apart. She was found by a prostitute in her dead mother's arms after she was born. From there she was raised in and out of abusive foster homes, suffering greatly as a child but forced herself to be a better person and pursue a career in law enforcement. She found Hotch with the help of a private investigator and it came as no suprise to Hotch when she found him, he had always thought that's why his girlfriend in Highschool, before Hayley ran away. She is dating Spencer.

Shipping:

Emily and Morgan

Hotch and JJ

Rossi and Rachel

Darcie and Reid

Garcia and Suprise Character we have seen on the show before but not Kevin

I know it's a big first chapter but it set up everything for the rest of the story! I'd love to know what you think!