Can you believe this is my 40th story and my 38th Criminal Minds story? Wow! Seems like just yesterday I was trying to kick out "For All Time". Seriously, where does the time go? Well, it looks like to celebrate my milestone I am going to write another crime fic. This one finds Emily kidnapped and at the mercy of a ruthless killer while the team scrambles to rescue her and solve the case.

I don't own Criminal Minds….but I'm not going to say no if the dummies at CBS want to give it to me.

Song prompt: "Through The Fire" by Peabo Bryson

Through The Fire

Place: Arlington, VA

Time: Present Day

There was cold, freezing cold, and colder than a witch's tit. Tonight was leaning toward the latter. Only September and Virginia was being hit with a cold snap that caught people off guard. Blamed on the weather pattern, old-timers mused that it was Mother Nature showing the bureaucrats who was really in charge when it came to the world.

But cold snap or not, life on the streets went on. Standing up against the wall, a lady of the night took a long drag on her cigarette and watched as her "charge" walked up, teetering on five inch heels. Already, she could tell it was going to be one of those nights.

"Desiree, what are you doing outside without your coat girlfriend? You know you can't be walking these streets without something to keep you warm. It's gonna hurt business if you catch your death of cold."

"I don't have a coat," Desiree replied and shoved her hands in her armpits to keep them warm.

"I coulda sworn you had a fur coat last week."

"I did. I had to hock it to pay some bills."

"Buying that man of yours drugs."

Desiree sighed. "It's not like that; he fell on some hard times. He needed something to pick him up."

"So you hock the one thing your grandma left you to get him high? That man is a loser."

"Step, it's not like that. After I turned a couple of tricks, I can get it back. The guy at the store likes me. Said he would have given me more for it if I used the money to go back to school."

"Smart man. Maybe you ought to hook up with him instead of that loser who makes you walk the street in freezing temps to provide money for his drug habit."

Desiree tried to stop her teeth from chattering. "Maybe I'll get lucky tonight and I can get home before it gets too cold."

Step took off her coat and handed it to the young lady. "Here, take this."

"I can't take your coat."

"And you can't walk the streets with pneumonia which is what that bastard boy-friend of yours will do to you. Trust me, I know. Now put it on before I drag you to my place."

Desiree slipped the coat on and relished in its warmth. "You are too good to me Step." A tear slipped from her eye. "I wish my mother had been half as good as you."

"Well honey, we can't pick our families, but if I could have had children, I would have picked you…sans the hooker part and the drug addict boyfriend."

"Ouch!"

"Just telling it like it is. I know that if I could hook me a sugar daddy, I'm getting you off the streets and back into school."

Desiree gave her friend a wry smile. "Thanks." Feeling the warmth of the coat heat up her blood, Desiree began to relax. "How is business tonight?"

"The usual. Cops came by and told us it was going to be below freezing and to get inside. They offered us a jail cell without the booking part. I didn't know if they were joking or not."

"A night at county without raising bail? I missed that one." The wind picked up. "Step, you need to get a coat. I will be okay."

"Honey, I don't let my girls get in cars without seeing who's asking for their services." Step took a drag of her cigarette. "I'll go get something later. Unless you would rather walk with me to the corner for a cup of coffee. It's too cold out here. You can come home with me. I have a spare bed."

A warm room and a bed all to herself to sleep in? That sounded like heaven. Desiree went to open her mouth to accept when a car pulled up to the curb.

"Hey doll!" the voice called out. "Got any plans for tonight?"

"Depends…you got a heater in that car?"

"Honey, we don't need a heater for what I have planned for you."

Desiree walked over to the vehicle and leaned in. "What do you have planned?" She smelled expensive cologne and he looked harmless enough.

"What will two fifty get me?"

Desiree gave him a sultry laugh. "A trip around the world for starters."

"Well, hop in babe. The night is speeding by and I need to get off soon before I explode."

"Hand jobs in cars are extra."

"Anything."

Desiree rushed over to Step. "This guy is hard up big time! He's offered two fifty for starters and wants a hand job ASAP."

"What are you waiting for, honey? Take it."

"Are you sure?" Desiree really wanted to take the night off.

Step reached out and touched the young lady's hair. "Do this, get the money, then come back to my place. Okay?"

"Okay." Desiree started to shrug out of the coat. "Here."

"Take it. You may need it later to walk back home."

Desiree stepped over to the vehicle and opened the passenger side door. "I love you Step."

"I love you too Des. Hurry back."

Closing the door, Desiree turned to her client. "So where are we going?"

"Somewhere it isn't cold."

"Works for me." She pressed her finger tips to the vent and relished in the heat as the car sped forward.

Standing on the sidewalk, Step took another drag on her cigarette. She knew she promised to go inside, but there was nothing waiting for her at her the apartment. She would wait until Desiree came back.
*******

"I never knew anyone who couldn't throw a Frisbee. Hell, my grandma throws better than you do."

"What the hell do you expect? I'm a surgeon, not an athlete."

"With those hands, I pray I don't get you in the OR when I need you." The guy climbed thru the brush and stopped. What the hell? Is that a multi colored rabbit? Moving closer, he noticed it was a fur jacket. Kneeling down he reached out and touched cold flesh. Scared and frightened, he fell back.

"Holy shit! Skip! Get over here!" He had never seen a dead body before.

Within seconds Skip was over where his friend sat. "What's wrong Joe?" Following the pointed finger, it took him a second to recognize the body of a female. Hurrying over, his doctor's instincts kicked in. Feeling for a pulse, he found none. Giving a glance over, he noticed a trail of dried blood from the woman's mouth. Hemorrhage from a possible stab wound.

Pulling out his cell phone, he quickly dialed 9-1-1. "My friend and I are at the park and just found the body of a young woman….yes, she's dead….I know this because I'm a doctor." As he rattled off the address, he heard his friend retching. "Yes, we'll stay until the police arrive."

As the operator kept him on the line, he looked at the young lady and sighed. He had seen a lot of dead bodies in his career, but this one seemed like such a waste.

Sirens filled the air. Letting the operator know, he hung up and tended to his friend. Police were going to be descending any second and he needed to get his friend away from the scene.

"Officer!" Skip called out. "We're over here. Can I get someone to take my friend for some fresh air?"

"Tony! Help him to the bench over there so we can ask him some questions." The police officer ordered. As Joe was helped away, the officer turned to Skip. "Can you tell me what happened?"

As the area was quickly roped off with yellow crime scene tape, Skip explained how they came across the latest victim: Jane Doe 127.