A/N: This series follows the team on their journey tackling and saving America from dangerous criminals. This is the first story of "The Serial Series". It's called "The abductor".


"We have a case", JJ spoke prominently walking into Hotch's office, throwing him a file, and she stood in the doorway leaning against the wall staring at him as he evaluated her choice of case. His eyebrow raised and immediately she knew something was wrong.

"JJ" he started, "there haven't been any murders yet, this isn't our department", he spoke softly.

"Yes, but Texas' police seems to think that there will be", she said standing up straighter now whilst smoothing her hands over her jacket. He took his phone out of his pocket and started dialling, knowing better than to question her judgement, "I'll call everyone in".


(Half an hour later)


"Really Hotch, couldn't it wait, I was just about to head down to the beach with Shania, who by the way is my new girlfriend" and lay back, and chill out in some U.S.A sun", he said elongating each letter of USA.

"No, JJ brought me this file earlier today, and due to the possible victims in it, I think it best we start straight away", he said his authority overruling any further contradictions.

"Possible victims? So if there hasn't been a murder why was this file even on JJ's desk?" Rossi queried now getting the full attention of the team,

"Because it's a raced against the clock, to what Texas's police believe to become a series of murders and they need our help", JJ said now entering their usual four-walled room. As they all opened their files, their expressions changed into ones from reluctant to be here to let's get started. "If this unsub is abducting children, why?" Prentiss asked the room,

"Maybe he can't have children", Reid pitched in,

"Then he'd go after the parents, assert his authority over the female and force the husband to watch", Morgan stated glancing across the room,

"So we have a serial abductor who kidnaps children but doesn't kill them within the first 48 hours why? Are they still alive or is he holding onto the bodies? Trophies maybe?" Rossi asked.

"The fact that he doesn't kill them, as far as we know, suggests they're still alive, but why? Maybe it's not only that he can't have children, but that he doesn't and he wants them, he's trying for them, Morgan said speaking indirectly,

"That means that he would have a wife or girlfriend to try with, so he is capable of holding onto a long term relationship even marriage", Prentiss said more of a question than a statement,

Agreeing nods filled the room.

"Maybe not!" Reid said , as he grabbed the attention of the others he looked up and spoke more loudly, "Maybe he's kidnapping children for a family, he forces them to be his children",

"Why?" Garcia asked a shocked look coming over her face.

"Because his marriage is falling apart and he's desperately trying to hold onto it, his wife wants kids and he can't supply her needs, he's scared that she'll leave him, he's the submissive in the relationship"

"Wheels up in twenty".


(Twenty-five minutes later)


Now sitting on the plane, the team read and re-read their files, spontaneously jumping ideas and thoughts of one another's comments,

Ok so we have a white male in his late 40s most likely married, but struggling, we need to look into hospital records for anyone who has recently had any type of STD or Cancer.

But how did he abduct these children with no-one noticing, after two children have been taken you'd think everyone would be on high alert, in a time like this what stranger would you let near your children.

School employee?

Check against school records for Mathew Thomas but Andrew Carson didn't go to school in the same area.

Suddenly Prentiss turned to JJ who was standing behind Morgan, leaning on his chair, "what about you JJ?"

"What about me?"

"Who would you let near Henry, if you knew there was someone dangerous out there targeting children, who could you still trust?"

"No-one but myself, Will, you guys and family"

"Check against family records, work colleagues or friends that interlock"

"So he targets young boys but how does he get to them in their house, there was no sign of forced entry, so he used a key or was let in, but everyone was asleep so he wasn't let in and the parents could give us a name", Rossi stated looking blankly now out of the window.

"When we land JJ you and Prentiss speak to the two families, see who had a key or any access to their house, Morgan you and Rossi head to the schools they attended and question staff and look at any security camera's, me and Reid will head down to the station to see what further details or evidence they've found", Hotch said glancing at every member when he spoke to them.

Morgan started typing into the laptop that was on the plane desk, and called up Garcia, whose face popped up on the screen, all chirpy and bright per usual. "Hello my chocolate cover bunny rabbit, what can I do for you?"

"Garcia I need you to pull up the schools that both the abductees went to, and then cross reference any staff for me and send me a list of all employees"

"On it, you will have your list in a minute of second, anything for you sweet cheeks, Garcia out!"

A chuckle escaped his lips, while the rest of the team looked on and smiled, until the sudden shake of the plane and turbulence. The Seatbelt on sign flashed and everyone sat down and waited.