Disclaimer: Needless to say, I don't own anything but the plot. :)

Criminal Minds:

Challenge Prompt: A Miracle Near 34th Street

"HELP! HELP! SOMEONE!!!" the young blonde haired, blue eyed girl hollered from the alley way. A hard right hook knocked into her jaw and sent her reeling into the dumpster beside her. "Please don't," the girl cried as her assailant gave her a forceful knick to the abdomen. The pain was too much for her to bear and she quickly let the darkness take her as her tears froze to her pale cheeks.

* * * *

"What did you do this weekend, Reid," Derek Morgan sat on the corner of the desk of the youngest member of the BAU team, Spencer Reid.

Reid looked up from the file he was reviewing and thought for a moment. "Read a couple of books," he finally responded.

Morgan's eyebrows rose, though he knew he shouldn't be surprised. "That's it? You sat in all weekend to read a couple of books?"

Reid sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. He pursed his lips and glanced to the left quickly before meeting Morgan's gaze again, "Yeah."

"Reid, kid, you need to get out more. Meet some girls, live lift…"

"Yeah, just like you do Morgan?" Emily Prentiss interrupted him. "Spending long nights doing paperwork just so you can call one of your many no-questions-asked girlfriends. When was the last time you saw the inside of a bar?"

"Hey, hey," Morgan laughed. "Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed," he beamed at her.

"Hey guys." Everyone looked up to see Jennifer Jareau walking along the balcony. "Conference room," she finished.

The smiles left the team's faces as they filed up the stairs and into the conference room. JJ pulled up pictures of several women on the plasma screen as everyone took their seats around the table. "These women were all attacked in the past 7 days in South East D.C."

Leafing through the file sitting in front of him, Reid questioned, "None of these women were killed?"

"Correct," JJ gave the affirmation. "However, each woman was pregnant and they all miscarried."

Hotch sat and watched everyone around the table. JJ had discussed this case with him instead of Morgan because of the impact it would have on them, as parents. The team had been through a lot recently and with Christmas only days away, she didn't want to put Hotch in a position that his already fragile emotions couldn't handle. With thoughts of Jack in his mind, Hotch agreed that stopping this Unsub was important.

And so he sat and watched the emotions play out across each members face as JJ gave the brief. He wanted to be aware of what the impact on the team would be. They all help a special spot for both Jack and Henry, stepping in as Aunts and Uncles whenever necessary. The group that sat before him was more than a team, they were a family.

Reid's eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as he digested the new information and start to form a pattern in his head. Morgan sat back in his chair with a hiss before asking, "It appears the attacks were centered on each victim's abdomen. You think the fetuses were the targets?"

"That does appear to be the case," JJ answered.

Hotch watched David Rossi who was fairly stoic, as usual. He watched as his eyes flitted from the screen, to his file, to Prentiss, and back to the screen again. Hotch's curiosity was peaked and he looked to Prentiss for an answer. What he saw surprised him. Emily was trying very hard to hide her emotions. What Hotch couldn't figure out though was what the emotion was. It seemed to change several times between anger, anxiety, fear and determination. None of this made any sense to him, though he felt that it did to Rossi.

Hotch contemplated this as he turned back to JJ while she finished the brief.

"From the time of the first victim, Sarah Cusak, the Unsub waited 4 days before attacking Sherry Williams and then 3 days before his latest victim, Jane Dougherty."

"That could be a sign of escalation," Reid filled in.

"There doesn't seem to be an apparent connection. Difference looks, different social backgrounds. They were all waitresses but worked at different restaurants or cafes and in different parts of town," Rossi theorized.

"It's a start. Grab your go-bags and meet at the vehicles in 10," Morgan directed as he pushed his chair away from the table. "Hotch, JJ, a word?"

"I'm sorry for going behind your…" Hotch started as the last person filed out.

"No apologies necessary," Morgan cut him off. "I totally understand. Are you two going to OK with this?" he asked, looking them both in the eye.

"Yes," Hotch answered firmly.

"We need to get this guy, Morgan," JJ looked hard at Morgan.

Morgan nodded his head, "OK. Let's get him."

A/N: This is my very first attempt at a Criminal Minds story. Please be forgiving if the characters don't quite fit. But please feel free to review and tell me where I'm going wrong so that I don't stray too far. :) It's also my first attempt at a challenge. I had no idea what a challenge even was until I found Kavi's forum. Then I started reading the stories and figured it out. :) Thanks Kavi!

Please review and let me know what you think. I really appreciate it!!