Jet - Tuesday - Morning

Each member of the team was anxious to get home. This was one of those cases that made them question if what they did everyday made a difference. This case involved children being victimized by an UnSub who took joy in sexually abusing young boys before brutally killing them. None of them had gotten much sleep the night before and the ride home no doubt would be a somber one.

JJ tried desperately not to think of her young son, and imagining him as one of the victims. Compartmentalizing, that was what they had been trained to do; keeping their personal lives separate from what they did for a living. It was necessary but she wasn't sure if any of them had been truly successful at it. JJ was grateful that she had Will and that he was more than capable of protecting their son. She needed her husband right now; what she wouldn't do to have his arms wrapped around her this very moment and to have her precocious son jump on the bed demanding hugs, kisses and a bedtime story.

They all worried about Morgan the most on these cases. He'd been a victim and knew first hand what it was like to be one of those boys. He'd sworn that he was fine, successfully completed counseling but the after affects were still apparent, and the nightmares where still just as vivid as they'd always been. He was way beyond counseling, after all, they knew how to get around the questions, they'd written them. He was a master at smooth talking his way out of his sessions. Morgan had only shared and opened up to Garcia. She had witnessed first hand what he went through after these cases. He'd lost count of the nights his nightmares had kept them both awake.

She was relieved to know that her team was on their way home. As usual, she would wait for them at the office before heading home. She needed to look at them and she needed his arms around her pulling her close to him when he stepped off the elevator. There would be no sleep for him tonight or for her for that matter.

Morgan was the last to board the plane. He noticed the far away look in JJ's eyes and he knew what she was thinking. He took the seat across from her breaking her away from her thoughts of home. She smiled at her friend; she knew he knew what already had her troubled.

"Hey. You okay?"

"Yeah. These cases…I just can't help thinking about Henry."

"I hear you. How can you not think of your son? I mean I know they teach us to separate our lives from our jobs but…"

"We're human, right? Those little boys weren't that much older than Henry. Does it mean I can't do this job?"

"No not at all. You're a mother. Having to look into the faces of other mothers who've just lost a child…like that…Honestly, JJ, I admire you for being the amazing mother, wife and agent that you are. If it were me, I don't think I could do it."

"Thanks, Derek."

She looked away not wanting him to see the tears welling up in her eyes.

"You're a good friend. I needed to hear that."

"Anytime."

Derek smiled and placed his headset over his ears, leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes.

"How do you handle it?"

"Excuse me?" He said, pulling the headset away from his head.

"I mean, you know what those boys must have felt before he killed them. How do you handle it?"

Setting the headset down on the empty seat next to him, he looked down trying to process her question. No one had ever asked him how he managed after these cases.

"It's hard. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday that I was trapped in that cabin with Carl. I still blame myself for all of Carl's victims that came after me. I don't know how I handle it, JJ. Day by day."

"This sucks!"

"Yeah, you're right. It sucks." He agreed.

Hotch had watched them all board the plane. They looked like battle worn soldiers dragging themselves onto the plane. They needed a break; time away and it didn't take a brain surgeon to see it.

Rossi sat across from him and he seemed to understand his concern without Hotch saying a word.

"What are you thinking? A week? Two?"

"Two would be great but I don't think the bureau would go for it."

"Look at them. They're all running on fumes."

"What about you?"

"Believe me, my tanks is running low too." Rossi admitted.

"I've already put a call in to Cruz."

The tired and worn group of fighters against all things evil would need to call on even more strength for they had no idea what lay ahead for them. It would be a battle more terrifying more treacherous than any chase of an UnSub. The odds would be stacked against them and survival would rest in the hands of God. The time off they all so desperately needed would have to wait. None of them even the strongest of the group had been trained to handle the next moments, hours, and days. Sleep had lulled them into a false sense of security with thoughts of home and the safety of familiar ground. But home was still a long way away and safety would soon become a fleeting memory.

BAU Headquarters, Quantico, VA – Tuesday Afternoon

Garcia suddenly felt a cold chill that sent a shiver through her body straight to her core. She couldn't explain it. It was one of those eerie feelings you get just when something bad is about to happen. Her mind went immediately to Morgan and the team. She wanted to dismiss it as just concern because she knew this case had been rough especially for him. But even after trying to distract herself with an online game, she couldn't shake it.

Just as she got up to leave her lair, hoping that a change of scenery would do her good, she saw Agent Anderson at the door. He looked pale and his eyes were wide open and terror was written all over his face. It was bad news. She didn't want to hear it. Not now. There had been too much bad news for one lifetime.

"Ms. Garcia?" He said with a shaky voice.

"Penelope. Please call me Penelope."

"Sorry. Uh… Penelope…"

She saw it… in his eyes…he had something to tell her that would turn her world upside down.

"I have some news…."

"What? Did something happen? Please don't tell me something happened!"

"I'm sorry. I just got word… The jet carrying the team has vanished!"

Her heart stopped… in that moment…and she couldn't breathe… this couldn't happen… not now…

She felt her legs give way under her. Anderson reached her in time to help her sit down. She thought she'd heard him say that the jet was missing. Her family, Derek had vanished. No, she had misunderstood, right? Because they were due home in just a few hours…and she hadn't told him yet…she had a surprise for him…she had made plans for them for the weekend to tell him the news…so this was some cruel joke… it had to be…

"Penelope? Penelope, are you okay? Please say something"

"What? No! I'm not alright!"

She looked the concerned agent in the face with tears streaming down her face.

"He can't be gone."