Hello, everybody! It's Taylor here, in case you're new with me. So, this story has been bouncing around in my head for the longest time, and I finally got down to writing it... On my iPod. Needless to say it took me about an hour and a half to edit it. Uuumm... There are no real pairings other than JJ/Will, although there will probably a hint of Hotch/Prentiss. I really like this story for some reason; I think it's definitely one of my better pieces. It took me about an hour to write the first chapter, so it was very natural. One thing I do stress is that I haven't been watching Criminal Minds from the very beginning. The first episode I saw of it was season 4, I think, so I've been watching seasons 2, 3, 4, and 5 online (I saw the very first episode and decided that I hate Elle, so I avoid season 1). Also, there are some references to s few episodes, not major, but there are some, so if you haven't seen at least season 4 and don't want little spoilers, don't read.

So, anyway, I really hope you like this. Oh, and I took A LOT of creative licenses with this story, because I am clearly not smart. I don't know if this could actually happen, but you know the BAU - always twisting the rules a bit. I know next to nothing about how the FBI operates, nor how the layout of Washington DC and the surrounding area is. Please bear with me here. Give this little one a shot.

Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds. If I did, AJ Cook and Paget Brewster wouldn't be leaving.


Chapter One

"Important principles may, and must, be inflexible." -Abraham Lincoln

"Reid, you can't possibly be serious about this!" Hotch nearly threw his hands up in frustration, instead running them through his graying hair. He was almost livid with the mere prospect of his idea, let alone going through with it. "This killer is extremely dangerous enough to US as it is, there is absolutely no way I'm endangering a citizen as well."

"But sir, think of it this way, in the capable hands of either Prentiss or JJ there's no way they could get hurt. You know full well of how good they are as agents, as well as people. How could you not trust them enough to let one go undercover to catch this guy?"

"I trust them with my team, and with the lives of the public, however this is entirely different. The unsub will be trying to kill them specifically, zoning in on them alone. It's too dangerous to let a citizen get involved. No matter how much I trust all of you, I just can't take that big of a risk."

"What if someone volunteered, knowing the risks and signing a contract?" asked a female voice from the doorway of the room. All heads immediately snapped in the direction of the door to see dusty-blonde haired girl with eyes that matched the color of a florescent green sign. She was wearing street clothes - tight skinny jeans, a marble grey wife beater, and purple and black basketball shoes. She stood only 5'3", and it didn't take a profiler to know she was fourteen. "I want to help you guys. Because I was an ass. I have nowhere to go; I'm a ward of the state. I have nothing to lose and I need to help you. Please."

"I appreciate your effort, but it's simply too dangerou-"

"With all due respect, sir," she said through gritted teeth, practically spitting out her last word. "I want to help. The FBI needs to find this son of a bitch, and if I'm not mistaken, this is your only hope. This might be your last chance to get him until he moves again."

He sighed a little; trying to hide the fact he knew she was right. "I can't. I just can't," he muttered.

"If it makes you feel any better, my mom always said my middle name was Danger," she replied with a shrug, sliding her hands into her back pockets.

Hotch turned his back to her, looking over his team. Prentiss had the day off, and Garcia had popped in to sit in on the debate. Reid was standing, his face frozen on a look of concentrated adamancy. Morgan was leaning back in his chair now; eyebrows raised high into his dark forehead. JJ looked conflicted, but more surprised by the girl than disapproving. Rossi had is arms crossed over his chest, face stone cold, showing no emotion, although Hotch knew he didn't like the idea. Garcia just looked fascinated by it all, mouth open slightly, eyes flicking from person to person. He knew he had probably just lost a poll that was never taken.

He sucked in a breath quietly. "Let me call in Prentiss. We need a pair of fresh eyes," he said, turning back and brushing past the girl.

"Are you sure about this, Bethany?" JJ asked, in a caring tone.

"After what this guy did to my aunt and my cousin? Positive."

"You could get really hurt, or killed," Rossi interjected, eyebrows furrowing.

"It's better than living in a state house," the young one answered, with another shrug. She stepped further into the room and leaned against the glass of the windows. She sighed. "It'll get me away from that place as long as possible."

"So you know what you're getting yourself into?" he pressed.

"Of course I do," she snapped. "Do you know how long it takes to be adopted? Do you know what those crappy houses are like to live in? I'm fourteen, Sir, meaning there's almost no chance of me getting adopted at all. Everyone wants the little kids. Trust me, I've been there, and I don't intend on going back."

Just when Garcia was about to jump in to break the tension a bit, Hotch came back in a huff. Aside from Bethany's, everyone's eyes were on him. "That was fast," Penelope commented.

"That's because I was all ready here," Prentiss said, coming in behind him. "Thanks, Derek."

"Thought you should be here to decide," he replied, sitting up a little straighter. "We need to figure this out, together. Now, what does everyone think? I, for one, think this could work. I'm not big on letting Bethany be bait, but I do think she has a point."

"Well, she'll be with one of us, so I really think she can do this," JJ said, looking past Hotch to Bethany.

"I think this is suicide," Rossi told her, boldly. "You're asking to be killed."

"She will be fine, Rossi," Reid countered, with a tight jaw.

"We can't guarantee anything, Spencer," Hotch told him, eyelids dangerously close to 'the stare'.

"I'm really sorry, hun," Garcia said to her, "But I would hate to see you throw yourself into a heap of trouble."

Bethany nodded solemnly, eyes shifting nervously to Emily, arms nervously crossing over her chest. Emily could see right away how determined she was, eyes filled with hope, but they silently pleaded with her. It was rare that she was the one caught in the middle; that was usually Garcia's domain. She shifted her weight a little in her black boots she regretted wearing, mind skimming through the possibilities.

After a minute, the corners of her mouth twitched upwards a tiny fraction. "If you feel like you can handle this, then what the hell. The second you change your mind, though, you're done."

Caught in the moment, Bethany rushed forward and threw her arms around the special agent. When she realized this, she quickly retracted her arms and took a few steps back. "Don't worry, you won't regret this. I promise."

Hotch looked agitated, but didn't object. "Take a seat." When she obliged, settling into a seat beside JJ, he continued. "Since you seem so adamant about this, I see you realize the risks? Just to be clear."

"One hundred percent, sir."

"Before we let you take part, you must pass a standard gun test as a precaution, just to know how to use one, if the situation arises. A physical preformed by one of our resident physicians is necessary, and you will also need to know your mother figure like you would actually know your mother, clear?"

"Crystal." The whole time he was speaking, she looked him directly in the eye, showing not fear, but amazing strength; it took guts to stare down Aaron Hotchner.

"Hotch, take it easy. You're gonna scare the poor kid," Prentiss scolded, but the words were just empty. "Look, Bethany. JJ or I will be taking good care of you. All you have to do is find out who this guy is. When you do, you tell us, no excuses. He may be using another child, around your age. Most likely a good-looking, fifteen year old boy. You've got to be on your toes 24/7. But you've got our entire team here for you, okay?"

She nodded, facing her as she spoke. "I can do this."

"We know you can, kid," Morgan told her, arms folded on the table. "But just in case, we'll have agents stationed all around you at all times, so you'll never be alone."

"We've got a lot to do. JJ, can you do this?"

She looked at her boss with a sad smile. "I would, but Will's out of town for the week, and I've got Henry. I'm sorry," she replied.

"Prentiss?"

She smiled down at the girl from a few feet away. "Sure."

"All right. Morgan, can you take her down to the shooting range to get her cleared up there?" Hotch looked less than enthusiastic about letting a fourteen year old girl even hold a gun, let alone shoot one. Morgan, on the other hand, looked rather excited as he nodded his agreement. "Garcia, come up with good aliases for them. JJ let Agent Strauss know what's going on. Reid, I need you to pull every string we have to get that 24 hour watch. Rossi, you can meet me in my office in ten. And Prentiss, we need to talk."

One by one the team disbursed, leaving only the head of the team and Emily Prentiss behind. He didn't look at her for a few moments, rather rubbed his temples, mumbling something under his breath, and starting to pace in circles over the carpet. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed over her chest and expression not of surprise. "Well...?"

He sighed heavily, ceasing his leg movements. "Prentiss... I need you to protect this girl like your life depends on it, because it might as well. If she gets hurt, I get fired and you very well could be out of a job. I want you to know where she is at all times and be there as much as you can. She needs to be a part of you now."

She held up a hand to stop him. "Hotch, please. I will gaurd Bethany like my life depends on it, you know why? Because if she gets hurt, it's on my watch and I don't know if I'll be able to forgive myself. She will be stuck to me like gorilla glue. So, if that's what this lecture is about, you really don't have to finish. She will be perfectly fine, okay? You just need to relax a little."