Spencer Reid looked at the name on the top of the new file and felt chilled to the bone. They'd been called in to find that the missing man was a member of the BAU. He looked at the words on the page before him and wished there was some way to turn back time. Emily Prentiss, Derek Morgan, and David Rossi were seated around the conference room and a heated debate had already started.

"I don't care what the rules say, Rossi! Hotch wouldn't turn his back on us. He's out there somewhere and he needs us to find him, not some wet behind the ears kid who thinks he knows everything about victimology!"

"Morgan, calm down!" David Rossi snapped and looked at the other members of the team. "Look, I'm not saying we're going to sit this one out, but we need to keep our heads and look at this just like it was any other case…"

"But it's not any other case," Spencer Reid said. "Therein lies the difference no matter how you look at it. We know the victim and no matter how hard we try to ignore that fact it won't make it go away. We need to find Hotch before this man…"

"Or woman," Rossi interrupted.

"Unsub," Reid corrected. "Follows through on the threat."

"Then first we need to profile the Unsub and this case," Rossi told them. "That means we look at this as if Hotch is just another victim and not a member of this team."

"We need to go over everything Hotch did after he left the restaurant," Prentiss offered.

"That's a good starting point…did he call any of you?" Rossi asked and took a deep breath when he got the answer he expected. The call he'd received was the only one Hotch made before he disappeared.

"You talked to him didn't you?" Prentiss asked softly, her voice filled with worry.

"He called me at nine last night to say he'd be in early to discuss the Chavez case," Rossi answered.

"Do you think Enrique Chavez had anything to do with Hotch's disappearance?" Reid asked.

"It's too early to start making guesses," Rossi told him. Enrique Chavez was a man who epitomized the words 'serial killer' and yet they'd been unable to catch the bastard until Hotch had found something hidden in one of his numerous letters to the editor of the local newspaper in his hometown. The man had used an old encrypted code from a WW1 journal and Hotch had recognized something in the way the words were written that set off alarm bells. Chavez was caught at the home of a young woman whose parents had left for dinner. The man was so shocked at being caught he'd opened fire on the police and been shot several times. One of the bullets had left him paralyzed and although he was serving time he'd sworn he'd kill the man who'd put him in the wheelchair. That man was Agent Aaron Hotchner.

"Was he at home when he called?" Reid asked.

"I don't know, but his car was parked in his designated spot when I went there this morning," Rossi explained. "We know whoever has Hotch…"

"Agent Rossi, there's a call for you on line two."

"Ask them to call back…"

"I told them that, Sir, but he said he had information about your missing man."

"Put him through!" Rossi ordered and put the phone on speaker. "This is Special Agent David Rossi…"

"I know who you are, Agent Rossi and I am sure Dr. Reid, JJ Jareau, Agent Prentiss, and Agent Morgan are listening in so I will make this short."

"What do you know about Agent…"

"Listen carefully, Agent Rossi, or I will simply allow Agent Hotchner to die. If you comply with my wishes then I will see that he has a chance of surviving until you find him…if you find him."

"What the hell do you want?"

"Ah, Agent Morgan, I am so glad you are as hotheaded as your profile dictates. You see I have been profiling the profilers while they have been busy profiling my brethren. I want you all to know I am pleasantly surprised at finding I have chosen the right victim in this. Agent Rossi, I will contact you later with my demands."

"Wait…"

"Did you get a trace?" Rossi interrupted Prentiss.

"No, Sir, he wasn't on long enough," the woman answered.

"Dammit!" Morgan cursed.

"I wonder," Reid said and tapped his pen against his chin.

"What are you thinking about, Reid?" Rossi asked.

"The Unsub seems to have two victims in this case. He has Hotch, but he's also fixated on you. He was very specific in saying he would contact you with his demands," Reid explained.

"I caught that as well," Prentiss offered.

"He sounds well versed in the art of profiling and was probably involved with the police at some time," Reid said, and realized they'd automatically started profiling the man who seemed to have singled out David Rossi.

"Did you recognize the voice at all, Rossi?" Morgan asked.

"No, but I thought I detected a hint of a southern accent," the older agent answered and paced the floor. There was something about the man's voice that nagged at him, but right now he couldn't quite grasp what it was.

CMCMCMCMCMCM

He watched his victim closely and wondered what it would feel like to slit his throat and feel the warm rush of blood flow through his fingers. Agent Aaron Hotchner was helpless and a perfect victim to show Chavez he was ready for the next level. The fact that David Rossi was a co-worker to this man made it even better, and gave him an opportunity to right a wrong done long ago.

He returned his attention to the man seated in the darkness and knew he must be getting hungry and thirsty by now. He reached for the glass of white wine and sipped, enjoying the sweet bouquet as he watched Aaron Hotchner through the window. The criminal profiler appeared to be sleeping, but appearances were not always what they were cracked up to be.

He walked to the door and opened it slowly, watching his captive with an intensity born of hatred.

CMCMCMCMCMCM

Aaron knew he was being watched, and did his best to remain still even as the door slowly opened and light spilled a few inches into the room. His vision blurred, but he worked to focus on whoever was going to step through the opening and knew he needed to keep his wits about him.

Aaron kept his eyes at half-mast as he waited for whoever it was to make up his or her mind. So far his captor remained faceless and voiceless, but something told him that was about to change. He kept his legs straight, ignoring the cramps that coursed through them. He heard his captor chuckle softly before pushing the door completely open and entering the dank cell.

"I know you're awake, Agent Hotchner, so please stop the charade."

"Who are you?" Hotch asked, fighting to get enough saliva to form the words. He shifted his legs in an effort to ease the cramps, but only succeeded in sending spikes of pain along his tense nerves.

"Who I am is of no consequence to you. Suffice it to say you are but a means to an end. Are you thirsty, Agent Hotchner?"

Aaron simply stared at his captor, taking in every scar, every nuance of the man's features and anything else that might help identify him when he escaped.

"What are you thinking about, Agent Hotchner? Are you burning my image into your mind in hopes of finding me once I leave?"

Hotch didn't bother answering. He was a realist who knew the score, and understood that he would probably die before any rescue came. There was very little light to see by, but there was no doubt that this man would kill him.

"Agent Hotchner, I'm sure even in your present circumstances you are trying to work up a profile on me. Are you afraid of me?"

"Why should I be?"

"Answering a question with a question?" the man said with a grin. "Perhaps I will ask you another? Actually I believe I just did, Agent Hotchner. I will ask again…are you afraid of me?"

Aaron knew no matter how he answered this man would not be satisfied. He'd be stupid not to be afraid, but years of being a profiler had taught him not to show the Unsub anything that could be a sign of weakness. He shifted slightly and sat up further, but cried out when his captor slammed his foot down on his right hand, grinding his boot against the knuckles.

"When I ask a question of you, Agent Hotchner, I will expect an answer," the man said.

TBC