Chapter 3

Rossi had just pulled up outside the Embassy when Hotch rang. Finding out JJ was the mystery jogger and was now injured spurred him on. Inside after going through security checks Franklin's parents sat waiting. Rossi sat opposite and explained the situation.

Mario and his wife Rosa sat devastated as Rossi finished the story of the abduction.

"The good news is by taking Franklin's nanny it tells us they want to keep him alive and calm. They might not know it's actually an FBI agent. If they ring you do not let on or they might panic kill both Agent Jareua and Franklin" Rossi informed them. They both nodded.

"Can you think who would want to abduct Franklin?"

"We have enemies, our government for one has upset many people by almost going bankrupt. Our families in Italy hold grudges if one generation offends you, take it out on the next." Mario explained.
His wife shot him a look one that warned that he must co-operative further.

"We will write you a list "she ordered more than said. "Anything to get Franklin back"

It took a while as they composed the list. Ringing families, friends adding more and more names. After an hour they had a list of 250 individuals, who may have a grudge. It was a lot of names but it was a start.

Rossi used there fax machine to send the list to Garcia. The techs had installed the tracer line everything was ready. They just needed the contact. They needed to know if it was a kidnapping for money or something more sinister, and only time would tell.

…...

JJ slide across the van as they rounded the corner spinning out of the car park. She hissed as she hit the side of the van hard. Franklin was crying in her arms, the buggy he had been sleeping in moments ago was sitting empty at the back of the van. In the front were 2 unsubs with 2 in the back. Both armed, both well trained. She guessed they weren't after her but Franklin, she guessed they thought she was Ruth the nanny. She knew she had to keep them believing that in order to survive. It was going to be tough but she knew soon Will would worry, he would call the team and they would find her she just had to hang on.

Shifting Franklin on her shoulder she used the other arm to hold on and stop sliding. Then began trying to soothe him gently rocking him to sleep. The men watched carefully. JJ was relieved that they had kept masks on. It meant they had more chance of living.

Franklin settled as the van pulled up. Wordlessly one of the men grabbed Franklin off her. JJ tried to protest but was silenced by a gun being pointed at her neck.

"Stay silent" he warned his accent foreign. JJ nodded, the van doors opened, and JJ was ushered out. They were in a warehouse. JJ guessed it was deserted from the emptiness of the room. Ushering into a small room, Franklin was placed into a crib. They had obviously been planning this for some time. The room was built solid, with very little inside, just the crib and a chair. Looking round there was nothing that would help them escape at all.

"Stitch her up, I don't want her bleeding on the floor" one ordered leaving the room. Another followed coming back with a first aid kit. JJ tensed this was going to hurt a lot. They didn't look like the type of guys to use pain killers.

She was proved right when they shoved a leather strip into her mouth.

"Hold her down" the one with the first aid kit ordered. JJ attempted to fight but stood no chance. "Tighter" he ordered as he uncapped the whiskey. JJ bit down on a gag, screaming in pain as the whiskey hit her raw wound.

"Easy hold her still" he ordered digging in deep to clean the wound. JJ's whole leg was on fire. It was agonising pain, burning, shooting up her leg. Just when she thought it couldn't get any worse she felt the needle dig in. He was stitching her leg. As the stinging settled JJ kept still fearful of her stitches ripping or the needle hitting something it shouldn't. After an agonising 30 minutes they were done. A bandage was wrapped around, the gag removed and they left. Franklin had been crying the whole time. Taking a few deep breaths, JJ tried to stop shaking. After a few minutes she managed to crawl to the cot to cuddle Franklin. He stopped crying as soon as she picked him up.

"There Franklin it's not so bad" she cooed. Rocking him gently his dark brown eyes watching her. "I don't think they want to kill us, I just think they want your daddy to pay lots of money." She reassured them both. Franklin said nothing. With the pain easing off. JJ began to explore the room. It appeared to be an old office, white in décor with plenty of plug sockets. The door was wood and JJ could hear the men outside so knew it was guarded.

There were no windows, no other doors, just 4 walls, a cot, a bed and a bunch of toys. Sighing JJ carefully placed Franklin on the floor getting out the toys that were in the nappy bag and setting up the play mat with blocks. Franklin squealed with joy sitting up and knocking them over.

It wasn't a lot but his enthusiasm helped as JJ lay on the mat and joined in. It helped pass the time and take her mind off the situation.

…...