Protective Custody

He'd just landed back in Washington DC when he got into his car that he'd left in the airport car park. He couldn't wait to get back to the headquarters and see his husband. He'd missed sleeping with him last night but he'd sent him to Dallas for a consult and he'd had to do his job. These were the only nights they slept without each other. Even when they were on cases they shared a hotel room.

He couldn't wait to see the children after school either. He'd tried to ring from the hotel last night but couldn't get through. As it had been so late he'd just guessed they were probably all in bed so he hadn't tried again.

He headed his car to the BAU headquarters and when he reached the FBI building he parked his car in the underground car park. When he'd done so he got into the building showing his card and headed up to the bullpen.

When he got up there he was puzzled to see the rest of his team were nowhere to be seen. Had they received a case while he was away? Surely his husband would have left a message for him if that was the case. He always did.

Suddenly Garcia came past and when she saw him she tried to prevent herself from crying which puzzled him greatly. Had something happened that he didn't know about? She suddenly grabbed him into her arms and hugged him close rubbing his back.

"We're all here for you, my pretty genius," she said emotionally.

He looked up confused and placed his hands on her back wondering what she was talking about. He then saw JJ and Rossi arrive with Jack. What was going on? Why had his stepson been brought out of school? He knew he wasn't playing truant. Jack was a good kid and had glowing reports from the school so what was going on? If JJ and Dave weren't on a case where was his husband? Oh god, had something happened to him? Why had only Jack been pulled out? Where were his twins?

Rossi brought Jack over to Spencer and the couch saying, "I think you should both sit down."

Spencer and Jack looked up concerned as Spencer asked, "Rossi, what's going on? Where is Aaron? Summer? Jeremy?" He tried to shake off the feeling something terrible had happened but he could see it in their eyes something had happened. They wouldn't have sat them down if there wasn't.

Rossi sat down beside them and placed his hand on Spencer's arm. "Aaron didn't show up for work today and neither did the twins show up to school..." Spencer's eyes opened wide in alarm and he placed his hand on his heart while tears filled his eyes. Oh god no, his husband and children were missing! "We've begun investigating..."

"What have you found so far?" he answered trying to keep calm though he wanted to fall apart. He couldn't believe this was actually happening. His husband and twins were missing. Oh god, where were they? Who had his husband and children? What were they doing to them?

"A woman was seen picking up the twins from school..." He nodded while worry increased knowing some strange woman had picked up his children. Who was she? What did she want? Why had she taken his sweet, innocent children? "Apparently she told the headteacher she was an old friend..."

"Neither Aaron or I made plans for anyone to pick up the kids and you all know our friends. The number of all the people we trust with our kids can be counted on both hands," he answered trying to keep calm.

"We know, Spence," JJ answered placing her hand on his thigh while Spencer hugged Jack close to him. "We're doing our best to find all three of them. We've found footage from both the school and the house."

"The house?" he answered shocked trying to control his emotions. Had she broken into their home as well? Aaron was so tight on security since Foyet it would crush him if she'd found a way to get into their home. Had she used the children to get into their home? He looked at them trying to keep calm but the fear, concern and worry increased inside of him. What had happened to his family?

"I'm sorry, Spence, there's evidence of a break-in and a scuffle in their bedroom. We believe she took the twins from school then used them as bait in the house to snare Aaron..." He tried to control the anger and tears that were boiling inside of him. He felt like he'd stepped into a bad nightmare and prayed soon he'd wake up to find his husband in his bed with him and his twins in their room.

He squeezed his eyes shut trying to keep the tears inside. "I should never have gone to Dallas..." he answered trying to keep the emotion out of his voice.

"Spence, none of this is your fault. If you hadn't been in Dallas whoever took Aaron and the kids could have taken you too," JJ replied.

"If only I'd repeatedly called I'd have known something was wrong and contacted you so the investigation could have started earlier. It was so late I just presumed they were all in bed. I should have followed through. I should have realised of course Aaron would pick up. He always does," he answered looking down at his feet. Oh Aaron, Summer and Jeremy how I've failed you he thought. He couldn't even bring himself to look at his stepson. It was all his fault.

"Spence, listen to me, none of this is your fault. You were doing your job and you were tired. You thought they were safe. You couldn't have predicted this would happen..." JJ replied. "But trust me, both of you..." she added looking at him and the quiet sixteen year old boy behind him who was looking at the floor trying to keep just as calm as his stepdad. "We will find all three of them and bring them home safely and alive."

They nodded trying not to break. How could this have happened to them? They were FBI agents, for God's sake! They had vowed to protect the country yet they couldn't protect their own family.

"Meanwhile the two of you are going into protective custody and staying at mine. You can't go home when it's currently a crime scene," Dave said gently.

"Protective custody?" Spencer answered shocked. Was she going to come back for him and Jack? Was his stepson in danger? He didn't care if he was in danger he could protect himself but Jack had to be protected.

"We don't know if they'll come back and get you and Jack but we believe to be on the safer side it would be wise to put you both under protective custody until we can be sure your whole family wasn't the target."

They nodded. It made sense to them but they all wanted was to be reunited with the rest of their family. They had faith though that the team would find them.

"Rossi, don't make me stand down on this one. I know I'm affected but I want to help find my husband and children..." Spencer answered looking down at his feet. "I want to be of use to them."

"Spencer, I understand but you're going to be better use to them staying out of danger..." Seeing him look down disappointed he added, "Trust me, if we need you to help with anything with either your skills or knowledge we will turn to you."He nodded. "We just can't risk anyone else going missing."

He nodded. "I understand..." He then looked up with tears in his eyes and added, "Tell me honestly, do you think they're still alive? Do you think I'll ever see them alive again and get to hold them again?"

"Spencer, remember this is Aaron Hotchner you're talking about. He's the strongest fighter we've ever known and the twins have been raised to be fighters too. I'm absolutely certain you're going to see your husband and children alive again," Dave said. "Don't give up hope. They need you more than ever now."

They nodded then suddenly Jack piped up, "What about Georgie?"

"What about your girlfriend?" Dave asked.

"What if the woman who kidnapped my brother, sister and dad comes back and kidnaps her to hurt us? If she could come back for me or my stepdad couldn't she easily come back for her if she can't get to us."

He nodded. "We've put her family under protective custody as well."

They nodded.