Missing.

Summary. . . . . . . . . . . Two agents go missing, one is found, just what has happened to the other? And how long do you keep looking?

Disclaimer. . . . . . . . . Not mine, never will be, just playing in this wonderful sandbox.

A.N. . . . . . . . . . I'm still shocked at the amazing response this fic is getting, I seriously can't thank you guys enough for taking time put to read it. Here's chapter 3, I hope that you enjoy this one as much.

Warning!!!!!! Okay so I'm starting the warnings early the chapter after this chapter will be flashing back in time, and will go into detail about the murder case that Gideon and Reid were working on when they were taken, so be warned. Peanut x


Previously on Criminal Minds. . . . . . . . . . .

"Guys, I just got sent an email with a live video feed, I think you need to see this, but before you do you need to know I wasn't the only one sent it."

"What do you mean you weren't the only one sent it? Who else got it? And what does it contain?" Hotch asked.

"It was sent to. . . . . . . . . ." Garcia started to reply only to stop as another voice spoke up.

"It was sent to me." Gideon answered from the doorway. "And it contains Reid."


"Garcia?!! Gideon?!! What the hell's going on?" Morgan eventually asked, his mind scrambling to control the thoughts racing around inside it. "Did you just say Reid is in a video?"

"Yes." Gideon answered, the ex BAU agent making his way over to the laptop as he spoke. Plugging in a USB he turned before continuing. "This was sent to me this morning and I forwarded it on to Garcia."

"What's in it?" Hotch asked this time.

"Reid!" Gideon replied. "Listen we don't have time to sit here and debate, the video will explain." He moved the cursor and clicked on the link, the grainy night vision image showing on both the laptop and the big screen behind it.

Out of focus at first, it soon started to clear up as it moved down a hallway towards a closed and heavily locked door. A hand moved from behind the camera to slowly unlock the door and push it open, the warped and swollen wooden frame audibly groaning as it was pushed on rusted hinges. Boot clad feet entered the frame as the person holding the camera made it's way down wooden stairs, a creak echoing around the room with each step taken, until with a splash they finally reached the bottom. More splashes could be heard as the video moved it's way through the basement through room after room, the chill of the place told from the steamy breaths that kept moving across the screen, until it found the room it was looking for. Four agents held their breath, the other two knowing what was about to come. They all watched as the video panned down, the grainy camera picking out the bars of a cage, before it zoomed in all of a sudden and for the first time in a year they saw an image of their lost friend.

Garcia's tears fell once again, just as they had when she had watched earlier; JJ and Emily turned away from the image, hands covering their mouths, eyes watering with their own tears; Morgan shouted out obscenities, and threw his half filled mug of coffee across the room before standing and punching the wall in despair; Hotch sat stoic as usual, unable to pull his eyes away from the young agent, only a tightening of his jaw giving away his own feelings; Gideon moved closer to the screen, and the son he so loved, his eyes blazing with a fury he could no longer control.

On the screen, Reid sat huddled and cowering in the furthest corner of his small cage, his hands chained to one of the roof bars, his knees pulled up close to his chest, his feet divested of his shoes trying desperately to push his body even further away from his captor. His head hung low, his frightened eyes looking out from beneath lank hair, unable to hold the gaze with his tormentor for too long before they submissively dropped to the ground once again. Even in the garish green glow, the team could see streaks of what they knew would be blood running down his face; blood that they could also see trailing down from his grotesquely swollen wrists, and upon the white shirt he had been placed in. Always striking concern from others because of his weight before hand, that concern was now intensified, his eyes sunken deep within their sockets, his cheeks hollow, the bones sharp and angular, his arms nothing more than bone with a thin covering of flesh, bruises vividly littering every inch.

They all jumped and turned back to watch as a rod was smashed down upon the cage, all of them cringing again as it was brought back down over and over again, one of the blows eliciting a cry of pain from Reid as it was smashed upon the chain that held the shackles that bound his hands. They all looked away from their friend, unwilling to watch as he melted down before them, shaking and cowering and pleading and sobbing in fear, but no matter where they looked they could not escape the cries. It was a blessing when the screen finally went blank, a blessing that didn't last very long before Gideon spoke up once more.

"There's another link with a video."

"No, no, no, no, no, no. I can't watch another one, I just can't." Garcia cried out, turning her face into Morgan's chest as he crouched down beside her to offer comfort.

"It's okay baby girl, you don't have to watch it, but we have to. It could help us find Reid."

"I know, I know and I'm so sorry. I want to find him as much as you guys do, but I can't watch. I'm sorry." With that she rose from her chair and left, the sanctuary of her work space calling her.

"Play the other video Gideon, lets see what it contains."

Gideon did as he was asked, he'd already looked at what it contained, already knew what was about to be played, but he sat down and readied himself to watch it all over again.

The scene was different this time, the shot being taken at night from what they presumed was a car, of a warehouse. Nothing happened at first, a couple of people walked by, a few cars, but then all hell broke loose, and the team realized what they were actually looking at. They watched themselves as they rushed from cars, before slowly moving towards the building, watched as they all entered leaving a few police officers behind, watched for nearly half an hour before they reappeared, looks of disappointment upon their faces, and a hobbling and beaten Gideon leaning heavily upon Hotch. The camera left them at that point, the zoom lens closing back in, the camera panning back over the interior of the car until it focused on a bleeding and unconscious Reid lying across the back seats. A voice spoke.

"I gave you all the clues, Agent Gideon. You had a chance to stop me and you blew it by choosing to warn my victims instead of trying to hunt me down. You paid a heavy price though didn't you Jason? How is the leg by the way? But your price was nothing compared to what dear Doctor Reid had to pay, a price I'm sorry to say he's still paying, but I'm sure you saw that in the video I sent you."

"I grow tired now though Gideon, tired and bored. And as I'm not a completely heartless soul, I will give you one last chance to stop me, one last chance to get back your young boy wonder. You'll have forty eight hours to follow the clues and reach your prize. Forty eight hours to follow the clues and find me, at which point I promise you I will tell you where Dr Reid is. But beware, if you stray from the game, dear Spencer will pay; and if you fail to complete the game, you will never see him, or me again. You'll receive your first clue shortly. Have fun."

Five sets of eyes looked up in horror.

To Be Continued. . . . . . . . . . .

A.N. . . . . . . . . . Thanks for taking time out to read, I hope that you enjoyed. Will be back soon with chapter 4, Peanut x