Hotch's mind was racing as he gunned the engine. He'd heard the address and something in his mind had just turned off...or on. He was finally on the way.

Checking the GPS, he realized that the rest of his team would probably get there before he did, which was definitely a good thing.

Images swam into his mind of reaching Haley first...of walking inside the house...of the aftermath that followed, bloody and bleak.

That couldn't happen again. He knew that Rossi, Reid and Morgan's presence would make sure of that.

But that didn't mean he didn't want to get to Kate ASAP. Get to her and hold her close.

There was definitely a lot that they had to talk about. At least now he could at least profile why she'd decided to hand in her resignation...the text messages on the phone Reid had found confirmed that profile and now he just had to talk to her. Let her know that it was fine. Everyone knew. It was out in the open and it was fine.

Nothing had to change in their relationship.

Absolutely nothing.


Kate was standing by Jack, and when he reached up to shake her hand, she smiled. "This was a nice surprise," she said. "Was it your idea or your Aunt's?"

"It was mine," Jack said shyly. "I thought dad would be here."

"We didn't realize that the rest of the team had gone out," Jessica explained.

"Well, like I said, they should be back any minute," Kate replied.

"Actually, we are back," Hotch announced, a smile on his face from having watched the two interact. "Come here, Jack."

The boy ran to his father's arms and Kate folded her own, smiling at the scene, as did the rest of the team behind Hotch and Jessica.

"I wanted to say hello and tell you something," Jack said rapidly. "I got a prize for my essay today."

"You wrote an essay?" Hotch said, delight in his voice. "And got a prize...I knew you were your mother's son. She loved to write."

"Well, I don't love it, but it can be okay," Jack said, taking his father's hand.

"And you got to meet Kate, our newest member," Hotch said. "What do you think of her? Is she as fun as Prentiss?"

Jack considered Kate seriously for a moment. "She's okay," he answered.

After Jack and Jessica had departed, Kate approached him. "So, is okay a high compliment or the worst placement possible? Or, you know, somewhere in between?"

Hotch outright grinned at the question, and at how Kate was asking it; how nervous she was. "Okay is okay," he teased. "Don't you know what okay means? You pass muster, Kate. That's high enough in Jack's meter of opinions."

"Thanks," she said, and then lingered by the door. "Do I...pass muster in your opinion?"

"As an agent? Certainly," Hotch said, bringing a file from the bookshelf and placing it on his desk.

"And as a person?" Kate asked shyly and Hotch glanced up at her, caught for a moment by the look in her eyes.

"Definitely," he said, his voice almost catching.

"As a woman?" Kate breathed, almost not daring to voice the words, Hotch could tell.

He stared at her, caught by her spell. "I..."

"Sir, you wanted the new report," Garcia said, coming in through the open door.

"Gotta go," Kate said and darted from the room.


"Hotch, are you there?" Rossi spoke into the earpiece.

"I'm here," Hotch said. "I'm probably twenty minutes behind you."

"Yeah, we realized that," Rossi said. "It was a bit of a relief when we did."

"I know," Hotch said quietly. "Are you getting near?"

"We're about ten minutes away," Rossi replied. "We're formulating a game plan. Will it be the usual smackdown?"

"Yeah, I guess," Hotch said. "If I'm not there, I can't advise on that. Did Cruz go along?"

"He sent us out alone with his blessing," Rossi assured him. "Well, we did radio some police cars. They're about five minutes behind us. We'll be okay on that front."

"Good," Hotch said. "Just use your instincts. I'll be there ASAP."

"I know you will, Aaron," Rossi replied. "But don't worry. We'll get Kate for you. Don't worry."

"That's an impossible task," was Hotch's terse rejoinder. "But thanks anyway."

His line cut out and Rossi sighed as he looked at the other occupants of the SUV.

"We'll get there in time," Morgan said, his flat voice brooking no argument.

"And if we don't?" Reid dared to voice; the first one.

"I think we got the information in time," Rossi said. "Admittedly, we don't know the exact transfer point for Lucas and the Zorgens, but considering the time frame, I think Lucas probably only got back to his home about an hour ago. If Kate is smart, and we know that she is, she'll bargain for time...and Lucas probably doesn't expect us. Alex's deals before now were always watertight. And didn't Garcia say upon looking it up that the other victims of Lucas were killed slowly? One hand at a time?"

"Kate will still be Kate less a hand," Reid quipped and then realized how that sounded. He slumped back into his seat, placing a hand on his forehead.

"We'll get there in time," Morgan said. "Kate's not going to lose a hand and that's final."

He shot warning glances at both of them and the two fell quiet. Sometimes it didn't pay to argue with Derek Morgan.


JJ and Garcia looked at each other over the camera. "Do you think they'll make it?" JJ asked, rubbing her stomach in frustration.

"Jayje, there's no reason to feel guilty," Garcia said.

"It's not guilt, just the desire to be there to help Kate out," JJ said. "I hate that I'm back here. It's like being a liaison again...there was a reason I took the open profiler's spot when I returned."

"I know, believe me I know," Garcia returned. "You did your job, though. That's all anyone asks."

"I know," JJ said quietly. "We need to schedule some kind of girl's night out when Kate's rescued and Em's back for Michael's birth."

"We do," Garcia said matter-of-factly. "I'll call Emily right after we're done here."

"I'll call Alex," JJ said. "We'll make it a night."

"Deal," Garcia agreed.

Cruz had followed the conversation from afar, standing by the interrogation room and looking in on Donna. He smiled to hear the women's words. Hope was a damned powerful thing. He was glad that JJ had healed enough that she was able to make these kind of plans in the face of danger again.

He looked at her pregnant stomach and his smile widened. JJ deserved that happiness again.


They reached the house, and the squad cars pulled up behind them, lights and sirens off.

Morgan led the team ahead; Rossi on his left and Reid on his right. The cops he sent around to the back.

"We're going in," Morgan announced. "FBI!"

Reid turned the knob and Morgan kicked it in. To his utter shock, their UnSub was standing almost right in front of them in the kitchen, staring at them.

Morgan charged. "Cover me," he yelled, as Lucas dived for the kitchen door but there were cops standing there, blocking his path.

In moments, they had Lucas in custody.

"Where's Kate?" Morgan asked, moments after reading him his rights and slamming his hands into cuffs.

"I'm sorry, Agent," Lucas said, his eyes wild. "I'm sorry. It's too late. I killed her. She's long gone by now."