A/N; A huge thank you to my Beta GoodGodHenry, who calmly helped me through my writers block.


120 HOURS SINCE ABDUCTION

Morgan clenched the steering wheel, his knuckles going white. He could feel Garcia's concerned gaze boring into him from the passenger seat. He had just picked her up from the airport. Hotch had decided that she was needed in the field. Logistically, it made everything that much simpler, but it was also for the support that they could all use from being together. All around it was going to make it easier on all of them if she was here with them. This case was taking strain on everyone, they had been away from home for going on two weeks, and it had be five whole days since Reid and JJ had been taken. Five, long, and emotionally gruelling days, since they lost them. And yes, that is what happened they had lost them. Morgan's jaw clenched, they hadn't protected the two most vulnerable members of their team…

Morgan felt like slamming his fist onto the steering wheel, but he didn't want to upset Penelope anymore than she already was.

JJ and Reid blamed themselves for this situation, JJ had even apologised to him specifically for not being able to protect Reid. It wasn't supposed to be her job, of course she was meant to have his back, but it wasn't her sole responsibility to protect him. No, that was his job, the team's job, but they had failed. Morgan knew he had been hard on her the last time Reid had been abducted, but that was before he knew the whole story. Reid had told him that it was his idea to split up, that JJ had wanted to stick together. Morgan had thought he had made it up to her for being such a dick, but obviously he hadn't. And thinking back on it he had been just as big a jerk to her recently about Prentiss. And now when JJ was at her most vulnerable, she didn't even think he had her back. She thought he was mad at her, and that he didn't care about her. Morgan felt his heart ache; it wasn't true, yes, he was worried about Reid, but JJ was important to him too.

She was like his little sister.

They weren't any closer to finding them than they had been the first day they disappeared, and to make matters worse the unsub was playing games with them. Not one member of the team had dry eyes after the last video, and Morgan was not ashamed to admit it. The Unsub, the sick bastard, had made Reid say goodbye.

Goodbye!

The ramifications of that statement did not bode well for Morgan. Goodbye meant he wouldn't see them again, and that was not something he could live with. He gripped the steering wheel even more tightly, if that was possible. Reid and JJ had apologised for things that they weren't even responsible for, things they couldn't control. They hadn't even had a chance to fight back, this guy whoever he was, had been planning this attack for weeks. If he ever got his hands on this son of a bitch… Well, it wouldn't be pretty, he wanted to smash his face in. He didn't care about the consequences; not when he thought about how battered JJ and Reid had been, and NOT when the sound of JJ's bone snapping was on constant replay in his mind.

He felt his eyes begin to sting, they were so helpless.

"Do you think it's true?" Garcia's voice broke into his thoughts snapping him back to reality.

"What?" he asked.

"Do you think JJ is really that little girl?"

Morgan vigorously shook his head, "No, no way! It's not possible. Something else happened, he's just trying to mess with us." He finished firmly. He refused to believe it, there was no way it was true.

"But Reid's reaction…" Garcia began, she honestly didn't know what to believe. But Morgan cut in before she could finish her sentence.

"Baby girl, it's not true. It's just impossible, if Reid were here, he would give you a scientific explanation for why it is not true."

Garcia's eyes began to water, and she sniffled, "But he's not here…"

The car was filled with a sad silence, she was right; he wasn't here, and that was the problem. Morgan felt the pang in his chest again.

"We'll find them," he whispered, as he reached for her hand, and gave it a squeeze.

"But what if we don't?" she squeaked out through tears.

Morgan shook his head, he couldn't, wouldn't, imagine that possibility.


Hotch was pacing the conference room floor. After the second video he had decided that they would run point from the hotel. The conference room had been available, so it had worked out perfectly. The case had become too personal, and he didn't know if his team, himself included, would be able to keep it together for much longer. It might have been selfish, but he didn't care. No, it would be better if they had some privacy, they didn't need the added strain of having to constantly put up a front in front of the locals.

Not to mention if one of them started weeping at the police station, which he had come close to, the BAU's reputation would be shot to hell. And they were in enough trouble as it was. Strauss had been calling him non-stop since she had gotten wind of what was going on, assaulting him with a slew of comments; ranging from "How could you let this happen?" to "You better fix this, - now!"

These weren't new thoughts to Hotch, he had been beating himself up with the same thoughts. How could he have let this happen, how could he have failed them so miserably. But still Hotch got Strauss' message loud and clear, if he didn't get this case solved, she would end his career. Not that he gave a damn about his career, no, he had learnt from his mistakes with Haley and Jack. His career meant little in comparison to the people he cared about. All he cared about was getting JJ and Reid home safely.

His heart physically ached when he thought about them, he pinched the bridge of his nose. They had looked up to him, and once again, he let down the people he cared about and who cared about him. It was a different situation, but the similarities were there. God, he thought, Reid's goodbye reminded him so much of Jack's … He felt a tear slip down his cheek.

They wanted him to be happy. Didn't they understand that he couldn't be happy without them, especially when he knew he was the reason they had been hurt. They were his family, different form of family, but family all the same, and you were supposed to protect your family. And he had failed twice.

Twice! Hotch shook the thoughts away, he couldn't lose it now.

His mind wandered to the little girl on the video. Could it really be JJ? The Unsub had seemed so sure, though that could just be a part of his game. But Reid's reaction was as if it really had happened. The rational part of Hotch doubted it was true, he didn't think it was even possible, but a small voice was whispering 'what if…'

The Unsub had been one step ahead of them the entire time; and because of this, Hotch's practical side was telling him to be prepared in case it was true. The Unsub had referred to him as daddy on more than one occasion… if it was true what was he going to do? Did he even deserve to be a daddy again? How on earth would he be able to care for a little JJ?

Little JJ, this thought brought him up short, what was he thinking? Hotch groaned, and covered his face with his hands, 'a little JJ' why was he even considering this absurd possibility.

Crap, he really needed some sleep. He was going insane.

"Hotch, you okay?"

At the sound of Emily's voice his head snapped up, he hadn't heard her come in. Slightly embarrassed at being caught almost breaking down, he nodded and answered tersely, "I'm fine."

Emily nodded, and took a seat. "Morgan called, he and Garcia should be here in about ten minutes."

Hotch tipped his head in response, and they sat in an awkward silence for a few minutes. In that time, Hotch realised he needed to apologise to her. Things had been tense between them since he had acted like a complete jerk towards her. He had told her to come to him when she was having a bad day, and she was always ready to lend him a shoulder when he was having a bad day; yet that day he had completely dismissed her feelings. He groaned internally, yet another thing to add to the list of things he had failed at. He hadn't wanted to deal with his own emotions so he had pushed her away.

If Reid's goodbye, God he hated thinking of it like that, had taught him anything, it was that he had a responsibility towards the team. He needed to be more emotionally available to his them. Not everyone was like him, and could push their emotions away.

It was another broken promise. He had sworn to himself after Jack, that he would try to be better. But at least with Emily, he had a chance to fix his mistake.

He cleared his throat, and when she looked up at him he began. "Prentiss, about the other day…"

She shook her head, and cut him off, "Hotch, don't. It's done, and you were right."

Hotch opened his mouth to speak, but again she cut him off, "Hotch, it's fine, we're fine. Just leave it alone." It wasn't fine, she had felt empty since that day, but she didn't want her feelings, or their little argument to distract her from the case.

Hotch studied her, it was obvious that she didn't want to talk about it anymore, but he doubted very much that things were 'fine' between them. He had seriously damaged the friendship that they had slowly built up. He didn't want that, he felt another pang in his chest, he didn't want to lose her too. For some reason, the thought that he had pushed her away was to unbearable to think about.

They were saved from the strained silence when Rossi, Morgan, and Garcia walked in.

Garcia's eyes immediately filled with tears when she saw them, and she rushed straight towards Emily, enveloping her into a tight hug. Hotch noticed that Emily's eyes had begun to tear up too, and he cursed himself again for being an asshole towards her. He was happy Garcia was here, she needed a friend.

Emily and Garcia were whispering to each other, but Hotch couldn't make out what they were saying. He didn't want to eavesdrop so he turned towards Morgan and Rossi. He saw the same mixture of emotions that he felt, mirrored on their faces. Rossi met his eyes, and tipped his head. It was time to get back to work.

For the second time in a couple of minutes, Hotch cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "I know that this case, especially with JJ and Reid missing, has been difficult for all of us," he emphasised the all by making eye contact with each of them, "But we need to find them. I don't know what condition we'll find them in…" His eyes began to sting, and he had to clear his throat again before he could continue. "Even if it is the worst case," his voice faltered slightly, "we need to bring them home. I know this is a big ask, but I need you all to stay focused. But I don't expect any of you to hide your emotions." He tried to make eye contact with Prentiss, but she avoided his eyes, choosing to remain focused on the carpet, her eyes burning with tears.

"So, let's do this for JJ, and Reid." Hotch finished off, before looking around at his sober faced team. He pinched the bridge of his nose, he didn't have to add this last bit in but he wanted to. He wanted them to know that he was just as broken as they were, maybe even more so. It wasn't in an attempt to excuse his behaviour over the last few days, but he needed them to understand that he needed their help. He couldn't do this by himself, he didn't want to mess up anymore than he already had. He didn't know how much more his conscience could take. He was having doubts about leading them, and that was enough for him to know that he shouldn't be, well at least not without some help.

After one last deep breath, Hotch finally said some of the hardest words he ever had to say. "Dave, I might need you to take over, and be in charge… I can't do it alone, and I…" he let a tear roll down his cheek, "I… I don't want this, no I can't let, this end like it did with Jack." His voice cracked, and he covered his face face with his hands, willing himself not to let out a sob. He heard an "Of course" muttered from Rossi, and a gasp of "Oh, sir." from Garcia. When he finally looked up, it was straight into Emily's eyes which were welled up in sympathy, and support. Hotch let out a breath, maybe he just might be able to get through this.

Before anyone could say anything else, there was a knock on the door. When Morgan opened it, the concierge handed him a package, "This was addressed to Agent Hotchner."

Morgan thanked him, while Hotch ripped the package open. He looked up at the rest of the team, "It's another video."


The video started, and an image of two small children appeared on the screen. They were playing quietly, looking away from the camera. Then a gravelly voice called out to them. "Children, come here."

The children whipped their heads around, and immediately came towards the camera. The team let out a collective gasp… The children looked eerily familiar.

"It's time to say Hi to your mommy and daddy." The voice cooed.

The little blonde girl, who looked no older than three, immediately began to tear up. "When are mommy and daddy gonna come get us?" She asked, wiping at her eyes.

"I don't know, why don't you ask them?" The voice responded.

"Mommy, Daddy, please come get us." The little girl sniffled out, tears running down her cheeks.

The little boy with a mop of brown hair, who appeared to be five, gently patted her back. "Don't cry, JJ."

"But Spence, I want them to come now!"

Emily shook her head, no it couldn't be, those children couldn't be Spencer and JJ. But they looked so much like them...

"Now, now, Jennifer. Watch your manners, the Unsub's stern voice drew her attention back to the video. A hand reached out in front of the camera, and the team held their breath, they didn't know what he was going to do to the little girl.

They all breathed a sigh of relief when they saw he had simply handed her a pacifier.

The little girl took it, and promptly put it in her mouth.

"Spencer," the voice called out, "tell me, what is your daddy's name?"

The little boy pushed the hair out of his face with both hands, and scrunched up his face, before answering. "It's Aaron…"

"I know, I know!" The little girl excitedly interrupted, yanking her pacifier out of her mouth.

"Ssh, JJ." The little boy scolded.

"But Spence, I want to say it!" She whined.

He huffed, "Fine."

"It's Aaron Hot'ner" she said proudly smiling at the camera.

"No, JJ. That's not right. It's Hotchner." The boy corrected.

The little girl's face crumpled, "But I said that!"

"No, you didn't!"

"Yes, I did!"

"Children, enough!" The voice commanded sternly.

Both children immediately stopped bickering. The little girl's eyes widened in fear, and she put the pacifier back into her mouth.

"Now, Spencer, tell the camera what your mommy's name is." He commanded

"It's Emily. Please come and get us, mommy." The little boy said seriously.

The camera turned, and the Unsub's face came into view. "Time's running out for you, Agent Hotchner, Agent Prentiss. Jennifer and Spencer are waiting for you.


A/N; Yay! A small glimpse at little JJ and Reid, my way of apologising for taken ages to upload.

I'm so sorry it's taken me awhile to update, I suddenly had a huge bout of writers block. I did take your comments into account, so I cut this chapter in half. Which means another Chapter won't take as long as this one did.

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