Chapter Ten

While the rest of the team where in different sites Rossi and Hotch were at the police department. They were expecting the daughter of the latest victim, Victoria Grethel.

"Hi I'm Elise Grethel and I'm looking for Agent Hotchner."

When Hotch heard his name he turned around and couldn't believe his eyes. It was like seeing a ghost. Rossi said who they were and told her to follow him. They began to ask her about Victoria and asked her if she was acting different. She replied that she did.

"No. Um, since I was a girl she told me that I was adopted that my biological mother had left me behind when she left the hospital. I wasn't allowed to go on class trips. I couldn't be in any school extracurricular activities."

"Okay what about a little bit more than the usual." Hotch added.

"Last week she made me give up my hours. She didn't tell me why. Um, she was more over the edge when I would ask her something." She answered. "She was always petrified of someone. I never had a birthday party. I couldn't invite anyone home and I couldn't do sleepovers. Five years ago I realized that it has only been North Versailles."

Rossi asked her what made her think that and she replied that she could to all the neighboring cities around with the exception of North Versailles. She explained that Victoria wasn't a motherly figure and she figure out her biological mother was from there. Hotch gave her his business card if she had questions to call her.

"Thank you."

They shook hands. As she was exiting the door Morgan and Reid were entering the Police Department. Hotch called Garcia and asked her to get him everything on Victoria Grethel and if she was connected to Susan in some way. Hotch was trying to connect the dots. He believed the two ladies were connected. Detective Jordan announce that they had found another body. Hotch paired Morgan and Prentiss together so they could go and see the body. He was still waiting for information from Garcia. His phone began to ring.

"Hotchner."

"Sir, I got some information." Garcia said. "I can't find anything suggesting she knew Susan and if they did they were extremely cautious. Her childhood wasn't an easy one her father was an alcoholic and most of the time they lived homeless due to the father's addiction. She worked in a hospital in the neonatal care."

Hotch asked Garcia about Elise date of birth. Elise was born on June 10, 1989. It couldn't be a coincidence. He was left speechless. One thing kept going through his head. Could it be that she's not dead? He thought to himself. Reid grabbed Hotch's phone and put it on speaker.

"Garcia, what information you gave to Hotch that left him speechless?"

"I gave him the date of birth of Elise."

"Garcia, what hospital did she work?" Hotch asked as Morgan and Prentiss entered into the room.

She worked at Magee Women's Hospital of UPMC Health System at the one in Pittsburg. He said thank you and hung up. He hung up the phone. Reid was explaining to Prentiss and Morgan what was happening. His phone began to ring.

"Hotchner."

"Please help me. I've been shot. I'm scared."

"I'll be right there." Hotch said and hung up the phone and walked out without saying a word.

When he got to her address she was already passed out. He heard the ambulance sirens getting closer.

"She's lost a lot of blood." The paramedic said.

They drove to the nearest hospital. Elise had lost a lot of blood. Hotch without thinking donated of his blood to see if he was compatible which he was. After the surgery and the anesthesia had passed Elise woke up. She thanked him for staying with her. Hotch asked her what had happened. She answered she had just opened the door to enter her house when a man got into her driveway and shot her. He had to ask her. She was the only one that might know. He asked her if Victoria knew Susan Voight she replied that they did knew each other but they would talk in sign language when Susan visited them.

He was about to step out when she began to scream. She didn't want to be left alone. Hotch texted Rossi. Rossi called him and told him what they found out. They found out that Victoria and Susan were part of a human trafficking ring but they still needed to find out the leader. Hotch called the State Attorney General and let him know about their situation and he explained his own situation. He hung up the phone and dialed again.

"Rossi, I called the State Attorney General and he will help us and for that we need a press conference."

Rossi suggested Prentiss for the conference and Hotch agreed. Rossi asked him if JJ knew already. Hotch replied that she didn't know yet. Rossi advised him to tell her. She needed to know even if she wasn't their daughter.

He hung up and then sent a text to Jess and asked for her help. He looked for JJ's name and dialed her number.

"Hey, I'm calling to let you know that I won't be leaving any flowers and the reason is because I might think that our Christy might be alive. The case we are working on has to do with that. You know we can't speak about it. I need you here. Jess is on her way to help with the kids."

~C~CM~CM~CM~CM~CM~CM~M~

She just heard the first sentence. She couldn't speak. She couldn't even move a finger. Her daughter might be alive. The doorbell started ringing. She was still on the phone with Hotch unable to move. Hearing Jack's nervous voice made her snap out of her shock.

"I'll call you back. Jess is here." She said and then she walked towards the door and opened it. "Sorry, I kept you waiting the news blew me by surprise."

"What news? Hotch said that he needed me to take care of the kids that you had to fly to Pennsylvania but what are you waiting for?"

JJ didn't know what to pack. She was not used to have a to go back ready. All she wanted to do was being in Pennsylvania and meet that person. She needed to see her. Jack without knowing what was happening but noticing how nervous JJ was gave her a hug.

"It's going to be okay." Jack said. "Bye Momma."

JJ left the house in a taxi on her way to the airport. The only plane tickets they had for the next plane in an hour was first class. JJ didn't want to wait for another day. She was getting impatient. She wasn't one who lost her patience so fast but this was a matter of urgency. The plane was announced and JJ almost bounced out of the chair. The good thing about being on first class she was called first. The bad thing was that she still had to wait till everyone was sitting down. The plane landed in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. She hadn't been here in a long time but she still knew around. She rented a car. She got at the hospital and ask the ladies for Elise's room number. When she got to the floor Hotch was outside the room talking to Morgan in hushed tones.

"She's sleeping at this moment." Hotch said as he saw her.

"Aaron, that's the Doctor that helped me bring our daughter." JJ said as he saw him walked out of the room.

The Doctor noticing the small talk they were having and how they were looking at him he started to walk fast to the other direction. Morgan went after him to question him.

"Can I see her?"

"Yeah she's been asking for you." Hotch said and opened the door for her.

In all her dreams she had of her baby girl being alive had she seen her like that.

"It's not how I imagined her." JJ said never looking away. "Her hair makes her look like Rosaline. She has Daddy's cheekbones and jaws."

At that moment Elise opened her eyes.

"So you must be Jennifer."

"Please call me JJ."

"Very well then JJ. So, Hotch tells me you were together in your teenage years."

"Ah yes we did."

Morgan knocked on the door and wanted to talk to Hotch. Hotch walked towards the door and JJ noticed how Elise tensed she got. At that moment she understood that like Jack, Hotch was Elise's hero. Hotch opened the door and let the Nurse and Doctor in. Morgan left. The Doctor told them that the nurse would get everything ready for the blood samples and the results would be ready as soon as possible. The Nurse got the first needle ready and asked who would go first. JJ volunteered herself first, and then it was Hotch's turn and at last was Elise.

"What if you're not my parents?" Elise asked.

"No matter what the results come out as you can count with us." JJ said.

"Thank you." Elise said.

"So tell me more about you."

"What do you like to do?"

"I like to run, play soccer, and kickboxing. Even if you don't believe it I like to bake. That's of a few things Victoria allowed me to do." Elise said. "I was not allowed to call her Mom."

JJ wanted to held her closer to her. Hotch's phone began to ring. Hotch asked Elise if something was out of place. She replied that the last Monday she had gotten late from work and heard a baby cry she had tried to go to her room but Victoria stopped her telling her that it was from the TV. Elise went to sleep. Hotch continued talking to Morgan and told him to keep him updated. JJ asked her if she was going to school and she replied that Victoria wouldn't allow her to go. She wanted to be a lawyer.

"You know you've got to have another degree before going into law school." Hotch said.

"Yes I did my research. I'm going into Education first and then law school."

"What if I tell you that we can help you?" Hotch said.

"I don't know."

"You can stay with us, find a part time job and go to school." JJ said.

"What if I'm not your daughter?"

"We want to help you even if you weren't our daughter." JJ said. "I know it must have been hard growing up without motherly love."

"Yes. I don't have anything keeping me here." She replied. "I know she loved me but she wouldn't let me in. She would always tell me that there were bad people out there and that I needed to be protected. Why did she stay with me?