Well, the cat is out of the bag. How will the team react? And Strauss finds yet another way to inject herself into the investigation. Two clues come to light that might be able to identify the UNSUB, while Dave and Mischa fight for their lives.

I don't own Criminal Minds.

No Place Left To Fall

The SUV carrying Morgan, JJ, and Reid sped down the road to Rossi's crime scene. The mood was subdued and restrained. Nothing much got past them and the latest news that two of their team were partners in every way that mattered in the eyes of the law and God had thrown them for a loop.

Shortly after Prentiss cried her last tear, Hotch had called the team in to inform them that it appeared Rossi had been abducted by the UNSUB. Before they could grasp the meaning of what had just happened, Prentiss confessed that she had been lying to them for a year.

Overwhelmed and stupefied, the three remaining team members left to get to the crime scene and assess the situation before Hotch and Prentiss showed up.

Driving as fast as he dared, Morgan didn't take his eyes off the road even though his thoughts were racing at a hundred miles a minute.

"I would have never suspected," he muttered to no one in particular. He knew that Rossi was an expert interrogator and hostage negotiator, but Morgan had always thought the senior agent was just an okay profiler. He was sure he could read Rossi in a heartbeat and know his game. Boy, oh boy had they all been duped.

"I can't wait to get home and tell Will," JJ replied as she stared out the passenger window. A small smile adorned her lips as she thought about her two friends. Their news certainly explained a lot. The shy secret smiles she caught between them when they thought no one was looking. Then her heart constricted. How cruel was it that everything went downhill so quickly?

She couldn't imagine what Em was going thru at this moment. Seeing her in Hotch's office looking so sad…it was all JJ could do not to go over and give her friend a hug. Saying a small prayer, she hoped things would work out for the best. She didn't want to imagine what would happen otherwise.

"I knew," Reid spoke up.

Morgan turned his head to look toward the backseat. "What do you mean you knew? You still don't understand the term 'Sin to Win' kid, so I doubt that you saw the signs."

"Want to bet?" Reid challenged.

Surprised by the forwardness, Morgan chuckled. "I'll take that bet. Anything you want. Deal?"

"Sure," Reid shrugged. "I knew because one morning Emily came in early to work, and as I passed by her desk, I saw a one-carat blue diamond on her left hand. Later, when we were at the conference table, it was gone."

"Right there, I know you are wrong. Prentiss never gets into work early. In addition, if she forgot her ring once, she would forget twice. I know Prentiss pretty well. You owe me kid."

Pulling the SUV into an empty space, Morgan shut off the engine. Jumping out, he briskly walked over to Agent Brickford.

"Hey Derek. This is what we found." Brickford pointed to the interior of the cab and the blood on the asphalt. "The door was closed and locked with the keys still in the ignition. You think our UNSUB took the time to close the door to keep the rain from ruining the interior?

Morgan took off his sunglasses. "No. He closed the door to keep from calling attention to himself and what he was doing. The locking of the door with the keys inside prevents anyone from being able to access the vehicle for clues."

"Should we bust the window?" Brickford asked.

JJ noticed Hotch pulling up. "Not yet," she cautioned. "Hey Hotch. We need to access Rossi's car for clues, but it's locked. They want to break a window."

Prentiss reached into the SUV for her purse. Grabbing the key chain, she hit the button to unlock the door. JJ threw a smile at Morgan and Reid.

Pulling the handle, Hotch leaned inside. A quick check revealed Rossi's coffee, cell, and a box of donuts. Seeing nothing out of place, he stood up. "I think Rossi was approached outside the vehicle and then over powered." He studied the taped off area and tried not to be too apparent to the small crowd, which had gathered.

"You think this guy was lying in wait?" Brickford asked.

Morgan bent over to look at the parking space beside Rossi's car. "This oil is fresh. I do not think he was lying in wait; Rossi would have had his guard up. You said the guy inside swears Rossi was in the store for about fifteen minutes?"

"The storm was pretty bad. Rossi ordered a cup of coffee, got an order, then left. He didn't see anything. Why is that?"

Morgan looked at the angle of the building to where the team of investigators was standing. "There's no way any one at the counter could have seen anything. This guy is good. He's real good." Sunlight flashed quickly to momentarily blind him. Blinking to clear his vision, he groaned. "Oh shit!"

"What?" Hotch asked.

"Strauss."

Everyone braced for what was about to go down as the BAU Director stepped out of the SUV with her head held high. Marching over to Hotch she kept her eyes focused on the Unit Chief as she snapped: "There better be a damn good explanation for why my agent was alone long enough to be abducted." Looking at Prentiss, she twitched her lip. "Nice ring. Is it new?" she observed.

JJ ducked her head to suppress the silly smile that flashed across her face. Morgan took a second glance and looked at Reid who was rocking back on his heels. Hotch fought the urge to smile.

"I hope that whatever the joke is, it's a good one," Strauss commented coldly. "I am expecting a complete briefing right this moment, Agent Hotchner. I hope you have one."

"Yes ma'am," Hotch replied and launched into what he knew up to that moment.

JJ's phone went off. Answering it, she listened carefully. Nodding twice, she hung up. "Hotch? I hate to interrupt," she called out. "That was Garcia. The cross checks on the zip-ties red flagged, and a couple of neighbours recall seeing a car circling the Hinkley's block."

Hotch looked at his agents. "Prentiss, Morgan, get over there and see what you can find out. Reid, get with Garcia. I'm going to stay here and continue briefing the director."

Morgan passed by Reid who commented: "Anything I want, right?"

Yanking open the door, Morgan sat down and started the engine. Prentiss followed and buckled her seat belt.

"What did that mean?" she asked.

"That I need to stop doubting Reid," Morgan replied and put the SUV in drive.

"So, you recall seeing a red Fiat circling the neighbourhood?" Prentiss asked. "Are you sure?"

"I'm a mechanic, so I know a Fiat when I see one."

"Did you get a good look at the guy?"

"More than a good look; I talked to him. Smarmy kind of character, if you want my opinion. He wanted directions to a street that doesn't even exist in this area."

Morgan pulled back. "Are you positive?"

"Son, I have lived in this neighbourhood for thirty-five years; I'm the president of the Homeowner's Association and helped decide on most of the street names. There has never been a Pewter street, and I will swear to it."

"What did this guy look like?" Prentiss asked.

"About six foot, blonde, slim build. He looked normal, but his eyes seemed dead. And his accent was not from around here."

"What do you mean?"

"It was a mid-western accent like he was from Missouri or Iowa."

"Anything else?"

"Yeah, he had black eyebrows. I thought it was strange that someone with white blonde hair would have black eyebrows."

"Bleach blonde possibly?" Prentiss thought aloud.

"No ma'am; true blonde. I know because my three daughters were born tow-heads."

"Was there anything else you remember?"

"Yes… I jotted down the license plate number; I am also in charge of the Neighbourhood Crime Watch." Pulling out the paper from his pocket, he handed it over to Morgan who handed it to Prentiss. "I hope this helps."

"More than you'll ever know."

Prentiss closed her notebook. "Thank you. If there is anything else you remember, please call us." Her phone rang. Excusing herself, Prentiss walked over to the SUV. "Yes, Garcia?"

"Hello Agent Rossi," came the perky greeting. "That is so weird to say that and hear your voice on the other end."

"You heard?"

"Never a secret in the FBI, you should know that. Although I am so sorry to have let the cat out of the bag. I swear, when I pulled up the list and saw E Rossi, I thought it was his sister. It wasn't until I placed the call that I realized Rossi doesn't have a sister."

"Don't worry about it Pen; no harm no foul. So what's up?"

"Well, my little bride, I did that cross reference for Reid on the zip-ties, which you may already know. Anyway, I checked on the sales receipts and my gut was correct; both purchases were made with the same zip code: Kansas."

"Really?"

"Unfortunately the purchases were made with cash."

"Oh."

"Don't hang up yet because there's more. I made a couple of phone calls to the stores to see if they remembered who did the purchasing and they did. They described him as creepy quiet…like a loner."

"Creepy like disgusting creepy?" Prentiss asked.

Garcia laughed lightly. "No, that would have been too easy. This creepy was his extraordinary looks. I know extraordinary looks- I set the standard, but this guy came across it naturally. Stark white blonde hair and -"

"Black eyebrows," Prentiss finished.

"My, my, my, you are good! I am beyond impressed! It's true that marriage boosts your IQ. I guess that's why I didn't make it legal with Kevin."

"Didn't you want to boost his IQ?"

"Tempting thought chica, but I love having all of this power. I could never share."

"You are definitely one twisted tech analyst."

"I consider that a compliment."

"Pen, a neighbour of the Hinkley's gave me a tag number, could you check it out?"

"I would rather give you a set of heirloom china, but sure. Go ahead."

"Whiskey Tango Golf Five Seven Romeo Alpha Seven."

"You know phonetics. My second favourite language."

"I don't think I want to know. Any hits?"

"Sweetie, I might be great, but I'm still at the mercy of computer technology. Give me a couple of hours. Oh, by the way, I erased that number off the list, and any reference to your nuptials has been buried under mounds of government red tape."

"You're the best Pen."

"Don't ever forget it. I'm out."

"Bye." Flipping the phone closed, Prentiss walked to the SUV. Morgan followed. Quietly he started the engine.

"Garcia?" Morgan asked.

"Yep. Seems the guy driving around here, made the zip-tie purchases. Garcia is running the tags right now."

Morgan reached out and took Prentiss's left hand. Carefully he studied the ring. "Beautiful. Rossi has great taste."

"He should; he's been married three times."

"Don't you mean four?"

"Still trying to get used to it."

"Princess, you've been married for a year; I think that's more than enough time to get used to it."

"I meant that I'm used to it in secret, but it's still overwhelming to have it out in the public."

Morgan ran his thumb over the flawless diamond. A look of sadness crossed his face. "Dave's a lucky man."

Prentiss covered his hand with hers. "More than he'll ever know."

"Strauss isn't going to find out from any of us."

"Thanks." She buckled her seat belt. "Let's get going. I have a feeling Garcia is going to have news for us by the time we get back."

"That woman is a miracle worker," Morgan remarked with disbelief and put engine in drive.

"That she is."

Dave was exhausted from pain, hunger, and sitting in one position for too long. Leaning forward, he tried to take the pressure off his shoulders and get the blood flowing back to his fingers. As the nerves burned, he breathed a sigh that the circulation hadn't been completely cut off.

"Mischa? Are you alright?" he called out.

"I'm hungry," she replied. "I want to go home."

"I know. You have to stay strong. We have people looking for us."

"You asked me if I remember anything, and I do: he had blonde hair -like white blonde- and black eyebrows."

Dave paused. "Are you sure?"

"Y-yes."

Dave caught his breath. There was something familiar about Mischa's description, but he couldn't put his finger on why. The harder he tried to will it, the more evasive it became, and the more his head throbbed.

Footsteps on the stairs made him straighten up.

"Well, hello Agent Rossi. Good to see that you survived the trip. Would have defeated the purpose if you had died before I had the chance to kill you."

Dave stayed silent as he analyzed the UNSUB's every word.

"What? Nothing brilliant to say? No smart comment? Did you use all the big words writing those best sellers?" No comment. Suddenly a fist slammed against Dave's face. "Answer me you arrogant fuck!"

Dave said nothing. Another fist hit him. Repeatedly. He felt his lip begin to swell, as he tasted blood on his tongue.

"I want to hear you beg for mercy you lying shit."

As tempting as it was to respond, Dave literally bit his tongue. He knew that anything he said would just set the UNSUB off, and as painful as the beating was, it was the best way to make a profile.

Dave braced himself for what came next.

By the time it was done, Dave knew he had descended into hell. He tried to catch his breath despite the protest from his ribs. Curled on the dirt floor, Dave felt his face swell from the punches.

"You think you're so smart, but I'm the one in charge now and I'm going to show you as much mercy as you did to my father." Leaving Dave, the UNSUB went over to Mischa and threw her over his shoulder.

"No, no, no," Mischa cried weakly.

"Time for a little fun," he told her in a singsong tone. Walking to the stairs, he turned back to look at Dave. "I'll have a turn for you." Then he disappeared.

Dave lay where he had fallen but he wasn't about to go down without a fight. Too many people depended on him. And one in particular needed him to remain strong and find a way out of this man made hell. He couldn't disappoint her. Their lives depended on it.

But right now his lungs and body were on fire and his head throbbed painfully. As he heard the screams from upstairs, Dave closed his eyes and willingly succumbed to the sweet painless oblivion calling his name.