Wow, you guys really wanted an update fast didn't you? Well here you go, I hope you enjoy it and as always let me know.

For those of you who are tired of JJ being seen as an innocent little blond who needs protecting, you should be happy.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to review the last two chapters, I try to respond to each one so if I haven't, its because you have Private Messaging disabled, so I'll say thank you here.

Again-unbeta'd so any mistakes are mine alone

Enjoy!

It had been four hours since they had been taken. Morgan walked out of the emergency room and looked for Hotch, rubbing at his head, he scratched around the bandage they had placed there. The staples were unpleasant, it had taken six to close the gash in his head and he refused any painkillers much to the nurse's chagrin. Yes it hurt but he wanted to feel that pain right now, it reminded him of how he had fucked up yet again.

Turning the corner, he pulled up short when he saw Emily waiting for him instead of Hotch. Leaning against a wall of the waiting room, she was biting at her fingernails when he approached.

"Hey." He said quietly.

"You okay?" she said brusquely, she knew he was feeling guilty but she didn't feel any sympathy right now. Her nerves were on edge imagining what the Rodriguez men were doing to JJ and Jane, and right now, she couldn't help but blame him.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Have we heard anything yet?"

"No." that word alone told him how she was feeling toward him.

"Prentiss…Emily, I'm sorry…I" he tried to explain himself but she cut him off.

"Leave it Morgan…I can't right now…" she knew she sounded harsh but she couldn't help herself right now, "not now Derek…we need to get back to the station." Turning her back on him she quickly walked out of the emergency room.

Dejected, Morgan followed, knowing he had a lot to make up for. The pounding in his head a reminder of his failure to protect his friend.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Come on pumpkin, give me a smile," the cajoling tone made Maura look up.

"I'm sorry Penelope, I just…" she looked at the woman who she had spent the past four hours with researching and following up on leads to find Jane and JJ. Maura knew Hotch had given her the job to distract her, and she was grateful for it, but she couldn't stop thinking of the internal damage she had seen in the autopsies she had conducted. The idea of that kind of damage being done to Jane…

Garcia heard her sob and wished she could just give her a hug. She was scared to death about JJ and Emily wasn't talking to her about it, so the information she had gotten was from Maura.

Being who she was, Garcia was able to get Maura to speak to her while they researched the information that Hotch wanted. She knew all about Jane and how they worked together and how it wasn't until Jane had been shot that she and Maura had admitted their feelings to one another. When she had chuckled at that Maura had misunderstood until she explained that the same had been true for JJ and Emily. This had earned her a smile from the doctor, which hadn't lasted long unfortunately.

Garcia had tried tracking the missing women's phones, which had unfortunately been found along the side of the highway. Following up on that location plus the records of both men, they had developed several leads, and had finally narrowed it down to two possible locations.

Hotch had called everyone back in and had sent Emily to pick up Derek and Frost was headed back with Rossi and Reid. They needed to regroup quickly. The addition of the elder Rodriguez completely changed the dynamic of this unsub and the predictability of his actions.

Looking up from the desk, Hotch watched as Rossi, Reid, and Frost came in. They looked tired, they were all working on zero sleep and there was no sleep on the horizon until they could find something.

Frost went over to speak to Maura. When she saw him, she got up and let him envelop her in a supportive hug. "We'll find her Maura" he said.

"Barry, those women suffered so much…what if…" Maura finally broke down.

"Oh honey please don't think that way…" Garcia's voice was soothing as she listened to Maura cry.

Rossi and Reid were stone-faced as they went up to Hotch. "There wasn't anything at the house Hotch" Rossi sounded disgusted. JJ was like a daughter to him and the idea that these men were holding her sickened him.

"Reid, did you find anything?" The young man was looking over at Maura as Frost comforted her.

"Sorry Hotch, I went through Rodriguez' bedroom there. It didn't look like too much had changed since he was a boy. The same pictures that were downstairs in the living room were in his room. None of them ever showed his mother smiling and in all of them she was wearing long sleeves, even when father and son were in short sleeves."

"Typical of domestic violence, wearing long sleeves to hide bruising. The abuse must have been constant." Rossi said.

"Apparently it was" Korsak's voice was strained. "I just finished talking with his partner, Rodriguez told him about some of it apparently. Bragged about how his father knew how to keep a woman in line. He mentioned daily punishments for bad behavior."

"Jesus" Rossi said.

"Tell me we have something." Emily's clipped voice carried through the room. She and Morgan walked in and came right over to Maura and Frost.

Letting go of Frost, Maura extended a hand. Emily took it and squeezed reassuringly. She knew she wasn't fooling anybody but she couldn't break down, not yet. "We'll find them I promise," she whispered to her. She couldn't say they would be alive, didn't want to think about that, but she knew they would find them. She refused to rest until she found them.

"Garcia, you said you and Maura may have found something."

"Yes sir," we were able to track down a small home that Detective Rodriguez owns about 10 miles outside of Boston and another house there in Boston that is or was owned by his mother. The property apparently passed to her son after her death but hadn't been updated since it was in probate, I found it still pending in the court records which is why it didn't turn up earlier. Dr Isles suggested going through the court records as well as arrest records for Rodriguez. Neither home appears to be occupied sir."

Two locations, that meant the team would be split up with supporting law enforcement on call.

"They're at his mother's." the voice was tired, but sure. Surprised they all looked at him.

"Why Derek, why do you think they're there?" Rossi realized that Morgan was on the outs with the team right now and while he had his differences with the younger man, he really was a hell of a profiler.

"Everything started when his mother died, right?" looking at the others expectantly, he was surprised when Emily nodded for him to continue. "Well, wouldn't it make sense then that something he received from her upon her death would be symbolic for him. He could punish these women in the very house she owned. He would feel powerful there."

Rossi nodded at him and looked at Hotch, "that's sounds reasonable Hotch and it makes sense."

"Yes but we can't take the chance, we'll still have to split up. Prentiss, take Frost, Morgan and Reid with you to the mother's house. Call in and call for backup immediately if you can confirm their location do you understand me?" He knew where Emily's head was at as well as her heart and he did not want her acting recklessly.

Fists clenched, "Yes sir" looking at Morgan, he saw the mistrust in her eyes and looked away.

"Rossi, you and Detective Korsak will accompany me to the other home." Looking at them all, "Constant communication people. Dr Isles, I need you to stay here."

Nodding she understood, she wasn't a police officer, but, "Agent Hotchner, I'd…I'd like to accompany Agent Prentiss," before he could protest, "please, I've gone on calls before with Ja…" her breath caught "with Detectives Frost and Korsak and won't get out of the vehicle unless they need me, please."

Her plea was heartfelt but she saw him about to deny her request when, "Aaron, she needs to go" surprised, Hotch looked at Korsak.

"Let her go, she knows to stay out of the way" Korsak knew that Maura needed to know, first hand and he couldn't deny her that not after all they had been through already.

"Fine. Prentiss she stays in the car, get me?" He could not afford to have anything else go wrong.

"Garcia, I need satellite views for both locations sent to each team, we need to see if there's any activity before we go in." Looking at the team, "Lets move people, remember, constant contact."

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Jane's awareness consisted of pain. It hurt to breathe and "God!" it hurt to move.

"Jane?"

She must have said it out loud, "Maura?" she said breathlessly. Opening her eyes, she saw floor joists above her and realized where she was. "JJ" Opening her eyes she tried to sit up, "shiiit!" unable to, she rolled to her side and felt JJ's hands helping to support her.

"Slowly Jane, you took a hell of a beating," Jane could hear the worry in her voice and felt guilty for putting it there.

"I'm sorry JJ" she managed through clenched teeth.

"Jane you didn't do anything, I'm sorry, you didn't have to protect me." She said sadly, she could see what it was costing Jane to talk. Looking up, she heard footsteps again, "Jane, Jane look at me, they're back. Don't fight them please. I have an idea"

Before Jane had woken JJ had gone over the basement trying to find something, anything they could use as a weapon all she had been able to find was a long splintered piece of wood she had pulled off a stair. That she had up her sleeve, with any luck, she would have the element of surprise, if not, she would have to fight them off like Jane had. There were two entries into the basement, one from inside the house, and one from outside the house. She had checked them both, and could not open either one.

Jane closed her eyes as she listened to JJ, they were back, more beatings, they had to hold them off until they were found, they had to fight back, it was their only option.

"Have to…have to fight…cowards" wracked by coughs, she spit out and was surprised to see blood. Looking at JJ she tried to grin, "out of time huh?"

The door slammed open and Jane looked at JJ, "help me up"

Shaking her head, "no Jane I…"

"JJ please, help me up…I won't die on the floor like a dog" her voice was raspier than usual.

Helping her up, JJ let Jane lean on her for support as they faced father and son.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"How close are we Frost?" Emily was chewing on non-existent fingernails completely focused on finding JJ and Jane.

"Less than five minutes"

"Prentiss…"

"Morgan, later, I promise we'll talk…I just…we need to find them first okay?"

"Fine" He knew he had a lot to make up for and he was determined not to let his friends down again.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Well, well, looks like you're feeling better Jane" Max looked from one to the other and watched as Jane attempted to straighten up, she couldn't hide her grimace.

"Hurt?"

"No more than you" she said with more bravado than she felt.

"Come on boy let's play" the elder Rodriguez passed his son gloves.

JJ knew those were the weighted gloves that Maura had talked about when they first met. She knew the impact of his strikes would be much greater with those on.

Knowing she had to do something, JJ stepped in front of Jane "fight me" she said.

"No!" Jane tried to move her out of the way.

"Well look at this dad, what do you think, the blond first? The elder Rodriguez clapped his hands together rubbing them greedily, "why not?"

Waving her toward him, Max taunted, "come on sweet thing, let's see what you got" bouncing on the balls of his feet, he waited for JJ to approach.

Trying to buy some time, "don't I get gloves?" seeing his look, "What, not even a sporting chance? Scared a girl might beat you, much less a dyke" JJ taunted him, hoping that threatening his manhood would make him careless.

"You bitch!" ready to rush her, he was stopped by a booming voice.

"Wait!" his father said, pulling out another pair from his cargo pants he tossed them at JJ's feet and yanked Jane toward him.

"No funny business blondie or I get to play with my son's little friend first." Pulling Jane roughly in front of him, she fought against his grasp but was brought to her knees when he grabbed her around the waist.

JJ looked at the gloves and at Jane kneeling in front of him and could see the pain etched in her face.

Picking up the gloves, she kept her eyes on Rodriguez until she had them on. The speed of his first blow caught her unaware and she grunted as his hand plowed into her right hip. The strength of the blow was incredible and as she swung back she was glad to see she caught him in the face. Broken nose, score one for them. They circled and gauged each other, she had sparred plenty with Emily but had never really fought for her life before now.

Dodging a jab to her face he caught her with a glancing right hook that sent her into the wall. She could feel her lip swelling and the blood flowing down as she shook off the blow. Moving back in she practiced one of Emily's moves and as she jabbed, she spun around with a back hook kick and sent him crashing into the stairs.

"Fucking bitch!" His father's laughter ringing in his ears, he charged her and rammed into her picking her up bodily and slamming her into the stone wall. Backing off she fell to her knees in front of him and kicked at her face. Blocking the kick with the gloves, she twisted his foot and sent him crashing to the ground. She couldn't get up; her legs were refusing to respond to her commands after being slammed into the wall. Throwing herself on top of him, she swung one weighted hand and punched him in the head, once, twice until he threw her off him.

"JJ get up! Get up!" Shaking her head she tried to get her bearings, everything was fuzzy and her legs were all tingly. Rolling onto to all fours she attempted to get up when he kicked her in the ribs, lifting her off the ground.

"No!" Jane head butted Rodriguez' father and rushed toward Max. Ramming into him with what strength she had, she fell on top of him as he fell away from JJ.

"You goddamned dyke, you broke my fucking nose…I'm going to kill you." He ran at Jane and was shocked when he had to stop, looking down he saw the piece of wood sticking out of his abdomen, JJ rammed it in more and twisted, watching his face contort in pain.

"Fuck you…" she said before dropping to her knees again.

Jane struggled with Rodriguez but couldn't keep him pinned, tossing her aside he saw his father go down and went after JJ, kicking her again until she was still.

"Jane!"

"JJ!"

Frost, Emily, they were here. Rodriguez stopped when he heard the voices upstairs. Looking down at his father, he turned to the woman who had started it all. "Its your fault."

"Jane! JJ!" Closer now, she knew they had a chance.

Jane crawled back on the floor as he approached. "Give it up Max, you know you won't get out." With her back against the wall, he pulled her up to him, "you're dead bitch."

Rearing back he punched her in the ribs with the weighted gloves and she could feel the ribs break as he moved to strike again. The suddenness of the floor surprised her as she realized he had let her go. She heard a crash and yelling, a lot of yelling, before she let the darkness claim her.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Emily's anxiety rose as they pulled up to the house, this was the place, she could feel it. "Let's go" stepping out, she quickly strapped on her vest watching as the others did the same.

Moving quickly, she and Frost took the front door as Morgan and Reid took the back.

"FBI! Max Rodriguez open the door!" When there was no answer, she nodded for frost to kick the door in, hearing an answering smash from the rear. Calling out, they saw no evidence of the women. A crash downstairs brought them to the basement stairs, nodding to Morgan, he pulled the door open and Prentiss rushed in.

"Rodriguez stop right" she yelled, "Fuck there another exit! Morgan, Reid out the back…" continuing down, Emily was shocked by the sight that greeted her, "oh my god…JJ…" JJ's prone form was still, lying next to the body of what used to be Rodriguez' father.

"Shit Jane!" Frost ran over to his partner as Emily knelt down next to JJ. Scared to turn her over she did so anyway, gently. Hissing at the sight of her busted lip and the bruising on her face, she tried to wake her "JJ…JJ honey please open your eyes, you're okay, we're here. Frost call for an ambulance please…"

Pulling out his cell he called dispatch for an ambulance and texted Korsak that they had found them.

Brushing the hair from his partner's face he was scared. Feeling for a pulse, he could barely feel it. "Shit." Grabbing his cell again, he called Maura.

"Barry did you find them?"

"Yeah we did, can you…we need you in here Maura." Hanging up he held his partner's hand, "hang in there Jane."

At the sound of footsteps he drew his weapon again, re-holstering when he saw Morgan and Reid. "He got away, but Morgan winged him. We notified Hotch already he's on his way."

"Jane…" the sound of JJ's voice brought tears to Emily's eyes, "No honey its Emily, open your eyes," Emily was shocked at the pain in those eyes.

"Em…where's Jane?" she tried to move but Emily held her down. "Don't move okay. Just lay still.

Morgan knelt down by JJ and put his arm around Emily while she held JJ's hand.

Reid looked down at them stunned by the scene, the gloves on JJ's hands told him part of what had happened and as he looked at the dead man with the wood sticking out of his abdomen, he knew by his proximity that JJ had killed him. Shaking his head he moved down the stairs.

"Jane!" Running down past Reid, Maura dropped to her knees by Jane. "Oh God Jane…A, B, C's" she muttered as tears rolled down her face, "A, B, C's" careful not to roll her over she was able to tell by her posture that there were broken ribs. "Barry what happened? Where's Rodriguez?"

"He got away Doc"

Staring at him she looked down at Jane's still form, "where's the ambulance?" she whispered. She listened to Jane's labored breathing and frantically stood up, "where's the…" the sound of the sirens silenced her. Taking a deep breath she tried to stay calm, knowing that help for Jane and JJ was finally here.

Yes Maura is usually calm, but she does at times stress out, this is one of those times. As to Rodriguez escaping…did you think I would make it that easy…of course not! Please review to your heart's content and mine.

Reviews=quicker updates