"Time is more valuable than money. You can get more money, but you cannot get more time." – Jim Rohn

"Aaron, we have a problem."

Three members of the Behavioral Analysis Unit stood present as the conference call to their boss went through. However, only SSA David Rossi had the stomach to tell him the situation as they knew it.

"Reid's gone. It's highly possible that his mother is the un-sub. We think he's had it figured out since he left the hospital. He slipped out of here with one of the BAU's SUV's and unless we're sorely mistaken, we think he's gone to confront his mother."

Of all the possible reasons for his team to call, Hotch never would have predicted that they would present him with news like this. Judging by the silence that followed, it was more than he knew what to do with.

"Hotch?"

Finally a response came from the other end of the line, "And you have no idea where he could have gone?"

Morgan gathered his thoughts enough to join the conversation, "We could alert the local police to set up road blocks for the SUV but…"

"No." Hotch's answer to that was firm and quick. From the passenger's seat in a Woodbridge Police patrol car, he glanced at the officer at his side and went on to say, "Reid isn't a threat and if we get anyone else involved at this point it's just going to end worse."

Irritation blatantly rang in Morgan's voice as he came back with, "Then what are we supposed to do, Hotch? The kid's not thinking strait and… if you'd have seen him man… it almost seems like he only came back here to say goodbye to us."

What were they supposed to do? It was one of those moments where even Hotch felt completely helpless. Without knowing where Reid had gone, there was hardly any chance of coming to his aid. By the way his teammates were talking, it sounded as if Reid had made his mind up to die anyway. Maybe contacting the police wasn't the worst idea.

"Guys," That God-given solace entered the room and lifted the dampened spirits with her words, "I just remembered that a few months ago the BAU installed a select few of the SUV's we use with GPS trackers. I managed to get into the system that traces these vehicles and… and I think I found where Reid's going."

"What? Where! Where is he?"

"Well I-I had to walk out of the room to tell you guys but from what I last saw he's heading northbound on Jefferson Davis Highway."

The team looked at one another with confusion burning in their eyes and Hotch's voice came from the device on the table, "Are you all sure about this theory on his mother. If he's northbound on Jefferson, isn't it possible he's on his way to visit Gideon?"

Garcia hesitated for a moment before stammering, "I… I-I don't know. I guess it's possible."

"Go back and keep watching his route," Rossi instructed Garcia then turned his attention back to the conference call. "Hotch we'll call you from the car. We're going after him."

As the rest of the team headed out, Garcia followed her orders and raced back to her office. Immediately upon returning to her seat, she had just cause to reconnect with her boss.

"Yeah Garcia?"

"Sir, it looks like Reid just made a left turn on Neabsco Road… towards the Leesylvania State Park."

Glancing out the window, Hotch could tell by his surroundings that he wasn't too far from said location. As she was still on the line, Garcia overheard her boss instruct the police office driving to turn around and switch on the siren.

"Garcia, keep me on the line and connect us to Rossi and the others. I can't be more than five minutes away from where he is, keep your eye on his every move and tell me exactly where to go to find him. Am I clear?"

"Crystal, sir. I'll get Rossi on no-… oh."

Hotch didn't like the sound of that 'oh'. "What is it?"

"Th-the car stopped moving, sir. I… I don't think he's driving anymore. Wherever he goes from here is probably on foot but I can give you the exact location of where the vehicle is."

There came an earsplitting screech from the tires of the police car as it took the turn onto Neabsco Road in a rather disorderly fashion. Hotch spoke over the ruckus in the background with determination and despair tainting his voice. "Just hurry, Garcia. We're running out of time."

~ Author's Notes ~

Shortest chapter so far but don't worry – unless something ENTIRELY unexpected happens to occur – this should be second to the last.