Disclaimer: No.

A/N: I'll let everyone know now, that I always finish my stories so if I haven't updated in awhile, I've been really busy and will eventually get around to it. We're getting closer to the end now, not many chapters left. Just feel like saying Ara Cho time Ara Cho time, I think this could be a hit, chant with me Ara Cho time. Sorry, got a little carried away there. Enjoy this extremely late update. I've been horrible lately, I know guys.

Every romantic bone in Van Pelt's body was buzzing upon seeing Jane's couch. She was pretty sure she shouldn't be smiling at a time like this or this early in the morning but seeing something so lovely had her in a sort of good mood. She hated why they were here at five o'clock in the morning, but liked that they'd all found their way to each other. Lisbon and Jane, her and Rigsby. There was no way to fully enjoy it though. A girl they'd grown close to - practically family - was missing and possibly hurt or worse. It was starting to make her sick to her stomach - she'd skipped breakfast because of it - but this almost made her forget the terrible events that led to it.

She'd never thought three people could fit on Jane's couch before, granted one was a tiny little girl but there they were. All tangled together, Lisbon flat on her back with her face tucked into Jane's neck, while he looked highly uncomfortable and squished between her and the back of the couch. Ara sleeping soundly on her mother's chest, both adults holding her in place by a protective hand on her back. It was just adorable but obvious that all, except Ara would have a pain of some sort from the odd position.

Grace knew her boss would probably die from embarrassment if she saw the way they were sleeping, and the way everyone who walked by was staring in awe. This would definitely fuel the rumors. Though they weren't really rumors anymore. She knew it'd happen eventually. It was clear they loved each other, it'd been noticeable before Lisbon ever found out she was pregnant. That hurdle had only seemed to strengthen what they shared. It was beautiful.

As quietly as possible, she walked over to the piece of furniture and pulled the blanket off the back. With one quick flick of the wrists, she was stretching it over the three sleeping bodies and hoping that she didn't wake any of them. Easing away just as quietly, she smiled when the occupants never even flinched and then occupied herself at her desk. She wanted to find something so they'd wake to good news instead of more lame excuses as to why nothing had been discovered.

Jane had woken the second he heard someone walk in, he knew by the steps who it was but he'd remained still and kept his eyes closed. He was so tired and Lisbon was just too warm to willingly leave yet. A few more minutes and then he'd extract himself. It was sweet of the red headed agent to place the blanket over them, he'd have to mention that later and maybe even thank her. He felt Ara move against his hand, snuggling into her mother's chest, legs kicking lightly against Lisbon's stomach. It didn't look like it'd be comfortable but Lisbon never moved. When all of this was over, he was taking them all on a much needed week long vacation. He didn't know where they'd go but they needed to get away to relax. Even little Ara was starting to fuss like she knew something was wrong.

That's how they'd ended up tangled in a heap on his couch in the first place. The little one had woken early in the morning while Jane and Lisbon were tossing theories around. She'd been fretting for over an hour in her sleep and when she actually woke up, she was crying. They'd both rocked her, passed her back and forth to calm her down and she'd stopped but then she wouldn't let go. She would cling to whomever was holding her and seemed terrified at the idea of being put down. She kept asking when they were going to go home and Jane had seen the look on Lisbon's face. It was her idea to stay and she felt horrible for it in that moment.

When Jane heard Van Pelt's footsteps lead away from the bullpen, he let his eyes crack open. Wild dark hair was the first thing he saw and then he tilted his head down to the mini version of the wild locks and soothingly rubbed the baby's back. She let out a soft sigh, just as she always had whenever he did this. Just as her mother had whenever he'd rub her pregnant belly. Lisbon had made a very beautiful pregnant woman, absolutely gorgeous in every way. She also made a beautiful mother, so loving and tender but tough when she needed to be.

He let his lips brush over her nose, chuckling when she scrunched it and wiggled impossibly closer, tightening her hold on her baby. He would love it when they had more time to enjoy the little things, when they got Nellie back. The moving little girl stretched, clutching at Lisbon's shirt and let her eyes slowly open. After a few minutes of rapid blinking, the little one seemed awake but content to just lay. Jane found it calming to watch her, fondly smiling when she nuzzled her face into her mother's chest. He couldn't blame the little one, if he woke up with his face pressed into Lisbon's chest he wouldn't want to move either.

As badly as he hated to though, he knew he needed to wake the sleeping beauty. She looked as if she was resting well but they needed all hands on deck. It was bad enough that they'd fallen asleep to begin with, he knew she'd be mad at herself for that. He was already kicking himself for the same thing but a quick glance at the clock told him it had only been a few hours. It was still early enough to be kind of dark.

Heavy footsteps made their way towards them, Jane could see that it was Cho but he didn't pretend to be asleep this time. He had to somehow find a way to get up without knocking Lisbon and Ara into the floor. Cho seemed to understand his dilemma and in a few quick strides was next to the couch, leaning down to gently lift Ara out of the way.

"Thanks."

"No problem." Arabella whimpered a little at the motion until Cho let her rest against his shoulder and then she was content to just lay against him. Jane frowned a little at her behavior but just figured she was tired from being restless through the night. He lifted the hand that had been resting on the child's back up to Lisbon's lips and apparently Cho took that as his cue to leave, taking Ara with him. Jane couldn't help it though, she looked so pouty. As if even in dreamland, her brain wouldn't let her forget what was happening.

He let his thumb trace over her bottom lip, watching as she furrowed her brow and tried to turn away from the light touch. He thought about just letting her sleep but she'd kick his ass when she woke up if he did. Dropping his hand to her hip, he leaned in to whisper in her ear.

"Teresa, you need to wake up." She mumbled something incoherent and tried to roll away, not realizing she wasn't in a bed. He caught her easily before she fell but the jolt jerked her away from the land of sleep she'd been in. Her eyes were wide but sleepy when he pulled her back towards him. He loved it whenever she just woke up. Her voice was always so soft and melodic.

"Where's Ara?" Somewhat panicky, Lisbon remembered holding the little one when she fell asleep and now she was gone. Groggily trying to search the room, Jane stilled her by resting his hand on her cheek.

"Cho's got her. She's fine."

"I shouldn't have made her stay here last night."

"You want to tell me what's been bothering you?" A look of confusion plagued her tired and misty eyed face. "I notice the way you look at her now."

"I-I love her with everything I have but sometimes I just don't know if that's enough." Suddenly the pieces of the puzzle fit, it clicked together in his mind and he immediately squelched her worries with a gentle kiss and supportive encouragement. She was an overworked single mother with a gruesome job, he expected this sooner or later.

"Teresa, you are an amazing mother. You don't ever have to doubt that. I mean it. Don't doubt yourself, you have no reason to."

Walking the CBI halls with a baby on your hip probably would've gotten several weird looks if everyone wasn't so used to seeing the bouncy little toddler. She didn't seem so bouncy today, Cho mused. She kept her face turned into his shoulder and her hands fisted in his shirt. If it were anyone else, he'd probably complain about the wrinkles it would leave but it was Arabella, Lisbon's daughter - he wasn't about to take her back to her mother and mention something as mundane as shirt issues.

It was usually quite a challenge to change the little one, she always had to talk and wiggle but she'd just laid there this time, dozing in and out. He wasn't an expert but he knew something wasn't quite up to parr. Ara was always a morning person unlike her mother. Cho almost laughed at the thought, almost but it didn't get any further than a glorified smirk.

"Cho..." The whiny tone caught him off guard. She was never whiny, her voice was always more bossy than anything. Like mother, like daughter.

"What's wrong?" He would never admit it aloud but the small girl had changed him. She'd changed everyone, yes but he had never really been one for getting breakfast with a little girl cuddling into him. He didn't get a reply from her, no small voice answering his question. She just snuggled closer as he opened the fridge. "Hungry Ara?"

"No...want Mum-mum now." As much as he wanted to give in to the small quivering voice, he knew he couldn't. Knowing Jane and Lisbon like he did, he knew they were awake and running through what all they had on the kidnapping. They didn't have a heck of a lot but they were working and Lisbon liked keeping Ara away from anything she didn't need to hear. That included case related talk and especially something involving their very own Nellie.

"She's busy, come on you need to eat."

"No."

"Not even Lucky Charms?" Anyone who knew Ara, knew that she loved the marsh mallow cereal but it seemed even on this day, it wasn't good enough. "Pop tart? Eggs?"

"No."

"Something is definitely wrong with you." In an odd kind of way, Ara shared a trait with Rigsby; the love of food. The little one could eat, if it was food she would try it. Shifting the child around in his hold, he lifted a hand to her cheek, feeling each one and then moving up to her forehead. She was hot. This was not a good thing. Cho knew he'd let Lisbon know but he'd insist on handling it if she was needed to track down something useful. The woman had enough on her plate at the moment, the least he could do was offer to help out.

A hand reached towards the coffee pot startling Cho from his thoughts, Lisbon. Her hair was flattened on one side and almost completely sticking up on the other and he could have cracked a remark. He had the perfect one, but not today. She looked exhausted and he knew why, it wouldn't be right to say something witty. Instead he turned towards her, offering her a look of compassion. If they didn't all go insane with worry for Nellie, he'd be surprised.

"Morning Cho." Leaning in to press a kiss to her daughter's head, she nuzzled the little ones cheek and gasped at the heat. "She's burning up."

"I was just on my way to tell you she has a fever, she didn't want anything to eat. I knew something was wrong."

"Come here sweetie." The fussing mother was pulling the little one from his grasp and cradling her like a baby before he even realized it.

"Mum-mum..."

"Shhh baby, just rest. I'm gonna get you something to make you feel better." It was still always something astounding to see whenever Lisbon was mothering her daughter, Cho had never really thought of her being a mom before. He knew with all the Mother Teresa stuff she pulled with her team that she'd definitely make a good one, he'd just never really thought he'd get to see her with a feverish child in her arms.

"Boss, I'll be more than happy to do it."

"Thank you but I'm just gonna take her and lay her down in my office. I'll take you up on your offer if anything new comes in."

He was a sucker, he knew it but Jane also knew that he'd do anything he could for Lisbon. So when she'd mentioned that she'd like it if she didn't need to leave for diapers, he jumped. He offered because that's just what he was supposed to do. He needed a little distraction or he wouldn't be able to make it much longer without having a breakdown. He had to stay strong for Lisbon, for Ara. No matter how much he wanted to curl up in a corner and scream at himself for failing to protect another member of his family, he couldn't.

Fishing the spare key out of his pocket, he noticed the door was open about an inch. Lisbon always locked her door, and he knew she had when they'd left the day before. He punched in her number on his phone, telling her that he needed her to stay quiet and listen. Then he was sliding it into his pocket with the key and slowly pushing the door. It opened wide with a creak, revealing what looked to be a perfectly untouched living room but Jane knew better. Stepping over the threshold, he scanned the visible space for any signs of disturbance, there was nothing. Not a thing had been moved even in the slightest. He could feel that something wasn't right, he could feel that someone was still lurking. That's why he had Lisbon on the line.

"Hello?" A few seconds of silence echoed and then the sound of boots, heavy against the floor.

"Not the one I was expecting." The door slammed and Jane practically jumped out of his skin. Turning around, he almost scoffed at the hiding place of the man staring at him. Behind the door, really? Of all places. Ah well.

"Brett I presume?" A simple nod was his answer. The gun in his hand kept him from saying anything stupid and witty. "And just who were you expecting."

"I told Nellie I was bringing her a gift, though I admit I was hoping for that hot little thing that carries the handcuffs...seems like she'd be fun."

"So what you're going to kidnap me?" Jane had to bite back the possessive growl he almost let out. Nobody talked about Lisbon in such a demeaning way. It was just wrong and he hated it with a passion.

"Well I suppose you'll do but I was looking forward to the woman. She looks great naked." The smirk on his face had Jane's blood running cold but he held himself together. This could actually work out to their advantage, he already had Lisbon listening in. Though he was having a little problem keeping the anger from rising in his chest. No wonder Nellie hated the guy, he was psychopath.

But this might be the way to get to Nellie, and he couldn't risk it. He wouldn't blow it, he'd have to play by Brett's rules to do it. He hoped Lisbon would forgive him for the personal things he was going to spill. If she had the team listening in to the call, then he was definitely sorry.

"She's beyond beautiful. How'd you know?"

"You two should really close the blinds at night. Enough chit chat, I apologize in advance for this but I'm going to shoot you now."

"I'll go willingly on two conditions. Don't shoot me is the first and leave me conscious is the second." He wasn't really in any position to be tossing around orders but he didn't want to be shot, it just seemed so painful, and if he was able to look around and see his surroundings then he would know where they were. "It'd also be great if you told me where I'm vacationing for the next however many days you plan to keep me alive."

"You're crazy." Lisbon was probably cursing by now, Jane almost smiled at the thought. She'd be irate that he was letting himself be kidnapped. He was walking into it but it was all for a good cause. She'd probably also be a little pissed that he wasn't going to be bringing the diapers.

"If you plan to kill me then you have no reason to worry about me knowing where it is. Come on, surely you're not that insecure. You really think that wherever it is, I'd manage to escape or that the cops will find you. I'm not as impressed now. Earlier I was impressed. We've had no leads whatsoever, nothing and now this? I must say I'm very disappointed in you." Baiting people along was easy. Playing off little insecurities to make them do your bidding was even easier. It was simply a matter of using the right tone and the right words, after that it was cake.

"Old construction site. That's all you need to know." He might have acted brave, but Jane was actually quite terrified. He just knew that he'd get to see Nellie and make sure she was safe. Lisbon would find him...he hoped.

an2: Next up: Lisbon tries to deal with two missing and one sick.