Blackangel150 – I just love it on the show when Hotch chews someone's ass. It doesn't matter who

HestiaRue14 – He is sexy in lawyer mode

Lolyncut – It helped just a bit

DJDvampgirlp227 – You'll see the end here

CravenHellsing – I hope you enjoy Whitman's fate.

Blackhope88 – O yeah

ej-83 – She just wanted to make a name for herself, nothing more.

oTwisted-Symphony6 – The lawyer just needed to be shot, but I hope you enjoy this ending

nw21jcc – Here is another chapter before the epilogue. I haven't really seen any stories with Reid as a Dad, I'm glad you looked up this one.

CM**********************************************************************

Chapter 25 Whitman's fate

After Agent Hotchner sat down Swift called on Mrs. Greene. She gave her assessment of Diana Daniels' home life.

She had stated quite clearly that she had not seen any signs of their ever being abuse in the house. That she had seen a functional family.

Bartlett had wisely choose not to cross-exam her.

It was however her turn to establish her case. Bartlett had called her own client, William Whitman.

Whitman was sworn in and took his seat calmly.

"Can you tell about the first time you saw Diana." Bartlett asked.

"I first saw her at the school. I thought she was in kindergarten then I realized she was in the first grade. She was too young to be in first grade. A girl her age needs to be out with friends and doing what she enjoys not worrying about grades or a pushing mother."

"So you are saying her mother was pushing her." Bartlett continued.

"Yes she was. She was a teacher so the school just let her." Whitman continued. "Diana's mom never let her do anything fun. She was always making her do some kind of work. Diana deserves to play."

"What else did you observe?" Bartlett asked.

"Diana deserved a mother and a father. She doesn't have any male role models. Just a mother, who pushes her like those Chinese Tiger-Moms. Diana doesn't have anything else in her life but school. The only thing her mother lets her do is dance. I was surprised she had even allowed that."

Diana looked at her mother and shook her head no.

Whitman didn't stop.

"I went to every single dance recital that Diana had. Her father didn't even show up once. He did not care about it. I didn't even know he was around at all."

Reid looked at his daughter and whispered to her, "I cared."

"Did you ever ask Diana about her father?" Bartlett asked.

"Yes, I did once and I heard her talk about him. All she had were these crazy stories that sounded like they were made up. Diana deserves someone who is going to be around. Someone who she could talk to. Not some myth."

"You didn't think Diana had anyone to talk to." Bartlett asked.

"No one that would listen." Whitman answered. "She was constantly being pestered at school by this bully. Her mother didn't do anything about it. I saw Diana crying several times after being tormented by her. I had to get Diana out of that situation."

"Was there any sign of abuse?" Bartlett asked.

"Only neglect." Whitman answered.

"Did you report it?" Bartlett asked.

"I know how those people work. I showed them the bruises that my Aunt's boyfriend did to me. It took him almost killing me before they let me leave. I knew reporting it wouldn't do any good."

"So you were acting in what you perceived to be in the best interests of Diana." Bartlett finished.

"Yes," Whitman finished.

Swift was ready to take a stab at him now.

"You stated that Diana was being pushed academically." Swift started.

"Yes." Whitman answered.

"Do you think that she was in danger?"

"The damage that her mother inflicted on her would have damaged her for life. Someone needed to act quickly."

Swift nodded. "So you acted quickly to protect her. How did you manage to get Diana away from her mom?"

"Objection." Bartlett shouted. "My client as already admitted to taking Diana for her own protection. This whole line of questioning is irrelevant to the fact that my client was concerned for the well being of the child that he felt the need to act swiftly."

"Sustained." The judge said dryly.

Swift continued. "You said that you were abused as a child and that the system had failed you."

"Yes," Whitman answered. "I know what my caregivers did to me and what Diana's mother is doing to her is different. But it is still abuse. Diana is special, yes. She is a beautiful little girl that is smarter than any other girl I have ever seen."

Swift looked at Whitman. "You were in love with her then."

Whitman nodded "I've wanted children and I just saw her and thought she was just this marvelous child. Then I saw how her mother treated her and I had to act."

Swift was shaking his head. "Did you ever ask Diana how she felt, if she was happy?"

"Yes, she said she was." Whitman answered. "I didn't believe her. It seemed like a rehearsed answer, not an actual one."

After that Whitman stepped down.

The judge declared that the court would take a one hour break for lunch.

The team decided to go across the street to a little deli to eat. Hotch had invited Kathy and Lois to join them. Diana had quickly said yes to the invitation.

While sitting at lunch Diana talked with her Godfather.

Morgan had very quickly developed a relationship with Diana. She was talking rapidly, giving him facts and statistics as well as the books she liked to read. Morgan listened intently to her.

Reid couldn't help but smile. He knew he had made the right choice in deciding on Morgan to act as Diana's Godfather.

After the lunch the team returned to the courthouse. Lois stayed outside to smoke a cigarette before going in.

This had earned her a 'six minutes Grandma," from Diana. It had made J.J. chuckle a bit.

The team went ahead towards the doors of the building. However they could not return to the courtroom. The courthouse was in high alert.

There had been an escape attempt. The team had stayed out of the way of the guards and let the building security sort it out.

In the meantime Reid had maneuvered Kathy and Diana back outside away from the commotion.

After Reid had left the team learned who had escaped, William Whitman.

The team quickly reacted. They knew where he would head.

Morgan pulled out his cell phone. Right now he was having a hard time getting signal. It finally went through.

Reid had Kathy and Diana stay a distance from the crowd. He knew most were just gawkers. It would be best away from them until the situation was resolved.

He grabbed his phone when it rang. It was Morgan. Reid answered and moved away from Kathy and Diana trying to find somewhere he could actually hear what Morgan was saying.

"Kid, listen to me. They are locking the building down. It was Whitman."

Reid looked back around to find Diana or Kathy. They had moved away from where he had left them. He quickly started scanning over the people present to try and find them.

That was when he heard the scream.

What happened next was surreal to Reid and the others around him.

The commotion was caused by Whitman. He had grabbed Diana from Kathy and was now holding her in one arm. In the other hand was a gun.

A circle of guards and onlookers was quickly formed.

One of the guards was holding Kathy back.

Reid was immediately to her side.

From the group one of the guards had stepped up as a hostage negotiator. He was talking very calmly to Whitman.

Reid looked around for his team. He saw Hotch and the others running his direction. Hotch immediately took charge of the situation.

Without pulling his gun, he approached the circle. "Whitman, please listen to me. I believe you when you say that you don't want to hurt Diana. I can understand how you love her. She is a bright beautiful child."

"That's what I have been saying." Whitman said harshly. "You're going to return her to that mother. She doesn't deserve her."

"You're right. She deserves a loving family." Hotch said letting Whitman feel like he was in the lead.

Diana stared at Agent Hotchner as he talked. She didn't appear to be panicking at all. Diana then looked over at her father.

Reid made eye contact with his daughter.

Diana nodded at her Daddy then looked towards Whitman. "Billy," she asked gently.

Taken by surprise of Diana saying his name, Whitman looked at her.

As was his fashion when talking with children, he lowered himself to Diana's level.

Whitman had loosened his grip, but Diana didn't move away. She stayed there talking to him.

Rossi looked at Reid. "What is she doing?"

"She knows the profile." Reid answered.

"What," Morgan said thinking about Diana's age.

"I gave her the profile." Reid explained. He hoped what his daughter was doing was working.

The entire team, including Kathy and Lois, could not help but stare as Whitman and Diana appeared to be in a conversation.

They were talking so low, no one else could hear.

That was when the strangest thing happened. Diana wrapped her arms around Whitman's neck in one of her giant bear hugs. Whitman lifted her off the ground as he hugged her back.

Kathy stared wide-eyed, not understand what her daughter was doing.

After Whitman let go, Diana jumped to the ground and ran as quickly as she could towards her Mommy and Daddy.

Everything might have been alright if it wasn't for one thing.

Whitman was still armed.

He raised the gun towards one of the guards and fired.

Not understanding the mentality, the guard fired in what he considered defense of himself and the others present.

Diana ran right into her mother's arms. She was crying very hard into her mother's shoulder.

Reid had his arms wrapped around the both of them.

Morgan looked down at the family. They had been through enough.

Medics had shown and were talking Whitman away in an ambulance.

"I want to go home." Diana finally said through the tears.

"That's okay we'll go home." Kathy answered.

"Go with them." Hotch ordered to Reid. "We'll make sure this is cleaned up. Morgan make sure they get home."