It had been about a week since Lorelai asked Penny to do the background check and Penny called her to come to her office to talk about it. The squad room was quiet. Everyone was catching up on paperwork. Lorelai got up and went. She knocked on Penny's office door.

Penny looked up. "Hey, come on in." She said.

Lorelai went in and that's when she saw Morgan standing on the other side of the office arms crossed. "Oh, hey Morgan." Lorelai realized he knew what was going on. "I was not planning on doing anything stupid." Lorelai said quickly

Morgan nodded. "Why don't you tell me what exactly you think I'm doing here?"

"Because either you figured out what Garcia was doing or because she told you that I asked her to do a deep background check on my former foster sisters foster family." Lorelai said

Morgan nodded. "Did you ask her to do more than the background check?" He asked

Lorelai shook her head. "And if she had found anything I would have come to you. I wasn't planning on doing anything stupid like I said."

Derek nodded.

"Why? What's going on? What did you find?" Lorelai asked Penny

"I found that her foster parents aren't exactly who they say they are…" Penny said

"What do you mean?" Lorelai asked

Morgan sighed. "Close the door." He told her

Lorelai did as she was instructed

"This does not leave this room. I have already spoken to the director, and he knows what's going on." Derek told her

Lorelai looked up at him very confused. "What?"

"This involves a family who is in the witness protection program." Derek said

"W-what?" Lorelai asked

"The reason you couldn't find anything on this family was because they didn't exist twelve years ago. They have been in the program since than. The FBI was unaware that they had registered to be foster parents because they would have never allowed it if they had known. I'm not permitted to discuss details, but they will not be fostering any longer. Julianna has been removed from the home." Derek told her

Lorelai leaned against the closed door. "Derek I swear if I had known…"

"I know. You're not in trouble. The director understands. You technically didn't break any rules. Yeah it's a grey area and you came pretty close but you're not in trouble." Derek told her

"Is Penny? I can take the heat. I asked her too." Lorelai said

"Not with the director." Penny said

Lorelai sighed. "Derek. This is on me not her. If you're angry with anyone be angry with me."

"No. I knew I should have told him. He told me if you ever asked for help with something like this to tell him. I chose not to." Penny told her

"I- I didn't know that." Lorelai said

"I know." Penny told her. "Its okay."

Lorelai looked up at Derek. "Look if you wanted her to tell you because you were afraid what I might do I promise I had no intention of doing anything more than the check without letting you know. I would have come talk to you."

"I believe that Lorelai. But you don't have the best tract record of that." Derek said

"I know. I realize it's not easy for anyone to trust me in these situations and had I known what you asked Penny to do I would have told you what was going on or made sure she told you. I asked her not to tell you. Its on me." Lorelai said trying to protect her friend from the wrath of Derek.

"Lorelai I should have told you what I had promised him, and I shouldn't have agreed not to tell him. I'm the one at fault." Penny said. "Thank you for trying to defend me but its okay." Penny added

Lorelai nodded. "Is there anything else I can be told about Julianna? Where is she going?"

Derek nodded. "She is being moved away from that area for her safety."

"Can I know where?" Lorelai asked

Morgan nodded. "DC."

"What? She will be local?" Lorelai said

Derek nodded.

Lorelai knew she wasn't being told the whole story, but she was getting the feeling there was more that she could know that she wasn't being told. "Anything else?"

"Not something I can tell you." Derek said

Lorelai nodded. "Something the director can tell me?"

"Well technically legally I could tell you, but it should come from someone else. I'm sure that person will tell you." Derek said

Lorelai nodded.

"You are not to discuss any of this with anyone. Not even Hotch." Derek told her

"Got it. I understand." Lorelai said

"You can go." Derek told her

She nodded. "Thanks for letting me know what's going on." She said before she left closing the door behind her. She want back to the squad room and pretended to get back to work. She had to much on her mind to focus.

Spencer saw Lorelai leave than come back to the squad room. He could tell something was wrong. He went over to her desk and leaned against it next to her. "What's going on?" He asked

Lorelai sighed. "I cant tell you." She said

Spencer tilted his head. "Oh?"

"Legally I cant tell you." Lorelai told him

"Okay. Who can?" Spencer asked

"I don't know." Lorelai said

"Okay." Spencer said

"I would tell you if I could." Lorelai told him

Spencer nodded. "I know. I'm not angry."

Lorelai nodded

"You okay thought?" Spencer asked

"Just have a lot to work though." Lorelai told him

Spencer nodded. "There is someone you can talk to about whatever is going on?" He asked

Lorelai smiled and nodded. "Yes."

"Good." Spencer said. He squeezed her shoulder before going back to his own desk and getting back to work.

Meanwhile in Penny's office Derek was standing with his arms crossed looking at Penny. They had been together for awhile now and it wasn't often that Penny lied to him about anything.

"Penelope I'm not happy about the fact that you lied to me." Derek told her

"I know. I'm sorry Der. I should have told you from the beginning." Penny said forcing herself to look up at him.

"Stand up." Derek told her.

Penny did as she was told and stood in front of him. Derek took her chin gently and made sure she kept eye contact. "You are getting your -one get out of jail free card from me. I do not care that you knew she wouldn't do anything stupid I needed to know." He said

Penny nodded. "I know. I'm really sorry Der. It wont happen again." She said

"It better not Penelope." He told her

Penny nodded.

Derek wrapped her in a hug. "It's forgiven." He told her

Penny hugged him back. Derek kissed her head and told her to get back to work before he left her office and went back to his own.

A few hours later Lorelai saw the director going past and up to Hotch's office. And not long after the two men came downstairs, and everyone was told to head to the conference room. They all went into, and the director closed the door behind.

"We have a situation. A few of you have been told about a witness protection situation but it has gotten a bit more complicated." The director told them

"What has changed?" Lorelai asked

Everyone looked at her when she spoke realizing she knew more than most of them.

"Agent Hotchner Jr was informed earlier because it became necessary. Do you want to tell them what you know?" The director asked

"I have been getting emails from a former foster sibling as you all know. She was blaming me for the abuse in the foster home years ago. I realized that there was more going on than it appeared and that maybe she was crying out for help. I did a background check on the foster family I knew she was with and found nothing. I asked Garcia to do a deeper background check and to not let anyone know. She did and found out… um.." She looked up at the director.

The director nodded giving her permission to tell the whole story

Lorelai took a breathe. "She figured out that the reason I was unable to find anything was that the foster parents are in the witness protection program, and I don't know if Garcia told the director or Morgan or if something was triggered in the system when she figured it out, but I was informed by Garcia and Morgan about what was really going on and told I was not to tell anyone."

The director nodded.

"She was also told that they had no business being foster parents and that the girl was being moved here to DC." Morgan added.

Lorelai nodded. "Yes. That too. Also seemed like there was something more maybe where she was going to be that I was told should come from someone else." She added

"That would be with me." Rossi said

Everyone looked over at Rossi. "I have been a registered foster parent for a few years."

"I asked him to do so if something happened to me I wanted to make sure well at the time Lorelai and Jack were taken care of but obviously a lot has changed since than." Hotch said

"But a new problem has arisen. The FBI agents who were assigned to bring young Julianna here while they were driving to the airport their car was ambushed. The FBI agents were shot. Both are in surgery at the hospital only time will tell if they will be okay, and the girl was taken." The director told them

"Why were the foster parents in WitSec?" Prentiss asked

"They had been involved in the mob and they confessed and gave up information to take them down. They were given immunity, but they should never have been allowed to foster. It was done behind the FBI's back" The Director informed them

"Which team was lead for that case?" JJ asked

"A team that has been disbanded." The director said.

"Agent Fletcher's team." Hotch told them

"Wait wasn't that the team Goodwin was on?" Lorelai asked

"Yes." The director said

"Is he still locked up?" Reid asked

"No. He was released a couple months ago." The director said

"And you didn't think I needed to know that?" Agent Hotchner Jr asked

"He was a model inmate, and he was sorry for what he had done. I didn't see him as a threat and didn't think it was necessary to worry you." The director said

Lorelai looked at Hotch. "I was unaware." He told her

Lorelai nodded. "Do we think he is involved?"

"No. I have checked he has an alibi." The director told her

Lorelai nodded.

"Do we have any suspects?" Rossi asked

"The only person we couldn't bring down was the head of the mob. He managed to disappear its why we had to put them in WitSec." The director said. "His name is Donavan Hernandez. He hasn't been seen in twelve years. He is one of our most wanted." The Director said.

The team was filled in on the rest of the case before they headed out to head to Washington state where the girl had lived with her foster family and where the car had been ambushed on the way to the airport.

On the flight there Lorelai was making coffee in the back of the jet. She was deep in through and ended up dropping a few mugs. Thankfully they were empty, but they made a lot of noise getting the attention of the team. Rossi got up and went and helped her pick up a couple pieces of a mug that had broken.

"You okay?" He asked

Lorelai let out a breathe. "I just am trying to wrap my head around all this."

Rossi nodded. "Are you going to be okay to work this case? I know sometimes when it comes to the kids you grew up with its harder for you to keep focused."

Lorelai nodded. "I'm okay." She said throwing the pieces into a paper bag so no one would get hurt

"You sure?" He asked

Lorelai nodded. "Yes Sir. I'm sure"

"Okay." Rossi said

They both got their coffee before heading back to their seats.

When they got to Washington they all went where they were told to go.

They worked for several days before they got any traction on the case. It had been a lot of dead ends.

Lorelai was working with Garcia over the phone going over all their suspects known contacts.

Lorelai kept giving her names and Garcia kept finding them either dead or in prison. Lorelai was getting frustrated. "Come on Garcia there has to be someone." Lorelai said

"I'm sorry but they are all in prison or dead." Garcia said

"Have you found anyone else he might have known?" Lorelai asked

"No." Garcia said

"Well how about you do what you are capable of and find something and than call me back." Lorelai said her tone of voice implying how annoyed she was before hanging up.

Garcia was upset. She knew Lorelai was annoyed. "Come on Garcia you know you can do this." She told herself. Garcia started typing into the computer trying to find something that could help them. She took a breathe and she eventually found out that their wanted criminal had been in a psychiatric facility when he was a teenager and that he had gotten close to someone there and it had come out while he was there that he was gay, and their suspect and another teenage patient beat the crap out of someone who was harassing their suspect. Garcia found the other guys name and looked him up and she was able to find out this guy had been in and out of prison since he was a teenager and had been in Washington when the FBI transport had been ambushed and the girl taken. She called Morgan

"Hey baby girl what's up?" Morgan asked when he answered the phone.

"I have a name." She told him what she had found.

"Weren't you working with Lorelai on this?" Morgan asked

"Um. Yeah. But I couldn't get in contact with her." Garcia said

Morgan knew that was a lie "Baby girl try again." He said

"What?" Garcia asked

"You're lying. Why didn't you call Lorelai?" he asked

Penny sighed. "She seemed a little frustrated earlier. Thought it was a better idea to talk to someone else about it." Garcia said

"What do you mean frustrated?" He asked

"We were going over the names of his known contacts and I was finding they were all dead or in prison. She got frustrated and told me to call back when I did what I was capable of and hung up…" Garcia said

"Baby girl. That has more to do with her than you." Morgan told her

"Or that she is pissed at me because she things I haven't been on my game lately." Garcia said

"Not the case baby girl. This suspect has been hiding for over a decade he knows how to stay hidden knows what contacts we would have a hard time connecting him too. You found him. You are definitely on your game. I will tell the team what you found. You did good baby girl thank you." He said before he hung up.

Rossi and he had been at the crime scene and Rossi had heard his side of the conversation and had heard enough to know their young agent had done something she shouldn't have. "What did Hotch Jr do?" Rossi asked

Morgan shook his head and told Rossi everything Garcia had told him.

Rossi shook his head. "I believe Garcia but that is completely out of character for Lorelai."

"Yeah. Clearly she is more affected than she is letting on." Morgan said

"But right now, we have to inform the rest of the team of what was going on." Rossi said conferencing in all of them

When they all answered. "Garcia called me and told me about a contact from Hernandez's teen years." Morgan started telling them everything he was told

"Why didn't she call me and tell me?" Hotch Jr asked

"Are you seriously asking that Lorelai?" Rossi asked in a stern tone of voice

"Um. I guess not." She said realizing Rossi knew what she had done

"Something I should know?" Agent Hotch asked

"Yes sir. But now might not be the right moment." Lorelai told him

Hotch told them all where to go. Hotch Jr was sent to meet up with Prentiss and JJ at the house of their new suspect. Lorelai went and met them there. The three of them went and knocked on the door. A teenager looking to be about fourteen opened the door.

"Hello, can I help you?" She asked

"Hello I am agent Jareau. This is Agent Prentiss and Agent Hotchner are your parents home?" JJ asked

The girl called out for her mom who came to the door. The agents spoke with the women who they found out was their suspects ex wife. "He doesn't live here anymore." The women said

"Do you know where he lives?" Prentiss asked

"No. I haven't seen him in six months. He isn't involved in our lives anymore" She said

"You sure he hasn't seen his kids?" JJ asked

"I'm sure. They know to stay away from him. He was abusive its how I got full custody. There is a restraining order. They are terrified of him. If they saw him they would have told me." She said

"Are you sure? Could we talk to them?" Hotch Jr asked

"I am sure. They wouldn't keep that from me." She said

"Please. Can we just ask them?" Agent Prentiss asked

"They have been through enough I don't want to put them through more trauma." She said

"Mom. Its okay." The fourteen-year-old said peering from behind. "I can answer their questions."

"But you shouldn't have to. I know you haven't seen him." The mother told her daughter

"Actually… I have. I think it was just a coincidence because I don't think he saw me, but I saw him going into a building downtown about a week ago." She said

"What?!" The mother said

"Like I said I don't think he saw me. Its why I didn't bother to bring it up." The girl said

"What building?" JJ asked

The girl told her the street and what the building looked like. "I don't know the actually address or what that building is."

"Thank you." JJ said

"Anything else we should know?" Prentiss asked

"I don't know anything else no." The girl said

"Okay. Thank you both." Prentiss said

"What did he do?" The ex-wife asked

"He's wanted for questioning in connection to a case we are working." JJ said

"Should I be worried about my children's safety?" The mother asked

"You said you have a restraining order?" Lorelai asked

"Yes." The mother said

Lorelai took out her card. "If he shows up call me. And if you see him anywhere please call me." She said giving a card to the young girl as well.

Both of them agreed before they three Agents left and called Hotch telling them what they were told. "Prentiss and Hotchner Jr. You two head there and check it out. JJ I need you back at the station." He told them and they went their separate ways. On the drive to the building Prentiss looked at Lorelai.

"So, what happened that made Penny call Derek and not you?" Prentiss asked

Lorelai sighed. "I might have hurt her feelings. I will fix it." She said

"Oh?" Emily asked

"I was… a bit frustrated. I took it out on her." Lorelai told her

Emily nodded. "Yeah you need to fix it."

"I know. I will." Lorelai said

Emily nodded. "I know this case may feel personal for you. Are you okay?"

"Now I am. In that moment I was feeling that we would never find her." Lorelai admitted

Emily nodded. "We will find her."

"I hope she is in one piece when we do." Lorelai said

"Hey. Don't think like that." Emily gently scolded

Lorelai sighed. "Why do we keep having to go through the trauma?"

"I don't know. Its not fair. But life as you know isn't always fair." Emily told her

"Yes. But she is just eight years old." Lorelai said

"Yup. And that means she is resilient as all kids are. She will get through this. When we get her safe and she is with Rossi she will be well taken care of. She will get the help she needs." Emily pointed out

"I know. I just wish she didn't -need the help that she could have just had a normal childhood." Lorelai said

"That's fair. But think about it this way. You didn't have a normal childhood. And look at how far you have come and how strong and smart you are and how your past has helped you become the thriving person you are." Emily told her. "You would not be you without that trauma."

Lorelai smiled. "Thanks."

They pulled into a parking lot across from the building the teen had described. "Nothing that tells us what the building is." Hotch Jr said

"Nope. Call Garcia and ask her to see if she can figure it out." Prentiss said

Lorelai sighed but called Penny putting it on speaker

"Garcia. What can I do for you?" Penny answered the phone

"We have a building that could be connected." Lorelai told her the address

Garcia started typing.

"Penny. I'm sorry." Lorelai said

She stopped typing for a second. "It's okay."

"No. Its not. You didn't deserve me taking my frustration out on you." Lorelai said

Garcia started typing again. "Its forgiven. The building is owned by the city. It has been cited for toxic mold it is to be torn down the city is just waiting for paperwork to be finished." She told them

"Anything else we should know?" Prentiss asked

"Nope. There should be no one in there." Garcia answered

"Okay, Thanks Garcia." Lorelai told her

"Your welcome my favorite mini agent." Garcia said

Lorelai let out a breathe when she ended the call.

"Feel better?" Emily asked

"Yea." Lorelai said

"Good. I have texted the team they are on their way. We are to wait for them." Emily told her

Lorelai nodded and when the rest of the team got there they all went inside and were sent in twos in separate directions. Prentiss and Hotch Jr came up to a closed door. They looked each other and Prentiss nodded to Lorelai. Lorelai opened the door and followed Emily in. They found the young girl. She was tied to the bed. They scanned the rest of the room to make sure no one else was there before they both went to the girl and started to untie her.

"Hey Julianna. Its okay you're safe now." Lorelai said

"Get away from me!" Julianna screamed at Lorelai. Lorelai took a step back.

"Its okay. I'm Emily. You're safe." She told her

Lorelai heard a noise behind her and brought her gun back up and pointed it at the door.

"Well, well what do we have here?" The man asked his gun pointed at the both of them. Lorelai got between the other two and the man. Emily tried to help Lorelai, but Julianna would not let her go.

"Put. your gun down." Lorelai said

"Why would I do that so you can shoot me?" The man asked

"I will have no reason to shoot you if you put the gun down." Lorelai said

"You have my daughter. Let her go." The man said

"Wait what? She's your daughter? If she is this is the stupidest way to get her out of the foster care system." Lorelai said

"Not biologically. I'm her foster father." He said

Lorelai made a face. "No, you're not. I met her foster father and that's not you."

"Yes I Am!" the man said

"Okay. Well, why don't we just calm down. We both put our guns down. You, first and we can talk about this." Lorelai said.

"Nah, I'll just shoot both of you and take her and run. And since the rest of your team is currently locked in another room they wont be able to help either of you." The man said he shot towards Emily thankfully missing but Lorelai saw no other choice in that moment, and she shot him.