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Kevin shut down his desktop system and picked up the fresh cup of coffee he'd grabbed from the break room. He was just about to the door of his office when his phone beeped. He grinned at the caller ID.

"Hey princess, what's up?" He said cheerfully.

"I need to talk to you. Can we meet somewhere outside of the office?"

"What's wrong baby. You sound very stressed."

"Of course I'm stressed. My best friend is missing! There's no evidence to find him. How do you expect me to feel?"

"You don't have to shout!"

"I'm sorry. I'm just upset. That's why I need to see you. You always know how to help me relax."

A large lecherous grin spread over his face. "Why Penelope Garcia… Are you asking me for a lunch quickie?"

"Yeah, you got a problem with that." A flirtatious tone had crept into her voice.

"No, you know I'm always 'up,' for fun no matter the time of day. It'll have to be very quick though. I have someplace I need to be."

"Not too quick!"

He laughed. "I'll see what I can do."

"Meet me at 1272 Oak Street."

"Why there," He wondered.

"I'm house-sitting for a friend. She's on vacation for the next week and needs someone there at night for appearances sake. There's a California King in the master bedroom with a gel mattress."

"You know what I like baby."

"Of course I do. That's why we're perfect for each other."

"You make me hungry woman. I'll see you in half an hour!"

"I can't wait my prince."

---

"I'm sorry you had to do that Baby-girl."

"I want to take a really long and hot shower."

She put the phone into her bag with a shaking hand. "I know… I promise you Penelope, he won't walk out of here."

"Don't hurt him!"

He reared back in surprise at the vehemence in her voice. "Why are you defending him? He's a scumbag. He used you for over a year to get to Reid. I'm going to kick his sorry ass!"

Garcia reached out and touched his cheek. "I love you for defending me. But, if you hurt him, you could jeopardize finding Reid or getting Calloway and his cohorts sent to jail."

Morgan ducked his head, "He may not go to jail. Hotch is talking about offering the bastard immunity in return for telling us where Reid is."

"He can't do that!" Her face went from cottage cheese white to blotchy red. "I don't ever want to see him again. He deserves jail for what he's done."

Morgan drew her into his arms. "I'll do my best to get him to talk without a deal."

"If you have to hurt him to get him to talk, then do it!"

"I'll do whatever I have to do baby-girl."

"Morgan?"

"What is it mama?"

"I'm sorry for all of this."

"It's not your fault." He let go of her and put his hand under her chin. "This is Kevin's fault, and Calloway and his merry band of idiots. It's not your fault."

"I was stupid. I believed him when he said that he loved me."

Because you didn't believe me when I said I loved you. Not that I blame you. Guilt overwhelmed him and he pulled her back into his arms. He hugged her so tightly that she began to squirm.

"I can't breathe Derek."

He whispered in her ear. "I meant what I said Penelope. I love you. You're my God given solace."

Then he dropped his arm and walked out of the room, leaving her to her thoughts and a racing heart that wouldn't stop pounding.

---

"Alright Ramirez, what have you got to say."

Reid and Austin were huddled together in a large armchair. The living room was about the same size as his apartment, but the furniture was a lot uglier. It was red vinyl and the coffee table was chipped wood. Ramirez kept his gun holstered, but Reid kept his on the coffee table within easy reach. Ramirez stayed next to the door as though he was ready to bolt at any minute.

"We don't have much time." He repeated his caution from the hallway. He began to pace up and down in front of them.

"Calloway came to me a year ago. There was no choice but to follow him. He told us from the first that Section Chief Strauss was in this up to her eyeballs. He threatened my family and offered to pay me very well if I helped him kidnap you. He's dangerously paranoid and he hates Aaron Hotchner.

"Why?'

"He blames him for taking over your unit. He wanted the position for himself. He thought after what happened in Boston four years ago, that Gideon would be fired and he'd head the team. He's always coveted you for himself. He sees you as the brains of the most successful team in the BAU."

"But I'm not -"

"I know that Dr. Reid. I tried to talk sense to him, but it was useless. He's a raging paranoid that functions well because he can talk the birds out of the trees if he wants to."

"I won't lie to you Dr. Reid, the prospect of money and being able to work with you held a lot of appeal for me. Then I saw what Calloway was willing to do to you and I decided that I had to find someway to help you."

"I don't believe him Spencer!" Austin piped up from their seat. "He's going to keep us here till the big guy comes after us. We have to leave."

Reid tightened his arm around her. "We can't leave. If Section Chief Strauss is behind this, we can't be seen in this building."

"She is behind this. She wants Hotch out of the way. When she failed to break up your team last year, she came to Calloway with this plan."

Reid was nodding his head. One of his hands was stroking Austin's hair and her arm. She was still shaking from delayed nerves. He didn't blame her.

"She's obsessed with Hotch. She continues to see him as a threat to her job. She believes that he's after her position with the bureau. That may have been true four years ago, but I don't think that's true now."

"Even so, Agent Reid, she believes the best way to accomplish her goals is to get rid of you. If something were to happen to you again, she could fire him."

"Why did you decide to help us?'

"I love my family. Calloway has a lot of questionable contacts that he won't hesitate to turn against me. I can let that happen. I don't care anymore what happens to me."

He directed his next words to Austin who was watching him with distrustful eyes. "I know you don't trust me. That's why I'm going to leave the room. I won't lock the door. However, I suggest you stay here. Call Hotch, and get him over here now. He's the only one that can get you out of here safely."

Reid untangled himself from Austin. He followed Ramirez to the door without his gun. "I'm going to trust you because I don't have a choice. If I get Austin out of here safely, I'll put in a good word with Hotch. I can't guarantee that you won't go to jail."

"I told you I don't care what happens to me as long as my family doesn't get hurt."

He left the room. Reid waited several seconds, and then opened the door. Ramirez was gone and better yet, they were alone in an unlocked room.

"Is he gone?" Austin's voice was trembling behind him.

He went back to her and hugged her tight. "He's gone… I'm going to call Hotch.

---

"How do you want to handle this Hotch?"

"I'm going to lock him in a room with Morgan. Is there a room that you don't care if something gets broken?"

Rossi just looked at him with a neutral expression. "Yeah… the basement should do nicely.

He led the way to the kitchen and through a door to the left of the pantry. The light at the top of the stairs revealed nine wooden stairs that led down to a carpeted floor. Hotch followed him down to the basement.

The first room to his right looked like a storage room. The next room was an empty bedroom. Rossi went back to the storage room and grabbed chair. Hotch put it in the center of the room.

"This looks just a little too cliché."

"Whatever works," Rossi said. "Think it will scare the kid."

"Yeah, I think it will."

They were heading back up the stairs when Morgan stepped into the kitchen. "He's here," he said quietly. "What do you want me to do?" He asked Hotch.

"Take him downstairs. I don't care how you get Reid's location. Just do it as fast as you can." Hotch whispered.

They filed out of the kitchen and into the living room where Kevin was in the middle of a kiss with Garcia. It looked like an open mouth, full on, tongue kiss to Morgan. Hotch held him back when he wanted to surge forward and knock him to the ground.

"Excuse us." Hotch said rather loudly.

Morgan wanted to laugh when Kevin leaped away from Garcia like he'd been electrocuted. Garcia backed away from him toward Rossi. Morgan was on him before he could react. He pinned the man's hands behind his back.

"One wrong move you son of a bitch and I will break both your arms."

"Let go of me! Penny, what the hell is going on!?"

"Don't ever call me that again!"

She was standing between Hotch and Rossi. Hotch had a hand on her shoulder and Rossi winked at her. Hotch stepped forward and the icy look he turned on the younger man froze him into place.

"Mr. Lynch… We know what you're doing with Section Chief Strauss. It would be better for you to just cooperate with us now."

"I don't know what you're talking about sir."

"Wrong answer," Morgan jerked on his arms and Kevin yelped.

"Where is Dr. Reid?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. Calloway is looking into it. I haven't found anything and -"

"Shut up! We know you're lying!"

"Let go of me!"

"I don't think so. You see, you messed with two of my best friends. Did you think I'd just let you get away with that?"

"I didn't do anything."

"Take him downstairs Morgan. Show him the error of his ways." Rossi said.