A/N: Hi, everybody, I'm back, finally after what must have been the craziest summer in my lifetime, connected with the hugest writer's block in history. First of all, a heartly thank you to all of you who reviewed and/or put the story to their favorites and alerts. Since the challenge is over now, I present you without any further ado the second chapter of the story. WARNING: the drama-meter increases.

Chapter 2

27th Precinct, Washington

30 minutes later

The team walked into the precinct as one, like an arrowhead, pointing at the enemy. Hotch was as usual the first and let his gaze sweep over the crowd of police officers and detectives right in front of him. One of them, a medium built Latino in his early thirties, approached the group of profilers.

"Agent Hotchner, I suppose? I'm Detective Martinez."

The two men shook hands and Hotch went to introduce his team.

"Hello, these are Agents Rossi, Prentiss, Morgan, Dr. Reid and Jareau."

"Hello everyone. Please follow me to our conference room."

"Detective Martinez, you said something about a hostage situation."

"Yes, Agent Jareau, there is one. In a small diner west of here. My officers are there, but he refuses to talk to them. He only wants to talk to one of you."

"How many hostages are we talking about?"

"Well, Agent Morgan, as far as we know, he has only one hostage. A man."

"What about the waiters and other staff at the diner?"

"He sent them out. One of them called 911. That's how we got notified about it."

Meanwhile, the whole group had arrived at the conference room where the profilers would make a makeshift command center for the time being. Hotch and Detective Martinez stopped outside the room.

"Detective, do we know the identity of the hostage?"

"No, he didn't say something about it to us. Maybe you've got more luck with this guy. Does he have any connections to you or your team?"

"I can't tell you that right now. And if you ask why: because one of my team or my whole team, including me, could be in mortal danger. We already had a leak discovered about the same case, so forgive me if I'm not giving out information freely."

"I understand, Agent Hotchner. But if you need any help protecting one of your people, just let me know."

"Of course, Detective Martinez."

Carson's Roadside Diner

20 minutes later

After discussing the preliminary knowledge about Doyle with the Detective, Hotch, Rossi and Morgan drove to the diner to take an active role in ending the hostage situation. They had already Garcia updated on the whole story and had her send all the files about Doyle to the precinct for Prentiss, JJ and Reid to go over them once again. Maybe one of them would find the point to break him. As soon Hotch stopped the SUV next to the police cruisers, Morgan called out to one of the officers.

"Officer Swanson? Is he here? FBI, SSAs Morgan, Hotchner and Rossi."

The one officer Morgan had called out turned around and approached the car.

"Yeah, he is here. You are talking to him. It's good to have you here. We are more than worried about this nutcase."

"How is that so, officer?"

"First of all, he closed all the blinds. We have no idea what the hell is going on in there, and for all we know, he is armed, crazy and extremely dangerous."

"Is there anything more to know?"

"Yes, sir."

"And what would that be?"

"He told one of my officers that we should ask you about someone with the name JJ. Does that name ring a bell?"

"Yeah, of course it does. JJ is short for Jennifer Jareau. She was our media liaison for several years, then worked for a few months over at the Pentagon and just returned to the team this morning."

"Officer, did he tell you more about JJ?"

"Yes, Agent Rossi, he said that her life would never be the same."

"Oh my God. Hotch, Rossi, you know what that's supposed to mean."

Both men didn't answer, but acknowledged the fact that the hostage most likely was JJ's fiancé Will LaMontagne with a simple nod. Now they were on one hell of a road.

27th Precinct

About the same time

Jennifer Jareau had a feeling. But she wasn't so sure if it was a good or a bad one. She only knew that something wasn't right. Her mind told her that it could have something to do with her sudden return to the BAU, and she was inclined to believe that. So she was in no ways prepared for the phone call Hotch gave her several seconds later.

"Jareau."

"JJ, we might need you back in Quantico."

"Why?"

Aaron didn't answer her right away.

"Aaron, why should I go back to Quantico? Especially when all the press will be present here around the precinct?"

"Because you can't be our media liaison on this case."

"Can you tell me why?"

"JJ, sit down. Please."

"I'm already seated, so go ahead, Hotch."

"We are not 100 per cent sure, but most likely Doyle's hostage is Will."

"Are you kidding me?"

"No. JJ, Doyle told the police officers only one thing. To ask us about someone with the name JJ and to tell her that her life will never be the same after today."

Hotch didn't saw her face, but he could feel how all the color drained out of it. He knew exactly how she was feeling – helpless, angry and willed to do everything to save the man she loved.

"Aaron, it can't be Will. When I called you in the morning, he was sleeping upstairs. He wasn't planning on going outside today."

"JJ, if you don't believe me, try his phone."

"Hang on a minute."

JJ put her cell phone down on the desk and dialed Will's cell phone number on the desk phone in front of her. It rang three times before a voice, which JJ instantly identified as Doyle's, answered it.

"Agent Hotchner, nice of you to call."

"It's Agent Jareau, Doyle."

"Well, the more the merrier. Would you like to say goodbye to your detective?"

"No, I would rather discuss your surrender."

"You know that this is not going to happen."

Aaron, Morgan and Rossi were listening to the conversation, as well as Garcia and Strauss back in Quantico. With the difference that the men wanted to kill Doyle with their bare hands, while the women were just listening with tears in their eyes. Back at the precinct, Emily Prentiss walked into the room.

"Ian, what the hell are you doing?"

"Lauren, my princess, it's good to hear that you survived our last meeting."

"Well, that's happening when you are working for the good side. And I hope and promise you that you will not survive the next one."

"Are you threatening me, my love?"

"Yes, and I suggest that you let your hostage go."

"As I told Agent Jareau, this is not going to happen."

Without waiting for a further response from one of the agents, Ian Doyle hung up. JJ turned to Emily, tears running down her face.

"Emily, get me to the diner. Now."

Without notifying Reid or Detective Martinez, the two women got in one of the SUVs and drove over to the diner.

Carson's Roadside Diner

Will LaMontagne had witnessed a lot while working for the New Orleans PD. He had seen the crime scenes of grisly murders, worked with rape victims, pedophiles and much more. But he never was in a situation like this. Held at gunpoint in an empty diner. Being the only hostage to a first-class lunatic. He knew about Ian Doyle, and that he was responsible for Emily's departure from the BAU and her faked death, but he never thought that he, a former detective from New Orleans, would come into the focus of the killer. And as happy as he was to hear JJ's voice over the phone, he wished that she wouldn't have been notified so soon. Probably the whole team was outside, discussing how to get inside and get him free without jeopardizing his life.

And Will was guessing right. The minds of Hotch, Rossi and Morgan raced a mile a minute, playing scenarios of how to rescue him. But that wasn't so easy. They knew that right the second they were going in, Doyle would either shoot Will or use him as a human shield. One way or another, working with traditional guidelines would most likely result in the death of Will.

But Aaron, Derek and David weren't the only one working on a rescue plan. While driving to the diner, Emily's mind mapped out everything she knew about Doyle. She was looking for a weak link in his vita, an entry point for them to save Will's life. But so far, she was coming up empty. Unless… unless she would suggest an exchange. She was the only person who knew how to handle him, and she could provide the team and SWAT snipers a chance to take Doyle down. And if it was the last thing Emily Prentiss would do for JJ and the "family" she had come to know as the BAU.

TBC