A/N: Co-written by Auraya-of-the-White. PLEASE REVIEW!!!!!! I DO NOT OWN CRIMINAL MINDS OR ITS CHARACTERS.

The team continued to bomb Casey with questions one after another. She looked around for an excuse to get up and take a breather when she spotted a bathroom. Bingo, her excuse to freedom.

"Umm…excuse me. I need to use the ladies room, I'll be back soon."

She stood up from the table and walked slowly to the restroom. The longer she could be gone, the better. Casey pushed open the door easily, stepping into the empty, moderately clean restroom for a trucker diner. She locked herself in the last stall and just stood there for a bit, clearing her head. Being constantly pestered for information had worn down her patience and nerves.

Casey reached over to unlock the latch. She was about to leave when she heard the door open and saw two pairs of feet walk in on the grungy linoleum. That was odd. One pair was clearly a male's shoes. Confused, she remained in the stall for a second longer when she heard the click of the restroom door lock.

Her heart sped up as she heard a woman begin to cry. Casey sat down on the toilet seat and put her feet up, tucking her legs under her chin. She breathed quietly, frightened. She had no weapons, nothing to defend herself with.

She heard the male shout, "Shut up and do what I say and you won't get hurt!"

Casey closed her eyes and wished she was anywhere but here. She peeked under the stall. The woman lay on the ground, curled in a ball, crying. The man bent down next to her and tied her hands above her head with his belt, and took a gun out of the back of his pants. Casey managed to swallow a squeak and took her phone out, hands shaking with adrenaline. She was not naïve about guns and his semi-automatic could be deadly to both of them. She searched for Emily's number in her contacts, and sent her a text message.

Emily was finishing her coffee when her phone beeped. She dug through her purse for her cell. Flipping it open, her cell said one new text message from Casey.

"That's weird; I just got a text message from Casey."

The team regarded her curiously.

"What do you think it's about?" Rossi questioned.

Emily stared confusedly at her phone, "I don't know. Let's find out."

Emily hit the view button. As she scanned the message, her eyes widened.

"What's the message say?" Garcia asked, serious.

Emily stood up quickly and threw her phone down. As she ran towards the bathroom, she undid the button on her holster and pulled out her sidearm, holding expertly in two hands.

Everyone stared at Emily's retreating back. Hotchner picked up her phone to read the text message. He also jumped up from the table and followed Emily – she needed backup. Now the phone lay in the middle of the table for everyone to see, the message clearly on the screen: 'Emily help im locked in a stall and theres a man attacking a woman he has a gun.' The rest of the team including Garcia hurried after Hotch. The members carrying their weapons removed their guns. The deserted table was left amongst several patrons staring at the scene developing before them. One of them called a waiter over, and talked urgently to her.

Casey had forgotten to tell Emily that the door was locked. All her self defense courses weren't any good against a gun so she leaned back helplessly and closed her eyes.

Her eyes jolted open when she heard Emily shouting, "FBI. Open up!"

The man cursed first at the woman then at the door.

Morgan's muffled voice came through the door, "Man, if you don't open this door we're gonna knock it down!"

Uncomfortable, Casey shifted her weight to other side of the seat. The following squeak seemed to reverberate through the restroom. She froze, her pounding blood echoing through her ears. The whole bathroom was quiet.

The man turned towards the stalls. "Who's there?" he called out gruffly.

Casey nearly starts crying but her life has taught her to hide away her emotions. Emotions meant you were weak, and weakness was not tolerated.

The man spoke again, "I know you're in there, come out or I'll kill her."

The woman sobbed on the grimy floor, her body shaking. Casey sighed, but she's unwilling to let this person die. She stood up and opens the stall door.

The man smiled predatorily when she comes out, "Oh what do we have here? A little girl? You just made this situation much more interesting. Give me your phone!" he demanded.

Casey dug the cell out of her pocket and handed it to him.

He examined it, "Let's see who you last called…hmm mom…okay now let's see who you last texted. Oh look you texted an Emily…now let's see what you sent her…"

His eyes scanned the message quickly. His face twisted into an ugly mask of anger and fury. He violently threw the phone down and smashed it to smithereens with his boots.

Chills ran down her back as Emily heard the man shouting, "Who's Emily?! Huh?! Who is she?! Are you the reason those FBI agents are outside that door…why they got here that quickly?! Huh, are you?!"

Morgan punched the wall next to him, "They have Casey. We have to go in!"

Casey didn't respond. She stood there mutely, slightly in shock. She was furious that this man dare try to hurt her or the woman. He shoved her to the ground and kicked her. Casey curled into a ball to protect her ribs, and glared defiantly at him.

This infuriated the man even more, "Who is Emily?!" he shouted.

Casey refused to answer again. He kicked her then yanked her up on her feet. She ignored the pain in her aching arm and back. Her vision was swimming with anger but still no one liked getting hurt.

She spat out, "Emily's my cousin. She's an FBI agent, one of them outside." Casey started crying tears of anger and frustration. He made her livid.

The man smiled darkly, "Hey Emily! I think I found your cousin. She's very pretty, I might add. I'll do what I want to her and if you come in both of them are dead."

Emily's eyes widened grew with rage and she growled, "You sick son of a bitch!"

Emily ran towards the door and slammed into in with her shoulder. The door held fast. Then the team heard a gunshot followed by a scream.

JJ spoke up gently and sadly, "Emily you heard what he said. If we go in, they will both die. Though now Casey could be already dead."

Hotch held his weapon relaxed by his side, "No it's not her. She's his ticket to freedom and he's not going to let that fly away".

A police officer approached the group suddenly. He had been called by the waitress. They explained the situation and flashed their badges. Emily knew there was nothing that they could do until HRT, the Hostage Rescue Team, showed up. Rossi made one phone call to them and they would be there in five minutes.