A/N This the moment you have all been waiting for. The moment Hotch finds out Emily is still alive. Let joy be unconfined. Let there be dancing in the streets, drinking in the saloons, and necking in the parlor.

Aaron stared at his phone. He read and re-read the word on the word on the screen a million times. Surely this isn't what I think this is? It can't be. Can it? He attempted to stand. His legs were jelly and collapsed under his weight.

The team noticed Hotch's collapse. They rushed forward. Dave was the only one who could get close enough to Hotch. The walkway in the jet wasn't big enough for everyone to get close. So they all lined up behind Dave.

Hotch handed Dave the cellphone. "What do you see?"

Dave looked quizzically at the fallen man. "All right I'll bite." He grabbed the phone and read the message. "It says 'disconcerting'. I give up. What does that mean?"

It can't be. ... It has to be. Hotch jumped into the air, and rushed forward to kiss Dave on the cheek. Then he pushed past him and continued kissing everyone. After he had kissed the team he fell down to the ground and looked to Heaven. "Thank you! Thank you thankyouthankyouthankyou."

The team was now worried. Hotch had cracked they had all been afraid this would happen. Now what were they going to do.

"Hotch ... are you ok?" Dave asked tenatively.

"Dave I am so much better than ok. Ok is like the bottom on the Mariana Trench. I am on the top of Mount Everest. There is not a word to describe how blissed out I am."

"Ok Aaron. You're starting to scare people."

"She's alive Dave." He collapsed into a seat as the weight of those words hit him. "She's alive. SHE'S ALIVE!" He proclaimed thrusting his hands into the air.

"Who's alive?" They didn't want to hope. It couldn't be true.

"Emily." He let a sigh of contentment and relief. "Emily is alive. And she just sent me a message. ... Garcia." He quickly dialed her number.

"You have reached the oracle that knows all there is to be known. Speak mortal and be heard."

"Ohh, Garcia. For once I can one up you. I know something very worth knowing, and I shall now share it with you. ... Emily is alive. Don't argue and don't question. I got a message from her sent to my phone. I need you to track down the location of the phone that it was sent from."

"But ... uh ... I ..." Garcia sputtered unable to form complete thoughts. Her gumdrop was alive. How could that be?

"Garcia I know you want to go into shock right now. But I need to snap out of it. She needs you. She needs us. I don't know how long we will be able to track the signal."

"I'm on it, sir." Never had Garcia's fingers flown so swiftly over the keys. Her gumdrop needed her and she was not going to let her down.

"Aaron. How do you know Emily is alive?" Dave asked tenativelyunsure of what was going through his collegues mind.

"You think I've lost it. You think I'm seeing something that's not there, because I want to see it. ... Well. That makes sense. If I was in your position I would think the same thing. ... Let's just say that this is a message from her to me. It only has significance to me and her. No one else would know what it means, and no one else would know to use it."

"Aaron, I know you're a private man. But this is one time, where we can't let you have your secrets. How do you know the message is from Emily?"

Hotch ran his hand over his mouth. Am I really going to tell them this? He took a long look at his team. They wanted to believe, but they needed proof. Fuck. He massaged his temples and with his fingers drew his eyebrows close together. "It's ... uh ... . It's my safe word."

Everyone looked away, except Reid. "Your safe word. Wouldn't safe be the safe word. Or maybe all clear, or-."

"Kid stop please. A safe word, you know ..." Morgan looked at him expecting him to finish the sentance. "Come on Reid don't make me explain it."

Luckily for Morgan Garcia piped up from the cellphone's tiny speaker. "I found it sir. And I have never been more happy to say these words, I have sent the coordinates to your cellphones now."

"Thanks Garcia. I'm going to tell the pilot we have a course correction to make. JJ you better let the local police know what's going on. Have them stake out the place, but no one moves in until we get there. Also we are going to need a warrant to arrest to enter the house. And when we land have EMTs meet us at the address."

JJ nodded and Hotch moved on to talk to the pilot.

The rest of the team sank into the seats, happy for the first time in weeks. She was alive. They had found her. And they were on their way to save her. Today was a great day.

Reid whispered something to JJ.

"I'll explain later." JJ replied putting her hand on his cheek.

/

Hotch was staring out the plane's window. He had been staring out it ever since he sat down after convincing the pilot to turn the plane around. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knwew there would be hell to pay for this. The team was supposed to be flying into Madison, Wi. But this was more improtant. And he would pay any price if it meant he saved her.

But at the forefront of his thougts was impatience. He was sitting doing nothing, while the woman he loved was in the hands of a mad man. Rationally he knew there ws nothing he could do. The palne was flying to their destination with all the speed at its disposal. But still he chafed at his inability to do something. An irrational thought of getting out and walking came over him. He almost smiled at the ridiculousness of the thought. But still he needed to do something.

But there was nothing to be done. So he stared out the window, and hoped he wasn't too late.

/

The team scrambled out of the plane as soon as it landed. The didn't bother with trifles like their bags, they just rushed to the SUVs. They climbed in and gunned the accelerators. Their sirens blaring as a warning to all, get out of the way or get hurt. Several blocks before the UnSubs house they killed the sirens, but did not slow down.

They pulled up to the address that Garcia had sent. They scrambled out and put on their vests. Hold on my love I'm here. And I'm coming for you.

They stood at the door. Hotch nodded at Morgan. Morgan kicked the door in. They moved into the house. They heard the sounds of someone running. They quickly moved in that direction.

They entered the room. The man had his gun pointed at Emily. It was a Mexican stand off except Emily didn't have a gun.

"It's over. Put down the gun and put your hands on your head."

"It's not over Agent Hotchner. It will never be over."

"There's no way out. Put down the gun."

"NEVER."

Time slowed down. Hotch screamed "NO." The Unsub pulled the trigger. And three shots rang out.

Two bodies hit the floor.

Morgan ran towards the UnSub.

Hotch ran towards Emily.

Blood stained her clothes. Some of it old. Most of it from only a few seconds ago. Hotch held her to his chest.

"Aaron." She called out weakly. He gently lowered her so he could see her face. He looked down at her bloody and bruised face. Tears formed in his eyes. "You came for me."

"Of course I did. I love you. I will always come for you. Now I just need you to hold on. The EMTs are right outside and they are going to fix you up. And as soon as your better. I'm taking you away. Far away. Soon we sipping Mai-Tais and lounging around on a beach somewhere. Just you me and Jack. But you have to hang on." A tear fell from his eye and landed on her cheek. He loving brushed it off.

"You lounging around on a beach. That's defintely something I have to see."

"Then hang on. Just hang on."

She smiled at him. "Aaron ... I ... love you." Her eyes rolled back, and her head slumped down.

"Emily. EMILY. NO." The tears flowed from his cheeks. He sobbed. "Emily. Come back. Come back."

He clutched her body to his chest.

Today it seemed was going to be a horrible day.

A/N Review Let me know what you think.