Disclaimer: I don't own Criminal Minds.

My plans have failed me, I'm afraid. I completely intended to have this chapter edited and posted before I moved but it's been sitting half-edited on my computer for over a week now. I'm so sorry for the delay! Thank you all, as always, for your encouragement and support of the story and I hope this chapter doesn't disappoint.

Four hours later, the team found themselves in Rossi's home. The doctor from the hospital was there, as well as two doctors wearing white coats emblazoned with the CDC logo. Will was watching Henry and Jack, both of whom were sleeping.

"Hello, everyone," the doctor from the hospital began. "I'd like to introduce to you Dr. Colleen Keyes," he motioned to the woman, whose black hair was pulled into a ponytail. She smiled kindly at them.

"And this is her assistant, Dr. Paxton Reynolds."

The man had round glasses and didn't smile but nodded firmly.

"They're from the Center for Disease Control and their labs are running tests on the blood samples we sent this morning. Dr. Keyes and Dr. Reynolds are going to take over Jack and Henry's care. The local hospitals have been alerted and will be kept up-to-date so they can watch for similar symptoms in other patients."

He turned to Dr. Keyes.

"I've got to get back to the hospital," he said. "So I'll leave them in your capable hands."

"Thanks for everything," Aaron said, shaking the doctor's hand as he left. Dr. Keyes moved to the middle of the circle.

"As I'm sure you're aware," Dr. Keyes said, and her voice was warm and comforting. "Jack and Henry have a strain of avian flu. Samples have been sent to the labs at the CDC as well as the United States National Institutes of Health in Maryland to determine exactly how the strain has been altered and what affect this will have on their treatment. Until we know more about the strain, it's important to keep the quarantine but please don't worry. All indicators point to this being a non-contagious strain. However, Dr. Reynolds is going to vaccinate each of you with the H5N1 vaccine as an added precaution."

"What about Jack and Henry?"

"Because they've already contracted the strain," answered Dr. Keyes. "The vaccine would do little to serve them at this point. For now, we've made them comfortable with pain relievers, sedatives, and we're keeping them hydrated via an IV drip."

"Are we allowed to visit them?" Garcia asked and Dr. Keyes smiled.

"Of course," she said. "Downstairs has been converted to a treatment facility. There are ten beds and medical equipment in the great room. Jack and Henry are down there down and should any of you fall ill, you'll be required to stay there as well. The rest of the time, feel free to make yourselves comfortable around the house. We can't permit you to go outside but Agent Rossi has told me that the rooms upstairs have been made up and you're free to sleep in them."

She glanced at Rossi and he nodded confirmation.

"We'll be keeping close tabs on your health in the next couple of days." Dr. Keyes continued. "Dr. Reynolds and I will be logging your vitals thrice daily and taking a blood sample every evening. We'll be sending these to the CDC for testing. However, please tell one of us immediately if you start to feel ill in any way. The earlier we can target symptoms, the better."

Her phone vibrated and she glanced at it.

"Excuse me," she said. "I have to take this."

Dr. Reynolds stepped forward.

"If you come with me," he said awkwardly. "I'll vaccinate you."

He led the agents into Rossi's dining room, where he'd laid out eight syringes. One by one, the agents rolled up their sleeves and received the vaccine.

"Please let us know if you feel uncomfortable or ill," he repeated, taking the final vaccine and going downstairs. He left the room and Morgan raised an eyebrow.

"Alright," he said. "What have we got? What's the plan?"

Hotch glanced over his shoulder to make sure neither doctor was within earshot.

"We need to think of who has the ability, skills, and equipment to manipulate the strain."

"We also need to consider who has it out for Hotch and J.J.," Rossi added. "These weren't random choices; there's a reason these two kids got sick."

Aaron glanced at J.J., noting she looked exhausted. He wondered if he had similar dark circles under his eyes.

"We'll need a trigger and a stressor," Morgan added. He turned to Garcia. "Can you do some magic and find a list of people who have died from avian flu in the past ten years? Look at immediate family members. Maybe there's a personal reason for choosing avian flu."

"Of course," Garcia said.

"Also begin running searches on research projects and grants," Reid said. "In 2007, a team at the United States National Institutes of Health began a study where people voluntarily contracted the flu. Their illness was observed so doctors could better predict the impacts of a weakened immune system. Similar studies may have been requested for avian flu."

"Got it." Garcia replied. "Anything else?"

"Cast a wide net," Rossi said. "Check people with the proper education background for this sort of thing. Med schools, PhD dissertations, private labs."

"That's a lot of people," Garcia said. "But I'll cross-check all the names."

"I'll talk to Jack," Hotch said. "Maybe he can remember something suspicious in the days before he got sick."

"I'll do the same with Henry," J.J. added.

"Remember," Rossi said firmly. "We need to keep this quiet. We don't want anyone knowing we're looking into this."

The team dispersed; Garcia, Morgan, Reid, and Emily moved to the study, where Garcia started hooking up laptops, and the others went downstairs.

"Daddy?" Jack asked when the door opened. Hotch went to his son's bedside.

"I'm right here," he said, sitting on the edge of the bed.

"What's going on?"

Aaron sighed.

"The doctors aren't sure how you got sick," Aaron replied. "So they've put us all in something called quarantine. It means that no one is allowed to leave Uncle Dave's house until they know that we aren't going to make everyone sick."

Jack looked scared.

"Am I going to die?" he asked and Hotch shook his head.

"No," he said. "The doctors are doing everything they can to make sure you're alright."

Jack sighed.

"Jack," Hotch began slowly. "Do you remember anything out of the ordinary happening the day before you got sick?"

"No."

"Are you sure? Think really hard. It was Monday. Did something happen at school?"

"No."

"Nothing at all?"

"No. Why are you asking me this, Daddy?"

"Do you remember what I told you about being a profiler?"

"You ask people questions about ordinary things cause you can see what others missed."

"Right," Aaron said with a smile. "I'm asking you questions to see if something that may have seemed ordinary made you sick."

"I'm sorry," Jack said. "I can't remember."

"It's not your fault," Hotch replied. "Sometimes people don't remember. You've tried your best and that's all you can do. How do you feel?"

Aaron placed his hand on Jack's forehead.

"Gross."

"Try to go to sleep," Hotch murmured and the worry evident in the lines around his eyes.

A bed over, J.J. was snuggling with Henry. Will had gone upstairs after Dr. Reynolds had given him the vaccine, hoping to find something some coffee.

"Did someone come and visit you on Monday? A friend, maybe?"

Henry shook his head miserably. Unlike Jack, Henry was too small to remember details of days that blended together.

"It's alright," J.J. soothed, pulling Henry closer to her. "Just close your eyes."

Henry did as he was told and J.J. glanced at Hotch worriedly. Hotch tried to smile back but it came out as a sympathetic grimace.

"Dad?" Jack asked and Hotch glanced down at his son. "Will you stay with me?"

"Of course," Hotch replied. Feeling slightly self-conscious, he climbed onto the bed and Jack curled up next to him. It felt slightly foreign knowing that J.J. was seeing a side of him he rarely showed. The team had seen him in numerous vulnerable positions but this was different. They'd stood at his side numerous times – everything from bedside to graveside – but they'd never seen him interact so closely with Jack. Hotch couldn't shake the feeling that his blonde co-worker was watching him as Jack curled up next to his dad. He didn't look over to the other bed and, once Jack's breathing slowing down, he closed his own eyes.

"Agent Hotchner?" Dr. Keyes gently shook Aaron's shoulder and he was immediately awake.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry to wake you," she said. "But I need to examine Jack."

"Sorry, of course," Hotch mumbled, getting off the bed. He glanced over and saw Will sitting next to Henry, looking at picture books with him, and then watched the doctor examine his son. Jack was still pretty groggy but Dr. Keyes took his temperature, listened to his breathing, and replaced the IV bag.

"How is he?"

Dr. Keyes motioned him down the corridor so they didn't disturb Jack, Henry, or Will.

"He's stable," she said. "But Jack's temperature is quite high. The only improvement we've seen is a decrease in his vomiting thanks to the antiemetic. However, we'll need to be careful how much we use that drug as it can present certain side effects that make it difficult to track Jack's progress."

"What sort of side effects?"

"It can affect his body temperature," Dr. Keyes replied. "And it can potentially make him quite dizzy. So far Jack seems to be responding to it quite well but that could change as we start introducing new drugs based on the test results. Our plan is to slowly decrease the dosage before administering any new drug."

"When will you have to do that?"

"We'll be receiving the test results by midnight," Dr. Keyes said. "So it we'll likely wait until about nine o'clock. Hopefully Jack can eat some supper before we take him off the medication."

Hotch glanced at Jack, feeling sorry for what he knew his son was going to go through in the upcoming hours.

"Why don't you go upstairs for a while?" Dr. Keyes suggested. "I know you want to stay with him but believe me, Agent Hotchner, it can be exhausting for parents to sit vigil at their child's bedside. I'll be here if he wakes up."

Aaron didn't look convinced.

"Just a little while, I insist. You can't let yourself get worn down. Get a cup of coffee, chat with your friends."

"Come and get me if you need anything." Hotch finally said and Dr. Keyes nodded.

"Of course."

Hotch went upstairs and found most of his team in the living room.

"Hey, how's Jack?" Morgan asked and Hotch sighed.

"Sleeping."

"So were you," J.J. replied with a smile. "Coffee?"

Hotch nodded and J.J. left the room, returning with a cup of coffee for her boss.

"Extra strong," she said.

"Thanks." Hotch took a sip. "How are you holding up?"

J.J. sighed.

"I'm alright," she said. "Will and I are taking turns with him but we feel so helpless."

"I know the feeling."

"We're all here to help, Sir," Garcia said from across the room and Hotch nodded.

"I know. I think I'm going to get something to eat. Excuse me."

Hotch took his coffee into the kitchen and found Rossi clicking away on his computer.

"Aaron," he said, glancing up and closing the laptop. "How are you?"

"Tired," Hotch replied, taking an apple from the fruit bowl. "I fell asleep on Jack's bed."

"How is he?"

"Still sleeping," Aaron said. "Dr. Keyes said he's not getting much better, apart from not throwing up so much but they're going to change his medication soon in anticipation of the test results in."

"Sounds like you might be in for a long night. Why don't you go crash upstairs for a few hours? I'll sit with Jack if he wakes up."

Hotch took the last sip of his coffee, rotating the apple in the palm of his other hand. He felt too worried to eat.

"Are you sure?"

"Of course."

"Thanks, Dave. Dr. Keyes might come looking for me but if you're down there, tell her not to bother unless Jack's asking for me."

"Sure thing. Sleep well."

Hotch left the kitchen, tossing the apple into the compost bin on his way out. He went upstairs, taking his go-bag from the front hall, and found a bedroom.

"Has anyone seen Hotch?" Morgan asked as they passed around containers of food that evening.

"He's upstairs," Rossi replied. "I told him to nap for a few hours. We should probably wake him, though. He hasn't eaten much today."

"I'll go," Emily replied, leaving her barstool at the island and going upstairs. She found a closed door in the main hallway and knocked.

"Hotch?" she called. "Dinner is ready."

There was no reply and Emily opened the door slightly.

"Hotch," she said a little louder and Aaron's eyes opened and he sat up.

"Yeah?"

Emily went in all the way and smiled.

"Glad to see you got some sleep," she said. "Dinner is ready."

"Thanks," Aaron said, rubbing his eyes.

"How are the boys?"

"They're about the same. Jack is still dozing."

"Good." Hotch walked around the bed, though he stopped by the footboard and grabbed onto it for balance. Emily saw him hang his head and take a deep breath.

"Hotch?" Emily asked. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah," Hotch's head rose and he took a few steps forward. Emily frowned.
"Are you sure? You know what Dr. Keyes said."

"I'm fine, Emily. Come on, everyone's waiting for us."

Hotch pushed past her and Emily frowned but followed. Everyone sat down to eat and they tried to keep the mood light but it was difficult and there were often long stretches of silence.

"Hotch," Emily said halfway through the meal. She'd noticed that Aaron was merely pushing food around his plate. "Are you sure you're alright?"

Everyone turned to Hotch, who glared slightly at Emily before sighing.

"I'm just not hungry."

"Have you eaten today?" Morgan asked.

"I had breakfast," Hotch replied. "And lunch. I promise you I'm fine."

He put his napkin on the table and pushed his chair back.

"I'm going to check on Jack."

Hotch left the table and everyone exchanged worried glances.

"He was dizzy when he stood up," Emily explained. "And he wasn't eating."

"Should we mention it to Dr. Keyes or Dr. Reynolds?" J.J. asked.

"He might just be worried about Jack," Will said. "I don't have much of an appetite, either. I'd rather be with Henry but J.J. insisted I come up."

"I'll talk to him," Morgan said, standing up. He left the table and went downstairs.

"Docs," he said to Dr. Keyes and Dr. Reynolds, who were sitting near the door. "There's food upstairs, feel free to help yourselves."

He glanced at Hotch and then at the doctors again. Dr. Keyes nodded, taking the hint.

"Come on, Pax," she said, standing. The young man glanced down the ward and then stood silently, following his co-worker.

Aaron was sitting on the edge of Jack's bed, studying his son's face while sponging it with a damp cloth.

"I'm fine," Aaron said before Morgan could say anything. Derek glanced at Henry, who was fast asleep, and smiled at the sight before looking at Hotch.

"I didn't say you weren't," Morgan replied. "But you seem to be awfully defensive about it. That tells me you're hiding something."

Hotch sighed.

"Don't."

"Don't what? Be worried? Hotch, we're concerned about you. Emily told us what happened upstairs and she's right, you weren't touching your food. Something is bothering you. What aren't you telling us?"

Hotch sighed and put the cloth down. He turned to Morgan.

"I don't know what's wrong," he said finally. "I'm worried about Jack but there's something else that isn't sitting right."

"Emotionally or physically?"

"Both."

"Are you worried enough to make yourself sick?"

"I don't know."

"So you don't feel well?"

Aaron sighed.

"No."

"Then you need to tell the doctors and get it checked out. Jack and Henry were drugged and for all we know, you have been, too."

Hotch closed his eyes to ease the pulsing of his head.

"Fine," he said. "Get Dr. Keyes down here."

"Good man," Morgan said. "Be right back."

Morgan disappeared and returned with the doctor.

"Agent Morgan tells me you're not feeling well," she said to Hotch, who glanced at Jack before nodding.

"He's right."

"Why don't you come lie down and I'll do a few tests," Dr. Keyes said, motioning to the next empty bed. The bed was still in its upright position and, despite being a hospital bed, Hotch found it to be quite comfortable. Morgan stood in the shadows as the doctor returned with a pair of gloves, a clipboard, and a caddy of equipment.

"Can you describe your symptoms?"

"I have a headache," Hotch replied. "And I got light-headed when I stood up too quickly."

"Any nausea or vomiting?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Have you been drinking water?"

"Not a lot," Hotch replied.

"Alright," the doctor put her clipboard down. "Just relax for me."

The doctor felt Hotch's glands and Morgan saw him wince at her touch. She pulled a light from the toolkit and shone it in the dark eyes before un-looping the stethoscope from around her neck.

"Deep breath," she instructed. She moved the disk several places and didn't make any comment as she looped it back around her neck.

"And finally," she said, holding out the probe of an electronic thermometer.

"What's it say?" Hotch asked, once the device had signalled its completion.

"One hundred point three." Dr. Keyes said, raising her eyebrow. "I'll take another blood sample and have it analyzed but there is no doubt in my mind that you're coming down with something. The question of the day is if it's the same thing that's making your son ill."

"What do I need to do?" Hotch asked.

"Nothing," Dr. Keyes replied. "That is, nothing short of changing into a gown and making yourself comfortable. You'll need to stay down here until we get your test results back."

She handed Hotch the folded gown.

"I'll be back in a few moments," she said.

"Thanks." Hotch replied dryly, taking the gown. He raised an eyebrow at Morgan.

"Pleased?"

"That you're sick? Of course not." Morgan replied. "But I'm glad there are people here to make sure you're alright. I'll give you some privacy."

"How's Hotch?" J.J. asked when Morgan appeared in the dining room. He had passed Dr. Keyes on the steps and assumed she'd shared the diagnosis with the team.

"About as well as can be expected."

He glanced at Dr. Reynolds.

"Is there any word from the CDC about the test results?"

"Not yet." Dr. Reynolds replied, taking a bit of his sandwich. "We should hear in about an hour, though Dr. Keyes wants to send new samples given Agent Hotchner's condition."

The team exchanged glances, questions forming, but they waited till Dr. Reynolds had finished eating and left.

"If Hotch is sick," Reid said immediately. "Then that means the strain could be contagious."

"What does that mean for us?" Garcia asked, worriedly.

"Nothing good," Emily said, stabbing a baby tomato with her fork.

"Let's not get distracted," Rossi said. "This doesn't change the fact that someone drugged Jack and Henry. What have you found, Garcia?"

"Not a lot, I'm afraid." Garcia replied, turning to take a laptop off the hutch. "The searches brought back thousands of names and even cross-checking them, there's still hundreds of possible candidates."

"We need to narrow this down. What have you three come up with for a profile?" Rossi asked, glancing at Morgan, Emily, and Reid.

"Nothing that can be put into a computer database," Emily said. "We know he's narcissistic, sadistic, and has a god-complex,"

"Wait," Will interrupted. "A god-complex and a narcissist? Can someone be both?"

"Absolutely," Reid replied. "Whoever did this holds a very high standard of his work. He knows that he's the best and he wants people to see it. That makes him narcissistic but because inducing an illness to prove his superiority tells us he's also got a god-complex. People with that sort of complex thrive on being able to control aspects of life that are supposedly dictated by nature – things like life and death, sickness and health. He enjoys showing his power over other people's lives."

Will nodded to show he understood.

"We've been working another question," Morgan added. "Why the BAU? Garcia's trying to find connections between the names on those lists and the Bureau."

"This is all good in theory," Rossi said with a sigh. "Unfortunately, we need more to go on. Once we get the test results back, we can narrow the field of specialization even more."

Garcia looked up from her notebook.

"We'll find this guy, right? And everyone will be okay?"

Derek smiled at her, putting his hand on her shoulder.

"Of course, Baby Girl. Do we ever fail?"

"You can't save everyone, Derek." Penelope's eyes filled with tears and Morgan sighed.

"I know, Princess. But this time, we'll win. The stakes are too high not to."

… the plot thickens! Please review – it will make my day! Thanks =)