Apologies for not posting yesterday! Had some family time with the kids!

Okay, so I did the shocking alternative on Haley! Please don't hate me. Seriously, all will go well in the end, we are reaching towards it.

Criminal Minds

Yves, Your Cheatin' Cologne

Part 6

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Reunited with his team in New Jersey, Hotch felt as if he was home. It was a homely feeling, although at the moment, they were a member short.

"Any news, update?" He placed his briefcase on the desk that was set up for the BAU team.

Reid was concentrating on the white board and maps of New Jersey and the local districts.

JJ was on the phone with Garcia.

Gideon and Morgan nodded at the same time, Gideon looked grim, "We're certain Sheriff Garrett has been following you since you left the precinct two days ago."

"But she doesn't know that I left New Jersey?" Hotch looked from Gideon to Morgan.

"Hotch, she's not what the precinct thought she is." He turned to the desk and picked up a folder and handed it to Hotch, "Here's her personal file."

Hotch opened it and quickly read the basic profile, "Looks like she has some underlining issues, no body caught this?" He indicated a line on her folder. "She passed her last evaluation?"

Morgan nodded, "Apparently, she charmed the psychiatrist. I mean, look at her, she's a rather attractive woman, what man wouldn't find her desirable?"

Hotch shook his head, "I didn't... not every man is charmed by a particular type."

"What's your particular type, Hotch?" Morgan watched him. "Oh wait, you're married to a beautiful woman. Haley's a lucky one."

Hotch gave him a look.

"What?" Morgan smiled. "Did I say something wrong?"

Hotch shook his head, "This case?" He indicated the file.

"Yeah...focus." Morgan continued to grin. "Happily married man, our Hotch. I'm gonna see if Reid needs me." He walked over to where the media liaison was working.

Gideon had not spoken, he was watching Hotch closely.

Hotch looked up and saw Gideon's expression and shook his own head, "I'm fine, Jason."

After a while, the older profiler nodded, "As you wish."

"I do. Shall we return on finding our missing colleague?" Hotch pressed.

Gideon shrugged, "Of course, as I'd mentioned to Derek before, we were waiting for you."

"Me?"

They nodded.

"What do you have in mind?"

"JJ's preparing a news conference." Gideon said as he pointed at her, who's still on the phone.

"What news conference? We're still missing a local Sheriff, and my agent's missing. Jason, this is not...oh, I see your angle." Hotch began to smile. "Smart move."

"I thought you'd agree with me." He shrugged.

"I'm always learning from the best."

Gideon just shrugged, "Let's hope she takes the bait."

"Yeah, hook, line, and sinker." Hotch muttered. "And she'd better not hurt Prentiss, along the way."

Gideon gave him a wry look, "I think you're the one who took the bait, my friend."

Hotch turned to Gideon, "I won't argue with you on this." He said quietly.

They watched as JJ signaled to them with a 'good-to-go' sign.

"It's show time." The two agents spoke at the same time as they nodded.

….

Two hour later, standing to JJ's left before a group of media, Hotch tried not to blink too much under the multiple harsh glare of spot lights the photographers were shining on them; once again, he wondered how JJ could tolerate their glares and scrutiny.

Between the two agents, they had agreed to let JJ answered all the questions.

"...as of this moment, we are doing our best to locate Sheriff Garrett and our Agent."

One of the local news station reporter, "Do you have any clues as to who had kidnapped them or if this a tie-in?"

"Oh yes," JJ nodded enthusiastically. "We believe this is the work of one person. We're waiting for him to send his demands."

The same reporter nodded, "And the number is...?"

JJ smiled, "It is 1-800..." she gave it to them as they quickly displayed it on the screen. "Thank you, and remember, if anyone has any information, don't hesitate to call the number given. Thank you." With another nod, she stepped away from the podium and Hotch, staring at the cameras before he looked away, joined JJ and walked from the press conference room.

"I feel so...nude." He muttered to her.

"Now, you know how I feel every time I give a presser."

He shook his head, "I know, I know...just imagine all those reporters as nudists in the nude colony."

She grinned, "That's right, Hotch."

"Nice presser, Hotch." Morgan said as they walked into the unit.

Reid turned to face them, "I've narrowed the district down to two." He pointed at the board.

The three approached and Reid began to explain, "Deputy Allen did mention that she had send a few patrols to these particulars blocks, they are mostly abandoned.

"Why?" Hotch asked him.

"Not entirely sure," Reid frowned. "But I think it's a smoke screen. She's trying to deflect their route while she herself was patrolling this particular area."

"Wait a minute," Morgan cut in. "The Sheriff does her own patrolling?"

Reid nodded as he turned around and showed them the log book, "It says right here, she drives her own patrol car..."

"Agent Hotchner!" A deputy called out, he was holding a cell phone. "She says she's calling for Agent Prentiss." And handed it to Hotch.

"Who's this?"

"Hello Aaron, it's me." Hotch recognize the voice of Sheriff Natalie Garrett. He covered the cell phone and whispered to Morgan, "Get Garcia! It's Natalie Garrett! Trace the call." Getting back to the phone, Hotch continued, "Sheriff, where are you? We're very concerned about your whereabouts."

She laughed, "Oh, now you're concerned about me?"

"Yes, you've been reported missing, your unit's concerned."

She gave a short burst of laughter, "Men, you don't care about anything. You used us women."

"What are you talking about, Sheriff? We are concern, and if you know the whereabouts of Agent Prentiss..."

"You have a thing with her don't you?"

"No, she's my colleague." Hotch said.

"LIAR!" Garrett yelled into the phone. "I saw you in her hotel room!"

"You're right, I was but we were talking about a case in Baltimore."

"I don't believe you, you men are liars."

"Sheriff...Natalie," Hotch changed his tone to a softer, more personal one. "You know I don't lie. You've heard me talking a couple of days ago. I gave a possible profile of the serial killer."

"Spare me, Aaron." She stopped him. "You are just stalling and tracing this call. Save it, it's a disposable phone and I'm at the bay. You better hurry...tide's coming up high." And she hung up.

"Hello? Natalie?" Hotch continued and shook his head as he realized she had hung up. He looked across the room at Morgan, "Any luck from Garcia?"

Hotch, it's on the northern tip of the Delaware River! Garcia called out from Morgan's cell phone he had placed on speaker mode.

"Let's go...the tides rises fast." Deputy Allen urged them, "I'll call for more back-ups."

"Thank you, Deputy Allen." Hotch nodded to him and turning to his team, "Let's go."

They gathered together and walked out towards their SUVs.

"How far is this lake, Deputy?" Hotch asked Allen as they pulled away from the parking lot.

"Three hours."

"Let's try for one." Hotch gave him a dark look.

Allen raised his brow, "You got it, Agent Hotchner." He turned on his sirens and flashers. "I hope we'll make it in time."

Hotch looked ahead as he clenched his hands, "Me too."

…...

End of Part 6